Nicely Taken (Closed for Hypnoticvoice)

[pipper]

Wendy Parkinson was one of those daughters who had everything handed to her on a plate. Born and raised by wealthy parents, she was never in need for anything. A manor for a home, private schooling in which she graduated as Valedictorian and now she was in her second year studying at a prestigious university taking an English Major.

Having inherited a lovely figure from her mother, which was finished off with sparkling emerald colour eyes and shiny blonde hair that flowed down to just below her shoulders, she had plenty of suitors for her hand. However, Wendy wasn’t interested, not until she had finished her course, at least. On top of that, she definitely had no intention of becoming someone’s trophy wife.

It was during one of her classes, that her professor approached her, and informed her that the Dean wanted to see her after class. Wendy wondered if she had done something wrong, but the professor was quick to point out that she hadn’t.

Thirty minutes later, Wendy found herself sitting in the Dean’s office, still rattling her brain as to why he had called her.

“Wendy, I wonder if you could do a student from the Psychology course a favour. The students of that class need to do a series of predetermined relaxation techniques, each one building on the previous one. They were told to supply two names of people that they would like as subjects. The first one to be their subject, the second to be their backup. Unfortunately, this particular student’s first choice backed out at the last moment, and his second choice had agreed to work with another student, which brings us to the matter at hand. It appears that this student has known you for some time. Do you know of a certain Charles Barnes?”

Charlie Barnes! Of course Wendy knew him. They had met at school, and became close friends, though she balked at dating him. Oh, he was handsome, but she was of higher breeding, and a marriage to him was out of the question.

"Yes, Sir, I do know him. In fact we’ve been friends for some considerable time.”

“Good! Well, he was wondering if you could be his subject. The university will pay you ten pounds per session, but if you accept, you will be required to do all the sessions. I’m afraid I can’t put a definite figure on the number of sessions, as each student reacts differently to the techniques, and some may need extra sessions. I presume you have Mr Barnes’ phone number.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Okay, Wendy, you don’t have to make a decision now, but Barnes will need to know by tomorrow night, otherwise he will miss out on this part of the course.”

That’s all Wendy wanted to hear! Talk about peer pressure, but it would be nice to spend time with Charlie, and get paid for it, though to her, ten pounds was chicken feed. “I’ll phone him tonight.”

“Thank you, Wendy.” With that the meeting was over.

That night Wendy phoned Charlie, but all she got was his voice mail. “Hi Charlie, this is Wendy. The Dean mentioned that you would like me to be your subject. I was wondering if we could meet somewhere for a drink of coffee, where you could fill me in on the details, before I make my final decision?”

 

[pipper]

As she sipped her coffee, Wendy listened to Charlie describe what was required from both of them. Though she already knew all about relaxation through breathing exercises, probably due to the fact she had done them, while studying for exams, she wondered about what objects Charlie would require her to focus on.

Always being a person who loved to experience new things, Wendy somehow became more interested in helping him out, though she was a bit concerned that Charlie hadn’t read all the scripts, but she would find those out for herself later.

"Easy way for you to earn 10 quid an session, me to get course credit and for both of us to catch up. What do you think?"

“Okay, Charlie, I think I can help you out,” she said, as she finished her drink. “When would you like to start?”

 

[pipper]

Wendy looked at her watch as the professor finished his instructions on their assignment. She was eager to do the first session with Charlie.

She had informed her parents about helping him. At first they were a bit hesitant that their daughter was now ‘seeing’ Charlie on a regular basis, something they hoped wouldn’t turn into a serious relationship. However, Wendy had assured them, that she had no intention in marrying someone below her elite class of status.

Soon her class was over, and now Wendy walked as fast as she could to the library, clothed in jeans, a loose hanging sweater, running shoes, and socks. She had nothing against feminine clothing, wearing those to parties and special occasions, but normally casual clothing would suffice.

On entering the library, she looked to see which study room Charlie was in. Suddenly she heard someone say, “Hello gorgeous.” It was Keith Price.

Wendy just looked at him. “I know that from your superior class of living, that you have a nice evening dress with all its accessories,” he continued.

“What about it?” Wendy asked.

“Well, I’m hosting a stag party for a friend’s twentieth birthday, and I’m looking for a real nice looking young lady, like you, to do a striptease for us.”

Wendy remained calm, as she smiled at him. “Give me one good reason, why I shouldn’t slap your face, right here and now?”

Price grinned in response. “Then I take it, that your answer is ‘no’.” With that, he left.

As soon as she restarted her search of the study rooms for Charlie, Wendy found him, reading what she assumed to be the first ‘script’ of the study. Walking in, she said, “You ready to begin, or do you need a little more time?”

 

[pipper]

"It says that you should settle in, make yourself comfortable, let each breath be a preparation for relaxation, close your eyes and, when you're ready, you can nod or otherwise tell me you're ready to begin."

Wendy sat down facing Charlie, who was standing on the other side of the table and tried to make herself as comfortable as she could. Charlie was right; the library seats weren’t made for relaxing in.

It took her about thirty seconds to finally find the most comfortable position available to her. “Okay, Charlie, here we go!”

With that, Wendy closed her eyes, and began to slowly breathe in and out, and each time she exhaled, Wendy slowly released any bits of tension that were inside. Of course, the actions of that idiot, Keith Price, didn’t help by prolonging the normally quick process. However, she soon had the process under control, no doubt due to her experience with the relaxing exercises she had done at home.

It must have been three minutes before Wendy decided she was ready to feel the first results of the study. Knowing that it was best to keep quiet, unless asked to speak, Wendy simply nodded.

 

[pipper]

Wendy heard Charlie tell her to follow his voice and his instructions, after which he repeated the command twice more. This was nothing new to her, because when she did this when at home, she always silently gave herself instructions.

"I'm going to ask you to relax different parts of your body. When I ask you to relax a particular part of your body, I want you to focus your mind on that part of your body, just like your mind is now focused on my voice.”

When she heard that, Wendy wanted to smile, but didn’t. This was going to be a walk in the park for her.

"Let's begin by focusing on your toes. Let your toes relax completely. Let them become totally relaxed and loose. Allow that deep, pleasant, relaxing feeling to flow upward, enveloping your feet. Both your feet, completely relaxed."

Normally at home, she would be barefooted while doing this, but again frequent use of this method, meant that even wearing running shoes, there was no hindrance to feeling her feet going limp.

"And finding that your socks are so cozy and comfortable, it's almost as if they're massaging your feet, and they help you relax even more. Your socks relaxing your feet even more…”

This was new to her, as Wendy sensed that her socks were slowly erasing any leftover tension in her limp feet, but then she heard Charlie continuing to say, “…Your jeans so comfortable, and now feeling that relaxation spread from your feet into your calves, knowing that each time you feel the fabric of your jeans against your body, it's like a little massage, relaxing that part of your body, just like your socks keep your feet so deeply relaxed, deeply relaxed."

It was now obvious to her, that Charlie had been given some freedom in the instructions, and Wendy was relaxed enough not to dwell on it. But before she knew it, she sensed the material of the jeans slowly relax her legs. This was most definitely new to her.

Then Charlie worked on her stomach, chest - thankful he didn’t say ‘breasts’, – neck, which made her head go slightly limp, hands, arms, though for some reason he never worked on the sections of her head.

All this relaxing process, done with her eyes closed, while still continuing to deep breathe.

"Your eyelids so relaxed and rested. So relaxed that even if I asked you to, you'd find that you're unable to open them. You'll find that you cannot open your eyelids. Try to open your eyelids, you'll find that you cannot open them."

In her heart, Wendy knew that she still had the strength to open them, but in this relaxed state, she didn’t want to, so hers eyes remained shut, as she awaited Charlie’s next instruction.

 

[pipper]

"Wendy, I want you to enjoy this deep feeling of relaxation, letting my words flow over you. Absorbing each word. Know that this is our first session and that you'll find that, in each session, you'll more easily relax deeper and deeper. In each session it will be easier and easier for you to fall deeper and deeper. It will be easier and easier for you to fall deeper and deeper into relaxation. Some of the techniques will be similar to those we used in this session, some will differ. They will all easily and naturally lead to deeper and more profound relaxation."

Wendy took in every word that Charlie was saying to her. This was, indeed, a new experience for her. At home, she gave herself instructions, but here she was, listening to another person's instructions. It was as if she was she was in the class room, listening to her professor, though there was no denying that she was very relaxed.

"You'll find yourself looking forward to these sessions. It's so pleasant to relax that you'll find yourself looking forward to these sessions. You will want to meet me and look forward to these sessions."

Wendy heard him continue, but the words seemed like they were only confirming what she already knew, that she was committed to do all the sessions with Charlie. If they hadn’t known each other, she would have turned down the Dean’s request.

Before Wendy knew it, she heard Charlie say, “And one!” while he snapped his fingers.

Opening her eyes, she looked at him. "How was it?" he asked.

“It was wonderful. I can’t wait, to see how you progress from here, but for now, I suppose you have questions for me.”

 

[pipper]

“Have you ever tried guided meditation, hypnosis or yoga? If so, describe the experience and compare it to this one? One a scale of one to ten, with ten being 'most relaxed', how relaxed do you recall feeling during the session and how relaxed do you feel now? Outside of the requirements of this study, would you choose to experience this again?”

Wendy thought of her answer for a moment. After all, she wanted to give Charlie an honest response to his questions. “Well, I have done some relaxation techniques at home, similar to the one we have just done. I have managed to make myself very relaxed, but not as relaxed as just now. I can’t really put a number on the ones I’ve done myself, but I reckon that one we just did was about a six or seven.

“As for experiencing this, outside of the study, I don’t think I would. Sorry for being honest, but you deserve to know the truth.”

“…Should we meet next session someplace a little more cozy? The instructions say you should have a comfortable chair or couch, and that chair doesn't look like it has too much padding."

“That would be fine. I’m not sure if my parents would agree to let us do the next session at our place, but maybe you can think of someplace else, and then get back to me.”

Then glancing up at the clock on the wall, Wendy continued, “I better get going! I’m afraid I’m not excused from assignments in my course by helping with this study. Talk to you later, bye.”

Then she was gone.

 

[pipper]

Wendy sat in her study at home, pondering the discussion she'd had with her parents. They had asked for details of her session with Charlie. Able to remember everything, she had given them a detailed account of what happened.

But it was when she informed them that the location of the next session was in Charlie’s hands, that her parents felt that under no circumstances should the session be conducted at his home. Wendy felt let down. Were they saying that they didn’t trust her? After all, as she had promptly told them, she was an adult, and could take care of herself.

Over the next thirty minutes arguments had gone back and forth as to whether they should continue to allow her to participate in the study. Sensing that her parents were worried that these sessions could lead to something else - namely a relationship with Charlie - Wendy had suggested to her parents that Charlie could come to Maplegrove Manor himself, and, in front of one or both of them, could explain the study. He could even conduct the next session with them present so that they could see for themselves what was involved. Then, when they were convinced that there was nothing to be concerned about, they would allow her to meet him at a location he arranged.

After reading Charlie’s email, she replied briefing him on on her discussion with her parents. Then Wendy continued typing: "This coming Saturday, unfortunately, is not an option, because my parents will be away. You'll have to arrive on Sunday, 2 PM sharp." She paused in her typing. She wanted to see him earlier.

So she added, “Can you remember when at private school, you said that you wanted to be a photographer, and I always said that I would model for you? Well, how about you bring your camera to the park tomorrow so you can take some photos of me, so that we can at least experience what might have been... All I ask is that you keep it a secret and that you email me all the photos you take of me. How about noon time? Until then, take care. Wendy.”

The next day, Wendy informed the head of her parents' domestic staff that she was going for a walk in the park. The weather being slightly cold, she wore a leather jacket with matching gloves, knee high boots, and a wide brim hat. She even wore a long woolen skirt - it was, indeed, a special occasion - a date with Charlie.

 

[pipper]

Wendy was taken aback when Charlie first hugged her, and then kissed her on the cheek. It may have been a date, but most assuredly, it wasn’t a lover’s date! For now, she decided to keep quiet, but wouldn’t, if he tried it again.

Wanting to put herself in control of the situation, Wendy sat down on a bench. “I think I’ll pose on this.” For the next two minutes or so, she went through a series of sitting poses. She knew exactly what she wanted, and was determined to get it. Wendy achieved this, by selecting each pose carefully through different positions of her torso, legs, and arms - then holding it long enough for Charlie to take the photograph.

After she had decided that the shoot was over, Wendy motioned Charlie to sit beside her. “I hope you can convince my parents that the study is worth it, and that you have found a suitable location for the next session, which I strongly advise you to do, for both our sakes!"

 

[pipper]

Wendy was stunned as she listened to him berate both her, and her parents.

“Charlie, you haven’t a clue what it’s like to live in my level of lifestyle. I’m always under pressure to do nothing but the very best. I don’t have the freedom you think I have! Think yourself damn lucky that my parents want to meet with you to discuss the study, rather than ordering me to stop my participation.

“No matter how old I am, any bad behavior on my account is seen as an insult on my parents, brothers, and sisters, which could result in me being disowned. And as for doing any sessions on a bed, I’m sorry, but that is totally out of the question.”

Then Wendy stood up, and looking straight at Charlie, she said, “If you think that my parents should have no say in the study, and that I am obligated to carry out all the sessions, then feel free to tell them on Sunday! Oh, don't forget to email those photos.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the park, knowing that in her heart, she did want to continue with the study, but it would be better if Charlie put her case forward rather than herself. Wendy knew her parents would put up a fight, but that was normal for them.

As she drove back to the Manor, guilt came over her. She had to text him. "Charlie. I'm sorry for leaving you like that. It was cold of me. Please forgive me. To be honest, I wasn't expecting that type of response. See you tomorrow. Wendy."

 

[pipper]

Wendy saw Charlie drive up the long winding, wooded, lane way that lead to the Manor. Though she wanted to greet him, herself, protocol dictated that a member of the servants had that responsibility. Being an afternoon, it was customary for the parlormaid to attend to the main door, but being off duty this particular Sunday, that duty fell to the butler.

Again, she waited before going to meet him. She didn’t want to give anyone the impression they were in a serious relationship. Wendy also knew that she had a small window of opportunity to meet Charlie before he was shown to her parents.

Being a Sunday, it always was a strictly family day, and everyone was required to dress properly. Wearing a burgundy blouse with a long gray skirt, Wendy descended a short flight of wooden stairs, to find Charlie taking in the oil paintings of her family tree.

“Mine’s up in my study!” she exclaimed. “Oh, thanks for the link. The photographs look fantastic. As for the password, I think I deserve it after my treatment of you yesterday, but I think it’s best if you would change it for me, and give me the new one,” she continued in a soft voice that boarded on being a whisper, so that no one knew what had occurred the previous day.

Suddenly a maid began to pass by. “Lily?”

“Yes, my Lady.”

“I wonder if you could make arrangements for this gentleman, to be shown to my private study, after his meeting with my parents, along with two ham sandwiches, and some tea, please.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Thank you, Lily.”

Wendy then saw Charlie mouth ‘Lady?’

Before she could explain, the butler returned. “Excuse me, ma’am, but the Earl and Countess are ready to see Mr. Barnes, now.”

Then looking at Charlie, he continued, “If you would be so kind as to follow me Sir.”

“I’ll see you later, Charles,” said Wendy as she watched him being led away to her parents. Damn! I wish they hadn’t made me stay out of their meeting. Poor Charlie, he was on his own now, she thought.

There was only one thing she could do now to keep busy while the meeting took place. View the photos of her, again!

Back in her study, she took in Charlie’s professional workmanship of the images on her Mac computer. Though Wendy would have been happy with a PC, her parents had insisted on a Mac.

Over to her left, was the oil painting of herself, which she had eluded to, when she met Charlie downstairs. It was done for her eighteenth birthday. There she was, sitting in an old-fashion chair, while dressed in a royal blue flowing gown, with matching opera gloves, and high heels. Though her hair flowed downwards, her diamond earrings were visible, along with the matching necklace. Her hair was topped off with a matching tiara.

Underneath the portrait, on a gold plaque, were the words, ‘LADY GWYNETH WANDA PARKINSON’.

"I wonder if the meeting has got off to a good start?" Wendy softly muttered as she continued to view the images of her.

 

[pipper]

Wendy stared at the pendulum clock on the wall, which she had nicknamed, “wag-at-the-wa’.” Forty-five minutes had passed since Charlie had been led away to see her parents. The only consolation she felt, was the fact they were still speaking. In hindsight, she should have told Charlie to bring the book with the scripts, so that he could show them to her parents, but it was too late now.

Out of boredom, Wendy began to sing a song, that she loved from the day she first heard it.

“Oh-me, oh-my, oh-you
Whatever shall I do
Hallelujah, the question is peculiar
I'd give a lot of dough
If only I could know
The answer to my question
Is it yes or is it no.

“Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight
If your mother says don't chew it
Do you swallow it in spite
Can you catch it on your tonsils
Can you heave it left and right
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight.

“Here comes a blushing bride
The groom is by her side
Up to the altar
Just as steady as Gibraltar
Why, the groom has got the ring
And it's such a pretty thing
But as he slips it on her finger
The choir begins to sing.

“Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight
If your mother says don't chew it
Do you swallow it in spite
Can you catch it on your tonsils
Can you heave it left and right
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight.

“Now the nation rise is one
To send their only son
Up to the White House
Yes, the nation's only White House
To voice their discontent
Unto the Pres-i-dent
They pawn the burning question
What has swept this continent.

“Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight
If your mother says don't chew it
Do you swallow it in spite
Can you catch it on your tonsils
Can you heave it left and right
Does your chewing gum lose its flavour
On the bedpost overnight.”

Wendy was just about to sing it again, when there was a knock on her door. “Yes?”

“It’s James, ma’am. I have brought Mr Barnes, to you, as requested.”

“Very well, come in.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

The door opened and there stood Charlie with the butler to his side. “After you, Sir.”

Charlie was followed by Lily who was carrying a tray on which was two sandwiches, and a tea service.

“Will that be all, ma’am?” Lily asked.

“Yes, thank you, Lily.” Then turning to James, Wendy said, “I will call you, when it’s time for Mr Barnes to leave.”

“Very well, ma’am.”

After the butler had closed the door, Wendy looked at Charlie, and said, “Well, what’s the verdict?”

 

[pipper]

"That's an interesting clock...It looks like it's been in your family for some time."

"Yes, it's an old clock from Scotland, a gift from some distance relatives." Wendy wanted to tell Charlie that she received it when she graduated from school with top honours, but thought it best not to mention it.

"The next exercise requires at the beginning for you to fixate your eyes on an object. I'm sure if you lean back in your chair that pendulum would be fine," he said as he finished his sandwich.

Wendy was already leaning back in her chair as she took the last sips of her tea. "I suppose it would," she said, knowing very well what was about to happen.

"You ready for the next session?"

Her only concern was what would happen if her parents knew what Charlie was about to do, but it seemed they now had no qualms about it.

"Sure, let's do it," she replied as she placed the empty cup and saucer back down onto the tray. Then Wendy sensed something was missing. "Where's the book with the scripts? I know from last time it wasn't small enough to hide it in a pocket."

 

[pipper]

"I'm not the mediocre student you remember from our school days." Wendy winched she heard that.

"I never, once considered you a mediocre student, Charlie. You must have forgotten the amount of times I praised you for your hard work, and excellent test results."

Then Charlie's tone of voice changed. "Wendy, whenever you're ready, I'd like you to focus your eyes on the pendulum of the wall clock."

Wendy looked at the clock, focusing on the swinging pendulum. This was nothing new to her, as she always found it a relaxing interlude while doing her class assignments. But she also knew, that this time, Charlie was going to build on the session they had done in one of the university's study rooms.

 

[pipper]

"Just continue to allow your eyes to focus solely on the pendulum as it swings back and forth, back and forth, rhythmic, relaxing, comforting in its regularity, just as your mind focuses on nothing but my voice and each tick of the pendulum. Each tick of the pendulum relaxing you further. Tick, tock, back and forth, more and more relaxed..."

Wendy continued to focus on the swinging pendulum for a minute, noticing that she was slowly starting to relax. Concentrating only on Charlie’s voice and the tick, tock of the pendulum, she began to relax even more, as if the study room was slowly becoming blurred.

"...Relaaaxed. Your eyes very heavy. So tiring, so relaxing, watching the pendulum. Watching the pendulum, watching the pendulum. Tick tock, back and forth. Such a nice, pleasant feeling to have your thoughts absorbed in such relaxation. Easy to watch the pendulum, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth..."

Wendy felt her eyes getting heavy, as she tried to focus on the pendulum as it swung to and fro. Nothing else mattered now. It was as if the study room didn’t exist.

“...Ten, your eyes getting so heavy...

In her relaxed state, Wendy was finding it increasingly difficult to keep her eyes open.

"...Nine, finding that each swing of the pendulum allows you to focus even more on my voice..."

Wendy now sensed that Charlie’s voice was more predominate than the tick, tock of the pendulum.

"...Eight, nothing matters right now but my voice. Seven, eyelids very heavy, blinking more and more..."

It was as if, Wendy was losing the battle to keep her eyes focused on the pendulum.

"...Six, beginning to want to close your eyes. Five, each swing of the pendulum relaxing you more and more. Four, my voice so relaxing, so pleasant. Three, your eyes are barely open..."

Wendy felt that darkness was taking over, no more pendulum, no more study room, and no more Charlie. It was as if she was in another place, a place of contentment.

"...Two, you are about to close your eyes. One, your eyes closed, let your eyes close. Twice as relaxed. Completely relaxed."

Wendy couldn’t fight the battle with her eyes anymore, and simply let them shut by themselves. Now in complete darkness, she was utterly relaxed. More relaxed than she has ever been. It was a new experience for her. Oh, she had relaxed herself before, but never as deep as what she was experiencing now.

"Wendy, can you hear me?"

All Wendy could muster was a soft, “Yes.”

 

[pipper]

It was as if Wendy was in an another world. She was so relaxed, she actually felt light-headed. Even Charlie’s voice sounded as if it was muffled. There were a few words of his that seemed to sink into her memory. Words like, ‘follow’, ‘instructions’, ‘skirt’, ‘voice’, ‘pumps’.

As for her eyes, they felt as if they had been voluntarily glued shut.

Then she sensed herself coming back to reality. The tick, tock of the pendulum. Charlie’s voice being more clear now. Her eyes opening. Then the snap of his fingers.

"Wendy? How are you?"

“Slightly light-headed, though I must admit this has been a new experience for me. I’ve never been that relaxed before, except of course when I’ve been asleep,” she responded with a chuckle, while trying to smooth out the crinkles in her skirt. Maybe a slightly shorter skirt might be better, she thought.

“Hmmm. What questions to do you need to ask me?”

 

[pipper]

"...I just need you to tell me how relaxed you felt during the session and how relaxed you feel now on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most relaxed..."

Wendy was still recovering her full faculties when he asked her that, but was certain that she knew how to answer. “I would say at least nine out of ten for both answers.”

"...Our next step is that in a day or so I'll contact you about our next session or dinner, whichever you'd prefer first."

That remark finally pulled Wendy back into full reality, and wasn’t slow in responding to Charlie. “I’m sorry, but dinner is completely out of the question, because if my parents found out, they would most assuredly bring our sessions to a halt, simply because they would interpret any dinner date between the two of us as an act of a serious relationship.”

But, how she would love to be treated to a meal at an upscale restaurant by him.

Then after looking at the pendulum clock, she continued, “I think it’s best if you leave now, otherwise my parents will be making inquires as to what we are doing here, alone. I won’t bother getting James to take you down. I’ll do it myself.”

Wendy accompanied Charlie to his car. “Thanks for coming; it was nice spending time with you. I don’t think we will see each other at the university tomorrow as I have an early class, but I’ll await your email about the next session, and don’t forget to tell me the new password.”

She watched as he began to drive away. “Bye, Charlie,” Wendy whispered, while at the same time, wondering if she should wave as well.

Suddenly she got the shock of her life. “James could, and should have done that!” It was her father who had spoken in a commanding voice.

Wendy quickly recovered. "Pa! Charlie is an old friend of mine, not a guest. I was just being polite. Besides, don’t you, yourself, escort your friends to their cars?”

“Well, don’t make it a habit of him coming here to see you.”

“Very well, Pa.” With that, Wendy returned to her study to go over her assignment to make sure that it was correct, knowing that her father never said that Charlie couldn't see her somewhere else, apart from the university.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, found Wendy going through her vast clothing collection to select something to wear to university. For some reason, she didn't feel like wearing jeans or trousers, which were her normal selections for attending class.

Holding up a long skirt, Wendy determined that it would never do, so she went through her set of knee-length ones, which she usually wore when doing business for the Manor.

Wendy finally decided on a denim one, which she had never worn since the day she bought it.

Though it looked well with a sweater, the running shoes and socks didn't - why they didn't was beyond her - and stockings were out of the question.

Finally, she drove away in her mini-car with a pair of pumps on her bare feet, and feeling very relaxed.

 

[pipper]

deleted

 

[pipper]

Wendy sat in her study, reading Charlie’s email, while enjoying a cup of tea. It had been a good day at class, except for those few moments when she approached her car in the university’s car park. Keith Price had caught up with her, and promptly asked her to reconsider her decision not to be the stag party’s entertainment. She responded, again, by threatening to slap his face.

Wendy did like the idea of doing the next session in the park, and the idea of posing for Charlie again brought a smile to her face, so she replied quickly.

“Charles,

Thank you for your offer to take more pictures of me, and I think the park will be an ideal place to do the next session.

I will be there at about 10:30 as I have some Manor business to do first.

Wendy.”

The only thing Wendy found a bit disappointing in his email was the fact he had never given her the new password to view her pictures, but she would mention that to him, when they met.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, at 8:30, Wendy arrived at one of the farms, which her parents owned through the Manor. This farm held a special place her heart, as she had been promised ownership of it, once she got married. But for the time being, she was responsible for making sure that it was profitable, and its structures were kept in good condition.

Having found everything to her liking, Wendy set off for the park, hoping that she wouldn’t be late, as the farm business had taken longer than planned. It took about an hour before her mini-car pulled into the parking lot. Damn! Twenty minutes late. Wendy hated that as she always made a point of arriving anywhere on time. But Charlie was nowhere to be seen!

Getting out of her car, she stopped to make sure her business suit was neat and tidy - a black jacket and knee-length skirt, with a white blouse, and black pumps, but no stockings – she needed to feel the cool air on her legs.

“Where are you Charlie?” she said softly.

“Right behind you, my dear Wendy!”

Startled, she turned around, only for a camera flash to go off in her face.

“Charles Barnes! That was not nice, at all!”

 

[pipper]

"Sorry, Wendy. Just wanted to get a candid shot. I must have scared you half to death, though.”

Wendy just stared at him. Many a time, her siblings had teased her, that she could destroy a man at forty yards with her piercing eyes.

"You look great! You look so…comfortable.”

Finding it hard to find the right words, are you Charlie? she thought, knowing that he was trying to make amends in his own way. “I always dress like this when doing business for the Manor. So, what do want me to do now? Sit? Stand?”

"Just stand right there, as you are."

This was going to be interesting, she thought, hoping that no one passing thought they were playing silly buggers!

"All you need to do, Wendy, is stand there. Return to how relaxed you were last session, think of how relaxing it was. Just focus your eyes straight ahead on the horizon and remember how relaxed you were. Remember how pleasant the sensation was and how easy it is now to return to it. You may find yourself rocking forward on your feet, and back. That's okay, just stare at the horizon, just fix your eyes on the horizon."

Wendy tried her hardest not to giggle, as she followed Charlie’s instructions. Stare at the horizon, indeed! In the end, she tried to vision the swinging pendulum in her mind, hoping to speed up the relaxation process, but alas to no avail.

Suddenly Wendy started to rock back and forth on her heels, as the horizon, for some reason, started to blur. And as she did so, she became more and more relaxed. The horizon meant nothing to her now.

"You are falling backwards."

She felt herself falling…falling…falling backwards.

 

[pipper]

Wendy didn't know what was happening to her. It felt as if she was somewhere else - somewhere dreamy. The only thing she heard was something that sounded like a muffled voice whose words were totally incoherent to her. Then she heard a clear snap.

"Wendy, how do you feel?"

"A bit lightheaded, same really as the last session. How long..." Then Wendy noticed that she was looking straight up at the sky. Then she sensed that she was lying down on the grass. "What the...?" Propping herself upwards by the use of her elbows, she looked at Charlie.

"Care to explain how I got like this!"

 

[pipper]

"There's something calming and pleasant about just watching it float by as it forms different shapes. Just watching it float. You look so dreamy and serene looking up at the sky. Let me take a picture, this can be the first of our pictures. It's good that you're relaxed - people photograph at their best when they're relaxed."

Wendy was about to concentrate on the cloud that Charlie had pointed out, when she briefly looked at her watch. It was time she had better get going before something else happened to her. Getting up, she saw a look of surprise on his face.

"Forget about the cloud and the photos, I have to go somewhere important." Then taking a pen and piece of notepaper from her handbag, she wrote down an address, and then handed over the note to Charlie.

"I'm going to my friend's house tomorrow, for a swim. You are welcome to join me. The address and time is on that. If you arrive first, wait for me, as I have the keys to get in."

Though there was an indoor pool at the Manor, Wendy thought it best not to invite Charlie there, as her parents, especially her father, wouldn't welcome him back so soon.

With that Wendy brushed the grass remnants off her outfit, and then returned to her car.

 

[pipper]

Wendy took in her Professor's instructions for the following Monday's exam. Then learned that there would be no more classes for the rest of the week, to give the students time to study for the said exam.

She felt more relaxed wearing a blouse than her normal sweater top, and her knee-length pencil skirt did get her compliments from her fellow female students. Maybe it would be better to keep to feminine clothing from now on, she thought, but for the time being Wendy needed to see if Charlie had accepted her invitation for a swim.

Arriving at her friend's home, Wendy was delighted to see that he was already there waiting at the gates. "Glad you could make it, Charlie," she said as she unlocked the gates. "We have all day to enjoy relaxing and doing a few laps in the pool. By the way, If you think I'll be wearing a bikini, you're out of luck! I don't believe in them, so you have to put up with me wearing a swimsuit."

Carrying her exercise bag, which contained her swimsuit and towels, Wendy led Charlie to the changing rooms, which were to one side of the pool. "Take your time changing, we have no deadline to leave," she said as she begin to disappear into a room to change. But something made her turn around to face Charlie. For some reason he was holding up a pendant, as he muttered something, and then he began to move the pendant to and fro.

It was like the pendulum in her private study. Her eyes followed its movement, the crystal on the end sparkling in the sunshine - then her eyes closed. It felt like she was back in her dream land again, but soon - at least that's what she thought - she was back in the real world, but before she could ask him what had just happened, Charlie vanished into his room to change.

Having stripped in the changing room, a now naked Wendy extracted her black one-piece swimsuit from the exercise bag. As she felt the material, it seemed different - as if it was sexual to the touch. Strange, she thought.

The moment her legs were placed inside the black swimsuit, Wendy felt a new whole world begin to fill her. Then as she pulled up the swimsuit Wendy felt her heartbeat increasing; the more the suit neared her crotch, the more her heartbeat increased.

As the swimsuit’s gusset touched her crotch, Wendy shuddered hard and nearly lost her balance. To make sure she was steady, Wendy put one hand on the room's wall and the other on the black material that was now covering her buttocks, but for some reason she momentarily rubbed the material. What was going on?

Now steady on her feet, Wendy smiled as her hands pulled up the swimsuit to cover her waist and then her belly. She could feel the swimsuit covering her body like it was like tar, slowly moving and all consuming. It crawled slowly up her body, covering bits of skin with every pull and tug from her hands.

Each second covering more and more skin until her arms went through two holes that created shoulder straps, before her breasts and chest were covered in black material, and before her back waited for the zipper to be closed. Her eyes closed, as her hands traveled over her covered body. Wendy felt weak in her mind.

Wendy felt mesmerized. Her eyes visioned Charlie's perfect and entrancing frame.

“It is time,” a voice inside her said.

Wendy felt her hairs stand as her hand moved closer towards the zipper. And suddenly: realization. The moment the hand touched the zipper, Wendy understood that closing the zipper would change her friendship with Charlie, from that of casual, to serious - forever.

“I will be yours, Charlie,” Wendy whispered as her hand slowly moved the zipper up - the sound of the zipper’s teeth filling her mind.

"You will be mine, Charlie. Completely mine." Wendy held the last word for a long time, as she felt the zipper making the swimsuit tighter around her body. She felt her breasts being pressed together, her back being encased, the shoulder straps digging into her skin. Each second brought her closer to the needed feeling of encasement. “I will be yours.”

She moaned and shivered, the tightness over her whole torso increased. She felt hugged, snuggled, encased in black material. For two minutes, Wendy couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, couldn’t move—she could only enjoy what was happening.

Then she walked out to be with Charlie.

 

[pipper]

Wendy emerged from her changing room, and right away spotted Charlie standing there in his swimming trunks. For some reason she went up to him and gave him a hug. A hug that was so close that her breasts touched his chest, while their crotches narrowly missed touching.

“Come on, let’s go for that swim,” Wendy said, before breaking off the hug.

As she always did, Wendy entered the pool at the shallow end. Slowly she put her feet in the water, which she found soothing. Then she started to wade further in, and as she felt the water rising up to her thighs, Wendy felt the water caressing her skin, something she had never really noticed before.

Now wading in further, she felt the water lapping at her stomach, as the waves that were created when Charlie dived in to the pool, went up above her navel then down again.

Now, Wendy went further in, and soon she felt the water just cover the top of her breasts. Then she just stood there, as the water moved over various parts of her body, soothing her.

Soon she began to swim, her swimsuit clinging to her as if it was her skin, its material making her nipples begin to stand out, but she didn’t care.

For twenty minutes, Wendy and Charlie enjoyed their swimming, and then Wendy decided to take a break. As she stepped out of the water, her nipples tightened and tingled a bit. Grabbing a towel, she dried herself. Then untying her hair, she vigorously ran the towel over her head.

Then she sat in a deck chair, closed her eyes, and relaxed.

 

[pipper]

Wendy opened her eyes to spot the sky starting to cloud over. She had heard that there might be rain in the forecast, and not wanting to get caught in a down pour , she said to Charlie, “We better get going, before we get soaked to the skin,” while smiling as she thought that they just done that while swimming.

Once dressed, they said their goodbyes, and were on their way to their individual homes, as it began to rain.

Having entering the Manor without the aid of a servant, Wendy was met by the head butler. “The Countess wishes to speak with you, Ma’am.”

“Any idea what it’s about, Paul?”

“I have no idea, Ma’am, but she wants to see you…right away. She’s in the drawing room.”

“Thank you, Paul.”

Taking in a deep breath, Wendy entered the room, to find her mother sitting in a chair, reading a book. Before Wendy could sit down opposite her, her mother suddenly asked, “Were you with Barnes, this afternoon, at the pool?”

How on earth did she know that? Wendy thought. “Yes, I was. I invited him. Is that a problem?”

Her mother stared at her daughter. “Don’t talk to me like that! If you must know, there might be a problem. The Dean called me. It appears that someone skipped an important meeting with him.”

“Well, I know nothing about that, Ma. I was in class today, and had no appointment with the Dean.”

“I was referring to Barnes! He knows that Barnes is working with you on that project, so he thought he might be with you, here, working on said project.”

Had Charlie skipped class and the Dean to be with her? Wendy didn’t want that to happen. After all, he was a close friend of hers. “Like I have just said, I know nothing about it. In fact, he never mentioned it,” Wendy replied, adding the last bit, to make sure her mother fully understood that she was innocent.

“Very well, then Wendy,” the Countess said as she stood. “Just be careful. Barnes was supposed to give an update on the project to the Dean. I don’t want you getting into trouble over Barnes’s blatant disregard of the rules.”

After receiving permission to leave, from her mother, Wendy walked to her study, rather than run, which wasn’t the proper protocol, and then phoned Charlie.

“Charlie, why didn’t you keep the meeting with the Dean? And why have I got a gut feeling you never attended class! Don’t do that again, or you’ll get the both of us into trouble, you from the Dean, me from my parents.”