Clifftop Fantasies [BDSM Menage Fantasies] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (28 page)

Allie thought back to the scenes she’d witnessed the previous weekend. “Some of the people at the club really seemed to be in pain,” she said. “How do you know what’s consensual and what’s not?”

“It’s tricky,” Karl agreed. “But when you know the people involved you can tell. Any bottom in a scene should have a safeword that they can use to slow down or stop what’s being done to them, but other people don’t always know what that word is. Sadists often like to point out that ‘ouch’ is not a safeword, but ‘no’ and ‘stop’ usually aren’t, either, since people tend to say them involuntarily or as part of the role-playing. ‘Red’ is a universal safeword that will indicate to everyone in any reputable dungeon in the country that someone’s limit has been exceeded. Play can be fun, but it can also be very serious. Some people want to have their boundaries pushed, to see how far they can go. Both parties need to trust each other, but they also need to be able to communicate their needs.”

“Is that what Jane meant by a ‘play party’?” Brad asked, looking a bit nervous.

Karl nodded. “If we’re going to turn this place into a BDSM resort, then we’ll have to allow people to play here. We have quite a bit of equipment already.” He smiled at Allie, seeming to relax a little. “You haven’t seemed interested so far in investigating the scope of your inheritance, but I assure you we have everything we need for a fully stocked dungeon as soon as you’re ready to accept it. Maybe it is time to start inviting the local community to come out and play.”

“Jane said she wanted to make amends with them,” Allie told him, watching for his reaction.

He snorted slightly. “I imagine she does, if she has designs on your property. She’d need help running it and she’s always overestimated her ability to control people. Sure, she’d be able to attract submissives, but she wouldn’t be able to keep them.”

Allie couldn’t stop herself. “She also said that you were planning to make us all slaves so you could be the master of the house like my father was.”

He looked down at her, smiling sardonically. “And do you believe her?”

Allie glanced at Brad, who looked a little confused, then turned back to Karl. “I don’t think so,” she confessed. “Although it kind of seems possible.”

He laughed. “Thanks for your honesty. In the first place, I can’t force anyone to be a slave. As I explained before, slavery is a mutually beneficial relationship for the purpose of personal growth. These kinds of things are all about trust, and trust is earned. If you don’t think you can trust me, we shouldn’t be entering into any kind of partnership, much less a power exchange. You’ve only known me about six months, and you’re absolutely right to be wondering whether you should trust me, especially after seeing the police report. I can explain the circumstances, but you two will have to decide about the level of trust you’re going to place in me. Brad, you must be worried about the suggestion of my having abusive tendencies, since I am often alone with Allie, and especially now that we have begun a physical relationship. So I propose that, until you both feel that I’ve earned your trust, we only play when all three of us are present.”

He paused and waited for their reaction. With an effort, Allie stopped herself from blurting out that she had no doubts about his integrity. Just one look at his face told her that he would never harm anyone, much less her, and she would have bet her life on it. But Brad might not be feeling the same way. If he didn’t trust Karl, then they would have to come to some kind of understanding.

Brad spoke up then. “This is strictly my opinion,” he began, giving Allie an apologetic glance, as if he thought she would be offended. “I can see how misunderstandings can happen. I don’t think we can take this situation as proof of anything. However, I do have a certain amount of responsibility for Allie’s safety, and I’d like to slow things down a little until we sort through all this stuff. So, for that reason, I think your proposal is a good idea. Allie, do you agree to that?”

Allie felt a stab of disappointment at the thought that she wouldn’t be allowed to have any more sessions with Karl like they’d had that morning. But then she remembered the scene they’d all done together, and she realized that they had ways they could play together that might be just as satisfying. She’d have to wait and see. She nodded. “I can appreciate your concern,” she said to Brad. “I’m willing to take it slowly until you’re more comfortable with the situation.”

He gave her a wide smile and took her hand. “Then,” he said to Karl, “if it’s okay with both of you, I’d like to see these pictures everyone keeps talking about.”

A few minutes later they had the photos spread out in front of them. Allie was feeling strangely nervous, which struck her as silly. They’d both seen her naked, and she knew she’d looked a lot better then, but there was something about the cool, businesslike appraisal of her nudity that was unsettling. She wondered if Jane had ever felt shy about casually looking at her own naked pictures and how long it had taken her to get used to it.

Brad and Karl discussed the pictures in a surprisingly friendly way. It was almost as if the police report had never existed. Allie decided to put it out of her mind as much as possible until things among them all were more settled. Surely he wouldn’t be so trusted in the community if the allegation was true. He didn’t seem particularly worried about it as he explained the technical aspects of the work. Brad was equally relaxed as he asked questions that Allie would never have thought of. Maybe this was another interest he’d never known he had.

They went on to discuss Charlie’s proposal. Karl, it turned out, didn’t know exactly what it was going to be, but he thought it had something to do with a book about styles in nude photography.

“Maybe we should get in touch with him and start negotiations,” Brad suggested, earning a startled look from Allie.

He shrugged at her unasked question. “We’re going to need some more working capital if we switch the focus of the business now. I’m assuming your teddy-bear room won’t go over so well with the new clientele?”

Karl laughed. “You’d be surprised at the range of fetishes there are,” he told Brad. “Actually, the teddy-bear room would be perfect for some people. But yes, we do need to start working on other sources of income to keep us going until we develop a reputation. Allie, did Charlie ever actually make you an offer?”

Allie shook her head, a little embarrassed. “No, I never let him get that far.” She reflected that she hadn’t been particularly nice about it when he’d tried to talk to her, either, but didn’t mention that fact. She turned to Brad. “Do you really mean you wouldn’t have a problem with them being published?”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “If we’re going to run an ‘alternative’ kind of business, I don’t think we can afford to be prudish. Besides, I may lose my job when it becomes public knowledge what we’re doing. A few naked pictures are nothing compared to the whole kinky business thing, are they? It’s not like any of it is going to be a secret. My parents will probably disown me when they find out about the polyamory.” He gave Karl an apologetic look. “And they won’t come anywhere near the place if we tell them what we’re doing.”

“Are you thinking we should tell them about all this?” Allie asked him in astonishment. “What if they refuse to see us?”

“Oh, not all of it, of course,” he said, chuckling at the thought. “But I’ve been thinking about it, and if they won’t accept the way we’ve decided to live, that’s their problem. I’ve been trying to live by their ideals all my life, and it’s time I found my own. I always thought that being an adult meant following all of the rules and trying to become my dad. I never allowed myself to rebel, and then when we got together I thought I owed it to you to be a serious, responsible adult. I was miserable trying to be the boss and run our lives the way my parents would approve of. When you suggested we try something radically different, I wasn’t sure I could. I’m still not absolutely convinced I can deal with you having sex with someone else, but I don’t want to go back to living my parents’ life. We need to try this, and if we want to make it work we’re going to have to jump in with both feet. If I can handle someone else being in charge, do you think you can handle having your old pictures republished?”

Allie felt her heart skip a beat. The thought of showing her body at the club, where everyone seemed accepting and nonjudgmental, was one thing. Publishing naked pictures of her, even ones taken more than a decade previously, was a completely different prospect. But if it helped support them while they were getting the new business going,
could
she deal with it?

“I’m not sure,” she finally said. “Don’t you think that would be weird?”

“A little.” He shook his head. “But think about it. We’re probably all going to have to go outside our comfort zones anyway. I think that’s part of the point of the lifestyle. What other choices do we have?” He turned back to Karl. “These look great to me, but I’m no judge of photography. Are they good enough to make us some money?”

“Charlie’s work has appeared in several men’s magazines, as well as more serious photography journals,” Karl told them. “He’s known as much for the artistic quality of his technique as the eroticism of the subjects. I suspect he’d also like to broker the rights for some of your father’s work, too, Allie. But that could be tricky, especially when it comes to anything involving Jane. She lost her lawsuit against Allen for exclusive rights to her own pictures, but I think she’s working some kind of angle to try it again now that he’s dead. Be careful about that if and when you start negotiating with Charlie.”

They finished looking at the pictures and separated for the night. Allie desperately wanted to ask Karl to come and sleep in their bed again, but she reluctantly decided it wouldn’t be a good idea, considering everything.

Chapter 24

On Friday night, Allie was sitting on the front porch, waiting for Brad to come home. They had spent the last couple of nights considering every possible aspect of their new lifestyle. They’d discussed over and over again what the police report might mean, whether it was a red flag, and who would be impartial and knowledgeable enough to advise them about it. She had spent her days trying to avoid Karl, remembering that they had all agreed not to play unless all three were present. She wanted nothing more than to invite Karl in to have dinner, and sex, and sleep in their bed, but he’d seemed to want to give them distance, and she knew that they needed to work out for themselves how they were going to handle it.

When Brad pulled up and joined her, they kissed and went inside together. To their surprise, Karl was sitting at the dining room table waiting for them.

“Hello. Are you joining us for dinner?” Allie asked, glancing at Brad. He was smiling, too, and added his invitation.

“That would be great, sweetie,” Karl said, giving her a smile.

“It’s in the oven. Shouldn’t be long.” Allie went into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with plates and silverware, which the men took from her to set the table. She quickly dished up the simple casserole she’d made and poured wine for them all.

Nobody spoke as they all began to eat, but Allie was slightly surprised to realize that it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. She had expected there to be tension among them all now, but it was almost as if the police report had never happened. She looked around at the two men that were now sharing her life and her body, shaking her head in amazement.
Who would have ever guessed even a couple of weeks ago that I would be sitting here with not just my boyfriend but my new Master and lover and that everyone would be okay with it?

“What’s wrong, Allie?” Karl asked suddenly, bringing her out of her reverie.

“Not a thing, Sir. I was just sitting here marveling at how much things have changed and how fast.”

“Yes, they have,” Brad agreed before Karl could answer. “In fact, we have something we’d like to tell you, Sir.”

He reached over and took Allie’s hand. She stared at him in confusion.

“I’m pretty sure I speak for both of us,” Brad said, “but feel free to correct me if you don’t agree, Allie.” He turned back to Karl. “We’ve been talking about the police report, and I’ve been thinking through everything that’s happened for the last six months or so since we met you. I took the liberty of checking into the public records concerning this house and abuse allegations. It’s very true that there were never any actual charges filed against either you or Allen, and after reading all I could find about the lifestyle, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no evidence that you ever acted anything other than honorably, toward us or anyone else.” He smiled at Allie’s gasp, squeezing her hand.

“Like I said, Allie can speak up if she disagrees, but I don’t think she does. This whole thing is completely new to me, but I’m finding that there are parts of it that feel right and natural,” Brad went on. “For example, I always thought I was a control freak. I think in reality I was stressed out because I didn’t really want that much responsibility. But now that you are willing to take over, at least in certain areas, I’m finding a huge load being lifted off my shoulders. I actually like the feeling of having someone else in charge. I think Allie needs the kind of leadership she can get from you, and I think I would benefit from it, too. I’d like both of us to be submissive to you when it comes to the business and…some forms of play.” He blushed a little but went on. “I’d like to be submissive to Allie when it comes to sex. Will that work?”