Chapter 29
Penelope
The pool party was fun .
If Penny hadn’t known, she would never have guessed that everyone there was kinky. There were a couple of animal ears, and the odd binky, but mostly only subtle day collars gave away the inclinations of the attendees.
There was a bar, and Rachel insisted on getting all of her drinks, picking the most outrageously fruity cocktails for Penelope to drink. And as evening fell, music started to play.
The two of them fit in perfectly with the little group who’d adopted them. There were eight of them altogether: Rachel and Penelope, Bex and Faith, Tay and Guilia, and even Mandi and Amelia—once they’d finished work for the day.
Sadie flitted from group to group; playing with the Littles, dancing with the Bigs, and always the consummate hostess, now that she was done cannonballing.
“It’s been the best day,” said Penelope happily to Rachel.
“Even with your trauma being triggered?” her Domme—her girlfriend —asked.
Penny pulled a face. “The thing is that most days for me might include a trigger. I’ve been doing therapy for long enough so that they’re not completely debilitating anymore. And there has been so much more to this day! The petting zoo, this party… the tail .”
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “You still want to try the tail again?”
“Definitely,” she said. “It was… intense. In a good kind of way.”
“Okay then,” said Rachel. “You’re the boss.”
“I am?” Penelope grinned then. “Oh, you’re going to regret saying that. Hey, guys,” she called over to the rest of their group. “Rach says that I’m the boss!”
The chorus of responses had her in stitches.
“Oh, Rach,” said Bex. “Big mistake.”
“Not at all,” said Tay. “Subs are always in charge.”
“Exactly,” said Faith and Mandi together, and then burst into giggles.
Guilia just shook her head, and Amelia chuckled.
“Who are you?” asked Rachel, but her smile was warm, and Penelope felt very seen.
“I’m your Penny,” she said. “Didn’t you know?”
It was after ten by the time they left the poolside and started making their way up to their suite. Despite the poolside heaters, it had started to get a bit nippy, and they took that as a sign that it was time to go to bed.
“I’m happy ,” said Penelope, her arms flung around Rachel in the elevator.
“So I see,” said Rachel, bemusement painting her voice. “Very happy. So happy that you’re going to need to drink at least a pint of water before you go to bed.”
“I’m not drunk ,” she said, waving her hand around and almost taking Rachel’s eye out. “I’m merely merry . That’s okay, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is, darling,” said Rachel, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You are an adorably merry delight.”
“Thank you,” said Penny, and tried very hard to focus on not falling over. “I only had… one, two, three drinks!”
“I know,” said Rachel. “I didn’t know you were such a lightweight! I’d have gotten you to slow down a bit.”
“Is okay,” said Penny as she stumbled over to the door of their suite. “I’m good.”
She didn’t drink very often, as was obvious from her current predicament, but there was nothing about the situation that made her feel awkward or unsafe. Rachel didn’t even try to kiss her when they got in.
“Why won’t you kiss me?” asked Penelope, plaintively.
“Because you’re properly wasted, and I’m more concerned with making you drink water, so you don’t get a hangover,” said her ever practical girlfriend. “Come on, you.”
She practically poured Penny into bed, brushing out her hair softly, and then tucking her in. Penny stared balefully at the pint of water placed on her bedside table. “I don’t want to drink water though.”
“Penelope.” Rachel’s voice was stern now, even though she couldn’t hide the dimple in her cheeks. “You are going to drink your water, and then you’re going to curl up and go to sleep.”
“Without you?!”
“Of course not without me! Come on, sweetheart, drink up.”
“Fine!” said Penelope. “But only because you’ve promised me cuddles afterward.”
“I haven’t—” Rachel chuckled. “You can have cuddles from me any time you like.”
“Now!”
“ After you’ve drunk your water.”
She downed the entire pint in one go and then threw back the covers and ran helter-skelter into the bathroom to use the toilet.
When she came back out, Rachel had gotten into bed and held out her arms toward Penelope. “Come to bed, my love.”