Chapter 4 #3
“No, yes, no, I mean, yes,” Angie stuttered before laughing and holding her hand like a crossing guard stopping traffic.
She took a deep breath before attempting to speak again.
“Okay, let me start all over. I swear, I’m not normally a blithering idiot, and I do have social skills.
” The others chuckled with amused expressions.
“Yes, I’ve read all your books, but it’s not why I recognize your name.
I just got a contract yesterday from Red Rose Books to design the cover of your new one. ”
It was Kristen’s turn to be flabbergasted. “Oh, my God! What’re the odds of that happening? My editor told me they were giving Leather and Lace to someone new because the woman in Seattle, who did Satin and Sin, was taking a hiatus due to health problems. This is so cool. Talk about a small world.”
“I’m so excited to design it now. We’ll have to chat later, so I can get your input before I start playing around with ideas.” Ian could only imagine what Angie would come up with after seeing the other book cover she’d done.
“Great! I haven’t had much input in my covers since I signed on with Red Rose. Now they narrow it down to three similar covers, and my editor and I chose one.”
As the two women continued talking about the publishing business, with Roxy and Kayla giving occasional input, Ian and Devon both took a half step to the side.
They looked at each other while rolling their eyes.
As much as they were proud of Kristen’s success and popularity, chic-lit was not their thing.
What Ian had latched onto, though, was when Angie said she’d read all Kristen’s books.
He assumed they included the last one, Satin and Sin, a book that had surprised Devon when the couple first met since it was a best-selling erotica romance involving a BDSM club.
The follow-up, Leather and Lace, which the women were now discussing, was a story about one of the previous book’s sub-characters, Master Xavier.
Ian studied Angie as his brain spun. It was the second time she’d admitted she read erotica, and the thoughts flying through his mind might shock her. But then again, maybe not.
They spent an hour or so roaming through the crowded north wing of the museum, looking at the exhibits and talking about a gamut of subjects, including art, literature, and local news.
Angie grew more comfortable with Ian, his family, and friends as the evening progressed.
Will had popped over to visit a few times before rushing off to avert another crisis, and numerous people greeted the group while further introductions were made.
She found it interesting how every time Ian introduced her to one of the many women drooling over him, he barely glanced at them before his gaze returned to her.
And when it was a man being introduced, Ian would tuck her closer into his side in what appeared to be a possessive gesture.
She liked his responses and hoped she wasn’t misreading them and his interest in her.
She also liked how his hand was in contact with a part of her body—her back, neck, hand, or arm—as much as possible.
The rough callouses on his palm and fingers felt seductive against her soft skin.
As they walked from painting to painting, she found he understood art more than he admitted to her and probably to himself. He listened to her, not with half an ear as some of her past boyfriends or dates had, and held his own as they discussed what they did or did not like about each piece.
When a new round of champagne flutes, along with tonic water and lime for Devon, arrived via another sharp-dressed waiter, Angie glanced around and spotted a ladies’ room a short distance away. When she excused herself from the group, Kristen said she would join her.
Devon groaned. “What is with women that they must go to the restrooms together?”
Everyone laughed when his fiancée deadpanned, “It’s in the women’s rule book of socialization, sweetheart. Why don’t you look it up sometime?”
Growling softly, he grabbed Kristen around the waist and whispered something into her ear, which made her blush and bite her bottom lip.
Angie could have sworn she heard the woman mumble, “Yes, Sir,” before joining her on the walk across the room while the other four members of their group stayed and chuckled behind them.
The elegant ladies’ room was almost empty, and after quick stops at the toilets, followed by the sinks, Kristen met Angie at the mirrored vanity near a sitting area.
After two other women exited the facilities, they found themselves alone.
Angie reapplied her lipstick and eyed the other woman’s dress and shoes.
She’d been admiring the blue empire-waist creation and silver Manolo Blahnik heels all evening and told her so.
Kristen grinned with freshly painted lips. “Thanks. I had the shoes, but Will and Kayla took me shopping the other day for the dress. I’m fine with picking out everyday clothes, but I get flustered if I have to play dress-up. I can never tell if I look drab, slutty, or sexy.”
“My vote is drab and slutty, you bitch.”
Angie gasped at the sudden insult as Kristen whirled around with rage in her eyes and faced the woman who’d said it. Neither one of them had noticed her come in.
Crossing her arms over her chest, Angie’s new friend stood taller as she stared at the skinny redhead in a white strapless gown.
“Seriously, Heather? Who let your skanky ass in here? You wouldn’t know art if it slapped you.
Oh, wait a minute, it looks like you already took an oil painting to the face, or is that your makeup? I can’t quite tell.”
If Angie hadn’t been so shocked, she would’ve laughed at Kristen’s retort because it was a good one considering the building they were in.
“Honestly, you cow, I have no idea what Master Devon sees in your fat ass.” The redhead’s hatred-filled gaze zeroed in on Angie next. “And let me guess—you’re Master Ian’s new fuck. Don’t get too comfortable, whore. Everyone knows he goes through subs like a pig goes through slop.”
What? Wait a minute… Master Ian? New fuck? Whore? Subs? Pig?
Shock and pure anger at this stranger who came in, hurling insults at them, took over Angie’s mind and body.
She stepped forward to confront the nasty woman when a hand on her forearm stopped her.
Looking at Kristen, she was surprised to see a satisfied smirk on her face.
But Kristen wasn’t staring at Heather. Her eyes were focused on the person who’d come through the door and was now standing behind the bitch.
.. Roxanne London, and holy crap! The good doctor looked furious and intimidating.
Heather must have realized there was someone behind her because she glanced over her shoulder, and Angie was amazed to see the redhead’s face lose all color.
.. at least what wasn’t painted on. Roxy’s pleasant demeanor from before had disappeared, and in its place was an angry, commanding, take-no-prisoners attitude.
“Apparently, you don’t learn, Heather. You know better than to blurt out private business in a public venue.
You also know I told you last time you started harassing Kristen that I wouldn’t stand for it.
And now you’ve insulted another friend of mine who, I assume, has no idea who you are and doesn’t deserve your malice.
I suggest you run out and explain yourself to Scott because I’ll be a minute behind you, and he and I are going to have a serious talk about your continued behavior.
Now, as much as I would love to see how Kristen put you flat on your face in an arm-hold the first time you two met, this is neither the time nor the place. ”
She stepped aside and gave Heather a path to the restroom door. “Out. Now.”
As the redhead rushed out the door, they heard her mumble under her breath, but the words were unintelligible.
After the door closed behind the awful woman, the three new friends looked at each other and burst out laughing.
When they finally got themselves under control, Angie opened her mouth to ask one of the many questions on the tip of her tongue.
Before she could say anything, though, Roxy held up her hand and looked behind them to where the toilets and sinks were.
Kristen caught the other woman’s concern and told her they were alone in the facilities.
Roxy gestured to the sitting area before taking a seat on the small couch and crossing her long legs, leaving the two low-backed upholstered chairs for the other women.
“In case you’re wondering, I saw Heather walk in here and knew she would be her usual rude self, so I came in as backup.
Although I’m sure you all would’ve had things under control. ”
After they joined her around a small cocktail table, Roxy looked at Angie with a mix of sympathy, concern, and understanding.
“I can tell you’re shocked and confused by the look on your face.
I’m sure this isn’t the way Ian wanted you to hear he was a Dominant, and I really think you should take most of your questions to him.
Seeing how he looks at you, I think his interest in you is obvious.
I don’t know where you two are in your relationship, and it’s none of my business whether and when he planned to ask you to go down that road with him.
He’s a good man who, in the short time I’ve gotten to know him, I’ve come to respect one hundred and ten percent, and he would never force his lifestyle on anyone.
“That being said, if you want to take a moment and let the shock wear off and ask us a question or two, we’ll answer them the best we can.”
Angie turned toward Kristen, who nodded her agreement, then took a deep breath and said the first thing that came to mind. “Holy shit, who was that crazy bitch?”
When the other two women laughed and relaxed, she continued. “Okay, that wasn’t a serious question—actually, it is, but we’ll get back to it later. So, are you all into... it... I mean, the BDSM lifestyle too?”
Kristen nodded again. “Yup. I’m a newbie of only six or seven months now.
I met Devon at his friend’s pub and ended up asking him out on a date, not knowing he was a Dom.
” She let out an unladylike snort. “Hell, I didn’t even know I was a sub.
Anyway, if you read Satin and Sin, you know it involves BDSM, and when I went to the club Devon and Ian own, with their cousin, Mitch, for research. .. oops.”
Angie was sure her eyes were wider than Kristen’s. “Th-they own a sex club?”
Roxy leaned forward and reclaimed command of the conversation.
“Yes, and despite what some people... what most people might think, it’s a very private, very elite club.
It’s where like-minded people, who enjoy a range of kinks in their lives, can practice safe, sane, and consensual activities which may or may not include sex.
“Kayla and I joined The Covenant after a long application process where our lives were examined with a fine-tooth comb. This is not a place where anyone off the street can walk in and start flogging someone. And unlike Heather, most people in the lifestyle don’t announce their participation, or anyone else’s for that matter, when out in public.
I know several other people in attendance here tonight from the clubs, but they either pretend they know me from somewhere else or not at all.
“I’ve been a Domme since college, and Kayla became my submissive, and then my wife, when we met a few months after I finished med school. I was the one who recognized she was a submissive and introduced her to the lifestyle I’d come to enjoy.”
Trying to take everything they said in, Angie took another deep breath.
“Okay, I’m not completely na?ve. I’ve read lots of fictional books on the subject and even browsed the internet when my curiosity was piqued a few times while reading those books.
And I’ll admit, if I’m being honest, some things did turn me on.
But I never knew anyone in the lifestyle, so I just shoved my thoughts and questions to the back of my brain and left them there.
I figured there weren’t real places like that, and everything I heard or read was part of a fantasy world. ”
The restroom door opened, startling them, and four chatty women walked in and headed toward the toilet stalls.
Roxy stood, placed her hand on Angie’s shoulder, and lowered her voice so she wouldn’t be overheard.
“You need to talk to Ian. As I said, he’s a good man.
If you are interested in exploring, he’s one of the men I would recommend you do it with.
If not, he’ll understand, and no harm done. ”
“I agree,” Kristen concurred while nodding her head.
“He’s one of the nicest guys I know, and I’m not saying that because he'll be my brother-in-law soon. Oh, and by the way, what Heather said about Ian being a pig... nothing I’ve seen or heard has ever given me the impression he’s a total man-whore.
” She giggled. “I’m not saying he’s a saint, but what man is? ”
Angie grinned at Kristen and then at Roxy, feeling a little bit more at ease. “Okay, I’ll talk to him, but not here.”
“Good.” The doctor took a few steps toward the door and glanced over her shoulder. “Can you tell my beautiful wife I’ll be back in a few minutes? I need to have a conversation with a colleague of mine.”
Angie looked at Kristen to clarify the statement as the other woman stormed out the door on a mission. “Heather’s Mast... um, boyfriend... is a doctor on staff at the same hospital Roxy is.
“Look, I know this is a shock—it was for me too. But I’ve never regretted any part of my relationship with Devon.
In fact, I can’t imagine how I ever lived without the.
.. um... things he does to me and with me.
My ex-husband had me convinced I was a cold fish in bed.
It turns out he was the problem because my sex life now is incredibly hot, and I wouldn’t trade Devon for any other man.
He cherishes me like I’m the most important person in the universe. ”
She leaned forward and dropped her voice into a dramatic whisper. “And showed me what it was like to have multiple orgasms.”
Kristen laughed at Angie’s astonished expression and twined their arms together, tugging her new friend toward the door. “Now, let’s get back to our handsome dates before they send out a search party.”