AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, it’s fine, I’m just trying to figure out how to explain. You know I don’t feel pain, so maybe I’ll just start there and say I’ve never enjoyed sex for the same reason I don’t feel pain. Actually, Marcus says it’s for the same reason I do extreme sports. He says I just needed extreme sex, not the romantic stuff everyone kept thinking I needed.”
Jonah nodded. “Makes perfect sense. So, he’s doing the stuff that would hurt most people, but it just feels good to you, is that it?”
Heather jumped a little at Marcus’s voice, behind her. “Yes, that’s it. Perceptive of you to figure it out so easily. I take it you aren’t going to be judgmental about us being in a three-way relationship?”
Jonah stopped working on Zeus and turned to face Marcus. “Heather’s never been judgmental of my sex life, and I’m happy to return the favor. I’m thrilled she seems so happy with the two of you.”
Heather hadn’t realized how tense she’d been, but at Jonah’s simple words, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and her knees went a little weak.
Phantom nudged her with his head, as if he were giving her his support, too, and Heather rubbed him from nose to ear. “Thanks, Jonah. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to talk about this. I have no idea how I’m going to answer my mother’s questions.”
He leaned down to pet Scout, who’d come in with Marcus, and then went back to working on Zeus. “Going against what society defines as acceptable isn’t an easy road to travel, but if you’re happy, then you all three owe it to yourselves to figure out a way to make it work.” He paused, and then spoke a little slower, as if once again choosing his words carefully. “You asked about a few new pieces of furniture in the basement, and I told you I’d brought them in to do some work on my sculptures. However, when you see them again, you’ll likely realize what they truly are. Sorry I had to lie to you, but I’m thrilled I can be honest now.”
Memories of the pieces flashed into her mind. “The sawhorse thing is probably to... right. And that arched ladder would be... well.” Heather figured her men were probably grinning behind her back, and she kept rubbing Phantom down, glad she had something to do so she didn’t have to look at them.
Marcus chuckled behind her. “You okay, Spitfire?”
“Spitfire?”
Heather couldn’t help but laugh at Jonah’s surprised, almost scandalized tone. “Yeah. Marcus kind of does what he wants, without asking permission first.”
“What’s wrong with Spitfire? It’s a little airplane with attitude, right?”
Heather figured if she didn’t answer, Jonah would, and he didn’t disappoint her.
“Heather doesn’t do nicknames, especially a diminutive one, or anything referring to how small she is. I’ve seen her happily take a rather large man to the ground for calling hershort stuff, and the man who showed up to check out the facilities for his horse who kept calling her ‘little lady’ was quoted a price three times what we normally charge.” He shrugged. “She’s generally more tactful with paying customers, but she always finds a way to nicely let them know their cute little nicknames aren’t appreciated.”
Marcus was quiet for about two seconds before saying, “Hmm. I think she’s stuck with Spitfire, but I suppose I could refrain from saying it around outsiders, if she asked nicely.”
Heather worked on Phantom’s mane, careful so she didn’t hurt him. “I’m standing right here, Marcus. Don’t talk about me like I’m not in the room.”
“Remember our conversation, the one about it being your responsibility to tell me if something made you uncomfortable?” Marcus sounded aggravated.
Heather kept her voice calm, though that was more for Phantom’s benefit than Marcus’s. “Do you think for even one second I wouldn’t have told if it bothered me? When you say it, the name isn’t about my size, it’s about my being a flyer. Remember when you first used the name and I asked about it? You’d been calling me Birdie, but changed it to Spitfire, and said it was because I’d flown you around, and that with my personality, it fit. You saidnothingabout my size.”
“My mistake,” said Jonah. “I made a wrong assumption.”
“No, that’s okay,” Marcus responded. “I’m glad you did, because others might make the same assumption, so it’s possible I should refrain from saying it around other people.”
Heather turned away from Phantom to look at Marcus. “I think we’re over-analyzing it, is what I think.”
Marcus chuckled again, and smiled. “The lady hath spoken.” He looked at Jonah. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Heather turned back to Phantom and continued brushing him, and answered the question even though Marcus had asked Jonah. “No, but what were you and Kyle talking so seriously about?”
“Two things — how well he’d done on the wall, and then discussion about the conversation we’ve agreed to wait until dinnertime to hash out.”
“Living arrangements.” Heather didn’t know how irritated she was about possibly being forced to make a decision she wasn’t ready to deal with until she heard the way she said it.
“It’s not such a bad conversation to have.” Kyle was using his easy voice, the tone someone would use to calm a frightened horse. He’d come in, taken a seat, and made it his job to pet Scout while the others had been talking. “Between your place, my place, and Marcus’s place — and now if you’ll be staying out here once a week…” He breathed out in an almost-sigh. “We’re just saying it might not hurt to simplify things.”
“And that means me giving up my own place and moving my things into your house, right?”
“It doesn’t have to mean that,” Kyle said, still using his careful voice. “That’s why we have to talk about it, to see if we can find a better option. Maybe there isn’t one, but we won’t know if we don’t toss some ideas around.”
Heather wasn’t going to talk about this now, so she changed the subject. “Jonah, I watched Ziggy and Woodstock together while I was out there, and I see what you mean about Ziggy. It’s like he’s too aggravated to remember how to finesse things, and Woodstock just keeps making him even more aggravated. When I get done with Phantom, I’ll talk to Zig and see what I can do.”
“I’d appreciate that. It’s been killing me to watch them this week.”
