"Okay."
Lyda slipped out from between them and Noah closed the door. Lyda tossed him the key to Gen's car and a T-shirt from the bag slung on her shoulder. As he caught them, she pointed to Gen's car, parked further down the same row. "Follow us home."
*
Lyda had the radio on a satellite station that played oldies. The late hour and her post-climactic lassitude should have made Gen as mellow as the music. But those weird feelings kept cycling in her mind. Past baggage, disappointments and worries, twining with current concerns. What would she be doing with Noah and Lyda the rest of the night? What would Lyda demand of her? Gen had called her Mistress. Only once, but had that set up certain expectations? Things she should rectify?
"I'm not sure if I want to do anything else tonight. Maybe we should pull over and I can head for home. I had a really good time, though..." God, she sounded stupid. "I'm not sure if what I did was just the situation, hormones, whatever. You and Noah...you two could convince Mother Teresa to go home with you. I don't want to be a disappointment."
"Or get too deep. Take too many risks?"
Lyda's tone was even, neutral, making it impossible for Gen to bristle. Much. "I'm not good at this kind of stuff."
"One-night stands? Relationships? Sex?" Lyda glanced at her. The sudden trace of warmth in her eyes made her seem more approachable.
"Yes," Gen said bluntly. "I suck at it. All of it. You seem like a decent person, and I have no idea of your expectations in this situation. I don't want to be rude to a friend of Marguerite's."
Lyda's visage sharpened. "Did you do what you did tonight because you think you owe sexual favors to Marguerite's friends?"
"No." Gen blanched. "God, no. I didn't mean it like that."
"So why did you bring Marguerite's name into it at all?" Lyda gave her a shrewd look. "Do you feel an obligation to her?"
"I...she's been very good to me. She's a friend. Family, really. I love her. I just...I don't know. You have a connection to her, and I didn't want to screw with that. Screw it up. That's all. Give me a break. You fried my brain."
It was a relief to see amusement return to Lyda's face, but she didn't say anything for the next few intersections. She was an aggressive driver, one who drove with the speed of traffic rather than the speed limit, and maneuvered through congestion like a Tijuana taxi driver. It didn't unsettle Gen, though, because Lyda projected the same poise she seemed to bring to every situation.
In the heat of a sexual moment, it was clear how liberating that confidence could be to whoever was under Lyda's command. Outside that moment, it left Gen feeling uncertain, on quicksand. Not worthy. She didn't care for the feeling, especially since she knew it was self imposed. She straightened in the seat. When she did, Lyda was slowing down for a traffic light. After a glance at Gen, she slid a finger beneath the neckline of Gen's dress, straightening the curled fabric. Her knuckle brushed Gen's breast, leaving a tingling wake as she withdrew.
"You're not going to screw anything up, Gen. I have no expectations of you except what you've promised. To come spend the night in my home. I'll let you know what I want when we're there, but the choices you make are yours, and none are wrong."
"I need to get up early. Go home and do some things."
"I had some things left over today from the nursery I need to do tomorrow as well. Of course, if I don't lock him up, Noah will probably handle them by dawn."
"I noticed he's a night owl." Despite him saying he'd slept well at her house, Gen had woken a couple times that night and the subsequent one to find Noah reading by a book light. Yet he'd been up well before her both days.
"He doesn't sleep well at night, unless he's completely wrung out." Lyda shifted lanes. "What did you think about being in charge of him for the weekend?"
"I didn't really think of it that way. He was a guest."
"I mean when you told him to come for you. You gave me somewhat of an answer in the club, but I want to hear more."
"Oh." Gen focused on passing Tampa traffic. At just after ten o'clock, the town was still wide awake. She took a steadying breath. "I liked how he was willing to let me take the lead on certain things, but that's not really the same thing as what you do. The way he took care of things, took care of me...that's more about what he is than me acting like a Domme, right?"
"Much of it is instinct, and you seem to have good instincts." Lyda glanced at her. "Fierce rabbit. Soft fur. Haven't seen much of your teeth and claws yet, but they're there, once you're less worried about being careful."
"I've been less careful. It doesn't work out." Gen brushed her hair back, glancing down to confirm that seam was still straight. She could still feel the lingering effect of Lyda's touch. She wanted to stroke her fingers over it, reignite those nerve endings. She should be done with sex for the night, but her simmering body told her otherwise.
"Depends on whether you're with people you can trust." Lyda looked in the rearview mirror. "Noah pulled off. He must be picking up drive-through. He didn't eat dinner yet."
Gen thought it more likely Noah had found her ancient compact car wasn't capable of keeping up with Lyda. "So, what will we be doing for the rest of the night?" she asked. Trying to sound casual.
Lyda turned off the main road. "I'm not going to tell you. That's part of the anticipation. As I said, the choices will be yours, Gen, but I view you as mine for the night. I'll treat you accordingly. The things I'll do with you are more light handed than what I do with Noah, but what's light handed for him will push your limits to the max."
That pretty much tangled up Gen's brain and took care of any attempts at idle chitchat for a few minutes. They turned off on a road with a big sign for Growing Things Nursery. Apparently Lyda lived on the same property as her business. "Are you ever light handed with Noah?"
"Never. It doesn't work for him, because that's not what he needs. If and when I get more demanding with you, it will be different, because your needs are different."