Page 7 of Calculated Chaos

“New experiences,” I answer calmly. “That’s all. You don’t have to do anything.”

“Do you guys need a minute?” Maxwell asks.

“Yes, we do, Maxwell,” Hollister says, huffing a breath and putting distance between us.

I give Maxwell my best ‘fake it till you make it’ smile. “Long story short, he’s in a rut. My job is to fix it. I’m pushing him a little.”

“Good luck with that,” Maxwell says, his tone full of sarcasm.

“It’ll be fine.”

I approach my best friend, bracing for his usual overreaction to new things until the logical side of his brain has time to accept it as a good thing.

“Holl?”

“A kink club, Ax? I know as much about kink as I know about… I don’t know, quantum physics.”

“No one is born knowing about quantum physics. They learn it.”

He hits me with an ‘are you kidding me right now’ look. “Please tell me what you hope I’ll gain from this experience.”

“Nothing but exposure to something different. Maybe we’ll both benefit. How do you know whether you like something if you’ve never done it? Remember when we tried sushi? You thought it would gross you out, but you found stuff you really like.”

He glares at me. “This is not at all similar to trying a new food.”

“It kind of is.”

Holl blows out another breath, walking in a small circle with his arms crossed protectively over his chest. “No one is spanking me.”

Holding back a laugh, I reply, “I’m sure limits and desires will be discussed.” I give him my best sheepish smile. “You only live once, Holl. If we hate it, we cross it off the list of things to do.”

Another second passes before he drops his arms. “I’m nervous.”

“I’ll be with you the whole time.”

“How much did you pay for this?”

“Can’t remember.” I grin. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Fine, but you owe me a night at the museum.” He huffs. “Let’s get it over with.”

“That’s the spirit.” I chuckle, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and pressing a kiss to his temple. “You never know. It might unlock your freak side.”

“I would be truly impressed to find out I have one.”

Me too, but I don’t say that part out loud. Hollister is my person. He gets and accepts me on a level no one else ever has, and it’s mutual. I get him. Without a little shove from me now and then, the guy would never leave the house except for work. Over the years, we’ve talked about all the things he thinks are cool but not for him. Well, this weekend is about trying those things out. Step one, breaking out of his relationship and sex rut.

Holl practically stomps over to Maxwell, forcing a tight smile to his face. “Okay, Maxwell. Show us the dungeon.”

Maxwell smiles, gazing at my friend like a lion at its prey. Too bad Holl is too clueless to notice when he’s caught someone’s attention, male or female.

“Oh, we do love a virgin,” Maxwell says, dragging his hand down Hollister’s arm.

Hollister sputters. “I’m not a virgin.”

Maxwell chuckles. “To the dungeon, darling. Follow me.”

Maxwell walks ahead of us, leaving Hollister dumbfounded for a second until he feels me beside him.

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