Chapter 28
Clean Opinion
Sara
“Marvel or DC?” Kayla asks as she scrolls through the listing of movies.
“I prefer Marvel.” Hope stands next to the microwave in Madison’s personal living room, waiting for the popcorn to finish popping. “Less dark and gritty.”
“Which is the one that has Thor?” Madison brings a bottle of wine and four glasses over to the couch.
“Marvel,” Hope and I say at the same time.
This is exactly what I need. I feel like I can finally breathe here. The confrontation with Wyatt has my emotions reeling. His intensity still pulls at me though. The way his dark eyes searched mine. I put my hair back because every brush of it on my neck reminded me of his touch.
“Perfect.” Kayla selects the movie but doesn’t press play yet. “Okay, let’s get the dirt first, because the way those guys were at the strip club had me thinking you were going to get your own special show.”
Blushing, I settle into the corner of the couch with my wineglass. Hope comes around with the popcorn and Madison passes a glass to her.
“It’s complicated.” I blow out a breath and drink my entire glass of wine before holding it out. More wine is definitely the answer.
“Very complicated.” Madison nods and gives me a refill.
Swallowing, I look into my drink for courage.
“I’ve messed around with Dante and Finn.” I can’t go into details. It’s not that I don’t want to share with these women. It’s just too new and I want to keep it to myself. Dante and Finn. Their hands and mouths... I’ve never felt anything like it before. I want more.
“You’re still dating Drew?” Hope pops a piece of popcorn into her mouth and pushes her glasses up.
I nod and groan. “And then Wyatt was all growly earlier, but then nothing. Like I really thought he might at least kiss me. Peabody bit him. And apparently, Drew thinks they’re all a package deal for me.”
My cheeks heat. I want to understand what that looks like. I’ve seen the way Madison and her guys are around each other, but I don’t know if I can see myself with four guys. That would mean only picking one of them. But when it comes to choosing which one, my brain melts.
Madison smirks. Hope’s mouth drops open. Kayla grins.
“Hell yeah. That would be a sweet group of guys to fuck.” Kayla clinks my glass and takes a drink.
“Yeah, well I haven’t fucked any of them.” Yet lingers on my lips. I will get at least one of them to fuck me eventually. “But there’s something going on with Wyatt. He says he can’t be with me because of his sexual proclivities.”
“Proclivities? Who uses a word like that?” Kayla taps her finger against her lips. “Like a kink? Or is he into men?”
“I think kink?” I sigh. “Tom apparently knows about it and doesn’t approve. Wyatt doesn’t think he can be what I need, but how the hell would he know if I don’t even know what I like?”
Kayla’s eyes widen slightly. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back it up a minute. How would you not know what you like?”
Shrugging, I confess, “I’ve never been with anyone. At least not fully.”
I’ve been around these women for a few months. I think everyone just assumes that someone my age will have at least fucked someone. And I have had offers, just none I wanted to accept. But now, with these guys, suddenly it’s all I think about.
Madison takes a drink. “So your only sexual experience has been with these guys?”
“Yes.” I swallow because I don’t know about Hope, but Madison and Kayla are a lot more experienced than I am. I never said anything because I expected to be that experienced some day. And never thought I’d be having this talk with them.
Drew was supposed to fuck me and get it over with, but instead he turned into the rallying cry for the others. I touch my lips and smile. Who knew?
“Okay, so what kind of kinks would make a brother not find a guy acceptable for his sister?” Kayla thinks for a moment, but then she gets a wicked grin. “Why don’t we ask a brother?”
“I don’t think—” Madison stops as Kayla is already out the door. She looks up at the ceiling and says mostly to herself, “I’m going to get punished for this later.”
“Blake, we have questions.” She knocks on a door.
Madison just shakes her head as Blake Wagner follows Kayla into the room. He’s a big guy with muscles. His dark hair contrasts with his green eyes, the same shade as Kayla’s. He’s got on a t-shirt and jeans.
“Ladies. What’s going on?” Blake’s gaze settles on Madison and softens.
“We need a brother’s opinion.” Kayla grabs a handful of popcorn.
“If you had a best friend who wasn’t already fucking your woman—Wait, let’s say Coop wanted to fuck me.
” She grins. “And Madison didn’t exist because otherwise I’d be breaking up your happy home.
But if Coop wanted to fuck me and was really kinky, what kind of kink would make you tell him not to pursue me? ”
Madison laughs behind her hand.
“No, on imagining Coop. I would never forbid anyone from pursuing you. I would enlighten them to your personality and maybe tell them for their own safety to run for the hills.” Blake leans against the doorframe with a smirk.
“That’s not very nice, but accurate.” Kayla smirks back. “Fine, pretend you need to look out for me.”
Blake rubs the back of his head. “I mean, there are kinks that border on abusive that I wouldn’t be happy about unless you were definitely into that.”
“Like what?” I can’t help asking.
“There are a lot of sadomasochistic practices that might make a loved one fear for your safety. There are people who crave the pain. As long as you are safe, consenting adults, I wouldn’t have a problem with my sister participating.
But if one person takes advantage of the other, it can get into a gray area. ” Blake meets each of our gazes.
Kayla smiles. “Aw, my big brother cares about me and my needs.”
He sighs. “I’ve given up. You are who you are. If someone tried to do you dirty, you’d make them pay.”
“That doesn’t help me.” I take a handful of popcorn. It still doesn’t answer the question.
Blake’s attention shifts to me. “Honestly, with you, your brother might be concerned with any kink. I don’t know Tom personally. He may not want to think of his sister being involved in something more than vanilla. I have little choice with mine.”
“And you love me for it.” Kayla preens.
“If you need anything, tiger, let me know.” Blake steps into the room and leans down to press a kiss to Madison’s lips before leaving.
“Thanks!” we say as he closes the door.
“So it could be anything, like spanking or bondage.” I pick at my pants. “Neither of which sounds good or bad, but I’d be willing to explore to figure out if I could like them.”
“Maybe you should just ask him.” Hope shrugs. “The worst he can do is not tell you and then you still don’t know.”
“I say you go for it. Just strip down naked for the guy and say do your worst.” Kayla winks. “You’ll have a really great time and figure out if his kink is for you. Win-win.”
Both ideas have merit. Though it would be better to know what I’m getting myself into than to tell him do your worst and end up running screaming from the room.
We laugh and chat a little before starting the movie. Kayla tells us all about her worst kink experience with a guy who didn’t actually know what he was doing. The conversation continues during the movie, as does the wine.
“Mmm, we should walk Hope to her brother’s bar.” Kayla smiles. “Your brother has the prettiest blue eyes.”
“We have the same blue eyes.” Hope laughs and shakes her head. “And please don’t date my brother. I like you and don’t want you to disappear when he does you dirty.”
“I just like looking at those eyes.” Kayla cups Hope’s cheeks. “That’s why I like looking at you too.”
I glance at my phone. It’s still early and I really don’t want to deal with whatever is waiting for me at the apartment. “I’m in.”
“Me too.” Madison puts on some shoes.
The walk to McAvoy’s from the office building that Madison’s apartment is in is short. We talk and laugh the whole way there. When we enter, it’s busy.
“Come on, I’ll get us a seat.” Hope weaves us through the crowd until we end up at the bar. She catches Jason’s attention and soon a few people get up, leaving room for us.
Jason smiles at Hope as he goes to get us drinks.
We drink and talk about the future. We’re making plans to eventually work together after we get the experience we need. After a while, I have to use the restroom.
“I’ll be back.” I slip off my bar stool and catch myself as a wave of dizziness comes over me. Oof, too much to drink between the wine at Madison’s and the cocktails here. The crowd isn’t any less thick, so I work my way to the bathroom and wait in a short line.
After washing my hands, I take a breath before facing the crowd again.
When I open the bathroom door, the noise overwhelms me. As I make my way slowly through the bar, a tall man steps in front of me.
I look up and it’s some guy around my age. He smiles. “Hey.”
“Excuse me. I’m trying to get back to my friends.” I gesture behind him, hoping he’ll move out of my way.
“I could be your friend.” His gaze drops to my cleavage in my V-neck t-shirt with a dirty grin. Ew, no.
“Not today. Thank you.” I go to move around him but he blocks the way.
“Come on. At least give me your number.” He gives me a pouty face that does absolutely nothing except annoy me.
“Look, I have someone.” Actually, three and a potential fourth. Not really looking to add to that number. How would that even work? My brain stumbles on it, but then I make myself return to here and now.
“I don’t see him.” The guy grins and puts his hand on my arm. “I’m here.”
“There you are, sweetie.” An arm wraps around my waist and I’m drawn into the side of a really tall, really good-smelling beast of a man.
The guys in this bar are grabby tonight.
I try to pull away. “You must have me—”
“Yes, I must, darling. But later.” He kisses my temple and I once again try to pull away. “Excuse us.”
His attention is on the guy in front of me. The guy with his arm around me is dressed in a business suit with a black shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He has a closely shaved beard, wavy brown hair, and stunning blue eyes.
“Sorry, man.” The guy backs off without an apology to me. What an asshole.
The business man doesn’t release me as he maneuvers us through the crowd. When I see he’s taking me in the direction of the girls, I give up and let him lead. After all, he did save me from that guy, and he slices through the crowd like a hot knife through butter.
“Mr. Duncan.” Madison straightens as we reach her. Oh, good, someone she knows and not some random stranger.
“Heath, love.” Heath removes his arm from me and smiles. “I found this one being accosted by a young stud. Figured I could be of service. Last time I saw her was on the arm of your Noah.”
Heath Duncan. The name is familiar, and now that I look at Heath, I recognize him from social events. He always has some vapid, gorgeous woman clinging to his arm.
Madison blushes. “This is Kayla Wagner, Blake’s sister.”
Heath takes her hand and kisses her knuckles. “A pleasure.”
“Indeed.” Kayla winks at him.
His laugh is loud and boisterous.
“Hope Williams works at Morrigan with me.” Madison presents Hope.
“Williams?” Heath takes her hand and holds it for a second before glancing at Jason behind the bar. “Those blue eyes. You wouldn’t be one of Troy’s kids, would you?”
Hope blushes and tries to draw back her hand, but he holds it. “Yes, Troy Williams was my father.”
He grins and lifts her hand to his mouth. “Huge fan. He was one of the legends of boxing.”
He kisses her knuckles. His gaze never drops from hers.
She nods and finally gets her hand away. His gaze remains fixed on her for a few seconds longer than normal. There’s an intensity that makes me uncomfortable.
Madison introduces me. “Sara Morris, Heath Duncan.”
Heath takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. His blue eyes sparkle. “A pleasure to meet you, Sara.”
“Thank you for the assist.” I smile. Heath’s an attractive man, but he does nothing for me.
“You’re welcome. It was good seeing you, Madison. Tell Coop he owes me a call. I’ve got business to attend. Ladies.” He inclines his head and moves to the other end of the bar.
“That was weird.” Shaking my head, I climb onto my bar stool.
“I don’t think I’ve seen Heath here before,” Madison mentions as she sips her drink. “But usually I’m here with you guys and don’t pay as much attention as I probably should.”
“You didn’t tell us your father was a famous boxer.” Kayla’s green eyes focus on Hope.
“He’s been gone for a while now.” Hope takes a drink, and it’s an effective way to cut the conversation short.
Heath is talking to a guy in a black suit. The other guy looks somewhat familiar too, but I can’t place him.
My phone buzzes, distracting me. I lift it.
Dante:
Let me know when to come get you
Me:
At McAvoy’s
Ready when you are