Page 37 of Lesson In Honesty
Mack shook his head. “Not the money. The feeling of guilt and betrayal mainly. Worrying whether it’s the right move, if my staff will be protected once the deal’s done, if there’s any way I can take my company to its fullest potential myself… the lawyers are continually hashing out the details, arguing, amending the paperwork. Tristan thought some time away would give me some breathing room, some… clarity, I guess.”
It seemed feasible enough, he supposed. Serenity was built for that reason. Peace, tranquility, clarity. He was aware he was being overly suspicious, but he wasn’t taking any chances when it came to Sierra. “How long are you here for?”
“A month.”
Four weeks. That was definitely a red flag—not short enough to be a fuck and forget fling, long enough for feelings and attachments to raise their heads.
Was it worth the risk?
“How much experience have you got in the lifestyle?”
Slightly chagrined, Mack grimaced. “Compared to everyone else here, probably not a lot. I’ve played on and off over the years, mainly in clubs, and I’ve only had one serious D/s relationship. That flaked when she decided she wanted a guy who was more into the… debasing kinks that she enjoyed.”
“Sorry.”
“I’m not. She showed her true colors in the end, and I didn’t like them. There was only one option, and that was end it. I know what I like in a sub—obedience, manners, a willingnessto please, and a spark of adventure.” He pointed his finger at Sierra. “Do you know what I’d give to have a woman like her?”
Well now, wasn’t that just the perfect opening. “An arm, a leg?”
“Everything. Bank accounts, limbs, my firstborn—not that I have one,” Mack said with a chuckle. “A woman like her is the Holy Grail. I mean, look at her—do you even know how lucky you are to have her?” He shook his head ruefully. “Of course, you do. She wouldn’t look to you for guidance if you were complacent with her.”
Liam took two hefty swallows of beer, then set his glass down. Tapping his fingertips on the side, he paused at the metaphorical crossroad of his life, weighing up the turns. He knew he was being an asshole, taking a lot more information from Mack than he was giving, but there’d be time to share more later.
“How would you describe yourself?” Liam asked.
Mack lifted his eyebrow. “This is starting to feel more like an interview than a test. If this is some kind of roleplay, I don’t think it’s my kink.” A grin and an easy shrug followed his words. “I guess I’m pretty laidback when I’m not working. I stress too much when I work so I try not to let it leech into my downtime. Loyalty’s probably one of my main traits; I have a pretty fair sense of justice. I’ve been called smart—nerd smart, not genius smart. My humor is good, I’m a tidy guy but not a neat freak. Hygiene is a specialty.”
“All right, all right.” Holding his hand up, Liam stepped over the line and made the turn. “I’m going to say you’re not wrong about this being an interview. The last few years have been difficult for us after the death of our partner. We moved here to have a break from our old lives in Phoenix for… well, as long as we need. Sierra expressed an interest in finding another third.”
Mack jerked his thumb at his chest. “Me?”
“Potentially. Sierra is selective about who touches her; I’m infinitely more discerning. I’m open to discussing involving you in our relationship if that’s something you’re agreeable to, but only with her approval and several stipulations in place.” Liam took a breath, waiting for the instant of wave of regret to strike him down… but nothing came. Perhaps he’d made the right choice.
“This offer is on the table because you liked watching me touch her?”
“No. I liked thewayyou touched her, how you treated her, and her response. She has trust issues which result in episodes where she can’t get aroused and can’t orgasm. What you accomplished up there in front of an audience was a reflection of both her and you.”
“Hmm. When you say involving me in your relationship, I’m presuming you don’t just want me to be a living dildo for your girlfriend to ride when she has the urge?”
Liam’s lips twitched. Yes, long- or short-term, Mack would fit in well with them. “No. The level of intimacy you get with her will depend on how long you want to be included. I’m not searching for someone to break her heart, Mack. She has a soft one, vulnerable and open. If you just want a quick fuck over the weekend, this isn’t for you.”
“No, I get that. What happens in a month, when my stay here is over?”
That was a cliff they’d tackle closer to the time, when he knew the lay of the land more intimately. There was no guarantee Sierra was even going to agree to this, although judging by her physical reactions to the guy, her body was likely to vote yay. “We’ll figure that out when we get there.”
“I have to admit, this isn’t what I expected when I got here. I thought I’d spend a lot of time playing hit and miss with whatever free subs were willing. Sierra holds a lot more appeal.”Tilting his head, Mack frowned. “Would this be a two-on-one deal or is it a more of an interactive threesome?”
“Good question. Our previous relationship with Wyatt was complex. Sierra is obviously submissive; Wyatt was more submissive than dominant, if I’m honest. I suppose the simplest way to explain it is the only one who didn’t get fucked up the ass by someone else was me.” A slow, wolfish smile spread across his mouth. “I’m a giver in that respect.”
“So you fucked WyattandSierra.”
“Yes.”
“Sierra fucked Wyatt?”
“She’s quite skilled with a strap-on but not comfortable using it.”
“And you fucked Sierra with Wyatt?”