“A slip is inevitable. Right?”
“I’ll try really hard to keep this under wraps. How’s that?”
“As good as a phone call to Mom as soon as we hang up,” Trixie said, traipsing to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and grabbed a diet soda and a pack of sliced honey ham.
“Mitch is back in my life.”
“I take that to mean he’s back in your bed, too.”
“That’s a given.”
“I know a few men who won’t be too thrilled with the news.”
“Me, too,” Trixie said. “Maybe you could smooth things over before we get home.”
“I’ll try,” Vicky promised.
“That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.” Trixie grabbed a couple of slices of bread and made a quick sandwich.
“I’ll make this easy for you,” Vicky said. “As I said, I heard Brock call you his sub. You seem receptive. Is there something you want to ask me?”
“Well, you know I’m familiar with the lifestyle.”
“Of course.”
“What you don’t know is this—Brock and Mitch had somewhat introduced bondage and submission when we first got together all those years ago.”
“No, I don’t think you said anything to me.”
“I probably didn’t. Anyway, they did,” Trixie said, taking a bite of her sandwich and chewing quickly. “So this isn’t new to me.”
“That’s good,” Vicky said, sounding puzzled.
“Vicky, will you tell me something? Is it drastically different between you and Joshua and you and Patrick?”
Again the line went silent.
Trixie took another bite of her sandwich. Around a mouthful of food she said, “I mean you don’t need to provide intimate details of your relationship. It’s just—”
“You want to know the difference between being a sex slave and a submissive.”
“Yeah, I do,” Trixie replied. “I want to know if what I’m doing, what I’m experiencing is normal. Ya know?”
“I don’t exactly,” Vicky said. “And I’m not sure if I’m the one to advise you on this particular subject.”
Trixie giggled nervously. She couldn’t believe she was having this discussion with her mother’s best friend. Really, she should’ve called Kimberly. She could probably write a book on Domination and submission since she’d been with Jason Neely on again and off again since she was barely legal. Neely still had the reputation for being one of the most influential Doms in the South.
Trixie set her sandwich on a napkin. That thought almost made her lose her lunch.
“Honey, the only thing I can tell you is this—if you are asking me questions, then it’s possible what your guys have asked you to do is more than you’re willing to try at this time. If you’re uncomfortable, then maybe you shouldn’t comply. In other words, use your safe word. Use it firmly and then later discuss it. Tell them your feelings. Talk openly and honestly with your Dominants. Maybe they’ve rushed things.
“Then again, the uneasiness you feel may come from the fact that you’ve lived a pretty vanilla life with Brock and Rory before Mitch was back in the picture. It may be too much, too soon.”
“That’s just it. I want them to push for more. A lot more.”
The deafening silence filled the line once more.
“Are you still with me?” Trixie asked, finishing off her sandwich.
“Trixie, you’re a grown woman. You’re a wonderful mother and a fabulous wife to your husbands.”
“But?”
“But I think whatever you do, you shouldn’t make drastic changes. Think about your children.”
“I agree there,” Trixie said. “But I want the things I think you probably have with Aspen, Joshua, and Patrick.”
A heavy breath filled the line.
“Vicky, talk to me. Advise me.”
“Okay, you want my advice? I’ll give it to you. In doing so, I need you to understand. You should draw your own conclusions. Submission and how you address any perceived boundaries or limitations—or the lack thereof—must be a decision you reach on your own.
“I didn’t anticipate having Patience when I became involved with Aspen, Patrick, and Joshua. I didn’t consider how my life would have its share of ramifications on the little girl I adored, the young woman I admire more than anyone else in the world.
“I didn’t think about the ridicule she’d endure when her mother showed up for her school functions with a collar around her neck. I sure didn’t stop to consider how she might feel if her friends came over and happened to spot a leash on the counter or perhaps walked in unannounced and saw me down on my knees scrubbing floors for punishment while taking hard licks to my behind.