Chapter 16
MADISON
Two months later…
As I’m putting the finishing touches on my first-ever zombie podcast, the doorbell rings.
Seth and Damiano said they are working today.
Maybe it’s true. But there was also an extra intensity to their demeanors when they left this morning.
They’re scheming about something, hoping to surprise me.
After living with them for two months, I can tell when they have plans in the works.
I don’t know what it is, but my money’s on something kinky.
Under my long, black skirt and red top, I’m wearing a lingerie set from Angeli’s—the white satin with tiny red cherries. If kinky shenanigans are afoot, I want to be wearing my favorite underwear.
The doorbell rings again. Curious, I get up and look through the peephole. As soon as I see who it is, I consider turning right back around and ignoring them.
Charmaine Kavlan stands on the front step. She’s wearing her usual athleisure style, with her light brown hair pulled up in a high ponytail.
When I don’t answer right away, she hesitates before ringing the doorbell one more time. This time, she doesn’t wait afterward; she turns to leave.
Curiosity gets the better of me. If she insults me again, I’m not afraid to slam the door in her face.
I open the door. “Charmaine?”
“Madison!” She spins around again. “I didn’t think you would answer. Hey, um, how are you?”
“Good,” I say cautiously. “Can I help you with something?”
She nods, the movement jerky and nervous. “Yeah. I mean, if you have a second, I was hoping you’d hear me out?”
Now I’m really intrigued. And she isn’t being rude, which is unusual in itself. “Sure, what’s up?”
“I owe you an apology.” She looks down before seeming to force herself to meet my gaze again. “First, I kicked Matthew out. He’s gone, living with his parents in Nevada.”
“Wow. Um, I’m sorry things ended.” Hell, this is awkward.
She smiles. “I’m not sorry it ended. He was really bad for me—constantly flirting with other women, making me feel like I was imagining it all.
You know how a good partner is supposed to help you be your best self?
He turned me into my worst. But I don’t want to shove all the blame on him.
” She laughs. “Actually, I do. But I won’t.
Instead of kicking him out right away, I focused my attention on being mad at the wrong people—you, and other women.
I should’ve been mad at him instead, and I shouldn’t have put up with his behavior. ”
My brain latches onto what she said about a good partner bringing out your best self.
Seth and Damiano do that for me. They boost my confidence.
They help me feel safe enough to be vulnerable with them and others.
I don’t have to hold my independence in a death-grip when they’re around.
They taught me it’s okay to need help, to accept help.
Returning to Charmaine, I say, “Are you doing okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m doing much better. Thanks. But I just wanted to apologize for how I treated you, how I blamed you. He was a creep, but that wasn’t your fault.”
“Thanks—I forgive you.” I can’t hold this against her, especially when it seems she’s grown as a result. Plus, it had to take a lot of guts to come over here and say she’s sorry. “I’m in the middle of something, but do you want to come in for a few minutes and have a drink?”
“Oh, thank you. But I have to get going.” She waves her hand in the direction of her place. “I’m moving out. I just sold the house, and the next owners are ready to move in. A nice family—the Williams family. You’ll really like them, I think.”
“Where will you be going?” I ask.
“I have a smaller place lined up in Salding. I got a job with my brother’s company—Midnight Intelligence Network. He’s a private investigator.”
Holy crap—that’s Landon and Cody’s company. Should I let on that I know them? It seems like she wants to get out of here, and I’m not sure if I should open up a potentially lengthy conversation.
Before I can make a decision, Charmaine holds out her hand to shake mine. “Again, I’m sorry for my behavior, Madison. Thank you for forgiving me, and I truly wish you all the best going forward.”
“I wish the same for you.” I shake her hand. “Best of luck with everything.”
She flashes me a happy smile before turning and walking back down my driveway.
I watch her go for a minute. I went through a lot in the last six months.
I found Damiano and Seth. We overcame all kinds of danger, including near-death experiences.
Meanwhile, Charmaine was struggling with her marriage, just next door to me.
Maybe her problems weren’t as big as nearly dying in a house fire, or getting kidnapped. But she had problems, too.
Going forward, I’ll try to be more aware of what those around me are going through. If we can’t pay attention to our neighbors who might need help and kindness, what kind of humans are we? When the Williams family moves in next door, I’ll be sure to welcome them and introduce myself.
I return to my podcast project and happily lose myself in jotting down notes for a future episode. A text from Seth on our group chat comes in.
Are you still free for dinner tonight, little girl?
I grin to myself and write back, Yes, Sir.
Good, he writes back. We’re picking up Thai food. Do you want your usual?
They’re getting take-out? I thought they were doing something extra special. I narrow my eyes at my phone and type back, My usual sounds great!
Gone is all the sexiness from the exchange. I hadn’t realized this was a regular Tuesday night. Something in their demeanor the past few days made me think something exciting was in the works. But maybe I misread them.
This is disappointing, but it’ll still be nice to have dinner together, all three of us. It isn’t a rare occurrence, but on the weeknights, work often keeps them late and we end up scavenging for dinner at different times.
Well, if they don’t have something fun planned, I can work up something for them. Perhaps not tonight because it doesn’t seem like they’re in the mood, despite Seth calling me “little girl” in his text.
Tomorrow, I’ll wear a different set of lingerie. Maybe the sheer pink ones that drive Damiano crazy. He’s already had to buy two new pairs of the panties because he keeps tearing them off me.
I squirm in my seat at the thought, suddenly aroused. How far are the guys from home? Maybe I have time to take care of things for myself.
Closing my laptop, I hurry upstairs. No sense in my favorite lingerie going to waste.
I can have my vibrator out, loaded with batteries, and ready to go in less than a minute.
And with memories of Damiano eating me out while Seth fucks me from behind?
I’ll be done with the whole thing in less than five.
I kneel down and pull a box forward from underneath our giant, custom-made bed.
Inside the box are several vibrators, plugs, and spare batteries.
I find my favorite solo-time vibrator, a hot-pink toy with three different speeds.
I’ve nicknamed the speeds gentle orgasm, toe-curling orgasm, and screaming orgasm.
Selecting toe-curling orgasm, I lift up my skirt and tug down my panties enough to make space for the vibrator. As soon as it hits my flesh, I go up on my toes with an appreciative hum. No, it isn’t as good as my men—nothing is—but it’ll do for tonight.
I let my head fall back as I rock my hips forward, imagining that the vibrator is Damiano’s mouth. Imaginary heat covers my back as I fantasize about Seth standing behind me and nudging my knees apart.
Pleasure spreads through my body, potent and intoxicating.
I close my eyes and allow my limbs to loosen as I ride the buzzing pink stick.
In my fantasy, I lower my hands to Damiano’s head, threading my fingers into his hair while he groans and hums against my pussy.
His shoulder moves in time with his jerking motions on his cock, so he pleasures himself while he pleasures me.
And behind me, Seth is pushing me forward, finding a better angle so he can line up and—
The front door opens downstairs. “Bella?” Damiano calls. “We brought dinner.”
I squeak in surprise. Feeling suddenly guilty, I yank the vibrator from between my legs. It catches on the edge of my panties and tumbles to the floor. To my horror, it vibrates as it rolls under the bed.
From the sound of it, the vibrator traveled all the way to the middle of this giant bed. And it’s still buzzing away, the obscene sounds as incriminating as Poe’s tell-tale heart.
Maybe the batteries will go dead before the guys come upstairs. I don’t know why I care if they know I was toying with myself, but for some reason, it is illogically imperative that they don’t find out.
I yank my underwear back into place and dive under the bed, feeling around blindly for the cursed device. All I grasp are a few dust bunnies. The vibrator must be just out of reach. I scoot myself forward with my toes, hoping to find it.
“Madison, what are you doing?” Seth’s voice comes from the bedroom doorway.
Shit. “Um, just dropped something.”
“Yeah?” He sounds amused as he steps to the edge of the bed.
I can feel the warmth of him against my thighs where my skirt twisted during my under-bed spelunking mission.
“What did you drop?” he asks. “Hmm. Could it be the vibrator I hear buzzing away down there?”
I adopt my most professional, dignified tone. “It’s no such thing. It’s simply—eek!”
I screech as he drags me out from under the bed by my ankle.
My skirt hikes up all the way to my waist, and my shirt slides past my boobs.
Seth blinks down at me with a giant grin on his face.
From the corner of my eye, I see Damiano stalk around to the far side of the bed.
A second later, the vibrator stops buzzing.
“You look so beautiful in disarray.” Seth’s hazel eyes rove up and down my body.
Damiano joins us and stares down at me. He holds the vibrator between his thumb and forefinger. “Did you drop this, bella?”