She’s less stressed-out, less serious all the time. She was always sweet and nice, but Riley’s softened some of the rougher edges, taught her to
relax a bit.”
Chad gave his friend a funny look and shook his head. “Riley didn’t do that, Sean.
You did.”
“What?”
Chad was surprised Sean couldn’t see it. “You’ve been the calming influence in
Lauren’s life. God knows I’m too much like her to make any significant change in her
personality. She’s loosened up, become more laid-back since dating you.”
“You’re crazy.” Sean tried to cast off his compliment and Chad felt a wave of
annoyance creep in.
“No, I’m not. You’re a good influence on Lauren…on a lot of people.” He added the
last wondering if his best friend would understand that by “people” he meant himself.
He’d been stewing over their earlier conversation, wallowing in guilt for hours. He was hurting Sean because of his own selfishness and fear. It was a treatment Sean sure as hell didn’t deserve, given the unwavering friendship he’d offered Chad throughout the years.
The sound of something hitting the floor, followed by Lauren’s loud “oops”,
distracted them. Sean laughed and the moment passed.
“Better go save our damsel in distress,” Chad said. As they walked into the living
room, they watched as Lauren picked up the magazines she’d knocked over.
“Bit clumsy tonight,” she said as they came in.
“Can’t imagine why.” Sean bent over to help her put the magazines on the end
table. “Have fun?”
“Ohmigod, yeah. Your sister knows how to throw one helluva shower.”
Sean stood before helping Lauren rise.
Lauren rose up on tiptoe to place a kiss on Sean’s lips. “Thanks,” she said,
wrapping her arms around Sean’s neck and holding on.
“Um, Lauren?” Sean said, placing his hands on her hips when she started pushing
herself against him.
“I’ve been thinking about your offer,” she said.
60
Any Given Sunday
Chad froze at her words. What offer was she referring to? Submission? A ménage?
Did she even realize he was in the room?
“What offer is that?” Sean asked.
“I trust you,” she said, as if her words answered his question.
“That’s good. I trust you too,” Sean replied.
“I trust both of you,” she added, turning her head to look at Chad. Yep, she knew
he was there. He swallowed heavily at the sensuous look she was sending his way.
He wanted to respond. Fought for the right answer, but remained speechless.
“So I’ve decided,” she continued. “I want you two to teach me how to submit.”
If Chad hadn’t been so shocked, he would have laughed at the image of Sean’s jaw
dropping open at her proclamation.
“Um, Lauren,” Chad said. “Maybe tonight isn’t the best time to discuss this. I mean,
you’ve had a bit to drink and—”
“That’s why this is the best time to talk about it. I want to say this tonight while my inhibitions are low. Then I want you two to think about my proposition. We can decide tomorrow when I’m sober.”
Sean’s gaze narrowed as he studied her face. “How much did you have to drink
tonight?”
It dawned on Chad that she suddenly didn’t seem as drunk as he’d originally
thought.
She grinned. “Enough to give me the courage to make my proposal, but not enough
that my head will hurt in the morning. I’m gonna have a clear head when we start our
research.”
Chad’s heart sped up as she alluded to the three of them starting
research…together.
Mercifully, Sean pulled his shit together and he was able to ask all the questions
Chad couldn’t seem to formulate.
“Research?”
Lauren looked at Sean and smiled. “You offered to be my Dom.”
“You want me and Chad?”
“Chad too,” Lauren said. She released Sean and stepped closer to Chad. He could
barely detect the slightest trace of vodka on her breath, mixed with something so sweet he had to fight to remain still, instinct pushing
relax a bit.”
Chad gave his friend a funny look and shook his head. “Riley didn’t do that, Sean.
You did.”
“What?”
Chad was surprised Sean couldn’t see it. “You’ve been the calming influence in
Lauren’s life. God knows I’m too much like her to make any significant change in her
personality. She’s loosened up, become more laid-back since dating you.”
“You’re crazy.” Sean tried to cast off his compliment and Chad felt a wave of
annoyance creep in.
“No, I’m not. You’re a good influence on Lauren…on a lot of people.” He added the
last wondering if his best friend would understand that by “people” he meant himself.
He’d been stewing over their earlier conversation, wallowing in guilt for hours. He was hurting Sean because of his own selfishness and fear. It was a treatment Sean sure as hell didn’t deserve, given the unwavering friendship he’d offered Chad throughout the years.
The sound of something hitting the floor, followed by Lauren’s loud “oops”,
distracted them. Sean laughed and the moment passed.
“Better go save our damsel in distress,” Chad said. As they walked into the living
room, they watched as Lauren picked up the magazines she’d knocked over.
“Bit clumsy tonight,” she said as they came in.
“Can’t imagine why.” Sean bent over to help her put the magazines on the end
table. “Have fun?”
“Ohmigod, yeah. Your sister knows how to throw one helluva shower.”
Sean stood before helping Lauren rise.
Lauren rose up on tiptoe to place a kiss on Sean’s lips. “Thanks,” she said,
wrapping her arms around Sean’s neck and holding on.
“Um, Lauren?” Sean said, placing his hands on her hips when she started pushing
herself against him.
“I’ve been thinking about your offer,” she said.
60
Any Given Sunday
Chad froze at her words. What offer was she referring to? Submission? A ménage?
Did she even realize he was in the room?
“What offer is that?” Sean asked.
“I trust you,” she said, as if her words answered his question.
“That’s good. I trust you too,” Sean replied.
“I trust both of you,” she added, turning her head to look at Chad. Yep, she knew
he was there. He swallowed heavily at the sensuous look she was sending his way.
He wanted to respond. Fought for the right answer, but remained speechless.
“So I’ve decided,” she continued. “I want you two to teach me how to submit.”
If Chad hadn’t been so shocked, he would have laughed at the image of Sean’s jaw
dropping open at her proclamation.
“Um, Lauren,” Chad said. “Maybe tonight isn’t the best time to discuss this. I mean,
you’ve had a bit to drink and—”
“That’s why this is the best time to talk about it. I want to say this tonight while my inhibitions are low. Then I want you two to think about my proposition. We can decide tomorrow when I’m sober.”
Sean’s gaze narrowed as he studied her face. “How much did you have to drink
tonight?”
It dawned on Chad that she suddenly didn’t seem as drunk as he’d originally
thought.
She grinned. “Enough to give me the courage to make my proposal, but not enough
that my head will hurt in the morning. I’m gonna have a clear head when we start our
research.”
Chad’s heart sped up as she alluded to the three of them starting
research…together.
Mercifully, Sean pulled his shit together and he was able to ask all the questions
Chad couldn’t seem to formulate.
“Research?”
Lauren looked at Sean and smiled. “You offered to be my Dom.”
“You want me and Chad?”
“Chad too,” Lauren said. She released Sean and stepped closer to Chad. He could
barely detect the slightest trace of vodka on her breath, mixed with something so sweet he had to fight to remain still, instinct pushing
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