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“It’s a gathering for people interested in BDSM,” Manson said. “A way to meet the local community and like-minded people. The first munch Vince and I ever went to was at Tris.” He laughed softly, and I knew even before he said it that he was thinking of how embarrassing that first meeting had been. “We went into it so damn cocky, too. Tris is supposed to be 21+, but we were 18 and snuck in. I don’t think we fooled a single person there.”
“Everyone was side-eying us like we were kids,” I said. The memory still made me cringe, and I wasn’t one to be easily embarrassed. “We thought we were hot shit, big bad dominant dudes.”
“They set us straight pretty damn fast,” Manson said. “The woman who runs the munches pulled us aside and warned us to behave or we’d never set foot there again. She knew we really wanted to learn, but we needed to humble ourselves a bit. We didn’t get to call ourselves Dominant just because we felt like it.”
Mistress Rachel and her husband, Mark, had set us on the right track. It was lucky we’d had someone to call out our bad habits early, before we got too involved in the scene. Someone could have gotten hurt if we’d gone on thinking that all you needed to tie someone up or wield a whip was the desire to do so. It took a hell of a lot more responsibility than mere desire.
“We’ll take you there sometime,” I said, and Jess smiled excitedly. She looked like she’d be right at home in a club, dancing under the neon lights. “I think you’d enjoy it.”
“I love going dancing,” she said. “I feel like I hit every club in Nashville during college.” She looked between us, eyes narrowing slightly as she thought. “Which one of you is the best dancer?”
She looked at Lucas and his expression was completely appalled.
“Me? You think it’sme?” he said, nervously rubbing his hand over the back of his head. “I can’t dance for shit.”
“Have you ever tried?” she said, and he vehemently shook his head again.
Manson was snickering at him. “Closest he’ll come to dancing is a mosh pit.”
“Pft, as if you’re any better,” Lucas said.
Manson innocently put up his hands. “I didn’t say I was better, trust me. I’m happy right there in the pit with you. Sorry, Jess, I’m no good either.”
“Aw, you’ve just never tried,” she said. “We’ll get you both on the dance floor when we go to Tris.”
Notifwe went to Tris —when. I shot a quick glance at Jason, and as he returned the look, I knew he’d caught it too.
“What about you, Jason?” she said, and he gave her a cocky smirk after he’d sipped his drink.
“I’m the best dancer,” he said, and not a single one of us denied it. “And I actually enjoy it.”
Jess glanced at me next, and I quickly shook my head. “Nope, not me. I’m a musician, not a dancer.”
“Oh, a musician?” Jess leaned back in surprise. “Another hidden talent from you?”
“I’m full of them.” I gave her a wink as I got out of my seat. “Give me a minute.”
I went back inside and up to the attic, retrieving Miss Daisy from her case and bringing her outside. Jess’s mouth dropped open when I returned.
“Oh my God — is that fiddle?” she exclaimed.
“This is Miss Daisy,” I said, holding out the instrument so she could see it. “She’s been in the family awhile, as you can see…” I pointed to all the little drawings and stickers on the lower bout,including the simple daisies drawn on with a marker. “My sister, Mary, got ahold of it when we were kids and left her mark. I think it adds character.”
“I had no idea you could play,” she said.
“How else do you think I seduced this charming gentleman?” I said, motioning toward Jason as I sat down again. “I played him the song of my people and he simply couldn’t resist me.” Jason almost choked on his drink, sputtering as he tried to stop his laughter.
“The song of your people?” Jess arched an eyebrow at me. “And what would that be, exactly?”
I held up my hand for perfect silence. I tucked the instrument beneath my chin, positioned my fingers as I lifted the bow…
And began to play the Benny Hill theme.
They all burst out laughing. But that wasn’t the only song in my repertoire. I transitioned to the Charlie Daniels Band, and Jess got out of her seat, holding her drink in one hand as she danced around the fire. She pulled Manson out of his chair and he gave her a twirl before he caught her close in his arms. Jason clapped to the tune as they danced, and even Lucas still had a smile on his face as he watched them.
Nights where we got to let loose and enjoy each other’s company were too few and far between. But Jess had snapped all of us out of our heads. She’d made us adjust our reality and try something new. She even managed to get Lucas out of his seat for a dance, albeit briefly.
She eventually stumbled into Jason’s lap, laughing drunkenly as she rested her head on his shoulder. I switched it up again and slowed the pace to something calm and mellow. That was one of my favorite things about music — how it could tug people’s emotions and change the mood with only a few notes. Between my slow pull on the strings, the crackling fire, and the alcohol, I could tell everyone was beginning to tire.
