“Maybe?” But why?
“Did Katherine buy your plane ticket?”
Alex nodded. “I told her I had free miles, but you know Katherine.”
“Bet she bought new girl’s ticket too. Probably set you two up.”
Alex considered that possibility. There was no way Katherine could have foreseen the storm or the plane getting rerouted, nor the decision to rent a car and drive together. But it seemed likely she’d intentionally gotten them seats next to each other. It was exactly the type of thing she’d do. Had she also set Alex up for getting caught by Emily literally with her pants down?
TJ picked up her bottle from the snow and clinked it against Alex’s. “Cheers. Why is beer a Colorado thing? It’s too damn cold to even drink it here.”
“But it stays nice and cold.”
TJ looked unconvinced by Alex’s logic. “Katherine should get some of those big heaters out here.”
“You suggest it and Katherine will have them installed by tomorrow night.”
TJ raised an eyebrow. “I think you mean if you suggest it, she’ll have it by tomorrow night. We both know who Katherine bends over for.”
Alex met TJ’s gaze. “For the record, I did talk to her about boundaries.”
“And let me guess, you woke up in her bed the next morning?”
TJ knew her too well. “I know we’re not good for each other.”
They could never have a serious relationship. Not one that made them both happy, anyway. Alex needed someone who could open up enough to fall in love, someone who wanted to share a life together. Katherine didn’t have any interest in sharing more than a bed, and her affections only went so far. She’d never give herself completely to anyone, and all of her relationships revolved around sex.
Alex needed more of a connection. In fact, sex was becoming less and less important when she thought of the type of relationship she wanted. Yet here I am at a damn sex party.
“At some point, you’re going to have to cut Katherine off,” TJ said. “You know that. If you think this new girl—this Emily—has potential, maybe now’s the time.”
“After everything, I don’t think Emily’s even gonna look at me.”
“See, that’s your problem. You give up too easy on the women who are worth fighting for and you go back to the ones who aren’t good for you.” TJ stood. “What would happen if you tried?”
Alex was certain of one thing: Emily was the kind of woman who only came along once in a lifetime. It was no surprise why Katherine had latched on to her. She was beautiful but she also had a soft innocence about her, and a sweetness, and that made her exactly the type of sex party virgin Katherine loved to claim.
Guessing Katherine’s intentions only made Alex feel more protective of Emily, enough so that she wanted to offer her a ride back to the airport. She was so obviously unprepared for the weekend. Unprepared for Katherine especially. No one understood exactly how good Katherine was at manipulating a situation until they were in the middle of it—Alex knew that all too well.
If Emily got caught up in Katherine’s web, she’d feel personally responsible, at least for not trying to keep her clear. Yet she didn’t actually want Emily to leave. And maybe her reasons for wanting Emily to stay, even if they were different than Katherine’s, were equally problematic.
Chapter Eleven
“There you are.” Nicola poked her head in the den. “Ava thought you might have gone up to your room.”
“I did for a bit,” Emily admitted. After cleaning up the broken glass, she’d needed a minute alone to think. Unfortunately, there was only so long she could hide out.
“Is the altitude bothering you?” At Emily’s half shrug, Nicola pointed to her glass and added, “Good call on the water.”
It wasn’t the altitude. It was all Alex. And the fact that somehow they were at the same sex party. Emily had first considered a shot of vodka, but her stomach was a knot of anxiety, and mineral water seemed a safer option.
“When I couldn’t find you, I assumed you were avoiding someone.” Nicola went over to the bar and poured herself a glass of wine, Shiraz this time. “If so, I completely understand.”
“Are you avoiding someone too?”
Nicola rocked her head side to side. “I wouldn’t say I’m avoiding, exactly. I’m preparing. In fact, we already crossed paths, but I was upset at Alex and since the individual in question is good friends with Alex, I naturally blamed her too. She, of course, had nothing to do with it. The good news is that I didn’t immediately jump her, which is progress.”
Emily smiled, relieved for the moment to have something to think about besides her own worries. “Who is this? And why were you mad at Alex?”
“TJ. You’ll meet her at dinner.” Nicola sipped her wine. “And you can guess, I think, why I’m mad at Alex.”
“Because the door was unlocked?” Emily didn’t think that was enough reason—they were the ones poking around, after all—and how could Nicola be certain Alex was at fault?
“No. Because clearly Alex knew you and didn’t tell anyone about a connection. Katherine has rules about that. We were sent your name and Ava’s as well. If anyone has any previous association with a virgin they have to say so, mainly so you could be warned before you arrived. Alex, however, never reads Katherine’s emails. Or texts, for that matter.”
“She didn’t know me before yesterday.”
Nicola tilted her head. “You met yesterday?”
“We spent the day together. Kind of on accident.” And by Alex’s response to seeing her now, Emily didn’t think she had any idea she was coming to the party. Probably Nicola was right and she hadn’t read any email or didn’t make the connection to her name. If she did, she’d hidden it well. “With the storm, our flight got rerouted to Denver. She gave me a ride here. Well, not here, exactly, she gave me a ride from one airport to the other.”
“And neither of you knew the other would be at this party?”
“No. She asked what I was doing in Aspen, but I evaded the question.”
Nicola nodded slowly. After a moment she said, “It doesn’t take long to fall for Alex.”
“I didn’t fall for her. I…” Emily searched for words. The longer she took finishing her sentence the more she revealed. So much for pretending she could keep any secrets to herself. “We only spent one day together. More like half a day.”
“Alex is very good at being exactly what you’ve been waiting for.” Nicola met Emily’s gaze. “Please don’t misinterpret that. I’m not suggesting it’s an act. It’s simply Alex. Not even Katherine’s immune.”
“Are Katherine and Alex together?” Emily could easily picture Alex with someone like Katherine. It made a lot more sense than Alex going for someone like her. But what about Madison? “I’ve seen Madison at Katherine’s house in San Francisco and thought they might be dating.”
“They are. Madison and Katherine have been together for several years now.”
“Then how does Alex fit in?”
“That’s where things get complicated.” Nicola sat down on the sofa. “It’s no secret that Katherine likes Alex. She’s the only one Katherine has ever really wanted but couldn’t have.”
“Because she’s with Madison?”
“Katherine and Madison have an open relationship. They both regularly sleep with other people.”
That explained all the other women Katherine entertained. “But not Alex?”
Nicola hesitated, seeming to debate her answer. “Alex doesn’t want to be caught.”
So Alex was a player. And not even Katherine could tie her down. Emily felt even more like a fool for falling for her now. She should have guessed as much from Alex’s confidence and charm. But somehow she’d let herself get swept up in the idea that they actually had a connection. Something real.
“I only say this because it’s fair you know what the rest of us know.”
“I appreciate that. Maybe now I can try not to say or do anything dumb befor
e dinner.”
Nicola raised an eyebrow. “Anything more, you mean?”
“Thanks for that.” Emily liked Nicola’s dry sense of humor. In a way, she reminded Emily of Gianna. A very proper Gianna with an English accent. Their penchant for sarcasm would be well matched.
“I want to apologize,” Nicola said. “I had no idea anyone was using the private room. That door is supposed to be locked, but I should have insisted Ava knock first. Katherine and the others must have come in through the garage or one of the back doors.”
“You don’t need to apologize. I wasn’t expecting something like that, but I can handle it. Honestly, it was hot. Until I dropped the wineglass.”
“At least you made an impression.” Nicola patted Emily’s knee. Her teasing actually helped some. “Truly don’t worry. Everyone will have something else on their mind by the time dessert’s served.”
“What?”
Nicola laughed. “Did you forget you’re at a sex party?”
“Right. That.” Getting through dinner would be a small miracle. She didn’t think she could handle more. Maybe she could use the altitude excuse and beg out. “I need to come up with a fantasy.”
“Am I interrupting?”
Emily glanced up at the voice. Lara. Over the pizza dinner last night, she’d come to a few quick conclusions. Lara was an even bigger flirt than Alex but shared three things in common: attractive, butch, and cocky. The ABCs of everything she was drawn to but definitely didn’t need.
“Come on in, Lara,” Nicola said smoothly. “Emily needs help picking out a fantasy.”
“Music to my ears.” Lara headed over to the bar, but instead of picking out a beer as Emily would have guessed, she poured herself a Sprite and dropped a cherry in with the ice. “What are your ideas?”
The problem wasn’t simply being embarrassed about her fantasy in front of strangers. Now, Alex would be there on top of everything. Before she had to admit she didn’t have any ideas, Lara said, “You can put in more than one if you’re wavering on two.”
Emily wondered if it ever happened that someone didn’t have a fantasy.
“Everyone loves virgins,” Lara continued. “You’ll be snatched up quick no matter what.”
“Lara’s right,” Nicola agreed. “But it is best to think of something before the hat comes out.”
Emily glanced from Lara to Nicola. She’d had a hard enough time talking about sex back when she was having sex regularly. She thought of all the times she’d agonized over bringing up the conversation with Cass. Why had she thought a sex party would be a good idea? “I appreciate the advice. I’m not sure what I want is—”
“Oh, don’t worry if it seems over the top,” Lara interrupted. “Chances are, no matter how crazy you think it might be, one of us has done it. And even if we haven’t, no one’s going to judge. Trying something new is what this weekend’s all about.”
Emily stopped herself from telling Lara she’d misunderstood. What she wanted was plain vanilla sex. But she knew it was too simple. Too boring.
“If you are interested in BDSM,” Nicola said, picking up where Lara left off. “Lara and Alex are the pros. And I’m not only saying that because Lara’s here. I recommend both of them. Experience is important and, the truth is, they’re excellent. Katherine’s good as well, but she doesn’t have as much patience.”
Lara didn’t blush. She smiled, flashing perfect teeth, and said, “Can I get a written reference, Nicola?”
Nicola ignored Lara and added, “Alex is the one to pick if you want to be tied up—she has all the Shibari magic up her sleeve—but Lara will do for everything else.”
“Will do?” Lara laughed. “Thanks for that.”
Nicola arched an eyebrow. “You know I tease only because I love you.”
Shibari. Emily had heard the word before but hadn’t thought of it when she saw Madison bound on the chair. Between the mix of shock and arousal, she hadn’t considered who had tied Madison up. Now she recalled the intricate rope pattern lacing between Madison’s breasts, knots binding her hands and her legs, and the beauty of it all struck her. Alex had done all of that. A flush that had nothing to do with embarrassment burned through her.
“Whatever fantasy you come up with will be fine, Emily,” Lara said. “I promise. Don’t stress about it. This night is all about having a good time.” She took a sip of her Sprite and headed for the door. “By the way, I think dinner is about to be served. You don’t want to be late and get on Katherine’s bad side this early in the game.”
“We’ll be there in a minute.” Nicola waited until Lara had left to say, “You know, your fantasy doesn’t have to be kink. I wasn’t going to say as much while Lara was here, but…”
“You guessed?”
“You’re a bit of an open book.”
“Can I ask you one more thing?” She waited for Nicola’s nod and then took a deep breath. “If Katherine’s with Madison but wants Alex, why was Alex…well, you know…”
“Fucking Madison?” Nicola smiled. “I’m sure Madison begged Katherine for that whole scene. She loves threesomes. And being the one in the middle.”
“So, she doesn’t mind that Katherine wants Alex?”
“Everyone who dates Katherine understands that Alex is part of the equation. But I don’t think Madison has any doubts about Katherine’s affection. She loves them both, in her way. Though Katherine can be more territorial when it comes to Alex.”
“Figures I’d like the one person I shouldn’t.”
Nicola’s look was full of understanding. “You can like her and even have sex with her. The trick is keeping your heart out of it.” She stood and extended her hand to Emily. “Shall we brave dinner?”
Facing Alex again was daunting, everything considered. But she was done playing the damsel in distress. She intended to enjoy the evening. All she had to do was keep her heart from making any decisions.
Chapter Twelve
The dinner table had a seating arrangement and Alex was certain Katherine had placed Madison next to her on purpose. Emily, however, was only across the table, and maybe that was intentional too. Ava, the other new arrival, was skillfully entertaining both Madison and Emily. From her perfectly coiffed hair to her manicured nails and the stylish cocktail dress that fit her like a glove, there were no flaws to be found with Ava. She was beautiful, as nearly all of Katherine’s acquaintances were, as well as confident and flirty.
Alex couldn’t help wondering if Ava was Emily’s type. What she wondered even more was how Emily felt about her. Before dinner, she’d bumped into Nicola and Emily coming out of the den. She’d tried to intercept, hoping to apologize, but she’d been not so subtly dismissed before she got the words out. In a cheerful tone, Emily had said, “Oh, hi. Fancy meeting you here,” and then gone to the dining room without another look.
“I hear you’re a famous chef, Emily,” Lara said. “What’s it like cooking for Katherine?”
Alex glanced up from her salad and studied Emily.
“Katherine’s my favorite client,” Emily answered. “But I’m definitely not a famous chef.”
“Your favorite?” Katherine looked over her wineglass at Emily. “Why?”
“I like a challenge.”
Lara chuckled. “Is anyone surprised Katherine’s a challenge?”
Katherine kept her gaze trained on Emily, purposefully ignoring Lara. “How am I a challenge?”
“Well, your appetite for one.”
Lara chuckled again, and Alex wanted to throw something at her.
Emily immediately blushed and added, “I didn’t mean that you eat a lot. You don’t. What I meant was that you don’t like any meal to be repeated. And you like trying new ingredients. That keeps me searching out new recipes.”
“Is that all?”
“You also like the meal to be healthy, so I can’t simply add more cream to a dish to get better flavor. I have to play around with the spices and try other tricks.”
“I
sound like a pain in the ass,” Katherine returned evenly.
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“Madison might.” Lara coughed, pretending to cover as she spoke. Madison laughed, as did Shay. Even Katherine’s lips twitched.
Lara was only poking fun at Katherine, but Emily didn’t know that. Alex could tell she was nervous. She wanted to jump in and save her but had a feeling that would only make things worse.
When the others stopped laughing, Emily said, “You are a challenge. That’s different, though, than being a pain in the ass. I wouldn’t want to impress a pain in the ass.”
“Nicely played,” Lara murmured. She was seated on the other side of Emily, and not surprisingly had been vying for both Emily’s and Ava’s attention.
Lara loved anything shiny and new—her words—so it came as no surprise whenever she went after one of the virgins. Once upon a time, Alex had been as close to Lara as she was to TJ, but they’d grown apart after a few disagreements that turned into proper fights.
The last straw came when Lara callously walked away from a crying sub during a play scene that she’d taken too far. Alex had watched the whole thing, and while Lara might have meant the walking away to be part of the power dynamic, she’d overplayed her hand and the woman was a mess after. Eventually Lara did go back to soothe her sub, but only after Alex and Katherine had stepped in. By then, everyone had seen Lara’s true colors. Alex had argued against Katherine inviting her back, but she’d lost that fight two years in a row.
“Emily, did you have any trouble with your flight yesterday?” Ava asked, clearly sensing when a change in subject was needed. Before Emily could answer, Ava continued. “I hear the airport is going to be a mess for the next week with all the flights that were rescheduled.”
“My flight got rerouted to Denver, but I found a rideshare.” Emily glanced at Alex. It almost seemed involuntary, or at least on accident, because she quickly looked away. “Wasn’t a big deal.”
“I never even think of rideshares,” Ava said. “That’s smart. I’m always trying to charm one of the agents to get me on another flight.”
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