chapter 6

Thankfully, Beth's cheery voice keeps me from adding something sarcastic that might actually hurt the

poor girl, and I turn with a smile to greet my dear friend.

“Eddie, so nice of you to drop by again!”

I snort, and after hugging Beth, I chuckle.

“So good to see you again, Bethany! I'm so sorry I couldn't make it sooner, but you know how it is,

real life gets in the way.” Her murderous glare at using her full name actually makes me blanch a

little, and I have to remind myself that I'm no longer her sub. I should also stay away from her

playroom for the next few weeks, because I know she can be slow to forgive. Still, calling me Eddie

of all things has to be met with equal nastiness.

Her grin at seeing me go white is as bright as ever, and after a moment it also reaches her eyes.

“I know, I know, busy times when it's been months since you showed up at any of our parties. Or even

the Sunday munch. If I didn't know better I'd think you're trying to hide Bella from us!”

Raven is still eavesdropping, although she’s cut her flirtatious stretching to a minimum. Beth isn't

happy when she's flirting with the customers, so she only does it behind her back. I have no doubt that

Beth knows, but she's a more lenient boss than Mistress.

“Yeah, about that,” I start, then nod towards the café area of the shop.

“Why don't we talk about that over a nice shot of espresso? I'm still uncaffeinated, and cannot be held

responsible for anything I say.” Beth snorts but leads the way, leaving me to nod at Raven again and

follow her. We're alone as none of the browsing customers have settled down for snacks or drinks

yet, and Beth mans the coffee maker herself. I'm sure she wants to spite me when she hands me my

coffee with cream, no sugar, but I ignore her smirk. We sit down and both savor the delicious coffee,

before she steers the conversation back to the previous topic.

“So my ever persistent employee already told you of the play party?”

“Yup.”

“You coming?”

“As I told her, have to ask the Missus first.”

Beth rolls her eyes at me, but her smile is friendly. “You're so pussy whipped, you know that?”

I grin at her in answer, but wisely hold my tongue. Beth takes that with a theatrical sigh, but I can see

that she clearly approves.

“You know, sometimes I wonder where you'll end up with the balance shift between the two of you.

Last time Bella clearly liked having your ass.” Of course the memory makes my cock stir, but I will

my boner away quickly. Beth wouldn't approve, and if anything, I feel the utmost respect towards her. “I guess she did. Not that I'm protesting.”

Her chuckle is bordering on nasty, and she regards me with mirth filled eyes over the rim of her cup.

“I wonder what you'd do if Bella decides one day that she likes bossing you around more than

bending to your will.”

Bending to my will, my ass, since my colossal mess-up Bella hasn't done any bending of any sort that

didn't come straight from her heart. As it should be, I have to admit, but sometimes I miss the times

when I had to entice her into doing something that clearly scandalized her.

“If she wants it, I'll gladly spend the rest of my days kissing her feet.” Which she wouldn't approve of,

because her feet are still a hard limit. I should find out why, as it sometimes peeves me that she

doesn't let me suck on her toes when she's fresh out of the shower, but that view usually makes me

want to suck on something else.

“Really?” Beth sounds moderately surprised. I nod.

“And what if she decides to never nurture that slight dominant streak of hers?”

“Then I'll gladly have her spend the rest of her life at my feet.” Both scenarios seem equally unlikely

to me, and I wouldn't even want Bella to be more submissive than she is now. A little time outside the

playroom might be fun sometimes, but the way she was behaving at the beginning made me realize that

we both are ill-suited for anything going even vaguely towards 24/7. I like being in control, but I can't

take responsibility for both of us.

“What are you thinking that makes you frown like you just bit into a slice of lime? Don't worry, I'm

sure Bella'll be always happy to spank you if you just ask her enough.”

I sigh and shake my head, trying to disperse the unease that always grips me at the thought of screwing

things up again, this time for good.

“I'm sure she wouldn’t need a lot of persuasion. Speaking of which, I need your help.”

Beth sends me a pointed look because I've evaded her question, but she nods for me to go on. “Sure.”

“As you well know, her birthday's in a month, and I need to get some things without letting her know

what I'm up to.”

“Don't worry, I won't rat you out if you're concerned about that.” I laugh at her comment, although I

don't fully believe her. I'm happy that after four years of underlying resentment towards the girl who

I've always been in love with, Beth has changed her attitude quickly after meeting Bella, but now

they've joined ranks against me. The irony of that doesn't escape me, that now my former Domme and

current sub are best buds, but at least Bella has someone to talk to. Even if I feel that Beth should be

on my side, always.

“I don't think she'd listen to you, my girl likes surprises. Although not much of a surprise there as she'd be terribly disappointed if I didn't make good on my promise.”

Beth's laugh has a clearly taunting note.

“Edward, really, a vibrating, remote controlled butt plug and a corset?

You're a hopeless sap, you know that?”

That doesn't deserve an answer, so I try to ignore her nasty grin.

“And a romantic weekend getaway in the mountains, honey moon cabin package.”

Of course the official part of my present fuels her amusement further.

“Cabin, getaway, and mountains means a hut in the woods where no one can hear her scream, right?”

My snort confirms my ulterior motives.

“I asked Bella's mom what she thought of that, and I'm now officially accepted as perfect son-in-law

material. I have no idea how you always come up with such abstruse scenarios!”

“Because that's what I would think of first, and in this aspect we're very much alike, you and me.”

We share a smile before she goes on.

“So what about do you need my help? Sounds like you have everything planned already.”

“More or less,” I nod. “I already have everything except the corset.” Beth frowns at me for a moment.

“You know that you need her measurements for that? Not like the slapstick comedy grope move where

the lusty husband walks into the lingerie shop and shamelessly asks the shop assistant to model half of

their matching sets because he can't decide what to buy his frigid wife who'll never wear it anyway?

Although, if you'd walk into Victoria's Secret, the skanks would likely fall over themselves to offer

you a cat walk show.”

I make a face, and Beth laughs loud enough that Raven sticks her head in to see what is so funny.

“I really don't know why you constantly have to shove my face in the fact that for whatever reason,

women want to throw themselves at me. I don't even do anything to make them think I'd want them!

Even before I had Bella I've never been interested.”

Which made bar hopping with Jazz a real pain in the ass, always. You'd think that seeing me reject ten

skanks in a row would make the eleventh look for a different target, but no. And I really don't want to

think about that at the moment. Or ever.

Beth saves me from having to bash my head against the table by redirecting our conversation.

“So, corset. Not quite your field of expertise.” I shake my head, laughing.

“I just know how to get her in and out of one. But I know that you have a thing for anything tight and

restricting, so I'm coming here begging for your help.”

“Begging, huh?”

“You know what I mean.”

The mirth in her look tells me she knows exactly what I'm talking about, which is more than I'd admit

right now. If she'd let me, I wouldn't let Bella leave the bedroom without wearing a corset ever again.

At least for anything involving sex.

“What do you have in mind? I vaguely remember that you were taunting her with having her wear it

underneath her clothes at the birthday party with her parents.”

I nod, but I know that's a bad idea. I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off her, and as much as

Charlie tolerates Bella's choice to be with me, I don't think it's wise to take PDA to that level in front

of him.

“Actually, I'm planning on getting her two. I mean I can't very well send her over to you for measuring

and expect her not to know why you need those details, but I don't think she'd expect me to

shamelessly abuse the situation like that.”

Beth chuckles, although I'm not sure if she approves of my plan. “Okay, two. The question remains the

same, what do you have in mind?”

“For her birthday present I thought about some less restricting, shorter one, you know like the satin

underbust corsets that also made it into the H&M

racks?”

“You mean the fake, 'I'm so hip because I wear a corset' ones?” I grin at her disapproving tone.

“Exactly, only a real one. Just short. Maybe one that she can wear to work, too, over a blouse.

Nothing that restricts her too much, but still keeps her in the right mind frame.”

“Mind frame, huh? You know, many women just like wearing corsets because they make them feel

more feminine, or because they like the added support.”

“Oh, sure, like you never think of anything remotely sexual when you let Gerard help you tighten the

laces?”

For a moment she sends me that look that means that she'd dearly like to spank me for that remark.

“I think it would be a disservice to him if it wouldn't turn me on when my slave touches me.”