Page 48 of Dark Princess Emerging

Morelle shook her head. "I don't like trickery, and I don't want Brandon to be in control."

"Do you want to be the one in control?" Gabi asked.

She wanted to say yes, that she wanted to be the one who decided, but she then realized that if she insisted on dictating the rules, she would be just as bad as Brandon.

"Can't we both be in control? After all, it's a shared experience."

Margo lifted the pitcher and refilled her glass. "Yes and no. In my experience, it's better to take turns. Otherwise, it's like two people trying to drive a car. They will drive it off the cliff."

Morelle wasn't sure she understood the reference, but taking turns sounded fair. "So how do I do that? I mean, take turns."

The women exchanged knowing looks before launching into various suggestions, each talking over the other in their enthusiasm to help.

"Start slow?—"

"Wear something sexy?—"

"Just jump him?—"

"Stop, stop!" Ella raised her hands, laughing. "You're confusing Morelle."

"The important thing," Gabi said once everyone had settled down, "is to communicate. Tell him what you want, but also listen to his concerns."

"I tried that," Morelle sighed. "He says he won't do anything he thinks isn't good for me."

"That's actually sweet," Jasmine said. "He cares about your comfort and well-being."

"Too much," Morelle grumbled, but there was no real heat in it. The margaritas had mellowed her frustration into something softer. "But you are right. It was kind of sweet of him to say that."

"Give him time," Margo advised. "Brandon is probably just as nervous as you are, even if he doesn't show it."

"Nervous?" Morelle frowned. "Why would he be nervous? He's experienced. I'm not."

"That's why he's nervous," Frankie said. "I bet he's never been with a virgin. Talk about pressure. He wants to make sure that your first time is memorable in a good way and not something to cringe about." She scrunched her nose and took a sip of her margarita. "Take it from someone who would rather forget her first miserable time."

As the others shared their memories of their first times, laughing and commiserating, Morelle felt a warm glow that had nothing to do with the margaritas. These females had accepted her so easily into their circle, and it felt wonderful to have friends.

Suddenly, a new realization dawned on her.

She no longer felt like there was no point to life and that it was all about misery. Meaningful connections with others made life worth living.

29

KIAN

Jade settled into the chair across from Kian, her posture rigid as always. "You wanted to see me."

"Yes. I have a proposition that involves Drova."

Jade's expression remained neutral, but her eyes sharpened. "Has she done something else I should know about?"

"Not at all. Actually, this is about giving her an opportunity at redemption that she might appreciate more than the stack of books she was assigned to read." Kian leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk. "I assume you are aware of the new division we are creating in the Guardian force."

She nodded. "I've heard the force is splitting into two divisions, one to be called the Saviors and the other the Avengers."

"That's right. The Saviors will continue the rescue of trafficking victims, and the Avengers will go after even more sinister players. The pedophile rings."

"The end users," Jade said.