The next night, Anna returned to the gallery. The click of the door closing behind her sounded like the cocking of a gun. Adrian was there, a stark figure in the dim light. At his feet was a black leather box, long and narrow, like a case for a musical instrument. Anna had a feeling the music it would play would be written on her body.

"Tonight's lesson is about control," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous space. "Not my control over you. That is a given. Tonight, you will ...