Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Cami
“Cami!” Elara greeted me at the door, pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you came. Come in, come in.”
The cabin was already filled with women, their laughter and conversation creating a welcoming buzz. I recognized several faces from the workshop.
“Let me take that,” Elara said, accepting the wine. “And let me introduce you to everyone properly.”
A stunning woman with bright red hair approached first, her hand extended. “Emmy. I’ve been wanting to meet you all week. You’ve been the talk of the workshop.”
“I have?” I felt my cheeks heat.
“In a good way,” she assured me with a warm smile. “The way your two guys look at you? Everyone’s a little jealous.”
“Emmy’s a pediatric neurosurgeon," Elara added. “And she’s with Jack, a paramedic.”
“She calls him Daddy,” a voice called from the kitchen, followed by laughter.
Emmy rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Yes, I call him Daddy. And I’m not ashamed.”
“Nor should you be,” said Elara.
“The food smells incredible,” I said honestly.
“Wait until you taste it,” Emmy whispered. “Elara’s a professional chef. We’re in for a treat.”
A heavily pregnant woman waddled over, one hand on her lower back. “I’m Renee. And this,” she gestured to her enormous belly, “is why I can’t see my feet anymore.”
“When are you due?” I asked.
“Three days ago,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “This baby is stubborn. Just like his father.”
“Her father,” corrected a flamboyant man who swept into the conversation—Sampson. “It’s going to be a girl, I can feel it.” He smiled. “And don’t you look like those two men I set you up with are taking wonderful care of you?”
His energy was infectious, and I found myself laughing and blushing.
“Don’t let him get under your skin,” Renee said, linking her arm through Sampson’s. “He’s a lover boy and more romantic than any of us girls in here.”
“Lies and slander!” Sampson protested before grinning like a fool in love.
Iris and Scarlett approached together. Iris had bright purple hair in a sleek bob, and Scarlett had honey blonde highlights in her black hair.
“Hello again,” Iris said. “We saw you in class all week. You were amazing during those demonstrations.”
“Thank you,” I said, still not used to the compliments.
Scarlett smiled warmly. “Seriously. The vulnerability you showed? That takes guts.”
Two more women from the class joined the group. Honey’s complexion was light brown and she had straight dark hair. Eliana had rich-brown skin and kept her eyes downcast.
“Scarlet is right,” Honey said. “And since I write thriller novels, I know a lot about guts. Oh, and I’m single and perfectly happy about it.”
“Eliana,” the second one said softly. “Also single. Also... well, just single.”
“She’s also gorgeous but gets embarrassed when we mention it,” Sampson stage-whispered. “Look, she’s blushing already.”
Eliana’s cheeks darkened, and she swatted at him playfully.
The last woman to arrive was bold in her approach, striding over with confidence. “Josephina. I’m new to all this, my twin sister Seraphina dragged me into the lifestyle, and I’m here to make friends and ask inappropriate questions.”
I liked her immediately.
“Alright, ladies and gentleman,” Elara called from the kitchen. “Dinner is served. Grab a seat at the table.”
The dining table was stunning. Candles, fresh flowers, beautiful place settings. Elara had clearly put thought into every detail.
The first course was a butternut squash soup with sage cream that was so good I almost moaned.
“Elara, you’re a goddess,” Scarlett declared.
“I know,” Elara said with a grin. “It’s a burden I bear gracefully.”
“So, Cami,” Sampson said, leaning forward with interest. “Two Dominants. Tell us everything. How is this working out for you?”
“Sampson!” Renee scolded. “Let the girl eat first.”
“No, it’s okay,” I said, laughing. “I’m still figuring it out myself. But so far, it’s been... intense. In the best way.”
“Do they coordinate?” Emmy asked. “Like, do they plan scenes together or is it more spontaneous?”
“Both? They’re really good at reading each other. And me.” I took a sip of wine. “This morning we did a full negotiation. Limits, interests, all of it.”
“Oh, that’s hot,” Jo said. “The fact that they took the time to do it properly.”
“Lex is all about proper protocol,” Iris observed. “I watched him in class all week. He’s so controlled.”
“And Majesty is the warm one,” Scarlett added. “But don’t let that fool you. He’s got an edge.”
“They both do,” I admitted. “Different styles, but equally intense.”
The main course arrived. Pan-seared duck breast with cherry gastrique, roasted root vegetables, and the creamiest polenta I’d ever tasted.
“Elara, marry me,” Sampson declared. “I don’t care that you have three men already. Add me to the collection.”
“You’d never survive,” Elara teased. “Besides, Aiden would kill us both.”
“He would,” Sampson agreed cheerfully. “But what a way to go.”
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily. These women, this group, they were so open and accepting. No judgment, just genuine interest and support.
“Can I ask you all something?” Iris said quietly, her fork moving food around her plate. “How do you know when a relationship isn’t working?”
The table went quiet.
“What’s going on?” Scarlett asked gently, reaching for her friend’s hand.
“David and Harold. It’s not... I don’t think we’re working.” Iris looked up, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “We don’t coordinate. When we scene, it feels like they’re doing things to me instead of with me. Like I’m there, but not really part of it.”
“Have you talked to them?” Honey asked.
“I’ve tried. Also, Majesty and Lex tried. But they just say I’m being too sensitive or that I need to relax more.” She wiped at her eyes. “I don’t think they get it.”
“Then it’s not working,” Emmy said firmly.
“Think of communication like Captain Kirk giving orders. If he just says, ‘Let’s boldly go!’ the crew has no idea where they’re headed.
But when he says, ‘Helm, set a course for Starbase 12,’ suddenly everyone’s on the same page.
Clarity is the difference between a heroic mission and getting lost in a nebula. ”
“But what if I’m the problem?” Iris asked. “What if I’m asking for too much?”
“You’re not,” I found myself saying. Everyone looked at me, and I felt my courage rise.
“Yesterday during the demonstrations, Lex stopped your scene. He said the same thing. That David and Harold weren’t coordinating.
That they were operating as individuals instead of as partners around you. Like Emmy said, there wasn’t clarity.
Iris’s eyes widened. “I know he stopped the scene and then demonstrated the proper technique with you and Majesty joining him, but I guess I wasn’t really aware of how much he might have noticed.”
“Lex is aware of a great deal. In fact, he mentioned it was almost as if the scene was about them individually and not you. Majesty noticed as well. They said you looked like you were enduring instead of enjoying.”
“That’s exactly how I feel,” Iris whispered. “Like I’m just enduring.”
“Then you have your answer,” Renee said, her hand rubbing her belly absently. “Life’s too short to be in a relationship where you’re just surviving. You deserve to thrive.”
“But I’ll be alone,” Iris said.
“No, you won’t,” Scarlett said immediately. “You’ll have me. And all of us. We’ve got you.”
The table murmured agreement, and I watched Iris take a shaky breath, seeming to find strength in the support.
“Okay,” Sampson announced, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “Enough heavy talk. It’s time for dessert and games.”
Dessert was a chocolate lava cake with vanilla-bean ice cream.
When I moaned and stated that serving such a decadent dessert should have been illegal, Elara smiled and informed me that while she’d take credit for the cake, she had to extend kudos to Chef Guilia who was famous for her skills in making incredibly delicious ice cream flavors.
“Alright,” Sampson said once everyone had their cake. “We’re playing truth or dare. But lifestyle edition. The truths have to be about kinks, limits, or experiences. The dares have to be appropriate for present company.”
“This is going to be dangerous,” Elara said, laughing.
“I’ll start,” Sampson declared. “Emmy. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“What’s the kinkiest thing you and Daddy have ever done?”
Emmy grinned nervously. “If Jack’s Kirk and I’m Nurse Chapel, you can imagine our kinkiest moment involved a ‘routine checkup’ that went so off-protocol even Starfleet would’ve raised an eyebrow.”
The table erupted in laughter and appreciative sounds.
“Your turn,” Sampson said to Emmy.
“Jo. Truth or dare?”
“Dare. I’m brave.”
“I dare you to tell us the one thing you’re most curious about trying but too scared to ask for.”
Jo didn’t hesitate. “Rope suspension. I want to fly.”
“Oh, there’s a class for that,” Elara said. “Shibari intensive. It’s incredible.”
“I’m taking that one,” I mentioned. “With Majesty and Lex. You should sign up.”
“I will,” Jo said with a grin. “Okay, my turn. Cami. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Have you fallen for them yet? Both of them?”
I felt everyone’s eyes on me. The honest answer was right there, waiting.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “I have. Completely.”
“And do they know?” Eliana asked softly.
“I think so. We haven’t said the words yet, but... yeah. I think they know.”
“That’s beautiful,” Renee said, wiping at her eyes. “Damn hormones. Everything makes me cry.”
The game continued, getting progressively more ridiculous and fun. Sampson dared Scarlett to demonstrate her best seductive walk. Honey admitted her hardest limit was ageplay. Eliana confessed she’d never even been kissed during a scene, only after.
“Wait, seriously?” Sampson asked. “Your Dominant has never kissed you during?”
“I don’t have a Dominant,” Eliana reminded him. “I’m single.”
“Not for long if you keep looking like that,” Jo said. “Seriously, you’re stunning.”