“You were on a beautiful beach in the Bahamas,” Piper said helpfully. “That would strip anyone’s memory.”
Emma turned to Gillian, who was next to her. “If you guys are with Tyler Blackstone, no wonder he wanted you to keep it quiet. That’s huge news, and it could harm his reputation and any endorsement deals he may or may not have. Is he a Dom?” When Gillian didn’t readily answer, Emma prodded, “Come on, you have to give us something! We promise to keep our lips sealed.”
“Okay, I’ll slip you some details, but only because I’m taking pity on your souls.” Gillian started, “But you have to give me the girlfriend swear-on-your-life promise this doesn’t leave this table. Not even to your husbands, at least not right now.”
Piper was the first to raise her hand in a Girl Scout salute, placing her other hand over her heart. “I solemnly swear to keep my mouth shut or may I be struck down by rogue lightning the moment I step out of this bar.”
“I’ll do one better,” Caroline said. “I swear to the Almighty above.” She glanced up at the ceiling. “May He strike me down if I so much as think about what you tell me once I leave here.” Her face was intent, like she meant it, even though they all knew Caroline would be thinking about it more than any of them.
Emma nodded along. “And I swear on my good name I won’t breathe a word to anyone, including Pete. I can keep a secret to the grave. To this day, I’ve kept things quiet that my best friend in kindergarten begged me to never reveal. True story.”
Piper chortled, arching a look at her. “Okay, well, now you’re going to have to tell us what it was. What happened in kindergarten that was so earthshattering you kept it secret all these years?”
Emma mimed zipping her lips with her fingers. “Nope. Carla had faith in me then, and I will not divulge a single word. But, if I remember correctly, it had something to do with her penchant for glue and its wonderful taste.”
“Ew!” Piper snorted. “Okay, point taken.” She leveled her gaze back on Gillian. “We’ve all sworn. We promise on our good names we won’t tell. Now let us in on what’s going on.”
Gillian leaned forward, and they all went with her, moving drinks out of the way to make a little semicircle. “Okay, first off, this has been an incredible few weeks. This guy is off-the-charts hot,” she whispered. “We meet with him and his sub once a week. Always at the warehouse suite. The sex is very controlled. So far, there’s been no couple swap. It’s just Brad and me, and occasionally Tyler’s sub, with him calling the shots. He controls the bondage. I can’t really explain it, because out loud it doesn’t sound that sexy, but I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’m usually in the Domme position, but being his sub has opened my eyes to an entirely new way of having sex.” Her voice dropped even lower, and Emma struggled to hear. “But there’s been a small snag. He wants to swap now. I think he’s been leading up to this all along, but there’s one problem.” She sat back and picked up her drink, taking a sip. No one said a word. After she set it down, she continued, “Brad doesn’t want to. He’s never had an issue with anything we’ve done before, but he’s adamant. And frankly, I don’t know what to do.”
Emma’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean he doesn’t want to participate at all? Or he doesn’t want you to participate with the sports star?”
“Both,” she answered. “He wants to call it totally off. I’ve tried to reason with him, but he won’t talk about it. I don’t know what to do. This has never happened in our entire marriage. He’s always been on board with everything. He won’t give me a solid explanation.”
“So what are you going to do?” Piper asked. “That’s a tough one.”
“I haven’t made up my mind,” she admitted. “Brad told me if I had to do it, so be it, but he wouldn’t be joining me. He didn’t say he’d leave me, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t either.” Gillian looked miserable. “I love my husband, but the sex when we’re with Tyler is so explosive. It’s like”—she shook her head, at a loss for words—“he has broken something open inside me and let out this tide of ecstasy. I know it doesn’t sound coherent, but the thrill I feel is like a dozen highs, and I don’t know if I can give it up.”
“Wow. In the end, you’re going to have to go with your heart on this,” Emma counseled her. “If it was me, I wouldn’t be able to do it if Pete didn’t want to, but that’s just me. I know you and Brad have a different relationship, and a more open one. My advice is to tread slowly and don’t make a rash decision.”
“I agree with Emma. I wouldn’t be able to do it either,” Caroline added. “But I’m sure everyone at this table knows that. When is the next date set up?”
“Next week,” Gillian said, rubbing her temple. “I’m going to have to make up my mind before then.”
“Let us know what you decide,” Piper said. “We’ll be here for you, and we will support you, no matter what. This a killer choice. I know you love Brad, but sex has always been one of the biggest things in your life, and he knew that going in. Unlike all of us, you started with an open relationship.”
“I know. I never thought I’d find myself in this position. Thanks, everyone. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. Seriously,” Gillian said. “I’ve never been much of a girlfriend gal, but now I’m finding maybe it was a mistake not to have invested time into these kinds of relationships. I’ll be sure to keep you guys posted.”
“We’ll be here,” Emma promised. “I don’t envy your choice, but we know you’ll do what’s right for you, and we’ll be here to help you pick up the pieces.”
* * *
The house looked perfect. Pete was proud of his efforts. Emma was out with her friends. It was the first night they hadn’t been together since right before the trip, and he wanted her coming home to be special.
Pete needed his wife to understand that he didn’t appreciate her only on vacation.
The basement was lit with candles, and soft music played in the background.
He’d called all over town to find a place that would dip kiwi and pineapple in chocolate for him. It hadn’t been easy, but he’d had success.
Emma texted him twenty minutes ago to tell him she was on her way.
He grinned, thinking about her expression when she found him in the basement. He heard the garage door rumbling as it went up. A minute later, the door closed, and Emma called, “I’m home!”
“I’m in the basement!” he called back.
He heard her footsteps across the kitchen floor and the noise of her purse being set on the counter. “I’m coming!” she said. When she arrived at the bottom of the steps, he enjoyed her look of complete and utter surprise. “What’s all this? Candles, music? Is it our anniversary and I’ve forgotten?” She moved toward him. She still hadn’t noticed what he wore. When she finally saw him, she stopped walking and her mouth dropped open. “Is that…are you wearing a harness?”
“I might be,” he answered coyly.
“Oh, my,” she said. Then she noticed the chocolate-covered fruit on the table and she let out a gasp. “You did this all for me?”
“Of course,” he replied. “I should’ve been doing it all along, but I can only move forward, not back. I woke up this morning wishing we were still in the Bahamas, but then I thought, why not just bring a little of the island here?”
She came over and fingered the straps around his chest. “Wow. These are substantial. How does it work?” She stepped back to examine him. “Your hands and legs aren’t bound, you can move freely.”
He fingered the loops that were attached to his waist and grinned. “Your legs fit in here,” he told her. “So I can fuck you standing up.”
“Oh.” Her mouth was a perfect circle.
“But before we do that, let’s have some chocolate-covered fruit and have a glass of champagne.” He led her to the couch. He sat, and she snuggled against him. “I loved watching you eat this fruit every night. That’s why I ordered it with every meal,” he told her as he leaned over and picked up the tray.