Chapter 55: Taylor joins the fray...

A couple of hours later, Jason sat in the middle of one of the plush living room couches. Wade had already taken off with Trish, whom Jason himself knew from a couple of local sci-fi conventions. Drew was still ensconced behind the bar, though that was much more a matter of clean-up and sticking close to their increasingly flirty hostess. Alex and Lorelei had already left... and so, for that matter, had Taylor, Jocelyn and numerous others.

It wasn't all bad, though. He didn't have a lot to add to the conversation, but at least he was seated between Brittany and Britney. The former's date had apparently disappeared entirely. The latter had broken up with her boyfriend that very night because he was apparently quite an asshole. It turned out that Brittany and Britney had been longtime friends, and Jason wasn't entirely sure if he was a welcome part of what probably should have been a private conversation.

They both, however, put a hand on each of his knees when he first decided to chivalrously extract himself from the girl talk.

"She needs to hear from a male perspective," Brittany said. "Only someone nice, not that jackass she just dumped."

"He dumped me," Britney corrected.

"Well, that's obviously his loss," Jason said helpfully. Britney looked up at him like she really appreciated that. Brittany smiled and squeezed his leg approvingly.

"You really think so?" Britney asked. "I mean, sometimes I think the only thing I'm really good at is sex."

"I wonder that sometimes, too," Brittany chimed in.

"Well...I'm sure that's not all you're good at," Jason ventured, feeling an insane stiffness between his legs like nothing that he'd ever endured before. He had no real idea what to say to them; much of the blood from his brain had retreated south, and at this point his mouth was on autopilot. "But you shouldn't be ashamed of your talents. You should, I dunno, embrace 'em!"

Britney and Brittany looked up at one another in silent confirmation just as Jason was silently scolding himself for sounding like such an idiot. Then they looked at him and said, in unison as they each took one of his hands and stood, "Okay."

Even at nineteen, Jason lived with rather protective, intrusive, conservative parents. When he finally staggered through his family's front door at a quarter to seven the next evening, having neither called nor emailed, he had considerable explaining to do. He was covered in hickies, scratches and even a few bite marks. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. He smelled of perfume and sweat. Two cell phone numbers were written on his forearms in Sharpee marker, along with many hearts and a few endearing vulgarities. His mother, aghast, spotted and yanked out the pair of pink lace panties that had been stuffed in his jacket pocket.

It was arguably the most awkward moment in his life to date. It was also totally worth it.

************

She stood in front of the door with the same mixture of trepidation, excitement and doubt that she had faced while waiting for the elevator. And while sitting in her car in the parking garage. And while on her way to the hotel.

The door was different, though. There'd be no turning back after walking through that door.

Well, that wasn't true, she knew. Taylor could turn back at any moment. This was Alex. He wouldn't hold anything against her. There was zero chance he would see this coming, and even less chance that he would feel deserving.

The thing she couldn't take back, though, was the statement that this was something she wanted. In front of the door, it was all still a hypothetical. It was all still in her head. Sure, she'd allowed another woman to make out with her, but lots of girls she knew did that at parties. Maybe it was more to excite the guys who were watching, but still. Taylor could either deny it or own up to it as she chose.

But once she stepped through that door, the statement would be made. She couldn't play it off as a joke or a stunt. Either she wanted this, or she didn't. And if she stepped through that door, she was the kind of girl who'd get in bed with a man and a woman. Whatever happened next, that was who she was from now on. Even if no one else ever knew, Taylor would know it about herself.

Either something wonderful was on the other side of that door, or just a lot of heartache and embarrassment. Perhaps a statement of Taylor's gullibility, or weakness, or just a sign of what a slut she was. Alex wouldn't see it that way, of course, but anyone else probably would. And he'd never speak of it, but he'd know.

Five days ago, he was just a high school memory and an occasional comment on Facebook. Now she was filled with longing and excitement, and had been for days. This would be complicated all to hell, no matter how non-committal he might be. He might put no pressure on her at all, but Taylor wondered how long it would be before she wanted more from him than had been offered -- by his own girlfriend, no less. His own girlfriend, who presented all manner of complications and unsettling revelations all on her own.

There were complicated relationships to be had, but this was beyond the pale.

Taylor stared at the door. She thought about all that Lorelei had said to her. She thought about the looks on Alex's face at the party; he never really got the chance to just talk to her alone that he had sought before she left.

She wanted to talk to him, of course. She was dying to talk to him. But talking might have spoiled this...if she were to go through with it.

The thought seemed to settle things for her. She hadn't avoided talking to the one person she'd shown up at the party to see for nothing. She hadn't let Lorelei kiss her because she was afraid of something. Taylor glanced around in the hallway, ensuring that no one was stirring. It was very late, after all.

Assured, she pulled the card key out of the pocket of her jeans. Then she pulled off her jacket. "Here goes," she muttered to herself.

************

"Thought we'd be going straight to bed," Alex mumbled as he came out of the bathroom. His clothes were gone. Lorelei knelt on the honeymoon suite's couch, now turned to face the balcony and the beautiful view of Elliott Bay beyond. The only thing she wore was the black pearl choker that served as her collar.

"We will do as you wish, of course," she said. Her eyes never left his, nor did they ever convey anything but lust and devotion. "But I thought, master, that you might enjoy the scenery while I serve you."

Weariness showed in his smile. It had been a hell of a day, along with a hell of a night. "I was afraid I'd have to do all the thinking for us when we agreed to all this. You have a lot of initiative for a love slave."

"You have no idea, master."

He came over and sat down on one corner of the couch, reclining against it and holding out his hand to the side of Lorelei's face. "Who am I to say no to you?" he asked.

Lorelei's hands slid over his legs, spreading them apart so she could kneel between them. "You are the master. I am the slave. It is always in your power to deny me." Her hands were already working his shaft, her mouth already caressing its length as she softly spoke.

"I'd have to be an idiot," he smiled, looking at her lovingly.

"Master is wise," Lorelei smiled. Her mouth came to the head of his cock. Her tongue extended along it, providing a welcoming surface just as her lips descended over it, and down its entire length. Once more, she accepted much more of him than should be comfortable, yet she gave no sign of difficulty or hesitation, nor did he feel himself bend at all.

Alex gave out a soft groan as she got to work. She had set this up to offer him a beautiful view while she sucked him off. He could see that she meant to take her time with it, too. But he couldn't tear himself away from her gaze even as the electric pleasures she bestowed upon his sex rippled through his body.

It didn't take her long to help him forget all about his fatigue. Alex relaxed, letting all his worries fall away. No more party, no more people wanting to kick his ass or show him up in front of their girlfriends. No more stressing about whether he was showing enough attention to anyone in particular or not. This was just his love, doing what she enjoyed so much. And really, it had been a great party, all in all...apart from getting stomped and not really getting to talk to Taylor, that is.

As he considered that last part, he laid his head back on the couch and his eyes drifted off to one side.

Without really looking for anything, he saw Taylor, walking toward him clad only in silk purple panties, a matching bra, and a shy but broad smile. "Hey," she said.