The Chase

Chapter Twelve

The restof the week passed in a haze of bliss, and Heavenly wanted to pinch herself to make sure all this happiness wasn’t the best dream ever.

The following morning, she and the guys had a leisurely breakfast in bed…that led to multiple toe-curling orgasms. Finally, she forced herself up, kissed them, then drove a few hours northeast to Palm Springs. The chill vibe of the city fascinated her, along with the looming mountains, the stucco architecture alongside the midcentury modern, and the palm trees everywhere. She’d bet the triple-digit temperatures in the summer felt like an inner circle of hell, but that day was perfect. When she explored the aerial tram and the top of the mountain, she encountered a double-digit temperature drop and a magnificent view of the Coachella Valley. She took time for a coffee at one of the outdoor cafés, then headed down to visit the Moorten Botanical Garden. As sunset approached, she visited some cute little boutiques.

To her surprise, six o’clock arrived without Beck and Seth making an appearance, so she won their chase that day. Her phone rang at the top of the hour. They conceded defeat and let her plan the evening, which meant they checked into their luxurious hotel, took a dip in the pool, then ordered room service for a decadent dinner in bed.

Early the next morning, she headed out for Santa Barbara and called Raine during her drive. Yes, she was a teensy bit sore after a few days of Beck and Seth’s diligent attention. And no, she didn’t mind one bit.

“Have you thought more about staying beyond the semester?” her friend asked. “I have no doubt you’re making them fall even more in love with you.”

Heavenly suspected that, too.

“I’m thinking a lot about it. I’ve never been happier in my life,” she admitted. “But I haven’t had much to compare this to. When we get back to Beck’s place, I need to see what that reality is like.”

“You need to, one hundred percent. But who or what do you think you’re going to find out there that’s better?”

Heavenly didn’t have an answer.

She also found Raine remarkably willing to talk about her submissive experiences.

“No, it’s not always easy,” her friend explained. “Juggling two demanding Doms is even more difficult.”

“Sometimes, they make me want to scream. They shock me. They frustrate me.”

“But they pleasure you and they love you and they put you first.”

“Beyond my wildest dreams. Then I feel guilty for knowing so little about what they want and how to please them. They have to explain and teach me everything. I know Beck is used to dealing with someone who’s far more experienced. I suspect Seth is, too.”

“Sweetie, don’t feel guilty. Most Doms love to teach and guide, at least the ones I know. And even if you had years of experience, you’d still have to learn because no two Doms want the same thing. If I’d only ever known Hammer, I would have missed out on so much. And vice versa with Liam. For all that the two of them can be ridiculously alike, they’re very different. I’m sure that’s true of Beck and Seth. I don’t know a lot about Seth’s kinks—I’ve heard rumors—ahem, but none confirmed, so I won’t go into that. I am well acquainted with Beck’s proclivities through years of observation and club gossip. I won’t lie; he’s definitely used to a more self-aware sub. By the time someone seeks him out, she’s after a specific something and knows he can deliver.”

“What?”

“I’ll let him tell you. Fair warning: it’s not for everyone. But don’t be scared. He may never ask you for that.”

Scared?“I don’t understand.”

“I know.” Raine sounded apologetic. “Sorry. I’ve already said too much.”

Heavenly didn’t like it, but she understood. “I don’t know if I can truly make them happy if I can’t please them, so I’m frustrated that I don’t really understand everything.”

“Unless they’re criticizing you for not knowing—and if they are, I’ll kick their asses—then don’t ever feel incompetent or awkward. Anything they want you to know, they’ll show you. Anything you need, they’ll help you.”

All this mystery about what pleased them unsettled Heavenly. But they weren’t volunteering information about their kink, and she wasn’t sure how to ask them. Or if she should. But why wouldn’t they want her to know?

Once she reached the charming city on the central California coast, Heavenly ended the call and shoved aside her worries. The morning fog quickly gave way to a beautiful blue sky, perfect for taking in the Spanish mission built in 1786 that was unlike anything she’d ever seen. Inside the church, she prayed for her father.

Would he understand her choices if he could see her with Beck and Seth now? He’d wanted her to live and be happy. So far, she was—beyond anything she’d imagined. She still missed Dad like crazy, but the guys seem to know exactly how to keep her from wallowing in grief. Sometimes the week seemed more like she was on her honeymoon than in mourning, which made her feel even guiltier. But she refused to let that steal the joy from this time they shared.

After she exited the grand old landmark, she drove through some swanky neighborhoods on her way to the beach, where Beck and Seth found her hours before their time ran out. Heavenly didn’t mind losing their game that day; she was far more content to be with them.

Together, they trekked the coastline, hand in hand in hand, and talked about what she’d seen, how beautiful the ocean looked, and what sounded good for dinner. Since she’d been missing them, she asked if they could grab fast food and head to the hotel because she hoped they felt like getting naked with her. After the fastest imaginable trek through a McDonald’s drive-thru, Beck and Seth spent leisurely hours taking off her clothes, climbing inside her head, then tying her up in beautiful, intricate knots until she felt as if she was floating. Every time she thought the sex couldn’t get more intense or make her feel more connected to them, they proved her wrong.

Would it be the same when this idyllic week was over and they had to return to their real-world responsibilities?

Heavenly tried not to dwell on that Friday when they visited Catalina. She’d been morose during the ferry ride to the island because it had given her a solid hour of silence to stew alone. It touched her so much that Beck and Seth had gone to this much trouble and expense to give her a week of adventure. But she knew this wasn’t what her father had meant by spreading her wings and seeing the world. On the other hand, it was making sense why she couldn’t live her life for Dad.

She was relieved to reach the charming town of Avalon. From the Catalina Casino, she watched boats sail in and out of the gorgeous horseshoe-shaped bay. She strolled Wrigley Botanical Gardens, her thoughts still engaged in the tug-of-war between her sublime happiness and the sludgy guilt-grief mixture that kept trying to wash it away.