“I’m sorry for getting mouthy with you, King. I won’t do it again,” Reed muttered as he leaned into my side.
I snorted. “Don’t go making promises yet.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever acted this way,” Eloise added. “I’m sorry, King.”
“You’re forgiven.”
The two of them spoke back and forth to each other, apologizing for the way they’d spoken while being so damn cute, but it didn’t solve the underlying issue. There was tensionbecause no one was being completely honest. Not about their needs, wants, or anything else buried deep inside their brains. Tapping my finger on each of their shoulders I waited for them to look up at me.
“Since I have very limited time and we don’t know each other very well, you have homework. Write a letter to each other. Stream of consciousness. Whatever’s on your mind? Get it on paper. Do you both agree?”
Eloise frowned. “A letter to Reed? Why would I do that?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Eli. You mentioned being interested in both of us romantically.”
She blinked several times as I stroked her hair. Finally, she let out a long breath.
“Yes, I am interested in both of you.”
“Then I’d like to think a letter to each other will help get to the heart of the matter. It’s an idea. If you both hate it, now’s the time to tell me.”
Eloise cupped Reed’s face and he blew out a breath. Her gentle touch seemed to break through the spiral. I didn’t know everything going on in his head, but he let out a long breath.
“You’re right. Sometimes putting words down on paper can help you recognize things you don’t think of while you’re in front of the person,” Reed agreed.
“It makes sense, King.” Eli voiced her opinion. “I can do that.”
“I’m happy you both see what I’m trying to do. Second thing. If you could fashion the perfect partner in an ideal world, what would that look like for you? It doesn’t mean that I believe anyone is perfect or that we should strive to be. I want to know what you are both seeking. Put that on a separate piece of paper.”
“I’ve never explored a throuple,” Eli whispered. “I haven’t had any sort of relationship in a while, dominant partner, dynamics or otherwise.”
“That’s really good to know, sweetheart,” I acknowledged.
“I’ve wanted to be in a three-person relationship, but I sort of thought I’d have two submissive partners,” Reed added. “Not a dominant parter and a submissive one.”
“Did something change your mind?”
“I’m not sure,” he grumbled.
I was pretty sure I’d changed his mind, but I didn’t say it since he wasn’t sharing. Maybe he was still trying to work through his feelings. “I don’t know what you want or need romantically. I can tie you up. We’d both enjoy that. Spank you? Sure, we’d both have fun with that too. But those things don’t make up a relationship.”
“So, you’re serious about this? The three of us being together?” Reed looked between Eloise and I as if trying to get a better pulse on where our thoughts were at.
“Unless you and Eloise were already working on a relationship. Then I’m happy to step out. But it sort of seems like tensions reached a boiling point tonight. I’d hate for the two of you to give up before you’ve even had a chance to get to know each other. Ultimately, it might be that I’m more of a referee than a participant. I’m okay with that too.”
Reed stared at me for what felt like a long time before he got to his feet. He didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve typically, but I could see all sorts of emotions flickering across his face. It hurt my head to see him conflicted.
“This is so far away from how I expected today to play out.” Reed rubbed his temples.
“I really am sorry if I’ve added to your stress,” Eloise said. “I have a lot of triggers. It makes navigating relationships and friendships in general more difficult. I’m hard to handle.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “Don’t talk about yourself like that. You aren’t hard to handle, no matter what you believe. If someone really cares—a friend, partner, sibling or anyone in your life—they won’t view your interactions as difficult. You aren’t a burden.”
“I have triggers. Reed grabbed my wrist, and I freaked out and he wound up hurt. I feel so guilty about the whole thing,” Eloise said sadly.
“Sometimes shit happens, but it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve everything you desire.”
“Gee. King sounds exactly like me,” Reed said smugly.
