Chapter 18
The soft glow of the bedside lamp bathed the room in a warm, gentle light. The sound of their breathing filled the silence, slow and steady as the two of them lay side by side in Carina’s bed. Maya’s head rested on Carina’s chest, her hand tangled in the sheets, feeling the rhythmic rise and fall of Carina’s breathing beneath her.
Maya shifted slightly, her fingers brushing against Carina’s skin. “So, what would you want to happen next?” Maya said, her voice playful, her tone light and teasing.
Carina let out a soft laugh, the sound rumbling through her chest beneath Maya’s head. “I have already said, it`s up to you. I am happy with whatever you want…”
Maya chuckled. “You kind of made it sound like you want me to take charge now?” she asked, her voice light with curiosity but laced with a hint of amusement.
Carina’s hand slid over Maya’s back, her fingertips tracing idle patterns along the skin. “Well, maybe, maybe not…” she teased, her lips curling into a smile. “Remember when I told you, that I already had been in handcuffs?”
Maya raised an eyebrow, lifting her head to glance up at Carina. The playful, flirty look in Carina’s eyes made her heart race a little faster. “You said maybe!”
Carina’s smile grew wider, and she leaned in, brushing a strand of hair away from Maya’s face. “Did I really?” she said softly, her voice lower now, more intimate. “Do you want to see me in handcuffs, bambina?”
Maya blinked, absorbing Carina’s words. There was an intensity and urgency in Carina’s voice that Maya found very intriguing.
“I never really expected you to ask me that,” Maya admitted, as she shifted to prop herself up on one elbow, looking into Carina’s eyes.
Carina nodded, her fingers continuing to trace gentle patterns along Maya’s arm. “That’s the thing, though. You never really can predict what I am doing, right?”
Maya let out a slow breath, her heart racing for a different reason now.
Carina’s hand gently cupped Maya’s cheek, her touch tender and grounding. “I really want you to put me in handcuffs, Ma-ya,” she agreed. “I have a feeling you might want to pay me back for all the times I teased you, no? I do trust you…”
Maya met Carina’s gaze, feeling the depth of her words. They were talking about more than just handcuffs now. They were talking about vulnerability, about connection. About the space between control and surrender, about what it meant to trust someone enough to let your guard down.
“I guess... I guess that’s why I still get so starstruck by you,” Maya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, her fingers running along the fabric of the sheets.
Carina’s lips softened into a smile, a warmth in her eyes. “Maya, sei bellisima. Sei forte. Sei tenace. I see you, all of you, the way you are. No walls, no facades. Just you.”
Maya felt a lump form in her throat at Carina’s words, a deep tenderness flooding her chest.
“I’m not used to it,” Maya said, her voice quiet but sincere. “Not used to being seen for me, you know? It’s hard to believe someone, someone like you, would want that, without needing me to be someone else.”
Carina’s eyes softened, and she gently kissed Maya’s forehead, her lips lingering there for a moment. “I want you, Maya. All of you. The strong, brave woman, and the shy woman who’s still learning to trust herself. You don’t have to be anyone else with me.”
Maya closed her eyes, letting those words settle deep inside her heart. She hadn’t known how much she needed to hear them until now.
She smiled softly, shifting to cuddle closer to Carina, her heart full of a new kind of hope—one that didn’t require control, but trust. The kind of trust Carina was offering her.
“So, about those handcuffs…” Maya said, her voice a little teasing, but with a hint of something more, something softer. “You have been very mean to me, and I think it`s time that I do something about that!”
Carina chuckled, then stood up from the bed, the sudden movement breaking the stillness. She walked over to the small table by the window where the bag lay—large, almost inconspicuous, but Maya knew what it contained.
Carina took a deep breath, took the handcuffs out and lay them gently down onto the bed. Then she reached out to gently touch Maya’s arm, a reassuring, grounding touch. "It was difficult for me at first," she admitted, her voice quiet and reflective. "The first time I truly surrendered to someone, it can feel like you’re exposing everything—your weaknesses, your deepest fears. But it wasn’t just about power. It was about learning what it felt like to be vulnerable in a way that made me stronger. That’s the thing about trust, Maya. When you trust someone enough to give them control, you’re not just handing over power. You’re choosing to be vulnerable, and that vulnerability becomes a kind of strength."
The room had taken on an electric charge, the air thick with the tension between them. Maya felt a rush of heat rise in her chest, her pulse racing in a way she hadn’t expected. Carina’s words had opened something inside her—a door she hadn’t known was there—and now it felt like there was no turning back. The question of control wasn’t just theoretical anymore. It was something she could feel in her very bones, something she wanted to explore.
Carina was watching her closely, her gaze steady and warm, like she was waiting for Maya to take the next step. The weight of her brown eyes made Maya's breath quicken, but it also gave her courage. She had trusted Carina to guide her through all of this so far, but something inside her was shifting. It was her turn now.
Carina’s hands rested lightly on her lap, her posture relaxed, but there was something in her that Maya recognized—an openness, a readiness to let Maya decide where this would go next.
Maya glanced at the handcuffs on the bed, their cold, shiny surface glinting in the dim light. They weren’t just tools; they were a symbol of everything they’d talked about—trust, control, and the willingness to explore each other’s boundaries. But right now, they felt like something else entirely. They felt like a challenge.
Her voice, when she spoke, was laced with a new, daring edge. “I really really want to use them,” Maya said, the words tasting foreign on her tongue, but powerful all the same. “I want to put them on you.”
Carina raised an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips. But there was no hesitation in her response, no judgment. Just curiosity and something deeper—a spark in her eyes that told Maya everything she needed to know.
Maya reached for the handcuffs, her fingers trembling slightly with the anticipation of the moment, but she didn't hesitate. Not this time. Not when it felt like she was finally stepping into a place where she could own her own desires.
She moved closer to Carina, the space between them closing as she gently took Carina's hands, guiding them to the bed. Carina’s eyes followed her every movement, an expression of quiet admiration on her face.
Maya’s breath hitched as she carefully secured one of the handcuffs around Carina’s wrist. The cool metal felt foreign against the warmth of Carina’s skin, but there was something intoxicating about the way the bond tightened, the way it shifted the balance between them. Carina’s gaze never wavered. Her body was relaxed, but her eyes were filled with something that made Maya’s heart race. Carina was giving her the power, allowing her to take control in this very moment.
When the second cuff was in place, Maya paused for a second, just looking at Carina, unsure but intrigued.
Carina tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips as she tested the handcuffs gently, the soft clink of the metal filling the air. “You’re doing well,” she said softly. “You’re taking control, Maya. Mi piace. I like it.”
Maya’s heart fluttered at the praise, but the words also sparked something deep within her—a boldness that she hadn’t known was there. She wanted to push further, to see how far she could go.
She stepped back, taking in the sight of Carina lying there, hands restrained but still graceful, the vulnerability in the position only adding to the heat between them.
With her breath shallow and her hands trembling slightly, Maya reached for Carina, her touch gentle but assertive as she leaned down, pressing her lips softly against Carina’s. The kiss was slow at first, tentative, but it quickly deepened as Maya’s confidence grew, her hands exploring Carina’s body with a hunger she hadn’t realized she’d been holding back.
Carina responded in kind, her body reacting to Maya’s touch, but always with that steady, controlled grace that Maya had come to admire. She wasn’t resisting, wasn’t pulling away. She was giving herself to Maya, trusting her to lead, and that trust ignited something fierce inside of Maya.
“I want to see you,” Maya whispered, pulling back just enough to look at Carina, her voice thick with desire. “I want to feel you... all of you.”
Carina’s eyes sparkled with unspoken understanding. “You’re in control, Maya,” she said, her voice low and steady. “Do what you need to.”
Maya’s breath caught as she looked down at Carina—restrained, vulnerable, but still so incredibly strong.
And in that moment, Maya realized something. She didn’t need to be perfect. She didn’t need to have all the answers. All she needed to do was be present, to trust herself and Carina.
Carina’s smile, soft and knowing, was something else entirely. It wasn’t the smile of someone who was being passive, someone who was simply accepting. No, Carina was enjoying this. Her dark eyes gleamed.
Maya’s breath caught. Carina liked this. Maya`s hands trembled just slightly as she reached for Carina again, her fingers brushing over the cold metal of the handcuffs.
"You look so good like this," Maya whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I want to see you surrender... and know it’s for me."
The words came out with a confidence Maya hadn’t known she had until now.
Carina’s gaze darkened as she tilted her head, her lips curving into a smile that made Maya’s pulse race. "You're doing just fine," Carina murmured, her voice thick with something deeper. "You’re taking charge, and I’m letting you. But understand this, Maya—I want this too. The power shift... it excites me."
Maya’s fingers brushed lightly over Carina’s wrists, the handcuffs holding her in place, but the pressure of Maya’s touch was almost reverent. She could feel Carina’s pulse beneath her fingertips, could sense the way Carina’s body reacted, even in its stillness. It
"You really like this, don’t you?" Maya asked. Her eyes never left Carina’s, watching for every flicker of reaction, every subtle shift in Carina’s expression.
Carina’s gaze darkened even further, and a soft exhale escaped her lips. "Yes," she said, the word almost a purr. "I like it Ma-ya. I like you taking charge."
Maya swallowed hard at the intensity in Carina’s voice, the admission sending a rush of heat through her. It was more than just the physical act—it was the understanding that Carina found pleasure in this dynamic, in letting Maya lead for the first time.
"Then I want you to feel it," Maya said, her voice gaining strength as she spoke, a boldness creeping into her tone. "I want to see you react. I want to know you’re mine."
Carina’s eyes flickered with a mixture of desire.
Maya’s breath quickened, her hands now tracing the line of Carina’s jaw, down her neck, as she slowly began to explore with more purpose. There was something incredibly intoxicating about this—the way Carina’s body softened into her touch, the way she responded, even though she was technically bound by the handcuffs.
"Don’t hold back," Carina whispered, her voice thick with anticipation.
Maya’s heart raced as she moved closer, her body almost trembling with the rush of control and the intensity of the desire between them. She kissed Carina, slow and deep, tasting the sweetness of Carina’s lips, feeling the way she responded, her body relaxing into Maya’s touch.
Maya could feel the heat rising between them. Carina’s breathing had quickened, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that matched Maya’s own.
Maya pulled back slightly, looking at Carina, her heart pounding in her chest. "You trust me," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I can feel it. And I want to honor that."
Carina’s eyes softened, her lips curving into a small but genuine smile. "You already are, Maya," she whispered. "You already are."
Maya’s fingers tightened around the cold metal of the handcuffs as she pushed Carina`s arms above her head. The sharp click of the cuffs against the bed frame was like a signal, the sound cutting through the thick silence in the room and ringing in Maya’s ears.
Carina, her body still restrained, didn’t flinch. She looked up at Maya with lust filled eyes and a sense of trust, of surrender. Carina wasn’t giving up control; she was offering it. Maya felt her heart pound in her chest.
“You really want me to do this?” Maya asked, her voice softer now, but the intensity was unmistakable. She couldn’t help but seek Carina’s reassurance again.
Carina’s lips parted, and she met Maya’s gaze without hesitation. “Yes. I want you to take control, Bambina.”
Maya moved slowly, deliberately, the sound of her breath the only thing that filled the space between them. She glanced at Carina once more. “You’re completely mine now, aren’t you?” Maya’s voice dropped even lower now, barely a whisper.
Carina nodded, her breath coming out in a steady, controlled rhythm. “Yes, Bambina.”
The words, soft but firm, sent a shiver down Maya’s spine. She hadn’t expected it—this full submission, this complete openness.
Maya let her fingers trail over Carina’s body, barely skimming the surface at first, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath her touch. The act of touching was no longer just exploration—it was ownership. But ownership in the most tender, intimate way. Her fingertips grazed Carina’s collarbone, then dipped lower, tracing the curve of her breasts, the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed in anticipation.
“I want you to feel every touch,” Maya murmured, her voice thick with desire. “I want to make you feel things you’ve never felt before.”
Carina’s breathing hitched at the command, her body shifting slightly under Maya’s touch.
Maya’s heart thudded in her chest as she moved lower, her lips finding the sensitive skin of Carina’s exposed neck, tasting the salt of her skin, the warmth of her pulse beneath the surface.
With a deliberate, slow motion, Maya placed her hand around Carina’s neck. Not hard, not demanding, but with enough pressure to make Carina gasp softly. She could feel the way Carina’s body responded, her muscles tightening, her breath catching as Maya’s fingers gently cupped the back of her neck. The sensation was heady, powerful, and it made Maya’s pulse race in response.
Carina’s eyes were locked on hers, dark with a mix of desire and something deeper—something almost primal. There was no fear in her eyes, only a quiet surrender, a trust that Maya didn’t take lightly.
“You’re mine now,” Maya murmured, her voice low and confident, the words soft but filled with an undeniable edge.
Carina exhaled slowly, her lips curling into a small, approving smile. “Yes, Maya,” she whispered. “I am.”
Maya’s grip tightened just a fraction, enough to make Carina’s breath hitch, enough to remind her that, for this moment, she was completely at Maya’s mercy. But Maya didn’t move to hurt her. No, the power wasn’t in causing pain—it was in the control, in knowing that Carina was willing to let go, to let Maya guide them both deeper into this space.
“Say it again,” Maya commanded softly, her thumb brushing gently along the side of Carina’s neck. The touch was soothing, but the dominance in her voice sent a shiver through both of them. “Say you’re mine.”
Carina’s breath came out in a soft rush, her eyes never leaving Maya’s. She let her body relax into the bed, her muscles uncoiling in surrender, her pulse quickening beneath Maya’s touch.
“I’m yours,” Carina breathed, the words barely escaping her lips.
Maya’s heart raced, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she deepened her touch, her fingers pressing against the soft, vulnerable skin of Carina’s neck, just enough to heighten the sensation without crossing the line. Her thumb stroked over Carina’s pulse, feeling the steady beat, and she let herself savor it—this control, this connection.
“Good girl,” Maya murmured, her voice thick with approval. She leaned down, brushing her lips against Carina’s ear, the words a soft caress. “You’re so beautiful like this, letting me take care of you. Letting me take what I want.”
Carina’s chest rose and fell with every breath, her lips parting as a soft, needy sound escaped her. Maya couldn’t help but smile, the sound of Carina’s surrender, her pleasure, filling the space between them.
“You’re perfect,” Maya whispered against Carina’s skin, her voice low, almost worshipful. She had never felt this sure of herself, of them, as she did in that moment. Every part of her was attuned to Carina’s reactions, the way she shifted, the way she responded to the touch of Maya’s hand, her lips, her body.
Carina let out a soft, almost inaudible sigh. “Don’t stop,” Carina whispered, her voice thick with desire.
Maya’s grip tightened just a little more, enough to make Carina’s breath catch again, but there was no fear in her eyes, only desire.
Maya leaned back, her hand still resting lightly on Carina’s neck, but her eyes searching Carina’s for any sign of hesitation. “Tell me what you want,” she said, her voice a little breathless now, the power of their dynamic fueling her.
Carina’s eyes burned with intensity, her voice barely a whisper but filled with need. “I want you to wreck me, Maya. I want you to make me feel everything.”
Maya’s heart thundered in her chest as she let those words settle between them. She didn’t need any more permission. She knew what she wanted now. She knew what they both needed.
And she was going to give it to her.