Before I could say anything, I heard the muted sounds of the "Imperial March" from Star Wars. I smirked as Malcolm pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and stared at the screen. I'd forgotten how much he loved those movies. But my joy was cut short when I saw his smile change to a grim, straight line as he glanced at Becca.
"Hello, this is Malcolm. What? Slow down." Malcolm stood and walked over to a set of French doors.
I turned and looked over the back of the couch to the outside as well, fully noticing the view out the wall of windows on the east side. It was breathtaking. Beyond a porch that seemed to span the width of the house were wild grasses swaying in the breeze. On the other side was a sandy beach and finally the dark blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Above that, the sky was still bright despite being after seven o'clock. There were some white, fluffy clouds off on the horizon, but otherwise you could see nothing but water. It was surreal to think that beyond the miles and miles of no land was Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. And while the same was true when I stared out at the Pacific Ocean in California, it seemed even more awe-inspiring—and just as intangible—here for some reason.
"Yes, she's here. She's fine."
I snapped my head around to see Malcolm watching me. My chest tightened.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? No, I understand. No. I'm sorry, I have to tell her. Yes, I'll text it to you." Malcolm glanced at his watch. "We'll see you in the morning. Goodbye, Drake."
"No." I cringed, trying to back away as Becca reached for me. "No!"
"Shh, it'll be alright." Becca succeeded in wrapping her arms around me and pulling me against her in a hug. A couple of silent tears trickled down my cheek when she whispered in my ear, "We'll get through this. Together. I'm glad you're here."
"I'm sorry, Daphne. I really am." Malcolm sat on the ottoman and hung his head. "I know you don't want him here, but maybe it's best that we can all talk together."
"Drake is your husband, correct?" Darryl said.
"Yes," Becca said, releasing me. "And my brother."
I nodded in agreement and wiped the side of my thumb under my eyes.
Darryl sat back in his chair and crossed one leg on top of the other so that his right ankle rested on his left knee. "Why don't you tell us what's going on so we know better how to help you?"
"I guess I better start with Jimmy." I exchanged a long glance with Malcolm. He gave me a soft smile and a nod of encouragement. "I dated him for almost two years before I met Drake. While he introduced me to the world of Dominance and submission, he was also very abusive. Both physically and verbally."
"Oh, Daphne," Becca said, her hand on mine for a moment.
"I met Malcolm at the end of that relationship. He saved me from a downward spiral. The police got involved, and Jimmy was arrested for domestic battery. When he got out of prison, he moved away from Illinois. California, I think. I thought it was the last I'd seen of him. I didn't even think about him until after we had moved out west ourselves. It had been four years, and if he was still living there...well, California is a big state."
Malcolm had gotten up and returned with a glass of water. I accepted it gratefully and took a long gulp.
"As you know," I gestured toward Malcolm and Becca, "Drake wanted to try 24/7 living. He never said where he got the idea, just that he thought it would suit us well. I was on board, and it seemed like a good fit. At first. After we came back from seeing you in March, he started going out more on the weekends. Without me. I never questioned where and what for."
"Is that how it's always been?" Becca asked. "More physical than verbal communication?"
"Not at first. We used to talk all of the time. I loved to listen to his voice. But since we got married... Well, now he leads, and I follow. It doesn't take a lot of direction since I know what he wants. I trust him to have my best interests at heart. It's not entirely because of BDSM, though. I'm wired that way. I could be happy without it...I was for a long stretch between Jimmy and Drake. I just choose to be in a relationship where the guy has all of the control, and I obey."
"There is nothing wrong with that," Malcolm said. "As long as it's done right."
"Are you involved at all out west?" Becca asked. "With other couples? Co-workers? Friends?"
I shook my head. "We never got into a club scene like we did in Chicago. Even when he isn't working, we mostly stay at home. We have a room in our basement." I felt my cheeks heat at the thought of our private room—at revealing its existence. And at what we had done just last night in that room despite my anger after the fiasco. I shifted my gaze to Malcolm then Becca. "I miss having the companionship that we all had."
Malcolm clasped his wife's hand. "Becca and I miss you, too, Daphne. And Drake, of course."
"Thanks. Drake never talks about it, but I can tell that he isn't interested in the social circle like he used to be. So I was surprised when he told me two weeks ago that he had been going to munches on Saturday mornings for almost six months and had met another Master who also used to live in Chicago. He said the munches were specifically for Dominants and Masters. They mostly discussed techniques and how to improve the relationships
