Epilogue
Three Months Later
Beatrice
I saton a large plaid blanket, shaded from the sunshine by my pink parasol as I rubbed my hand over Tristan’s leather-covered head. We were at the pet park watching a male Dom run his pair of female submissive puppies through the obstacle course. The Ranch was having a dog show today, and both staff and guests had turned out for the event. I’d just finished teaching my class, and I was feeling really good. I’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm at the Ranch, the mornings were mine to do with as I wished, and my afternoons and evenings were occupied by both my classes and Tristan. I had my own place in the same subdivision as Tristan, one block away from his house and right next door to Alfie. He’d accepted a teaching position as well and was thriving here like I’d never seen him do out in the “real” world.
We both agreed that Gary flipping out and working at the Ranch were one of the best thing that had ever happened to us.
Between the warm sun, the plate of snacks I’d just devoured, and the comfy pillows I was resting on, I was so content I was almost asleep. Tristan was equally mellow, having just serviced me in the small room off my classroom earlier. It had become a rather delicious after-class treat, knowing that as soon as I was done, I got to play with my guard dog when Tristan had a day off to spend with me. While I’d never really thought pet play would be something I could get into, Tristan had totally changed my mind. Not only did I enjoy how much he reveled in being my guard dog, I also liked walking him around on a leash. I liked people looking at this hulking, muscular, delicious manly man dressed in his Anubis mask, being led around by little ‘ol me.
Off to the side, I could hear Alfie talking with someone, telling them that I was enjoying some private time right now and that I’d be available to sign their books before my class tomorrow. God bless that man. He was the best at running interference without being insulting, protecting my privacy without being a dick about it. And if they managed to sneak past Alfie, Tristan was there to put himself physically between me and anyone who tried to get near me. He was a little bit overprotective since the whole Gary situation, but I gave him some slack.
Truth was, it was nice having an Alpha male watching over me.
Leaning back a little, I discreetly pressed the small button on the remote hidden beneath my pillows, and bit back a smile as Tristan stiffened then growled.
Probably in more ways than one.
He was wear a vibrating anal plug, and every time I turned it on, he gave the sexiest little rumble in his throat. Part pleasure, part irritation, part submission. Maybe that wasn’t exactly the sounds he was making, but that’s what I heard when he did that growl. It never failed to make me feel powerful and in control. Something I needed after these last few stressful months. Untangling myself from Gary hadn’t been easy but Jared Stark, the Ranch’s head lawyer, was working with our team of lawyers which helped the process. While they were still going at it, the fact that Gary had punched Alfie unprovoked, then had a meltdown at the police station in the presence of Derek had helped. Gary was currently in rehab, and I hoped this time he stuck with it. But he was no longer my concern.
My stage crew, with my help, had found other gigs and while they were sad I wasn’t touring anymore, they understood. They genuinely did care for me and knew I just wasn’t physically up to performing anymore. We were more than co-workers, we were also great friends and they cared more about me than money. I’d even managed to talk a few of them into applying for jobs at the Ranch. It was a wonderful place to work, and I’d love to have more of my tribe here. True, the isolation wasn’t for everyone, but when my mom had visited me last week she’d marveled at the “positive vibe” of the community. Of course she’d only seen the rated PG areas, taking my mom to a sex dungeon wasn’t going to happen in this lifetime, but I was glad that she got to see how happy I was here.
And I was glad she got to meet Tristan.
With his dog mask on I couldn’t kiss him, so I resumed petting him as we watched the theatrics before us. The endless variety of pet costumes never failed to make me smile, and I’d be lying if I said watching some of the more sexual play didn’t get me hot as hell. I still didn’t do anything sexual in public other than kissing Tristan. I hadn’t been able to shake the fear of someone recording me without my consent, but I had relaxed enough to attend parties and gatherings where I’d watch. Tristan had suggested that maybe we could try sometime in the future in some type of full costume that would obscure my face, but I was honestly happy having him all to myself.
I loved him, he loved me, and together we were building the kind of future I’d never dared to imagine for myself. One with a partner who fit me, a man who shared similar interests but was also strong enough to have his own opinion on things. A man who worked as hard as I did and supported me when I needed it. The kind of guy who made me smile before I went to sleep and when I woke up. More often than not, we spent the night at either my house or his house, but there were times when we needed our own space and that wasn’t a problem. I’d never been with someone I could trust to be totally and truly myself with, and it was amazing.
“Mistress,” Tristan said in his growly dog voice muffled by his mask, “if you don’t turn that off, I’m going to end up humping this blanket.”
Laughing, I eased back the vibrations until they were fully off, then rubbed his heavily muscled back. “Better?”
“Yes.” He nuzzled my hand with his leather-clad head. “Sitting around in wet shorts is no fun.”
Because of the heat, his mask had air holes in it, and he wore a pair of black jogging shorts instead of leather pants. Passing out from the heat wasn’t sexy. And those shorts allowed me to grope his ass as he lay on his stomach, something I never tired of. Bite marks decorated his skin here and there, and he’d mentioned the other day that he should get a tattoo of the imprint of my teeth on him. I was not opposed to the idea.
Alfie joined us, his broad shoulders stretching out his t-shirt as he leaned back next to me, his gaze on the pretty little pony now prancing around the obstacle course with her Mistress. The owner and horse wore matching bright colors, and they were adorable together. They ended their run and the crowd applauded, meows, neighs, and the baying of hounds joining the clapping.
Alfie chuckled and looked over at me. “Gotta say, if you’d told me a year ago that I’d be in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by mountains at a human pet show and loving my life, I would have called you crazy.”
“I know,” I replied with a smile as I adjusted my parasol to keep my legs from burning. “It all seems very surreal, yet… strangely normal.”
“That’s because it is normal, for us at least. You know, Bee, we’re really lucky to have found this place. I’ve never felt so free to be myself, ever. Thank you.”
“Aww, honey,” I gave him a quick hug. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” He leaned over and gave Tristan a pat on the head. “Love you too, man, in a purely platonic way.”
Tristan gave a little happy growl and rubbed his head into Alfie’s hand for a moment.
I leaned back and watched the show with my unconventional family and let the joy inside of me burn bright and free.
The End