(Shan's POV - Thur. 16 October 2014)

This week is a fucking busy week and I don't get to see Mark much.

To begin with, he is crazy busy with the project of opening his second Wine & Cheese Bar in Chicago. He has finally found a location for the new restaurant and is trying to accelerate the process. He says it could be operational by the end of November, so he has a lot to do and spends most of his time in meetings at the bank, with the administration, with suppliers to buy new furniture and with candidates as he needs a new team for this restaurant.

His days are more than full since he starts with his workout at 6:30 in the morning, then goes to all his meetings and works on improving recipes in the evening while I work at the club. I only get to see him for a few minutes at breakfast, half an hour while he drives me to the club in the afternoon, and barely an hour after my shift when he drives me back home and we cuddle in bed. We don't have much time to talk or do anything else – if you see what I mean – as he is so tired that he almost immediately falls asleep every night.

I don't blame him for having crazy days since mine are not much better anyway. This is my last week of apprenticeship and I have the final exams at school on Friday and Saturday, so I also have long days and am quite exhausted by the time I hit my pillow. Classes in the morning are intense in terms of theoretical learning and generate quite a lot of personal work that I do before my shift begins at the club.

Practical education is much more fun! Randy, my tutor, is a middle-aged man with impressive knowledge thanks to his twenty-five years of experience in the trade. Not only do I learn a lot under his tutorship, but I also truly enjoy myself. The guy is funny and never misses to crack jokes, but at the same time, he is also very serious, teaching me all the ropes of bar-tending, teaching me all his skills. I have never seen such a talented bartender with a shaker and bottles in their hands before. He reminds me of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail, and I hope I'll reach such a level of expertise at some point.

Needless to say, when I get in bed at night, comfortably snuggled against Mark's warm body, exhaustion takes its toll on me and I don't last long either. The only good point is that Mark has allowed me to skip physical exercising because he wants me to focus on my training for now. However, I bet he will drag me to the Millenium Park again as soon as it's over, and I'm not looking forward to it... I so hate running!!

The one thing I am missing though are our intense sex scenes in the playroom. I have gotten frustrated with our lack of sex over the past two weeks. Alright, I must admit I have experienced two absolutely mind-blowing scenes in all this time, but apart from these, there hasn't been much more than a hand job or a blowjob here and there.

After my little fuck-up at the club two weeks and a half ago when I overheard this conversation between David and Corey, I understood how important it was to communicate clearly with my Dominant. I think he regretted it at first because there wasn't a day I didn't hint at my desire to try a threesome. In the beginning, Mark was firm on rejecting my request, saying he wasn't ready to share me. I could understand that, and I was ready to respect his decision, but deep down, I could feel his own lust for a threesome was there.

He tried to distract me with intense sex, and he almost succeeded the following weekend when we had sex on the couch at the Black Diamond that we shared with Master Joshua and Liam. Fuck that was hot!!

I have always considered Liam as a brother despite a couple of naughty dreams I had about him, so I have never truly lusted for my best friend. However, I have gotten used to share intimate touches with him while we prep, or to see him go all naughty with his Dom at the club. He is no longer the innocent Bunny I used to know, and I can't deny that he's really handsome.

So when Mark and Joshua suddenly made us kneel on the couch, face to face, while they were pounding into our asses, I didn't feel the slightest discomfort as I rubbed my erection against Liam's, nor when he initiated a kiss. Sure, it was timid, but it was mostly due to the powerful emotions Liam and I both felt at the moment. We discussed it a few days later over the phone, and I was glad to hear my best friend had no regrets about what happened that night, though he confessed he wouldn't have liked it to go any further. My little Bunny may not be as innocent as before, but he's not as wild as I am yet. Or maybe that's just not one of his kinks.

I still told him about our plans for threesomes with Mark. To my relief – although I wasn't stressed to tell him about it – Liam welcomed the news by a huge laughter, saying he was sure Mark and I would get there eventually.

It's not surprising, Chipmunk, he said. You've always loved sex when it implies more than one partner, and I knew Master Mark had a kink for threesomes, but it wasn't my role to tell you! Now I can't wait to see this in public! As much as I can't imagine sharing myself or Josh with another man for now, I still find these multiple-partner scenes very arousing!

I teased him back saying he wouldn't see one in public so soon since Mark and I decided to keep these first experiences private for the moment.

And fuck me if the first one wasn't hot!

Okay, I must admit it started with an unpleasant rush of adrenaline when Master Aaron suddenly showed up at the Black Moon in the middle of my shift on Friday evening and sternly told me to go prep in the Subs' room. I feared I had messed up somewhere and that I was going to get punished, but I still went through the usual routine and headed to my Master's private room as the Master Dom ordered me, wondering what was awaiting me.

My fears flew out the window as soon as I walked in and found Mark in the company of another man who was obviously another Dominant. They were instantly replaced by excitement and lust when I understood that we were going to have our first threesome. I found it funny that Mark chose the one Dom who was somehow at the source of my recent eagerness for trying multiple-partner sex – since I remembered him as the one who played with the two Subs I eavesdropped nearly three weeks ago – but I wouldn't have complained.

The man was hot as hell, almost as tall as Mark and his brown skin clashed with my Master's in the most beautiful way. I could already imagine myself sandwiched between them. The color of skin wasn't the only difference, though. Master Eric is a mountain of muscles – far too many for my tastes by the way – and so impressive that I could only get into the perfect Submissive role. And I think I did really great that night in terms of submission.

I gave them both the best head I could. I used all my patience while Master Eric tied me up in ropes and then hung me from the grid – I fucking loved that bondage part! I provided them with the most pleasure I could while they swapped places, fucking both my mouth and my butthole. I guess evidence lays in the delightful orgasm they rewarded me with. Then the last part was amazing when both their dicks went up my ass, with me pressed against Mark's chest. Staring at him while another man was pounding into me was blissful.

I'm only grateful that Master Eric didn't measure up to black guys' reputation being endowed with fat cocks, or I wouldn't have been able to walk properly for a few days. As it was, I needed most of the weekend to recover from this intense threesome. On Saturday evening, we went back to the club but nothing much happened. I did get a bit of fun time in the Subs' room with Liam and our other friends, though I didn't need to prep since Mark said my hole needed rest. All the sex I got that evening was a hand job from Mark while we were watching the show, and since then, it's been dead quiet.

On Sunday and Monday, Mark said my body still needed sexual rest, then Tuesday and Wednesday have been so busy like I said that there was no sex either despite my pleas. This inactivity is beginning to eat me, and as I head toward the club after my morning class on this Thursday afternoon, I am trying to think of a way to make Mark yield tonight.

It's half past two when I walk into Aaron Cox's office. Today, I'm signing my contract for a permanent job at the Black Moon! As agreed with Mark, I will then work on my lessons in his private room until it's time to work.

"Good afternoon, Buddy, how are you?" Aaron asks as he hugs me.

"I'm good, thank you... and you?" I reply shyly, always somewhat impressed by his shows of affection.

"Good! Please have a seat," he says, his voice recovering its usual seriousness as he motions me toward his desk, and sits down across from me. "We're going to review your contract quickly so that you have time to work on your lessons before your shift. By the way, I want you to stay home tomorrow evening. Randy says you're already doing great as far as practice is concerned, so I'd rather you get some rest and review your notes to be ready for the last part of your exam on Saturday morning."

It doesn't even sound like a suggestion, more like an order, but I willingly accept. Tomorrow morning, I'm taking the written part of the exams, and on Saturday, they are going to test us on our practical skills behind a bar. I'm not stressed or anything, but I'm still feeling the pressure. I don't want to fail.

Master Aaron makes me reread the whole contract and we review all the details, although we had already discussed them through and through. Working at the Black Moon is truly a windfall, there are so many benefits! Private health insurance, one week of paid sick time, free access to the club obviously, and five weeks of paid timeout after a year.

In the end, I will work on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from 4 to 12 with a half-hour break, which is great since I will have my Saturdays off to spend them at the Black Diamond! It's far from the average 40 hours a week, but the boss says he will compensate with occasional work on Tuesdays. The bartenders' outfit consists in a pair of black leather pants and tee-shirt provided and laundered by the club.

"Do you have questions?"

"No, it's all clear! Thank you so much, Master Aaron! I promise I'll try to be up to your expectations," I reply, then sign both copies of the contract.

I am so happy! At nearly 22, I finally get my first permanent job!

"I trust you, Shannon. Now you can go to the meeting room and work on your lessons."

"Oh... I was going to stay in Mark's private room..." I argue, and a light blush covers my face when I see Master Aaron squint at me.

"Meeting room, Shannon. We don't want you to get distracted by toys, do we?" he smirks.

"Alright, you're the boss!" I reply, a bit too cheekily.

"Shannon, watch that smart mouth of yours. I'll have no qualms about disciplining you if I have to!"

The Master Dom is obviously not joking here if the solemnity in his expression is any indication. The word discipline in his mouth doesn't bear the same effects as when Mark pronounces it. There's no arousal here. At all! I'm not scared of Master Aaron, but I'm sure his punishments would be far more unpleasant than Mark's!

This is precisely why I scamper to the meeting room attached to his office and get down to my notes, revising everything for tomorrow morning's test until it's time to go to work. My shift goes uneventful and when Mark drives me back home, I tell him about the contract and that I will be off tomorrow. I just leave out the part where Master Aaron threatened me with discipline, though.

Mark also tells me about how things are going on with his current projects. He spent the afternoon interviewing candidates for the second Wine & Cheese Bar he hopes to open in November. Unfortunately, things don't seem to go so easy with the premises he chose, though, so he also had to solve a few issues there, but his evening at Le Marais went well. The good thing is that he doesn't look too tired tonight, so hopefully I'll manage to get him into my pants...

"I need a shower..." I hint at him as we walk into the living room at home.

"Go ahead, Babe," he says, brushing his lips to mine absentmindedly.

"Mind joining me?" I suggest, using a suave voice and tugging on his dress shirt.

"Sorry, Shan. There are important files I need to finalize and send by email so that my accountant can work on them first thing in the morning. I'll try to be as quick as possible and join you in bed shortly," he replies, pecking my lips one last time before he heads toward his study.

Fuck! That stings a bit! I had hoped for some sex tonight!

I don't get flustered and go to the bathroom where I swiftly perform my enema. After a long and relaxing shower, Mark is still not in our bedroom, so I decide to go and get him in his office, stark naked and already hard. Through the door ajar, I can see him deeply focused on his laptop, the space between his eyebrows forming a little crease, but I want to try my luck all the same. After a light knock, I walk in seductively, my manhood proudly pointing at him, but he doesn't even raise his eyes from the screen.

"Mark..."

"Hold on a second, Babe," he trails off, rising his hand and still peering at his laptop.

I patiently wait for at least two minutes, but his obliviousness is getting on my nerves. Two can play that game! Without another word, I spin on my heels and walk out of his study, shutting the door a bit too noisily and ignoring him when he calls my name. Once in our bedroom, I put on one of my favorite sweatpants and go straight to bed, lying on my stomach and tucking my hands beneath my pillow.

If Master is not in the mood and prefers to ignore me, then I can do the same!

And this is exactly what I do when I hear him walk into our bedroom a few minutes later. My head is facing away from him and my eyes are shut, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I hear him take a quick shower and go through his usual routine, and soon enough, I feel the bed dip beside me. I'm trying to contain a smile when he begins to trail a finger along my spine – he knows how much I love this! However, if he expects me to react, he can stick his finger up his ass!

Instead, he shifts to hover over my back, one leg between mine and poking his erection against my buttocks, and begins to nibble my neck.

"Shan..." his husky voice whispers in my ear. "Stop pretending you're sleeping."

He continues to kiss the left side of my neck, grazing his teeth and licking the sensitive skin.

"Shan..."

I remain utterly passive to the deep tone and the delicious kisses, but it gets more difficult when he starts grinding his erection against the crack of my ass.

"I know you're awake..."

The assail intensifies as his left hand runs along my side then slips beneath my chest to reach for my nipple and softly pinch it. A wave of heat courses through my body and to my groin, awakening my cock that had gone flaccid.

"Babe... you're not allowed to ignore me..." he says, lightly biting my shoulder while he keeps twisting the hard little bud of my nipple between his fingers. A moan of pleasure almost escapes me. "I'm sorry you had to wait, but I told you I needed to send these files tonight."

His legs are straddling me now and he is rubbing his cock against my covered ass, but I keep ignoring him, my hands still tucked beneath my pillow and my eyes closed. Perhaps I should stop playing the drama queen or the sulking brat before he loses patience. After all, he did explain how these files were important and I'm not being fair to him with all the work and stress he's going through at the moment.

"Shan..." he growls, his patience clearly running thin. "We can do this softly," he whispers in my ear, his tongue teasing my earlobe, "or we can play it rough," he continues, this time biting the protuberance. "But in any case, I'm going to fuck you!"

With that, he leans back to sit on my calves and yanks my sweatpants down, making me gasp and open my eyes at last. Mark slightly shifts to take them off, and the next second, he is parting my buttocks and pouring lube over my entrance. I was expecting his fingers to push in, but his left hand is back beside my face while the other one is guiding the tip of his dick to my hole. Holy fuck! No preparation? This is what it seems as I feel the head begin to probe my butthole. I try to prop myself up but Mark swiftly grabs my wrists and pin them into the mattress.

"No, no, no, no..." he grunts playfully. "You played hard to get, so you're not allowed to move or touch, Pet. And you'd better relax to let me in now..."

The dirty tone makes my cock leak with precum and I will all my muscles to loosen up, especially this tight ring that's being perforated right now as Mark's fat rod is pushing in. The sting is a bit painful in the beginning as I feel each millimeter penetrate me, but I'm inhaling deep breaths and Mark is taking his time, going ever so slowly until he is fully sat in.

"Your tightness feels so good, Babe..." he murmurs above me, his voice strained from the strong squeezing around his shaft.

After a few minutes to let me adjust, Mark begins to thrust back and forth and quickly reaches a faster pace, pummeling into my channel. This is getting wild and since he rarely misses to hit my sweet spot, it feels so good that I'm soon becoming a moaning mess. In any case, our excitation has risen to such a high level that it isn't long before he gives me permission to come and we both climax at the same time, him deep inside my ass and me on the bed sheet.

Fuck! That was short but so intense! Exactly what I needed!

"Mark?" I call out softly a bit later, after we have cleaned up and while we are cuddling.

"Hmm?"

"I love you..."

"I love you too, Babe."

"I know you do!" I chuckle. "When can we have the next threesome?" I then ask out of the blue, and this time, it's his turn to laugh.

"Are you that eager? We've just had one!"

"I'm just asking!" I grumble.

"I don't know, Babe. Perhaps we could plan it for the weekend after next? Have you even made your mind on which Sub is going to play with us?"

"Yup, but I'm not going to tell you, I'll keep it a surprise!" I cheer. "Anyway, I need to discuss it with him first. Do I have a free hand on this threesome?"

"Hmm... You have a free hand on the choice for the Sub, but whoever it is, I'm getting to decide how we're going to play this..." he replies smugly.

Of course... He's the Dom after all!

"I'll have to get a copy of his activity sheet and you also need to tell me what you're expecting exactly of this next threesome. Do you have any specific requests?" he then asks.

"I... I actually have only one..." I stutter, feeling myself blush. "I'd like to... If you agree, I'd like to top... the other Sub... But for the rest, I don't mind. I'm ready to do whatever arouses you... Master!"

"Hmm... seeing you topping another guy..." he hums, yawning. "We'd better stop this conversation now and continue tomorrow. All sorts of thoughts are going through my head right now, making me horny but it's getting too late for another round. You've got a written exam tomorrow morning, so let's discuss this later and sleep now!"

Yeah, Mark is probably right. This conversation can wait, it's past midnight and I need to be at the training center at 10:30 am to take my exam, and I'd better be fully rested. So I let myself drift to sleep, fully sated and content with our future projects. I'll just have to speak with Ed at the club on Saturday evening, but I don't think I'll have to beg him too much.

Then, there is something else I need to discuss with Mark. The old man will soon turn 29 and I'd love to arrange a huge party for his birthday. I have plenty of ideas that imply all our friends and it could be fun. Maybe I could also get in touch with his parents and see if they want to visit for this particular occasion? Mark actually told them about me a few weeks ago and they were so happy for their son that they have been bugging him for a little trip to New Jersey as soon as possible. Damn! That's scary but they sound like nice people and I think I'd like to meet them for real.

The following morning, I wake up to an empty bed, as usual since Mark must have gone for his run. It's only 8, but I feel completely rested and in a great mood! When I walk into the kitchen a few minutes later, Mark is already dressed in blue jeans and a dress shirt, his hair still wet from his shower, and he just finished cooking our breakfast.

"I was just about to go and wake you up, Babe!" he cheers pecking my lips good morning.

"Damn! I should have stayed in bed then!"

"I need to leave in fifteen minutes, so there wouldn't have been any sex, you horny little pet!" he smirks, slapping my bare backside.

We settle at the kitchen island counter and start eating in silence, until I remember the last thoughts I had before I fell asleep last night.

"Would you let me arrange a birthday party for you, Mark?" I ask cheerily.

"Nope," he replies sternly, getting tense by the second.

Wow... This is straightforward! Is he not trusting me?

"Why? I can organize something great, you kn...."

"I said no, Shannon," he cuts me, his tone very firm.

Jeez!!! He was in a great mood just two minutes ago! Why is he so tense now? Is it because I made fun of him a couple of weeks ago when he blocked his back and had to resort to his friend Camden's massaging skills to get better?

"You know... I was joking the other day when I said you were getting old. You don't have to be afraid of aging..." I say meekly, but it just makes him grumble.

"It's not a question of aging, Shannon!"

"Then what? Don't you ever celebrate your birthday?" I insist, causing him to sigh loudly and hop off his stool.

He quickly goes to drop his dishes in the washer, then returns to me. I swivel on my seat to face him and he leans down to rest his hands on my thighs. I don't get this sudden sadness in his eyes.

"I'm sincerely sorry, Babe, I just don't want a party," he says softly, pecking my lips with a whole new level of tenderness. When he pulls back, he has recovered a more relaxed expression, smiling warmly at me. "But we can do something together, just the two of us. We can go out for dinner and then have some vanilla sex afterward?"

It's better than nothing. I guess.

"Forget about the vanilla sex, I like the kinky you! And can we go to Le Marais? It's been such a long time!!" I suggest cheerfully.

"Le Marais?" he repeats, cringing a little. Yeah, I bet he'd rather avoid his working place, but I really liked the food there. "Okay, if that's what you want, I'm fine with this, Babe. I'll make a reservation. Just please don't organize anything wild behind my back."

"Yes, yes, got it!" I sigh. "Will you explain me why at some point?" I ask, though, when I feel him tense again.

"Yeah, someday, I will. When I'm ready. But not now. I'm sorry..." he whispers painfully, leaning his forehead against mine for a short while before he pulls away.

"Hey, wait!! What present do I get for a wealthy man who already owns everything?" I ask more cheerfully.

"I don't have everything," he chuckles. "But I have you, and that's the most important!"

"Well, you do have me for sure!" I huff back, rolling my eyes. "You don't have a jet, though... but I'm afraid I can't afford this, or I'll have to ask Aaron for a huge salary increase..."

At least, it makes him laugh.

"I don't need a jet. And I don't need anything else either. I just need you, Babe..." he says, coming back to kiss me again while his hands travel down my chest.

"But I want to offer you something!!" I insist, trying to ignore his caresses but my cock starts swelling already.

"Just offer me your body and your submission, and it will be the perfect gift," he replies, one of his hands fondling my privates.

"You already have that!"

"I do, and I'll abuse them over and over again that night then!"

And the next second he has left! Leaving me panting and hard as fuck! He says I am stubborn, but he is not any better! No matter what he says, I'll get him something, but now I have an idea of what I am going to buy! What leaves me perplexed is more the fact that he doesn't want to celebrate his birthday with a party. He has very good friends, why wouldn't he want to see them on this special occasion?

I wonder if Liam knows anything about this... This is something I will verify on Saturday evening!

* * *

The following evening, we all gather in Master Aaron's meeting room with pizzas and even half a cup of Champagne to celebrate the end of my training. This morning, I took the practice test, which went super well, and in the afternoon, the center called to announce the results. I passed with flying colors! Now I am a certified bartender and so proud of my achievements! And so was Mark when I told him, and he even rewarded me with a delightful blowjob on the kitchen counter!

My first official day at the Black Moon will be on Wednesday next week, but I won't work on Friday since it's Mark's birthday. He asked this to Master Aaron as a favor in return of the present he offered him for his own birthday about a week ago – though I have no idea what it was! – and the boss accepted willingly, saying it was no problem since the guy I'm supposed to replace won't leave until the end of next week. All is good!!

When Liam and I excuse ourselves to go and get ready for the evening at almost 8pm, we almost bump into Mick and Ed in the corridor that leads to the Subs' room. They tell us that they had dinner together in a Lebanese restaurant they wanted to try, which explains why they are so late tonight. This is just my luck since I wanted to speak with Ed! I hold Liam out of the Subs' room for a few seconds, briefly expose him my plans for the next threesome and ask him if he wouldn't mind prepping with Mick for once so that I can talk with Ed in private. Obviously, he immediately accepts!

The guys are still undressing by the lockers when we join them, so Liam and I hurry to take off our clothes, and the four of us head toward the shower area. Since it's late, the place is almost empty.

"Ed? Would you mind showering with me?" I whisper to him once we have all performed our enemas, raising his suspicion.

"Sure..." he replies, squinting at me, but I quickly drag him into a shower stall while Liam does the same with Mick.

I could have discussed my plans openly in front of Mick because it won't remain a secret forever, but just in case Ed refuses, I'd rather be alone with him.

"What's all this fuss about?" Ed asks as we start shaving.

"There's no fuss..." I reply mischievously. "Am I not allowed to shower with you instead of Liam?"

"Of course, you are!"

We continue removing the bit of hair that grew over the last few days, then Ed takes care of the little I have between my buttocks before we swap places. My cock is swelling at the sight of him bent over, his hands keeping his ass cheeks apart which provides me a nice view on his butthole. I would gladly dip my stick in here... Once I have shaved him, I run my thumb along the crack of his ass and teasingly probe his entrance, making him moan.

"Ngh... Shan! What's making you so naughty tonight!?" he squeals as we both lean back up.

"I have a question for you, actually..." I trail off, biting my lower lip.

"I'm all ears!" he smirks while we start lathering our bodies.

"If I... If I proposed you to join Mark and I for a threesome, would you accept?" I eventually blurt out.

His answer is not the one I expected. He suddenly pins me against the wall and the next second, his lips are on mine. It's no French kissing, just lips moving against each other, but it doesn't prevent us from moaning and getting hard.

"When? Please tell me it's for tonight!!" he whispers against my mouth.

"Not tonight, but next weekend... Is that a yes?"

"Can't it be earlier?" Ed whines, pulling away.

"I'm afraid not..."

"Ugh, too bad! But wait... Is Master Mark aware of that!?" he exclaims, which makes me burst out laughing.

I tell him briefly about our recent decisions to try threesomes occasionally, one of which already happened with Master Eric, and that Mark is not only aware of the next one, but he also allowed me to choose the Sub who will participate. Ed is overenthusiastic and honored to be the one, especially when I tell him that I'd like to top him. As agreed with Mark, he is obviously the Dom and will lead the entire scene, but he promised to fulfill my request if said Sub accepts. My little soldier is very eager about this!

But it's not the only one...

Ed is much more mischievous than I thought and suggests a lot of things for that scene. Things that I hope won't get us into too much trouble. But I don't care. I'm far too impatient and I love Ed's plans. This is going to be awesome!!!

We exchange another light kiss to seal our pact, pour cold water on our erections, and hurry out of the shower to meet Liam and Mick by the lockers. Liam has told Mick what it was all about, and he makes me promise to choose him if there's another opportunity for a threesome. He pretends to be offended, saying that I should have chosen him since he was my mentor during my submissive training, but when I start feeling bad about it, he quickly engulfs me into a tight hug and says he was only joking.

With all this, I have been slow getting dressed. Since Ed and Mick hope to find Doms for the evening, we shoe them out, and Liam helps me to oil my body. Now, this is only the two of us in the Subs' room, which is good timing since I needed to speak with Liam too.

"Can I ask you something, Bunny?"

"Of course! What's the matter?"

"Do you remember last year around that time in October, if Mark celebrated his birthday?" I ask in a low tone.

"Nope, I don't remember," Liam replies, furrowing his brows. "But at the same time, I didn't really know him back then. It was only the beginning of my relationship with Joshua, so he could have gone to a birthday party and I didn't know it... Why are you asking?"

"Yesterday, I asked Mark if I could throw a party for his birthday, and he turned cold and refused firmly. He said he didn't want a party, but that we would go out for dinner together though. He promised he would explain at some point, but I don't know... I just find it weird!"

Just as weird as the expression on my friend's face right now.

"It's funny you're telling me this in fact..." he says thoughtfully, piquing my curiosity. "Do you remember that the four of them were all born in October the same year? Earlier this month, I did exactly the same thing as you... I suggested to organize a party to celebrate their birthdays at home, but Josh downright refused too."

"This is really weird..."

"Yeah, but let's not dig too deep until they're willing to tell us."

"Don't they trust us?" I ask, a bit upset at the realization that something bad may have happened in the past and that they won't let us know.

"Don't think that, Shan. It's not a question of trust. The way I see it... I don't know, but maybe something happened in that period a few years ago, and they probably don't want to add salt on old wounds. I mean... That's something I can understand. They'll tell us when they're ready."

"Yeah, you're right..."

"What are you going to get Mark for his birthday?" he then asks more cheerfully.

I smirk at him as I put my stuff in my locker, and as we head toward the Black Diamond, I tell him about my idea of a gift for Mark. Needless to say, it's going to be kinky! Though not as much as the plans I have made with Ed. Next week sounds promising!

Published on 13 May 2016