Enlightened Read Free Page B

their relationship. My face crinkled into a rueful smile – I probably hadn’t been the most well-mannered dinner guest that night.
    Looking across at Stella’s relaxed face as she looked through a brochure of wedding venues I smiled. Now that I knew Stella properly and we’d chatted about the set-up of her relationship with Nathan I understood more fully. I wasn’t sure I could ever live the way she did with Nathan, but it was completely consensual so I would never judge her for her choices. To my surprise, Stella had told me that the start of their agreement had been rather impersonal, a contractual agreement for a no-strings relationship where he would dominate her in the bedroom and she would happily submit to him. The thing that had shocked me the most was when Stella had told me that she had been the one to seek it out. I still struggled to get my head around that, but knowing how independent and headstrong she was I could sort of imagine her doing something so brave – or perhaps reckless should be the word.
    From what I’d gathered in our chats over the last few months, Stella and Nathan’s relationship had changed significantly about a year ago after he’d asked my advice about ‘mainstreaming’. Stella said they now had a relatively normal relationship and that although Nathan was still in charge in the bedroom, rules and safe words rarely came into their time together anymore.
    Glancing across at Nicholas and Nathan as they sat on the balcony highlighted by the late evening sun I smiled; as brothers went they were a pretty stunning pair. My eye narrowed slightly as I looked at Nathan, his sharp gaze focused on Nicholas, his head tipped to the side as he listened intently to what his brother was saying. Having gotten to know about their past I knew that both of them still carried deep scars from their abusive father. I still found myself a little cautious around Nathan – there was just something intrinsically intimidating about him, but it was clear to see how he relaxed when Stella was around, and the little flashes of a softer side that I saw in his eyes when he looked at her were incredibly endearing.
    My gaze shifted across to my man and I felt my heart give a little kick. Rather uncharacteristically, Nicholas actually looked a little tipsy tonight. His cheeks were redder than usual, his hair flopping wildly over his brow, and the sleeves of his shirt rolled up clumsily. I couldn’t help but smile fondly at seeing him so relaxed. As dishevelled as he looked through the reflective window glimmer he was still so frigging attractive, and even sitting here, as far away as I was, I felt my body responding to his – a sensation I would never tire of. It was like we were linked on some carnal, chemical level.
    Blinking the thoughts away, I shrugged slightly to refocus my mind and turned my attention back to my friend. Whatever the setup of the partnership between Nathan and Stella I was immensely glad to have her as a friend, and I was thrilled she’d just agreed to be my bridesmaid. Raising her champagne flute Stella caught my eye and beamed at me.
    ‘Here’s to some fun preparations and a fantastic wedding!’ A toast I wholeheartedly agreed with.

Two –Nathan
    A marginal heaviness at my temples indicated that I'd probably had a little too much wine this evening, but as well as drinking too much my mind had been more active than I’d have liked – no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't forget Nicholas' words about Stella perhaps wanting to get married one day, and even now, almost an hour after my brother had left, I kept playing his words through my mind over and over again.
    Frowning, I leant forward and rested my hands on my knees as I stared at the unlit fireplace deep in thought. One thing kept going round and round inside my head; what if Stella's continued reluctance to move in with me had something to do with the fact that she somehow knew about my aversion to marriage? I’d asked her to