Friday Afternoon by Sylvia Ryan

don’t know how to explain it. It seems like since we’ve started…” –she waves a hand in the air– “…all of this, I’ve been getting weird vibes from guys at work I’ve known for years.”
    Levi sets his fork down, giving me his complete attention. “Weird how?”
    “It’s like they sense I’m sexed up, that I do kinky things, that I’m wearing slut underwear. At first I thought it was me noticing things I hadn’t noticed in my interactions with them before.”
    “Like?”
    “Nothing sexual, at least not overtly sexual. Mostly it’s small things like winking at me and paying more attention to me when I happen to walk into the break room, opening doors for me. Innocent stuff like that. I have caught one or two looking at my ass when I walk by and I’ve gotten a few catcalls and whistles from the guys in the shipping department. It’s never happened before. It seems like they can sense the change in me.”
    Levi smiles at me. “Probably because they can.”
    “Somehow I have a hard time believing I’ve become sexier just because I’m having sex more often.”
    He chuckles. “Being sexy is a state of mind and matters as much as the way you look. You probably walk differently with your fuck-me underwear on, coming across more sure of yourself, confident. That’s sexy. And I have a feeling they were looking at you before. You just didn’t notice because sex was not on your mind back then, before we started our Fridays.” He picks up his fork and nods his head toward my plate. “Eat.”
    After lunch, we walk to our bedroom. It’s dark, with the shade pulled down when I enter. The room has been set up. The restraints installed to the bed frame sit neatly, one at each corner.
    “Take your clothes off, Mia.” He looks at me with ownership in his gaze. I don’t react to his words immediately, because I’m looking at the shadowy room. Shit, our toy drawer is out of the dresser and sitting on the trunk at the foot of the bed. I swallow through my suddenly dry throat. “Now!” He pounds the three pillows stacked in front of him. “Face down, hips on the pillows.” He pulls his t-shirt over his head and crosses his arms. He stands there, in jeans and nothing else, waiting for me to comply.
    I slowly unbutton each button on my blouse and slide the material down my arms. Underneath, my white lace demicup bra draws his attention. I see the muscles in his face work as he clenches his jaw, and I give him a defiant smile.
    “You’re playing with me?” he rumbles.
    “Why not?” I shrug. “Looks like you’re getting ready to play with me.” I unzip my black pencil skirt and it falls to the floor. The thong matching my bra appears to have attracted his interest. His eyes blaze as his gaze lands between my legs. He reaches out a hand to me, helping me to step out of my skirt. Then he pulls me into him hard and fast. Our chests press up against each other’s. He dips his head and bites my shoulder. A slight whimper squeaks out of my mouth. I don’t know what awaits me, but I’m feeling the thrill of knowing he’ll take whatever he wants and I’ll give all of myself to him.
    I crawl onto the bed and position myself as I was told. He places a sleep mask over my eyes. His weight leaves the bed and I hear him circling me. “I could sit and look at you like this all day.” He sighs. “My beautiful, obedient–”
    I snort at the word and the behavior is swiftly addressed. Levi spanks me with his bare hand. The first meeting of his palm to my ass elicits another snort quickly followed by a giggle.
    “What’s funny, Mia?” The words are a menacing warning in my ear.
    “I don’t know.” I giggle again. “I’m feeling a little defiant today.” I’m smirking until he cracks my ass. “Ow, stop!” I wave an arm behind me.
    Another clap lands on my other cheek and I start lifting myself. Now I’m most definitely feeling defiant, and I wonder whether he’d be able to tie me down without my