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“Eliza, use your voice. If Calder or Julian triggers you, tell them exactly what you are thinking. Do not spare their feelings; just tell them however it comes out,” Ryan says. “With Julian, focus on reward, not punishment. This is not about punishment, but if you think he is deserving of one, make it sex-based.”

“Meaning?” I ask.

“Orgasm denial, forced orgasms, or whatever you want. Don’t be afraid to take control. No matter how it happened, he took your control away, so this is how you can get it back and he can feel comfortable again with leading. He can see you get dominated by me and Calder, but you two can build something. It is important that you see that he has self-control and that he understands what it means to submit.”

“Any hard limits?” I ask Julian.

“No,” he says with a smirk.

“Okay,” I smile. “Can we finish the day at home?”

“We can. You look exhausted,” Julian says.

“I was monster fucked, and now my belly hurts,” I laugh.

“Just wait until you take all three of us,” Calder muses.

“Like a dream come true,” I laugh. “I should warn everyone… I am going to call to meet up with Troy…”

“What?” Calder asks, pulling me up from the table to stand. “Why?”

“To make it known that his stupid little plan didn’t work,” I say. “He did this shit because he wanted me to come running back to him. I want it to be known that his bullshit didn’t work, and I am staying right here with y’all.”

“Do you want us there?” Julian asks.

“Yes, but I’d like to talk to him alone,” I say. “So, within eyesight and earshot, but not close enough to trigger any kind of fight.”

“Okay,” Julian says. “If he touches you, I will kill him.”

“I understand,” I say. “I don’t know if he is brave enough knowing you two are there.”

Let’s hope not,” Calder says.

Ten

Eliza

When we got tothe house, I fell asleep and didn’t wake up again until the alarms went off for work this morning. I have been stalling all day calling Troy, but now that Ryan is here at the office again, I am going to do it.

I am sitting at the round table in our office with my old phone in front of me, and I am just staring at his contact. They are quietly watching me until I finally hit the button to call and place the phone on speaker.

I haven’t heard Troy’s voice in five weeks, and it feels weird. It’s almost scary how normal calling him feels, but also unsettling all at once. When he answers and I hear his voice, anger bubbles up.

“Well, hello, Eliza,” Troy says with an amused tone.

“Hey. Have a second?” I ask simply.

“I have all the time in the world for you, babe. What’s wrong?” he asks. I am taken aback by his caring attitude.

“Can we meet up and talk? I’m free at lunchtime,” I say.

“Yeah. What’s going on?” he asks with a concerned tone.

“I just think it’s time you and I talked,” I say. “A lot has happened over the last month and a half.”

“But you are safe?” he asks.

“Yeah. I’m safe,” I reply, rolling my eyes. “Where do you want to meet? I’d prefer somewhere public.”