Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
“Oh god, I’m going to be sick,” I mutter while pressing both hands to my tummy. “Oh no, oh no!”
“Here, have some water,” Rosie says quickly, holding out her water bottle. “Breathe deep. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.”
I close my eyes while following her instructions, and fortunately, the nausea subsides a bit. When I open my eyes again, the room is no longer spinning, and the bile seems to stay put within my tummy.
“Okay, that’s better,” I breathe while wiping away the sweat on my forehead. “Thanks, girlfriend, for the water. You’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s no problem,” Rose says, her pretty features genuinely concerned. “But that was quite the reaction, Lils. I think you should put off the foursome. Ask your stepdad if you can do it next week or even the week after.”
“What? No,” I say. “I couldn’t.”
“Why not?” she asks, cocking her head to the side. “It’s fine. Just tell your stepfather you’re not ready.”
I shake my head.
“No, I’m a woman who delivers on my word, and I’m not going to be the kind of girl who backs out at the last minute. I’m not flaky like that.”
Rose takes my shoulders in her hands and looks me in the eye.
“Of course you aren’t, Lils. I wasn’t implying that at all. But there’s a difference between being a flaky airhead, and being genuinely ready for an encounter with four men. It’s not the same thing and you shouldn’t be ashamed about taking a rain check. Especially if you’re not ready.”
I shake my head again, brown curls flying.
“No, I’m ready,” I say in a determined tone. “I can do it. I have to.”
Rose purses her lips thoughtfully, before nodding again.
“I believe you, Lils. You can do anything you put your mind to because you’re an independent, sassy curvy go-getter with a mind of your own. But how about talking to Lionel first, and getting his take on it? It can’t hurt to talk, right? Besides, you’re in love with your stepfather, and he cares about your welfare. I think you can share your doubts with him, and he’d listen without judging.”
My knee-jerk reaction is to shake my head again.
“No, I’m fine,” I say in a firm voice. “I can do it.”
“Of course you can, Lils,” Rose says in a soothing tone while taking my hand in her own. “But it’s okay to talk with Lionel about any reservations you might have. Who knows? Maybe he’ll have some suggestions on how to manage the situation. I mean, it kind of sounds like he’s done it before, to be honest.”
I blink, genuinely surprised.
“Wait, what do you mean?”
Rose merely looks me in the eye.
“Lils, your stepfather is a gorgeous forty-something alpha male in the prime of his life. I know he was married to your mother for a bit, but my guess is that women have been throwing themselves at him non-stop ever since he was fifteen and on the football team. Didn’t you say that the waitress at the restaurant was practically salivating at his feet? My guess is that Lionel’s done threesomes before, and that you’re not the first.”
Of course, Rose doesn’t realize that Lionel has two cocks, and that he protects that particular secret with his life. But her words do make sense. Something tells me that Lionel’s walked down this path in the past, and maybe I should share my apprehension with him. Maybe I should articulate my reservations, doubts, and fears because perhaps the alpha male will have insight about what to do next. Lionel’s the love of my life after all ... and my guess is that the man of the house has all the answers.
3
Lionel
I arrive at Sushi Komo, pulling the heavy wooden door open. A young woman in a heavy embroidered kimono bows slightly in greeting.
“Mr. Kenneally,” she murmurs in a demure voice. “Your party has already arrived. Please, follow me.”
I nod and proceed down a darkened hallway behind the hostess. Her hair is lacquered black and styled in a square bun on the back of her head. Her gait is stiff with tiny steps, and I wonder if something’s wrong. But then I realize that this is likely part of the experience. As a Michelin-starred restaurant, Sushi Komo prides itself on providing an authentic experience, and the young woman is likely styled as a traditional Japanese noblewoman. No way a noblewoman would wear sneakers and bolt down a hallway like their hair’s on fire. Instead, restraint and control guide her movements, and I appreciate the hostess’s attention to detail.
Then again, I always prefer my females to be feminine and elegant in manner. My stepdaughter does the look well. Lily usually wears dresses or skirts, and her hair’s always glossy and curled. Her make-up is tastefully applied, and even when she doesn’t wear make-up, she looks beautiful. I suppose it has to do with the fact that the curvy girl’s eighteen. The young woman has a glow about her that can’t be faked, and my stepdaughter is brimming with youth and beauty.