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“Oh, wait. I almost forgot. Leagh and Tony…You remember Leagh, right?” she asked, pausing long enough for me to issue an affirmative grunt. “They’re getting married on Saturday. You’ve got to come to the wedding with us. It’s going to be a huge, lavish affair, and the reception they’ve planned is completely over the top.”
I bit back a groan. Ugh. Weddings. Monogamy. Happy ever afters. Commitment. It all made my skin crawl. Why anyone would want to tie themselves down to another person for their entire life was beyond me.
“Sanna…”
“You’re going,” she insisted. “I’m not leaving you to sit here all day, so don’t try to weasel your way out. Oh, and then after the reception, Tony’s going to formally collar her at the club. I really, reallyyyy want you to come with us. Please. Say you’ll go?”
The BDSM club; Genesis. On some of my past visits, I’d accompanied Savannah and her Masters to the club. Exposing myself to the power exchange stung and left me feeling a bit like a third wheel. While their friends were always warm and welcoming, I had to focus on making small talk to keep from getting drawn into the BDSM acts playing out around me. Genesis was the only lifestyle venue I’d set foot in after burying my submissive yearnings and walking away from my former club in Kansas City. For the most part I’d succeeded, but every time I stepped inside Genesis, my desires ignited with a vengeance. My conflicted emotions consumed me so deeply I felt as if I was fighting a forest fire—one teaspoon of water at a time.
A ripple of apprehension crawled up my spine. Did I honestly want to subject myself to that level of turmoil again?
“I don’t know, Sanna. I’m not sure I’m up for all that gooey, sticky love crap. Besides, I don’t know how long I can stay.”
I’d actually planned to remain in Chicago for a couple of weeks. I hated lying to my sister; she deserved better from me. But I didn’t want to confess my aversion to the BDSM club, not when she derived so much pleasure from it. I certainly didn’t want to own up to my spineless decisions after the horrific break up from my former Master. Sharing the level of devastation after he’d removed my collar—in front of the entire dungeon—then whipped it around the neck of a brand new sub was totally out of the question. There was no way in hell I’d admit my cowardice to Sanna. She’d be crushed if she ever found out that I’d left her, the dungeon, the lifestyle, and my home out of shame. I wouldn’t do that to her.
“Oh, pleeeeease, Mel. Please. It’s going to be a blast. Don’t be a party pooper. Say you’ll go with us. Pleeeeease!”
“Almighty. Stop begging or I’ll text your Masters and tell them to spank your ass.”
“Promise?” she giggled.
“You’re incorrigible,” I laughed. “Okay. Okay. Don’t start screaming again, but I’ll go to the wedding, and I’ll go to the damn collaring ceremony.”
Ignoring my warning, Sanna let out another cry just as piercing as the first.
“Dammit, kitten. Stop doing that or we’ll get out the rice.” Dylan’s voice echoed out in warning that time.
“I’m sorry, Master, but I can’t help it.”
“We’ll be more than happy to help you, precious,” Nick threatened. “With a big red ball gag.”
Four days later.
As promised, my sister and her men met me at the airport. When I stepped off the plane, Savannah rushed to my arms with a smile so wide I thought her face would split. I held her tight as we both swiped at our tears of joy. Emotions flooded through me. There was nothing more comforting than the unconditional love of my sister. We’d relied on each other for years after surviving the tragic death of our parents. It had been a heartbreaking time in our lives, but we drew strength from one another and grew to be more than sisters—we became best friends.
Guilt swamped me in an ugly veil as I held her in my arms. If I had been a stronger person, I wouldn’t have left her and moved…err, rather, ran away to Phoenix. Tangled in my own turmoil, I’d convinced myself she was an adult capable of living independently after she’d graduated high school and enrolled in college. When in reality, staying in Kansas City, dodging phone calls from worried friends while trying to remain invisible to various lifestylers on the streets wore me down and ate at my self-confidence. My former hometown held too many memories—each one a slap in the face—reminding me I’d been a fool to believe the lies of a wannabe Dom and control freak.
It was pointless to wallow in guilt. I couldn’t go back and erase Davis Walker—master manipulator—from my past, even if I’d wanted to. But oh, how I wanted to.
Pushing the depressing thoughts from my mind, I kissed Savannah on the cheek. After giving Dylan and Nick each a big hug, we retrieved my luggage, then headed to their house on the shore of Lake Michigan.
“Come on, let’s grab some drinks and sit out on the deck,” Savannah suggested after I’d unpacked my suitcases. “We can catch up on some gossip. Maybe I can sweet talk the guys into fixing us dinner.”
“Sounds great.” I nodded. “You know they’re spoiling you rotten, right?”
“Yeah,” she giggled. “But I spoil them right back.”
Dylan and Nick possessed mad culinary skills. The men had no business being in construction. The two could make an even bigger fortune if they tossed off their hard hats for chef’s hats and opened a five-star restaurant. They were that amazing.
As Savannah and I wound our way into the kitchen, I stopped and stared, like I always did. For a woman who could barely boil water, the extravagant room—with every top of the line appliance imaginable—simply overwhelmed.
“Every time I walk in here, I imagine myself having a nervous breakdown trying to heat up a can of soup.”
Savannah laughed, then reached into the fridge and grabbed a couple of diet sodas. I followed her out to the deck. The summer sun warmed my skin, and a gentle breeze blew through my hair as we caught up on the latest gossip in our lives.
“And to think, you gave up living alone in that cramped, over-priced, two bedroom apartment for all this,” I teased.
“I know, right? What was I thinking?” she laughed then reached out and clasped my hand. “Oh, Mel, it’s so good to have you here. I’ve missed you so much.” Her eyes filled with tears.
