Chapter Three

         Theodora got up from the vanity, looked at her watch then walked out of the bedroom, "We need to leave in no more than ten minutes. Please be ready soon," she called over shoulder.
         Adrienne frowned. Theodora was absolutely right. She did owe her an explanation for both, but she was still cared to admit it all so soon. Adrienne grabbed her clutch and slumped out to the living room where Theodora sat on her phone, one leg draped over the other as she waited for Adrienne to leave. She looked up to see Adrienne standing by the door, her smokey eyes looking even more intimidating when she was vexed, making Adrienne feel small as she stood fluidly from the couch and moved with that grace of a stalking cat. Adrienne looked her up and down and bit her lip. She was wearing stilettos with a pair of tight black jeans, and crimson halter top under a sexy, black leather jacket. Her hair was Farrah Fawcett-esque, bouncy and voluminous, her contouring was on point, accenting her already gorgeous facial structure. She grabbed a glasses case off the island and opened it to set a pair of Michael Kors sunglasses on the bridge of her nose, making her look even more sexy and badass.
         "Are you ready to go?" she asked, her voice flat and apathetic as she walked past Adrienne to the door.
         "Yes," Adrienne practically whispered as she followed Theodora out the door, waiting by her side as she locked the door behind them. She then turned on her heel and strode past Adrienne and walked to the car, taking long strides, leaving Adrienne to almost jog to keep up. When they got to the car, Theodora almost went to get into the car without opening Adrienne's door, but thought better of it, and walked over to open the door for her. Adrienne curled her hair behind her ear and walked past Theodora and got in, looking up at her to thank her, but Theodora closed the door as she went to open her mouth.
         Adrienne wanted to cry, but knew that she deserved everything she was receiving from Theodora. She stared down at her fingers, willing her eyes to stay dry, at least until after her shoot. Theodora got into the car and closed the door hard behind her, making Adrienne jump as she started the car silently and then sped out of the lot and down the main drag. Adrienne looked over at Theodora, those pretty features were absolutely expressionless, her eyes underneath her pretty sunglasses focused on the road as she drove.
         "I-I'm sorry," Adrienne whispered softly, fidgeting with her fingers.
         "For what, Ms. Thorne?" Theodora said shortly, not taking her eyes off the road.
         Adrienne really wanted to cry now. 'Ms. Thorne?' she thought to herself, hurt by the name she'd used before Adrienne told her that she'd appreciate if she called her by her name if she wanted to get to know her better, 'Is she really that upset with me?'
         "I, um," Adrienne stuttered, "well, er."
         "You know what?" Theodora said with a wave of her hand, "just tell me at the end of the day. I really just need to focus right now."
         It was a polite way of telling Adrienne to shut up, and she did just that. The rest of the way Adrienne stared out the window, the tears she couldn't hold back trickling down her cheeks as she tried desperately not to breathe through her nose, but didn't try to sound like a gulping fish either. She pretended drag her hands down her face as she yawned when in reality she was trying to dry her cheeks and her eyes before they got to the pier. Theodora pulled into a spot and got out, slamming the door behind her and came around to open Adrienne's door and helped her out. Once Adrienne was fulling out of the car though, Theodora yanked her hand back as though Adrienne's touch burned her flesh, and she went to grab her photography gear from the back.
         "Do you need any help with your stuff?" Adrienne offered as sweetly as she could.
         Theodora looked up over her sunglasses into Adrienne's sad blue eyes and smiled a cold smile, "I've been doing this for several years Ms. Thorne and never needed your help before, but thanks."
         "Right," Adrienne said as she rubbed her neck, "I'm going to go meet up with the designer and get changed for the shoot. See you on the beach?"
         "Mhmm. I'm sure, Ms. Thorne," Theodora said, not even looking in Adrienne's direction as she finished unloading all her stuff from the car.
         Adrienne walked over to the designer, looking over her shoulder at Theodora who was headed over too to set up her camera equipment. Adrienne hated what was happening between them. She just wanted to hug her and apologize, but she wasn't sorry for kissing her. She was sorry for running from her. Adrienne wasn't sure which Theodora was actually mad about: the kiss or the escape, but she was going to assume the latter. The designer looked Adrienne up and down and handed her a sleeveless, black track jacket-looking one piece that was mostly black with white caressing up the sides, with a zipper on the front. Adrienne went to change, wrapping all of her clothes in her shirt, leaving it in the little tent that had set up for the models to change in. Adrienne emerged from the tent and met back up with the designer who eyed her up and down and grabbed the zipper to pull it below her breasts to show off her cleavage. He then pushed her toward a makeup artist who did some minimalist eye shadow application and dumped oil over her breasts, arms, and legs to give her that wet look and tousled her hair with a sea salt spray to give it some wavy texture as if she'd been swimming in the ocean or a salt water pool. Adrienne's agent ushered her toward where they were shooting since she was up after a pretty girl in a red bikini embellished silver metal rings. The girl left and someone pushed Adrienne into position, and she tried to remain calm as she remembered that Theodora was the one shooting her.
         The designer was looking over some pictures with Theodora. He nodded at a few and shook his head at one or two, then turned his focus to Adrienne, whose focus was on her photographer. Theodora turned her gaze toward Adrienne and she pulled her dark glasses up to sit atop her gorgeous hair and looked Adrienne up and down, but did not let her expression betray whether she was turned on or off from Adrienne's change of dress.
         "Lay on your back in the surf, Ms. Thorne," Theodora instructed, emotionless, "prop yourself up on your elbows and look up."
         Adrienne did as she was told, but Theodora instructed her further.
         "Elongate your neck and push your breasts out. Arch your back."
         Adrienne did so and heard the camera snap, and then was instructed to change positions.
         "On your tummy, Ms. Thorne," Theodora barked, "ankles crossed and pulled toward your ass and give me your best 'fuck me' look.
         Adrienne blushed, but did as she was told, making Theodora pause for a moment, then snapped a few shots. "Alright, Ms. Thorne, on your knees," Theodora commanded, "hips forward, lean back on one hand and pull the collar with the other, make sure your breasts are pushed out as much as possible, and again, give me your best sex look."
         Adrienne felt as though Theodora were defiling her with her commands somehow, but did as she was told and heard several camera snaps. Theodora looked down at the photos then back to Adrienne and wagged her finger at her. Adrienne got up and headed toward Theodora who held up her hand, indicating for Adrienne to stop and someone tossed her a beach ball which Theodora instructed her to throw into the air and look up at from a side profile. They did a few more positions and then they were done.
         Theodora scrolled through her camera as she waved Adrienne off set and waved the next girl in. Adrienne sulked through the sand to go change back into her clothes and left her shoes in the tent as she took a walk on the beach. She opened her clutch and pulled a crooked joint from the pocket and lit it up as she walked along the shore. Maybe getting a little stoned would help her to think of the answers she needed for Theodora's questions. She looked down at the sand, finding pretty seashells that she stuffed into her pocket as she walked along the beach. As she walked along, smoking her joint and picking up shells, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulled it out to find a text from Theodora.
         Shoot's over. Let's go. I'll be waiting for you in the car.
         Adrienne turned around to walk back, deciding when she met up with Theodora that she'd offer to take her to lunch. Everyone was always happier when there was food involved, right? She figured they could have their discussion over omusubi, and hopefully clear everything up, even if that meant Adrienne had to admit her feelings for Ms. Alvarez.

         Adrienne finally got back to where they were tearing the set down and grabbed her shoes from the tent and slid them on and jogged to the car where Theodora sat waiting. Adrienne got into the car, and without a single word, Theodora threw the car in gear and sped off.
         "Theodora," Adrienne said softly.
         "What," she said emotionless, not taking her eyes off the road.
         "Would you mind if I took you to lunch and we talked?"
         "You sure you want to talk?" Theodora looked over at her and Adrienne somehow felt her gaze piercing through her heart from behind those dark glasses, "For all I know, you'll take me out to lunch and then get cold feet about whatever it is you want to discuss and leave me with the bill."
         "I'm trying to make this right, Theodora," Adrienne sighed softly as she slumped sadly back in her seat, and rested her chin on her fist, defeated as she stared out the window, trying desperately not to cry again.
         "Where do you want to go?" Theodora asked, still emotionless.
         "If you like omusubi, I thought we could go to Sunny Blue," Adrienne said, motionless, "but if you want something else, I don't mind paying for whatever you're craving. I just want to talk to you."
         "Fine," Theodora said taking a left to head to the restaurant instead of the right to head back home. Theodora parked quickly, got out of the car, slamming the door behind her and practically stomped around the car to open Adrienne's door for her and help her out.
         "Thank you," Adrienne said sweetly, kissing Theodora's cheek in thanks without giving it much thought, making her jerk away from Adrienne and slam the door once she was out.
         "Don't do that again," Theodora said and turned on her heel, leaving Adrienne to tag along at her heels. Adrienne rubbed her arm as she struggled to keep up with Theodora's long strides, trying to keep the threatening tears at bay. Theodora held open the door for Adrienne, who thanked her as she passed by, receiving no warmth or smile from Theodora as she stepped into the restaurant. Adrienne tried desperately to remain positive and keep the situation light as possible as she turned on her heel toward Theodora.
         "Please get whatever you like," Adrienne tried to smile softly as best she could, "the Miso Beef omusubi is amazing."
         Theodora pulled her sunglasses up onto her head so that she could see the menu better, then side eyed Adrienne, "I don't need you to pay for anything for me," she said coolly.
         "But I asked you out to lunch," Adrienne protested, touching Theodora's arm, letting go when Theodora looked down at her hand then back up into her eyes. "Sorry," Adrienne murmured as she jerked her hand away from Theodora, "just please let me get this. You've taken such good care of me and--."
         "You've got a real funny way of showing it," Theodora said as she took one last glance at the menu board, "I want the spicy salmon with some kimchi, and a ramune soda, please." Adrienne couldn't help but hang her head, but walked to the counter to order their food and grabbed napkins, chopsticks and their sodas and went to the table to sit with Theodora who grabbed her ramune and popped the marble out to take a swig of the bubbly, blue liquid. Adrienne fidgeted with her fingers, picking at her cuticles as she stole glances at Theodora, who continually stared out at the deep blue until their food arrived. The man who'd taken their order set their food down on the table and asked if they needed anything else. Theodora put on her prettiest smile and shook her head. That beautiful smile faded as soon as she was sure the man was too busy to notice her expression. She picked up her chopsticks and began pushing around her kimchi, her jaw hard and rigid as she picked some up and brought it to her gorgeous lips.
         "What are we here to talk about, Adrienne?" she asked coldly.
         "Theodora, about this morning, I-," she froze, trying to collect her thoughts, and apparently took longer than Theodora wanted.
         "You what, Adrienne?" Theodora spat impatiently, making Adrienne jump.
         "I, uh," Adrienne stammered as the tears welled in her eyes as her frustration of how to word it and the fear of actually admitting it began to grip her.
         "Don't you dare fucking cry, Adrienne," Theodora slammed her fist on the table angrily. "You have absolutely no right to. Why the fuck did you run off after you kissed me?"
         "I was scared Theodora," Adrienne whimpered as the tears breached her lashes.
         "How does that make any fucking sense?" she seethed quietly, "You kissed me because you're scared? Of what?"
         "Falling for you so quickly," Adrienne blurted, "I'm scared of love, Theodora. I don't know what actual love is or feels like. I've never experienced it with another human being before. I'm afraid of reading you wrong. I mean, do you like me? Do you just want to fuck my brains out? Sure, you play with and tease me, which is fine, but I can't tell if you actually want to be in a relationship and have something serious, or if you just want to be friends with benefits. I'm afraid of the feelings that you elicit in me. The fact that the only thing that I can think of when I look at you is to kiss you, scares me. When you're out of a room or out of my sight, I fear you'll leave me and never come back. I never felt like this about anyone Theodora. This feeling is new to me and it frightens me. The kiss...it was an escape mechanism, because I was too afraid to tell you all this."
         Theodora looked from her hands to those pretty, red-rimmed, tear-filled baby blues and pursed her lips. She'd never taken into consideration that Adrienne's whole relationship with Jaxon had been a lie, and that she had been denying who and what she was to everyone, up to, and including, herself. She had always been more sexually attracted to women, but had never been with one. She'd never felt the warmth inside of another woman. She'd never felt soft, supple lips on hers. She had never caressed another woman's curves. She'd never felt a woman's love, or any other kind for that matter. She had been hurt the entire time in the only relationship she'd ever been in, and she had no idea what it was like to have even a semi-normal romantic relationship with someone. Theodora cocked her jaw and said nothing as Adrienne began to cry hard into her hands.
         "Theodora please," Adrienne hiccuped between sobs.
         "Please what, Adrienne?" she tried to sound venomous, not wanting to give into those pretty blue eyes that were constantly tripping her up as of late. "What do you want?"
         Adrienne was trying to repair the barricade that held back her tears, but they were too strong and she cried all the harder, but tried desperately not to attract attention. "Please say something," she pleaded desolately. "This, right here, is why I kissed you. You'd asked me why it had upset me when you'd requested that I didn't have people over till I got my own bed. I was upset because I don't want to bring anyone else home. I want to be the girl that's lucky enough to be the one to share your bed. I can't even think about anyone else but you, and it hurt that you assumed I could. I can't fucking breathe or think when you look at me. The way you say my name makes me shiver and I like it. I've never felt anything like it. I kissed you because when you asked me this morning, why I had been so upset last night, I was afraid to spill my fucking guts and not have those feelings be reciprocated...or worse apparently...to hear you say nothing at all."
         Theodora felt like a real ass now. She hadn't even thought about Adrienne having the same feelings that Theodora harbored for her. This poor girl had not once, but twice, just poured out her feelings for her, and she sat in silence staring at the beautiful, suffering creature. Adrienne sat across from her, still staring at her expectantly, her eyes filling up more the longer the two sat in silence.
         "You don't feel the same way," she whispered almost so low that only she could hear, and fresh tears flooded her face.
         "Adrienne," Theodora reached over, grabbing the mournful girl's hand and squeezed, making her freeze, her sob catching in her throat as she looked up at Theodora, "I-," she paused for a long time still squeezing that little manicured hand in hers, "I absolutely reciprocate your feelings. I've been fighting a mental war of my own, if you can believe it. You'd come from such an abusive background, romantically, that I was afraid to make a move or ask you on a date or something. I've never been afraid to ask a girl out. I've always been pretty confident, except for when I was with Christina, but even then I was only self-conscious because she was emotionally and verbally abusive toward me, and I let her be and started to believe the things she said because I loved her...or at least I thought I did. I'm afraid of love too, because I realize that Christina never truly loved me. So you and I are in the same boat, not knowing what love feels like, but I at least know what it feels like to be pretend loved. It seems like Jaxon never had any qualms about showing you that he never loved you. I have an inkling of what love is supposed to feel like at least. I think I owe you an apology for how I've treated you today, I should've been more understanding."
         "Please don't apologize. I deserved everything I got today. I shouldn't have run off after I kissed you. That was wrong."
         "I was so taken aback from your kiss I couldn't see straight. It was an excellent escape mechanism, that's for sure."
         Adrienne squeezed Theodora's hand and smiled softly and whispered, "The kiss was more than just an escape route. It was a carnal need too at the time. I'd been dying to know what those luscious lips tasted like." Theodora looked up from Adrienne's hand as it sensually moved up her arm, to her pretty blue eyes that housed a concerning amount of lust? No, not lust, it was more like longing. Sure, there was sexual desire there, but Theodora could see that Adrienne wanted and needed her. She needed love and patience, she wanted the sex, the touch. Theodora knew that she could give Adrienne everything she needed and more, and based on her multiple confessions of feeling, she decided that she was ready to put herself back out there and give love another chance, not to say that she'd let her guard down completely, but Theodora could see herself slowly but surely letting Adrienne in.
         "Well," Theodora said, grabbing Adrienne's wandering hand, "now that we've established that we both want to slowly further our relationship, you can kiss me all you'd like; just please don't run away again."
         "Now that I know the feelings mutual, I think I'd be a bit more confident," Adrienne chuckled and curled her hair behind her ear and picked up her omusubi and scarfed it down, starving from not having eaten breakfast earlier.
         Adrienne quickly finished her meal and rubbed her tummy satisfactorily, then stood and took their trash to the waste and recycle bins and waited by the door for Theodora. The two walked side by side to the car and Adrienne shyly slipped her hand into Theodora's, who looked over at her to find a bashful, little smile on her face.
         "Do you mind?" Adrienne asked sweetly.
         "Not at all," Theodora smiled and looked back in front of her, "It's very nice actually."
         Theodora held Adrienne's hand all the way to the car, letting go only when she opened the door to let her in. Adrienne smiled up at her and thanked her as she closed the door and walked around to the driver's side. Theodora got in and revved up the beautiful machine and pulled out onto the main street.
         "Would you mind taking me by my friend's house to get my stuff and my car, please?"
         "Sure, no problem," Theodora smiled, "got an address?"
         "Yeah," she said pulling her phone out, seeing texts from Skylar from the previous day, not having received a notification that she'd received any texts, but then again, she'd been pretty engrossed in Theodora for the past few days.
         Skylar: Uh, did you end up spending the night at that lady's house?
Did she kidnap you?
Are you tied up in a basement somewhere?
Talked to your dad because I was getting worried, he said you had come by his office with that lady. You have some tea to spill, bitch.
Your car is still sitting in my lot, and your keys are at my place. Let me know when you want to come get them or if you want me to meet up for you keys and you can come pick the car up later.
         Instead of texting Skylar back, she called. Skylar, of course, picked up on the first ring.
         "Bitch. What the fuck have you been doing for the past three days?"
         "Uh," Adrienne looked over at Theodora, "that's a story for another time. Are you home?"
         "Ugh," Skylar groaned and Adrienne heard the bong bubbling in the background, "yes. I have to work early in the morning. Why? You finally coming to get your shit and your car?"
         "Yeah, we're on our way now."
         "Oooh, do I get to meet this mysterious lady from La Esclava."
         "Yes, bitch. You do," Adrienne smiled over at Theodora, mouthing to her that Skylar wanted to meet her.
         "Well, just let me know when you're here and I'll meet you outside. Just going to hit the bong for bit."
         Adrienne hung up the phone, and looked over at Theodora, who smiled, "So, the bestie wants to meet me huh?"
         "Skylar and I know each other's deepest, darkest secrets," Adrienne's smile faded a bit as she realized just how much she'd been keeping from Skylar all these years, "Well, most of them anyway."
         "I don't think she'll be upset," Theodora said understandingly, "I think she might be hurt that you didn't come to her or trust her with the information, but I think, in the end, she'll just be glad that you're safe, and hopefully happy." Theodora took Adrienne's hand with a smile and squeezed it reassuringly. "It sounds like you two have a lot to catch up on though. I will come in and introduce myself and help you get your stuff together, but I'll just let you drive yourself home. Don't worry, I'll wait up for you. I don't have any shoots tomorrow, but I do have some editing and such that I need to do, but I don't need to leave the comfort of my home to do that."
         "Thanks. I don't have anything to do tomorrow either, but I'll probably be home early because Sky does have to work early in the morning."
         "Good," Theodora smiled wickedly, "I'd like to spend some time with you this evening."
         "The pleasure would be all mine."
         Theodora said something under her breath that Adrienne wasn't sure she heard right, but she thought she heard something along the lines of 'quite literally,' but she didn't press. Theodora pulled into the lot and parked next to Adrienne's car and got out and came to let her out as she was texting Skylar that they were out front. A few seconds later, Skylar come out to greet them in a Star Wars bath robe and black slides.
         "Hey, bitch," she said with a joint between her fingers, "long time no see."
         "Hey, bitch," Adrienne chuckled in response then turned to Theodora, "Sky, this is Theodora. Theodora, This is my best friend, Skylar."
         "Pleasure to meet you, Skylar," Theodora said, her sultry soothing as she reached her hand toward Skylar.
         "Pleasure to finally meet you too, Theodora," Skylar said, shaking her hand firmly as she took a drag off the doobie and handed to Adrienne and gestured for them to follow. "Come along ladies, let's go have a drink."
         Theodora gently gripped Adrienne's elbow and they fell a few paces back, and she whispered, "You're driving, please, don't drink too much."
         "If you hadn't noticed," Adrienne whispered as she took a drag from the joint, "I really don't care to drink, Skylar knows that but she coaxes me into a shot or two at times, maybe half a beer."
         Theodora let go of Adrienne's elbow and nodded, quickening their pace as Skylar opened the door and let them all in, ushering them to the couch. She went to her sparkling-clean kitchen and grabbed a bottle of Apothic, a corkscrew, and three wine glasses. "Wine ladies?" she smiled as she waved the bottle, "Adrienne, don't even answer, bitch, because you're having at least half a glass."
         Theodora let a chuckle squeeze from between her lips, "She doesn't take 'no' for an answer. I like it."
         "Please don't encourage her," Adrienne rolled her eyes, "she's such a bad influence."
         "Whatever, Addy," Skylar scoffed as she flopped onto the couch and popped the cork on the wine, "you're parents love me just as much as they love you."
         "I don't know, Sky," Adrienne chuckled picking up her glass to take a sip, her lips curling at the bite of the alcohol on her tongue, "I think they might actually love you more."
         They all laughed at that as they sipped their wine and Adrienne smoked the the spliff, offering it to Theodora who politely declined, so she handed it back to Skylar who looked to Theodora. "So, Theodora," she grinned as she took a hit, "the show you put on the other night was pretty cool. You make all that rope stuff look easy, but so beautiful. It's fucking art."
         "Thank you, Skylar," Theodora sipped her wine gracefully, "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
         "So did you try any of those moves on Addy here?" she asked, barking out a belly laugh at Adrienne's mortified expression.
         "Not yet, I'm afraid," Theodora chuckled and winked toward Adrienne as she finished off her wine and stood. "Well, Skylar, I've told Adrienne that I was sure you two had a lot of catching up to do, and that I would leave you ladies to it. Thank you for the wine and being such a gracious host." Theodora's gaze found Adrienne's, "I'll see you later?"
         "You will," Adrienne smiled as she and Skylar got up to walk her to her car and watched her drive off.
         "Soooo," Skylar drawled as they started walking back toward the apartment, "spill the tea, bitch."
         "I have a lot to tell you, about a lot of things."
         "I wish I had all night but I don't so you're going to have to abbreviate some," Skylar pushed the door open and turned on some background music and sipped her wine.
         "Jaxon and I are done."
         "What do you mean, "done?"" Skylar asked seemingly unfazed.
         "Well, we're definitely not getting married, that's for sure."
         "What happened, Addy?" she asked as she set down her empty wine glass to refill it.
         "He was," Adrienne bit her lip, "he was beating me, Sky."
         "I had a feeling, Addy," Skylar said sadly, "I never liked Jaxon; something about him just rubbed me the wrong way, but I love you, so I wanted to be supportive of you and your choices. I had a suspicion but unless you came to me I didn't want to be intrusive. I'm honestly so glad that you're done with him. Now, physically, he was maybe an eight, but personality was like negative a billion, which makes him physically a zero to me, but you are a ten and you deserve that, Sis."
         "Thanks Sky," Adrienne smiled, "I'm hoping I've found it."
         "In Theodora, I'm assuming?" she grinned at Adrienne's shocked expression as she sipped her wine, "I'm a lot more observant than you give me credit for Addy. I've seen the way you look at other girls. Hell, I've seen the way you've looked at me when you think I'm not looking, and let me tell you, I'm flattered, but no. I don't think we could ever do that and after it wouldn't be awkward. Theodora seems like a very nice lady. She's a lot more mature than we are, let's be real. She's hot as fuck, not even going to lie, I'd lickety that bitch's split. She seems to really care for you, Addy. I have better hearing than you think too. I heard her tell you not to drink too much since you were driving. That's low key adorable. I'm so happy for you Addy. You deserve sooooooooooooooooo much better than Jaxon, and you've put up with too much bullshit for far too long. I hope that Theodora is your peace and that she's the one that helps you find your happiness."
         Adrienne hugged her friend tightly as she teared up. Normally, Skylar was a very 'tough love' kind of person, but she did have her mushy moments, and this was the nicest thing she'd ever said to Adrienne and it warmed her from the inside out. They sat back and Skylar handed Adrienne the bong with a fresh bowl of weed and a lighter.
         "So," Skylar sipped her wine, "have you two fucked yet?" And good old Skylar was back.
         "No," Adrienne chuckled as she hit the bong hard, causing herself to cough uncontrollably, only speaking when she could control her coughing, "the furthest we've gotten was a kiss and that was used as an escape mechanism." Adrienne handed Skylar the bong as she looked at her, obviously confused. "So, long story short, after I'd told her about Jaxon and all that she convinced me to go tell my father and move in with her to keep me safe since Jaxon knew where you and my parents lived. We've slept together, but that's it. We only slept. We didn't touch each other, just got some shuteye in the same bed. We got into a discussion about house rules which there really weren't any but she had requested that I didn't bring sexual partners home until we got me my own bed and room set up, which was a totally fair request, if I wasn't interested in only her cause we tease each other lightly and stuff, plus she's just an amazing person all the way around from what I've seen so far. And I'd made us breakfast this morning and she was teasing me and she cornered me in the kitchen and asked me why I'd gotten so upset. I was ashamed to admit that I was falling for her so quickly. No, not ashamed, just scared that she wouldn't reciprocate my feelings. I thought 'hey, this kiss might distract her long enough to let me make a break for it' so I did and then I went and locked myself in the bathroom."
         "Wow, Addy," Skylar said as she downed another glass of wine, "smooth."
         "Yeah," Adrienne blushed and rubbed her neck, "definitely not one of my proudest moments. She was mad at me all day."
         "As she should've been," Skylar said flatly as she poured another glass of wine.
         "Hey, whose side are you on anyway?"
         Skylar shrugged and sipped her wine, "You kissed her and ran. I'd be mad too, bitch."
         "Anyway," Adrienne rolled her eyes, but knew Skylar was right, "I told her, twice, how I felt over lunch and we're okay now."
         "You're blind if you don't see that that woman has feelings for you, Addy. I'm fucking faded and I saw it."
         "I guess you're right," Adrienne smiled softly and looked down at her phone to see it was going on nine o'clock, "Shit. You need to get to bed and I've still got to drive home. Wanna do lunch some time next week?"
         "Sounds good," Skylar smiled as she got up to grab Adrienne's stuff for her that she'd put in a bag for her and handed her her keys, walking her to her car to see her off safe, "give me Theodora's phone number."
         Adrienne pulled out her phone to see texts from Theodora herself.
         I can't wait for you to get home so I can spend time with you.
Picked up some lamb chops on the way home. That and saffron rice and garlic spinach for dinner when you get here.
         Adrienne loved that Theodora cooked for her. It was so nice to have that little bit of stress lifted from her shoulders. She was even more blessed that she got to eat it. It was a welcomed change. She looked at Theodora's info and read the number off to Skylar who nodded and watched her get in the car. Adrienne rolled the window down and told her to go get inside, that she wanted to wait in the car until she was safe.
         "Alright bitch," she said, slapping the roof of the car, "just text me that you got home safe."
         "I will Mama Sky. Love you, bitch."
         After watching Skylar make it to the door and get inside safely, she typed Theodora's, and now her, address into Waze, and sped for home. Skylar said she was blind if she wasn't able to see that Theodora had feelings for her. Had she been so afraid of being the first of them to admit that she had feelings that she'd been too blind to tell that Theodora reciprocated those feelings? She pushed down harder on the gas, wanting to get home to Theodora, and before she knew it, she was pulling into the lot. She parked next to Theodora's beautiful car and grabbed her bag of stuff she'd gotten from Skylar's and practically ran to the door. She plucked her key from her pocket and smiled down at it as it turned in the lock.          She walked in to find Theodora with readers on, reading in one of the beautiful, plush chairs in the living room with a glass of wine, with the bottle never too far away. The whole apartment smelled of some sort of fragrant spices along the lines of thyme and rosemary and definitely garlic and a smell new to her, which she was assuming was the saffron that smelled absolutely amazing. Theodora looked up from her book, and pulled the reading glasses from the bridge of her perfect nose and smiled, setting both the book and the glasses on the coffee table and stood up to cross into the kitchen.
         "Good evening, Adrienne," she smiled softly, "Are you ready for dinner?"
         "I'm starving. It smells so good."
         "I'm glad you think so," Theodora smiled, "Everything is in the oven keeping warm, but ready when you are."
         "I am so ready to dig in," Adrienne sat at the island where Theodora had set them up plates and utensils, "My mouth is watering."
         Theodora took their plates and loaded them up with steaming hot food. She plated the lamb chops so that they made a little tent shape on the plate, she'd scooped the rice with a cookie scoop, nestled next to the garlic spinach that was speckled with slivered almonds. Theodora grabbed her glass with a sweet smile, "Water, I'm assuming?"
         Adrienne nodded and smiled, wanting so badly to dig in, but waited for Theodora to sit down and eat with her. Theodora returned with the glass of ice water and sat down next to Adrienne, and they began to eat in silence. Adrienne sliced into the meat to find it a perfect almost-medium rare, but not quite, and chewed slowly, savoring all the beautiful flavors that played in her mouth. Her eyes rolled back involuntarily as she chewed and finally swallowed.
         "Fuck, that's good," Adrienne gushed as she shoveled the rice into her mouth, having never tasted saffron before and loved the very moment it hit her tongue, "Oh my god."
         Theodora chuckled and took a bit and chewed gracefully, "I'm glad you like it."
         "Like it?" Adrienne asked around a mouthful of spinach, "It's amazing!"
         Adrienne finally calmed down a bit and ate like a normal human being, while they ate mostly in silence. Adrienne only had a few bites left when she finally broke the peace.
         "Theodora," she said, very seriously, making Theodora look up from her plate.
         "Yes, Adrienne?" she asked, giving Adrienne her undivided attention.
         "That book that we looked at last night," Adrienne said sheepishly, blushing a bit at what she was about to ask, looking down at her fidgeting fingers, or rather anywhere but Theodora's eyes.
         "Yes?" Theodora coaxed gently, "What about it?"
         "Will you do that to me?" Adrienne asked, looking up at Theodora from under her lashes.
         "Not unless you specifically ask me to."
         "I'm asking you to," Adrienne bit her lip, a tad bit embarrassed. "It looks so beautiful, and I want to look that beautiful."
         Theodora turned completely in her stool toward Adrienne and gripped her chin gently, forcing her to look her in the eyes.
         "But Adrienne, my dear, you are that beautiful. You don't need to be all trussed up to be either. You could be butt naked and dressed to kill, but if you'd like me to tie you up, then yes, I will, but I'd like to start small and work my way up. For people who've gone through emotional and physical abuse, I feel like it could be a very bad thing to just go in, guns blazing."
         Adrienne blushed at the compliment, but nodded at Theodora's wise advice on taking it slow. She finished the last few bites of her dinner as Theodora finished her wine, then got up and cleaned up the plates and their glasses, since Theodora had already cleaned the pots and pans from dinner. Theodora had gone into the bedroom when she'd cleared the island of their dinner mess, and had returned shortly, waiting in the doorway for Adrienne to finish up. Adrienne dried her hands on a kitchen towel when Theodora came up to her and took her hand to lead her back into her bedroom where she'd set up a few candles, and had lay out some things on the bed in a neat and orderly fashion. Theodora led her closer and let her see each of them.
         "Tell me what you would like me to use tonight," Theodora said gently, her hands clasped in front of her as she waited for Adrienne's reply. Adrienne looked from Theodora to the implements on the bed and bit her lip, not really sure of anything, but felt Theodora's reassuring hand on her arm. "There are no wrong answers, Adrienne. I can apply any of these implements in the most basic way and if you like that, I can do something a bit more complex and intricate. Well, with the rope, I can. The blindfold and gag are pretty self-explanatory, but I just need to you to decide if you'd like me to use them on you tonight or wait for a different night to include those. Too much sensory deprivation could possibly be too much for you right now, but you may warm up to the idea later. It can be very, er, rewarding, in its own right."
         "I'll just take your advice and let you tie me up for now," Adrienne said guardedly.
         Theodora nodded and grabbed up the blindfold and the gag and placed them into the nightstand drawer for the time being, then turned back toward Adrienne, who stood smiling awkwardly, not sure what to do with herself.
         "Would you like to keep your clothes on?" Theodora asked.
         "Do you need them off?" Adrienne asked, a bit confused.
         "Not at the moment," Theodora smiled softly, "Like I said, I'm going to do the most basic knots, maybe just bind your wrists for now, and if that's not too traumatizing, I could maybe do something a little more intricate that might feel a bit nicer without clothes, but you could keep them on for now."
         "Okay, then," Adrienne smiled sweetly and waited for Theodora to instruct her, nervous that if she moved or spoke, it wouldn't be right.
         "Adrienne," Theodora stepped toward her and took her hands, "I need to you to listen to me very carefully, okay? You need to trust me absolutely for this to work. Do you understand?"
         Adrienne simply nodded, to which Theodora said, "Say it out loud. Tell me you understand."
         "Yes, Theodora," Adrienne said softly, "I trust you."
         "Also, if the ropes are too tight or you become uncomfortable at any time you need to communicate with me and let me know. Do not "tough it out." Ropes being too tight can cause poor circulation which could lead to amputation if not treated properly or completely avoided because you communicated your discomfort to me. Is that understood?"
         Adrienne nodded again, but remembered that Theodora needed to hear the confirmation. "Yes, I will communicate with you and let you know if I feel any pain or discomfort."
         Theodora nodded, "Shibari is a pleasurable experience. It can even cause people to climax, if executed properly. In no way, should Shibari ever be an uncomfortable or painful experience, and if it is, someone is either doing it wrong or you're simply struggling through and not saying anything. Please promise me that you will speak up."
         "I promise, Theodora," Adrienne said reassuringly, "I will say something if it doesn't feel right."
         "Okay," Theodora said, picking up the rope from the bed. "Are you ready to begin?"
         "Yes."
         "Would you like to sit or stand?"
         "I'm fine with either. I'm comfortable standing."
         "Great," Theodora smiled gently and spoke softly, almost like a flight attendant, "then would you please hold out your wrists?"
         Adrienne did as she was asked and held out her wrists to Theodora who then gently draped the rope across her wrists, then wrapped it around them once, making sure they weren't crossing, and that they were lying flat beside each other, then went around her wrists once more, doing the same. She then took the two ends, and crossed them and wrapped them around the columns, bring them back to the crossing point and gently cinched Adrienne's wrists together before completing the set with an overhand knot. Theodora's eyes had been moving constantly since she'd lay the rope against Adrienne's skin, darting constantly between her artwork and Adrienne's expression.
         "How does that feel, Adrienne?" Theodora asked in a soothing voice.
         "It feels very nice," Adrienne smiled warmly, "I'm really not sure how to describe how the rope makes me feel, but pleasurable comes to mind. I've never felt this before, mentally or physically. This is Greek to me."
         "Most everything about BDSM is considered extremely taboo, even the least extreme of its sub-genres, like spanking or a bit of choking. I would describe Shibari as a forbidden caress; it's that simple longing for something that society considers to be immoral but it makes you feel so good. It's that soft hemp jute caressing your skin as gentle as a lover, but if the desire is there, it can be used to completely immobilize you, all while making your pretty little pussy wet." Theodora smiled as Adrienne blushed and hid behind her hair. "May I try something else on you, little one?"
         Adrienne nodded as Theodora unbound her wrists, "Here comes the fun part if you ask me," Theodora whispered softly as the rope fell in layers as Theodora undid the knot. She was right. Being unbound was just as satisfying as being tied up. It was as though all of her endorphins had been captivated when the rope tightened around her skin, but that entire time that they had been captive their intensity had been building and building and when Theodora loosened the jute from her wrists, her endorphins released, but with double the strength. It was such an inexplicable feeling, but she loved it and was insatiably excited to see what Theodora had planned for her next move.