To Have and to Master (Masters Unleashed 3)

They both turned to her. She hadn’t liked any of their so-called classics. A movie about zombies? She shuddered. Everly had interesting taste. Not that the sappy romances Kate had picked were any better. At least they’d given her a better grasp of the culture and language. What would Zombieland do, other than give her nightmares?

“Um.” She didn’t want to hurt Everly’s feelings. “Let’s just turn off the TV and talk.”

“Good idea,” Kate agreed. “I’ve been meaning to ask how things are going with Konstantin.”

Oh no. “On second thought,” —she gestured to Everly— “let’s watch the zombies.”

Everly giggled. “Ohhhh noooo. You’re not getting out of this conversation.” She poured more wine into her glass, spilling it onto the table, then plopped down right next to Varushka. She smelled like Varushka’s baba—sweet soap but with a tinge of alcohol. Memories of home intruded into what was supposed to be a fun time, making her a little homesick.

Kate moved in on her other side and they both grinned at her.

She sighed. “Well, what do you want to know?” In this, American girls were no different from her cousin, Antonia.

“Has he collared you yet? I don’t see a collar,” Kate said, leaning closer to peek in the neckline of her shirt.

Varushka laughed. “We’ve talked about collars a few times. If he asked to collar me, I would say yes. I don’t think I’m supposed to ask for that myself though.” She grimaced. It figured these two would be more interested in the possibility of a collar than an engagement ring. The Master/slave bond they talked about with such reverence was more significant to them, somehow, than the husband/wife one.

She was starting to understand it. The feelings they associated with being submissive to their men were very similar to how she felt for Konstantin. The idea of him putting a collar around her neck was both romantic, in a twisted way, and sexy. When he’d introduced the idea to her, someone owning someone else had seemed wrong. But since then, she’d come to realize the consensual BDSM version of slavery was a very intimate and deep relationship for some people—like her new friends. It was appealing.

“Have you fucked him yet?” Everly nearly shouted.

Varushka leaned back, her eyes wide. “No! That would be . . . Wrong.”

“What?” Everly and Kate exchanged a glance. “Why not? You can’t deny he’s fuckable.”

“Yes.” He was more than that. The wicked eyes, the tousled hair she wanted to run her hands through, his sexy smirk . . . Maybe the vodka had finally hit because she felt flushed. But it was about more than just his looks. “He’s very sweet to me too,” she almost whispered.

Kate snickered. “Sweet? Oh, I’m sure.”

“Have you . . . played yet?” Everly asked, smirking at Kate.

Varushka swallowed hard. She knew what they meant. “Yes,” she answered honestly. “But we haven’t . . . I can’t . . .”

“What’s holding you back?” Kate furrowed her brow.

“We’re not married.”

Kate and Everly both burst out laughing. Varushka scowled at them. Kate noticed her, then smacked Everly’s leg. “Shush. She’s a good Catholic girl.”

Orthodox but she didn’t bother to correct them.

“Oh.” Everly’s chuckles faded. “Oh, I understand. Yeah. Well, wait, then, if that’s what you’re comfortable with.” She cocked her head to the side. “Kon isn’t pushing you, is he?”

“No.” She shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t do that. He’s respectful.”

“Good.” Everly took a big gulp of her wine, then burped. “’Cause I’d kick his ass if he was pushing you.”

Varushka chuckled when she pictured the girl up against Konstantin. “So you weren’t a virgin when you married Ambrose?”

Kate laughed again, then Everly flicked her knee. “It’s not that implausible!”

“Sure, sure,” Kate said.

Everly turned back to Varushka. “No, I wasn’t. Waiting until marriage isn’t common here, but that doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong. There’s no shame in waiting.”

Kate spoke up. “I didn’t wait either. I would’ve burst into flames if I’d had to wait. Banner’s just too. . . .” She sighed dreamily.

“Hot?” Varushka finished.