“You have the right to your opinion and your choice. I just think you are so adamant that DD is insane, that you’re being completely closed minded. Have you even tried to think of the positive sides to it? Have you even stopped for one second to wonder why it works for your friends? Why would your best friends choose to live this lifestyle if it was so awful?”
“Because you have all lost your minds,” Rebecca replied simply.
“We are all in love,” Neely countered. “Can you say the same?” She topped off the drinks with more champagne. “Listen, I’m not saying you have to believe in DD. I’m also not saying you have to consent to being spanked… again,” she added with a giggle. “But I don’t think you should be so fiercely opposed to it. And I also don’t think you should let it get in the way of exploring things with Sawyer if you are really interested in him.”
“So, let’s say I do consider trying things out with Sawyer. Would he accept the fact that I’m not into Domestic Discipline?” Rebecca asked.
Neely paused for a moment and then frowned. “Most likely not. Especially if he already spanked you. I know it wasn’t an option for Caine when we got together. He wasn’t going to give up something he believed so strongly in.” She paused again and studied Rebecca before continuing. “But that doesn’t mean Sawyer wouldn’t be up for discussing it with you. This lifestyle isn’t a dictatorship. It’s a loving agreement between a couple who wants a strong relationship. No two DD relationships are the same. If, and only if, you are open to the idea, you can set up rules and limits that you are comfortable with.”
“I thought the man makes the rules.”
Neely rolled her eyes. “Really? Do you think that I let Caine make all the rules? Come on.”
“Well isn’t he the head of household? Isn’t he the boss? Isn’t he the king?”
Neely giggled as she took another drink. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m not the queen.”
As if on cue, Caine walked outside and bent down to kiss his wife. “What are you two ladies up to? Getting into trouble?”
Neely smiled and looked up at her husband. The look of love in her eyes was apparent as she said, “Join us.”
Caine chuckled and shook his head. “No way. I make it a point to stay away from girl talk.”
“Rebecca got spanked yesterday!” Neely told him.
“Neely!” Rebecca squealed, covering her face with her hands.
Caine chuckled and turned to walk away, only to have his wife grab his hand. “Please,” Neely said. “I was trying to explain DD to Rebecca—again—and I would love your input. She’s willing to walk away from a guy she is interested in only because he believes in DD.”
The rush of embarrassment heated Rebecca’s face again. It was one thing having the talk about the ‘s’ word with Neely, but with Caine? Any hope of getting out of this was crushed when Caine pulled up a chair next to Neely and wrapped his arm around her. She snuggled up closer to him and offered her glass for him to share.
“So who’s the guy?” Caine asked.
“Her tattoo artist,” Neely quickly answered.
A single eyebrow rose on Caine’s face along with a smirk of his lips. “Sawyer? You’re interested in Sawyer?”
Rebecca wanted to crawl in a hole. “Jesus, can we please change the subject?” She finished off her mimosa, hoping the drink would help soothe her nerves.
“She is,” Neely offered.
Rebecca shot her friend a dirty look. “Fine. But even if I was interested, I was just telling your pain-in-the-ass-wife that we would never work.” She looked at Caine, hoping that what she was about to say wouldn’t insult him. “Nothing against you, Caine, but I don’t want to be with a man who wants to spank me.”
“And I was just telling my stubborn-in-need-of-a-spanking-friend that she is being awfully judgmental for someone who knows very little about it and has never tried it. Well, unless you count last night.”
Caine nodded his agreement. “Sawyer’s a good man.”
“We’re getting ahead of ourselves. I don’t even know if Sawyer is interested. He didn’t say or give me any idea that he is,” Rebecca pointed out.
“He spanked you, right?” asked Caine.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Then he cares and is interested. I know Sawyer well enough to know that he wouldn’t just spank anyone. There was more to it than you know.”
“He was just mad because I fainted. I didn’t eat anything, and he was angry that I didn’t listen to him. That was all there was to it.”
“Yes, because tattoo artists just spank their clients for fainting, right?” Neely said with a roll of her eyes.
“Sounds like he had a good reason, then,” Caine added.
“Did he spank your bare behind?” Neely asked.
“Neely!” Rebecca looked at her and then shot her eyes quickly to Caine. “Really?”