This is the first chapter of my sequel to "Away With The Faeries". It's a work in very sporadic progress but I thought one or two people mght find it vaguely interesting.
A Faery Tale Wedding?
Belinda stared down at the piece of writing paper before her. Festooned with flowers and twining vines around the borders it was obviously intended for billets-doux and party invitations. Right now, however it was divided into headings as follows
Reasons to marry Stefan
I think he might love me
He’s a multi-millionaire who lives in a fairy tale castle
He is very good in bed – or I’m very easily pleased, not sure which (Query: does that make me a slut?)
We share lots of the same interests and those we don’t share complement each other. (Although that does include; I like to cook, he likes to eat)
All of our friends were his friends first – if I break the engagement they probably go
Reasons NOT to marry Stefan
He can be very traditional – I’m the woman so I’m in charge of cooking, making the place look pretty, being the hostess, being really impressed when he tells me things and clinging to his arm looking up at him in adoration!
I was a man three days ago!!
He did this to me!!!
That wasn’t entirely true, she reflected. Yes, subjectively it was only three days since she’d woken up to find that Brian the arrogant male, aggressive teacher with a mean streak had vanished to be replaced by the sweet, good natured and anatomically female Belinda, but in fact she’d lost a year and a day’s worth of memories overnight thanks to post-hypnotic suggestion from Stephan’s pet evil hypnotist. All those IT programmes he devised for the CI – for agencies that couldn’t be mentioned bought a lot of favours it seemed.
“Butterfly?” Belinda hastily covered her notes with a pack of envelopes as Stefan came up behind her
“Hi Stef-mmffll! Mfll! Mmmm!” Belinda wriggled a little as Stefan’s right arm went around her waist, pinning her to the chair while his left hand tilted her head upwards and back for Stefan’s passionate kisses.
Oh God he’s so good at this! How can he make me feel this way? I’m so ashamed; he shouldn’t be able to do this to me. I’m a man!
Had she been able to see herself at that moment Belinda’s appearance would have belied her thoughts. She was dressed in a long, cream coloured nightgown made of silk and lace which did as much to emphasise as to conceal her ample charms. Her full, heavy breasts swelled beneath the silk as did her child-bearing hips. Night dark hair hung shining down to the middle of her back in raven tresses. Her smooth skin was pale as moonlight except when, as now, excitement and embarrassment lent her a rosy hue. Belinda’s plump, pretty feet with their purple toenails could be seen kicking faintly as Stefan scooped her up into his arms, sat down in the chair she had occupied and lowered her gently on to his lap. Only then did he break the kiss and allow the appreciatively blushing Belinda to speak.
“Well, “ she said breathily “That was very impressive. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were showing off -reminding me that you’re the big, strong man and I’m the helpless, delicate girlie-girl. Were you?”
“Do I need to remind you? Besides, you didn’t seem too distressed at being the girl earlier.”
Belinda flushed crimson
“I wasn’t. But if you’re going to do that to me again I need to be lying down. My knees are still shaky as it is.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere – but I thought you might like to go for a walk down to the river before it does.”
“I mffll mmfmmmmm! Mmmm! Stefan! I mmmm! For goodness sake, how can I answer you if you keep kissing me like that? What am I supposed to do, moan in Morse Code?”
“I like that idea.” Stefan grinned
“You would! Honestly, sometimes I feel like a sex object!
“Oh good!”
Stefan closed with her again and there were no more articulate sounds for several minutes.
“So what do you think?”
“Of what?”
“Going for a walk?”
“Oh that – it had gone right out of my head. Yes, I like it. I want to get dressed first though. Meet you in the hall in ten minutes?”
“Why don’t I come up and help?”
“Because if we go into that bedroom together I know perfectly well you won’t let me leave it till the morning’s gone. Ten minutes. I promise.”
Back in the bedroom Belinda slumped in front of the mirror on the dressing table which Stefan had installed especially for her and clutched at her hair in despair.
“How does he do that? All he has to do is lay hands on me and I melt! I stop thinking about being a man, about how I can get out of this, about anything except being with him. I don’t even know if I want to get away. I just know I’m not sure of anything anymore! And no wonder he treats me like he does. Look at me!”
Mournfully she gazed at her reflection. The heart shaped face with the full lips and big blue eyes that pouted sadly back at her bore only the faintest of family resemblances to Brian, the man she had been all her life – until Stefan had turned the former bully of the children’s home where they had both been brought up into the buxom young girl who now nightly warmed his bed with embarrassing enthusiasm. As for her figure – she could have shaved her head and dressed in a boiler suit and not been mistaken for a man for even the briefest of instants.
Not that there’s much chance of that she mused as she turned towards the wardrobe. Despite the fact that she still rented a house in the nearby town an awful lot of Belinda’s clothes and underwear seemed to have migrated over to Stefan’s enormous master bedroom – especially the fancy stuff, but here or there, she didn’t seem to own a single pair of trousers.
Belinda still wasn’t sure if this was because Stefan had somehow programmed her against them, or forbidden her to wear them or if she had simply discovered that they made her bottom look like a hippo trying to squeeze into an eggcup. With more than a year’s memories missing, her life was full of questions that she didn’t know the answer to.
Sighing, she selected a set of pink satin underwear – much less itchy than lace – an ankle length skirt of soft, loose material and a black velvet top that showed off her ample bosom without making her feel too bovine And words cannot say how much it embarrasses me to have think of this kind of thing. Just getting dressed is enough to make me blush! And blushing makes me blush more! It’s so damn girlish!
To complete her toilette Belinda inserted silver earrings in the shape of a tear drop, their surfaces scrolled with Celtic knotwork, that dangled to and fro as she tossed her head from side to side to check their fit before selecting a silver ring in the shape of a fish biting its own tail and placing it on the third finger of her right hand.
The third finger of her left hand, of course, was still claimed by Stefan’s engagement ring and she shivered a little, before pulling her thoughts back together and carefully re-applying the lipstick that Stefan’s enthusiasm had wiped away. Just why she felt so naked without make up Belinda wasn’t certain, but suspected more of Stefan’s post-hypnotic suggestion.
“I have to do some serious thinking.” Belinda told her reflection sternly
“Being here is like living in a fairy tale: I wake up in the most wonderful home I’ve ever seen, surrounded by beautiful things and spend the day being courted by someone who seems to adore me and repeatedly sweeps me off my feet – literally as well as figuratively. If I don’t pull myself together then before I work out what to do, or if I can go back to what I was, then before I know it I’m going to be marching down the aisle in a huge white dress and Stefan is going to put another ring
on my finger and seal my fate!
I’ll be a wife. I’ll be a wife!”
Belinda considered her reflection again. The girl in the mirror didn’t look terrified at the prospect. Worried, yes, confused, yes, a little scared, certainly, but not terrified. That was terrifying in itself.
“Belinda! Come on down or I’m coming up to get you. We’re wasting sunlight.”
Belinda jumped and rushed down to the Great Hall, where Stefan awaited her by the huge, black, iron studded oaken door that dated back to goodness only knew when.
“Hello butterfly. What kept you?”
“It’s a lady’s privilege to be late.” She replied, tossing her head in the air in mock annoyance. Then they were moving hand in hand out of the door and on to the great sward of sunlit turf that led down to the river.
As ever, Belinda was struck by the beauty of her surroundings. Stefan’s home was an actual castle, built on Roman foundations with additions running from Norman times to the seventeenth century. Barns and cottages competed with walled Tudor gardens for the prize of Most Picturesque Supporting Man-Made Feature but marvellous as Belinda found them they couldn’t match the castle’s grounds which comprised almost all of a smallish river valley tucked away in steep sided hills, half an hour’s drive and an eternity away from the dingy post-industrial town where an orphan named Brian had tormented a fellow inmate of the children’s home by the name of Stefan Shilpott.
The green turf that shaded imperceptibly into water meadow as it moved down the hillside was covered in dew drops which the slanting morning sunlight turned into living jewels every colour of the rainbow and Belinda danced through it joyously.
“You’re barefoot.”
“Yes, I’m bathing my feet in summer dew. It’s your fault.”
“Eh? How so?”
“Because right this minute I don’t have to be responsible. I’m a meek, helpless girly-girl, remember? Just like you planned. So while I wait to find out what evil plans you have for me this morning I can have fun!”
Stefan let out an involuntary growl of lust
“Come here and I’ll show you my evil plans. In enormous detail!”
“Catch me if you can!” Belinda laughed and ran away
“You call that meek?” asked Stefan as he chased after her
The chase didn’t last long of course. Stefan was taller, longer-legged, and better muscled while Belinda was hampered by her long skirt and the discovery that her boobs made painful escape attempts if she went too fast. Soon she was lying on the damp grass while Stefan alternately kissed her and threaded wildflowers into her hair. All in all, it was an idyllic scene. All the stranger then, that when Stefan asked if she was happy Belinda burst into tears.
“Belinda! Please, please, what’s wrong?”
“Everything! Nothing! I don’t know!”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I- I’ve never felt so loved – never felt loved at all –since my parents dumped me at the children’s home.”
“What? I thought your parents were dead.”
“You were supposed to think that, idiot. That’s what I told everyone. The truth is they just – they just didn’t want me!” And with that Belinda dissolved into sobs and floods of tears, while Stefan tried frantically to comfort her.
“Butterfly, shh, please, please don’t be sad. I love you. I’ll never let you be hurt or lonely again.”
“How am I supposed to know that’s true?”
“What do you mean? I – “
“I mean that I don’t know if I like being a girl. No, scratch that, I know I do, but I don’t know if that feeling is real. I don’t know if I’m real!” And with that she buried her face in Stefan’s shoulder and subsided into quieter sobbing interspersed with sniffs and hiccups.
“I still don’t understand?”
Belinda pulled her face from his shirt to stare up at him wild-eyed.
“You created me, Stefan. You turned the school bully who tormented you into your ideal woman. I don’t even know that I blame you; I don’t know if I was much of an asset to the world as Brian Jenkins. But how much of the real me is there left? And what happens to me when your ideal changes?”
“Huh?”
“I went to sleep one night as Brian and woke up the next morning as Belinda. What if I wake up tomorrow as Barbie? A silicone enhanced bimbo with hairspray for brains? I don’t want to be like that.
“Worse, what if I wake up in a cage wearing a pink poodle collar marked ‘Princess’? You admitted to me that you are a control freak. I know you have a sadistic streak, only a small one, true, but that might change. I’m afraid, Stefan, can’t you see that? You – you” she began crying again “You said you liked me because I was brave. I’m not brave any more. I’m frightened!”
“Hush! You’re still brave. I’m proud of you. You’re right, I am an idiot. I shouldn’t have suppressed your memories. I just wanted to see the look on your face when I could present you with your new life, all wrapped up like a present. I didn’t stop to think what a shock it would be. I promise I don’t have any evil plans and I’m not going to do anything to you. Apart from the obvious.”
“But you already have. I’m not just a girl, I’m girly with it.”
“Maybe, but I swear, Belinda was there in potential all the time. Like a beautiful statue in a block of marble.”
Belinda sniffed “So you’re saying you’re like Pygmalion?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Not like Doctor Frankenstein?”
“No, I swear.”
“Then prove it. Give me my memories back. Please!”
“It could be traumatic. You’ve no idea how much pain the operation put you through. It was wiping that out that first gave me the idea to surprise you.”
“I’ll take that risk. I want to be real, Stefan. I have to know I’m not a toy or a puppet. If you really care about me, you’ll give me that.”
“OK, I promise. But it can’t be done all at once, your head would practically explode if I gave you a year’s worth of memories. Even when I told you about the engagement a couple of mornings ago you went into shock.”
“Well, what did you expect?”
“I didn’t expect you to sit completely frozen saying ‘Wuh – wuh – wuh – wedding?’ over and over again for five minutes. Five minutes is a long time, you know: you had me worried.”
“Hmm,” replied Belinda, pulling herself together now and directing a mock-glare at him from narrowed eyes “I’m sure you were very upset at what you had to do to snap me out of it.”
“I don’t know what you’re complaining about. Lots of girls like being spanked.”
“Oh, is that what it was? I didn’t realise what you were up to: I’m far too sweet and innocent.” Belinda rose to her feet and hauled at Stefan’s arm to pull him upright after her. “When do I get my memories back?”
Stefan muttered a phrase which she didn’t quite catch. “That should release the mental blocks slowly. They’ll come back to you in bits and pieces over the next couple of days, hopefully in some sort of order.”
“Mmm. I think spanking has just come back into my consciousness.” Belinda aimed a giant swat at Stefan’s backside. “It is fun, isn’t it? Ahh, no, that tickles!” and she was away, running towards the lake with a cry of “Catch me if you caaaan” floating on the summer air behind her
Chapter Two: Thanks for the memories
Belinda clutched at her head as dizziness struck her. The world about her was fading, fading into a mass of blurred colours. Dimly through the haze she felt her knees strike soft turf as her legs gave way under her.
“Stefan, help!”
“It’s all right, I promise; this will be a memory coming back.”
No, this isn’t a memory, I can feel myself fading, going to another time, another place.
Belinda shut her eyes. Brian opened them.
51 Weeks earlier
Brian almost lost concentration, gazing at his surroundings as his Volvo passed the gates of Queen’s Lake Castle. More than a decade before, when he was an angry, violent, confused, unhappy twelve year old living in a frightening, overcrowded and occasionally violent childrens’ home he had been taken on a tour of this place and it had changed his life. Overwhelmed with the beauty, the grace, the air of history that the ancient castle and its grounds exuded he had been filled with an ambition to achieve, to learn, to get a decent job so that one day he could live his life as far away from the atmosphere of that childrens’ home as possible, and maybe, just maybe, live somewhere that reminded him a little of this. Now eleven years later he was visiting as the friend and honoured guest of Queens Lake Castle’s new owner.
Of course, he reflected, glancing at the array of bags piled on the seat beside him, he could never have predicted the circumstances. That new owner was Stefan Shilpott, the nerd he’d bullied remorselessly at that same childrens’ home – and before extending the hand of friendship he’d already taken his revenge.
“Brian!” Brian pulled to a halt and climbed out to meet a broadly grinning Stefan who was waiting for him. Not for the first time he reflected that nerds can definitely shoot up and fill out as he clasped hands with his old enemy and new friend and had to look up to meet his gaze.
“My God, Brian Jenkins! I haven’t seen you for years! You’re looking good.”
“Eh? You saw me last Saturday.”
“No,” Stefan winked “That was Belinda Jenkins.”
Brian let out something between a laugh and a snort.
“I still can’t believe I let you talk me into dressing up as a girl and going to a LARPers party with you.”
“You didn’t; I blackmailed you by seeking out your internet history, remember? All that cyber-bondage just looks bad to the average head teacher.”
“I remember. Would you really have sent it to my employers if I’d refused to co-operate?”
“You’ll never know. Come on in and have a drink.”
“This is the grand hall. What do you think?”
“I, er, wow!”
Dark, polished oaken floorboards stretched away from a front door that could have withstood a battering ram and was old enough that Brian seriously wondered if it ever had. Beams could be seen in the walls – not the mock-Tudor of post-war housing estates but the genuine Tudor of – well,Tudor times Brian supposed.
“How old is this place?”
“This part? Fifteen hundreds maybe. The very oldest bits of the house go back to about the time of King John, barring the foundations. Those old builders were building on older ruins even then. They say this was a Roman outpost once – but I won’t let them dig up any more than has to be done for occasional repairs – there’s a line between historical curiosity and tearing up a masterpiece to find how it’s made, you know? Or maybe you disagree, I don’t know.”
“I don’t disagree, not even a little bit. This place is beautiful. Nothing should ever be allowed to spoil it.”
“Steady on.” Stefan said, laughing. You haven’t seen the rest yet.”
“I remember it from when we were children.”
“Not this, you don’t. Take a look and tell me what you think.”
Stefan led the way to a huge open sitting room. Brian had seen it before but then it had been bare and mostly roped off with the huge velvet ropes English stately homes use to keep the fingers of the hoi polloi off the valuables. Now a fire stood laid and ready in the vast open fireplace with its beamed inglenook that was tall enough for a child or a small woman to stand upright in it. A copper warming pan hung on the wall beside it and a worn but obviously antique set of fire irons leant against the chimney wall. Tasteful leather chairs and sofas were arranged around it, close enough to get the heat but far enough to be comfortable in the face of the fiercest blaze. Thick rugs and carpets graced the floors and a Georgian oak table stood before the fireplace. Beside it was a bucket of ice in which a white wine lay chilling.
“I don’t know if wine is your thing. I have beer or single malt if not?”
“Wine is good.” Brian reassured his host “But is there somewhere I can dump all this lot first?” He gestured to the bags of feminine paraphernalia he had brought from the car “I feel kind of funny having these things around me.”
“Really?” Stefan grinned, a little wolfishly “I didn’t think you looked funny at all having those things around you, and on you. In fact I was pretty impressed.”
“Ha ha! You’re never going to let me live that down are you?”
“Of course I am. I’m just going to remind you from time to time because it’s so funny seeing the look on your face.”
“I bet it is.” Replied Brian ruefully. He had foresworn all revenge, not having understood until a few days before just how much undeserved pain he’d inflicted on Stefan’s adolescent years. All the same it was hard not to wince.
“Grab a drink first?”
“OK. And then I want you to tell me everything about what happened since you left the children’s home.
Once inside Brian was overwhelmed again, the huge open fireplaces, the antique furniture that looked better after two hundred years than most things did brand new.
“I can’t believe you got all this just by studying IT - oh! I’m sorry, that sounds really rude. I didn’t mean to put you - your trade down.”
“It’s OK, you don’t have to be penitent - although penitence kind of looks good on you.” Stefan grinned. Oddly enough something about that crooked grin underneath his mop of inky hair made him look less handsome but much more attractive. A girl would probably have melted. Brian eyed him suspiciously.
“Was that another subtle reference to the night of the dance?”
“Sorry. I just can’t get over how well you managed being a girl. I promise I’m not taking the Mick, in fact I’m even more impressed with your courage than ever.”
“But you really aren’t going to let me forget it?”
“I’m trying, honest. You won’t let it stop us being friends will you? I want us to be good friends.”
“Not as long as you understand that if I ever get anything good on you, I will take a fierce and terrible vengeance in the form of sarcastic remarks.”
“You’ve already got something on me. I was the designated victim and scapegoat at the children’s home, remember?”
Brian shook his head emphatically “No, that’s something you’ve got on me. You did nothing to be ashamed of. I’d take it all back if I could.”
“Then stop being so sensitive about my reve - oh no!”
Brian was thrown for a second before he too recognised the sound of a car’s engine heading up the drive.
“Who is it?”
Stefan pulled his head back in from the open window.
“It’s Tina and the others. From the party. God damn it, they aren’t supposed to be here! We had plans but they weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow.”
“Oh my God! They’ll recognise me! They’ll know I was - it was - what am I going to do?”
“Hide! I’ll get rid of them if I can.”
Brian needed no second urging but was off and into a spare bedroom like a hare. Crouching behind the big brass Edwardian bed he found he was shaking with terror, heart thumping like a trip hammer.
I can’t go out there, I just can’t. They’ll recognise me at once! They’ll know I was Belinda. They’ll know I was Stefan’s date! Maybe he can bear that but I can’t.
Ten minutes later, the hum of conversation from downstairs suggested that there was no prospect of the unexpected visitors going away any time soon. Worse, he’d left his car out there. Soon or later someone was going to ask who Stefan’s other visitor was. Could Stefan think of a convincing answer? Brian doubted it; clever as Stefan was, he couldn’t tell a convincing lie to save his life. It had helped make him easier to bully. All you had to do was bombard him with embarrassing questions and listen to him choke on his own stammer.
But what can I do? I don’t know the house well enough to sneak out without being spotted and I absolutely can't go out ther- -. Wait. Brian can’t go out there. And this room is en suite. I should just have time to perfume and clear any unsightly hair. I can’t believe I’m about to even contemplate this after all my vows but..but...I've done it before...think 'Belinda'..think 'girl'
Into the shower, ow, that’s still cold, doesn’t matter, warming up now, oGodoGodoGod hurry, , legs still smooth, that hair remover really works, check the face, seems smooth enough but I’ve got wax strips here so might as well use the –owwwwwwwww! Out of the shower, faster, dry off Oh God give me time, I’m so scared I’m shaking!
Moisturiser, have I got time? Oh just do it. Perfume, quick spritz, too much, crap, now I smell like a stripper!
Breast forms, hold them up to check the postion’s right. Damn you Stefan for making me a C cup. Arrrghh! I’m out of the adhesive. No, it’s all right, here’s another tube. Gahh, that’s cold. I STILL can’t believe I’m actually doing this.
Knickers. I’m actually voluntarily putting on a pair of satin knickers! Gah and double gah! Aaaand safe! If anyone walks in now all they’ll see is a girl getting dressed. Hang on, how is that safe?? I know exactly what they’ll assume I’ve been doing here.
Bra, and I actually need it to keep these boobs Stefan wished on me under control – talk about women’s burdens!
Waist cincher – arghh again, this thing is a plot to stop me eating.
Wig, fix wig to own hair with hair pins, now fix hair back to stop it falling across my face. Damn it all Stefan, what have you done to me, I shouldn’t know this stuff. Hang on, I can’t blame Stefan this time – I’m doing this of my own free will! Ei yei yei!
Dress – Jesus, how do I get into these situations? I can’t use the one I wore to the party, I’m damned if I’m wearing the ruffled skirt – it’s so short I’d be flashing my knickers all night. That just leaves – oh no! The flowered sundress! Thank Goodness I hung it up – emerging all crumpled would not be good for my reputation.
Bracelets, check, rings, check, silver necklace chain to fiddle with nervously, check
Make up. Foundation? Don’t need it. Blusher? Really don’t need it. Eye pencil on the inside – ouch! Try that again without poking myself in the eye. Good, now mascara, heavy on the outer edges of my eyelashes so as to make them look bigger. Lipstick. I am wearing bright red lipstick and this time no one has made me do it. I’d better be convincing or I will NEVER live this down.
OK, blink a few times to check I can still move my eyelids with all this goop on them. Wait, did I just bat my eyelashes? Check voice “ Do ray me la so ti do” Contralto, a little sultry, it’ll have to do. Heels, balance carefully, OK girlybirds are go!
Belinda paused to listen to the sounds of conversation as she approached the enormous sitting room.
“So Stefan, exactly whose is that car outside.” said a girl’s voice
“What car?”
What car?? You mix with espionage agencies and that’s the best you can come up with?? Honestly Stefan, it’s a good thing you’re a genius because sometimes you aren’t fit to be let out alone!
“THE car. The one outside that’s obviously not yours because if you bought a new car it would be brand new. I smell gossip! Come on, spill.”
“I haven’t got any gossip!” Stefan protested
“Oh really? What about that mystery girl you brought to the party last week and then whisked away before we could interrogate her properly and who you haven’t mentioned since? Confess! Someone fetch …The Comfy Chair!”
Stefan’s familiar stammer started up as Belinda decided it was high time to run to his rescue and she strode through the door, skirts flying.
“He’s being chivalrous and protecting my reputation. The hot water is out at my place so I came over to shower.”
Cheerfully disbelieving smiles of sly mischief greeted her.
“Belinda!”
“We knew you’d be back.”
“Like the proverbial bad penny.” That was Toni, who Belinda was quite convinced had a major thing for Stefan, but she managed to smile to take the sting out of her words.
“So how have you two been getting on?” said Mildred Arwen to her friends I must remember
“Let the poor girl sit down first” chided Tina “Honestly, what are you, a papparazzi?”
“Papparrazzi is a plural.”
“Pedant!”
“Nosy cow!”
“All I’m saying is Belinda still looks seriously dressed up for someone who just popped over to shower and I want gossip. It stops life getting boring. Belinda can ask anything she wants about me”
“Why would she? Not everyone is as obsessed with other people’s love lives as you. Besides, you have no boundaries; nothing embarrasses you.”
“Yes, well urr!” and Mildred stuck her tongue out
Oddly, if anything had been required to convince the disguised Brian of the strength of friendship that bound this group it was the cheerful exchanges of genial abuse. Their bonds were clearly too strong to be dispersed by any casual cause and of course they would want to know all about Belinda. They wanted to know if she’d slip seamlessly into the group or exert a gravitational pull that would take Stefan away from it.
If only I could be here as Brian, I’d love to join the group; as it is, Belinda doesn’t even exist.
Oh no? said an inner voice Then who’s wearing this rather fetching outfit?
A guy from the party Heron? Herrick? That can’t be right slid along one of the sofas to make room for Belinda to sit down but before she could move she felt Stefan’s hand engulf hers and pull her gently on to the Edwardian love seat beside him.
He certainly has big hands. It’s not often I’m made to feel petite. Wait, did I just think that? Oh God, on the other hand, guys don’t grab my hand often. Maybe I am petite.
“Yes, well. This is actually the first time I’ve seen Belinda since the party so there is no gossip at all. There might have been but half a dozen people turned up on the wrong day.”
Belinda turned and gave him the evils “Don’t be so presumptuous!” She said as several people simultaneously burst out in protestations of
“This is not the wrong day.”
“All right, all right, maybe I was wrong-”
“Wrong day for what?” Belinda wanted to know
“Wrong day for us to talk about putting on a drama to raise money for charity. We all thought the house and grounds were the perfect place for it. I’m holding out for Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania’s court, Oberon’s court , Puck, it’d be perfect! ”
“Faeries again. You really have a thing for faeries.”
“Well sure. “ Interjected Tina “What’s not to like? Haven’t you ever wanted to be a faery princess? Um, Belinda, are you alright?”
“Just a coughing fit. Don’t worry about it”
“Hey, maybe you could be in the play. Can you act? Belinda? Belinda? That cough is really nasty, you need something to drink!”
“I’ll get you a drink” said Stefan happily. “White wine OK?”
Help! Don’t leave me alone to be interrogated again!”
But it was too late, Stefan had gone and several pairs of eyes focused on the disguised teacher
“Good! That got rid of him. Tell us quickly, is it serious?” said Tina
“And what’s he like in bed? I always reckoned he’d be passionate and overwhelming but Toni’s betting on shy and gentle” Arwen chipped in
“I haven’t slept with him!”
“It’s serious then.” opined Toni
“What do you mean?” Belinda asked
“I mean that unlike some blokes, I reckon Stefan knows how to take ‘no’ for an answer, but if he wasn’t serious, I don’t see why he would. He’s young, good-looking, wealthy, and meets people all the time. If he wasn’t serious about you he’d just add you to his list of friends and move on.”
“Hang on,” said Arwen “How do you know that ? We’ve never seen him with anyone apart from the odd one night stand.”
“Exactly. Every girl we’ve ever seen him with it’s been so casual you’d miss it if you blinked. If he’s still with Belinda by the second date, he’s serious.”
“Wait.” Belinda protested “What makes you think this is a date? How do you know we aren’t just good friends?”
“Oh come on! Firstly you aren’t dressed for an evening with friends. Secondly, I can see how he looks at you. Thirdly, I’ve seen how you look at him. When he left the room you looked desolate.”
Believe me, not for the reasons you think, little Miss Spanish Inquisition.
Luckily Stefan chose that moment to return, laden not only with a bucket of chilled champagne and a carrier bag full of beers and spirits but a handful of take away menus.
“Everyone decide what they want to eat.” He announced “Belinda sweetheart, I ran out of plain white wine. I hope you don’t mind champagne?”
Before Belinda could react to being called “sweetheart” a chorus of groans arose
“Honestly Stefan, are you trying to tell us you still can’t cook? You promised you were going to learn.”
“I can cook!”
“Putting beans in a pan to warm up is not cooking. Especially when you forget to wash the pan and new life forms start evolving. I’ve known students who could take care of themselves better than you can.”
“I pay for everyone’s dinner!”
“Yes, but everyone else cooks when guests come round.”
“You can’t cook at all?” asked Belinda, startled into speech “But you have this fabulous house and grounds for parties. How can you not want to take advantage of it?”
“Exactly!” replied Toni “Keep telling him that Belinda, maybe you can change his ways.”
“What about barbecues?” Belinda persisted “Surely you could do one of those?”
“I can’t cook; stop rubbing it in. Anyway, I’d like to see you cook for this many people.”
“I could!” said Belinda, a little stung
“Really?”
“Really! “
“OK then, this weekend, we can have a party”.”
“Deal!”
Just a minute! That’ll mean I have to be Belinda AGAIN. And I’ll be Stefan’s hostess! What have I done??
Observing her stricken look Tina remarked
“Be careful Belinda. Stefan does that whole little boy lost thing so well you almost don’t notice he always seems to get exactly what he wants.”
“Hey!” said Stefan and Belinda simultaneously
“Ooh!” said Arwen “Careful Toni, I don’t think criticising Stefan to his girlfriend is a safe plan.”
“I didn’t say he did it deliberately, “ responded Toni mildly “It just always seems to work out that way.”
Hey! Why isn’t Stefan telling them I’m not his girlfriend. Stefan, I’m going to have serious words with you later – a joke is one thing but this is getting out of hand! Unless – I voluntarily came out here like this. Maybe he thinks I’ve changed my mind, or at least that I’m open to persuasion. I’ve got to nip that in the bud. I like Stefan, I can’t have him hurting himself with false hopes.
“Before you open that champagne Stefan, I’m sure I saw some more white wine in the kitchen. Come and help me look.”
Not subtle of me, but this is an emergency.
“Oof!” was all Belinda could say for a moment, as Stefan enveloped her in a bear hug the minute they passed through the kitchen door.
“Belinda, you are a genius!” Stefan whispered in her ear “ I was sure we were caught when in you come, gorgeous as can be and answer everyone’s questions before I even had time to panic. You are not just beautiful, you’re talented with it.”
“I don’t want to be beautiful and I’m not, even though your friend Heron can’t stop oggling my legs.”
“Don’t you mean ogling? And it’s Herrick by the way.”
“If I want to say oggling I’ll say oggling, and you’re missing the point!”
“OK, I’ll quietly warn him off. I don’t think he means anything by it though, you just have very good legs.”
“Stefan!” Belinda hissed “You’re still missing the point; I don’t want to have good legs because I am not a girl! I’m worried you’re forgetting that.”
“I’m a little worried about it too. It’s just incredibly hard to remember it looking at you. I did promise you I wouldn’t ever reveal your secret, didn’t I?”
“Of course you did.”
“Pity. I really like you this way; a spot of blackmail would be handy.”
“Stefan, you wouldn’t!” she said reproachfully
“No, I wouldn’t. I gave my word, and now I give you my word I will never hurt you or allow you to be hurt.”
Stefan’s devil may care grin flashed down at her
“Except for a little spanking, maybe.”
Belinda breathed in sharply with a mixture of relief, outrage and barely suppressed laughter.
“If I was a real girl I’d slap your face.” Belinda replied, but couldn’t help smiling as she did. There was something ineffably endearing about his sheer shamelessness.
“If you were a real girl I’d slap your –“
“Stop right there!”
They smiled at each other.
“For as long as you’re being Belinda for the benefit of my friends, will you still play my girlfriend?”
“Yes, for the sake of your reputation as a ladykiller, as long as you understand it stops after that. Mffl! You’re incorrigible! Honestly, I give you an inch and you steal a kiss! Let’s get back in there before you get carried away.”
“You didn’t find the wine then?” remarked Arwen slyly
“No, I must have run out after all. “ said Stefan, reaching for the champagne bucket “Would you like another drink Belinda?”
“A world of yes” replied Belinda, tugging at her skirt with one hand in order to minimise ogling and holding out her glass with the other.
I somehow think it’s going to be a long night
“Uffl! Wurghh! Kiwi fruit” Belinda thrashed in panic, not knowing where she was for a moment as she awoke.
“Morning sleeping beauty”
“AHH!” Belinda sat bolt upright in panic, but Stefan's voice, to her enormous relief, was coming from the doorway and not from the bed beside her.
“What happened?”
“You were in no fit state to drive, so you slept over. I didn't have the heart to wake you though so it's nearly 10am.
“Oh my God! I'm late for work! I haven't called in -”
“No, your doctor did that for you. There is a certificate with your school now stating that you are suffering from acute food poisoning, too much so to be able to call in yourself.”
“Huh?”
“Evil genius, remember? I called your school myself and used one of my programs to send a certificate from your GP's system.”
“Um, thank you, I think?”
“Are you OK, Belinda?”
“Are we alone in the house?”
“Yes”
“Then I'm Brian”
“No, I'm Brian of Nazareth!”
“Eh? Oh, I get it. Arrgh! Sorry, I think I'm still a little groggy.”
“I'd be surprised if you weren't. You were the life and soul of the party once you'd had a few glasses. “
“Sorry, I've really got to remember wine's stronger than beer, even if it is a bit of a girl's drink. Oh God, did I do anything embarrassing?”
“Not a thing,” replied Stefan reassuringly “You really helped make the evening go with a swing”
“Um,” said Belinda looking down at herself “Just how much of a swing?”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean why do I appear to be wearing your shirt as a nightie?”
“You didn't want to sleep in your clothes and you really didn't want to wander about topless. You were very emphatic about that. You kept saying you weren't that sort of girl.”
“And, what the -the heck is – is – is?”
“Oh, that!You told me you were worried you might get overenthusiastic about Tina or Arwen as the night went on, so I dug that thing out.”
“Why did you have this thing?”
“I ordered it for our date but it didn't arrive in time. Luckily it wasn't needed.”
The 'thing' in question was a little curved device which slipped over a vital part of Brian's anatomy and kept it tucked away and out of sight. It's clasp wasn't uncomfortable but it was very firm and very obviously not coming off without the key.
“How did we manage to have that conversation discreetly?”
“We slipped away from the party for a little while. I think everyone jumped to evil conclusions about what we were doing, but I'm quite certain nobody jumped to the right conclusion.”
“This is worrying. I've only met your friends twice and already I'm the group slut.”
“You are nothing of the kind. Everyone likes my new girlfriend.”
“Stefan! I keep explaining that I am not your girlfriend!”
“You're dumping me already?” Stefan smiled in a way that left Belinda torn between suspicion and laughter. There was something endearingly shameless about the sheer incorrigibility of Stefan's flirting. “Don't you remember promising to be my girlfriend?”
“In front of your friends, yes. We're alone now.”
“I know,” Stefan smiled “but it can't hurt to keep in practice, can it? Especially since you're going to be hostess for the party on Saturday.”
“Oh crap! I actually volunteered didn't I? God, I am such an idiot!”
“No, no you aren't,” Stefan sat on the bed and took Belinda's hands in his “Didn't you enjoy yourself last night.”
“As far as I remember? Yes, I had a wonderful time. It was a really good evening; thank you.”
“So, what's to stop us having just as good a time on Saturday?”
“Nothing” said Belinda a little shyly “I'm just a little sad I won't be able to make real friends with any of them. I mean, you can't really be friends with someone if you're not being the real you.”
“That's no problem. We'll just introduce Brian some time next week.”
“We can't! They'd recognise me instantly!”
“Not if we explain you're Belinda's brother, or cousin or something.”
“A brother or cousin who is never seen in the same room as Belinda? I've seen this sitcom episode. It never ends well.”
“I'll think of something. Trust me, I'm a genius.”
“And modest with it!”
“Modest and I made you breakfast. So get yourself changed and dressed – you know what I mean - we'll eat and I can finish showing you around the place, the way I was doing before we were so rudely interrupted.”
Five minutes later Belinda erupted into the dining room clad only in a towel and utter panic
“Stefan! These breast forms! They won't come off!”
“Well of course they won't come off just by tugging, the way you're doing. You need the solvent. “
“I tried. It isn't working!”
“But – oh shit! Which tube of adhesive did you use?”
“The red one.”
“The red one? Why didn't you use the yellow one like you did the first time?”
“It's almost gone, is why; I didn't want to mix them for fear of - of this happening. Anyway, I only had a few minutes to get ready. I didn't see you coming up with any bright ideas last night?
“Whoa! You're right, you were brilliant. I promise I'm not criticising. But the adhesive in the red tube isn't designed to come loose for at least a month.”
“A month?? I can't stay like this for a month!”
“Of course not. All you have to do is apply the right solvent.”
“Do you have it?”
“Err”
“Stefan!”
“I sent everything to you along with the rest of the things for the party. Go and check if there's another red tube.”
Belinda turned and scampered away. Just moments later she was back.
“It isn't there. Stefan, what am I going to do?” Belinda pleaded
“Don't panic, I can easily order more.”
“Please do!” Belinda pleaded. Stefan flipped his laptop open and typed rapidly.
“OK, the good news is it's ordered.”
“Oh no, what's the bad news?”
“It'll take three to five days to get here.”
“Oh no!”
“I'm sorry petal,” Stefan looked at her with real regret as she subsided on to a chair clasping the towel firmly around her above the breastline “I promise everything will be fine. You were going to have to be ready for the party the day after tomorrow anyway. By the day after you can remove your err, whatchamacallits and just carry on regardless.”
“Did you just call my boobs 'whatchamacallits'?” Belinda said indignantly
“Sorry!”
It wasn't until much later that Belinda wondered why she should care.
“You're forgiven. I just don't know where to go from here.”
“Isn't it obvious? We have breakfast together, you get dressed, I walk you around the grounds, then we go get essential cooking supplies and a nice new outfit for you for the party.”
“Works in principle, but why do I need a new outfit?”
“Well everything you have has been seen. Don't you want a new outfit? It is a party after all.”
Belinda heaved a martyred sigh “Well if I have to be your girl again I suppose I should do it properly. Alright, let me get something on.”
'Something', turned out to be the full party dress, the sundress being too crumpled to wear and the layered skirt showing more leg than Belinda cared to display, but somehow she couldn't regret it. If I have to be a girl for the day Belinda thought to herself better to do it right.
******
“Um. What are you doing?”
“The dishes, of course. What does it look like?”
“I don't really do that. I mean, I have a lot and I can always wash a plate if I need it. I eat a lot of takeaways anyway.”
“Stefan! Firstly, eating take aways should be an occasional treat; it's not healthy to do it as a lifestyle. I know you're fit and healthy now, but you won't stay that way if you don't eat properly. Secondly, if you have a house like this you should clean up after yourself or it will turn into a giant slum.”
“No it won't. I call in maid services when it gets bad.”
“Stefan! That is not the point!”
“Are you telling me that what this place needs is a woman's touch?”
“Definitely. Stop laughing! I didn't mean me. I am not your woman. But since I'm doing a party here on Saturday I need everything to be clean and tidy.”
“I thought you were doing barbecue?”
“Unless you expect them to juggle two chicken wings, a lamb chop, a kebab, a sausage and a baked potato people still need plates. And that's without counting the salad course, the bread, the grapes and the vegetarian alternative. No one's a vegan are they?”
“Not that they've ever mentioned.”
“Thank Goodness. Vegans are impossible to cook for. Oh and I need to know if anyone is kosher or halal. Anything like that has to be prepared completely separately.”
“Half of them are pagans. “
“OK then, I'll start with a sacrifice and a libation.”
“Eh?”
“Had you going”
“Minx!”
“Temporarily. And by the way, I'm pretty sure that's a sexist term.”
Stefan spluttered with laughter. “I've seen your internet history and the footage you keep on your hard drive, remember? You are in no position to accuse anyone of sexism. Do you remember that girl you filmed wearing a collar and cat ears and nothing else? Do you remember what you did to her?”
“She enjoyed it.”
“It certainly looked that way. And then you dumped her as soon as you'd had your wicked way with her because – what was it you told her – oh yes 'I don't do relationships.' “.
“I know,” said Belinda, looking into the depths of the sink “I'm not a good person. “
“Hey! I didn't say you were a bad person, or anything of the kind.”
“No, but I do.”
“No, you did some bad things when you were a child. That isn't the same thing at all.”
“How can you say that? Look at all the pain I caused you,look at all the people I've hurt. Look at that poor girl you were just talking about. I wasn't a child then. “
“So be Belinda. Belinda's never done anything mean to anyone.”
“That sentence makes absolutely no sense. You can't be a different person just by choosing to be.”
“Really? So how else are you supposed to do it? If you don't like the things you've done, stop doing them. You can't change what you've done, but you can change what you do. All you have to do is take a decision and stick to it. “
“Just decide to be a good person? I wish it was that simple – oww! What was that?”
“Well you seemed intent on punishing yourself so I joined in. That was me spanking you. “
“Spanking me?? Oww! You did it again!”
“Feel better?”
Belinda narrowed her eyes “I can see I'm going to have to watch you. There's obviously some ways you're far more like me than I realised.”
“Au contraire. You were lamenting things you'd done to innocent people a minute ago. Doesn't that mean you deserve a spanking?”
Belinda gave her best death glare, but she was fighting to keep a smile off her face. Something about Stefan's mop of unruly curls and urchin grin made it almost impossible to stay angry with him for long.
“Probably, but just because I deserve something I don't think it automatically gives you the right to do it to me. Besides, I'm still evil, remember, “ she teased “I might do the same thing to you.”
Stefan's grin widened
“As you rightly say, we aren't children any more. I really don't think you could”
Belinda considered carefully. Stefan had certainly shot up and filled out since their school days. She still fancied her chances but proving physical superiority by force was exactly the sort of behaviour that made Brian a bad person
“Are you going to help dry these dishes?” Belinda said, quickly changing the subject.
“Can't we just leave them in the rack to dry?”
“No, because there is about three times as much washing up as the rack will hold; it's a miracle you don't have some sort of infestation. So stop moaning and give me a hand.”
“Yes dear”
“Hey! That isn't fair; I am not a nag. Besides, I'm the one doing the mucky bit. “
“You certainly are – your nail polish is coming off with all the scrubbing.”
“Fudge! Hey!”
Belinda yelped a little as Stefan embraced her from behind and hugged her warmly
“What's that in aid of?”
“Thank you for doing the washing up. And thank you for last night. And thank you for offering to do this barbecue on Saturday. And most of all, you're doing brilliantly as Belinda. Even to the point of saying 'Fudge!' when you want to swear.”
“Well I don't want your friends to think I'm a foul mouthed harridan, so I'm trying to be ladylike even when they aren't here. Otherwise I'm bound to make a fuc- a foul up, sooner or later.”
“Belinda come back!” Stefan shouted without warning. Belinda cried out in shock and then confusion as she realised she was not standing by
the sink but lying on an enormous four poster bed, with Stefan leaning over her, face wan with panic.
“Belinda, can you hear me?”
“I – I – what happened??”
“I said the trigger words that I was told would gently bring your memory back and you just collapsed! I carried you back to the house and you've been babbling and thrashing about for an hour. I was very worried; I mean I rang the hypnotist who blocked your memories of the transition in the first place and he swore you'd be fine, but even so, you and the girls have been planning this afternoon for ages, I figured you'd all be upset if you had to cancel it. Are you OK now?”
“I think so. Maybe. Only an hour? I was back, back at almost the start of all this, the night I came over after the ball.”
“But you have all your memories back now?”
“No. Only up until the morning after, the one when you called in sick for me. Oh crap! Does that mean this could happen again?”
“Hopefully. I mean, you want the rest of your memories back, don't you?”
“Wait. I need – I need to be sure of some things, before I say anything else. Where am I?
“In our bed, at Queen's Lake Castle.”
“Crap. So I'm definitely a girl again, not just dressed up?”
“Yes.”
“And I'm your fiancee? I mean, I actually agreed, you aren't just pranking me?”
“Yes.” Stefan bent over and kissed her softly and for a few moments there were no more words before Belinda pulled her mouth away and continued
“And despite the fact that it's twelve by the clock and we've had sex twice today you still appear to be very randy?”
“We do have an hour before Tina and co are due to arrive.”
“Hmm. OK, last question for now. What am I supposed to be doing this afternoon.”
“You, Tina, Toni and Arwen are going to pick out a wedding dress.”
“Oh my God!!”
A Faery Tale Christmas: A Stefan and Belinda Vignette
I awoke to the smell of freshly cut fir. Even without opening my eyes I knew I must be by the Christmas tree. Something was wrong there. I’d definitely gone to sleep in the master bedroom, the way I had pretty much every night since Stefan had made me into his girl. As I sometimes did I’d tried to pretend aloof indifference and go to sleep early. As usual I’d ended the evening flushed and sticky, curled up in Stefan’s arms. He was very determined to make sure I got used to my new life as his adored and adoring girlfriend. The constant ravishing was certainly an effective way of reminding me I was a girl now, on a level impossible to deny or ignore. I’d hardly developed my new body before he started playing it like a violin.
So how come I could smell the tree? I opened my eyes. There was dim greyness all about me with little spots of light here and there. I moved, reflexively – and then froze. Something, a cool, smooth, flat something, was wrapped around my upper arms. For a moment I almost panicked, before realising it was fairly loose and I could still move my lower arms, although something similar was wrapped around each wrist and around my hips. Otherwise I realised, I was naked. At the same moment I realised what it was that I was wrapped in.
Ribbons, that was what! Very broad silk ribbons. And the spots of light were from airholes in a cardboard box. My eyes were beginning to adjust now and I could see the outline of giant bows all over me. And I wasn’t by the Christmas tree, I was under it. I took a deep breath.
“Stefan!! Stefan, why have I been gift wrapped??!”
There was a rustling as the top of the box came off and Stefan’s boyish grin appeared. I reminded myself to be stern. It wasn’t easy. I melt into giggly fondness when he smiles like that and I think he knows it.
“You said I could have anything I wanted for Christmas. I chose you.”
“Gaaahhh!!”
It was no good. I couldn’t resist him. Besides, as a former man I knew just how good I must look to him and couldn’t help a little touch of pride in that.
“Oh well,” I said with a mixture of real and mock resignation “If you must.” As he unwrapped me I reminded myself that Christmas is a time for giving.
THE END
A Faery Tale Princess: A Stefan and Belinda Vignette
I shudder pleasurably as a million-million snowflakes dance inches from my nose. As far as the eye can see the grounds of Stefan’s castle are turning white, a winter wonderland just for us. I am safely inside of course, watching through the lead paned windows, warm in my long-skirted Victorian style dress, with its multiple petticoats. Don’t look at me like that. Stefan likes me elegant and I like making Stefan happy. How much of that is post-hypnotic conditioning I’m still not sure. Right now he’s very happy. He’s standing right behind me, long arms pulling me into his embrace.
“See doushenka? The winter snows set in. Time to don the Gloomy and Purposeless Trousers of Uncle Vanya and stoke the samovar.”
Unseen, I roll my eyes. Stefan feels the need to keep up this cod-Russian stuff to maintain the family tradition. One of his grandfathers was Russian. We think. Since he’s an orphan and I was abandoned as a child genealogy isn’t really an exact science for either of us.
Of course it would be harder for me to trace my family line. When he turned me from Brian, his childhood bully, into Belinda, his ideal girlfriend Stefan arranged to have any evidence that there ever was a Brian Jenkins altered or destroyed. That’s why I’m officially three years younger than I used to be and without any qualifications – pretty much utterly dependent on Stefan for anything my salary as a pathetically underpaid nursery school worker doesn’t cover.
Not that that’s much of a hardship. Stefan is a multi-millionaire and loves to shower me with treats. There’s nothing I can’t have as long as I accept I owe it all to him. I suppose there’s no control freak like a former geek who’s finally got the children’s home bully where he wants him – or her.
In a way I’m very lucky. Stefan is generous, kind, funny, affectionate, thoughtful, endearing and brilliantly, dazzlingly clever. If he hadn’t drugged me, hypnotically conditioned me, given me an unwanted sex change and made me into his demure yet passionate love slave I couldn’t find a word to say against him. The worst of it is, he is a genius – so smart that even though the best conditioning available in the world couldn’t directly change my heterosexuality he found a way to make me respond to him. He arranged for me to become aroused every time I became embarrassed. Right this minute I’m wearing a corset and French knickers under a dress. Exactly how embarrassed do you think I feel? Quite.
“Do you know what this reminds me of?” Stefan asks
“Tell me.”
“The beginning of Snow White.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know the story?”
“Not really. Tell me more?” Stefan sometimes forgets – his parents were very good ones right up until the car crash that killed them. Mine didn’t read me fairy tales or anything else. I’ve sort of got to like hearing them from him.
“The story begins when the Queen is sitting sewing by the window of a castle just like this one, on a winters’ day just like this one and pricks her finger with a needle. A drop of blood falls on the ebony of the window sash. She looks at it and thinks how beautiful a daughter would be who had lips as red as blood, skin as white as snow and hair as black as ebony. Nine months later Snow White is born and the Queen has her wish.”
“Stefan! “ I say in warning tones. “Are you comparing me to a fairy tale princess?!”
“Yes!” He says squeezing me so hard I can’t say anything at all for a moment. Stefan’s bear hugs are the only thing I know that makes me more breathless than wearing a tight corset. This may be a blessing. I’m trying not to ask him what a samovar is. (I know what doushenka means; it’s ‘my little soul’. For a kidnapping, brainwashing, forcibly feminising, mad scientist who plays computer games he can be very romantic.) It’s not that I don’t want to know what a samovar is; I do. It’s just that if I ask him I know what will happen. He will explain, in a lively, interesting fashion, and then he will be carried away by the expression he insists I always wear when I ask these sorts of questions. He calls it my ‘puzzled kitten’ look and I know the effect it will have.
First, he’ll kiss me and I’ll start to melt. He’ll caress me and I’ll tremble under his touch. Then he’ll pick me up and carry me over to the huge fur rug in front of the open fireplace where a cheery blaze of birch logs is roaring away. He’ll strip me, slowly, carefully. (OK, he’ll probably leave the corset on and just pop my breasts out of the top to play with. ) An hour of slow, masterful, insistent lovemaking later I’ll be lying spent in his arms and another inch of my soul will have been conquered and...and..and...Oh God, I’m so easy.
I turn in his arms, tilt my face up towards his wrinkle my nose and say “What’s a samovar?” He kisses me.
A few minutes later I’m lying underneath him wearing only my corset and trying to send up a silent prayer before I so lose control of myself that I can’t think.
Please God, I know I’m stuck as a girl and I’m helpless to change that. I know I’m stuck as Stefan’s girl and I’m helpless to change that. Please don’t make me more helpless, Dear Lord. Please don’t let me fall in love!