Francine arrived home from her usual morning jog at around 745 am. She was tired, pearls of sweat glistening on her forehead and flushed cheeks. However, the moment she turned the key to her apartment, her eyes lit up like a child entering a candy store for the first time. A familiar whiff of roses reached her nostrils, telling her everything she needed to know: Amelia was home.

The two women had been dating for three years and, during that time, their relationship had more ups than downs. Amelia's calm demeanor was the perfect counterpart to Francine's chaotic energy. When they were together, anything was possible, and that's exactly what made it work. Teenager Francine would have laughed at the idea of finding happiness in another woman's arms, but the early thirties version of her knew better. Amelia was the love of her life, and every moment with her was more precious than all the riches in the world.

Francine locked the front door on the inside and tiptoed her way into the living room, where Amelia sprawled with a cheeky smile on her face. Her traveling bags were scattered around the sofa and would remain abandoned until their owner found the strength to unpack. The occasion called for a celebration, and so Francine did what was expected of her, jumping into her lover's arms as if she hadn't seen her in a year. Two weeks was the right answer, but even a second felt like an eternity when they were apart.
"You're back early!" Francine giggled, excited to lose herself in Amelia's lips again.

"I had to. I wouldn't miss this day for anything, and you know it," Amelia replied, one hand sliding down Francine's blond hair while the other cupped the underside of her breasts.

"Won't your boss be mad? I know how important this deal is for the company and you're..."

"... the best, I know, but there's nothing to worry about. I got the contract signed two days ago. I would have come home sooner, but I had to take care of something else first."

"Oh? And what was that?" Francine adjusted her body so that she was straddling Amelia's legs with her own.

"Your Valentine's Day present, of course!" Amelia smiled. "Something special for a special day and a very special lady."

"Stop it!" Francine shook her head, feeling the familiar flush creep back into her cheeks. "You don't need to say that all the time."

"And why should I ever stop telling you the truth? You are who you are, and you're absolutely perfect."

Francine's heart skipped a beat. Amelia didn't talk much, but when she did, she always knew what to say. Economy of words didn't mean economy of feelings. As reserved as she could be in the professional world, she never shied away from intimacy or the desire to make her partner feel like the most important person ever to walk this Earth.
Valentine's Day had an extra significance to them. They had met during one, courtesy of a mutual friend, their connection defying boundaries right from the beginning. Was it love at first sight? No, but it hit quickly, nonetheless, a lightning strike so powerful that the earth's core trembled with the impact. Rapture happened every time they were entwined, and that feeling was overwhelming. Francine kissed Amelia's eager lips one more time and then excused herself when the realization finally hit her.

"You're too sweet, but I have a confession to make," she said, unhooking herself from her beloved girlfriend. Her blue eyes darted toward the calendar up on the wall, making her embarrassment even clearer.

"You forgot what day it is, didn't you?" Amelia stretched her arms.

"I... Hmmm, yeah, I guess I did. I didn't mean to, but since you were supposed to still be in France until next week, I.... Oh, God!" Francine sobbed, fearful that she had ruined the mood. "I'm sorry. I feel so bad right now."

"Babe, look at me!" Amelia commanded in that gentle and unassuming tone that always surprised her. Francine took a deep breath and stared into the deep pools of green she loved with all her heart. "It's okay. You're right. I wasn't supposed to be here. I'm not mad. I could never be mad at you. You believe me, don't you?"

"Yes, but..."

"It's all good. I still want you to have your present, though."

"I don't deserve it."

"You deserve the sun, the moon, and the stars. I'd give you those if I could, but since I can't, you'll have to settle for the next best thing. Are you ready?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Shh... Be quiet and close your eyes for me now. I'll be right back."

Amelia gently pushed her girlfriend away and watched her sink into the sofa with her eyelids tightly shut. A thin veil of disappointment covered her weary face as she reached for the pink handbag teetering at the edge of the coffee table. The present sat there, a small, square box wrapped in delicate salmon paper. It had been bought in Paris, but its real provenance was unknown, a secret from ancient times she had no interest in explaining, only enjoying it to the fullest. She held the box in her hands for a second and then dropped it in Francine's lap. "Open your eyes when you're ready," Amelia said.

Francine nodded, casting her gaze on the modest package. It was surprisingly light, as if it were a bag of feathers plucked from a delicate bird. However, when she touched the lid, an unexpected tingle coursed through her fingers, spreading through her entire body. The electric jolt reminded her that Amelia was full of surprises, and this was another proof of that.

"What is it?"

"Open it and find out."

Francine unwrapped the box, peeling the paper away with trembling hands. She loved being on the receiving end of presents, and Amelia had never failed her before. Past the lid was a set of two identical bracelets - silver bands with a single jewel engraved. One was bright green, an emerald. The other one was ruby red. They looked ancient yet had been polished to a perfect sheen, a striking fashion accessory.

"Do you like them?" Amelia asked.

"They're absolutely gorgeous. They look expensive, too. How much did you pay for these?"

"Don't ruin the moment by talking about money. dear. That doesn't matter. Put one on. Specifically, this one," Amelia pointed at the bracelet with the red gem.

"Why that one?"

"Stop asking questions, please," Amelia replied while grabbing the other bracelet. She placed it on her left wrist while her lover settled on the right one. "Just tell me how it feels against your skin."

"Cold, but a good cold. And there's almost like a buzz to it...." Francine said, admiring the piece of jewelry. It was almost otherworldly in its simplicity. The plot was thickening, and she was dying to know more. "You need to tell me why these are so special."

"And I will. Do as I do, okay?"

Amelia placed her thumb on the green gem and pressed it once. Francine mimicked her, applying the same amount of force on the gem shining above her skin. There was a moment of silence when the two women just sat looking at each other. Perplexity was etched in every feature of Francine's face, from her puffed cheeks to her Roman nose, and it was cemented by the one thing she wasn't supposed to do - ask more questions.

"What was the point of that?"

"Give it time."

"Time for what?"

The answer was almost instantaneous, and began with a blinding flash of light. The air in the living room grew colder, and a slithering tentacle of energy connected the two bracelets like a magical chain. Francine gasped once and then did it again, eyes fixed on the impossible visual spectacle that had sprung out of thin air. Whatever had just happened was unlike anything she had ever seen, and the gravity of the situation kept her glued to her seat.

"Don't be scared," Amelia said. "This is natural. It means the process is working as it should."

"What process? What are you talking about, for fuck's sake?" Francine asked, the veneer starting to crack.

"Baby... Relax!" Amelia whispered.

She spoke these words in the same voice she had used before, but amplified. There was an extra layer to it, a living echo self-replicating with every syllable. The words were soothing, and so was the impression they left behind, a phantom balm that removed any sense of urgency from Francine's mind. Her shoulders loosened, and her legs parted open as the numbing calmness enveloped her entire body.

"Don't think. Don't resist. Just feel me with you," Amelia continued. "You're special to me and will always be so, but now more than ever. I'm inside you, Fran. I'm in your mind and your body."

"How?" Francine had no choice but to ask, and yet the word felt wrong in her mouth, an unnecessary add-on that only made her brain run slower. She had never trudged through quicksand before, but imagined the sensation was not that much different from this. The connection deepened as her girlfriend's voice reverberated inside her skull.

"Magic, I guess. At least, that's what the saleswoman told me. The gems on the bracelets are like two sides of a coin, with a specific function attached to them. The green is the primary one, a control mechanism, and the red submits to it. If the connection is strong enough, then surrender is inevitable, but the same can be said about pleasure. Fran, get on your knees."

"What? Come on! You know I don't play those types of..."

But just as she was finishing the sentence, her legs inched forward, dragging her from her comfortable position to meet the floor. She landed with a helpless thud, aghast but aroused at the same time. Her body had stopped being her own, now responding to external influence with unwavering precision.

"Holy shit! Babe, you.."

"I controlled you," Amelia declared. "I can do that because our love is strong enough. The bracelets feed off each other's energies, and now mine is overpowering yours. Isn't it amazing?"

"It's something else, all right! Fuck! This is not what I had in mind when I realized you were home."

"Why would it be?" Amelia laughed. "Are you scared, sweetie?"

Francine nodded, but regretted it almost immediately. It was strange to suddenly find herself deprived of autonomy, but Amelia had always treated her right. She had no reason to be afraid - not yet, at least - but there was still a lingering question hanging between them.

"Why are you doing this?"

Amelia got up and kneeled right beside her, the bracelets brushing against one another. A wave of static electricity made their hair momentarily stand to attention before falling into perfect stillness again. 

"I wanted to know if I could, and make this day even more special for us. You may stand up now." 

Francine complied, but she was beyond confused. How was that love? Amelia's mind control fantasies weren't strange to her, but they had never engaged in a serious conversation about them before. Now that the thin line between fantasy and reality had been crossed, how would that impact their relationship going forward?

"I don't want to be your puppet," Francine said, even though her pussy was telling her precisely the opposite. This was hotter than it had any right to be.

"Not even for a bit?" Amelia stood behind her to kiss her neck.

"I mean... maybe every once in a while, but you must admit it's a pretty bizarre gift."

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't... but what about now?"

Amelia moved so swiftly that her partner didn't even notice the exchange. When Francine looked at the bracelet on her wrist again, it sported a proud green gem instead of the deep red one, but the connection between them had remained intact. The tired runner's eyes glinted with satisfaction.

"I see... so it works both ways, huh?"

"Of course, my dear. I would never do anything to you that I wouldn't be willing to have you do to me as well. I want to play with you whenever I can, and I want you to do the same. Try it. Tell me to do something to see if the connection holds."

"I don't know what to say."

"You're a big girl. I'm sure you can think of something naughty we can both enjoy..."

Francine's eyes narrowed as a torrent of kinky thoughts flashed before her. Each one promised forbidden pleasures, ideas she wasn't sure she would enjoy, but how could she know for sure unless she tried them? The temptation grew in her stomach, spiraling upward toward her throat until it became her voice and an irresistible command.

"You should have told me you were coming home earlier so I could greet you in sexy lingerie instead of sweaty jogging clothes..." she purred. "Bad girl, Amelia! Bend over and lift your ass so I can give it a proper spanking."

The slithering chain connecting the two pieces of jewelry grew slightly darker and ran up Amelia's spine. Unlike her girlfriend, she didn't flinch, instead embracing the power exchange willingly, and everything that came with it. The erotic thrill was strong enough to make her drop her leather skirt and reveal that she wasn't wearing panties underneath.

"Do whatever you want, my love. I'm yours."

Staring at her perky ass cheeks, Francine reveled in the turning of the tables. This could be fun after all. "We'll see about that."

Francine's right hand descended swiftly, leaving a red impression in Amelia's buttocks. She clenched her teeth, but begged for more, the prelude to a journey of unrelenting journey of dominance and submission. They were already friends and lovers. They also could be Mistresses and slaves.

"Please do it again. Harder this time!" Amelia begged.

Francine grinned and obliged. A special day indeed, one that they would never forget. Love was in the air, in the bracelets, and in the need to please and control. As long as they had each other, they had everything.

The End