Striking a Balance (Thalia Book 2) (The Thalia Series)

by Jennifer Bene

  “Baby, why don’t you go see if you can help Maggie in the kitchen? I’m going to talk with Kalen.” His grin spoke volumes, he loved how she was squirming just being in the same room with the two of them.

  “Yes, Master, I will.” She blushed brightly and took the opportunity to escape Kalen’s dark stare before she was more obvious.

  Maggie was in a similar short dress, except hers was a diamond patterned blue that matched her eyes. She gave a warm smile when she saw Thalia, “Morning! Are ye hungry?”

  “Yes, ma’am, thank you. Can I help?” Thalia crossed her arms over her waist and moved next to Maggie by the stove. There were fat sausages in a pan next to eggs, and a pot of what looked like oatmeal.

  “I’m not a ma’am, just call me Maggie. And there’s not much else to do for it.” Maggie was smirking at her, one hip popped out as she rolled the sausages again then stirred the oatmeal. “Should I call ye Thalia?”

  “Oh, yes, ma’am - Maggie. Um, so,” Thalia leaned back against the fridge as Maggie slid eggs onto a plate and added more to finish, “my Master told me you own this place, I mean, Purgatory?”

  “Hmm. Well, it’s true I bought it with my family’s money, which is a delicious irony, I promise ye. But I gave it to Kalen as a wedding present, and it is his. He runs it, recruits for it, trains the subs. All of it.” She rang the spoon against the side of the pot to knock off the oatmeal. “And, trust me, lass, I get what I want out of it.”

  “Oh?” Thalia leaned forward, and Maggie turned back to her with a broad smile. Her energy was kind of contagious, and she seemed totally comfortable with the fact that they had met the night before while Thalia was naked. Maggie’s obvious comfort and acceptance made it easier to breathe, and kept the usual panic at bay. It was also likely because Maggie knew what she was, she didn’t have to hide here, or worry about messing up and revealing her relationship with James. But, what could Maggie get from the school other than the obvious of making Kalen happy?

  “Would ye like to know what I get?” Maggie’s grin was positively gleeful as she seemed to read her mind, and Thalia just nodded in response. “Everyone asks that! I... get to watch. And I love to watch Kalen work.”

  “Work? You mean - oh!” Thalia covered her face to smother the blush in her cheeks, and Maggie let out a loud peal of laughter. It was bawdy, but friendly, and genuinely happy. Thalia felt her own mouth curve into a smile, helpless in the face of Maggie’s uninhibited joy with her life.

  “Yer quite pretty when ye blush, but yes, if ye haven’t seen a Dom work with a sub yet - hmm - let’s just say ye might end up with a similar appreciation!” More loud laughter that brought Kalen smiling to the doorway of the kitchen, his eyes moved over her and he winked.

  Had James told him?!

  At this rate Thalia would never stop blushing! She dropped smoothly to her knees and was surprised when Maggie stayed standing at the stove. Their eyes followed her and a quiet pause filled the room, halting the laughter.

  “If nothing else yer going to be a great example to the other girls, Thalia. Let’s eat so we can go meet them. Up with ye now!” Kalen’s hand brushed her arm to help her up, but he quickly turned his attentions to Maggie. Thalia slipped back into the dining room needing some room to breathe and cool down.

  With the full light of the morning flooding in, everything was easier to see. Beautiful carpets, framed photos of trips and smiling faces of friends and family. Above the front door were letters in different shapes and styles that read ‘HeaVeN’. Thalia was staring at it when Maggie and Kalen brought out breakfast to the table, the clatter of it being set out still couldn’t distract her from the little display.

  A hand wrapped around her hip and she knew it was James because he smelled like clean, fresh laundry and warm skin from the shower, and underneath it all that undeniable scent that was him.

  “They call their house ‘Heaven’, even though the rest of the property is ‘Purgatory’.” James was speaking quietly in her ear, answering the question she hadn’t even asked. She leaned back a little against his chest, soaking in the warm comfort of his body against hers.

  “That... makes sense,” she murmured.

  James twisted her by the hips so she could see Maggie and Kalen at the table. He was standing behind her, with Maggie bent over the table adjusting the plates. Kalen pressed himself against her and Maggie let him push her to the table with a grin. He followed forward and kissed across her shoulder blades, mumbling something that made Maggie laugh and lean up suddenly. Kalen laughed too and delivered a sharp swat to her ass before letting her up. Then they kissed, and kissed again, before grabbing seats and looking over at her and James as if nothing sexual had happened at all. Two incredibly happy, loving people.

  Thalia wasn’t surprised that people who came to Purgatory with tendencies towards dominance or submission looked at Maggie and Kalen and wished for a partner like that. Wished to find a similar balance. It did look like heaven to be that comfortable with someone else, to be accepted completely for who you are; kinks and all.

  Acceptance. Isn’t that what everyone wants?

  After breakfast the four of them walked over to the sister house which Kalen just called ‘the dormitory’. It was two stories, and huge. A soft gray stone on the front and a beautifully manicured landscape leading to the entrance. Thalia looked across the large expanse of green lawn that led out into the distance where the tall walls formed the boundary. When she looked back Kalen held the huge, dark front door open so everyone could go inside and he pointed to the left.

  “Everyone will be in the drawing room. Just go through the double doors there.” Thalia tucked herself behind James as casually as possible and he reached back to grab her hand and squeeze it before they stepped through the doorway.

  There were three distinct groups in the large, sunlit room. Two young men leaning against the back wall who bounced to attention the moment they saw people in the doorway. Three men closer to Kalen and James’ age sitting in chairs drinking out of tea cups, talking in easy, relaxed voices. The most rambunctious group was absolutely the five women on the couches tucked to the right. Two of the girls were giggling and talking loudly, another was grinning at them and joined in the laughter. One was quiet, with a rosy color filling her tanned cheeks – Thalia could sympathize with the blushing. The fifth girl was long legged and beautiful, her dark hair was wound into a high ponytail that dropped between her shoulders. A tight white dress made her look elegant and gorgeous as she leaned forward at the very end of a couch in silence, staring out the windows that let sunlight pour in.

  “Attention!” Kalen’s voice boomed but the two girls continued to giggle a moment, one of them clearly whispering something in the other’s ear to send them into renewed peals of laughter. “Ach, Brad, ye know I’m going to make them run for me, right?”

  One of the men in the chairs had twisted to look at the two girls who had finally noticed Kalen and were now staring wide eyed at him as they covered their mouths to hide their smiles. One girl had beautiful dark skin, black hair, and almond eyes - the other had softer tones, olive skin, earthen brown hair, and a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Chloe! Lauren!” Brad sighed and stood up, “Girls, we talked about Master Kalen’s rules just this morning.”

  Thalia slipped to her knees next to James, as everyone’s heads swiveled to the two girls on the couch. She couldn’t help but watch as their mouths dropped open in complaint, their brows pulling together in concern almost in unison before they stood and turned toward Kalen.

  “Master Kalen we didn’t see you and -”

  “- have been so good, we haven’t touched each other at all!”

  “It’s been over a day, Master Kalen!”

  “We are trying!”

  The girls talked over each other, pleading as they stood up, the darker of the two clasping her hands together.

  “Girls, sit down, and be quiet. We’ll handle yer punishments later, and ye can update me on how yer keepin
g yer hands to yerselves.” Kalen used his Dom voice and both Chloe and Lauren dropped back on to the couch with a pout. “We have a new sub at Purgatory today, everyone. This is Master James, and -” Kalen paused and Thalia suddenly felt the weight of the room’s attention, “- and this is Thalia.”

  “Seriously? She’s kneeling on the floor by his feet?” The female voice had the hint of a Spanish accent, and rang out across the room full of irritation.

  “Thalia is a submissive, Marisol. She has been full time, and is determining whether part time will work for her.” Kalen’s voice was perfectly controlled.

  “She obviously doesn’t need training like the rest of us. She looks as obedient as a show dog. Is THAT what you want from us? To be little obedient dogs?” Her voice was shrill, and Thalia peeked up to see the woman in the white dress twisted around glaring daggers at her. Moments before she had seemed so elegant and beautiful, but with her face contorted in anger she looked ugly. Thalia’s eyes instantly dropped and her stomach turned. That was the reaction she’d feared since her first time in public after Marcus - that someone would see her submissiveness, and instantly hate her for it. James ran the back of his hand against her cheek and she glanced up at him to see him shaking his head, with a reassuring smile. He didn’t see her as some show dog. That’s not what he wanted from her, and that’s not what she was. Submission was always a choice with James.

  Thalia made herself take a shuddering breath as she reminded herself of those things.

  “Marisol, as we have discussed, if ye disagree with this lifestyle ye can leave anytime ye’d like. No one is keeping ye here, Ethan isn’t keeping ye here. As myself and Ailsa have explained, it is yer choice to explore this relationship with Ethan.” Kalen’s voice was tired, and Thalia could see why. Marisol was bristling with anger and the man that seemed to be looking at her across the room just looked sad. Tension crackled through the room and Thalia felt like she was witnessing something big. For a tenuous minute everyone was looking at Marisol in silence.

  Then the woman looked across at the man, probably Ethan, and her features softened, collapsing until she was crying prettily, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry again. I’m just not used to this, but I love you, Ethan! I love you more than anything!” The tension dropped out of the air as he crossed the room and wrapped her in a bracing hug. Thalia caught the slight headshake from James, and the pointed look between him and Kalen.

  Then, the drama was over.

  Chloe and Lauren were chatting close together again, and the third girl talking with them stood and approached Kalen with her eyes down. “Um, Master Kalen? Should Thalia come sit with us? I can talk with her if you like?” The girl sounded sweet, her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy braid, and she was a tiny thing that barely came to Kalen’s massive shoulders. But Kalen smiled broadly at her.

  “Thank ye, Julie. Yes. “ His eyes turned to Thalia, and James smiled down at her offering his hand to help her up. She took it and realized she was several inches taller than Julie, but Julie just cheered and – hugged her. Thalia stiffened instantly, but Julie didn’t give up.

  “Ignore Marisol and you’ll have so much fun here.” When she pulled back her eyes twinkled. She bounced a bit before turning towards the couches the girls were on, and tugging Thalia forward. “Come on!”

  Thalia followed, looking back over her shoulder to see James smile at her. “I’ll be back soon, baby,” he called after her. Thalia felt butterflies swirl in her stomach at the idea of facing all the girls. But he was smiling at her, and this is what she was here for. She took a deep breath and nodded at him as she continued to the couch.

  The blonde immediately started on a chipper little speech with a light English accent. “So, I’m Julie, my husband Antonio travels on business to Pakistan sometimes and he lets me come to Purgatory so I’m not bored out of my mind. I came here for training years ago!” The girl babbled at a hundred words a minute as she started pointing around the room like a hostess at a party. “This is Chloe and Lauren, they are together with their Dom, Brad.” She giggled, and the two girls leaned against each other with big grins. “This is Analiese, she’s super quiet, and over there is her Dom, Nick. He’s quiet too; they’re a perfect fit. Seriously.” Analiese gave her a shy smile and a little wave, which Thalia returned. Julie sighed and rolled her eyes a little, “And you already saw Marisol and Ethan – I’ll fill you in on that mess later.”

  “Shut up, Julie.” Marisol hissed. Ethan had returned to the chairs with the other Doms who were now all getting up and crossing over to Kalen and talking in low voices, as they were joined by the two younger men from the wall. “So, Thalia, how did James get you to come here?” Marisol’s question was laced with venom.

  “Um...” Thalia sat down next to Julie, her mouth open as she tried to absorb the flurry of information she’d just been bombarded by. Her eyes bounced around the room where everyone seemed comfortable, except obviously Marisol.

  Why was she even here?

  “You’re so rude, Marisol. Thalia will tell us what she wants to, when she wants to.” Chloe, the girl with the mocha skin, gave her a big smile.

  “Girls, ye all know the rules. Stay in here until the morning briefing is over. Physical training is this afternoon, so if ye want to warm up, follow Julie’s lead. Otherwise practice on your current training focus.” Kalen spoke clearly and then all the men left the room, shutting the door firmly. Thalia waited to hear the heavy click of a lock, but it never came.

  No one is here against their will. Thalia reminded herself and forced a breath.

  Julie grabbed her hand and Thalia swung her eyes back to her, “It’s okay, they’ll be back soon, they just meet to update on everyone’s progress and choose the next steps in the training. That’s all!” She grinned, “So... Master James is cute. Right?”

  Thalia blushed a little but felt the warmth of acceptance from the loud little group around her. Chloe and Lauren leaned forward, and even Analiese raised her eyes. Taking Julie’s advice and blocking out Marisol as best as she could she leaned forward too, tucking her hair behind her ears. “Yeah, he’s... he’s amazing.”

  James dropped into a chair around the long dining table that dominated the space. It was both the dormitory dining room and the official meeting room for Purgatory with seating for twenty; more than enough room for the collected group. Ailsa had arrived about ten minutes after the morning meeting had started, her long red hair dropping down her back, a trim skirt suit making her look feminine but professional. She wasn’t submissive at all, but loved her brother and was sincerely fascinated with people who participated in BDSM.

  Kalen was in his element, updating each Dom on their sub’s progress with a mixture of kindness and stern advice. The subs never saw it, but Kalen could crack the proverbial whip with his expectations of the Doms as well. He accepted nothing less than respectful, caring, well-informed Doms at Purgatory – and he had no trouble guiding willing new Doms to achieve that goal, or shutting down and then kicking out the assholes.

  Ailsa was a force of nature in and of herself, anyone could see that they were siblings. When she spoke she transformed the clinical speech she was capable of into easy to understand comments that helped Kalen make his decisions about next steps. The full update took about thirty minutes, and then Kalen turned to the new Doms who had come to learn from him.

  “Lars, Sven, ye’ll be helping me with training today. Grab the therapy schedule from Ailsa and make sure the girls go – especially Marisol. If she refuses her therapy session again, come to me.” Kalen glanced at Ethan who rubbed a hand across his cheek with a sigh. “Sven, would ye make another batch of tea, and some coffee, for the girls? Lars, make sure they’re actually practicing and not just gossiping and hounding Thalia for her life story?”

  The two young Doms-to-be jumped out of their chairs quickly and agreed, rushing towards the door to take action. The other Doms excused themselves to go work, make calls, or relax – whatever was on their m
enu. In a matter of moments it was just Ailsa, Kalen and him near one end of the table.

  “Yer turn, James. Let’s talk about Thalia.” Kalen’s demeanor was a little different, but he didn’t drop his Master of the House style of speech. He was in charge at Purgatory, and James accepted that. He’d come here for his help after all. Even though that meant giving up some of his own control so his friend could help him fix this.

  “Absolutely, I want to get started.” James sat up and clasped his hands on the table like he always did in meetings at the office. Calm and ready.

  “First, I want to know why ye never told me about the blackmail shite. Ye told me all about when ye figured out what the Williams brothers really did, and then - what? Ye decided I wouldn’t have yer back when they twisted yer arm like that?” Kalen was deadly serious, he had gone straight to it – this was what lay between them. He’d kept the whole story from the man he called brother, who knew all of his other dark secrets.

  “That wasn’t it at all, Kalen. I absolutely knew you would have my back, I knew you’d want to take them down and...” James blew out a breath. “I couldn’t risk you ruining your life on my behalf, and, honestly, I couldn’t risk them somehow exposing my tastes and ruining my life as well.”