Page 79 of Taking Turns

“Because I was Number Two with Rochelle.”

“And?”

And I wasn’t playing games with her like I am with you. But I don’t say that. I say, “It was a lot simpler.”

The elevator doors open and she steps out, the keycard to her apartment already in her hand. She unlocks the door and swings it open, then blocks my entrance so I can’t come in. “I’m tired, so you don’t need to babysit me.”

“Move,” I say. “I want in.”

“I thought you don’t want to spend time with me?” she says.

“I thought you wanted to stay at your own home as much as possible,” I counter.

“I changed my mind.”

“Well, so did I.” She steps aside and I walk past her, go into the kitchen, and immediately take down a bottle of Scotch I stashed in the cupboard while she was at work this week.

Chella closes the door and walks down the hall to her bedroom.

I pour myself a drink, take a long gulp, refill, and then follow her. She’s undressing. I can see her through the open door of the massive closet. I see Quin has been busy, because she’s got a lot more clothes in there than she did the last time I was in here.

“You know,” she says, “if you want me to go home, you might consider lifting the order on that sex tape you’ve had running on my bedroom TV for three days.”

I almost laugh. “You didn’t turn it off?” And then I do laugh.

She glares at me as the dress slips down her body and pools into a puddle at her feet. “You told me not to. Am I the only one following the rules anymore? I mean I figured things would go off the rails, but I didn’t think it would only take a week.”

“Hmm,” I say. “Is this about Bric coming to see you yesterday? Because I never told him to.”

“Of course you didn’t. He was there asking me to deny you access to our bedroom and cut you out of the relationship completely by making you watch remotely.”

I just blink at her. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

“Why would I lie about that?”

I can think of about two dozen reasons why one of our toys might lie about that. But none of them ring true about Marcella Walcott. She stands there naked, waiting to see if I’ll answer. But I suddenly have the urge to shut the fuck up.

Bric is getting bold.

Chella shrugs at my silence and then turns to her underwear drawer and takes out a cream-colored lace nightie that has Quin’s handiwork all over it.

I mostly like them to sleep naked. Quin likes to dress them up like dolls every chance he gets.

I lean against the closet door, trying my best to look nonchalant as I watch her pull the lace over her tits and then jiggle them around to get them situated.

Chella ignores me, pushing past with a hand on my chest to give herself room to get by. And then she walks out of the bedroom and down the hall, back to the living room.

I did not miss the fact that she has no panties on. Or that she touched me.

Is she trying to fuck with me tonight? Is she baiting me to break the rules? Is she really considering Bric’s advice?

He doesn’t want me out. That defeats the whole purpose of what we’re doing. So he’s added this little interesting element to push thing along quicker.

Is that what he’s doing? Or is he serious? Does he want her to cut me out?

I don’t why it hits me so hard, but it does. I have never thought of these girls we play with as something to own. But suddenly things feel… different.

Does he want her? For himself?