Jenna's Consent (38 page)

Jenna sat in a comfy office chair and speaking into a
microphone, addressing Samantha across a desk.

With everything on her mind, Jenna expected to be
scatterbrained, even upset. But the well-dressed radio show host was cordial,
funny and had just the right amount of sex appeal to be provocative and
alluring.

“Thanks for calling, Monique. I hope lots of people were
watching the live feed. Jenna’s face was priceless when you asked about butt
plugs. Her face lit up like it was Christmas morning.”

Jenna smiled again, unable to help herself. “The
njoys
really are the best. Don’t scrimp when it comes to your personal pleasure. If
you don’t know what you like, how is anyone else going to get it right?”

“Exactly! Thanks, ladies. Had fun!” Jenna grinned as the
caller disconnected.

“Thanks for calling Samantha Speaks at SEXX Satellite
Radio.”

That had to be the twentieth person they’d talked to in the
two and a half hours she’d already been on.

They’d talked about all sorts of things, from vanilla
topics—such as nail polish—all the way up to pretty kinky. Such as the category
the last call most definitely fit into.

The Library was never mentioned, not even in rumor
thankfully.

“So what else do you have planned for the blog? I just love
it. You’ve gained quite a lot of followers. My producer and I were throwing
around the idea of putting a blog together but neither of us have time.”

“Then maybe we can have you on Aftercare, as a guest. A
weekly spot, maybe.”

“Ooooooo…” She tapped her fingers together and gave the
thumbs up to her producer, Christy, who was in the booth. “That would be
awesome and actually leads me into a question. I was going to wait until after
the show but I can’t. I’m too excited. We wondered if you might think about
coming on here and talking to us and the listeners again. Maybe once a month or
every couple weeks, whatever might work with your schedule.” She paused and
looked at a computer screen in front of her. Laughter bubbled out of her. “From
the way the Twitter feed just blew up with yesses of many varieties, I’d say I
have their stamp of approval.”

“Wow. I love the blog and I love my followers, as well as
the followers I’ve met for your radio show today. Of course, I would more than
appreciate any exposure to gain both more recognition. To vanillas and
kinksters alike. I’d be honored. Truly. Especially since you’re kink-friendly.
You’d be surprised what we deal with when we go public about being kinky.”

“I do know something about being on the outside looking in.”
She motioned around the room. “Radio is still quite a bit dominated by men, so
being a female has been rough for making it in this business. It’s made me
tough.” Samantha was actually a very well-dressed businesswoman. Her hair was
up in a chignon and she wore a pencil skirt and heels, even at almost midnight.

“Well, we thank you for coming and…Oh my gosh, I almost
forgot. I believe you have some big news to share?”

Jenna leaned forward in excitement. “My friends and I are
opening some kink-friendly businesses in the near-future, right across the
state line in Missouri. They’ll be located at Zodiac and 275, no more than a
ten-minute drive from most of the residents of Arcadia. Interior construction
has actually already begun on the few changes we needed made. We’re super jazzed.”

“Why across the dotted line?”

“Let’s just say the rules and regulations on the items and
apparel we’ll be offering are a bit more lax one state over.”

“Well, well, well. I’ve seen all of the work going on over
there. It’s the strip center, right?”

“Exactly. The brand-new one. We’ll have at least four store
fronts. Inktastic is going to be moving there as well. There will hopefully be
a little bit for everyone. To tickle their fancy, you could say?”

“Love it and can’t wait to see what wonderfully decadent things
you offer. We’ll have to do a feature when you come back. Maybe they’ll be open
by then.”

“Hope so. Maybe two weeks. We’ll be offering my brand of
merchandise, Kinky Pinky at the Nice and Knotty Boutique. Knotty as in rope,
which we’ll be selling as well. There will be a photography studio and an art
gallery with custom pieces. It’s going to be incredible. Me and my girls
Haleigh, Cyn and Skye can’t wait to share with you.”

“Not as much as the rest of us, who are now nibbling our
nails and tapping our feet, waiting for it to open.” She looked at the big
clock behind her on the wall. “Thirty seconds, Jenna. One more thing you’d like
to share with the men and women tuning in?”

Without thinking, she just spoke from her heart. “We aren’t
trying to turn vanillas into kinksters, so don’t try to make us into something
that will help you sleep at night. Being submissive or Dominant isn’t dirty.
It’s beautiful. We aren’t sick. We don’t need therapy any more than the rest of
the world does or doesn’t. We don’t need to be fixed. Let me say that again,
for anyone out there that has this inside them. You…don’t need to be fixed.”

Jenna blinked a few times, not knowing when she’d closed her
eyes. Samantha sat, perfectly still, across the desk, with tears in her eyes.

She smiled and mouthed two words. “Thank you.”

Her producer knocked on the glass, breaking the connection
they shared, no matter how brief it was.

“You’re my kind of girl, Jenna. This has been an eye-opening
evening for me and I hope the rest of you naughty listeners out there can say
the same. Samantha, signing off from another smutty chat. ’Til next time. Keep
it kinky, people.”

“And…we’re clear,” called Christy from the booth.

Samantha started shutting things down in their small studio
and Jenna stood, stretching her back from sitting down for so long.

Jenna faced her and smiled. “This was awesome. Can’t even
tell you how much fun I had and I needed it.”

“Honestly, so did I. And I meant what I said about having
you on. I know your schedule’s going to be nuts with the new places opening up
but I’d love to have you back. We could even exchange your time for ads for the
stores. I’m all about the barter.”

“That’s a great idea and I’m still floored you’d like me
back. We could even work out ad space for you on the blog. It’s great
cross-promotion and I bet our audiences would like each other’s stuff.”

“I think so too. So glad I stumbled along your blog.”

Out of the blue, Jenna asked, “I’m gonna head over to CJ’s
bar for a little bit. Need to unwind before hitting the sack. Should be pretty
quiet. Want a nightcap?”

“Thanks for the invite but I have a date with my hot tub and
a glass of wine.”

“That sounds awesome, actually. I might just have to head
home and take a hot bath myself. We’re normally there every Wednesday night if
you ever care to join us. We’d love to have you. Pretty sure you’d fit right in
with our crowd. You just might be able to let your hair down a bit.” Jenna got
a glance at her perfectly coifed bun as Samantha turned around to grab her purse.
“That shouldn’t look like that after midnight, no matter how long you spent on
it.”

She laughed. “Hair and makeup are my things, actually. I
dabble on the side. Have done it for a few photo shoots. It’s so much fun.”

“Really?” Pure excitement and a little bit of fate danced
inside Jenna. A hair and makeup person for Haleigh’s photo shoots would make
her pictures go from gorgeous to yummytastic. “It’s very interesting you should
say that…”

As she walked into CJ’s, she expected to be accosted by Nick
or Ian.

They didn’t know she was going to come but they normally did
anyway somehow.

She was relieved or crushed or both when they weren’t there.

Douglas caught her eye and crooked his head for her to come
over.

“So,” he said by way of greeting.

She smiled. “You are such a guy.”

“No way!” His eyes grew wide and he patted down his chest
and slacks. “You’re right. I’m glad you told me. I may have missed it
otherwise.”

“Wiseass.”

He grinned. “Want something to drink? Beer, wine, fruity girlie
beverage?”

“Umm…just a beer, I think. Surprise me.”

He grabbed a bottle out of a case, popped the top on it and
had it on a little napkin in front of her in less than ten seconds. “You’ve
done this before, I take it?”

“Once or twice.” He winked at her, just like he used to.

She took a sip as he filled a couple more glasses from the
tap and took them to other customers.

“So.”

She sat the bottle down and wrapped her hands around it.
“We’re back to so, huh?”

“Yep, it’s the theme tonight. I want to know how you are.”
His face was a mask of concern and she reached over and held his arm.

“I’m fine. Super green, even.”

“Not what I heard.”

She took her hand back and looked over his shoulder at the
bottles lining the shelves behind him. “And what did you hear?”

“Before I get into that, I want to specifically make sure
you and I are cool. I know I really don’t have any business butting into your
business with anyone else but with me? That I have business in.”

“Yes, I suspect you do. And we’re cool.”

He leaned in close so only she could hear. “I know what
happened wasn’t exactly consensual and some women may have had a big issue when
it happened or crashed and burned big time afterward. I want to check and make
sure I didn’t cross a line I didn’t know you had, nor that you crashed and
didn’t think you could reach out to me if you did.”

Jenna smiled at him. “You’re a good guy, Douglas. Why are
you still single?”

“Haven’t met Miss Right yet but I’m not even fifty-five so
there’s still plenty of time.” He winked at her again and she squeezed his arm.

“We’re fine. I did crash but for other reasons. What you
did? It was hot and sexy and never crossed any lines. Promise.”

“Good deal. Now, what happened with Ian and Nick and why are
they asking if anyone has seen you as if they can’t get a hold of you?”

“What happened to you not butting into my business with
other people?”

“I said I shouldn’t, not that I wasn’t going to. And stop
stalling. What’s going on?”

She blew out a frustrated breath, taking another drink of
her beer. Staring at the label and reading it for the fifth time meant she
still had no clue what she was drinking. “It’s complicated.”

“Understatement of the year.”

A waitress called out a few orders and he filled them,
giving her a couple minutes to think.

“And?”

She shrugged. “They said some things that weren’t cool. I’m
trying to figure out what to do with what they said.”

“They’re guys. They’re gonna step in it from time to time
but just…don’t give up on them, okay?”

“What does it matter to you?” It came out harshly and she
sucked her lips between her teeth and tried again. “It’s not that I don’t
appreciate it. I do. But we’ve known each other, what? A couple months. That’s
not a lot of time and we haven’t exactly hung out much. Seriously. This is the
most we’ve spoken at one time. Ever.”

“Honestly, I can’t answer that. ’Cause I got nothin’. I
don’t do this. With anyone. Not even Patrick and Hector, though we’re closer
than brothers. I just get you or something. Cut from the same cloth. Don’t
know. But I want you to be happy and I think they can do that.”

She stared at him, wanting to believe but her shields were
fully in place. “I’ll take that into consideration. And I’m not responding to
their texts right now. Not certain what I want to say, so I’m taking a breather.”

He knocked her softly under the chin once. “Do. It’s easier
for me to see what’s happening on the outside looking in. I sound like a
fucking talk show host.”

“Yes, you do. You could be the next Dr. Phil but you have
less hair.”

He chuckled and ran his hand over his bald head. “The world
would never be the same. Oh, and you’re about to be attacked.”

Jenna stiffened, frozen in her chair, assuming a
confrontation with Nick and Ian was imminent.

“Girl. You can’t pick up a phone or answer a text message?”

Jenna was hauled out of her chair and Skye tried to squeeze
the life out of her. She held her at arm’s length and looked her up and down.
“You still have all of your limbs. Thank God.”

Haleigh hugged her next and then Cyn.

They grabbed her stuff and then hauled her to their booth
before she could respond at all.

“What the hell happened?” Cyn voiced the question she knew
they were all asking. “One minute you’re getting bought by the two men you want
more than anything and then Jillian tells us you cut and ran, not that long
after it—with neither of your men in sight. You don’t talk to us. We’ve been
worried.”

Jenna clutched their hands, thankful for their friendship
and so much more.

“I’m sorry I made you worry. It wasn’t my intention but I
was lost all day today, plus Nawa’s in town and I had that interview tonight.
My head is scrambled so I just turned off my phone. Don’t think I could have
handled anything else right now.”

“Nawa?” Haleigh piped up. “The guy you learned rope stuff
from?”

“Yes.” She let go of their hands and took another sip of her
beer.

A waitress showed up and took the girls’ drink orders.

“Why’s he in town?” Haleigh continued as soon as the other
chick walked away. “You didn’t tell us he was coming.”

“I didn’t know. He said a
friend
called him and
between the lines told him I needed him. No clue who it is. Wish I did, though.
I’d like to thank them. I really needed him last night. It’s a fourteen-hour
time difference. He must have left even before the auction. None of it makes
sense to me. But I don’t care. Don’t really know what would have happened if he
hadn’t been on my front porch when I got home.”

“That bad?” Skye wanted to know.

“Worse.”

Their drinks arrived and Jenna took a deep breath. Before
they could ask any more questions she confessed, “They wanted me to choose.”

They stared across the table at her, all three in a state of
disbelief. Skye smacked her girlie drink down on the table and a tiny bit
sloshed over the rim, wetting her hand. “You’re fucking kidding me?” Menace
laced her question and the other two looked just as mad.

“I love the three of you. Have I told you that lately?”

“Yeah, yeah love and all that bull honky later. Tell us what
happened so we can go feed them to the fishes.”

Haleigh looked over at Skye. “Is that still a thing?” She
was so serious about it that everyone laughed, including Jenna.

She took a breath and blew it out, ruffling her hair. “I
don’t really want to get into it.” She held her hands up when all three women
opened their mouth to start in on her. “Not because I’m being secretive but I’m
processing a lot. And I crashed hard last night.”

“Drop is a bastard.” This one came from Cyn and she held up
her glass. “May he rot in the hell he spawned from.”

They all clinked their glasses together to a chorus of “hear
hears”.

“I need to talk to them.”

“Yes, they’re looking for you. Been blowing up our phones
too since they couldn’t reach you.”

“Please tell me you didn’t tell them I’m here.”

They all shook their heads. “We wouldn’t do that. Not this
time.”

Haleigh looked at her, nibbling her lip. “You love them,
don’t you?”

Jenna nodded.

“Both of them?”

She nodded again.

“But you haven’t told them how you feel, then they freaked
out after they took you together and totally fucked it all up while you were
still spaced out?”

“That about sums it up.” Jenna sucked on a dry bottle and a
waitress appeared out of thin air with a friendly manner and a nice smile.

“Another?” She gestured toward the beer with no name and
Jenna shook her head, handing her the empty glass.

“No, I’m driving. Can I just get some water?”

“Of course. Everybody else okay?”

“Yes.”

“Uh-huh.”

“All good.”

“We’re here if you want to talk. You know that.” Cyn took
her hand. “But if you need some space to think it out on your own, we get that
too. We’re just really glad to you know you’re okay. At least mostly. We were
about to show up on your doorstep. I’m surprised the guys haven’t yet.”

Jenna squeezed back. “I am. Or I will be, once I decide what
to do.”

“We’ll be here when you do, no matter what.” They all
nodded. “Now tell us about the radio interview. Did it go well?”

Relief swamped her at the not-so subtle topic change.

“Amazing. She wants me to come back on a regular basis and
she’ll pimp the new stores. Plus, she’s willing to contribute material and
stuff for Aftercare. And she does hair and makeup.” She looked at Haleigh.
“Like
good
hair and makeup.”

“As in, for photo shoots?”

“Exactly. I spoke to her a bit after we finished and told
her what you were planning on doing. She’s interested, schedule permitting,
obviously.”

“Yes!” Haleigh bounced in her seat and Skye bounced right
along with her, whether she wanted to or not.

“And I’ve got something else I want to discuss with the
three of you. I think I want to talk to Chris and Jared about doing rope
classes.”

“Like at the place that shall not be spoken about?” Skye
asked.

“Exactly. I don’t know, once a month maybe, at least to
start. See what kind of interest I have.” She sucked in a lungful and said the
rest before she could talk herself out of it. “When Ian walked before, I shut
down. Gave up rope. Became a hollow shell. I refuse to do that again, if that’s
what ends up happening. This is my place, my people, my club and I’m not going
anywhere.”

“Well, thank fuck.” Cyn downed the rest of her drink and
toasted her with the empty glass.

“Now, are you talking about teaching rope or demos or both?”

“Both, I’m sure. I’d need to start with basic technique,
safety, types of rope. I’ve got so much I’d like to talk about, even before we
get into suspension and predicaments. Oscar said he’d bottom for me.”

“Damn, that man’s ass is fine.”

“And his arms. Jesus.”

“It’s the hair. That dark hair and those crystal-blue eyes.
Shouldn’t even be possible with his heritage but damn it looks good on him.”

“Everything looks good on him. It’s probably good he don’t
swing our way ’cause he is OMG kind of nice and sexy.”

Jenna smiled. “So you guys would want to be a part of it,
maybe? Help me out? Learn?”

Cyn nodded for the group. “Absolutely. We’d already talked
and were going to ask you to teach us and our men. It’s hot.”

“Awesome. If it’s okay with you guys, I think I’m going to
run over to The Library and talk to C and J while it’s fresh on my mind.”

“Want some reinforcements?”

“I’d love some.”