“I don’t want to have edge-play rough sex every night,” I said.
“No, you don’t,” Nicky said. “That’s why I’m not your only lover. You have other people in your life to meet the needs I don’t.”
“It’s one of the best things about polyamory,” I said.
“Totally agree,” Angel said. “I mean, I like rough from time to time, but I don’t like it as much as Anita does.”
“Edward, I need you to help us make some kind of point here, because I’m getting tired of talking about this in depth in front of everyone.”
“Don’t mind us,” Custer said. “I’m finding it educational.”
I glared at him. He laughed.
“Leave it alone, Pud,” Milligan said.
Custer raised his hands up as if to say he was sorry.
Edward said, “The point is that I’ve seen what Olaf does to women when there’s no one to stop him. I wanted to know if there was anything short of that that would satisfy him with you.”
“I would need to know what Anita does in her RACK play before I could answer that question,” Olaf said.
“I can
answer some of it, but for other stuff, you’d need to talk to Nathaniel or even Asher,” Nicky said.
“No,” I said.
“Anita, if there’s a way to do this without either of you dying, isn’t it worth the embarrassing conversation?” Edward said.
Put that way, it seemed yes, but . . . “Damn it, Edward.”
“Am I wrong?” he asked.
I sighed and just let myself lean against the wall. Okay, maybe I sagged more than leaned. I was so tired of all of this. Surely I didn’t play over the edge enough to satisfy a sexually sadistic serial killer. I mean, I played rough, but not that rough.
“Fine. I can’t argue with the logic of gathering as much information as possible on this.”
“So, can I answer Olaf’s questions or not?” Nicky asked.
“You can, but not with all of us here. Milligan and Custer don’t need to know that much detail about my sex life.”
“Aww,” Custer said, trying to pretend to pout, but the smile ruined it.
“Leave it alone, Pud,” Milligan said again.
Custer stopped talking, but the smile stayed. I could ignore him as long as he didn’t talk.
“Ethan doesn’t like this kind of stuff, and neither does Pierette,” I said. “I think they’d rather not be here for details.”
“I’m your bodyguard. I’ll do my job,” Ethan said.
“As will I,” Pierette said.
“Fine, but I’m not sure I can be in the room with this many people and have this discussion,” I said.
Nicky said, “How about if I give a list, and I stop when you tell me to?”
“I’d rather not have anyone here I’m not sleeping with.”