“That does sounds harsh,” Caroline agreed. “I hope she finds it, too. And, wow, what an experience you had! I’m floored. I truly hope Mallory keeps you in the loop, because we’re all going to want to hear how it goes!”

“I’m sure she’ll keep me posted. I already had three e-mails from her by the time I arrived home.” Emma laughed. “She’s hoping to find out about a big endorsement deal very soon.”

“That’s so crazy incredible!” Piper exclaimed. “But I’m not surprised she fell in love with you. You’re easy to fall for. You’re like if ridiculously charming and super sweet had a baby and named her Emma.”

“Aw, that’s so nice of you to say,” Emma said. “Thank you. Mallory was actually instrumental in helping Pete see the light. I thought they wanted to be together, because their heads were always together, but when I found out she was trying to help us, it endeared me to her. We’ve forged a tight bond.”

Piper cleared her throat. “Okay, Emma dished.” She turned pointedly toward Gillian. “Now it’s your turn. We haven’t seen you since Emma’s travel shower. You’ve both been on vacation, it seems. Can you share any news with us? You kind of look like you’re glowing. Is that the inner light of happiness seeping out?”

Gillian chuckled. “That’s probably just my new ink sparkling in the lighting.” She pulled down her T-shirt to expose a new tattoo on her collarbone. It was a small baseball with red stitching.

“Bullshit,” Piper said. “Spill it. We’re all dying to know what’s been going on with you. Please don’t hold out on us!”

“We really are dying,” Caroline added hopefully. “It’s been a few weeks.”

Gillian arched an eyebrow around the table. “What, like you guys don’t already know who it is! Brad confessed he let the name slip, and if I know your husbands like I know mine, you already all know who it is.”

Emma was surprised.

Pete hadn’t said a word.

She glanced at Caroline, who looked sheepish as she picked up her glass and took a gulp of her wine. “Well, I, for one, don’t know,” Emma said. “Pete hasn’t mentioned anything. But then again, he found me naked in the harness, so that might’ve been distracting. So what’s up? Who is it? I can’t stand not knowing!”

“Okay,” Piper admitted. “The rest of us do know it’s Tyler Blackstone, but we know nothing else! I promise!”

“Tyler Blackstone, the baseball player?” Emma gaped.

Piper gave her a look. “You know Tyler Blackstone by name, but not Antonio Rafferty?” she teased.

“Pete played baseball in college, and it’s one of his biggest passions next to surfing, so coverage is always on,” Emma answered. “That’s how I know his name. He’s also drop-dead gorgeous, so when they drafted him for our team, I was all ears, or eyes?” She giggled. “But I’m surprised Pete didn’t say anything to me about it. It must have slipped his mind.”

“You were on a beautiful beach in the Bahamas,” Piper said helpfully. “That would strip anyone’s memory.”

Emma turned to Gillian, who was next to her. “If you guys are with Tyler Blackstone, no wonder he wanted you to keep it quiet. That’s huge news, and it could harm his reputation and any endorsement deals he may or may not have. Is he a Dom?” When Gillian didn’t readily answer, Emma prodded, “Come on, you have to give us something! We promise to keep our lips sealed.”

“Okay, I’ll slip you some details, but only because I’m taking pity on your souls.” Gillian started, “But you have to give me the girlfriend swear-on-your-life promise this doesn’t leave this table. Not even to your husbands, at least not right now.”

Piper was the first to raise her hand in a Girl Scout salute, placing her other hand over her heart. “I solemnly swear to keep my mouth shut or may I be struck down by rogue lightning the moment I step out of this bar.”

“I’ll do one better,” Caroline said. “I swear to the Almighty above.” She glanced up at the ceiling. “May He strike me down if I so much as think about what you tell me once I leave here.” Her face was intent, like she meant it, even though they all knew Caroline would be thinking about it more than any of them.

Emma nodded along. “And I swear on my good name I won’t breathe a word to anyone, including Pete. I can keep a secret to the grave. To this day, I’ve kept things quiet that my best friend in kindergarten begged me to never reveal. True story.”

Piper chortled, arching a look at her. “Okay, well, now you’re going to have to tell us what it was. What happened in kindergarten that was so earthshattering you kept it secret all these years?”

Emma mimed zipping her lips with her fingers. “Nope. Carla had faith in me then, and I will not divulge a single word. But, if I remember correctly, it had something to do with her penchant for glue and its wonderful taste.”

“Ew!” Piper snorted. “Okay, point taken.” She leveled her gaze back on Gillian. “We’ve all sworn. We promise on our good names we won’t tell. Now let us in on what’s going on.”

Gillian leaned forward, and they all went with her, moving drinks out of the way to make a little semicircle. “Okay, first off, this has been an incredible few weeks. This guy is off-the-charts hot,” she whispered. “We meet with him and his sub once a week. Always at the warehouse suite. The sex is very controlled. So far, there’s been no couple swap. It’s just Brad and me, and occasionally Tyler’s sub, with him calling the shots. He controls the bondage. I can’t really explain it, because out loud it doesn’t sound that sexy, but I’ve never experienced anything like it. I’m usually in the Domme position, but being his sub has opened my eyes to an entirely new way of having sex.” Her voice dropped even lower, and Emma struggled to hear. “But there’s been a small snag. He wants to swap now. I think he’s been leading up to this all along, but there’s one problem.” She sat back and picked up her drink, taking a sip. No one said a word. After she set it down, she continued, “Brad doesn’t want to. He’s never had an issue with anything we’ve done before, but he’s adamant. And frankly, I don’t know what to do.”

Emma’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean he doesn’t want to participate at all? Or he doesn’t want you to participate with the sports star?”

“Both,” she answered. “He wants to call it totally off. I’ve tried to reason with him, but he won’t talk about it. I don’t know what to do. This has never happened in our entire marriage. He’s always been on board with everything. He won’t give me a solid explanation.”

“So what are you going to do?” Piper asked. “That’s a tough one.”

“I haven’t made up my mind,” she admitted. “Brad told me if I had to do it, so be it, but he wouldn’t be joining me. He didn’t say he’d leave me, but he didn’t say he wouldn’t either.” Gillian looked miserable. “I love my husband, but the sex when we’re with Tyler is so explosive. It’s like”—she shook her head, at a loss for words—“he has broken something open inside me and let out this tide of ecstasy. I know it doesn’t sound coherent, but the thrill I feel is like a dozen highs, and I don’t know if I can give it up.”

“Wow. In the end, you’re going to have to go with your heart on this,” Emma counseled her. “If it was me, I wouldn’t be able to do it if Pete didn’t want to, but that’s just me. I know you and Brad have a different relationship, and a more open one. My advice is to tread slowly and don’t make a rash decision.”

“I agree with Emma. I wouldn’t be able to do it either,” Caroline added. “But I’m sure everyone at this table knows that. When is the next date set up?”

“Next week,” Gillian said, rubbing her temple. “I’m going to have to make up my mind before then.”

“Let us know what you decide,” Piper said. “We’ll be here for you, and we will support you, no matter what. This a killer choice. I know you love Brad, but sex has always been one of the biggest things in your life, and he knew that going in. Unlike all of us, you started with an open relationship.”