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“We don’t have to understand Gage, but we do have to respect her wishes,” Anthony said softly, motioning for Gage to join the group.
“Thank you,” Snow said with an appreciative glance directed at Gage.
“Your safety is my priority,” Gage said. He stayed off to the side, away from the rest of us.
Snow curled her legs up underneath her on the couch, patting the spot next to her while looking right at Gage. He hesitated a second, but then walked over and joined her on the couch. At this point, everyone was sitting—either in one of the chairs or on the floor next to Snow. It was a general rule that we didn’t enter the guest cottages on a personal level, but with Snow our rules just seemed to go right out the window. Besides, she seemed to enjoy us being there.
“Can I ask what made you seven want to start a place like this?” she inquired.
I exchanged a look with Reed.
“Well, I can only speak for myself since we all have different reasons. For me, it was about creating a place that was comfortable and safe for those of us who enjoy sex,” I said.
Reed nodded. I knew his reasons. They were a little more personal.
“I’ve witnessed what can happen when people don’t have safe places where they are expected,” he said quietly, staring down at his hands as he spoke.
From experience, I knew he wouldn’t go into more detail than that.
“It sounds like something bad happened to someone you love,” Snow said softly, her eyes gentle and kind. “I’m sorry to hear that, Reed.”
“Some of us are just twisted,” I teased, trying to ease the tension since I knew Reed struggled with the topic. I winked at Snow.
“I think we’re all a little twisted and deviant, to be honest,” Jason chimed in.
“Is that why you’re here?” Snow asked.
“Sort of. But also, I just find this entire place peaceful, and I like the freedom it affords me. I never really had freedom to be myself growing up,” he added.
“Oh how I can relate to that,” she said.
Anthony piped up next. “For me, it made financial sense. It’s nice that I can make money while being in such a beautiful place. Like the other guys I enjoy the freedom, and yeah, maybe I’m a little deviant too.”
“It’s like retirement for me,” Doc joined in. “I love being a doctor, but working at the hospital was exhausting. Long hours, little time for a life. Here, I still get to do what I love, which is helping people, but it’s not the constant go-go-go of working in the outside world. And sexual health has always been important to me; I love that I can educate and help people in that part of their lives.”
The two quietest members of our little group hadn’t spoken up yet and I wasn’t sure if they were going to, either. Bash, seated on the other side of Snow on the floor, and Gage, who had the spot on the couch beside her. Neither was one to really open up or to talk about themselves, for different reasons of course.
Snow turned to Bash first. “I’m guessing you like it here because it’s a lot like a fairy tale, like in some of the books you read growing up.” She said with a wink.
Bash let out a shy, quiet laugh.
Definitely something going on between those two. Not that I had any reason to feel jealous, considering I also had my time with Snow.
Snow looked over at Gage but didn’t say anything. He was the type of guy you didn’t want to put any pressure on to answer questions or to do anything. It would only cause him to pull away. Snow seemed to get that, patting Gage on the arm and giving him time to decide whether or not he was going to answer her question.
To my surprise, he did.
“I’ve also seen what can happen when people, especially women, are raised in an environment that shelters them from the rest of the world. It’s not healthy,” he said.
He left it at that. I knew the story about his sister and a little bit about his childhood, but Gage wasn’t an open book like some of us were. He kept a lot close to his chest.
“Can I ask one more thing from all of you?” Snow looked around the room.
“Sure, go for it,” I said.
“Do you guys honestly not get jealous of one other?”
“Jealous?” Several of us laughed at the very notion. “What do we have to be jealous of?”
