“Kneel for me, thrall.”

“You know what? I don’t think I will.” Giggling, I started to walk away.

“Do you think you can so easily defy me?”

“Yes!” I put my hand on the doorknob.

“Freeze.”

I tried to turn the knob, but my hand wouldn’t move. Neither would my feet. My whole body was just stuck.

He chuckled. I loved that sound. It gave me goosebumps. “Thaw.” With a shiver, movement returned to my body. I spun to face him. “That’s not fair!”

“Hmm. Not fair. Well, I could stop, then.”

“No! Green.” I gave him my best pouty face.

“Good thrall. Now, on your knees.”

“No!” I wriggled past him and started to climb onto the bed.

Again, that chuckle. Deep and rich and full of dark promises. “Freeze.”

This time I was stuck with one foot in the air, leaning on the bed. He took hold of my wrists, pinning them to the bed, helping me to keep my balance. “Thaw.”

“Hmph! That’s just…”

“Not fair?” I could hear the smirk in his voice. I loved it.

“...it’s green but UGH.” I squirmed, trying to get free. He took one hand and pushed down on my shoulder, gentle but firm. I wriggled, and only succeeded in falling to one knee.

“That’s right.”

“Rawr!” I kicked out with my other foot, but he easily evaded me.

“Now the other knee, thrall.”

“Grrrr.” I kept struggling, but before long, his gentle strength pushed me down. Once both my knees were on the floor, he took some time positioning my shoulders just right, as I continued my playful attempts to escape. Eventually, he was satisfied.

“Good. Well done.”

I opened my mouth to say, “Hey!”

But before I could get the word out, he told me, “Freeze.”