“Excellent! Could I speak with Lisa or Lori?” he asked Daphne.
“Sure. What were those ladies talking about?” she asked.
“What? Oh, just some creep I beat up that turned out to have some women chained up in his basement when the police went to his home looking for his partner. I didn’t know anything about that,” he asserted.
Daphne just smiled and shook her head as she walked into the back to get her daughter.
Moments later Lori came out with a big smile on her face. “Hi Ben!”
Ben relaxed when he saw the beauty but he refrained from getting too intimate in the daycare.
“Hi Lori. I just wanted to confirm you and Lisa can take Rain shopping for clothes. She has a job interview on Friday so Thursday night would be best.”
“You said she needs a winter wardrobe too? One evening isn’t enough time. How about we shop for the interview outfit on Thursday night and take her shopping for the rest on the weekend?” Lori suggested.
“Yeah that makes sense. Thank you!” Ben smiled.
“Anything else I can help you with?” she asked with a coy smile.
Ben smiled back at her. “No, that’s all… for now.”
He gave her a hug and Lisa rushed out to get a hug too before she dashed back to the kids.
Ben went home with a smile on his lips and found Tina still plunking away at her spreadsheet. He sat with her in the living room and reviewed the engineering boards on his own tablet. He came across another company looking for a solution to a problem he’d already solved so he directed them to the company that manufactured the piece they needed. Then he sent a note to the president of the company to let him know he might want to up their marketing efforts.
Glancing at the clock he saw it was time for him to visit the bank. He gave Tina a kiss then headed downtown.
His visit to the bank was quick and he left with two debit cards, one for the twins and one for Tina. Each was connected to an account with sufficient funds for both Rain’s clothing and outfitting the renovated home.
Rain’s flight didn’t get in until 3PM so he had time.
Ben’s mind went back to the evening before and the ‘gifts’ he’d bought the twins. He was thinking Tina might appreciate such a gift as well. He knew Lucy had an aversion to being touched there but she did have piercings so maybe something along those lines? He used his cell to find a shop that might sell such items. He skipped the sleazy sounding ones and spotted one that sounded promising. The name… there was something about the name. The address wasn’t too far away so he drove over to the shop. It blended in with the more upscale clothing shops in the neighborhood so he wasn’t embarrassed to go inside.
As he stepped in the door he noted it looked like many other clothing shops the twins had taken him and Tina to. He began to relax. Looking closer he saw the racks contained mostly lingerie but as he moved further back the items began to become a little more fetish based. The materials shifted from satin and lace to leather and latex.
Further back he encountered glass cases with discreet displays of sex toys. Higher end merchandise in artfully designed packaging to be sure but still sex toys. He spotted a display case with anal plugs and saw they came in many sizes, some dauntingly large.
“Ben?”
He froze until the accent in the voice tickled his recollection. He turned. “Pepin?”
“Hello! I didn’t expect to see you in my shop so soon but I am delighted!” she smiled up at him.
That’s when he remembered her business card and the website URL written on it. It was the name of the store! That’s why it seemed familiar.
“I have to admit that when I came in I wasn’t aware of the connection. I was just looking for someplace to pick up a couple of items and the name of your store didn’t make me want to run the other way,” he admitted. She grinned.
“Yes, we do cater to a more upscale market who appreciate discretion and propriety,” she said indicating the subtle nature of the displays. He nodded with a smile of his own.
A woman appeared at Pepin’s elbow and stood there trembling slightly. “Melody? What’s wrong?” the older woman asked.
“Mistress, may I hug him?”
Pepin smiled and looked to Ben. “You recall Melody from the club? She would like to show her appreciation for saving her.”
Ben’s eyebrows were raised. He did recognize the young woman but hadn’t expected to see her here, especially after what she’d gone through. He nodded in a daze.
Suddenly Melody was against his chest, squeezing him tightly. He hugged her in return then she stepped back to stand slightly behind Pepin… submissively. It clicked in Ben’s mind and Pepin smiled as she saw his awareness appear in his eyes.
“Yes, Melody has chosen me as her Dom. I have to admit I wasn’t expecting it and I’ve only had male subs before but she was a quick learner.” She turned to the girl. “Wait for me in my office.” With a final smile at Ben Melody rushed off to the back of the store.
“Congratulations?” Ben ventured and Pepin smiled graciously.
“What are you interested in seeing today?” Pepin asked.
Ben was about to suggest he find another sales person but he realized there was little point. “I’d like to pick up this item,” he said indicating the anal plug matching the shape and size of the ones he’d got the twins, “and I’m wondering if you have something for someone who wears piercings in her, ah, nipples.”
Pepin nodded and opened the drawer under the display case to show an assortment of boxes. “What color gem would you like?”
“Clear, please.”
She extracted a box and handed it to Ben. He looked inside and nodded.
“As for the other item I have something that just came in the other day.” She led him over to a display case showing different kinds of piercings. She opened the case and lifted out two bar piercings with hemisphere rings attached. A delicate looking chain ran between the rings.
“That’s very pretty!” Ben said.
“And functional too. A gentle tug on the chain stimulates both nipples at once,” Pepin replied.
Ben blushed a little and Pepin smiled in delight. “You are refreshingly innocent, Ben!” When he squirmed under her gaze she let him off the hook. “Was there anything else you were looking for? Perhaps you wish to get a second one of each item for the other twin. As I saw at the club they like to adorn themselves similarly.”
“Oh, these aren’t for the twins-” Ben began and Pepin’s eyes caught his in surprise. Ben’s cheeks got a little warmer. “These are for two other ladies I’m with.”
“Also subs?” Pepin asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
“They’re aware of the others…”
Ben frowned. “Of course, I’d never abuse their trust by lying to them.”
Pepin nodded and seemed to center herself once more. “Well… good for you.” She put the chain back into the display case and pulled a boxed one from the drawer under the cabinet. She handed him the box and looked up into his eyes. “I’ve never witnessed a successful polyamory relationship before. Maybe you could teach us your secrets at our next meeting?”
Ben detected a hint of hostility in her request and wondered at its source. Still, he could answer the question. “I’m not a relationship expert. I wouldn’t be in these relationships if it wasn’t for- another woman I’m in love with. She’s opened my eyes to the possibility of opening my heart to more than one woman. The secret? The only secret is that there can be no secrets. Brutal honesty. Always. There’s no room for jealousy. That’s poison for relationships.”
Pepin looked at him thoughtfully so he felt comfortable continuing. “No relationship is static. They take effort to maintain and they evolve. I’ve had to be open to the changes even when it wasn’t positive for me. Love grows or it doesn’t and sometimes its shape doesn’t match your preconceived notions. I’ve had to learn to accept it all.”
“Do any of the women love others?” Pepin asked pointedly.
Ben nodded. “One recently fell in love with another man and I’m pretty sure will be moving away to live with him. Another is in love with a woman as well but distance is proving to be too much of an obstacle for them.”
Pepin’s eyes widened in surprise. “What if she decided to move away to be with this woman?”
“She’s told me that she won’t give me up but if she needed to be with her I wouldn’t stop her from going. But I wouldn’t give her up either. I’d just visit her as often as I could,” he said with a sigh, thinking of Gabriella.
Pepin nodded thoughtfully as she led Ben up to the cashier. She instructed the woman to give Ben a member discount. Once he had his package Pepin walked him over to the door.
“I’m sorry if I was a little short with you earlier. I’ve had some bad relationships in recent years and the idea of a successful polyamorous relationship struck a nerve. I’m glad we talked. I extend the offer again to speak to the group about it. Though I believe some of our members couldn’t endure such a relationship it’s an excellent lesson to know it can work,” Pepin said contritely.
Ben just smiled and shook her hand. He gave her his email address so she could keep in touch. Then he made his way home. He tucked his little presents away in his jacket pocket. They were for later. He hoped Tina and Lucy would like them.