Chapter 48 #3
“So clearly it’s all about balance,” Carlee said with a smirk.
"We're not bad people," Finn said with a shrug.
"Speak for yourself," Leo sniggered. "Kendrix is bad to the bone."
Kendrix grinned. “No, I’m balanced.” He winked at Petra. She shivered and Carlee grinned.
“Ooh, this is the one that chases you?! Okay, I can see the appeal. He wear that mask, too?”
Petra blushed and Carlee laughed, the sound hearty and light.
"We've all got our kinks," Leo said with an easy shrug. "It's the way we were raised. Don't be surprised if you find yourselves getting chased by guys with a few surprises up their sleeves."
“Do not threaten me with a good time, Leo.”
Petra looked at Vic and Fiona, knowing that while she was quiet about it, Petra wasn’t close to being the wildest of them.
"I don't know why you're looking at us," Victoria said. "Carlee's the hoe of this group that's up for anything. I doubt any of these guys would be into my kind of kinks. I doubt they're into being dominated."
Carter choked and covered it with a laugh. "Brad is going to love you," he said. "Not all of us are into topping. You kink how you kink. The God loves you anyway."
"On which note, it's been lovely to meet you all, but I need to go and take some meds and lie down in a quiet and dark room for a few hours," Fiona said regretfully. "But I'll see you all for dinner?"
Petra nodded. “Up the stairs, first door on the right is your room.” She winked.
They watched Fiona leave and Carlee looked at Victoria. “I didn’t know you topped.”
"That's because any time anyone mentions anything vaguely sexual you jump right in about dick sizes and whether they have brothers or not," Victoria pointed out. "You're not exactly the most discreet of people, and the world I move in is all about discretion."
“Clearly,” Carlee said. “Also, there is nothing wrong with being an out and proud sexually liberated woman. Cuts out the middle man when they know what you want.”
“She has a point,” Jack said.
Petra rolled her eyes. It was an old argument about Carlee’s sexual liberation. “Remember when Carlee lost her virginity?” she asked Victoria. “We didn’t hear the end of it for weeks.”
"No one is saying there's anything wrong with it," Victoria said. "You can fuck who you want to fuck and I'm not judging. As long as you're safe. It's just not how the rest of us operate, and in my world it would be dangerous."
Emerson nodded to her. “You’re in Chicago, right? Have you heard of Facade? It’s a members-only club but it’s super high-end clientele. I used to belong to it, well technically still do, legacy membership.”
Petra arched a brow at her lover. “I didn’t know you were into the scene...” Some of her guys were into some severe kinks but none mentioned the scene until now.
Emerson shrugged. “I explored. My kinks are tame compared...”
"Heard of it?" Victoria chuckled. "I'm on the VIP list. I'm not rich like most of the members, but I have an excellent reputation."
“Indeed. And here I was going to offer to sponsor you.” He winked. “Family and all.”
"Well, if you're ever out my way, hit me up and I'll get you VIP access," Victoria gave him a genuine smile. "I've never had family to spoil before. It would be an honor."
She listened to them talk, Leo engaged with Carlee about something having to do with her own schooling and she leaned into Finn and whispered, “This is going really well. I mean we had a hiccup with Fiona freaking out but Easton fixed that. He’s getting all the cuddles later.”
"One of them was always going to freak." He shrugged. "They love you. And serial killers are a lot to swallow. If I'm honest, I'm surprised Fiona was the only one that freaked."
“Carlee is too much of a free spirit to freak out. This is like everything she’s ever wanted, you know?
Vic, she’s freaking, but she’s more quiet about it.
Fiona has always been the biggest passion of all four of us.
” She ran her hand over his stomach and sighed.
“But I have hope we will be able to count them among The Order sooner than later. All of us wanted to belong growing up, and having just us... It feels good to know they have the opportunity to be cared for like you guys care for me.”
"Oh, they'll be cared for, all right," Finn chuckled with a smirk. "Carlee is absolutely going to find herself with a group or two."
“She is eager.” She chuckled. “Thank you for this, and for wanting to meet them. I know this was hard on them, and you guys.” She nuzzled his throat. “But it seems to be working out.”
“Hey, Pet, you didn’t tell us that Easton’s show is coming up and it’s you!” Carlee said. “We are so coming down for it.”
Petra laughed. “I mean, you kinda had to meet him first,” she said and snuggled closer to Finn. “Everything else, okay?” she said softly, her conversation directed back at him. “I know you’re taking on so much, but are you okay, my love?”
"I'm tired," he admitted. "But once the new council is elected and running and have approved all the suggestions the accountants have made, there'll be a lot less on my plate and I can start to relax.
" He sighed. "I feel jealous of the others sometimes," he told her.
"Since everything went down, they've all been able to come home with you and have some quality time, while I've been running around like a headless chicken fielding calls and emails fourteen hours a day. I miss you."
“I miss you, too. Maybe we need some Finn and Petra time, just us.”
"The results of the elections are coming in tomorrow," he told her.
"After that, I'm giving them a week to get up to speed on the mandate and the education package, and then I'm backing off and they can deal with it on their own.
" He smiled tiredly. "And then you and I can leave our phones and go away somewhere for a week. Just us."
“That sounds like heaven, baby. Someplace warm maybe?” The idea of being naked with him with sun-warmed skin did something to her.
"How about a beach somewhere in South America?" he suggested. "Sun, sea, sand, cocktails on command...?"
She nodded, “Hell yes, and sexy little bikinis.” She brightened. “Can we maybe see the compound in Peru? Kildare said there’s a well there...we should go and pay our respects.”
"Sure. There are nice beaches in Peru and I'm sure they'd appreciate a visit from the high priestess."
“I mean, yeah but...I more just want to pay our respects to him. Seeing as he’s the reason why we are together.” She nuzzled his throat. “You know...we have some time...before dinner I mean. Feel like a nap with me?”
"Always." His smile was love mixed with relief. He really was exhausted.
She kissed him softly on the cheek and then stood. “You guys enjoy, I’m taking Finn for a much needed nap for both of us.” She looked to Vic and Carlee. “You guys going to be okay?” In answer, Carlee made finger guns at her.
"Yeah. I'm going to have tea and then I'll go check on Fi," said Victoria. "It looked like she was brewing a doozy."
She nodded. “Great. So? Dinner in a couple hours, yeah?”
They left the living room, Petra leading Finn up to her room, and smiled at him. “That went really well,” she said softly. “And I know things are just going to get better from here, for us and for them.”
"They will," he said firmly. "I know it."
They gained the room and she slipped out of her flats, padding into the bathroom. “Get settled, my love. We have a couple blissful hours of sleep on the horizon,” she offered and heard the door open. Looking out, she saw Kendrix walk in.
“This a private nap party or can anyone join in?”
"Bed is big enough for team napping," Finn said with a grin. "Just promise you won't snore."
“Jack snores,” Kendrix said as he jumped on the bed. She loved that her largely serious and severe lover was relaxing more with her. “Get that sexy ass in here, Petty...” He grinned. “I’m sure Finn doesn’t wanna cuddle with me.”
Five minutes later she was out of the bathroom and settled between the two of them, Rix snuggled to her back while she was curled against Finn’s chest. “Bliss...” she murmured as Rix splayed his hand on her belly.
"Agreed." Contented, Finn closed his eyes and sleep was quick to come.
“You think this would be where we ended up when you unmasked us?” Rix asked softly.
“No...but I hoped. This is more than I could dream of.”
“Well dream, my sweet sexy victim. Because against all odds, you got what you wanted. And I think we did, too.”
She smiled to herself and felt him relax into sleep behind her, following soon after, with visions of a life imagined revealing from the mists.