Lucas growled, and she smacked him lightly. “You asked. Anyway, one thing led to another. It was very exciting, and Bodie broached the subject with Victor of making it a ménage. I gave every bit of my heart to the relationship, and I was happy with what we had. It wasn’t until after it was all over and I was long gone that I gave thought to how our dynamic worked. I realized how often I was the plaything on the side. Bodie and I rarely had opportunities to play on our own. Victor was always there. After the first month or so, most of his sexual energy was expended on Bodie. Most of the…attention I got came from Bodie.”
“No double penetration?”
She shook her head. “My place wasn’t in the middle. It was at the bottom under Bodie, while Victor took him, or at the side, watching, which was pretty hot, don’t get me wrong. Bodie made sure I was never neglected. I guess I was an experiment to Victor. A kinky little side piece to his sexual relationship with Bodie. Looking back now, I can recall the look in Bodie’s eyes, as if he understood Victor’s motivation and was going out of his way to take care of me. He would tell me he loved me, and I know he was telling the truth. When I think back on that time, I still feel hurt. Bodie cared about my happiness, just not enough to confront Victor about it or leave him to be with me.”
Josh didn’t feel sorry for Bodie’s quandary, and he planned to erase the hurt she’d experienced, unintended or not.
“Maybe Victor was threatened by the love Bodie professed to you.”
Violet shrugged. “He said I was messy, disorganized, talked too much, and I was fat. At least those were all the faults I overheard him complain about. I’d never considered there might be another reason until long afterward.”
He and his brother both frowned. “Disorganized? Messy?”
Lucas growled and got a steely look in his eyes. “Fat? Talked too much? We can hardly get you talk openly with us, and, baby, he’s seriously warped if he thought you were fat. You’re the perfect combination of strong and luscious.” He stroked his hand over the curve of her thigh and smiled in appreciation.
Josh nodded. “And judging by the way you were always tidying and chasing after any speck of dirt or sawdust while we were working at the Emporium, and wiping down every flat surface, I’d be more inclined to think you were obsessed with cleanliness.”
“Let’s just say his criticism echoed in my head for a long time after I left them.” The crease furrowing her brows deepened as she settled down between them and whispered, “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making it better. For showing me the difference.” She looked up at Josh and squeezed his hand. “And for being careful.”
“I’m glad I realized it in time. It would’ve killed me to know I’d been too rough the first time you took both of us, baby girl, especially with witnesses.” He imagined the scenario if he hadn’t and shuddered. There would’ve been no hope of a repeat.
Lucas shook his head, as if he was trying to erase the thought from his mind. She let out a long sigh and curled up, her eyes going a little unfocused as she gazed off into the distance. Lucas stroked her shoulder and said, “Need some time?”
Her face broke out in a smile, and she nodded. “You’re a mind reader. Yeah, I need to process everything. It’s not even noon, and I’m tuckered out.”
Josh sat up. “Let’s get you back to our room, and you can soak in the big tub. You can take a little nap if you want.”
Lucas added, “We’ll bring lunch to the room later.”
They helped her up and walked back to the mansion, and Josh was surprised by how far they’d run to reach their secluded spot. As usual, Joseph was in the midst of the activities around the house. He met them at the top of the stairs and laughed when Violet lightly smacked his arm.
“Running braless sucks, you big jerk.”
Feigning the wound, Joseph winced and rubbed his arm as he laughed. “Maybe, little nymph, but being chased kept you on edge, didn’t it?” He grinned as he flicked a gaze at her bodice, which was still stretched beneath her breasts, putting them on display. “I’m glad to see you’ve lost your self-consciousness.”
Much to Josh’s disappointment, she covered herself and then stuck her tongue out at Joseph.
Joseph shook his head and turned to Josh and Lucas. “If she needs further discipline, you’re more than welcome to use my dungeon.”
Chapter Eleven
Lucas stood in Violet’s doorway late that afternoon, listening to her rant. To be honest, he didn’t blame her. The theme for the hedonistic feast downstairs, The Hunter and the Hunted, divided the guests into two groups: forest animals and huntsmen and huntswomen. Violet had been designated as a bunny. No role-playing was planned for the evening. It was simply the designation of costumes according to the individual’s position in their groups, in Violet’s case, determined by Joseph. He was just glad he wasn’t the one who had to submit to wearing whatever costume was picked for him. She tipped the small, handled gift bag to her and reached inside.