Eden's Garden, page 2
Boi grinned back, then tugged on Kay’s sleeve. “Can I go color now?”
“Say hi to Mister Abe and Missus Elle first. Don’t be rude.” Kay’s tone came out as chiding, and yet love filled her eyes as she spoke.
He turned and wiggled three fingers at them. “Hi… Oh look! My friend is here.” With that, he took off toward a table in the corner where a girl with vibrant pink hair sat coloring.
Kay sighed and shook her head. “Littles. If he wasn’t so damn cute… Anyway, I’m glad to see you all. It’s a wonderful surprise to have you here with us, Eden.”
“Nice to see you too. I didn’t know you were in the Hampton Roads area.” I responded.
She nodded. “Left DC about four months ago. I retired, and decided some ocean would be nice. We take trips to Chincoteague regularly, if you ever want to come. I’ve got a house there I rent out for extra income.”
“I’d like that. Let me know when you’re going again.” Warmth invaded me at the invite, and a rightness settled in. These were my people, and I’d made the correct decision in agreeing to come with Rhett.
Kay glanced over at Boi and a soft smile curved her lips. “I better go see to his order. He’ll get so caught up with Denisha, he’ll forget to eat. Bye, Eden. Abe. Elle.” She wandered off and I returned to my seat.
“I didn’t know you knew Kay and Boi,” Elle said.
A fond smile spread across my face as I returned my attention to my hosts. “I knew Boi first. I remember the day he came into the club looking like a lost puppy as he searched for answers.”
“About his gender? I want to say he’s having surgery to make it official soon,” Abe said.
I nodded. “That and about being a Little. He knew what he wanted and liked, but didn’t know what to call it or how to address it. I’ll never forget his look of sheer joy when he realized he’s not the only one.”
“How do you feel about Littles?” Abe asked.
“I feel the same way about them as I feel about every other kink that doesn’t hurt anyone beyond their comfort level. To each their own.”
A slight smile tugged the corner of his mouth. “But how do you feel about being the dominant of a Little?”
“Oh. I…” I took a moment to really think about it. “I’ve never done it, but I don’t see why I’d have a problem with it. I have very few limits. I can see how the caretaker factor has its draw, just from watching the dynamic between Kay and Boi. It’s very endearing.”
“May I ask what your limits are? You don’t have to share if you don’t want,” Elle said.
I offered her a smile. “I don’t mind. Really. Scat, showers, anal, needles. Those are my reds.”
“Pet play?” she asked.
“Adorable. In the right scene, sexy.”
Abe tilted his head. “Brats?”
“Deliciously challenging.”
“What about, say, someone who wanted to play, but has a lot of trust issues and hang ups?” His tone indicated the question wasn’t exactly hypothetical.
“Depends on why and how much they actually want to try,” I admitted. “I’m all for helping people work past issues, but not if it’s simply an attention tactic or they have no desire to even really try.”
“Veteran with PTSD,” Elle answered.
I frowned. “Yeah, that would do it. I’d be willing to try if they were.”
My hosts shared a look that appeared as if it bordered on frustration.
“I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” I couldn’t imagine how my answer made them upset, but their expressions proved evident I’d thrown a wrench in somewhere.
Abe shook his head. “No. Nothing wrong…”
Elle placed a hand on his arm. He glanced at her, then issued a barely perceptible nod. “We were trying to figure out who might be a good fit for you. Problem is, you’re so flexible that we don’t know who to steer you toward,” she said.
A chuckle slipped out of me. “You can’t tell me I’d be in that much demand. There’s a pretty large group here, but most of them look straight and already paired up.”
Again, the two of them shared a look that communicated beyond me. Abe spoke this time. “I’ll be frank with you. We try to look out for every member, and we’ve kinda developed a group who are having a hard time finding anyone willing to play or scene with them. I know at least two are bi, one is a lesbian, and one is a Little and couldn’t care less what gender her dominant is.”
“I see.” I tapped my chin thoughtfully. “Well, all I can do is meet them and see if any of them would like to give it a shot.”
Elle stood up. “I’ll go talk to them and ask. Would you be willing to stay after the meeting and say hi, if they are?”
“Sure,” I said.
She scurried off and a wave of trepidation flowed over me, tightening my chest. What did I get myself into? Nothing for it now. I’d simply have to power through and see how I came through on the other side. Hopefully at least one of them would be willing to try things out with me. It would sure be nice to have someone to share that thrill with again.
I watched her flit around the room, though I couldn’t always see who she talked to through the crowds of people standing or sitting and chatting. Flashes of her bright blouse appeared as she dodged and weaved around people, and a few minutes later, Elle returned to her seat. A beaming smile curved her lips, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. Relief flooded me that at least one agreed to meet me.
“All four girls are willing to stay after the meeting and introduce themselves,” she said.
“All four? Good grief, what did you bribe them with?” I asked, shocked by the amount of potential candidates. I’d never handled more than two partners before, and that was when I kept myself busy training a Dom with a volunteer sub.
Abe’s chuckle filled the air. “With these particular women, it may end up being you who needs the bribe.”
An answering laugh escaped me. “Well, I did want a challenge.” I could only hope that the girls didn’t shoot me down the minute they saw me.
Chapter Three
Pop… Pop…
I eyed the dark-haired beauty with the angular features and pegged her instantly as a Brat while she continued to pop her chewing gum in rapid fire succession. She’d be a handful to tame, and the thought of it thrilled me. She blew bubbles and snapped them with far too much enthusiasm, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she awaited rejection. To be the last pick of the team.
They all did.
The air of dejection that surrounded these women stirred a deep, unknown emotion in me. A fierce desire to protect them, to show them the acceptance they craved, rose up with a startling surge.
“I know this is a little odd,” Abe said as he slipped an arm around his wife’s waist. “But you’ve all come to me asking for help, and doing things different might be the solution.”
The girl with the gum blew another bubble and popped it. The sound ricocheted through the room like a gunshot, and a woman with soft blonde hair tipped in pink who sat at the end of the table with her gaze on the floor winced.
“Sorry, Wynny,” the gum girl said, and her tone implied a genuine apology.
“S’okay,” the blonde responded in a whisper.
Abe cleared his throat. “Why don’t we run through intros? Eden, would you mind getting us started?”
I smiled at him, and kept that smile as I swept my gaze across the four women in front of me. “Hello, ladies. I’m Eden. I’m down here from DC for a twelve-month work contract, and I’m hoping to find a play partner. I’m very flexible on what I like, and have been in the life for years. I am a Domme, but I promise I’m not an aggressive dominant. If you need references, there are several people in the group who know me from DC. Anything else, just ask.”
A heavy pause hung in the air, and I could feel them studying me. Weighing me to see my worth in their own heads. I gave them that time, sensing they needed it. Somehow, I held a sneaky suspicion these women were single for reasons beyond their kinks. Each one stood out as a bit of an oddity, which didn’t necessarily mean a bad thing.
“I’m Denisha.” The pink-haired girl I saw Boi coloring with earlier stuck out her hand, and I shook it without hesitation. Her warm, brown skin felt like silk against my palm. “I’ve only been around ‘bout a year. I’m a Little, and um…I guess that’s that.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Denisha.” I gave her an encouraging nod and shifted my attention to a quiet, auburn haired, petite woman next to her.
“Is it my turn?” she asked, glancing at me. “My name’s Cami. I… I like…” She stared at her lap as her cheeks turned an adorable shade of red. “I like to meow and stuff or be a maid. I work at a shelter, and I really want a Mistress who will pet me.”
Pet play as a cat? Adorable! “Hello, Cami. Nice to meet you.” I turned my attention to the dark-haired Brat.
Gum girl snorted at Cami and rolled her eyes. “Maya. Tease me, beat me, if you wanna teach me,” she sing-songed, and I recognized the underlying jingle from a kid’s show popular in my youth.
Oh, pretty girl. Do you even realize you are a Brat? “Hi, Maya. A pleasure.”
That left one more person to introduce herself. The timid blonde nearly hugged her knees. Her gaze never left the floor. If I’d labeled Cami as shy, this girl could be the epitome of agoraphobic. Maya gave her a gentle nudge and the girl started, as if the physical contact shocked her.
“I’m… I’m….”
“This is Wynny,” Maya supplied. From the way the blonde shot her a grateful look, I gathered Maya stepped in for her a lot. “She likes stuff like wax, feathers; that sort of thing. Isn’t that right?”
Wynny’s silent nod confirmed this.
They were all going to require the extent of my skills as a dominant in their own ways. The terrified blonde would need the most help learning to let go and enjoy herself, without a doubt. But all of them presented their own unique sets of challenges…and rewards.
“So, is this going to be like eenie meenie miney moe?” Maya asked.
I couldn’t let her get away with that snarkiness and establish dominance. If I did, it meant working double-time to earn her respect later. Easier to nip it before she managed a foothold to stand her cocky ass on.
“No, darling,” I said as I clasped my hands and rested them on the table. “This isn’t a school game where I pick the most popular or prettiest. If any of you want to give this a shot, we’ll set up dates and see how compatible we are in a one-on-one environment.”
“Any of us?” Denisha asked, her voice filled with surprise.
“Absolutely.”
That got their attention. They stared at me with varying expressions of shock.
“You do realize we’re the group rejects, right? The unwanted fuck ups. Why do ya want saddled with us?” Maya demanded.
Elle shifted, her body language turning nervous, and I noticed Abe give her arm a soft, reassuring squeeze from the corner of my eye. He watched me carefully, and I knew this moment could make or break my reputation and acceptance in this group.
“You’re not fuck ups,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “You are all beautiful women with a unique set of challenges that I’m excited to conquer with you. All that remains between us and that, is whether you’ll give me a chance to show you what you can achieve.”
Stunned silence ensued, and I caught a shared grin between Elle and Abe. Even if none of the women agreed to see me, I’d earned respect, and that mattered a great deal to me.
“I’ll do it.” To my amazement, Cami spoke. She offered me a tentative smile. “Everyone ditches me because they want me to wear cat ears while they spank me then have sex with me. But that’s not what I want.”
“I promise to listen to what you want. What each and every one of you want.”
Maya popped a bubble and shrugged. “Fuck it. I’m game.”
“Miss Eden?” Denisha raised her hand.
“Yes?” I asked.
“What if we never want sex?” The hesitation in her eyes made it clear she expected that to be a deal breaker.
“Then you don’t and I respect that. Not all kinks are about reaching orgasm. It’s all about head space,” I explained.
Her eyes grew wide, as if I’d just imparted some great nugget of wisdom. “About head space,” she whispered.
Wynny finally made eye contact with me, and the sheer desperation in her gaze caused my heart to lurch in sympathy. She looked like a drowning victim begging for a life jacket, but unable to speak for fear of swallowing that final mouthful of water. “What if…halfway through, we need it to stop?”
“That’s why we’ll create a safe word together. It’ll stop immediately, and we will sit down and figure out how to make it better for next time.”
“You won’t be mad?” Her voice came out in a squeak so soft I had to strain to hear her.
I locked gazes with her to be certain she understood how serious I was about my reply. “Never.”
She took a deep breath, appearing to gather herself, then said, “I’ll try.”
“Me too,” Denisha said.
I beamed a smile at them. “Excellent. I’ll be working Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 3:30, but my evenings and weekends are free. Jot down what time, day, and where you’d like to meet for a date, along with your preferred contact method in case of emergency, and I’ll be there. Oh, and here.” I handed them each my business card. “This is my personal number. Please talk to me at any time. Phone call, text, email…whatever makes you happy.”
Meanwhile, Abe whipped out a small notepad and they passed it around. As each woman finished with it, she gathered her things and left in silence. When the last one walked out the door, I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.
“That went smoother than I expected,” Elle said.
“Knock knock. Is it safe to come back yet?” Rhett asked, his face appearing around the edge of the doorframe.
I laughed and motioned for him to join us.
“How did it go?”
Abe tore out the pages from his notebook and handed them to me. “Eden should sign up to do demos. She’s got good presentation, and a persuasive voice. They all agreed to give it a shot.”
“What? Whoa. Mistress of Many,” my friend said.
I snorted at his reaction. “Not quite. They’ve only agreed to go out on a date. No one has claim on anyone yet. Hopefully at least one will work out. They all seem like sweet girls who just want to be understood, accepted, and respected. The same thing any of us want. What puzzles me is…none of them mentioned kinks that should scare people, so I’m not sure why they’re having so much trouble.”
“Half of them, it’s not the kinks, but the walls,” Abe explained. “The other half, it’s a lack of interest in sex. We’ve got a good group of members, but those that would understand are usually involved with someone already. And let’s be honest, we’ve got more than a few members who do think BDSM automatically means extreme sex.”
“I think every group has those, no matter how well you vet members.” I flipped through the pages. “I just hope I click on a deeper level with one.”
Rhett laughed. “Eden, everybody likes you. I don’t think that will be an issue.”
We all laughed, but a niggle of worry remained in the back of my mind.
“Ready to head out?”
I nodded. “Sure. Bye. Thanks for allowing me to come,” I told Abe and Elle.
“Our pleasure,” Elle responded with a smile while her husband grinned.
We walked out of the restaurant and Rhett cocked a brow at me as we climbed into his car. “How soon are you going on a date with one of them?”
“Tonight.” I frowned as I reread the note she’d written. “One of them wants to meet at the McArthur Mall. Where’s that?”
“In Norfolk. It’s easy to get to, once you know where you’re going. How soon are you supposed to be there?” he asked as we got in his car.
I checked my cellphone for the time to compare it to the note and laughed. “I have about two hours. She wants to meet at four.”
His expression brightened. “That’s great. I can drive you. I have a date at a sushi place a couple of blocks from there. When you two are done, let me know if you need a ride back, or if you’re riding with her.”
“Sounds good.” I watched the scenery go by as we traveled inland, toward Norfolk. Before this, I’d spent time in Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and California for my seaside assignments. The Hampton Roads area never really stood out to me. But now, as we sped down the interstate, I caught glimpses of thriving cityscapes and inlets that probably led out to the ocean. No doubt, Virginia Beach served as the more resort-oriented city, but in time, I’d coax out the secrets of the other six cities that served to form the Hampton Roads area.
And hopefully, I’d coax out the secrets of at least one of these women as well.
Chapter Four
I coddled my cup of coffee in the bookstore inside the mall and waited patiently. Rhett got us here early, and I’d already browsed through the store and bought a few novels to keep me company at night. I loved reading. Usually, I kept physical books to a minimum to reduce clutter due to my frequent moves. My e-reader kept me company almost everywhere in my purse. But today, the need to feel pages slip between my fingers and hold the weight of a physical book lured me in, and I found myself the owner of four new novels. I didn’t splurge often, but when I did, I fully lived by the motto go big or go home.
As I hit chapter two, sitting in that little corner café of the bookstore, I sensed a presence nearby. Denisha stood there, shifting from foot to foot. Mint green hair fell down past her shoulders in soft waves. Her shirt, depicting a mermaid and done up in various pastels stated, I’d rather be at the beach. Cute cutoff shorts that matched her hair hugged her thighs. A pair of pink sneakers with rainbow laces completed the colorful outfit.
“Hello, Denisha. Thanks for meeting up with me,” I said, then used my foot to push out a chair for her.
