Page 44 of Bolted

“So I took him to my bedroom, and got my strap on.”

“Oh Jesus Corrine. Do I want to hear this?”

“Yes! Of course you do!” She laughs. “The long and short of it is that Xavier enjoyed being the one who was not in charge this morning.”

I can’t help it, I laugh out loud. My sister, ever the freak. “I wish I had your confidence,” I say. “Or I wish I did, before I went through all this.” I gesture to the bed, and the room. “I don’t feel like I’ll ever want to be naked with anyone ever again, let alone have someone else take control over my body.”

“You’ll get there babe. Baby steps,” she says. “How about we start with a shower today? Because I hate to say it but your hair looks like it needs some help.”

“Dick!” I shout at her, throwing one of the pillows from Sebastian’s bed in her face. It hits her water bottle, which spills over and starts dripping on the floor.

“Shit,” she says. “I’ll get it.”

“Corrine,” I say. “I’m not broken, let me get it. Since I’m the one who made you spill.” I laugh and get out of bed to grab a towel from the bathroom. I bend next to the bed to mop up the water, which has made its way under the bed. I’m shoving the towel under when I feel something. I drop my head to look under the bed and see a shiny silver box.

“Corrine, there’s something under the bed,” I say, already trying to refrain from my nosiness.

“Um, duh, we have to see what’s inside it,” she’s saying, already pushing me out of the way to slide the box out. We both stare eagerly at it and then at each other.

“What do you think is in it?” I ask.

“Here, I’ll save you from being the bad guy,” and with that she pops off the lid. I cover my mouth, not sure whether to laugh or shut the box once again. On top, there are handcuffs covered in a luxurious pink fur. Reminiscent of the pink furry dice I had hanging from my rearview mirror in highschool.

“Okay, so it’s a kink box.” Corrine says. “Let us explore.”

Pulling the handcuffs out, I see a plethora of sex related items. There’s lube, many kinds. One says just “cheeks,” on it, others are warming, one is all-natural. Jesus. Sebastian likes lube.

“Oh I love these things,” Corrine says, and pulls out a set of clamps that look rather savage. “Oh and look, there's your favorite color!” She’s pointing to the layer of vibrators we’ve now come to. There are pink, purple and black vibrators. One must be a butt plug.

“Oh my god. I can’t think about all this,” I say. I realize I’m blushing, and thinking about Sebastian using one of these vibrators on my clit. It feels… scary. But also, something else. It’s a feeling I wasn’t sure I could have again. Desire.

“Our boy knows how to keep things interesting,” Corrine says. She winks and shoves the box back under the bed. “I love that for you.”

We make small talk for the next few minutes, making a plan to get me out of the condo in the next few days. It’s time I started seeing someone to help me with some of the memories that keep coming up. But more than that, I want to get back to the office and help Sebastian find out more about Nate and Lockhart, and how we can get those fuckers back.

“Ready for round two gorgeous?” Xavier’s voice interrupts our conversation.

“Pervert,” I say, and smile at him playfully. I like that he and Corrine have something going on. I do worry a bit for both of them though. I know she can be a bit of a wildcard. And given what I know about Bolt, I assume Xavier isn’t a “one person” guy. I look at her and she smiles and hops up.

“See you tonight,” she says and walks out the door with Xavier. Maybe today I will make an effort to look more “together,” not for Sebastian, but for my own sake. I turn on the shower in his bathroom and step into the steam. I’m still imagining Sebastian with a vibrator in hand when I step under the hot water.

Chapter 55

Sebastian

I walk into Manitellie’s, the most amazing Italian restaurant in the city, passing by the hostess when her annoying voice pierces my ears. “Excuse me, excuse me sir”

I turn around, glaring in her direction. She can’t be more than 20, her voice still sounding like a childish cartoon character. She’s got medium brown hair with curls just brushing past her shoulders and light green eyes. Cute in an innocent, kind of girl-next-door way. I raise my eyebrow at her in my usually ‘what the fuck do you want’ manner.

“Did you have a reservation? You can’t just walk in here without one” she says matter-of-factly.

Oh this is going to be fun I think to myself before replying “Oh no? This isn’t a seat yourself kind of establishment?”

She grimaces, making me smirk. It’s definitely not a seat yourself kind of establishment. The Manitellies have owned this place since before we were born. It’s one of the most prestigious restaurants around with a waiting list over a month long. The owners also happen to be one of my best friends' parents.

This hostess must be new. Anyone else here would know exactly who I am and wouldn’t even think about questioning my presence. Before she gets a chance to respond, another voice cuts in from behind me. “Uffa! For heaven's sake girl, don’t you know who this is?!?” Andre's mother exclaims.

I turn around and grab Maria in a hug, lifting her and spinning her before setting her back down and noticing the hostess’s face has gone stark white. “Mama Maria, you look beautiful as ever,” I say, complimenting her.

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