A Betty's Pledge: Volume One (10 page)

As they walked away, I realized that Emily and Keith emanated eroticism in every aspect
of the word. They were not ashamed to be sexual beings—in fact, they seemed to flaunt
it. They were not hindered by what others would think of them, living their lives
together as they pleased with no apology, and I couldn’t help but admire them both
for that.

My initial reaction to seeing Emily, taking in how she presented her body openly and
unashamedly, had made me automatically defensive for reasons I couldn’t really pinpoint.
I’d always hated blatant advertisement of eroticism because I thought it was rude
and tasteless. I still believed that. Not everyone favored that kind of flagrant sexuality
and to display it gave off a sense of crassness I wasn’t accustomed to.

“What the hell was that?” Mina growled once they’d cleared earshot, turning me forcefully
by the shoulders.

“What?”

“That,” Mina said, pointing toward my face then looking in the direction of Keith
and Emily.

“He licked me,” I replied, my tone reflecting the warring incredulity and fascination
I felt inside. Mina rolled her eyes.

“Oh,” was all she said.

“Oh? Does he make a habit of licking perfect strangers?”

“Let me tell you a little something about Keith, Mady,” Mina said, taking my arm in
hers and pulling me toward a collection of tables where other people were sitting.
“He prides himself with what he does in the bedroom. He is incredibly boastful about
what he can do with his mouth. In fact, I believe his mantra last year was that he
could pleasure four women at the same time, using his mouth to make each of them come
over and over again.”

Oh . . .

“Yeah,” Mina agreed, taking in my perplexed expression. “It has been the absolute
obsession of the pair of them to break in the Betties on the intricate nature of ‘multiple
lover sex scenarios’—their words not mine. There have been a couple of occasions where
they have overstepped their boundaries, and the owner has threatened to pull Emily’s
mentorship.”

“If it’s such an issue, why keep them around at all? If they are all about swinging,
why wouldn’t they leave the Grants and explore other clubs?”

“One could only hope,” Mina mumbled. “Keith has some sort of connection to this place,
I don’t know. No one has ever been forthcoming with the details. In any case, I’m
sure that other clubs are not as strict as ours are in regards to our safety measures.
Keith and Emily know that everyone here is clean and on some sort of birth control.
It’s like an open field for them with no obligation, no matter how many they may hurt
in the process.”

“It doesn’t sound like you have much respect for them.”

“For Emily, no,” Mina said. “For Keith . . . well . . . he used to be a lot different
before he hooked up with Emily, but I guess in the end they are perfect for each other.”

“What’s her deal? I mean, you two don’t seem to be on the best of terms.”

Mina sighed, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

“There was a reason you were paired with Diane, Mady,” Mina said as she looked pointedly
in Emily’s direction. We watched her as she sauntered across the yard, her bare ass
cheeks bouncing with every step. “That woman would eat you alive . . . literally.”

I laughed. “Did you ever . . .” I smirked, wagging my eyebrows exaggeratedly. Mina
blushed.

“Oh God no,” she said with a little too much gusto, shooing my question off in such
an un-Mina-like way it had me automatically question her veracity.

“That woman has no boundaries. Especially when it comes to mated couples who’ve been
quite clear about their preferences and restrictions.”

“Oh . . .” I said.

“Yeah. I am a pretty adventurous person in the bedroom, but my play only stays between
me and Zack, period. I don’t want any nasty poontang dipped in my whiskey, you know
what I’m saying?”

“But Mina,” I said, a little bite to my tone, “this is not the environment for being
territorial, is it? I mean, we are here to explore our sexuality with different types
of partners. How do you know you wouldn’t like to play with someone like her? It’s
not like she’s out sleeping with a lot of unknown people. Her playtime is restricted
to the Grants, right? She should be clean. Don’t the Grants require monthly testing?”

“It’s different for me, Mady,” Mina said. Her tone became tense and I could tell that
she was holding something back.

“How?”

“Well, I’m mated,” she said, not going any further in her explanation. “Come on, I
don’t want to confuse you any further. Just know that Emily is not someone to mess
with, and if she gives you any trouble, tell Diane. Emily is afraid of her.” Mina
giggled.

“I bet.”

The Rule Breaker

~ Madeline Cain ~

As Mina and I approached the white linen-covered tables, I noticed Marissa sitting
next to a woman in a sexy Alice in Wonderland costume, laughing at something she had
said. Next to her was a woman dressed as a sexy Mad Hatter, her hand resting on a
man’s knee, taking me in speculatively.

I could tell that she was evaluating me in some way, and I had a strange desire to
hold myself a little higher at her scrutiny, hoping I wasn’t found wanting.

Her costume carved a low V on her chest, leaving her ample breasts almost completely
visible. Most likely it wasn’t the cut of the costume that left her so exposed; it
was just the amount of flesh she had made it hard for the poor dress to cover. Her
waist was small and trim, hugged snugly by a black velvet corset that was tied tightly
beneath her bustline. Her top hat sat askew on her head, the signature 10/6 sign stuck
inside the lining. I was actually surprised it didn’t read 6/9, given the current
company and situation. I giggled at my inner contemplation.

“What’s so funny,” she said with a bit of a bite to her tone. It was probably because
I was evaluating her just as she was me before I snickered.

“Nothing,” I said, quickly composing myself in order to be introduced. I vaguely made
a note that all the Dames seemed to have gone with one theme, except for Emily, of
course; she seemed to dance to the beat of her own drum regardless of what anyone
else said. Alice in Wonderland seemed to fit perfectly because that was how I felt
arriving that night, entering a land where only the completely obscure made sense.

“Colette, Kaitlin, this is my friend, Mady,” Mina said in introduction.

The sexy Alice nodded and smiled but didn’t offer any greeting. She seemed a bit standoffish.

“Nice to meet you, Mady,” Kaitlin said warmly.

“Likewise. Kaitlin.” I turned quickly to the other friendly face staring back at me.
“Hey Marissa. How’s your night been?”

“Good.” Marissa chuckled, making Kaitlin giggle and lean into Marissa. It seemed that
my comment must have reminded them of some inside joke, and I resolved to ask Marissa
about that later. Perhaps she got the goods on one of the Consorts, maybe having done
a little rule breaking of her own.

Damn, I want to break some rules . . .

Colette didn’t say anything to me at Mina’s introduction, so I didn’t acknowledge
her either. I just kind of smiled in her general direction, not wanting to seem like
a complete bitch but also not a lap dog. If she had a problem with me, fuck her. That
was my motto for the evening, I’d decided.

“And this is Colette’s mate, Phillip,” Mina said, pointing toward the man who was
practically attached to the Mad Hatter by the hip. He had his right arm wrapped around
her waist and his left hand between her thighs as his thumb traced intricate patterns
on her skin. I noticed that the tips of his other fingers disappeared beneath her
skirt, and I tried to look away so as not to be caught staring at what he was doing
under that little piece of fabric.

He stood briefly, breaking away from his mate and giving me a good glimpse of his
barely there costume. He was a football player, with only light pads on and white
jersey pants. I wasn’t sure if he was sporting a jockstrap, but he sure was packing
something in those tight little pants of his. His body was rock solid, with washboard
abs and arms that could lift a truck. I think I might have drooled a little bit.

“Mady,” he said warmly, taking my hand and kissing it lightly in greeting. The feel
of his soft lips on my hand with his mated woman looking on made me blush heavily.
Not because he was ugly or gave me the creeps—he was just like the other men I’d met,
freakishly good-looking—it was only because I felt the strong connection between the
two of them. It seemed to run deep and solid. When he moved, she moved, and I could
tell that they’d been together for a long time.

When he sat down again his hand traveled automatically back to his mate’s leg, his
fingers massaging her skin in an intimate gesture. She leaned in to him, almost as
though her body was seeking his warmth as if he was her security blanket. He wrapped
himself around her once again, her head finding his chest as they shared a private
conversation with their eyes.

It was so personal and heartfelt that my mind immediately remembered my conversation
with Adam Vance. The way he’d spoken about the program made me think there was something
more to it. He had called the Consorts my suitors, which I thought had been weird
considering that they were just going to basically be my fuck buddies until this internship
was over. But he’d obviously learned something of commitment during his time here
because he seemed to be madly in love with his wife.

I just couldn’t reconcile a member of an illustrious sex club such as the Grants with
happily ever after. Could he really be content with just one partner after experiencing
so much more? Then again, there were couples who liked to swing every now and then.
And I guessed just because the club was like it was now, didn’t mean it was like this
back then. It could have started out as something completely different, maybe like
a love connection for the rich and famous.

In any case, Mr. Vance didn’t seem like the type of person who would want anyone else
touching his woman. The way they had looked at each other as he showed her the way
out spoke volumes of their love and devotion. Perhaps during his time here, he’d learned
what he wanted and found one person to fulfill his demands so much so that he fell
in love. Maybe I’d find the ability to have that, too. Or maybe I’d just learn all
the different ways I liked to be pleased, touched, and fucked, then call it a day
and move on.

Win-win, really
.

“So Mady, where are you from exactly? I haven’t seen you around the LA hot spots,”
Colette said loudly, gaining not only my attention but the attention of everyone at
the table as well. I looked at her then to see her eyes narrowed on me. She’d obviously
seen me staring in the direction of her boyfriend’s hand on her thigh while I was
lost in my thoughts. Embarrassed, I tried to answer her question without pissing her
off further.

“I’ve been living here for a couple years now.”

“Really? Why haven’t I seen you around?”

“Los Angeles is a big place,” I replied with a shrug. “I guess we don’t hang with
the same crowd.”

“Hmm.” She quirked an eyebrow and I had a feeling she didn’t buy into my bullshit.

“Mady went to UCLA with me,” Mina spoke up, sitting down at the table and gesturing
for me to join her. I shot her a look because I didn’t want anyone to know how close
we were, except Diane, of course. She was someone Mina was adamant that I could trust.
But anyone else I was sketchy about. “She was in my biology class. I was just so surprised
to see her here.”

Nice save, Mina . . .

“Yeah,” I said numbly. “Surprise, surprise.”

“Marissa’s from Portland,” Kaitlin said, nudging Marissa on the shoulder as she blushed
furiously. I wondered why briefly, but was distracted by Colette’s third degree.

“Yes, I know. She was nominated by her Uncle Martin. He’s a good family friend. My
pledge Tricia and my family are also very close as well. Have you met Tricia, Mady?”

I cringed internally. Of course the Ice Queen would be paired with Tricia. “Yeah,
we all met in the limo on the way over here. Where is she?”

I looked around vaguely, trying to seem truly interested but not really giving a damn
where that bitch was as long as she wasn’t giving Sarah a hard time again.

“Oh she’s over by the bar, talking to Isaac,” she snickered. I glanced over to where
I’d left him standing and found him talking to Tricia. She had her hands on his arm
like she was trying to feel his biceps or something. I watched as he smiled at her,
giving her that sexy grin he’d flashed at me only moments prior.

Seeing him with her made my heart do a funny little jump, and if I didn’t know any
better, I would’ve thought it was jealousy. I shook my head and looked away, trying
to rid my mind of those conflicting thoughts.

I wasn’t here to form bonds with the men; I had no right to feel jealous if they were
with someone else. That definitely wasn’t why I was here. I had signed up for this
internship because I wanted . . .
what did I want?
Sex? I was sure I could find that anywhere around LA on any given day, but I had
chosen to be here simply to experience something that I craved: passion, eroticism,
lust amplified by carnal sex. But most of all, it was to learn about my body―what
I liked, what I needed to fulfill that aching, stifling burn that other men in my
past had failed to sate.