Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Majesty
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see. It’s something I think you’ll enjoy.”
The classroom was warm and inviting when we entered, the smell of clay and paint filling the air.
Several tables were set up with pottery wheels, and at the front of the room stood Eliana.
She’d taken our class last week. I’d seen her during the workshop sessions, always quiet and observant.
But here, in her element, she was transformed.
Her dreadlocks were pulled up into thick curly coils pinned at the top of her head with two spirals hanging artfully in front.
She wore paint-splattered overalls over a bright yellow shirt, and her smile was confident and welcoming.
“Welcome, everyone!” she called out as the last few couples filtered in. “I’m Eliana, and today we’re going to be creating clay sculptures together. This is a couples class, which means you’ll be working as a team on a single piece.”
Cami looked up at me with excitement in her eyes, and I felt something warm settle in my chest. This was what I’d wanted to give her today. Joy and creativity and connection.
“Find a table,” Eliana instructed. “Each station has everything you need. And don’t worry about getting messy. That’s half the fun.”
We claimed a table near the middle, and I helped Cami out of her coat. She was wearing a soft sweater, but Eliana handed out aprons to protect our clothes.
“Alright,” Eliana said once everyone was settled. “We’re going to start by centering your clay. This is a meditative process. It requires both partners to work together, to feel the clay and respond to it.”
She demonstrated, her hands confident and sure as she worked a lump of clay on the wheel. “One person will guide, the other will support. You’ll need to communicate constantly. Too much pressure and the clay collapses. Not enough and it won’t take shape.”
I looked at Cami. “You want to guide first?”
“I’ve never done this before. You should guide.”
“Then put your hands on mine. Feel what I’m doing.”
She moved in front of me, and I moved close to her pressing against her backside, my arms coming around to place my hands beneath hers. The position was intimate with me holding her in my arms.
I wet my hands and placed them on the clay, starting the wheel. The clay was cool and slick under my palms, and I began applying gentle pressure, coaxing it toward the center.
“Feel that?” I asked. “The way it wants to move off-center. You have to be firm but gentle.”
“Like dominance,” Cami murmured, and I smiled.
“Exactly like dominance.”
Her hands followed mine, learning the rhythm. When I increased pressure, she did too. When I eased off, she matched me. We moved together, and slowly the clay centered.
“Beautiful,” Eliana said, stopping at our table. “You two have great synchronization. Now, switch. Let Cami guide.”
We traded positions, and I put my hands on the outside of hers.
“Okay,” she said nervously. “Here goes.” She placed her hands on the clay, and I felt her hesitation.
“Don’t think,” I murmured against her ear. “Just feel. Let the clay tell you what it needs.”
She took a breath and began. Her movements were tentative at first, but as she gained confidence, they became surer. I guided her with gentle pressure, my hands on hers.
“There you go,” I praised. “Perfect. Just like that.”
I felt her relax against me, trusting me to support her. The wheel spun, the clay responded, and we worked together in a rhythm that felt almost sensual.
“Now,” Eliana announced to the class, “we’re going to shape your piece. I want you to create something that represents your relationship. It can be abstract or literal. But it should be something you both contribute to.”
Cami looked back at me. “What should we make?”
“What feels right to you?”
She studied the centered clay, then placed her hands on it thoughtfully. “Something with multiple parts that come together. Like us. Three distinct pieces that create one whole.”
“I love that.”
We worked together, shaping the clay. I created the base while her hands formed two rising elements that curved toward each other. When Eliana came by again, she smiled.
“Beautiful symbolism. Are those meant to be two people?”
“Three,” Cami said. “Me, Majesty, and Lex. Coming together.”
“Even more beautiful.” Eliana touched the sculpture gently. “This will need to cure for a few days, then be fired in the kiln. You can come back to glaze it after that. The whole process takes about a week. If you won’t be here, I can ship it for a fee.”
“We’ll be here,” I said, looking at Cami. “We’ll come back together to finish it.”
As we continued working, our hands constantly touching, sliding together through the wet clay, the experience became increasingly erotic. Her fingers would brush mine deliberately. I’d lean in to guide her, and she’d press back against me.
“You’re distracting me,” she accused playfully.
“You started it,” I countered, my hands covering hers as we shaped a delicate curve.
“Did not.”
“Did too.” I nipped at her ear, and she shivered.
Around us, other couples were similarly absorbed in their work, but I barely noticed them. My entire focus was on Cami, on the way she responded to my touch, on the piece we were creating together.
When Eliana finally called time, I was surprised to find two hours had passed.
“Excellent work, everyone,” she said. “Your pieces will cure here, and I’ll fire them in the kiln. Come back in a few days to glaze them.”
We cleaned up, washing the clay from our hands at the sink. I kept finding excuses to touch her—adjusting her hair, wiping a smudge of clay from her cheek, steadying her as she dried her hands.
“That was amazing,” Cami said as we bundled back into our coats. “Thank you for bringing me.”
“Thank you for making it with me.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Our first piece of art together.”
Outside, the snow had slowed to light flurries. As we walked back toward the cabin, Cami suddenly stopped.
“What time is it?”
I checked my phone. “Almost four. Why?”
“We missed lunch. I’m starving.”
“Me too, actually.”
As if in response, her stomach growled audibly, and we both laughed.
When we opened the cabin door, the smell that greeted us was incredible. Rich, savory, comforting. Lex appeared from the kitchen, an apron tied around his waist.
“Perfect timing,” he said. “I made beef stew with fresh bread. Figured you two would be hungry.”
“You’re a saint,” Cami declared, already kicking off her boots.
“I’m aware.” He smiled and gestured to the dining table, where he’d set out bowls and a gorgeous charcuterie board loaded with fruit and cheese. “Sit. Eat.”
The stew was perfect—tender beef, hearty vegetables, rich broth. The bread was still warm from the oven. We ate with enthusiasm, the conversation flowing easily as Cami told Lex about the pottery class.
“We made a sculpture,” she said. “Three parts coming together as one. It’s beautiful.”
“I’d like to see it when it’s finished,” Lex said.
“We’ll bring it to you after we go back to glaze it and it gets a final firing.”
After we’d devoured most of the stew and made serious inroads on the charcuterie board, Cami leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
“Is there something else on the agenda?” she asked, looking at me. “Because I’m tired. That was a lot of activity for one day.”
“There is something planned for tonight,” I admitted. “But you can nap first if you want.”
“Will you nap with me?” She looked at me with those eyes that I couldn’t resist.
“If you want me to.”
“I do.” She ran over and kissed Lex. “Thank you for lunch, Sir.”
Lex smiled and pulled her between his legs for a hug too. “You’re welcome.” Lex stood and started collecting dishes. “I’ll clean up. You two go rest. I’ll make sure you’re up in time.”
“You sure?” I asked.
“Positive. Go.”
I took Cami’s hand and led her upstairs to my room. She immediately started stripping off her clothes, and I raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing?”
“I want to feel you while we sleep,” she said simply. “Skin to skin. Is that okay?”
My throat tightened. “More than okay.”
I stripped down as well, and we climbed into bed together. She immediately pressed against me, her soft skin warm against mine. I pulled the heavy comforter over us and wrapped my arms around her.
“This is perfect,” she murmured, her head on my chest. “Just this.”
I stroked her hair, feeling the silky strands slip through my fingers. “Tell me about the pottery class. What was your favorite part?”
“The way we had to work together. The way I could feel you guiding me, supporting me, but still letting me create.” She traced patterns on my chest absently. “It felt like us. Like our dynamic.”
“It is us. That’s what we do. Guide and support, but never control to the point of taking away you.”
“I love that about you both.” Her voice was getting sleepy. “You make me feel powerful even when I’m submitting.”
“You are powerful. Submission isn’t weakness. It’s a gift. And we know how precious that gift is.”
She pressed a kiss over my heart. “Today was good. Even with the Iris situation. Today was really good.”
“It was.” I kissed the top of her head. “Now sleep. We have more planned for tonight.”
“Mmm. What’s planned?”
“You’ll see when you wake up.”
“Tease.”
“You love it.”
“I do,” she admitted, and I heard the smile in her voice.
Her breathing began to even out, her body going heavy and relaxed against mine. I lay there holding her, feeling the rise and fall of her chest, the warmth of her skin, the absolute rightness of having her in my arms.
This morning I’d been terrified. Watching what happened with Iris, seeing how easily trust could be broken, how quickly safety could be violated.
It had shaken me more than I wanted to admit.
But Cami had pulled me through it. Had reminded me that fear meant I cared.
That caring meant I’d never be like those men who’d hurt Iris.
I tightened my arms around Cami slightly, and she made a soft sound of contentment in her sleep.
Lex was right. We were in deep. All three of us.
But lying there with Cami, feeling her trust in the way she surrendered to sleep in my arms, I couldn’t bring myself to be scared of it anymore.
I wanted this with her and Lex. Building something beautiful and real.
I let my own eyes drift closed and dared anything to disturb our peace as we slept.