Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Protecting Heather by Stephen Smith (C)2014

   **This is a work of fantasy and fiction.  The author does not condone
any sexual activity among persons under legal age in real life.

   -------------------------------------------------------------

   Ch 2.

   Oliver paced restlessly in the basement of his rural and insular ranch.
It would be about an hour before she was close enough that he should set
out to meet them.  He wanted to check things out just one more time.

   He inspected the finished wall that separated what appeared to be a
harmless basement game room, from the remaining two thirds of space in what
had been a generously proportioned basement.  Two feet of masonry wall and
one foot of soundproofing insulation, followed by wood paneling that acted
as the wall of the other room, ensured the secrecy of the rooms beyond. 
Upon closure of the hidden panel in the midpoint of this clever wall, there
was no visible trace of an entry way at all.  It was only accessible by a
remote control which he kept on his keyring.

   Passing within the now open panel, he considered the space within.  It
had been subdivided into modest living quarters on one side to the left,
and a spacious open playroom on the right.  In the center was the entry, a
small square area set up like an airlock with an inner and outer
combination locked doors that ultimately opened straight through into the
playroom.

   Closing the panel behind him, he then passed through the two doors to
enter the playroom.  He wandered the space, remembering it as it had taken
shape from empty bare cement to fully furnished and appointed.  For just
over a year he had worked on it.  Yet even at its completion, the space
felt empty and dead.

   Now that the time had come to give this space life he found himself
nervous.

   Unable to shake his nerves, he immersed himself in the familiarity of
it. The room was colored warmly in rich reds and cream colors, and some
pale yellows to give it some depth, and lit with recessed halogen lighting.
For what appeared to be a dungeon playroom it radiated a sense of warmth,
which was the effect he had aimed for.

   There was the sturdy pine cabinet that held his choice restraints, gags,
and various implements of pleasure.  He passed his hand over each one,
checked the contents of the drawers which revealed vibrators, clamps,
spreader bars....

   Next to it was a section of solid wood wall paneling to which were
attached a grid work of regularly spaced anchor points for securing and
preparing his guest.  There was the sturdy pine wood table, with waist
height table top, its 4 inch square legs bolted to the floor.

   Further along there awaited an inverted Y-shaped wooden beam on sturdy
rollers.  Composed of large solid timbers, the two lower opposing legs of
the inverted "Y" were adjustable and lockable to different angles. 
Finished to a glossy warm sheen, he was quite proud to have made it
himself. He loved to run his hands over its smooth glassy surface.

   A lovely finished hardwood sawhorse, covered in leather, with anchor
points under the beam and along each of the legs.  A 4-inch belt was
threaded through a slot at one end of the horse, at present lying flat
against the legs, waiting patiently to be occupied.

   He passed through the door into the living quarters, where a soothing
taupe and off-white palette calmed the nerves.  In front of the entry door
and to the left there was a wall mounted panel TV, a nice comfortable plush
loveseat and couch set facing it.  Past that was a small kitchen table with
chairs.  On the far side and along the opposing wall were cabinets and
counter, a small kitchenette.  To the right was a queen bed with a sturdy
wood full frame.  There was a cabinet for clothes, already completely
stocked with cute selections of short summer dresses, halter tops,
spaghetti strap dresses... just the sort of thing that a young lady would
wear in summer.  Opposite the bed and occupying the far corner of the room
was an enclosed full bath fitted out with a large claw foot tub and a wide
open front shower stall.  There were, of course, anchors in the floor,
ceiling, and walls there as well.

   Hidden by the sheets and the comforter along the wood frame of the bed,
he imagined all the sturdy eyebolts he had secured at regular intervals.

   He was anxious, nervous, and more than a little bit afraid of what was
about to transpire.  He pushed his fears aside.  Things were already in
motion.  Really it was far too late to back out now.  Janice had come
through.  Now it was all on him.

   He wandered to the bed and sat down on it, and as he did, he
accidentally caught sight of himself in the mirror in the bathroom.  The
eyes within the kid-glove soft black leather hooded skull stared back at
him.  He never could quite shake the impression that it was a stranger that
he saw.  The thought made him both chuckle and wince at the same time.

   (How different my life might have been, )he reflected,( if my face was
like anybody else's face.  I had so much to offer, so many good intentions,
so much love that I longed to give.  )But all he ever saw reflected in the
faces of the various women he longed for so badly was revulsion, horror, or
worse yet, pity.  He could still remember what it was like to be `normal'.
There were many times when he forgot what it was that other people saw when
they saw him, unmasked.  But they reminded him.
   Soon enough, he wouldn't need to worry about that anymore.