Page 54 of Beneath the Flames
Both Brie and Lea shot surprised glances at each other.
When they failed to respond, Mary looked up at them from the lounger. “What? You don’t want to hear it?”
“Sure?” Lea said hesitantly, still rubbing her butt.
“So, this chesty blonde goes to the doctor and complains that her ass hurts. When the doctor asks where,she tells him it hurts right around the entrance.”
Smirking, Mary delivered her punchline. “The doctor chuckles, telling her, ‘Yeah, well that’s the exit, young lady. As long as you treat it like an entrance, it’ll probably keep hurting.’”
Brie chuckled. “Speaking from experience, it feels sooo good!”
Lea gave her a high-five. “You got that right, girlfriend.”
Laying her towel down, Lea settled down beside Mary and stroked her collar. “So, what do you think?”
Mary glanced at it with disinterest. “Looks like a yoke to me, but at least it’s pretty. I will say, the ceremony was first-rate, and you rocked that dress. Your man has good taste.”
Brie looked at Mary in confusion. “Wait, you saw the ceremony?”
“Watched the whole damn thing.”
Lea patted Mary’s arm patiently. “Yeah, even though she’s a pain in the ass—like literally—I would never leave Mary Quite Contrary out of something so important. We’re the three musketeers after all!” Looking at Brie, she explained, “I asked the photographer to set up a camera so Mary could watch the ceremony live.”
Brie was touched knowing Mary had been able to share that special moment. It spoke to how strong their bonds had become.
Lea added, “Even though Mary has given me endless crap about getting collared, I know deep down, she’s really happy for us.”
Mary snorted. “The only thought I had as I watchedyou get down on your knees and offer your collar was, ‘Damn, another one bites the dust…’ She tsked. “I thought you were smarter than that, Lea the Lame, but you had to prove me wrong.”
Lea lay back in her lounger, grinning. “If I’m wrong, then this girl doesn’t ever want to be right.”
“Go ahead, keep telling yourself that,” Mary snickered.
After Brie grabbed a drink for everyone, she moved to the spot beside Mary. Taking a long, quenching sip, she lay back and smiled up at the sky. “I love being here with you two.”
“And I love the free drinks,” Mary said, holding up her glass.
Lea sighed contentedly. “I couldn’t be happier…” Turning to Mary, she added with a sly smile, “I’ve noticed you and Faelan hanging around a lot more these days. Is something going on between you two?”
Mary choked on her drink. “Hell no! That ship sailed ages ago.” She paused for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. “I knew the moment I threw his collar in the trash that it would crush his heart.”
Looking at the two of them, she smiled sadly. “Even though I didn’t realize it then, I’m glad that I was a selfish, greedy whore back then. If I hadn’t been, Faelan would be dead right now.”
Brie frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Greg had his sights set on me, Stinks. If Faelan had gotten in the way, I have no doubt he would have ‘disappeared’.” Mary visibly shuddered. “I can’t imagine the terrible things that monster would have done toFaelan before he offed him.”
Overcome with profound sadness, Brie told her, “I hate that he came in between the two of you.”
Mary laughed. “Don’t be a twit. I never would have stayed with Faelan. It was nice for a while, but I can’t stand being tied down like that.”
“Even with someone who loved you for who you are, warts and all?” Lea asked her, sounding confused by Mary’s declaration.
Mary rolled her eyes. “He was a fucking idiot to get mixed up with me. He knew it. I knew it. But…” She shrugged. “…it was fun while it lasted.”
“So, you’re saying Holloway wasn’t the reason you broke it off? It had everything to do with you?” Brie asked her.
“Yeah. I can’t stand a guy getting too close. It seriously creeps me out. But now, since there’s no chance of the two of us getting back together, it’s nice. We can just be friends with none of those creepy strings attached. I like it much better this way.”
