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He shrugs. “We’d been discussing group relationships for years on the podcast. Once you get used to the idea, it starts to just seem… normal. Logical, actually. We live in a society which tells us that we’re supposed to get everything we need, physically and emotionally, from one person. But that’s impossible.”
Zack nods. “Aye. Monica was a guest speaker at a convention we attended. We had a drink with her in the bar after, and she suggested it. We all said yes, and it went from there.”
“Wow.” I sit back, blinking. “And you liked it?”
Josh feeds me another spoon of ice cream, dark eyes intent on my face. “It was probably the best relationship I’ve ever had. It was a lot easier than you’d think.”
I lick vanilla off my lips. “But you guys broke up? What happened?”
“My fault,” Zack says sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “I don’t do long-term. I broke up with her, so she left Josh and Luke, too. It woulda been a bit awkward for her to keep dating my roommates and not me.” He sighs mournfully. “It was hard giving up the sex, though. Damn.”
“Right,” I choke out. “The four-way sex. That actually, really happened. Yeah.”
Josh gives me a weird look. I’m not surprised. I probably look like I’m having an aneurysm. I don’t think I’ve ever been so shocked and turned on at the same time.
“Speaking of,” Zack perks up. “Flower boy here ain’t the only one who got you a present. I have somethin’ for you, too.” He leans over the arm of the sofa and rummages around under the coffee table.
Josh stiffens. “Oh God. Please don’t tell me it’s the—”
“Here ya go,” Zack says happily, dropping a brown cardboard box on my lap. I study the label on the packaging. There’s a black logo on the front, of a curvy, stylised woman with devil horns.
“Sinsters?” The name sounds familiar, but I don’t remember where from.
“One of our sponsors,” Zack says. “Here.” He hands me his keys, and I use the sharp edge to cut through the tape, pulling open the box.
Inside, a pink rubber penis wrapped in glittery tissue paper stares back up at me.
***
NINETEEN
***
JOSH
Layla is silent for a moment. “Why is there a dick in here?” She asks eventually.
I rub my temples. “Sinsters is an adult toy company,” I explain. “And Zack is an idiot.”
“No I ain’t!” Zack says enthusiastically. “This shit is important.” He takes the box off her. “I didn’t know what toys you’ve already got, so I figured I should order you the full range. Never hurts to double up. Look.” He starts rummaging around in the box. “You got clamps. Cuffs. A bullet vibe. This one has a little rabbit head, apparently that feels real nice. A blindfold. A plug. Look, ain’t it pretty?” He pulls out a plug with a little jewelled heart on the end.
Layla stares at it. “What is it meant to plug?” She asks, her voice hoarse.
Zack looks shocked. “Your butt, honey. Oh my God. You never used one of these before?”
“I’ve never used any of this stuff before,” Layla says slowly. Her cheeks are pink. Gingerly, she reaches into the box and pulls out a string of silver metal balls, around the size of large marbles. “Do these go in my butt, too?”
Zack points at her. “I like your enthusiasm, but no. Wrong hole.”
Layla’s eyebrows fly into her hairline. “And that feels good?”
“I ain’t got the equipment to tell ya,” Zack says breezily. “Gotta assume so, though. It’ll make you feel nice and full. Hang on, there’s something I wanted to show you.” He keeps on rooting through the box, finally pulling out a plastic bottle. “Here ya go.”
Layla takes the bottle, examining the label on the side. “Juicy Pleasure Gel,” she reads aloud. “Heating, tingling, water-based lubricant. Zack!”
“What?” He puts up his hands. “It’s a learning material!” He points at the bottle. “For your homework assignment this week, I want you to get out one of your little notebooks and make a list of everything that turns you on. And when you’re done with that, I want you to light some candles, slather your fingers in some of that,” he pats the bottle, “and get yourself off.”
“Oh God,” I mutter.
