[ WP ] Reading books is illegal , and libraries are run like brothels . Describe borrowing and reading a book like a sexual experience .

It's black. The magnetic stripe on the card is black. I run my fingers over it as I stand across from the nondescript house. The street is silent; it's midnight and no one can see me in the forest. I walk to the door. 
 
 Moments later, I ring the bell, and the card's in my pocket. A young man opens the door, gives me a once over. `` Alone?'' 
 
 I nod. Then speak. `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` Cool. Come in, then. Shoes off.'' He steps back, and I can see a sparsely furnished den. No; minimal. Like the man's black suit. I kind of want to run my fingers over it. I glance into the man's eyes. There's a bit of sadness alongside the smirk. We both know he's not what I came here for. I bite my lip and lower my eyes. My sandals come off. 
 
 There's a door in the kitchen, to the basement. He turns the knob, beckons me to follow him down. And as he steps into the stairs, he slaps a panel on the wall. 
 
 It's glorious. 
 
 There's rows and rows of bookcases. So many of them, stretching out for maybe 40 or 50 meters. As I walk down the stairs behind him, I notice the markings on the wall. They look a bit familiar. I'm about to ask about them when he glances back at me and notices my gaze. 
 
 `` It's an old pool. Olympic-sized. We built the house and field over it. I'm Khan, by the way. And this,'' and he gestures to the woman at the foot of the stairs, `` is Mara.'' 
 
 I finally step onto the cold pool floor. There's a mild slope to it, but most of it's behind us, under the staircase. Mara's holding a small card-reader attached to a mobile. She looks a little expectant. A little breathless. Flushed. 
 
 I know that look. I turn to Khan, and he's grinning. We both know she's been reading. 
 
 I swipe my card, then turn to look at the stacks. And again, I'm struck by the sheer magnitude. There's so much bound paper and metal shelving that I can barely believe I'm here. I can almost believe I'm merely dreaming. 
 
 Oh fuck, I'm getting wet. 
 
 I take a step forward, then another. Mara's not far behind. `` Pick a book,'' she says. `` Any book.'' 
 
 I walk to the 200 section. Religion. I know just the book to look for. 
 
 I pass shelf after shelf. Every moment I spend down here grows tenser and tenser. I know it's not the heat; the room's quite cool, quite archival. It's just me looking in expectation for the book. That one book. 
 
 299: Other religions. 299.94: Neopaganism. 299.94823: The Love Of Goddess Ba'aismet. They have it. They really have it. I feel like I could cry. 
 
 Mara smiles. `` I like that one.'' 
 
 I turn to her, almost feverish. `` Mara. Please. Please do me a huge favor.'' 
 
 She looks a little taken aback. `` What is it?'' 
 
 I swallow. I feel my skin growing hot. I almost ca n't even say the words, but it's as though I'm now propelled by desire instead of trepidation. `` Please. Read it to me.'' 
 
 She blinks. Blushes. Looks down the stacks, towards where we last saw Khan. In the distance, the door to the basement opens, then closes. I think we're alone. 
 
 `` Please, Mara. I... I need you to read it to me.'' 
 
 She looks aside, suddenly interested in 297: Islam. `` Listen, Flora, I do n't think I can... I mean, this is already kind of private and my voice sucks and I'm not even sure you're gon na like it, but...'' 
 
 I stare. I hunger. I prompt, `` But...'' 
 
 `` But I think it's okay. You're already in a library. Buying a book. So, in for a penny, in for a pound, I suppose.'' She still looks away, but she's playing with the hem of her shirt. `` And I kind of want to see you, if that's not too forward.'' 
 
 `` No.'' Wide eyes. `` It's not, I mean. It's not forward. I just, I really need this.'' I step closer, with the book in my hands. `` I really, really need this, Mara.'' And I hold the book out towards her. 
 
 She looks down at it, then up at me. And then she takes it. `` How do you want to...'' 
 
 `` Do this?'' 
 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 
 `` Just like this. No, wait.'' I slide down a column in the shelf to the floor. My skirt rises up a little. I do n't fix it, and I know Mara notices. I reach up my hand. As she takes it, I pull her down next to me. Then I turn, scoot forward, and lie down with my head in her lap. 
 
 I can feel the warmth of her thighs. If I focus, I think I can smell her arousal -- even from earlier, when we first met. It's maddeningly cute that she managed to do some reading while Khan answered the door. Like those secretaries in the old films. 
 
 She squirms a little, gets comfortable. And then I hear the familiar crack of the cover being opened. I spasm. 
 
 `` I'm sorry,'' she says, `` I should've been more gentle, I --'' 
 
 `` No, it's okay. Would you... do it again?'' 
 
 She closes the cover. Opens it. It cracks, more gently. I shudder. Fuck. 
 
 `` Thanks,'' I say. I open my eyes, and look up into hers. `` Thank you.'' 
 
 She smiles. `` You're welcome.'' She brushes hair from my face. `` Ready?'' 
 
 I nod. 
 
 She clears her throat. Turns some pages. `` Every daughter of the Goddess should read these words and heed. Every daughter must follow this creed, and accept her love. Her name is secret, and her actions pure. She is all, and she cares, for all her children are hers to bear.'' 
 
 The halting, incomplete rhyme of the prose is making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. If someone were to simply say them, I do n't think I'd have nearly the same reaction. Just the fact that they're being _read_ is... is... 
 
 `` Ba'aismet loves each and every one of us; this is why she wants us to use her name. She wants us to feel her presence, for she works not in deeds, but in feelings, in lessons. The Goddess wishes that her daughters show the love she feels inside. She wants us to take the emotions we dared to hide, and spread them, blanket them, over the others in our lives, to be free, and strong, and forever, shedding lies. For love binds our words and makes honesty our ally, and care shatters swords and stakes calm into our hearts. So true, is her love, so blue and so clear. Heed her words and let her love, love you.'' Mara's words drop to a whisper. I'm positively shaking. 
 
 `` Are you okay?'' She asks. 
 
 I nod. `` It's my first time. It's so beautiful.'' 
 
 She smiles. She moves the book so that I can see her beautiful, blushing face. Her tented shirt. `` And you went to the hard stuff, did n't you? Should we take a break?'' 
 
 `` No -- please. Keep reading.'' I wiggle closer to her body. Let my hands leave the floor and touch my thighs. `` Is it okay if I...?'' 
 
 `` Please do,'' she says, and reopens the book. `` It's beautiful,'' she says, mostly to herself. She clears her throat again. `` Ba'aismet has shown us, in her infinite wisdom, that one of the clearest paths for new daughters lies within the most intimate of loves.'' 
 
 I shiver. Fidget with my skirt's hem. 
 
 `` Like doves, we are all pure, and like Ba'aismet above, we can all love. Our love can take many forms, from simple touches...'' Mara strokes the hair from my face again. `` To the most intimate; to sex. Passion can be found in the acts between. Empathy and sympathy are discovered as well; the journey to acceptance is, of course, freeing. Sometimes, to discover that acceptance a new daughter needs a partner; a guide. This lady may not be what she seems, but as a daughter of Ba'aismet, she's one to be seen.'' She moves the book again; looks down at me. `` Touch yourself, Flora,'' she whispers. 
 
 I ca n't help but groan as my fingers finally slide below my skirt. I knew I was wet, but I briefly realised I was soaked. I should've worn knickers; it's down my thighs, onto the ground. And all over my fingers. `` I'm sorry, I did n't mean to ruin the floor,'' I say. 
 
 `` Shh, Flora,'' says Mara. `` It's okay. Just let it go. Should I keep reading?'' 
 
 `` Goddess yes.'' 
 
 `` Therefore, the first section of this book will deal with caring for new daughters; it's the most important way to understand Her love. Thereafter, we will delve into summoning Ba'aismet's passions into herself.'' She pauses. `` Hmm. Now there's a word I like.'Delve.' Is n't that nice?'' I ca n't stop the feelings which course through me. 
 
 `` Read it again,'' I say. `` Please.'' 
 
 `` Delve.'' 
 
 `` Ung.'' 
 
 `` Delve.'' 
 
 `` Oh, fuck.'' I'm writhing now, my fingers sliding in and out of me as she quotes the text. I can feel our breath in sync. Her thighs are sliding past each other under my head. She feels it, too. 
 
 `` Flora, would you mind reading for me?'' I open my eyes to see her looking down at me. Her lips are parted. `` I'll take over everything else.'' 
 
 I stare up at her, then back at my moving hand. Then back at her. `` Are you sure?'' I ask. 
 
 `` Definitely. This is my favor, okay?'' 
 
 I swallow. Nod. `` Okay. Should I sit up?'' 
 
 `` Yeah, just -- wait, perfect.'' My back is against her front, and she wraps her arms around me. She sets the book down to give me a quick hug, then breathes in against my neck. `` Thank you.'' 
 
 `` I should be thanking you,'' I manage. I feel her lips smile against my skin. I pick up the book with my free hand. I shiver again when I feel Mara's hand slide over my busy one and replace it. Her fingers are slender, and strong. Her nails are cut short. They're perfect. 
 
 Her palm brushes my mound and my breath catches before I read. I stare down at the words. I feel something rip through me and I shudder within Mara's lap. She grinds back against me, with kisses on my neck. `` Section 1: The Inception of daughters.'' I pause for breath. Inhale. Exhale. I ca n't believe I'm doing this. `` Ba'aismet leaves a very flexible protocol for inducting new daughters into her fold. She's never cold; she's warm and inviting and loving and exciting, all the same, all for us. This protocol defines a regiment...'' I stop. Mara stops. We take a minute to breathe after that word. Regiment. `` That refines the broken state in which we all arrive and turns it into...'' 
 
 I gasp. I ca n't keep going. `` Keep reading, Flora,'' Mara says. `` You can do it.'' 
 
 `` Turns it into something pure, something -- OH FUCK,'' I whine. I'm actively pushing against Mara, her fingers and her body, trying to get those fingers deeper inside me, like the words on the page. I'm close. 
 
 `` Something wonderful!'' I spasm. I moan. And I come hard from that last word I read. 
 
 Wonderful. 
 ______ 
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