Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Phoenix
“Negotiations are vital in establishing agreement and respect,” Samuel Denten, one of the counselors, explained while we waited outside near the bonfire location.
“Isn’t that just basically being a decent human being?”
“In some ways, yes, but in kink, we do it explicitly. We’re careful not to make assumptions. Because one person’s hard limit may not even be on someone else’s radar, we establish limits up front. That’s what allows people to express themselves freely.”
Pet play, Littles, power dynamics… I could see what he was saying. “Thanks for—”
The strumming of a guitar drew our attention behind me.
Everest. For fucks sake. He was heading toward Penny’s cabin. The three of us brothers had gotten up early and completed all of our work assignments so we could be free during the bonfire.
Atlas had to handle one last-minute thing and his simple request was that we didn’t engage Penny until he’d finished and got cleaned up—and he wasn’t done yet.
The impressive side of this was that I had to give Everest credit. He always found a way to slide in without being awkward. He’s personable like that—aka, the opposite of me.
Excusing myself from the conversation with Samuel, I caught up with my brother, the minstrel. And damn him, he was playing, She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful. “Presumptuous, isn’t it?”
He kept strumming the melody. “Presumptuous?”
“She don’t know she’s beautiful… maybe she does?”
“She doesn’t.” He broke back into song.
I caught sight of Atlas heading toward us, fists clenched.
He was too far away for me to verbally defend myself, so I made a show of stepping away from Everest and holding my hands up in front of my chest. A creak from Penny’s cabin caused me to whip my head around.
She’d opened the door the tiniest crack, just enough for me to see her peeking out at Everest and me.
Or maybe just Everest, since I wasn’t doing anything other than standing around frustrated that I paled in comparison to my two brothers.
She opened the door wider, the sweetest smile on her face, almost enough to make me feel guilty for all of the devilish things I wanted to do to her. But she wouldn’t be at a kink ranch if she wasn’t game for something outside the norm.
Outside the norm…
Exactly what did I think I had to offer in that respect? I was just a normal guy who’d fallen head over heels for her the second she walked into the room clutching her book. I’d known instantly that my life goal was to take care of her. But how was that going to work out in the long run?
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
The music stopped, and I turned in time to see Everest hold up a finger, as if telling her to wait, then he resumed the music.
Atlas was close enough, so I seized my chance. “Hi, Penny. Just checking in to see if you’re going to the bonfire?”
Everest faked a cough.
“I am.” Her eyes shifted beside me as Atlas approached. She waved sheepishly.
Exactly at the same time he stepped between Everest and me, Everest stopped the song, and moved straight from lyrics to conversation. “Atlas said we couldn’t talk to you till we were all three here. So now that the old man arrived, we have his permission to talk to you.”
“Why…” Penny giggled and scrunched her nose. “Is Atlas your Daddy?” She giggled again then quickly added, “I’m not judging. I just want to be clear since there are things here that I’m not used to. Are you and Phoenix Littles?”
The tidal wave of anger that overtook me was almost unstoppable. If I’d been in any other situation, I would have punched Atlas. Not that he’d done anything wrong. I just couldn’t stand the thought of him having any control over me.
When I finally quit seeing red and could hear something other than my pulse pounding in my ears, I realized Everest was laughing.
Atlas was too, but he regrouped first. “They’re not the kind of sub I want to be a Daddy for.”
Penny’s eyes lit up. “Oh, so you are a Daddy?”
Atlas paused, flinching almost imperceptibly. “Not like a Mommy and Daddy for Littles. Unless you’re… uh…” He stumbled on his words.
“What do you mean?” Everest couldn’t stop cracking up. “Are you a confused Daddy?”
“Fuck off, man. You know, like a Sugar Daddy—only not just based on money. But I have plenty of that. I’m not just a stall mucker…”
It was uncanny seeing Atlas lose control like this. He needed to shut up. I elbowed him.
He jabbed me back, grumbled, then asked Penny, “Do you want a Sugar Daddy?”
Penny took his question seriously. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that.”
I would have preferred to be the one talking to Penny but loved watching Atlas’ discomfort as he tried to explain himself.
Continuing to flounder, Atlas stumbled a few more false starts to explain then said, “More like who’s your Daddy? You know, wink, wink.”
Ducking her chin, she looked at him from under her lashes. Damn, she wanted a Daddy and Atlas had offered.
Where did that leave me?
“Bonfire,” somebody yelled in the distance and squeals broke out.
“Shall we?” Everest asked.
Penny shrunk back into her cabin slightly. What was wrong? She’d said she wanted to go? Surveying the situation around the bonfire, everyone gathering, I remembered what Everest had told us.
“Too many people?”
She nodded then said, “But I knew there would be. I planned for this. I just have to take a bite.”
Before any of us could ask what she meant, she explained, “Don’t worry. I know better than to bite bonfires. Taking a bite is how I think about trying new things. Take a bite, see if I like it, then decide how to proceed.”
My heart melted for her a little more. She was so adorable. I wanted to be by her side, holding her hand, helping her stay safe in a world that could be overwhelming.
More squeals erupted beside us as a girl jumped on a guy’s back for a piggyback ride.
Perfect way to get closer to Penny. I stepped past Atlas, turned slightly, and pointed to my back. “Wanna ride?”
“I’ve never done that.” Hesitation tinged her words, while her eyes revealed excitement.
“All you have to do is jump on, or one of them can help you.” I questioned my sanity for including my brothers but wanted to remove any obstacles. “I’ll do the rest.”
“I can walk.”
“You could, but I’d rather carry you. I could cradle you in front if that’s more your style?” I held out my arms.
Please, universe, cut me some slack, let her say yes to something.
Then I remembered her verbiage and that she was going to need encouragement. “Just take a bite. If you don’t like it, I’ll set you down.”
She nodded slowly. “Okay, give me a second.”
She closed the door, leaving me and my brothers to stare at each other. My anticipation hung in limbo.
“I’m going to put my guitar away. I’ll meet you at the drink station.” Everest took a few steps, then looked over his shoulder. “Do you think she’s coming?”
I didn’t have to risk revealing my concern because her door opened and she stepped outside. She’d put on a lightweight jacket.
“Here we go,” she said, looking to me for guidance.
“Mind helping her on, Atlas?”
He grumbled and I was pleased as fuck that he was going to help her onto my back until it occurred to me that he might pull a fast one and find a way to get her on his own back.
But he didn’t. He played it cool. Everest and I gave him a lot of shit for being controlling, but he was a good guy.
More importantly, my entire focus became consumed by Penny’s hands gripping my shoulders, followed by her legs wrapping around my waist, and her body pressing into my back.
I reached behind and slid one hand under her bottom, steadying her.
Fuck. This was torture and sure as shit wasn’t going to work.
Sliding my arm free, I pulled one of her hands onto my chest and then the other before hooking my hands around her legs.
“Lean in and hold on. You’re safe with me.”