"The offer's still there for friendship though, right?"
"Definitely. It's time for me to go, and for you to call your guy. You need to hear his voice, and I bet he feels the same. I wrote all of my contact information on a card and gave it to Brent, so he could make sure you leave with it. If you'd like me to have yours, I'd appreciate it, but I understand if you don't."
"Oh, Max, you're special, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Whoever gave you up is an idiot. Of course you can have my contact info. I'd also like a kiss, please, and not the kind between friends. Help me slide this tray down so we can stand."
He helped her up, pulling her to him as she stood, one hand on the small of her back as the other tilted her head, and he leaned in—taking control without dominating. Dana's lips parted for him, her arms reaching around him as the kiss took on a life of its own and then slowly ebbed, naturally. A fitting goodbye.
"I'm glad you wanted to come back with us last night. Thanks for taking care of me."
"I got you this way, least I could do was make sure you're okay. Now, have a seat and call your man. Brent put your cellphone in the pocket of the robe."
She watched him go, and found the phone where Max said it'd be. Zach answered on the first ring, and she told him everything that'd happened since she arrived. He was silent during most of her story, asking brief questions to clarify. She didn't soften anything, and was careful to state the facts as she remembered them—being clear about her feelings for Jacob, and the things she'd felt when topping him. Zach valued honesty, and she knew they didn't have a chance of surviving if she didn't lay it all out for him.
He hadn't expected her to get involved sexually with Jacob, and certainly didn't imagine she'd have group sex with three men at the club. He'd thought it'd be platonic at the house with Brent and his partner, with the only playing taking place at the dungeon. She could tell he was blindsided, but to his credit he remained calm and questioned her about how she was feeling, where she was emotionally.
"I've never Topped before, I'm deciding whether I might be a switch. And with Max—bottoming instead of submitting—I liked it. I realize you're more Dom than sadist, and I'm sorry I seem to not know exactly what I am..."
He interrupted. “No apologies. You're figuring it out. You are submissive, of that I'm sure, but maybe you're branching out.” He breathed out in irritation. “I hate doing this over the phone. Can I come to you? I can rent a car and be there in about three hours. That way I can meet Brent and Jacob, Max too, if he's still around. And I can turn the rental in there and drive you home in your car."
Her heart jumped—he wanted to come to her, even though he was probably upset. She'd like him to see Brent and Jacob together, so he'd know how strong their relationship is, and so he would understand her fondness for Jacob fell into a different category than her feelings for Zach. Plus, she needed to know if she'd still feel submissive to him.
"I'd like to see you, too. Max is gone, but let me get Brent in here. He gave me a cordless, showed me how to use it as an intercom."
She was halfway through explaining Zach wanted to rent a car and drive up when Brent interrupted with, “An excellent plan. I'd love to meet him, and I'm sure Jacob would, too. He's welcome to stay the night, it'll be late when he gets here, and the two of you can head back tomorrow. Hand me the phone so I can invite him and give him the address, does he have GPS? Will he need directions?"
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Chapter Eighteen
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Dana awoke to the sound of Brent, Jacob, and Zach talking quietly. She remembered Jacob rubbing more of Brent's ointment onto her welts, knots, and bruises after lunch, and she must have fallen asleep as he was massaging it in.
She heard Brent's voice rise. “I think she's awake."
Zach walked into her view and leaned down. “How're you feeling?"
"Pretty good while I'm on my side.” She realized she had a sheet over her, thought about pulling it around her as she sat up, but changed her mind.
"There should be a robe...” She looked around, saw it on a nearby chair, and motioned. “Brent's letting me use that one. Can you pass it to me so I can sit up, please?"
Brent reached for Jacob's hand. “Dana dear, Jacob and I'll be downstairs pulling a meal together. The two of you should have about thirty minutes to talk before we'll have dinner ready. Okay?"
"Brent, you're doing too much, you should let me order some food in. The last thing I remember was eating lunch, it can't be that late."
He laughed. “You most certainly aren't ordering dinner in, and your body's been through a lot, it needs sleep. You've had a three-hour nap, which means it's time to eat again. We'll see you in a bit."