The séance of seduction

I walked into a small meditation room that was draped in soft pastels, flute music droned from an invisible speaker nearby. As I expected, a small indoor water fountain was plugged into a nearby socket and spewed recycled liquid tranquility. I was about to meet the great spirit Marguerite, a long dead, fifteenth century Queen as channeled via a forty-something housewife turned psychic, named Paula.Paula was quietly quirky, somewhat introverted, but at one point had found her calling as a vessel for an ancient ruler to speak through. I had heard of these people before. Ordinary folk who are suddenly taken over by a spirit from the past to dish out advice for the price of a weekend group retreat, plus discounts of the aforementioned ghost's new book and audio series.Skeptical? Yes. Curious? Yes.Paula was cute, and a little older than me. I had met her at my day job, as apparently the wisdom of the ages wasn't quite paying the bills yet. A good portion of my co-workers thought she was bonkers. Apparently, her husband also thought she was a little crazy. From what she described, he seemed to like golf, a lot, spending a good amount of time at the driving range, and the golf store trying on new trousers while fondling expensive clubs and balls.Over the months, we got to know each other. She was slightly weird but I didn't mind. She seemed shy and never spoke very loudly, but slowly as time moved along she began to tell me about her channeling experience. I had to admit I was curious about it, but she was careful never to talk too loud about it around the workplace.So how did I wind up in the private meditation room in her house?She liked me for some reason. Maybe she could tell I wasn't ordinary also. I wore my hair long and played in a band on the weekends. I think she may have sensed I was struggling with my own life and had offered a small book of Zen wisdom. I opened the book and it neatly parted at a chapter held by her business card on psychic workshops. Paula Skyswimmer, that was her metaphysical show name.Maybe she hoped that one day I would be in attendance at a group retreat for a session of illumination and sky swimming. Maybe in some secret manipulative way she thought she might have a little fish on the line and was slowly pulling me through the clouds to her shore. But that was harsh thought. That was my dark side pushing cynicism to dispel what could be a fun opportunity. I had no reason to distrust her. She seemed quiet, almost shy, and those negative thoughts were permanently set aside one day at lunch when we shared the break room."Hi Matthew." She spoke softly as her glasses slid midpoint her nose revealing a peppery bridge of freckles that crossed from one cheek to the other.?Hi Paula, what are you doing for lunch today???Fruit, nuts, yogurt... the diet of the gods.? She smirked.?That's the same as you had the day before, and the day before that. Didn't I see you foraging in the woods behind the parking lot yesterday??Haha, why yes, I was, the wild yogurt grows well off the yogurt bushes this time of year.? She joked sarcastically.?Well, I think you need something more exciting.? Holding my chicken croissanwich with pride.?You're telling me.? She giggled.?Are we talking about lunch??She gave me a squinty-eyed, half smile look. ?You're holding your food too long. Are you Ankara bayan escort going to eat it, or have your way with it?? Her soft-spoken manner often contrasted her humor.My mouth fell open in silence, she recognized my shock and proceeded to laugh hysterically. A moment later I joined her, causing parts of my sandwich to jailbreak to the table below.She looked around, then unexpectedly took my hand and spoke cautiously. ?Matthew, I want to ask you a question.??Ummm... Sure.? I said as the remaining chicken sandwich teetered on my lips.?Well, I'm preparing for an event next month, and I... ?she floundered for words, ?I, could use a little help.??Well, ok. I guess, what type of thing are you doing???I'll be doing some... one-on-one type private reading sessions for people during the next retreat, and I'm not sure how to... ah... ah, how to interact on a personal level.??You mean like what we are doing now?? I asked.She glared silently within a pinch of stink eye, then continued. ?What I mean is, I normally talk to people in small groups. Or I mean, she... my spirit guide Queen Marguerite does. And since you already know what I do ? ??Yes, you channel dead people! How awesome!?Her face broke into a smile and she laughed. ?Well, sorta... I open up the ceremony, talk about my spirit guide for a minute and then she takes over. I mentally stand back while she does all the talking.??So what do you mean, mentally stand back???I just hang out, I'm not really in my body anymore, I mean, it's like I'm in the room, but I'm not totally inside myself.??That reminds me of some weird dope I had at an after party. So does she just show up and take over? Like does she say 'Hey I'm hungry,' then pop in and make a cheeseburger???No silly, I have to invite her, it's a very cordial thing.? Paula looked at me with hesitance, then spoke slowly as if pushing her words through a filter before they hit the air. ?Anyway, I normally don't do this, for private clients, one on one, in a secluded setting. So I could really use some practice.?Her words continued to drizzle cautiously as if testing the range of my deceit meter. Then suddenly... the world stopped for a moment. 'Was I being asked to come to her place so she could have an out of body experience while I had a conversation with fifteenth-century Monarchy? Would I be expected to kneel and bring her with fresh bread and fowl from the village? Was this something anyone in their right mind would want to do?'?Ok. Well sure, I'll stop by, when do you want me to come over???If you come over this weekend, it will be good timing.? She quickly interjected.?I have a gig on Saturday afternoon at Magic Jack's Eatery and Drinkery.??You can come by after if you want? For helping me, I will treat you to a very good glass of wine.??Well, ok, I like wine. This might be a nice way to wind down on a Saturday night. Hey, I could do like an old cockney English accent if you want???Oh, that's just stupid. She might want to take off your head or something.??What?!??I'm just kidding! But don't do any accents, just be yourself.? She looked at me and smiled softly, ?I think she will like you.?.......................................As the rest of the week passed, we caught ourselves looking at each other and smiling. I have to admit I wasn't Escort bayan Ankara sure what I was in for and I was getting a little nervous. I only knew her from work, but... did I really know her? Though she was short, maybe five-foot-six and probably ten years older than me, my mind began to fantasize with absurd scenarios. 'What if she was a secret killer? What if she had done this before to other guys? Would I wind up just another dead body laying in her cellar surrounded by the rest of the poisoned cult? Would my body be propped up afterward and made to hold a dainty cup of tea with my pinky extended?'Then, usually, across the room, I would spot her having trouble loading a stapler or misaligning the colored paper into the copier. I would listen to her talk to the machines sweetly, trying to coax them into proper behavior and I would realize my thoughts of homespun urban horror were all for not.Saturday came and though I was tired from the performance I wanted to keep my promise to Paula. At 8:30 sharp, I knocked on her door. She answered wearing a white robe, and her eyes lit up in surprise as if she'd expected me not to show.?Hi Paula, I'm here,? I said.?Welcome Matthew, come on in. Oh, take your shoes off please.?Luckily I had decided not to wear the Star Wars gift socks. I was then escorted through a seemingly peaceful house, past the family pictures, past a book shelf of self help and knickknacks, and down the hallway. I remember watching her from behind as her little robe swished back and forth from her hips. We stopped outside a room that looked as if it had been a later addition to the house. She turned the sign on the door to reveal 'in session' and pulled me inside. I wasn't sure who the sign was for.?You have a beautiful house Paula.??Thank you, I'm so glad you're here, sit down and relax, you could probably use a little down time from your gig. Let me get you that wine I promised. I'll be right back.?She seemed downright giddy, and I liked that. I sank back into a huge comfortable chair covered in soft white sheep skin. Truth be told, despite the fact that I played rock music, sometimes blistering hard rock; and studded leather was a staple of my stage attire, and even more so I had several tattoos that ran the gamut from ?Born to raise hell? to ?Death to the Righteous.? I had to admit, quietly, that I was really digging soft things.An identical chair sat adjacent, facing mine, with small companion tables hovering nearby. With the flick of an unseen switch the flute music abruptly made it's presence known and the water fountain began rushing. It was very relaxing. How easily I had been seduced by the home zen section of Bed, Bath and Beyond. Soon Paula returned with two glasses of wine and a few cones of lemon grass incense.?So how does this work?? I asked as she handed me a glass of wine.?Well I'm not sure, I haven't done this before. I did tell Marguerite we were practicing today. But if you have any relationship questions to ask her, please do.?She reached over to light the incense, granting my eyes admittance to the open neckline of her robe. I cannot pretend I didn't notice her cleavage. I am a man, that's what we do.She plopped down on the soft chair opposite me.?We both have to be relaxed.? She began, ?I will go into a trance Bayan escort Ankara soon, but first I have to get to know you.??You know me, Paula.??I have to pretend I don't.??Ok, my name is Matthew, I work in a shipping office by day and play in a rock band on the weekends. Also I'm trying to decide where to put my next tattoo.??Oh god, really? That's as good as you got? You're supposed to be here to help me. You're supposed to be seeking life's eternal questions, pretend like you're full of angst.??Ok, Ok. Let me try again. Ah... I have trouble staying in serious relationship for some reason.??Good.? She smiled.?I find it easier to get approval from a crowd of drunken strangers.? I continued.?Yes.??Is this too personal???No, not all all.??Good, sometimes when I drop my cookie into my milk glass, I want to cry.??Ok, I think this is more than I can handle...? She giggled. ?I now understand why you have come here seeking knowledge. Prepare yourself for the wisdom of the ancients.??Wisdom of the ancients???Was that too much?? She asked anxiously.?Well, yes. I'm expecting Gandalf the wizard to show up.??Shit. I told you I needed practice!??Did you just say shit?? I asked.?Lets just start maybe it will get easier. But first,? she looked around the room, perhaps out of habit,?lets not talk about this to anyone else, ok???My lips are sealed.??I don't want any of our co-workers to know that we did this, and my husband doesn't know either.? She explained.?Oh, ok.? I was slightly shocked. ?Where umm... is he???Golfing...?She fell silent for a moment and I let it ride into a safer subject.?Well, I'm glad you invited me over. I love the ethereal feeling I get while I'm hanging out here. Makes me all tingly.?She looked at me, grinning, she knew that my awkward command of social etiquette was trying to change the subject. ?Matthew???Yes??She stalled, then a moment later timidly dipped a foot into the pool. ?Do... you like me??I wasn't entirely sure how to answer that. I remember looking into the sweet mysterious brown eyes behind her glasses. If her foot was in the pool, I was about to suddenly jump in. ?Yes, yes I like you Paula. Actually I think you're really attractive.?I couldn't believe what was coming out of my mouth, but it was to late, I was now submerged.She blushed, then looked down into her lap. ?I think you're sweet, and handsome. Oh my, I think the wine is talking.?I was slightly startled by our revelations. ?Yes, Oh yes. That is really good wine. I think that's the best wine I've had. It also makes me tingly. I shouldn't say this, but... I think you're really pretty and I like your cleavage. Oh my god, did I just say that out loud??She sighed and looked off into an imaginary distance.?Oh I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have said that!? I said.?No, no its ok, Matthew.? She took my hand. ?It's nice to know you are attracted to me.?Her face turned a similar shade to the wine we drank. I looked down to avoid eye contact, but found myself gazing at the bare legs that emerged from under her soft robe.?Well. I think this might be a good time to try this,? she continued, ?but Matthew, before we do this, I want you to know I think you're pretty special.??It's not every night I get to drink wine with a cute woman who's going to have an out of body experience.??Shut up, silly boy. Promise me again that you won't tell anyone what happens here. It will be 'our' secret.?I have to admit, it sounded fairly sexual the way she said it, and I liked it. ?I promise.??Ok, I'm going to lie back and close my eyes. You'll like Marguerite, she's a character. She's very nice, a little bossy sometimes but also gracious.