“No! I just—” I fumbled for words, embarrassed. “I didn’t know custom BDSM furniture was a real industry.”
“Very real,” Majesty assured me. “Very profitable, too. Turns out people will pay good money for quality craftsmanship that doesn’t look like it came from a porn set.”
I laughed despite myself, some of the tension draining from my shoulders.
“My turn,” Lex said, his dark eyes studying me with that same intense focus. “Why did you say yes to this? Sampson mentioned you were curious about multi-partner dynamics, but curiosity alone doesn’t usually get someone to commit to two weeks at a ranch with strangers.”
The question hit closer to home than I was ready for. I took another sip of wine, buying time.
“Honest answer?” I finally said.
“Always,” Lex replied.
“I watched my best friend build something beautiful with her husband and their girlfriend. They have this bond that I can’t quite explain—this willingness to be vulnerable and open and to work through hard things together. I want that. Not necessarily the exact same dynamic, but that level of connection. And I don’t know if I’m capable of it. So when this opportunity came up”—I trailed off, shrugging—“I guess I wanted to see if I could even handle the idea of it before I went looking for the real thing.”
The silence that followed felt heavy, but not uncomfortable.
“That’s brave,” Majesty said softly. “Most people aren’t that honest with themselves, let alone with strangers.”
“It’s also smart,” Lex added. “Better to explore your boundaries in a controlled environment than to dive into a relationship and realize you’re in over your head.”
Our food arrived, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics—favorite places to travel, music preferences, embarrassing stories from past workshops. Majesty was a natural storyteller, spinning tales that had me laughing until my sides hurt. Lex contributed with dry observations and perfectly timed quips that somehow made everything funnier.
They were good together. Easy. And the way they included me in their banter, the way they made space for me in their dynamic without making me feel like an outsider was effortless.
Halfway through dinner, Majesty stole a bite of my mashed potatoes, and I retaliated by taking some of his mac and cheese. Lex watched with quiet amusement, sipping his scotch.
“See?” Majesty said to Lex. “I told you she’d be perfect.”
“Perfect for what?” I asked.
“For us,” Lex said simply, and the weight of those two words settled somewhere deep in my chest.
The way he said it felt heavier than about the next two weeks. The gleam in his eyes didn’t make it any easier. Nor the heat that wouldn’t go away when I looked at either of them too long. I was seated between the two of them with plenty of space, but the walls still felt like they were closing in on me. Like even the air in here was controlled by them.
By the time we finished eating, I realized I hadn’t checked my phone once. Hadn’t thought about texting Shelly. Hadn’t felt the need to escape.
“We should probably let you get home,” Majesty said reluctantly as Candace cleared our plates. “But before we do—any concerns? Anything we haven’t addressed?”
I hesitated, then decided to be honest. “I’m scared I’m going to embarrass myself. That I’ll freeze up or say something stupid or prove that I’m completely out of my depth.”
“You won’t,” Lex said with quiet certainty. “And if you do freeze up, we’ll help you through it. That’s part of our job.”
“Plus,” Majesty added with a grin, “everyone feels out of their depth at first. That’s kind of the point. Growth doesn’t happen within your comfort zone.”
Lex paid the check despite my protests while Majesty and I walked out into the cool evening air together. Lex stayed behind a beat to chat with Howard. Then the three of us were outside standing together.
“Can we give you a ride back home?” Majesty offered. “I know we picked you up, but we don’t want to assume that it’s okay to take you back.”
Something warm bloomed in my chest. “I appreciate that. Yes, we can go back.” I sent Shelly a quick text.
Me:
We’re on our way back. All is good. They’re great.
Her response was immediate.
Shelly:
