Page 38 of Frost Bitten
“Yeah, I told her it’d be similar to last weekend.”
Well, that makes sense.
“Fine, I’m ok with it, but you have to consider us before speaking up next time.” Cam’s dour mood lifts a little with his forgiveness of Corey’s transgression against us all.
“Not that anyone asked, but I’m ok with her coming along, too,” Bast chimes in with a grin.
For a second time in as many minutes, we all crack up laughing. Well, I guess this lunch meeting wasn’t the disaster I expected. I just hope I can get through the one awaiting me this weekend.
EIGHTEEN
CAIT
I had a blast last weekend. As soon as I got home on Sunday, I chatted with Mom. She wasn’t thrilled about me missing out on a holiday dinner, but I said a major holiday wasn’t the best time for meeting her new boyfriend anyway. That comes with enough stress in itself, and adding holiday stress, just wasn’t the best timing. I did offer to help her cook, and I told her I wouldn’t be leaving until about two-thirty that afternoon, so we could do a light brunch while prepping dinner and watching the parade on TV.
After I talked to Mom, I tried to video call Bast, but I must have hit the wrong number.Oops.I hate disturbing Dominic, but he didn’t seem to be asleep. It was kind of funny; he almost seemed nervous. I guess that’s just him, though. He always seems like that around me. Except for when we were ridin’. He was in his element then, and I really wish I could’ve seen him compete.
Yesterday was relatively uneventful. I worked the morning shift, and all the guys came in for lunch. They seemed to be having a fun Monday, as they were telling jokes the whole time. It was nice to see them all together, just the four of them. I can see how they fit together as a family; each has his own little piece, making them fit.
I did get that weird feeling of being watched while I drove from work to pick up Lily. The urge to keep looking in my rearview mirror niggled at me, but I didn’t recognize anyone, and the cars always changed – I couldn’t identify anyone following me. I think that’s why I ended up having trouble sleeping. I woke from a nightmare at four forty-five in the morning, and of course, I couldn’t get back to sleep. The same freaking nightmare of someone chasing me. At least I know who it is now.
With it being the week of Thanksgiving, school is closed entirely, but lucky for me, I still have to wake up and take Lily. Her independent school is still in session through tomorrow, and that helps keep them from getting bored.
I go to see Dr. F early today, before lunch. She asks me about last weekend, and I get to spill some secrets.
“Well,” I begin, “it was a fun trip. I did talk to Bast prior to the trip, and we discussed taking things slow. I also did some research. I’m interested in the idea of practicing some power exchange, however, I’m not sure about bondage. Definitely not interested in S&M.”
“That’s totally understandable. As far as the bondage,” she continues, “I think you should consider it. If you feel safe, then giving up your mobility can do a lot of things for you. Some people see it as a release of control over one’s self and their own pleasure. They find peace in not having responsibility for finding their pleasure. Others find it a turn-on, a part of the power exchange they are giving up. You are in control. The Dominant needs to heed each cue you provide, verbal or otherwise, in order to satisfy the power exchange.”
“I see.” There are a lot of things to consider, I guess.
“I would always suggest discussing all intricate scenes, or the possibility of scenes, prior to engaging. You need to be made fully aware of what could happen, and they need to know how you will notify them if you want them to stop whatever they currently are doing. Whether ‘stop’, a code word, a special tap, stuff like that. That is how you always have control over your situation.”
I leave that meeting thinking a lot of things over, and I guess I need to see Bast in order to discuss all of this. We have a date tonight, but I can’t wait that long.
Hey, are you available to chat?
Bast
Yeah, I have a few hours. What’s up?
Can I meet you?
Bast
Everything ok?
Yeah, I just need to ask you some things, and I’d assume this isn’t a phone conversation.
Bast
Meet me outside Plein Air? We can go for a drive.
Ok. ETA ten minutes.
Not long afterward, I park my Jeep in the Plein Air parking lot and walk up. Bast walks out and meets me halfway, wrapping me up in a warm hug. “Hey,” I whisper.
“Hey,” he replies, a small smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. “Let’s head to my car and get you warm.”
