Chapter Twelve #2
Callie threw herself into the work, trying to catch up on each file Edward assigned her.
A number of the deals were being handled by Grant and Harrington, and she realized she would be seeing them much more than she expected.
At the end of the day, Edward found her to see how she was settling in, and she assured him she was doing fine.
“And by the way,” Edward said before leaving. “If you want to talk about work at home, I’m fine with that. If you can get some free legal advice from Ryan to help reduce his bills, that would be much appreciated.”
“Is that why you hired me?” Callie laughed. “To get access to free legal advice?”
“No, not just that,” Edward smirked. “I knew it would piss off George, but he could never say a word about it. By the way, check your personal email.”
Callie looked at him questioningly, but he didn’t offer any further clarification; instead, he wished her a good night and left.
Callie checked her emails on her phone and found that Edward had sent another party invitation.
This one was different; first, it was at a location she didn’t recognize.
The Queen’s Isle house had been sold, and it wasn’t at his condo.
She searched the address and found it was a large estate just outside the city.
But she noticed some specific “Rules of Engagement.”
A door cracked open means watch only. A door open means enter but ask. A closed door means privacy. No means no. When in doubt, ask.
She wondered whether Edward had sent the invitation only to her or had given Ryan one as well.
By the rules, it was clear this party had a specific purpose, and she supposed Edward had sent it to her first to ensure she would be comfortable before asking Ryan.
She wasn’t sure she was comfortable, even though it was clear the interactions, or lack thereof, would be their decision.
It was one thing when they were in a room with a small group, but a whole house designated for a sex party was intimidating.
She noticed that at the bottom of the email, Edward had added a personal message to her. If you have any questions, just ask. She responded, I have so many questions. Edward sent her an invitation to lunch.
As Callie sat across the table from Edward, she wasn’t sure how to start her questions.
She hadn’t said anything to Ryan about the party.
She wanted to know first whether it was something she was comfortable doing.
She waited until they ordered, and she noticed Edward ordered for both of them.
Old habits must be hard to break, she thought.
“OK, my dear,” Edward said. “This is your time. What can I explain to you?”
“I don’t even know what to ask,” Callie admitted. “This party seems a little different from the others you’ve thrown.”
“Yes,” Edward confirmed. “The other parties were social, only specific guests were invited into the rooms you experienced.”
“And this one?” Callie was afraid to ask, though she thought she knew the answer.
“I guess the way to put it is that everyone there is invited to the special room. And the special room is the whole house.”
“Oh,” Callie replied, trying to imagine it.
“Everyone follows the rules,” Edward continued.
“There are plenty of private rooms as well as common space. You will find like-minded people at this party. How you engage with them is completely up to you. You can just watch, or have people watch you. You can even engage with other couples if you are interested. Or you can just come for the food, find a private room, and enjoy an evening at my place.”
“Does Ryan know about this?”
“No,” Edward confirmed.
“What is this house?” Callie said.
“It’s my new place,” Edward explained. “It’s a large private property where neighbors can’t complain. I bought it after selling the Queen’s Isle house. My objective is to host a sex-positive event in a fun and elegant setting.”
“So, it’s not a potluck,” Callie joked, and Edward laughed.
“If you feel comfortable,” Edward said. “Then talk to Ryan. I think you may enjoy it, though. I wouldn’t have sent you the invitation if I didn’t.”
“I’ll think about it,” Callie replied, still unsure.
“And Callie,” Edward added. “This invitation isn’t just for you and Ryan. If there’s someone else you’d like to bring, this is a safe place for everyone's desires.”
Callie didn’t want to mention the party to Ryan until she knew he had healed, but she did call Damian to discuss it.
Since he was an hour away and working various shifts, the only way to talk was via video chat.
She hated that he was so far away. She wished he were closer so she could see him whenever she wanted.
“Edward Kline wants me to go to his sex party?” Damian asked, confused.
“He didn’t say it exactly that way,” Callie replied. “It’s up to me whether I want to invite you, but he said I should.”
“What does Ryan say?” Damian asked.
“I haven’t told him yet,” Callie confessed. “I wanted to make sure he was healed, but I know he’ll want to go.”
“And you don’t?” Damian challenged.
“I’m not opposed to it. In fact, I’m really warming up to the idea,” Callie admitted shyly. “But it feels wrong not to have you there.”
“Callie, this isn’t really my thing,” Damian replied. “And I don’t think Ryan would appreciate me being there. He has only just come to terms with the fact that he might be attracted to me. I doubt he wants to show that in front of an audience.”
He was right. Ryan felt safe when it was just the three of them, but allowing others to witness it was unlikely.
She didn’t want to scare Ryan away again.
She was able to talk to Ryan after their last interaction, and he didn’t hide from it, but it seemed to be something that needed to stay between them for now.
“You guys go,” Damian encouraged. “Honestly, I’m happy to stay home. I think the Night Service has ruined sex for me unless it’s with you guys.”
Only after they ended the call did Damian’s last statement register with Callie.
He had admitted he only enjoyed sex if it was with them.
Had he implied they were in an exclusive relationship?
Of course, she and Ryan were exclusive, and she wouldn’t think of being with Damian without Ryan’s consent, but they hadn’t considered what it meant to Damian.
Did they expect Damian to be with only them?
Was that even fair to him? Had she noticed resentment in his voice when he encouraged them to go?
Callie had no idea how to navigate the situation, and she wasn’t sure how to approach it with Ryan.
As time passed, Ryan healed from his injuries. When the party was only a few days away, she decided to have the conversation with him. She met him for dinner, and after the server took their orders and they were alone, she opened her phone to the invitation and slid it over to Ryan.
“Edward is having another party,” she explained as he read. When he finished, he looked at her, confused.
“This implies the whole house is…” he started.
“Yes,” Callie confirmed. “The whole house. But Edward assures me it's respectful and tasteful, and everyone follows the rules.”
“Do you want to go?” Ryan asked, but his voice made it clear what he wanted.
“I’m open to the idea,” she smiled, noting his eagerness. “But we need to discuss what we expect.”
This was what Edward had told her, to make sure she set her expectations with Ryan, including what she was comfortable with and what she definitely would not be, and to ask the same of him. She had made a list on her phone, which she showed Ryan.
“These are my terms,” Callie said. “Especially since this is our first time doing something like this.”
Ryan read through her notes several times, then handed her phone back with a grin.
“I agree with everything you wrote.”
“There is something else we need to talk about,” Callie continued. “Damian.”
“What about Damian?” Ryan asked, concerned.
“I get the sense he isn’t dating,” Callie said. “He’s exclusive to us.”
“Why would you think that?” Ryan challenged.
“He pretty much told me,” Callie replied. She then explained her conversation with Damian, including his hint of jealousy during their discussion of the party.
“But he never said any of that directly?” Ryan said. “Callie, he’s an hour away. I doubt anyone with his stamina is happy with just hooking up a couple of times a month.”
“What if it’s more than a hook-up for him?” Callie suggested, and Ryan fell silent.
“I don’t even understand how that would work,” Ryan said honestly.
He didn’t mean it harshly. He was being honest and didn’t understand non-monogamous relationships. Callie knew he cared about Damian, and although Ryan accepted him in the bedroom, it was difficult for him to envision an equal relationship involving all three of them.
“I’m not sure either,” Callie confessed. “I just want to make sure we aren’t using him.”
“I don’t see him complaining,” Ryan replied. “Maybe he likes things the way they are. He’s been through a lot.”
Callie felt frustrated that Ryan was dismissive of her concerns. She was worried about Damian and didn’t want him to feel used. She chose to leave the issue for now and consider discussing it directly with Damian later.