Day 9

Wednesday, October 22

Okay, Kenzie, you can do this.

McKenzie knocked on the door and nervously waited for it to open. It was almost 10pm, but she'd seen Ryan's light on when she'd gotten home from class and decided it was time to bite the bullet.

It had been three days since she'd last seen Ryan and she'd realized she was going to have to be the one to make the first move because Ryan had obviously been avoiding her. She couldn't blame Ryan. She'd behaved like a spoiled brat.

After the past few days of looking up BDSM on the internet, she'd gotten quite an education. Everything Ryan had been trying to tell her had seemed to make more sense the more she'd read. She'd also learned a lot about the mechanics and ethics of bondage and Dom/sub relationships, and she'd decided an apology was in order for trying to seduce her Dom against her will.

It wasn't appropriate for a sub to try to force herself on her Dom. A sub could ask and beg, but if she was denied, she had to accept it. Or else find another Dom if it was truly an irreconcilable difference, but McKenzie knew that wasn't the case. She'd just been a little out of her mind with sexual frustration.

Not that any of that had changed. McKenzie had refrained from touching herself while away from Ryan in respect for the woman's undisputed ownership of her body and to prove that she could exercise some control over her desires. It had been hard and she'd barely slept the whole time, between being aroused and scared that she'd pushed Ryan too far, but not being confronted with Ryan's presence had made it somewhat easier.

Ryan opened the door. She was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off and a pair of dark blue shorts. Her hair was a little mussed, like she'd brushed it, but hadn't taken a shower yet. Her gaze had to travel down more than half a foot to rest on McKenzie.

"Hi," McKenzie tried.

Ryan cleared her throat.

"Hey."

They watched each other for a few moments and then Ryan stepped back to let McKenzie enter her apartment. There were clothes on the floor and the bed hadn't been made, but then Ryan hadn't really been expecting company so soon.

"Um, how have you been?" McKenzie asked.

Ryan didn't answer as she walked back over to her laptop to close down the programs she'd been working in.

Ryan's anger had calmed, but she was still annoyed, more with herself than with McKenzie. It had taken her far too long to recognize what McKenzie had been doing because she'd been so preoccupied with not giving in to her own desires. After her impromptu disclosure regarding her love for McKenzie, her feelings had become stronger and more difficult to control, and she'd been unprepared for their intense effect on her libido.

But she should have known the second McKenzie started coming on to her that the girl never had any intention of just "talking." McKenzie's attempt to manipulate her into being the one to break the rules while McKenzie remained free of any responsibility for her actions didn't sit too well with Ryan.

McKenzie removed her jacket in the warm apartment, draping it over the foot of Ryan's bedframe, and then waited as Ryan took her time shutting down her laptop. After what seemed like forever, but was really only a couple minutes, the woman finally stood up straight and turned around to face McKenzie. The look on Ryan's face was unmistakable and McKenzie knew she was going to have to work to make amends for her actions.

"Assume First Position."

It took a moment for it to sink in, but then McKenzie was in the open space between the bed and the armoire, her feet spread shoulder width apart, her hands clasped behind her back, and her head held high.

Ryan spent several seconds composing herself and then began slowly walking around McKenzie.

"You really pushed me, McKenzie. Topping from the bottom isn't something I tolerate. If I thought you were ready, I'd whip you for what you did, or tried to do, and in the future, I will. But for now..."

Ryan purposely let the threat trail off.

As she walked around McKenzie, she studied her form. The girl held her body well, not too tight and not too loose, but it appeared that McKenzie had been denying her body its usual dose of pleasure. Ryan shook her head. There was a little spark of pride that flared in her at that show of devotion, but it didn't change what she had in mind. McKenzie needed to learn there were consequences for her actions.

Ryan came to a stop in front of McKenzie and simply stared at her for several minutes. She could tell McKenzie was getting more and more nervous under her scrutiny, but that was the point. Then Ryan moved behind her again and began undressing. She made sure McKenzie could hear the sounds of the clothing being removed and then tossed her sweatshirt and shorts within McKenzie's peripheral vision.

Ryan took the few steps to her bed and lay down on it, still behind McKenzie. McKenzie didn't move, which pleased Ryan again.

McKenzie listened to Ryan get comfortable on the bed and waited for her first command.

"Turn around, McKenzie."

McKenzie did as she was told and took up her position again, facing the bed this time.

"Look at me," Ryan instructed.

McKenzie let her eyes fall on Ryan's naked body. The woman's back was propped up by a couple pillows and her legs were spread wide to expose her glistening pussy. McKenzie felt her heart rate instantly start to double-time as she suppressed a gasp against her sudden need for air. She wanted nothing more than to dive in and taste what was on display, but she held her ground and waited.

"This is what you can't have. This is what you will wait for. Every time you attempt to get me to break my word, you will be punished. This is to remind you that I am your Lord and Master and you will obey me or your desires will not be fulfilled. Have I made myself clear?"

McKenzie nodded her head. Several tears fell from the chastisement, but Ryan didn't soften her tone. In fact, she loved that McKenzie seemed to have no qualms about crying in front of her. It was a turn-on to know how deeply she could affect McKenzie and she wanted more.

Ryan cupped her breasts and held them up as though she were offering them to McKenzie.

"What would you do for me if I let you touch yourself the way I'm touching myself? What would you do for me if I let you come?"

Ryan pinched and flicked her nipples as she waited for a response.

McKenzie's grip tightened on her forearms behind her back as she stared at Ryan's swollen nipples and licked her dry lips.

"Anything you want," McKenzie whispered, knowing she meant it from the very depth of her soul.

Ryan's stomach clenched at the need she heard in McKenzie's voice, a need that seemed to match her own, and she almost sat up to take the girl up on her offer, but then she shook her head and forced herself to focus on the lesson she was attempting to teach McKenzie.

"That's a very broad range of options. I want specifics," Ryan said as she continued to massage her breasts and pinch her nipples.

McKenzie drew on her recent internet samplings and Ryan's latest spoken desire.

"I-I'd let you whip me."

Just the thought of Ryan's whip stinging her skin sent a shiver of anticipation down McKenzie's spine and her sex tightened inside her jeans.

"Hmm. That's very tempting, but I can do that to you anytime I want. There is no letting me."

McKenzie realized her mistake and corrected it.

"I'd beg you to whip me so I could come for you."

Ryan felt her stomach clench again and she couldn't help but smile. McKenzie was learning quickly.

"So beg me."

"I... Um, c-can I ask you a question first? Please?"

"Yes."

"What should I call you?"

It took a second, but then Ryan realized what McKenzie was asking. The girl must have done a little reading recently. Ryan didn't stop her massage of her chest as she slowly stroked the fingers of one hand up and down her abdomen and spoke.

"It's up to you. Ryan is fine, but if you want, I prefer my Lord or Master, but not Mistress or Ma'am. I know religious stuff might make Lord a problem, so Master is an acceptable alternative if you want to call me something other than my name."

McKenzie nodded and asked her next question.

"Am I allowed to move, my Lord?"

Ryan couldn't believe the thrill that went through her at hearing the girl use her preferred title of respect for the first time and her hips bucked up in unconscious response. Ryan squeezed her breasts as she decided to preempt any further questions.

"These are the rules for today. You may not touch yourself unless I tell you to and you may not touch me. You may not leave my line of sight or stop looking at me. Other than that, I'll let you know if you shouldn't be doing something."

"Thank you, my Lord."

McKenzie moved around to the side of the bed and got down on her knees. She put her hands behind her back again and Ryan was tempted to point out that she'd just assumed Fourth Position, but she decided she'd make McKenzie aware of that fact later.

"My Lord, please whip me. I just want to come for you."

"You're not begging, McKenzie. You're never going to get release at that rate."

"Please, my Lord, just let me rub my clit a little. Please."

McKenzie couldn't believe how quickly her somewhat dormant arousal had come back full force. Her underwear was soaked and she could feel her newfound control becoming non-existent in the space of a few minutes.

McKenzie's head was only inches away from Ryan's arm and she desperately wanted to lay her cheek against it. She would do anything just to be able to touch Ryan. She needed to touch Ryan, however small the contact might be. Ryan hadn't said she couldn't ask this time, so she spoke her desires without censoring herself.

"Please, let me touch you, Ryan. Please? Just a little. I need to touch you. I need to feel you. I need to feel you... fucking me. I want you to fuck me. I want you to make me come. I want to come for you."

Ryan groaned as the sudden stream of verbal requests had an immediate impact on her state of arousal. She hadn't specified no asking to touch as one of the rules for that session and she was very glad. The effect McKenzie's words had on her body was intense. She was so keyed up she was on the verge of taking the girl right then and there, and she had no idea how she was going to survive the next six months, but at the moment, she just reined herself in by sheer willpower.

"Stand up, McKenzie."

McKenzie got back to her feet and stood in First Position.

"Remove your clothes."

"Yes, my Lord," McKenzie said excitedly, unable to keep the grin off her face.

"Slowly," Ryan qualified. "And I want you to touch yourself while you undress."

McKenzie had been about to pout, but then she nodded. She'd come to realize over the past few days that what she really wanted to do was please Ryan. Whatever Ryan asked of her, she would do her best to comply.

McKenzie bent over and untied her shoes and pulled off her socks. She was a little nervous about performing for Ryan and her hands were a little shaky, but she continued anyway.

As McKenzie slowly stood back up, she ran her hands over her jeans-covered thighs and slid them up under the hem of her T-shirt in preparation for taking it off. She pulled her shirt up over her head and dropped it to the floor, and then dragged her hands over her stomach and cupped her breasts through her bra. She drew her hands up over her tits and around to the back of her neck, pulling her hair up a little as she ran her fingers through it the way she'd seen Ryan do the other night. The look in Ryan's eyes as she watched her made McKenzie feel sexy and sent tingles throughout her body.

McKenzie brought her fingers to the top button of her jeans and unfastened it. She unzipped the fly and then slid her hand down the front of her panties. She turned so that Ryan could see what she was doing. McKenzie rubbed her labia a few times and then pushed down on her clitoris with the tips of her fingers underneath the silk underwear.

Ryan found it hard to even blink as she watched the show McKenzie was putting on for her while she continued to caress her own body. For an amateur, McKenzie seemed to know exactly what to do to turn Ryan on.

After a few final circles around her clit, McKenzie added her other hand, and then used the backs of both hands to push her jeans and panties down to her ankles, sliding her palms over her smooth legs the whole way. She turned to the side, her ass towards Ryan as she stepped out of the jeans and pushed them out of the way before standing back up.

McKenzie brushed her fingers through her blonde curls and fluffed them out a little. Then she brought her hands up behind her back and undid the clasp of her bra. She let the straps slide over her shoulders and down her arms to fall at her feet. Her hands went to her breasts and she squeezed. She looked into Ryan's eyes and it dawned on her what Ryan would do if she could. McKenzie squeezed her tits hard until it hurt and then she squeezed a little harder. Her face flinched without her permission and she whimpered, but then she heard Ryan groan.

"Oh God, McKenzie."

Ryan's hand instantly went to her clit to attend to the sudden and immediate ache that had taken hold of her. She could see the white imprints that were quickly turning red from the harshness with which McKenzie was touching herself. The only thing stopping her from getting up and throwing McKenzie onto her bed was the fact that she couldn't stop rubbing herself.

"What do you want me to do, my Lord?" McKenzie asked a little breathlessly as she continued to play with her tits.

"Oh God, I want you on your knees and I wanna fuck you hard," Ryan said without hesitation.

"Please, yes!" McKenzie begged, though she didn't move to comply.

"McKenzie!"

Ryan was so close. The intensity of her desire had progressed faster than she'd expected and she knew it wouldn't take much more to throw her over the edge. She was right as McKenzie cried out from her own arousal at watching Ryan work herself and Ryan released from hearing those sounds from McKenzie.

She heard McKenzie cry out again at not being allowed to come with her and it just seemed to intensify Ryan's orgasm. Her body arched and stiffened, and then jerked over and over again as she continued to rub her clit to prolong the sensations.

Eventually, Ryan's body seemed to be somewhat sated and she came back to rest on the bed. She watched McKenzie continue to touch herself for a few more moments.

"McKenzie, stop."

McKenzie stopped pinching her nipples and squeezing her breasts and let her hands fall to her sides. The urge to bring both hands right back up to where they'd left off was strong and her breasts ached to be touched roughly once more.

Ryan sat up and threw her legs over the edge of the bed, and then stood up. She walked around McKenzie, careful not to let their naked bodies touch, and then stood behind her. She leaned over McKenzie's shoulder and breathed into the girl's ear.

"You want to come, don't you?" Ryan whispered.

"Yes," McKenzie almost cried, knowing she'd been denied for far too long. She felt like she was at the end of her rope.

"You'd do anything if I'd just let you come, wouldn't you?"

"Yes, please... Anything," McKenzie gasped.

"No."

McKenzie felt her stomach drop upon hearing that simple word. Ryan continued.

"This is your punishment. You will be here at eight o'clock tomorrow night. You will have eaten and showered. And if I suspect for even one second that you've satisfied yourself... Well, don't even bother coming over, if you have. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Lord," McKenzie whispered around the tightness in her throat.

"Good. Get dressed."

Ryan walked back around to face McKenzie and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"My Lord? May I ask a question?"

Ryan frowned.

"Yes, but be careful. I'm not really in the mood to be questioned. You may end up with a response you don't like."

McKenzie swallowed. She'd been about to ask how long her punishment was going to be, but now she wasn't so sure it was a good idea. She just didn't think she could live with an unspecified term of punishment. She needed some kind of end point to look forward to.

"Um, I... I was just wondering..." McKenzie tried to gauge the look on Ryan's face and wasn't encouraged. "H-How long..."

"How long will your punishment last?"

McKenzie nodded.

"You get an extra day just for asking."

McKenzie winced.

"And I was originally thinking three days, but now it's four. We'll see how you behave yourself during that time. Now get dressed."

Ryan watched as McKenzie put her clothes back on and then resumed First Position. That pleased Ryan to no end. The fact that McKenzie had been calling her 'my Lord' more often than not had also caught her attention and she decided a little positive reinforcement was in order. She got to her feet and stood in front of the girl.

"McKenzie, you're the best sub I've ever trained. Punishment is simply part of that training. Don't take it as a commentary on your worthiness. None of this would be important if I didn't want you. And I want you so much. Do you understand?"

Ryan spoke gently, but it was difficult to keep the need out of her voice. She could easily imagine unzipping McKenzie's jeans and sliding her fingers inside the girl's slippery cunt, making her come right there. She knew her body wouldn't be satisfied until she'd been inside McKenzie and heard her scream over and over again from release. And Ryan wanted nothing more than to give McKenzie release.

McKenzie felt tears form in her eyes as hopelessness set in. She hadn't really heard Ryan's words, just her tone, but none of it mattered. McKenzie was on the edge and she knew it. Her clitoris ached and her breasts were two throbbing globes. Her entire body was radiating unspent raw sexual energy and she felt total desperation at the idea that she wouldn't be allowed to release it. She looked straight into Ryan's eyes as she spoke.

"I would give my life to be kissed by you right now. Please, Ryan..." McKenzie felt her knees collapse beneath her as any will she had deserted her and she surrendered completely to Ryan. "Please... God, Ryan, please, I need you... Please... Please..."

Ryan was unprepared for such total submission so quickly. At least McKenzie had finally found her begging voice. But Ryan knew she couldn't give in. She'd never stop with just a kiss. In fact, she'd promised McKenzie she wouldn't.

"McKenzie, you know I can't do that."

"Please, Ryan... Please... Please..."

McKenzie let the tears fall unchecked. Her need was acute and the thought of another four days before she would be allowed even the chance for release, never mind another six months before she would actually be allowed to touch or be touched by Ryan, was unbearable. She started to rock as she continued to plead with Ryan.

Ryan stood there for a few moments and listened to McKenzie beg. It hit every nerve in her body. One of the hidden pitfalls of being a natural dominatrix was a deep need to please and to conquer. She received pleasure by giving it, and the complete control and domination gained through a battle of wills was thrilling and thoroughly arousing. Seeing the pleasure and utter submission she could bring to another person was what really grabbed her attention and McKenzie had all of her attention now.

Before she knew what she was doing, Ryan was kneeling down on the floor and pulling McKenzie into a tight hug. She just needed to let McKenzie know everything would be all right.

Then Ryan felt the material of McKenzie's T-shirt scrape against her still exposed nipples and her stomach clenched in pure need. McKenzie easily pushed herself into Ryan's body as she nuzzled her face into Ryan's neck. Ryan moaned and gripped McKenzie's arms to try to hold her still, but then McKenzie licked Ryan's neck and kissed it, grazing her teeth over the taut flesh.

"Oh God, McKenzie," Ryan groaned.

Ryan tried to get herself under control, but she was losing. Her mouth felt incomplete and her head naturally turned to find something to fill the emptiness. Her arms seemed to get the message though, and she managed to push McKenzie away from her, which let her scoot back and stand up. She stumbled in her haste to put some distance between them. Then her back hit the nearest wall and she leaned against it as her breathing continued its rapid pace.

"Ryan," McKenzie panted.

Ryan held up her hand to try to halt any further advances.

"Get out... Please, go," Ryan gasped out.

"Ryan, I'm sorry. I just need you."

"McKenzie, go!"

McKenzie got to her feet and almost went to Ryan, but then thought better of it and snagged her jacket from the bedframe as she ran out the door.

Ryan went to her knees. She'd never felt anything like that. She'd never had this kind of restriction when it came to playing with a sub and the effect was intense. Ryan knew if McKenzie had made contact with her again, the girl wouldn't have left her apartment until she'd been fucked raw and that scared Ryan. The images she had in her mind of McKenzie were anything but gentle and she needed to calm down.

Ryan moved to the side and let her legs stretch out in front of her. Her head rested back against the wall and she closed her eyes as she tried in vain to breathe deeply and slowly. The smooth hardwood floor under her legs and the textured drywall at her back felt good against her naked skin and had a grounding effect on her.

Ryan knew her lack of control had a lot to do with her feelings for McKenzie. She'd never been in love with any of her previous subs and it seemed to be making a big difference in how she reacted to the girl.

The first time she'd met McKenzie, Ryan had been unpacking the back of a rented truck to move her stuff into the new place. Karen had come out to help, followed by a short blonde girl. Karen had introduced them to each other and Ryan had barely stopped long enough to say hi before continuing with the moving process. But she'd spent the whole day watching McKenzie every time the girl hadn't been looking.

The sun had made McKenzie's skin glow and as she'd worked up a sweat, her entire body had glistened and showed off beautifully toned muscles. Ryan had known the wetness between her own legs had nothing to do with the physical exertion of carrying boxes, but as soon as she'd learned how old McKenzie was, she'd made up her mind not to pursue the girl until later.

And she would've been able to wait if McKenzie hadn't pushed the matter. Ryan had been able to hold off on her desires for the girl as long as there wasn't the possibility of acting on them. However, now that everything was out in the open, Ryan found it impossible to tamp down the craving she felt for McKenzie.

She hadn't wanted to jump headlong into a physical Dom/sub relationship either. She'd wanted it to build up and knew that McKenzie had to have that physical distance or she'd be overwhelmed.

Ryan herself was finding the distance absolutely necessary in order to maintain her composure. At this point, she wasn't even sure she'd be able to listen if the girl told her to stop. And that was very dangerous. She needed that control to keep from going too far and seriously injuring McKenzie.

Ryan slowly got to her feet and walked over to her bed. She'd only been up for an hour when McKenzie had showed up and she decided she needed a little extra sleep. She was exhausted.

* * *

McKenzie barely made it past her front door before she collapsed into a heap on the floor.

Karen came out to investigate the commotion and found McKenzie in an incoherent mess. She quickly led McKenzie to the girl's bedroom and then sat with her on her bed as she cried.

"Oh God, I fucked up. I really fucked up. Oh God," McKenzie said as she rocked and accepted tissues every other minute to keep up with her running nose and eyes.

"What happened?" Karen asked calmly.

McKenzie looked startled and then shook her head.

"No, I can't. It's personal. You wouldn't understand."

"Does it have anything to do with Ryan?" Karen asked knowingly.

McKenzie didn't answer, but she didn't shake her head either.

"So what happened? Maybe I can help."

"I can't talk about it."

"Sure you can. You just open your mouth and speak your heart. It can't be that bad. Did you two have a fight?"

McKenzie looked at her and then shrugged her shoulders a little.

"Kind of."

"What about?"

"I can't—"

"Talk about it, I know. Come on. Is it really that horrible? You know, Ryan talks to me. I can be a very good listener or haven't you figured that out already?" Karen smiled.

McKenzie nodded her head.

"I know. It's just this is... kind of... um..."

"I know there's an adjective in there somewhere," Karen prodded.

"Personal."

"You've said that already. Is it personal for you or for Ryan? Or both of you? Did you have sex?" Karen suddenly guessed.

"No. I mean... I don't know. We did and we didn't. We haven't really touched yet. We haven't even kissed."

Karen's brow wrinkled as she tried to put the clues together, but nothing was adding up. Then she had a thought.

"Did she tie you up?"

McKenzie's head jerked up and she looked at her older friend in wide-eyed astonishment.

"Where did you get that idea?"

"Well, Ryan's very open about her sexuality and she's told me a bit about her past. Ryan has led a very... varied life. Her parents weren't exactly the Cleavers and they put her in situations that forced her to learn things that a child simply shouldn't know."

Karen sighed, obviously pained on Ryan's behalf, but then she continued.

"Luckily, she seems to have been born an optimist and from what she's told me she's learned to put that knowledge to use for herself, despite how she came by it. I believe among the community she's known as a dominatrix. Whips, chains, shackles, blindfolds, the whole nine yards. When she told me you two were seeing each other, I'd wondered if she was going to introduce you to any of that, but I figured you were old enough to make up your own mind on the subject. Is that what happened? Did she scare you? I'm sure she didn't mean to."

McKenzie just stared at the woman seated across from her and then she leaned over for a quick hug.

"Thank you for not being my mother. She would flip out if I told her about any of this."

Karen grinned.

"Well, you haven't really told me anything yet," Karen said, unable to keep the little voyeur inside of her from doing a happy dance at the prospect of getting some juicy details.

McKenzie smiled back.

"Well, it's nothing like that. She didn't scare me. In fact, she's the one who wants to take it slow. She told me we can't have sex or even kiss until I turn twenty, but then she's tr-training me to... um... to be..."

"To be what?" Karen prompted.

"Um, to, uh, be her body slave."

McKenzie couldn't meet Karen's eyes.

"You lucky little girl you."

That brought McKenzie's eyes up.

"What?"

"McKenzie, you are still a virgin, right?"

"Yes, but why is that so important to everyone?" McKenzie asked in exasperation.

"And you seem to really care about her."

"I love her," McKenzie said without hesitation.

"Then you have a chance to do something very few people ever do. You have the chance to be with someone you love for your first time and who I think loves you very much in return. Love makes all the difference in the world, sweetie. Don't rush it." Then she leaned in a little and whispered conspiratorially. "And a little kink doesn't hurt either. Well, not much, anyway, from what I hear."

McKenzie grinned, but then her thoughts returned to her current problem.

"But she's driving me crazy. I can't be around her and not touch her."

"Of course you can. There are other ways to express how you feel about someone. Don't put that kind of pressure on yourself."

"But we sort of... I mean we're... Like I said, she's training me," McKenzie said at last.

"Child, is that all you've been doing together? What happened to all the other things you used to do? You used to talk all the time."

McKenzie thought back over the last time she'd told Ryan she wanted to talk to her. She'd tried to seduce her and had really had no intention of talking about anything, except as a means to get Ryan to take her.

"I kind of fucked that up. And then Ryan was trying to discipline me and I fucked that up, too. God, she probably thinks I'm such an idiot now."

Tears quickly made themselves known and Karen handed over a new tissue.

"Oh, I doubt that very much. And it takes two to tango, or whatever it is you're doing. And I will get you to tell me more about that sometime. I'm very curious."

Karen caught a small smile on McKenzie's face and continued.

"Well, I suggest you let things calm down tonight and talk to her tomorrow."

"I'm supposed to go over there tomorrow night," McKenzie confirmed.

"Well then, that's perfect. You can talk then."

"But what if she doesn't want me to come over after what I did?"

"Then she can be an adult and call and cancel."

McKenzie nodded.

"I, um, I think I'm going to try to work on some of my assignments and study for a little bit. Maybe it'll help take my mind off all this."

"That sounds like a good idea. Would you like me to bring you some study food?"

"Nah, I'll be okay. Thanks anyway. And thanks for talking to me. I don't know how I would've survived this year without you, let alone tonight."

"You're very welcome."

They hugged again and Karen decided it was time for her to leave the kid to her own devices.

"Don't study too hard, just enough to pass." Karen grinned.

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Night," Karen said and closed the bedroom door behind her.