Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Penny
Easing myself through wave after wave of the most intense orgasm I’ve ever had, I let my vibrator drop onto the bed.
I was so relaxed, I was at risk of melting into the mattress. Was that a bonus from getting an incredible massage by a hot, muscular beefcake last night?
The scent of lavender lingered, helping assure me that last night had really happened.
My mind rolled back to the firmness of Everest’s hands on my body.
I was pretty sure he’d touched more of me than I have.
And yet, he kept it all aboveboard and explained everything he was doing.
I’d been proud of myself for taking my clothes off and relying on him using the sheet for discretion.
But there had been no happy ending for me until I got back to my cabin, and again this morning.
I was grateful he hadn’t pushed for more. Being naked while he touched me was a huge baby step. Was that more like a toddler step? A little kid step? Ugh! That was the totally wrong vibe.
Now that I was on day two of five, I could consider letting someone give me an orgasm. Such a weird thing to think about, except every dream I’d had last night was a sex dream.
First Everest, then Atlas, and the third dream involved Phoenix. But it was the fourth dream that had thrown me over the edge—all three of them.
One of the great things about Rawhide Ranch was that everyone was free to be themself. Must have been what sparked my dream. It was the most perfect experience ever, each man bringing his own skills to the relationship.
Then I woke up. Reverse harems was one kink I hadn’t heard about with Rawhide Ranch. There had been a ménage or two but my deviant brain had to go one step further.
Eggplant Canyon, a neighborhood near my hometown of Peach Bottom Valley, must have corrupted my brain.
Everyone in that area seemed to be finding ménage and reverse harem relationships.
That’s where the Christmas Cherry Auction had gotten started.
I swooned over my friends Bellamie, Jolene, and Starla finding love through the auction.
Getting on stage and having tons of men judge me and bid on me wasn’t in my cards though—and I couldn’t even consider following through with so many men.
Only in my dream could Everest, Atlas, and Phoenix get along. In the real world, in the two whole instances I’d been in the same space as the three of them, the tension made it clear they weren’t happy to be together.
A rooster crowed in the distance, serving as a reminder that I had to get out of bed if I planned to explore and learn today.
Rolling out from under the sheet, I didn’t have to do a calming meditation to start the day. Yesterday had bolstered my confidence… and the orgasm might be helping still.
Initiating my simple morning routine, I chose the blue bundle of clothes from my suitcase.
My mom thought my clothing system was peculiar—a set color per day—but I loved not having to make daily clothing decisions. And I definitely loved not trying on multiple outfits each day then having to rehang or refold all of the ones I didn’t choose.
Carrying the blue bundle to the bathroom, I showered, dressed, and combed my hair, pleasantly surprised that even with my luxurious morning, I was ready right on time for breakfast.
Easy peasy.
Until I reached for the door.
Butterflies migrated from my belly to my fingertips when I turned the handle.
So many possible causes for my nerves to flare up. I had to corral the winged beasts.
“I can do hard things,” I said out loud. “I came here to learn and I must leave my cabin to do that.”
The knot in my stomach turned into a growl. I patted my belly. “Thanks for the reminder. I must also leave my room to eat.”
Having a clear mission made turning the handle decidedly easier.
But when I reached to turn the lamp off, I saw my latest bookgami project on the bedside table. It beckoned me.
Thankfully, my therapist had helped me prepare for the anticipated reluctance to leave my room.
My plan for meals was to remember that eating was essential for survival.
I’d only brought snacks for the drive, not for the stay.
To help mealtime feel safe, I would set a timer on my watch.
When it went off, I could go back to my cabin and rest before the next activity, which in this case, was the daytime bonfire.
It might be hard to be at a bonfire and stay out of the group, but I was going to try.
Simple as that, I had to try. Just like my mom had said when I was growing up, I just had to try each thing that was offered for a meal. One bite.
I would one-bite the bonfire.
Returning to my cabin for bookgami was my reward for accomplishing these necessary outings.
“Yikes.” I’d almost forgotten my watch.
I rushed to the bedside table, put my watch on, and rubbed my fingers over the seductive, hard back cover of my bookgami project.
Another growl from my tummy helped me say goodbye to my room.
The morning sunlight warmed my body, adding to the relaxation that hung with me since that massage. So ironic that I could be turned on by Everest’s touch and relaxed by it at the same time.
As I walked to the cafeteria, I pondered that as much as I enjoyed the way he catered to me, he didn’t come across the way I’d imagined a Dom. Or maybe I wasn’t a sub?
Admittedly, the quiz result saying I was a sub was exciting and had led me here, but I thought I would enjoy a relationship with Everest, even if it was vanilla.
In the distance, I caught sight of Atlas, Everest, and Phoenix unloading a truck of hay bales, throwing and stacking them.
I didn’t know how much those things weighed, but I quickly got a sense that I couldn’t lift one.
But I did want to be manhandled like that. I chuckled. I didn’t want to be thrown. But I did want their hands on me. I wanted to be sweaty with them.
Oh, but not dirty sweaty. Well, dirty sweaty, yes, but not icky dirty. Sexy dirty would be okay.
I tried to stop overthinking dirtiness, but that only led me to thinking how nice the trio would look without their long-sleeved shirts. The fantasy plowed ahead full bore, allowing me to overlook the bits of hay their sweaty bodies would be covered with.
Not a problem in fantasy mode. I’d pull up a seat and watch those men flex their muscles. Atlas would probably flex his pecs for me. Everest would probably ask if I needed a drink. And Phoenix… I don’t know what he would do, but I’d enjoy it.
Atlas stopped moving bales, seemed to give the other two directions that Everest didn’t seem to think they needed, then they got back to work.
Phoenix’s broody expression never changed the entire time.
Was it possible to tell when he was happy or…
anything else? What would it be like to date someone like him?
Would he be content to stay at home and fold pages of books? Would he tell me if he wasn’t?
Everest waved.
At whom? I glanced over my shoulder. Nobody.
I turned back around, facing him. He laughed, pointed at me, and waved again.
A hay bale slid into place at his feet then Atlas and Phoenix waved as their assembly line came to a stop.
How long had I been staring?
Gurgle.
At least they were too far away to hear my stomach.
I waved and hurried to the cafeteria where I made my food selections then went to get juice. As I slid my glass under the spout for orange juice, I noticed the pomegranate option. I’d never had pomegranate juice. The whole point of being here was to try new things.
Hmm. I glanced at the drip of orange juice in the bottom of my glass. I hated to be wasteful, but I couldn’t mix the two juices. Surely with all of the people here, one glass wouldn’t matter.
I discarded the orange juice tainted glass, got a clean one, and filled it with my first new experience of the day… other than the reverse harem dream, epic orgasm, and hay bale fantasy.
Finding a space at a corner table away from everyone else, I settled in. Chatter amongst the other guests filled the air but I was right where I needed to be.
Everything was so delicious. They really went all out at Rawhide Ranch.
A girl with bunny ears and bunny slippers walked toward me. If I recalled correctly, it was Sadie from yesterday.
My stomach picked now to suggest it didn’t want anything in it, but I was able to calm it with a few deep breaths. My plan during meals was to be friendly to anyone who approached and remember that I didn’t have any further commitment than saying hi.
I couldn’t meet people if I didn’t meet people.
Painfully obvious to everyone but me.
The bunny said, “Hi, I’m Sadie. Are you sitting alone because you want to or do you want a friend?”
“Hi, Sadie, I’m Penny. I chose to sit alone. Thank you for asking.”
She retreated as simply as she’d arrived.
Wow. I loved that it wasn’t a big deal.
Taking bites of my food in a clockwise pattern around my plate, I considered how I would have handled Everest, Atlas, or Phoenix asking if they could sit with me?
And would it be okay to let them sit with me, given that I’d just said I wanted to sit alone? I wouldn’t want anyone to think I was being rude or didn’t like bunnies. But at the same time, the thought of being near the three of them, or even one of them, was exactly the kind of experience I wanted.
Perhaps I could try sitting with people at my next meal, or at least not so far away.
The distance had its advantages though. I watched as a Dom fed a sub, or at least I assumed that was their relationship, and imagined Atlas feeding me.
Feeding fantasy unlocked!
Of course, fantasizing was a lot easier than doing. The messy hay thing was proof of that. It would likely kill the mood if I explained my plate pattern, necessary size of bites, and need for textures never to mix… all of the reasons my mom considered me a picky eater.
But if Atlas was holding the other end of the fork, I could try to stretch my rules.