Beyond the Edge by Elizabeth Lister Page A

Indian?”
    “Sir?”
    “Indian food.”
    “Oh. Yes, Sir.”
    “Okay, when you're clean come on downstairs. I'll order some in for you both.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    Rapture
    When we got downstairs we found a couple of bags of recently arrived Indian take-out in the kitchen with paper plates and cups. We were only allowed to drink water so we filled our cups, loaded our plates, and headed into the living room.
    Sebastian proved himself again by offering me first pick of the contents.
    “No, you go ahead,” I said.
    He blushed, taking some naan and some biryani. “I guess it's a good thing we have those enema kits for tomorrow.”
    I laughed, spooning some butter chicken and lamb vindaloo onto my plate. “Yeah, I guess so.”
    We ate quietly, both of us starving and needing to replenish our energy resources, and maybe wondering how to conduct a conversation after what we had experienced together. After I'd satisfied my belly enough to slow down a bit, I cut right to the chase. I really didn't want to avoid the topic like two embarrassed schoolgirls.
    “So, how did you enjoy that?”
    He coughed on his penoor and took a drink of water. “Sorry, I—”
    “I'm sorry.”
    He wiped his mouth and grinned. “I didn’t expect you to—you’re very forthright.”
    I shrugged
    “Um, I enjoyed it a lot. You?”
    “Well, as a punishment, it was pretty sublime. Except that I…wanted you to drop a load in me.”
    He laughed. “Believe me, I wanted to.” His baby blue eyes demonstrated the truth of his statement and we stared at each other for a long moment. Then he laughed, embarrassed, and looked away. “So you're okay? He let you come?”
    I nodded. “Yes, finally.” I laughed. What a weird conversation. “I thought it was…” I looked down, then back up at him. “…amazingly enjoyable. And that's a bit of an understatement.”
    He nodded. “Goddamn it, we're freaks, aren't we?” He said it jokingly and I knew he didn't really think so. Or he did think so, but didn’t give a damn.
    “Happy, incredibly satisfied freaks.”
    “Amen.”
    § § §
    James had instructed us to sleep in the spare room bed together, with strict instructions. We were allowed to touch, but climaxing was forbidden. Basically, he didn’t care what we did together as long as we didn’t come. If we wanted to work each other up into a frenzy of frustration, that would only suit his ends.
    Of course the exhaustion from our intense afternoon prevented me from trying anything, but when we climbed into bed I couldn’t help putting my arm over him and pulling him in for a cuddle.
    “Do you mind?” I murmured, inhaling the clean, manly smell of him and caressing the soft skin of his belly.
    He shook his head. “I like it.”
    He felt good in my arms. It felt natural to hold him this way, but I didn’t spend any time wondering what that meant, and we both fell asleep in moments.
    § § §
    I woke up to a pair of beautiful blue eyes looking down on me.
    “Good morning, gorgeous,” Sebastian said with a smirk.
    “Hey,” I croaked. “What time is it? I'm sure I look amazing first thing in the morning.”
    “It's seven thirty. I have to get ready for church.”
    I squinted in the morning light. Maybe I was dreaming, or having a nightmare? “Huh?”
    “I sing in the choir at Rideau Falls United Church.”
    Okay, I’m awake but I’m in the Twilight Zone. “You’re shitting me.”
    He shook his head, smiling. “No.”
    “You sing in a church choir.” I had to say it, in order for it to sink in.
    “Yes.”
    “That’s…unusual. Or, unexpected.”
    “Why?” He looked sincerely confused.
    “Because…” I couldn’t finish, since I didn’t want to offend him. I shook off my dismay and turned to practicalities. “Well…how’re you getting there?”
    “A friend’s gonna drive me. I’ll be back by eleven. I already cleared it with James.”
    I rubbed my eyes, my still half-asleep brain trying to catch up. “Okay.”
    “You can