Chapter 33 – Xavier
“Lucille thinks we shouldmake it a masquerade ball,” I said to Saint.
He and I were having lunch with Levana and Mikaela on the patio overlooking the pool. I attributed Mikaela’s agreement to join us to Levana’s sweet persuasion, as Saint liked to call it. He usually said it mockingly, but he couldn’t hide the authenticity behind those words where his girlfriend was concerned.
Following the miscarriage and her desire to stay in the bedroom for almost a month, I didn’t think Mikaela would come out. After the incident with her books, I hadn’t the foresight to consider what effect it would have on her, she moved back to her bedroom, leaving me disheartened that I’d failed to bring her out of her misery.
Saint and Levana surprised me with a visit, and as if she were a blessing, Levana offered to try coaxing Mikaela out of her room. My hope had dwindled by then. However, Levana’s success intrigued me until I heard Mikaela’s first laugh this morning. That just made my heart dance a merry jig I’d never felt before.
Earlier, just before lunch, I’d asked Mikaela if she wanted to talk about the miscarriage like I’d done many times before. Her refusal wasn’t unexpected. Glad she’d decided to join us for lunch, I respected her wishes and didn’t push her. Whether she’d talk remained to be seen.
“I’m not surprised,” Saint said, dragging my attention back to the conversation. “We all know Aunt Lucille’s the shy type. A mask will help her hide, and that’s not the ball’s intention if I recall what we discussed at the initial meeting.
“So, what is the intention of this ball you’re discussing?” Levana asked, slicing into her grilled chicken.
Saint and I shared a look. His grin was a dead giveaway he hadn’t explained the idea behind the ball to her. Her expression expectant, Levana’s gaze flicked between my son and me. Hiding my smile behind my glass of wine, I waited for him to say something.
She rolled her eyes, earning a raised brow from Saint. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?” he growled.
“So?” She shrugged.
“Fuck,” his curse under his breath still wasn’t low enough. “Looks like someone’s arse is going burn this evening.”
Levana merely smirked. God, it was fun watching these two spar, especially knowing my son was every bit the alpha the family proclaimed him to be.
I chuckled. “After the curse broke, the family decided to host parties catering to people with specific kinks, Levana. Sort of a behind-closed-doors ‘let it rip’ party, as you would say. It’s a monthly occurrence.”
“Really?” she scoffed at Saint. “Was that so hard to tell me?” She nudged his elbow. I had a feeling that when it came to my son, Levana would poke the bear to get a rise of him because she craved him as much as he did her. They were a match made in heaven; if hell allowed love, they’d reign as king and queen.
Surprisingly, he sighed. “No, baby, it wasn’t hard to tell you. I agreed to these parties because I wanted to show you that subservience isn’t about degrading yourself and that experimental pleasure is mind-blowing if you allow it. You’ve been a little reticent to my way of fucking, and I wanted to open your eyes.” He dragged a stray strand of hair off her face and kissed her brow. “I told you before, I want you as my sub but not at the risk of losing you. You come first. Always. And no, pun not intended.” He grinned when a mischievous smile curved her lips.
My gaze shifted to Mikaela. She watched them intently. Her soup spoon paused mid-air as if waiting for Levana’s reply. Earlier this morning, I’d noticed her observation then too. Whether she found them a fascinating couple or merely saw them as a new learning avenue, I couldn’t tell. I was just grateful she’d taken to them.
“I thought we’ve tried everything,” Levana replied.
“Everything?” He laughed. “What I’ve done with you hasn’t even breached the surface of the pleasure that awaits you, my pet.”
“I’m not.” She scowled. My laugh merged with Saint’s.
He’d mentioned how Levana challenged him for calling her pet on the night of their ritual.
She slipped her hand into Saint’s and kissed the back of it. “You accepted me as is, no questions asked, and no changes dictated. For that alone, I’ll accept you as is. If you want me to submit, then teach me. If I don’t like it, I get to say stop?”
Saint smiled, his back relaxing into the chair, his lips planting a soft kiss on her hand linked with his. “Some submissives, despite being called that, don’t want to be tamed. They love to be defiant and challenging in the bedroom. They love being dominated without feeling like they are being imposed on. That’s you, baby, and I’m not about to take that away from you. As I said, I would love for you to explore that world yourself.”
“Almost like a shopping spree. If I like it, I take it. If not, I carry on walking?” she asked. Saint nodded. “Fine. As long as it comes with plenty of orgasms, I’ll try it.” She shrugged. “The wetter, the better, right?”
Once more, Saint and I laughed.
“What’s an orgasm?” Mikaela’s soft question startled everyone into silence. When no one said anything, her gaze darted to each of us.
I met Saint’s gaze while I debated how to answer that question. Even though there was no solid confirmation of Mikaela’s age, Mark had been by twice, once more before the miscarriage and once after, and he was of the firm opinion she was in her late twenties. Everything to her, though, was a discovery, a new learning.
As I opened my mouth to speak, Levana turned a gentle gaze on Mikaela. “An orgasm, angel, is the highest peak of ecstasy your body can succumb to. But only a man or woman who has your pleasure at heart will take you there.” She squeezed Saint’s hand. He, in turn, cupped her chin and dropped a light kiss on her lips.
Mikaela’s eyes followed their reactions before her gaze shifted to me. I saw the unasked questions in there, it was the slow slide of her lips, forming her second smile, though that once more knocked the wind out of me. In the time she’d been here, her lack of emotions had me waiting for the day they would happen. Today, she’d surrender to a laugh and a smile. It was the most beautiful thing I’d seen in a long time. I didn’t realize how mesmerized I was by that single emotion until her fingertips touched my hand. My lips widened in response. I accepted her hand, giving it a light squeeze.
