Remy and Ruiz rise to walk them out, while Meg makes her excuses and heads toward the pool house.
I watch Tianna as she sets down her violin and crosses to me, taking the seat beside me on the bench.
I play something light, and simple, nothing that requires my full attention, just enough to keep my hands occupied.
She leans her head against my shoulder. “Remy says we need to talk. Do you know what it’s about?”
“Yes.” I pause, choosing my words. “Because our relationship is progressing, and because by most standards it’s unconventional, he wanted to make sure we understand what matters to you. Your limits.”
Her voice drops, tentative. “Like… sex things?”
I stop playing and turn to face her fully.
“Yes. And touch in general,” I say, keeping my voice even. “Originally, we thought you might not want much physical contact. But you seem to enjoy being touched. We never want to do something you don’t want or don’t like. If we understand that ahead of time, we can avoid crossing a line.”
“Oh. Well… what kind of things?” Her voice is tentative.
“I made a list on my phone,” I admit. “I googled. Do you want me to show you?” My hand shifts toward where my phone rests on the edge of the piano.
“Could you just send it to me and I send it back?” she asks quickly. “Do we have to talk through it?”
“Tianna,” I say gently, “communication is vital for any relationship. With three people, it matters even more.”
“I know,” she says. “Maybe we could have a word I use if Ineed everything to stop?”
She hasn’t noticed Remy entering the room and startles slightly when he answers.
“Of course we’ll have a safe word,” he says easily. “But the goal is to never put you in a position where you feel like you need it.” Her eyes move between us. “Erik hasn’t had much experience, and I haven’t been in a threesome. There’s a learning curve for all of us.”
She bites her lip and nods slowly. “Okay. Can we go curl up on the couch? It might be easier if I don’t have to look at you while we do this.”
She glances between us. “Erik, could you read the list? And maybe we just do a thumbs up or down?” A pause. “If something is a no for one of us, it’s a no for all of us.”
Chapter one hundred seven
Christianna
We are on the couch. I grabbed a notepad to write things down. Ruiz has gone off to bed now that the alarms are set in the house.
Erik draws out his phone.
How did I get here? Shit. I can do this.
I clench my pen tightly as he reads the first item. I'll make slash marks after the item on the list, to make sure we all agree.
Kissing – III
Open mouth kissing – III
Nudity with lights on – III
Oral sex on Tianna – II…… I (awkward)
Oral sex on them
“I have a question about this,” I say. “If I’m doing it, can I do it because I want to, and not because it’s a have to?”
Erik’s phone drops into his lap. “All of this is based on want and desire.”
