by Tara Rose
Shit. He’d wanted time with Nita alone. Well, granted, he wouldn’t exactly be alone with her since Brett was here, too, but he hadn’t counted on extra company. “Left corner along the back.”
“Choice seats. We’ll be right in.” Great. Can’t wait.
Mark carried Nita’s water, his and Brett’s Cokes, and Brett’s nachos with extra cheese back into the theater. At the last minute, he’d bought a box of Junior Mints because he hadn’t wanted his breath to smell like pulled pork and shrimp while sitting that close to Nita in the dark. Now, it wouldn’t matter. They might as well have taken a walk downtown with her instead of coming here, for all the privacy they’d have.
When he returned to their seats, the theater was starting to fill up. “Save the seats around us. Dallas, Arizona, and Celina are joining us.”
“They are?” The way Nita’s face brightened up made him wonder if she was excited to see her friend again, or relieved that she wouldn’t have to sit in the dark with them for two and a half hours. He told them about seeing the triad in the lobby, and then they walked up the aisle, talking as loudly as if they were in their living room.
Everyone in the theater was talking, too, or checking their phones. That was another thing Mark hated about sitting in the back. He got distracted by the lights from the phones down the rows in front of him. He should have suggested a movie at his house. He had a media room where the three would have had plenty of privacy and no distractions.
“Here they come.” Mark took his seat, and watched as Nita jumped up and ran down the aisle to hug Celina. He and Brett exchanged an amused glance. Whatever this chance meeting had done, Mark had to admit that at least she was happy and smiling now. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a terrible time after all?
* * * *
Nita sat next to Celina, leaving Brett on her immediate left and Mark in front of him. Arizona and Dallas joined Mark in the row in front of Celina, Nita, and Brett. Mark spent more time turned around in his seat to whisper something to Nita than he did watching the movie. Nita was glad the theater wasn’t completely full. The closest people on her right, next to Celina, were several seats over and didn’t glance at the two once as they whispered back and forth.
But as the movie wore on, Nita began to wish she’d gone back to the shop after lunch, or at least that Mark and Brett had suggested something else to do. The male lead and female lead had cheated on each other during a brief break-up, and that seemed to be the basis for the movie. They both found out and spent most of the movie justifying it, until they actually walked down the aisle at the end. Nita didn’t think it was funny at all, and Celina agreed with her. In an odd parallel, there was a scene that involved the female lead’s best friend going out with a couple of guys who tried to talk her into a threesome.
The subplot seemed like it was only stuck in there for shock value, especially when the lead characters had some fairly uncharitable things to say about ménages, which of course made the guys upset.
Celina agreed with the men that the way they’d portrayed a ménage in the movie was nothing close to a loving, consensual relationship. Nita didn’t know enough about how they lived to have an opinion, but she agreed that the dialogue and writing cast a deviant light on triads.
The six stayed until the end, but by then the men were making so many comments about the poor writing and dialogue that people around them shot dirty looks their way.
When they left, they waited until they were out in the parking lot to start talking again. Mark turned toward Nita. “I’m sorry that turned out to be such a bust.”
“It’s not your fault. But I’m happy to be out with friends.” She bit her lip. “Of course now I’m even more curious about your lifestyle than I was before.”
He glanced around. “Um, you have a captive audience. What would you like to know?”
“Not here.” There were people all around them.
“Let’s all go back to my place,” said Brett. “I’m not ready for this day to end.” He gave Nita a meaningful look, and she didn’t miss the fact that Mark shot him an angry glare. “Unless you want us to walk you back to the shop.”
She glanced from Brett to Mark, and then back again. She swore they could both sense the conflict inside her, and she hated that. It wasn’t only about the things in her past, but she was reluctant to say no to them in front of Celina, Dallas, and Arizona. She didn’t want to embarrass them.
Then again, if those three came, too, she wouldn’t be alone with Brett and Mark. She was having a good time and didn’t want it to end so soon. “I don’t want to go home. Just let me call my grandmother so she knows where I am.”
Mark and Brett exchanged a triumphant glance, and Arizona grinned at their gesture. He started to say something to the pair, but Nita turned away to make the call so they wouldn’t notice that she’d caught all that. This day had just become the most fun she’d had in years.
* * * *
Brett’s house was in the hills, close to where Arizona and Dallas lived, side-by-side, with only a swimming pool separating their properties. Nita had been to Arizona’s and Dallas’s homes once and had been so overwhelmed at the display of wealth that she made excuses to leave early. Celina told her she’d been that way, too, at first, but had quickly grown used to it.
Now here she was again, inside a Durante house that perched over the homes and businesses below it, like the lords of old looking down on their serfs. Brett’s home was smaller than either Arizona’s or Dallas’s, but it also had a pool. He also had an impressive game room that took up most of the lower level and included a pool table, a dart board, several card tables, and a big screen TV.
Dallas and Arizona turned on college football, while Celina took Nita aside with the excuse they both needed to use the bathroom.
“Why do you do that?” asked Brett.
“Do what?” asked Celina. “Pee?”
The guys all laughed. “No. Why do girls always pee together?”
“We don’t pee together. We just accompany each other to the bathroom. You all stand at the urinals and check out each other’s dicks. Don’t tell me you don’t.”
The men laughed again, and heat rushed to Nita’s face at the image Celina’s comment conjured up. Once they were safely out of earshot, Celina asked if she was okay.
“I’m fine. Honest.”
“Do they know? I mean, about Keith?”
Nita summarized their conversation at lunch.
“You know, Brett is right. You’ve never talked to anyone about this. There are two very good counselors right here on the island. No one would have to know.”
“I can barely tell you this story, let alone a stranger.”
“You told Brett and Mark.”
“Not really. They got it out of Keith and Billy.”
“Well, think about it, okay? Promise me that much.”
“I will. But today I just want to have some fun.”
Celina watched her carefully for a few seconds. “Nita, you know I love you and that’s why I’m saying this. I understand. I really do. All the Raleigh and Durante men aren’t like Keith and Billy. Most are like those four out there. They suck you right in and make you want to kneel at their feet.”
Nita laughed, but not because she thought Celina’s comment was funny. Erotic images danced through her head, sending heat streaming out to her fingers and toes.
“They’re charismatic and charming, and can be very romantic when they want to be. I’m totally in love with Arizona and Dallas, and I adore being their sub. And I don’t believe that Mark or Brett would willingly hurt you.”
“So what are you saying then?”
“I’m saying you can’t have a meaningful relationship with one man, let alone two, if you have all this unsorted baggage in your past. What those two did to you was unforgiveable. But until you work through it, it will always creep in on this, whatever this turns out to be. You can’t get around that.”
“If I start seeing a shrink, my g
randmother will find out. I always tell her where I am and who I’m with.”
“So?”
“So then I’ll have to tell her what they did.”
“And why is that a bad thing?”
“You don’t understand. She worships the ground those two families walk on.”
Celina smiled. “I admit I don’t know Phyllis as well as you do, although I certainly have sought her advice often enough, but I know her well enough to know she is not stupid or blind. And I firmly believe she’d realize that Keith and Billy are, fortunately, the exception to the rule.”
“She might.”
“Then you’ll think about it? Not only seeing someone, but telling your grandmother, as well?”
“I will. Promise.” As Nita gave Celina a hug, she pictured telling her grandmother the story from fourteen years ago. It would be the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she also knew in her heart that Celina was right. Until she got this out and found some help for working through it, any relationship she might have with Mark or Brett would be tainted by the memories.
But she was so afraid to get it all out in the open. So very afraid. She’d kept it to herself for a long time, and that was where she felt comfortable with it. If she told everyone else, she’d have to face it again. She’d have to make peace with it. She’d have to do something about it. She might even have to confront Keith and Billy. And Nita wasn’t sure she could ever do that.
Chapter Seven
When they returned to the game room, the guys had changed the channel to one showing Sleepless In Seattle. “Now that was a good movie,” said Nita. “No cheating, no offensiveness. Just sweet and fun.”
“I guess we’re watching it,” said Mark, patting the sofa next to him. She took a seat between him and Brett, who handed her a glass. “We made margaritas. Not as good as the Hurricanes at Lady of The Night, but they’re guaranteed to chase away bad movie memories.”
Arizona lifted his glass. “I’ll drink to that.”
“I suppose one won’t hurt,” she said, taking a sip.
Brett made an X over his chest with one finger. “Cross our hearts. We won’t let anything happen to you, my lady.”
Nita giggled at the tone of his voice. “You almost made me believe you.”
“Almost…ouch.” Everyone else laughed. “Even without a sword, she can cuteth her prince.”
Dallas raised his brows. “Cuteth? If you’re going to speak medieval, at least pretend to know something about word structure.”
Celina grinned. “And since when are you an expert at medieval language, Sir?”
Dallas gave Celina a look that forced a soft sigh from Nita. “Watch it, sub. You get too mouthy and I’ll put you over my knee right here in front of everyone.”
Nita was fairly certain by the easy way he said it that he hadn’t done so merely to see if she reacted, but she had the feeling everyone was waiting to see what she said, regardless. There were no sly looks or sideways glances. Instead it was a feeling in their auras.
Nita had always been very sensitive to things like that, except of course when it came to certain young men. Like Keith. She’d been blindsided by his charisma. That same charisma that Celina had spoken of. By the time she realized all the words he’d used to persuade her into his room were nothing more than a game to him, the damage had already been done.
And that’s why you can’t tell this to anyone. You’re guilty. You feel as if you should have known better.
Nita took another sip of her drink as her hands began to tremble. Just like that, the answer was so crystal clear. Celina was right. So was Brett. She’d never resolved this because she’d never faced that truth before. She did feel as if it had been her fault.
She should have said something to someone after the first time. She should never have believed him when he said he wouldn’t force her again, and refused to go out with him a second time. But she had wanted to believe he cared for her and had simply gotten carried away, like he’d convinced her he’d done. She didn’t want to believe she’d let herself get so used that easily.
But she had no excuse for the third or fourth time she’d gone out with him. None. Why had she done that? Why had she believed his lies? Why hadn’t she fought him off harder, or told someone what was going on? How could she have been that naïve?
She had to do something about this but didn’t know where to start. She took another sip of her drink. Maybe the best place to begin was to simply enjoy her time with these five people? She was among friends here. She knew that. If Celina thought Brett or Mark would hurt her, she would have said so.
“Do you do that?” she asked Dallas. “I’m asking all of you. Do you do things like that? Spank a sub in front of others?”
“It depends,” said Brett. “Who we’re with, what she’s done, whether we know how the others around us will react.”
“And even then,” said Mark, “it would likely only be playing around. Not a real punishment. Not unless we’re in a group where that dynamic is usual and accepted. Otherwise we’ve just pulled others into our lifestyle without knowing their level of consent.”
“Kind of like we just did with Nita,” said Celina, quietly. “Unless I misspoke and you two have talked to her about this before.”
“You’re right,” said Dallas, giving her a measured glance. “I apologize. I assumed that you three had discussed the lifestyle.”
Had they set her up? Possibly, but she didn’t sense any subterfuge, only sincerity.
“No apologies necessary. I know you’re Celina’s Doms. We talk.”
“Yes, but we also know what she’s told you,” said Arizona, “and it’s not much. So we shouldn’t make comments like that about the spanking without knowing your comfort level.”
“I’m not even sure of my comfort level.”
“That’s true,” said Celina. “She doesn’t ask me very much, and when she does, we don’t discuss it too deeply.”
“You’re with five people in the lifestyle, including your best friend,” said Mark. “Now’s your chance to pick our brains.”
Her pulse raced. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
Brett moved closer to her, and she caught a whiff of his cologne. “How about if we choose a topic, and then you can ask questions?”
“All right. But I thought you all wanted to watch the movie?”
He flipped off the TV. “We’d rather talk to you. First topic. Consent.”
“Good one,” said Mark, too quickly.
Now she knew she’d been set up, at least by Mark and Brett, but she also understood why they’d done it. They were concerned about her. It touched her soul that these two men who barely knew her would give a shit that she’d been hurt so badly by a couple of high school kids.
Keith and Billy were part of their families, and she’d assumed they’d take their side. But they hadn’t. They wanted to help her, and that was far more than she’d ever expected from any Durante or Raleigh. Even from Arizona and Dallas, who had never mistreated her or dismissed her.
“All right,” she said. “Consent. I know it’s the hallmark of what you do. What else should I know about it?”
“That we do nothing without it,” said Brett. “Even what you just heard Dallas say to Celina. He wouldn’t say it if he didn’t have her consent to play-spank her in front of people. Everything is negotiated, from play to limits, and even day-to-day protocol.”
Nita knew all that, but he was so sincere she didn’t want to burst his bubble.
“And sex, of course,” said Mark. His comment caused her palms to become damp, and she had to grip her glass tighter. What would her life have been like if he or Brett had been the man to take her virginity? Would things have turned out differently? Neither one would have done what Keith and Billy had. She knew that now.
“Do you mean sex in general, or just kinky sex?” She only asked because they expected her to have questions, but it’s not like she’d made a list at one time.
“All of it. From whether or not it’s part of the dynamic, or is part of play, to how, when, with whom, and how often.”
“Are all BDSM relationships ménages?”
“Not at all,” said Brett. “In fact, I believe these three are only one of six current triads on the island, right?”
Dallas nodded. “I believe so. There’s the three of us, and Alaina, Jeff, and Taj. Then Giselle, Kade, and Elliot, along with Jade, Estevan, and Liam. Kai, Ian, and Jagger, are another, and Leta Da Costa is now with Graham as well as Nando.”
Nita knew who they were, but of the men, she only knew most of them from their names. She’d met several yesterday, but right now they all ran together as she struggled to think of something else to ask. “Is that something you all are interested in? I mean, having two Doms for one sub?”
Arizona chuckled. “Not at all. In fact, it’s damn hard work. We get jealous a lot. The key is to keep communicating, and of course to focus on what’s important.”
“And what is that?”
Dallas smiled. “On keeping our beautiful sub happy, of course. Seriously, that’s what we keep our eyes on every single day. When we thought she was going to take that job in New Orleans and we’d never see her again, that was the worst day of our lives.”
“Mine, too,” said Nita. “I didn’t want her to leave because airfare is expensive, and I don’t own my own boat.”
They all laughed. The island was only one hundred miles off the Louisiana coastline, but for someone like Nita who lived with her grandmother and watched every penny, Celina might as well have almost taken a job on the moon.
Arizona put an arm around Celina. “But she’s here now. And she’s kicking ass in the marketing department.”
The questions were bubbling up now that the floodgates had opened, but one took center stage. She simply wasn’t sure if asking it of Brett and Mark in front of Celina, Dallas, and Arizona was right. Still, they had told her to ask anything and everything.
She took another sip, then glanced at Brett. “I’m curious about something. Why don’t you and Mark have subs? Did you used to? And what happened to those relationships?”