“This isn’t like you, Mel. You’re freaking me out.”
“Trust me, sweetie. You have nothing to worry about.” My sister’s voice was cool and
smooth as silk, unruffled despite the fact we’d been arguing for the past twenty minutes.
Or actually, I’d been arguing, she’d been responding in that calm, affectionate voice,
refusing to rise no matter how I baited her.
“Well, I am worried. You’re involved in this strange lifestyle, you barely call anymore,
and when we do talk you don’t sound like yourself.”
“Sondra, believe me, I’m more myself now than I’ve ever been my entire life. I know it
seems weird to you, but have you ever known me to rush into anything? I’m embracing
something that makes me happy, and I wish you could be happy for me.”
She was right. I was the impetuous younger sister, the one who threw herself into
situations without considering consequences. If levelheaded Melanie told me she wanted to
be living as essentially a sex slave in some mysterious man’s home, I had to believe she
was quite serious and hadn’t been coerced into it.
“But it’s so…wrong! You’ve given up your job, your apartment, and you’ve surrendered your
body to this man to…to do whatever he wants with. How can giving up your will be mentally
healthy?”
“I haven’t given up my will.” Her voice remained infuriatingly calm. I wanted to reach
through the phone line and slap her. “You wouldn’t believe the willpower it takes to do
this, to be this. And I haven’t called because I knew you wouldn’t understand the life
I’ve chosen. It’s just too difficult for an outsider.”
Outsider. I was an outsider now? To the sister who’d been closer to me than anyone in my
entire life, any friend or lover I’d ever had. Her words hurt. I drew a deep breath and
let it out slowly. This might be my one chance to reach out to her and keep our
communication open. I must choose my words carefully for once.
“You’re right. I don’t know anything about BDSM or about what draws some people to be
dominants or submissives. But, if it’s as fulfilling as you say, maybe it’s something I
should check out. How would your…master feel about having a houseguest for a two-week
visit? I’ve got some time coming at work and my plan was Cancun, but I’d much rather see
you.”
There was a long pause. For a moment, I thought she’d turn me down, then Melanie spoke
breathlessly. “Seriously? You’d come to Napa? Oh honey, I’ll have to ask Master Damien,
but if he permits it, I’d love to see you.”
“Ask him then and call me as soon as you find out.” I managed to keep the disdain from my
voice. But inside her words rankled. Asking for permission from a man? Such bullshit!
Mel’s voice bubbled with excitement. “You’ll love the estate and the vineyards. It’s so
gorgeous here, and as for the rest of it, honestly, at first you might be a little freaked
out, but I think you’ll start to understand our relationship.”
I was already freaked out. Seeing dungeons, torture equipment and sex toys first hand
could hardly make it any worse.
“I’ll send you a couple of very good books to give you an overview of the different
elements of the lifestyle.”
Kinky sex homework. Nice. This should be a vacation to remember.
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