What To Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection Part Two (227 page)

I was increasingly impressed with Mark’s technical computer skills. If nothing else came of this unusual dalliance, I was considering offering him a job in my IT department. The dancing baby dissolved and a word spun into view from the right of the screen, centering itself and growing larger until it dominated the screen:

CONTROL

The word shrunk until it no longer took up the entire screen. A definition appeared below the word.

(Control: to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.)

The screen dissolved again and was replaced by the old fashioned scroll I had seen before. Ink splotches splattered the paper then resolved into text.

Summer,

I told you when we met that if you chose to move forward on this journey with me that you would do so with the full knowledge that I intend to take control. Control is an interesting concept. It has two distinct sides. In order for me to take control, you have to be willing to give it up. In my opinion, control is all about trust. You have to trust that I have our mutual best interests at heart.

Trust is also paramount to expanding your sexual experiences and exploring your boundaries. What I will offer you is simple. I want you to be able to explore your desires, fantasies and boundaries with no judgment, no expectations and no regrets. In order to do that, I think you need to feel safe and protected. In that vein, simply say the word “watermelon” at any point and I will cease whatever we are doing. Do not use it lightly. Stretching one’s horizons should be a little uncomfortable after all.

I will post one last piece of the puzzle later today on the website. I only ask that you be open and honest with your replies as that will help me more effectively plan our time together. The questions I will ask may seem random or arbitrary, but they will give me a better idea about your sexual history, or lack thereof.

I very much look forward to seeing you soon.

Mark

A button at the bottom of the page read “Next”. I clicked and Mark’s latest note disappeared and was replaced by a clock counting down from four hours. My curiosity certainly was peaked to discover what Mark had planned next.

Two more fairly boring meetings, a salad from our cafeteria and some routine budget planning later, I closed the door to my office once again and returned to the website. The timer was ticking off the last few minutes of the four hour countdown. When it finally reached all zeroes the clock exploded into a thousand little pieces and was replaced by what appeared to be the beginnings of a questionnaire of some sort.

Summer’s Final Exam

1)   When was the last time you had sex?

2)   Last time you masturbated?

3)   Do you use toys when you masturbate?

4)   What is the kinkiest thing you have ever done?

5)   Have you ever tried anal sex?

6)   If yes to #5, did you enjoy it?

7)   How many partners have you had in your past?

8)   Ever been in or fantasized about a threesome?

9)   If yes to #8, was it a MFM or FMF threesome?

10)  Ever been with another woman before?

The questions continued on like that for several pages, some fairly simple, some shockingly explicit. I had to once again give Mark credit, he was very creative indeed. In between some of the questions, he had inserted pictures and short videos. One section compared various pictures and asked me to rate what I found more attractive. A picture of two topless women pressed up against one another kissing versus one of two men in a similar embrace. I found myself looking at that particular picture for quite awhile. One of the women bore a slight resemblance to my friend Julie, so it was hard at first to reconcile the truth behind finding that picture more attractive. I thought about it for awhile, but I quickly came to the conclusion that seeing two men together really did nothing for me, while it was much easier to objectively view the inherent beauty of the female form. Men’s bodies in general seemed to be hard (not necessarily a bad thing in
some
areas), angular and imposing, while women’s were curvy, soft and inviting.

Another section asked me to compare several video clips and judge on a scale of one to ten what was more arousing. One comparison was between a set of obvious porn stars, the man hung like something I’d last seen at the petting zoo, the woman’s giant breasts defying all laws of gravity and motion, and a couple of fairly normal looking amateurs. Even with the slight paunch on both of them, I found the normal looking couple much sexier overall. Perhaps it was because I could identify with the less than perfect body, or maybe it was just they seemed more “real” than their professional counterparts somehow.

A final section asked me to type out a short description of any fantasy I might have that had gone unfulfilled over the years of my marriage. I jotted down a quick fantasy of being tied up, something my ex-husband had shown no interest in, despite repeated hints. I think I had exerted such control over every other aspect of our lives, that maybe he had trouble believing this was one area where I wanted him to take charge once in awhile. This was nothing I would have ever vocalized to him however. Looking back I think I somehow expected him to just implicitly
know
what I wanted. And we wonder why men don’t understand us.

A
fter I finished with the final “probing” question Mark had for me, another scrolled note appeared.

Summer,

One last item on our agenda. While I was fairly clear about fully intending to take control, I do so with a very healthy sense of humor and a heavy dose of reality. Having said that, which of the three following dates fit your schedule best? The three choices below will become clickable links by this time tomorrow. That will give me an opportunity to look through your answers and plan our first evening together accordingly. Your final instructions before we meet will be posted at that time.

Mark

Not too sure I really liked his use of the word “instructions” as if I were his servant, I nonetheless was still looking forward to seeing what he had in mind. My curiosity, and quite honestly, my libido, were running rampant at this point. Trying to put Mark out of my mind for now, I turned back to my work.

In all fairness and honesty I will have to admit to being a little worked up by the implications of Mark’s questions and the included pictures and videos. Alone in my empty bed that evening I managed to avoid major disruption in my study of the masturbatory arts by finding a spare pair of batteries floating around the nightstand junk drawer. I wondered idly as I drifted off to sleep if I should, in good faith, update my previous answer to Question #2.

After my usual morning routine of heavily self-medicating with caffeine, I managed to focus for a short time on shuffling some office paperwork through the system, with hardly a stray thought toward Mark’s website and my impending fate. Trying to not feel too foolish as I brought up the website and hit the refresh button ten times in a row, I was pleased to see the dates had been replaced by clickable links.

Giving up all pretense of trying to contain myself, I selected the closest date, the following Friday night, little more than a week away. As I clicked on the date, that familiar looking scroll appeared from the top of the screen.

Summer,

I was hoping you would choose the earliest date I listed. I am looking forward to seeing you as well. If I know you at all by now, you probably bristled at my use of the word “instructions” in my last note. Remember what I said previously about control and trust. This is where I take control.

8:00pm. Next Friday night. The Majestic Hilton hotel. Check this website after 5:00pm that evening and there will be a room number posted. When you arrive at the room at 8:00pm sharp, you will find a blindfold hanging from the doorknob. Put it over your lovely eyes and knock twice. I will handle everything else.

If you object to my “instructions” then this shall be our last communication and I’m truly sorry your journey ended even before it began. If you choose to embrace your sense of adventure, I will be there eagerly anticipating your knock.

Mark

And that is how I found myself standing in a virtual stranger’s hotel room, blindfolded, half-naked and more than a little aroused. For once in my life I had surrendered control and had no idea what to expect next. I never felt more alive.

T
onight was the night we selected together. It was either going to be the first step on an exciting journey or a big mistake. I would know soon enough.

As Friday afternoon slipped by, my technical staff started disappearing for the weekend. My assistant Melissa poked her head around my office door around 4:00pm and started some not so gentle probing about my weekend plans. Perhaps she was more perceptive than I had been giving her credit for. So far she had resisted her natural impulse to inquire further about the roses Mark sent two weeks ago even though they were still prominently displayed on my desk.

To be fair, she was probably a little puzzled by my reluctance to share details with her as I had previously been quite open with information about my dating life, or lack thereof. The whole office knew about the divorce and my husband leaving me. If I had taken a poll, the majority of them probably thought it was justified due to my fairly stern manner around the office. They definitely did not know what to make of my cheery manner the past week or so. The anticipation I felt about tonight seemed to be manifesting itself in a nervous laugh and an automatic smile.

As 5:00pm finally arrived, I once again turned to the website Mark had set up for this most unusual venture. The old fashioned scroll I was so used to by now filled the screen.

8:00pm. The Majestic Hilton.

Room 1147.

Put on the blindfold and knock twice.

Take a deep breath and relax.

Trust me.

As I drove home I thought about what I was going to wear tonight, only for the hundredth time this week. I had a favorite little black dress that fit my curves so well it was probably illegal in several Bible belt states. I was thinking that perhaps I would wear the emerald green lace bra and matching sheer panties to bring out the green in my eyes.

I took a long hot shower and as I lathered myself I could not help but think about Mark’s hands and eyes travelling down those same curves later that evening. My nipples took immediate notice of that thought as they stood at attention despite the hot water cascading over me.