Hypnotism

by Anya W. Vossand

This is such a bad idea. Oh God, why am I doing this?

I look down at my phone; Google maps says that I'm at the right place, and as I look up at the door I see a placard. "Gemini Hypnotists". Already I can feel my face blushing – my friends paid for this session. Honestly, I've never been to a hypnotist, erotic or otherwise, and even though I'm a 27-year-old woman I've never even dreamed of actually paying for sex. Maybe I should, I mean... it's not like guys are really lining up at my door, not for a long while now. Okay, not that they ever did - hence the appointment. Damnit, Lily, just get in there!

Holding my breath, I push open the door and look inside at the lobby. My exhalation flows slowly past my untinted lips as I take in the soothing décor. Deep reds and golds, the scent of incense, candles, and the sounds of trickling water in a small fish tank all meet my senses. I let the door close behind me and adjust the strap of my messenger bag on my shoulder, my phone still clutched in my left hand. If I have to dial 911... no, don't think that way. This place checked out online – lots of good reviews, nice website. The two proprietors even have their pictures up. Just as I recall the images I saw I hear the sound of footsteps at the opposite end of the lobby.

There they are. Both of them. And... they're gorgeous, holy fuck. One of them, who the website calls Jason, is tall and slender, his hair long, straight, and black. It's tied at the nape of his neck with an elastic, the loose collar of his black button-up shirt draping at the very base of his neck and revealing the very top of his hairless chest and sculpted collarbones. His features are Thai or Vietnamese, something southeast Asian and gorgeous. His business partner, who I think is his actual boyfriend, is Aaron according to the website. Aaron's skin is slightly darker than Jason's and his features are Middle Eastern, his hair groomed short and neat. While his partner wears all black, Aaron is wearing all white in the form of a tunic and cloth pants. Both of them are barefoot.

"Hello. You must be Lily Beauvais" says Jason with a smile.

I just nod dumbly, my large, brown eyes drinking in both men. In one of the mirrors on the lobby wall I catch sight of myself – Haitian and still with the bloom of beauty and youth on my features, or so says my mother. I feel tired and down on myself after a shitty breakup a year and a half ago. Since them I've been uninspired in love and every date I've been on has just bored me to tears. The guys are nice enough; I just honestly don't know what I want or need. Even sex is dull.

Aaron smiles and approaches me to shake hands. I switch off my phone and tuck it into my bag, extending my right hand to grip his. It breaks me out of my rumination and I smile, my hand firming up a little in his warm, strong grip as I engage more fully in the moment. "I am. I've never done anything like this before."

I do my best not to let out the moan that's fluttering in my belly as Aaron smiles down at me and caresses my bare forearm with his free hand, leaving every little hair standing up on end. "That's perfectly fine, Lily. We'll take good care of you, and you can stop the process at any time." After a deep breath I look into his dark eyes, smiling a little. "Are you ready to begin?" For a moment I'm wondering if he means that we're all going to do this in the lobby, and my brow knits for a moment before Jason chuckles and gestures to a door he's just opened. Aaron pats my hand but doesn't pull me forward, letting me choose whether to stay where I am or go further. My heart hammers in my chest, but I nod and walk forward with the both of them.

The room I'm led to is furnished in sumptuous colors even more so than the lobby. Black, deep purples, blues and accents in copper. Aaron lights red candles on wall-mounted shelves while Jason hands me a cloth bundle. It slides into my hands, but I'm not looking at either man. All I can look at is the bed in the center of the room, clearly large enough for three people. My cheeks feel hot and I hug the bundle I've just been handed to my chest, for one moment regretting coming here. What if they think I'm boring or frigid? I can't stand the thought of being rejected by two gorgeous men. But then I realize that my friends paid them for this, so the rules are a little different, right? Trying to relax, I let out my breath slowly and look at the bundle in my arms. It's a bathrobe in my size, and I look up at Jason who's waiting patiently at my left.