Thank you for returning to read!

As usual I need to thank Sohypetically and Notainslander. I can't do this without you!

And I truly don't own anything, especially the songs and plays mentioned in this chapter… just my ropes.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Ben asks as drives the truck out of Twisted's parking lot.

"Yes." Rey answers with a smile. "I just experienced subspace for the first time and had several orgasms. How are you?"

"I'm actually pretty good." He watches her for a moment and it makes her want to check to see if she has anything on her.

"I'm ok, I promise. I do wish you would have told me that Rose and Hux were coming. At least I wasn't naked up there."

"Do you want to be naked up there?" He asks. She glances at him, but his eyes are on the road and not her.

"No—" she quickly answers. "I don't think, actually I know that's not one of my kinks."

He nods then quietly, he adds, "I don't want you up there naked either. There's part of this that is only for us. And that's one of them."

She reaches for his hand. "Thank you. I don't want them to see you naked either."

His chuckle makes her smile back. "Naked only for each other. I like that."

"Can you take me to the garage? I need to catch up on some work."

"You have to work today?"

"Yeah, I didn't quite finish yesterday."

He's quiet for a moment as he turns onto her road. "Has Dad ever mentioned Uncle Chewy?"

"I've met him. He's been riding in the truck with your dad a couple of times."

"Let me call, but I think he might he looking for some part time work."

"He's a mechanic?" she asks. "Maybe it is time to hire someone to help. At least then I could do bigger jobs like fixing your Jeep."

"Don't fix the Jeep."

"Are you sure? I can still put in a new engine."

"Didn't you say that you were selling this truck? Why don't I just buy it from you?"

"Wait—what? We just agreed to not let anyone else see us naked but each other and now you're going to buy my truck?" She stops and runs her hands through her hair. Not sure what all this means. "I mean you can use it as long as you want to, I don't care about that. But it feels wrong to ask you to pay for it."

"How much do you have in it?"

"I don't know, maybe five thousand? You don't want to keep looking for another vehicle?"

"I like this one."

"Are you sure?"

"Rey," he says. She can't tell if he's annoyed, or just trying to get his point across. "I just need a vehicle that I don't have to worry about parking for days at a time." By now, they are back at her place.

"Ben—can we talk about this later?"

"We can do that." He rubs his hands over his face, suddenly tired while she gathers her stuff but pauses before she gets out. "Rey, hang on."

"What is Ben? Do you want to come in for a little bit?"

"Is that ok? For some reason I'm not ready to leave you yet."

Her smile makes the sun look dim. "Really? I would love for you to hang out." She winks at him. "But we have to work. No more tying me up to the lift."

He gets out of the truck but meets her before she gets too far away. He grinds against her and sings, "Let me show you baby that I'm a talented boy—"

"Ben! Did you just quote Prince to me?" Rey giggles as he puts her down.

"I did," he confesses as his cheeks grow pink.

"Everybody, grab a body pump it like you want somebody—" She starts the next verse.

"I guess you did—" Rey's cell interrupts them.

She scowls at him, and says, "That's your dad's ring." She answers, "This is Rey."

Dad has his own ringtone?

But then it makes sense. He does bring her all of his business.

"Alright, see you in a minute." She pockets her phone and turns back to Ben. "Your Dad's coming by."

"That's what I heard." They share a smile. "Can I still—"

"Of course, you can. Come on, lets open the garage." They enter the waiting area, and Ben can't help the grin that appears as he remembers what happened the last time he was here. Right there on that couch. She must can see what he's looking at because he hears, "Ben solo! I told you we can't—"

He interrupts her by picking her up again and going back to the same spot they were in just a couple of weeks ago. "You know how couples have their song and mushy stuff like that?" She nods. "This can be our couch."

She giggles as he claims a kiss. he licks his way into her mouth when they hear a familiar diesel truck outside. "Guess who?" She murmurs against his lips.

He moans as he lets her up. "Cockblocked by my own dad."

Just as he mutters that, the door opens and Han lets himself in. "Hey Rey," he pauses as he noticed Ben sitting on the couch. "Hey Kid. What are you doing here?"

"Hey Dad. Rey and I had a thing this morning and I just brought her home. She said she has some work stuff to catch up on, so I was going to hang out to be annoying."

"You're not annoying me, Ben. Besides if you get bored, I have some things you can do around here."

"And now she's going to put you to work," Han says as he grins. "I knew I liked her."

Ben rolls his eyes and Rey asks, "What ya' got for me?"

"Did you not hear? There was a bad wreck out on 25."

"Oh no. Did anyone—"

"No, thank goodness. But it did send them to the hospital," Han says as he leads them back out. sitting there on his flatbed, is a mangled Toyota.

"Is that a Rav4 or a Highlander?"

"Who knows?" Ben answers. "I'm amazed they're alive."

"It's a miracle." Rey looks around her yard. "I guess put it over there beside Ben's Jeep. Do you have their contact information?" Han hands her a copy of the police report. She walks back into the garage to deal with it on Monday. Or even later on next week. "Let them be alright," she prays to whoever is listening.

She doesn't get to linger long because Han and Ben are getting louder the more they talk. "Why is she doing this? I thought she was done?" Ben says.

"You know how she is. She sees the need—" Han replies.

"Yeah, she's got to fix it, but president? Washington doesn't need her anymore."

"It's just an exploratory committee," Han tries to explain.

"We both know what that means," Ben hisses as he notices that Rey stand beside him. He can tell that she wants to say something, but he's not ready to answer her questions. Instead he just shakes his head but still pulls her close when he puts his arm around her.

He never thought that the presence of someone else by your side could feel so amazing.

"Han, Ben mentioned that your friend Chewy might be looking for a job?"

Ben wants to kiss her for redirecting their little talk.

"Yeah, he won't come work with me, but he hates his job even though he should retire too."

"What did you do dad? You two have always worked together," Ben asks.

"Your mom wants me to go to DC with her more. So, I'm only towing when I'm in town."

"That explains why I haven't seen you around," Rey says. "Tell Chewy to come by."

"Let me call him," Han says reaching for his cell.

"Well, I guess I need to figure out how to do payroll."

"When do you fly out again?" Han asks.

"Tomorrow," Ben replies and Rey has to blink back tears. She can feel his eyes, but she refuses to meet them, pretending to look at something in the woods behind her house.

Rey just had a couple of things she needed to finish up today. But when there are three extra sets of hands in the shop, everything was done within an hour. The clients have already come to pick up their vehicles, and now, she's curled up on her outdoor sofa and the men are on her back porch grilling steaks.

And she doesn't understand why she wants to climb into Ben's lap and cry.

He sinks onto the couch beside her and hands her another beer. "Thank you," she says as she takes it from him.

Their eyes meet, and something softens in his. Which of course makes her tears escape. He takes the beer he just gave her, and sets it down with his on the coffee table. Then she's in his lap. She needs to touch him, but still mindful that they aren't alone, she nuzzles into his neck.

The weight that was on her chest leaves and she can finally breathe again.

She isn't sure how long they sit like that, but Han comes over and sits on the table. "Rey? What's wrong?"

Ben's arms tighten around her. she looks up and his whiskey colored eyes meet hers. "I'm alright. I just don't like being left behind." She pauses and whispers, "I've grown accustomed to his face."

"Ah, she can quote My Fair Lady and Prince! I think I love her," Ben admits with a grin.

Her heart flips at his words and the kiss he presses to her forehead. She knows he's teasing, or is he?

"My Fair Lady and Prince?" Han echoes. "She is a keeper then."

Warmth that she's never felt before except when she's with Ben floods her heart.

The week dragged just like she thought it would. Even with Chewy helping three days a week and Han stopping by when he wasn't towing ended up being the bright spots in her week.

Ben's text messages helped a lot too.

So, when he showed up on her doorstep again at ten PM on Thursday night… she stopped doubting that this is anything but love.

Saturday

"Someone needs a word," Effie says as she knocks on the door.

Ben meets her eyes and Rey shrugs. "If anyone is here, it's because they want you."

"They might be here for you."

"We're here for both of you," Rose says as she comes through the door. Rey is wearing the leather bikini again and Rose has on a pink crop top and yoga pants.

"I'm actually glad that I know someone in the audience," Rey replies.

"Hey! You two were great out there last week." Rose says giving her a hug. She's facing away from Ben and Hux, but Rose growls since she can see them. "You two are bring gross."

Rey lets go of Rose and turns to the guys. Their faces are bright red and their eyes are anywhere but at them. "Come on," Rey says. "Have you met Effie? She's really sweet."

"Come on, we have a class to teach." Ben pauses for a moment and smirks at Hux. "Why don't you two join us?"

Rose's jaw drops, Rey squeaks, "They can do that?" and Hux turns as red as his hair.

"Come on, another couple might be helpful." They follow Ben out of the dressing room to the off-stage area.

"Rey?" Rose whispers looking out at the crowd from stage left. "What is your boyfriend doing?"

"Do you have a safe word?"

"Of course, I do."

"Use it if you need to," Rey murmurs before Ben introduces them.

"Welcome everyone. if you weren't here last week, my name is Kylo and this is my play partner, Kira. Joining us today are some volunteers, Rose and Hux." He gathers the supplies. "In your welcome packs there should be a skein of rope, safety scissors, and a three-ring notebook. If you were here last week, I hope you brought all of this back." He waits for them to sort through their bags. "Now, if you aren't already near a table, go head and move. And you'll need a chair for the one who is being tied. And when we play, we make sure everyone is," he pauses and most everyone echoes, "safe, sane and consensual."

"Kira?" He meets her eyes winks. "Come on over here. Hux, Rose, you two stand over here." when they are beside him, Ben continues. "first we'll start with a singly column tie. Now a single column tie is designed to secure a part of the body to the body or to a surface you'd want to tie your partner to. Find the bite of the rope. Or for you newbies, the middle."

He does this quickly with a piece of rope he has in his hands. "When you find it, pinch it like this." He holds it up for everyone to see. Hux goes to copy him, but Ben stops him when he shakes his head at him. "I'll need Rose next."

"Kira," he says turning back to Rey. "Hold out your wrist please." He walks to the other side of her so the students can see. "Now watch," Ben says as he begins to twist the rope. "Loop it once, then twice. And look," he says as he points out what he's done. "You don't want these tight. This is when rope play can get dangerous. Don't forget to ask your partner, are you alright Kira? It's not too tight is it?"

"No, Sir."

"Finish it off with a square knot. You want to use this knot, because the knot wont collapse on itself." He turns to Rey, and finishes his tie, then picks up another piece of rope. It only takes him a moment to tie the rope around her other wrist. But when he drops to his knees and does the tie around each one of her ankles, a wave of need washes over her it makes her dizzy.

When he straightens up, he steals a kiss. He turns back to the audience watching their progress. Like last week, Effie and the staff move among the students helping them to perfect the ropes.

this time, she able to watch the crowd. Several she recognized from last week. There were also some new ones like Ben mentioned. There was a couple in the back… Ben steps in front of her with another skein of rope and a smirk.

"You need a harness."

"Ok." She stands up and notices Hux directing Rose to do the same. The friends give each other a questioning look.

"For the ones who wasn't here last week—" Ben begins then waits for everyone to give him their attention. "We tied a simple chest harness. You can use this on men or women. I'm going to go over this one quickly, and you can ask questions at the end of class. Get a bundle of rope, this needs to be at least 30 feet." The rope comes apart in his hands. "Find the bite. All that means is the middle. The easiest way is to get the ends." The way Ben runs his hands over the rope, Rey loves the warm chills dancing along her nerves. It reminds her of all the things he likes to do to her.

"This is the middle. Pinch it," he says as he shows the audience. He nods at Hux as he copies him. He turns to her and wink that make her smile and needy. He steps behind her and wraps the rope around her.

It feels like they almost alone by the way he touches her. Then there's the rope. The soft rope winding around her, reminds her of how he holds her. "Are you alright Kira?" He whispers in her ear.

"Yes, Sir."

"I'm going to help Hux and Rose. Are you alright?"

"Yes, Sir." But when he moves away, she wants to follow him even if he's just a couple of feet from her. As much as she wants to watch him, she makes herself turn to the students.

She's only been around the lifestyle a little over a month now, but she does know people. Being in several foster homes during her childhood, teaches one how to judge people fairly quickly.

And for some reason she can't keep her eyes off a new couple in the back.

She's been here enough to know how people dress for how they want others to see them. like now, most everyone is in shorts or jeans. Many of the ladies are wearing yoga pants. Even on the weekends, everyone's leathers are worn and cozy.

The couple in the back look… well for one the leather is new. He's wearing a leather harness that crosses his chest like a X and black leather pants. While she has on a latex cat suit that looks like it hurts every time she moves.

And that's fine. She's not here to kink or clothes shame anyone. Katniss is the one who let her borrow the leather bikini after all.

But it's the way they are looking around.

He looks nervous like he would rather be anywhere else but here. While she watches everything. Twisted has an understood rule about no cell phone while clients are here. but Rey doesn't miss the couple of pictures the woman took before Jared asked her to surrender her phone with the promise that she can have it back after class as she left the building.

What has her ready to run is the way they watch her and glare at Ben.

"Kira?" she hears in her ear. She turns to where he's by her side again, and all she wants to do it grab him and run.

Instead she wills herself to breathe, and answer, "Yes, Sir?"

Even she can hear her voice crack. "What is it?" he murmurs. She shakes her head, unwilling to draw attention to something that is probably nothing.

"I'm ok."

"Kira—" he begins like he doesn't believe her. and she hopes to God that she's not going to regret this later. "Do you need a break?"

"Let's continue." She presses a kiss to his lips. "I'm ok. I promise."

He straightens, still looking like he's trying to read her mind. She expects him to say something besides, "Can I tie you to the St. Andrews cross? Or do you want the table again?"

Her eyes go to the couple in the back of the room. she doesn't really want to be that vulnerable with them here, but she needs to trust Ben. "Whatever you want."

"the cross then?" she can feel her face heat up as she nods. Someone must have moved it from the dressing room because when she turns around, it looms behind them. her heart skips a beat. Her desire mixes with the fear rushing through her and she isn't sure what to do.

He offers her his hand and she lets him help her up.

She swallows hard as he leads her to the big black X. He brings her hands up to his mouth and she sees him as he kisses her, but she can't stop the tremor that passes over her. "Kira?" He murmurs. "Do you need to use your safe word?" He turns her hands over and presses a kiss to each palm.

She shakes her head and leans into him. He wraps his arms around her and she steps closer. "Rey? Sweetheart? What's wrong?"

Over his shoulder she looks for the misplaced couple in the back. They are still there and thankfully, for now, they are focused on one another and not her or Ben.

Is that why she's feeling this way? She doesn't feel safe?

"Kiss me again," she mutters.

He leans back enough so he can look into her eyes. He wants to ask, she can tell, but he listens to her instead as he claims her lips. he doesn't lick his way into her like he usually does, but this kiss is soft and sweet. He breaks the kiss and says, "you know, I'm not going to let anything happen to you." she nods and has to blink the tears away. "Are you afraid?" She's slow to nod. "Of the cross?" She quickly shakes her head no. "Are you afraid of me?" She doesn't say the work no, but she does mouth it before she kisses him. "The students? Are you afraid of the students?"

She bites her lower lips as she looks down and nods. The sudden change in his energy is physical as it surrounds her. His finger nudges her chin up and she meets his eyes. There's a quiet fury just underneath his surface and she's reminded that he is a Marine. "What happened?" He growls.

"It's nothing, B-B-Kylo. Something's off, that's all." She barely gets the words out when he turns on his heel. There must be a secret signal because it only takes a second for Jared to appear beside her.

Jared is silent as Ben asks, "What happened?" again.

"it's probably nothing—"

"Kira—" Ben says. "It's ok. we believe you."

Years of having foster parents never taking her side crashes around her. But when Ben says those couple of words, we believe you… makes the walls around her heart start to crumble.

And it gives her the strength to say, "The couple in the back. They are too overdressed for a rope class on Saturday morning at the local kink club. They were using their cell phone to take pictures, and they aren't together like everyone else is."

Jared gives her a small smile. "I noticed all that too. I'll ask them to delete the pictures before I give them back their phones." He gives her a half hug. "She's a good one, Kylo." By now, Effie has joined them and Jared guides her off the stage to fill her in while Ben leads her away from the cross.

Relief washes over her.

And so, does guilt for not doing what Ben wants to do. "Kylo—"

"Shhh— we'll talk about this later." He then leads her back to where she was sitting a moment ago. Effie meets them with one of the cozy blankets and a bottle of water. Ben sits down first, then pulls her onto his lap.

A couple of the students stop and look at them with furrowed brows wanting to ask a question or two. But the ones she knows are regulars of the club keep on making knots. That's when she realizes that it's because they know what after care looks like. The newbies don't.

It's like Ben reads her mind. He tucks her into his chest and clears his throat. everyone in the audience stops and gives him their undivided attention. He kisses her forehead, and starts, "can we all stop for a moment?" Rey looks across the stage to Rose. Her friend shoots her the are you ok? Look. she shakes her head and Ben continues, "Kira here, agreed to let me show you all how to tie someone to the St. Andrews cross. But then something happened. The closest thing that I can compare it to is fear. She was afraid. It's between her and I was it was that scared her so bad. She didn't safe word out, but I stopped the scene. She would have let me do whatever I wanted. But we are still learning how to trust one another so I didn't push her.

"So, now, we are doing looks different for everyone and it's up to the two of you to figure it all out. Kira loves cuddles and giggles and more kisses. Rose and Hux like what they like. But even if your sub or even you stop the play, you still need to stop, cuddle and discuss what just happened."

He keeps on talking, but Rey doesn't pay attention to it. Instead she takes a deep breath and peeks out from the blanket. Jared is escorting the couple out to the lobby where the door closes behind them.

Only then is she able to breathe a sigh of relief.