Free Clark, Rachel - Alicia's Awakening (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Rachel Clark Page A

human being. He looks away from me, almost like he doesn’t want me to see what he’s thinking. “We should both get an early night.”
    I shake my head quickly, but he grabs my chin and traces the dark circles under my eyes with his finger.
    “I didn’t sleep very well last night,” I say defensively, “but only because I was excited.” I manage to add the word “Sir” when he raises his eyebrow again. Damn, I need to remember that part better. We’ve spent the past two weeks slipping into and out of the Dom-sub protocols, but I have agreed to follow them twenty-four-seven while our contract is in force. “Sir, I promise to try harder. Lachlan hasn’t even called yet. Can we please just sit and watch television together for a while?”
    He laughs softly, and I’m uncertain what it is that he finds funny, but then he nods his agreement, stands up, and holds his hand out for me to take. I slip my hand into his and sigh softly as he leads me to the living area. I’m not surprised when he indicates that I should sit on the floor at his feet—it was one of the things we discussed when we negotiated our contract—but I am grateful for the cushion he gives me to sit on. It might be summer, but sitting bare-assed on cold tiles just doesn’t appeal.
    Doug settles into his seat and urges me to rest my head against his thigh. I get comfortable between his knees and am actually surprised by how right it feels. He flicks through the stations until he finds something that catches his interest. I’m not fussed at what we watch, but since I’m not given the choice anyway, I simply relax into the feel of him surrounding me and close my eyes, quite content.
    “Wake up, little sub,” a voice says as a hand sweeps over my face lovingly. “Alicia, your phone’s ringing.”
    A part of me doesn’t care. I’m sleepy and content and don’t want reality to intrude, but then I realize the most likely identity of my caller and my eyes fly open as I search for the source of the ringing. Doug hands me my cell phone and then leaves the room.
    “Hello,” I finally manage in a sleep-roughened voice as I thumb the “answer” button.
    “Alicia?” Lachlan asks, sounding mad. “Are you all right?”
    I’m a little surprised by his vehemence, but it does have the effect of bringing me fully awake.
    “Of course I’m all right. I’m just tired.”
    “Tired from what?” he asks suspiciously. He knows that I’ve been dating Doug, has even encouraged me to keep seeing the guy, so he probably has a fairly good idea of where I am now and what I’ve been up to. I glance down at my naked, recently waxed lower body and amend that thought to he probably thinks he knows what I’ve been up to. I’ve left out a whole lot of details if the truth be told, but I know Lachlan has a protective streak a mile wide. If he thought Doug was hurting me—even in a good way—I suspect Lachlan would step in to protect me.
    As usual we discuss how our days went, but this time I’m careful to edit out the part about vibrating eggs and near-orgasmic waxings. A part of me really wants to discuss it with my best friend and maybe work through some of the more confusing emotions with him, but I’m terrified of how he might react. I don’t want to lose him. We might never be more than best friends but I refuse to risk losing the only person I’ve ever felt an emotional connection to. I glance up as Doug comes back into the room and try not to think of him in the same way. Our contract is for two weeks. What’s supposed to happen after that is still a little frightening.
    I can’t imagine meeting another Dom like Doug.
    He moves back onto the sofa, his legs sort of capturing me as I settle back against him. But this time instead of ignoring me, he leans forward and caresses my breasts gently. I can feel my nipples pulling into tight peaks as I desperately try to stay focused on the thread of my conversation with Lachlan.
    “When are you coming