“Well, um, Derek…”
Words failed Mara, but she needn’t have worried. Words were Beth’s specialty. “Big Man’s back on his bullshit, isn’t he?”
The giggle that escaped her was as cathartic as hearing someone else say it. “Um…”
“Right,” Beth said drily. “Give me the story. Spare me no details.”
So, Mara told her the story of the growing sexual intensity in her and Derek’s relationship and her fear that it was leading them to a place she didn’t want to follow. Beth listened intently, only interrupting to ask little questions like ‘How did he phraseit exactly?’ and ‘What do you think he meant by that?’ When Mara was done, she felt cleaned out. As relieved as if she’d actually achieved something.
She said that to Beth, and the redhead laughed. “You have accomplished something! You talked about it. That’s huge.”
“I guess…”
“It is,” Beth said confidently. “So, next steps,canyou say any of this to Derek, or do I have to fly to Melbourne and throw water in his face?”
“I don’t think that’ll help.”
“Won’t know until I try... but point made. Can you talk to Derek about how he needs to deal with getting older without spanking you silly?”
“But I like being…” Mara forced herself to say it. “…spanked.”
“Same,” Beth said comfortably. “But there’s a line, and that line is when the dude doing it is whacking your ass bloody instead of getting a fucking therapist.”
Mara smiled. “I’m really glad I called you, Beth.”
“And I’m so glad you called, but what are we gonna do? You can’t let him think you’re down for the rough stuff when it’s getting to you.”
“I know. Iwouldtalk to Derek about slowing things down, but it’s our anniversary next month, and he’s talking about planning ‘A Big Surprise.’”
“So tell him you’re not keen!”
“I would, but I don’t know if the big surprise is, like, a nice weekend at the beach or?—”
“Hiring out a prison so Derek can roleplay some bad boy power fantasy where he forces himself on a female corrections officer to great success?”
Mara giggled. “Something like that, yes.”
“My money is on crazy fucking power play, especially with finals season coming up.”
“Oh God, I’d forgotten about finals… Do you think I’m right? Do you really think this is about him retiring?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
“You’re not the only one who’s noticed he’s changed. Byron’s picked up on Derek never wanting to talk footy with him, too. So, long-term, old mate needs a psychologist, to get over himself, and a fucking hobby. But short term, what are we gonna do to help you avoid this prison roleplay bumming?”
Mara burst out laughing. “I have no idea, but calling it that is a good way to make it as unsexy as possible.”
“Cheers.” Beth let out a low humming sound.
“What? If you have ideas, I want to hear them!”
“I dunno if it’s an idea so much as an observation, but Hardiman is a bit of a… man of action, isn’t he?”
“Um, I guess?”
“Like, that’s what this post-retirement man-flexing is about, right? A chance for him to, like, strut his stuff again.”
