A Domme for Christmas

By

B.J. Frazier

Copyright 2022. All rights reserved

Published by B.J. Frazier Publications, LLC

B.J. Frazier Publications Edition, License Notes

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction.

Therefore, all characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination.

Adult Reading Material

DIGITAL ISBN: 978-1-957131-26-9

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

About B.J. Frazier

Books by B.J. Frazier

Connect with B.J. Frazier

Author’s Note

This book contains erotic fiction with graphic sex and is intended for mature readers only.

Please note that while this book contains the tropes that are the hallmark of Christmas movies, it does not fade to black before the “good parts”. If you are looking for a book that is good for the entire family, please look elsewhere.

My sincere and devoted thanks go to Thomas Antonson for his editing acumen and his uncanny ability to understand which word I really meant to use.

While I was planning the arc of this book, I shared ideas and character names with cb-6000-lover and toymax, who have shared my enthusiasm since day one. Thank you!

I send thanks and *hugs* to the following people who helped with cover design and/or provided feedback on select passages and the synopsis:

cb-6000-lover

Lets-see-now

Mike Bowerbank

Multiperv

Seblin

sizeerrorprojection

toymax

Please visit my website: bjfrazier.com

I know there are a lot of books for sale, and I thank you for choosing mine.

Happy reading,

~B.J.

Severe Content Warning: B.J. Frazier books contain *plots* and *well-developed characters*

Enjoy!

Introduction

A CHRISTMAS MAKEOVER

EXT. EARLY EVENING - PAN NEW YORK CITY, END AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER

“Jingle Bells” plays over opening credits.

ZOOM IN ON ICE RINK

We see a family ice skating, a small girl slips. Her dad picks her up. Mom skates over and the three hug. We see other similar families, dressed for xmas.

CUT TO: EXT. ROCKEFELLER BUILDING WINDOW

We see through a window KAREN looking at scene below. She hugs a file of photos, threatening to spill. She’s in her 20s, business attire but sexy. Hair in bun with loose strands. She works at an ad agency. She wants to go home for Christmas but her boss is Scrooge; won’t let her go.

Enter FLO, female boss, exasperated. She’s in her 40s or 50s, subdued makeup, dressed for work but tries to appear younger. She resents KAREN’s youth. FLO is divorced and alone with no children. Married to job.

FLO

THERE you are! I’ve been looking all over for you. Did you get the proof back from creative?

KAREN

Huh? (still gazing out window)

FLO

(Crosses to KAREN)

Do you have the photograph? We need to get it to print for tomorrow’s edition!

FLO grabs folder from KAREN, photos fly.

KAREN returns to reality and helps pick up photos.

KAREN

I  I’m sorry, boss. I got sidetracked watching the families down there. They don’t have a care in the world except to make happy Christmas memories.

FLO

(scoffing)

We need to make them have a care! A care to buy jewelry from The Crystal Palace!

KAREN

Yes. Yes, of course. I’ll take these to  

FLO receives text.

CUT TO: CLOSE-UP FLO’S PHONE: Emergency in production. Missing 26 seconds of 60-second TV spot.

KAREN (Cont’d)

  production, and then I’ll be on my way  

FLO

Cancel your trip. We have to get to production ASAP and fix a major screw-up. We’ll be here all weekend.

KAREN

But...

DISSOLVE TO: MONTAGE KAREN’S HOMETOWN CHRISTMAS MEMORIES, HOME, FAMILY

KAREN (Cont’d)

...yes, boss.

CUT TO: INT. PRODUCTION STUDIO.

FLO and KAREN listen to frantic STU, production manager, 50s, balding.

STU

I don’t have time to tell you what happened, just that we’re missing footage. We’ll have to reshoot the entire commercial because the actress we used is on a plane headed for Milan.

FLO

Who can we get on such short notice?

STU

Everyone has left for the holiday season, miss. That’s why I texted you.

FLO

There has to be SOMEone (looks around, and primps her hair, waiting to be asked to fill in).

STU

(to KAREN)

Hey, she’s pretty close-looking. I bet we could salvage some of the footage, and it would take less time!

FLO

I don’t think she looks like her, but if you think you can make it work...

KAREN

What, me? On TV? No way. I’m not an actress.

FLO

If you do it, and they finish before time, you can still take your trip.

DISSOLVE TO: MONTAGE COMMERCIAL SHOOT. HAIR AND MAKEUP. STAFF LOVES KAREN. FINISH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

CUT TO: INT. FLO’S OFFICE.

We see STU anxiously watching FLO.

STU

Well? Whaddya think?

FLO

Considering what you had to work with, it’s good.

KAREN rushes into office carrying three coffees in a cardboard holder, sets them on FLO’s desk.

“CUT!” Memphis Clark called after Shirley Shine as “Karen” dropped the coffee cups. “Someone pick up whatever’s on the floor that made her trip, and reset.”

“Oh, it’s totally my fault, Mr. Clark,” Shirley confessed. “I bumped into the desk, and I lost my grip on the carrier.”

“Okay. So you’re good to go?” Memphis asked.

“Yes, sir. Take it from where?”

“Your entrance.”

“Yes, sir.”

Memphis was a twenty-nine-year-old film maker with Masters’ degrees in Television Production, and Literature and Film from Columbia. His mother Paula joked that he was born with a camera in one hand and a tablet in the other. Jokes aside, Memphis wanted to be the next Spielberg.

With no Hollywood relatives and a lack of assertiveness, Memphis’ first job offer came from Milestone Movie Network. The Network was known for bad television movies, predictable plots and horrendous acting, and Memphis wanted to turn them down. But he knew it was an industry where he couldn’t afford to make enemies. So he thanked them and said he’d let them know after his other interviews.

Three weeks and zero offers later, Memphis became Milestone’s newest writer/director of Christmas movies.

He was determined to elevate the genre and envisioned all the Emmy Awards he’d receive.

The daydream included a lunch date with Steven Spielberg saying he’d never seen anything like Memphis’ work... except for his own.

One of Memphis’ pet peeves was the lack of realism in productions. His first fight with the producers was about using fake props.

He didn’t win.

The loss didn’t stop him from continuing the fight with his assistant director, Thane Baxter. “Everyone watching from their couch can tell that there’s nothing in these cups,” Memphis argued. “I understand we have a budget, but let’s at least fill them with water.”

Thane was an African American man in his thirties, who was meticulous about fashion and grooming. He had gone through several newly-graduated directors determined to turn every movie into a Hollywood production.

Memphis, at least, didn’t shout. Thane hated the shouters. Instead, Memphis tried an indirect way of asking for water in cups. At the end, Thane patiently informed Memphis, “Absolutely everything we do is streamlined to save on cost and time. It takes three minutes to fill the cups and get them into position each time we have to run the scene. Figure at least a fifteen-count scene, and that’s forty-five minutes.”

“Assuming you’re right about the time, forty-five minutes is a bargain for reality,” Memphis countered.

“I agree with you but that decision is above my pay grade.”

On Memphis’ first directing job, he made the actors do twenty-seven takes of a coffee shop scene, insisting they take the time to pretend to swallow after sipping their drinks. “We don’t have to constantly confirm that there’s nothing in ‘em, do we?” he’d ask.

After six years of getting nowhere, Memphis stopped asking.

But the actors continued to kid.

Shirley walked off set to do her entry again and tripped in the hallway, which sent the cups tumbling and rolling again. Scrambling to secure them in the holder, she called, “I’m okay! I’m ready!”

The actress playing Flo laughed. “It’s a good thing these cups don’t have anything in ‘em,” she said to Memphis.

“Don’t get me started,” Memphis said. “Mark it. And... action!”

Chapter 1

The empty cup issue became a standing joke on set, and Memphis good-naturedly accepted it. What he hadn’t fully accepted was his girlfriend’s lack of sexual initiative.

Susie Miller was Memphis’ girlfriend. She resembled the long line of blonde-haired, blue-eyed twenty-somethings who had come before her. Sweet, nonconfrontational, and wholesome, she was completely devoted to her boyfriend.

It’s not that she doesn’t LIKE sex, Memphis thought on his drive home, it’s that she ONLY likes missionary.

He sighed. Normally after an empty-cup day, Memphis liked to have sex. He knew Susie would comply, but he wanted something more... and didn’t know what.

“Oh, you’re home early!” Susie cooed when Memphis walked into their apartment.

“It’s almost seven,” Memphis said.

There was an edge to his voice but it never reached the anger level. Sometimes it frustrated him when people couldn’t tell he was upset.

“Yes,” Susie smiled, “but that’s much earlier than eight or nine.” She threw her arms around him.

Memphis grunted but accepted her hug. Then he nibbled her neck and groped her ass.

“Honey,” she pulled back, “I’ve got dinner on the table.”

“Fuck dinner.” He continued to let his hands roam.

“Memphis!” she scolded without batting his hands away.

He walked to the bedroom, half-dragging Susie.

“But you’ve gotta be hungry after your long day. Don’t you want dinner first?”

“I want you first.”

“Oh my.” Susie blushed and glanced at the time.

“There’s no rule that says we can’t do this now,” he added.

“I guess not.”

“It’s like having dessert first,” he grinned.

“You’re absolutely right.”

Susie agreed but there was a tone. It indicated that she didn’t approve and was merely deferring to her boyfriend.

Memphis hated it, and he put on his best scowl.

“What’s that face? Did you get a little too excited again?” Susie asked.

“Omigod, that’s not my I’m-gonna-come face. How do you not know what that looks like by now?”

“You know I close my eyes, sweetie.”

“Yeah. Well, tonight you’re gonna keep ‘em open.”

Susie’s eyes widened.

“I don’t mean right now,” Memphis said. “I mean while we’re doin’ it. And right up  ”

“I dunno that I can... I mean, I’ll try my best.”

Memphis pulled off their clothes and ushered them to the bed. “I can help you with that problem.”

“You think I have a problem?” Susie worried.

“You just said about keeping your eyes... never mind. I’m gonna help you keep ‘em open tonight.”

He bear-hugged her and pulled her on top of him, running his hands over her body and kissing her.

Susie emitted a squeak and permitted his affections while waiting for him to place them in their proper positions.

“Touch me,” Memphis said.

“Like how?”

“Like how I’m touching you.” He traced her arm and back.

Susie shook her head while dragging the back of her hand across his elbow.

“No, Suze, y’gotta do it like you want to feel me. Like y’wanna know how my body reacts.”

Susie pulled her hand back and looked away.

“Whatsa matter?” he asked.

“I... I... I already know how you react. I know how you feel.”

Memphis rolled his eyes because he knew what was coming. Susie didn’t see his reaction because she wasn’t looking at him.

“Every time you tell me that,” she welled up, “you make me feel like I’m doing something wrong. And I’ve asked you. But you don’t show me what you mean.”

Memphis inhaled deeply and let it out slowly... at the same time that his hard-on deflated. It was usually at that point when he would flip Susie onto her back and continue to missionary lovemaking.

But he decided to try one more time. “Please don’t cry. Let’s forget about the touching. I really wanna help you keep your eyes open tonight, though. So, please, will you try it on top just for once?”

Susie wiped her eyes and looked down at her boyfriend.

There was a slight hesitation about her that hadn’t ever been present before. Memphis was encouraged. “I promise you’re gonna love it. And I really want you to love having sex with me in this way.”

He caressed her hips and moved his hands to her clit. Rubbing it the way that set her off, Memphis gazed into her eyes. “Please, baby. For me?”

Susie half-shrugged, half-winced.

Memphis held his breath and continued to diddle her.

“Oh, if you’re not careful, you’re going to make me have a mess on you,” Susie moaned.

“I don’t care. Just please say you’ll try it with me.”

“Does it really mean that much to you?”

“Yes. It really does. Please, baby. Make love to me in this position.”

He knew he couldn’t say ‘fuck me’ or ‘ride me’. She was on the verge. Daringly, he stopped moving his fingers and uttered an additional, “Please.”

“Okay. I’ll do it  ”

“You will?” he smiled.

“  but just this once.”

“Thank you  ”

“And if I don’t like it  ”

“No, you will. And that’s all I ask, just try it. Thank you, baby. Wait...”

“What?”

“Can you feel it?”

“Feel what?” Susie asked.

“My boy is coming back to life... right under your bubble butt.”

“Memphis!”

She swatted his chest without conviction, and she tried to get off of him, but Memphis held her in place. Clutching her hips, he slowly gyrated against her.

“There’s nothing wrong with being sexually attracted to my girlfriend.”

“Well, I guess not but I shouldn’t be able to feel it against me.”

Memphis didn’t want to argue. Susie had agreed to something other than missionary, and he redirected them.

“You’re right,” he grinned. “Feel it inside of you. Put me in, baby.”

“I don’t know how to  you’re always the one who  I don’t even  ”

“Shh,” Memphis said, squeezing her hips. “It’s okay. It’s just you and me here. Reach down between your legs and line me up.”

Susie was trapped. She normally tried to avoid coming in contact with his penis. Sex, she reasoned, was different because she didn’t have to touch it.

But she had an innate sense to please, and Memphis was begging her... with his hands on her hips, forcing her to feel his arousal.

In the back of her mind, she heard “it’s not right.”

“C’mon, baby. For me. Please.”

Susie relented and delicately picked up the tip of his dick.

“Oh yeah, that’s it. Line yourself up and sit down on me.”

Memphis mistook Susie’s shudder for excitement. “Yeah, you’re gonna be in control, baby. You can give yourself as much pleasure as you want. C’mon, slide me in.”

Susie’s concentration switched from Memphis’ words to the slimy muscle in her hand. She never considered its wet form. Of course she knew about precum and how intercourse worked on a clinical level, but touching it made her queasy.

Memphis’ voice penetrated her. “I wanna watch you as you sink your ass down and fuck me.”

She dropped his dick and slumped forward. “I can’t,” she shook her head. “Please don’t make me.”

Memphis growled in frustration. He knew he’d gone too far.

But he was so hard and so excited. He needed to continue.

So he flipped her into missionary.

As he pounded her pussy, he hoped she’d stay quiet. He only needed a few minutes, and he’d be done.

But as always, she had to talk. “I’m sorry, hon. You know I don’t like that. And you know I don’t like to hear those words... in that way.”

Memphis grunted through downstrokes.

She reached up to touch his face. “Tell me it’s okay, sweetie.”

“Just  ”

“Tell me you understand.”

“  fuck, Susie! I just need ninety seconds.”

“I need you to understand me,” she repeated, not recognizing his anger.

“I understand you,” he pumped.

“And it’s okay?”

“Yeah. Fine.”

“Thank you, hon.”

She stroked his face, and he turned his head sharply to throw her hand aside. Then he increased his pace to pummeling, and they got lost in their separate space.

True to his word, Memphis came ninety seconds later. He pulled out quickly and got off the bed.

“Hey, where’re you goin’?” Susie asked.

“Here.”

“Oh, it’s just that you usually, um,” Susie looked at the ceiling, “you know, like, you know, and then we...”

“I what? Then we what?”

“You know,” she looked goofy.

Susie never had an orgasm from penile penetration. Instead, Memphis would lie next to her and use his hand. He knew exactly what she meant but was too upset to comply.

“Maybe if you ask me directly, with words, I can help.”

He figured if he could get her to say something sexual, maybe that would be the catalyst for getting her to have sex a different way.

“Okay,” she breathed, looking at the ceiling again. “I’m asking you to... get into the... position that you do right after you... y’know  ”

“I don’t know, Susie. That’s why you need to tell me.”

“I mean, you know, you know... y’know, after you... finish and you lie here,” she patted the mattress.

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, and then you... with your hand... you move it around my... so I can... y’know...”

Susie’s face was bright red, and she couldn’t find any other words.

“You can’t do it, can you?” Memphis asked.

She looked at him, and a tear escaped. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m hungry.”

Memphis went to the kitchen and warmed up the dinner. As he began to eat, he heard the toilet flush followed by water in the sink. Moments later, Susie walked in, smiling, fully clothed with her hair in place. “I’m famished,” she announced.

“It’s good,” Memphis said.

Susie bit her lip and sat, filling her plate. She took a few bites and couldn’t help asking, “Aren’t you going to get dressed to eat?”

Chapter 2

Later that week, Thane was in Memphis’ office planning for the upcoming movie scenes.

“I’ve kinda lost track of this week, Thane,” Memphis said. “I’ve got brainstorming written down but I don’t remember why.”

Thane scrolled through his tablet. “You said we needed to come up with a montage that shows how Karen’s boyfriend is bad.”

“Oh, right. Well, she’s going to be filming that commercial, so maybe he picks her up while she’s still shooting, and he watches? And while he’s there, the camera can show that he’s looking at the other women on set?”

“That’s good. I don’t think that’s been done before.”

“Okay. What’d you come up with?” Memphis asked. He knew Thane had ideas that other directors either didn’t want to hear or never gave him credit for.

“Well, I thought we could do a mini-montage around a similar theme. That way, we wouldn’t need to change sets, and it should be pretty quick to shoot.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Thane smiled. “I thought you would. So, it would be at a bar or restaurant.”

“Or a coffee house? None of these movies ever have characters walking into a coffee house,” Memphis joked.

“Right,” Thane chuckled.

“And certainly if they did go there, and, say, got coffees for the office, they’d hold onto the carriers like they didn’t weigh anything because there’d be absolutely zero coffee in those cups,” Memphis said, deadpan.

Thane nodded. “Exactly. And when they drank, they’d confirm there’s nothing in ‘em because there’s no lip prints on the edge of the cups.”

“Omigod, you’re right!”

“Yep.”

“All these years of complaining about the liquid, and you never said that.” Memphis shook his head.

“I actually just thought about it last night... at Angela’s.”

“Oh no, you saw her again?”

Memphis’ look of disappointment was just for show. The truth was, he couldn’t wait to hear another one of Thane’s sex stories.

Thane enjoyed submitting to dominant women. And after his encounters, he enjoyed talking about them.

The first time Thane shared one, Memphis was too engrossed to stop him. Then it became the custom. The stories aroused Memphis, but he was content to live vicariously through Thane.

“Well, technically, I didn’t know I was gonna see her,” Thane began, “because it was open dungeon night at this femdom house.”

“Is that like open mic night at the comedy club?”

Thane chuckled. “It kinda is! Anyway, Angela was there. And she saw me. And we saw the St. Andrew’s Cross. And you know, I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“That’s that cross thing?”

Thane wasn’t sure if Memphis was serious. “It’s an X, and you’re cuffed at the wrists and ankles.” He stood up, separated his legs and spread his arms overhead. “Like this.”

“Oh, right. Cross the other way.” Memphis took the time to adjust himself while Thane resumed his seat.

“Yeah. Anyway, the dungeon’s equipped with everything. And Angela went right for the cane. Have you ever been caned before, Mem?”

“Me? No. Uh-uh.”

“I haven’t, either. I mean, I’ve been hit with lots of things but never a cane. It was different but good. And she used different kinds, and they all had a different feel. Angela was great, too, because she talked to me about each one. Like, she really wanted to know what I felt and what the differences were.”

“They say communication is essential to a good relationship,” Memphis offered.

“True, and you really need it in dominance and submission stuff but usually dommes don’t wanna take the time to get inside a sub’s head. So she’d smack me and give me time to accept it and recover. And that’s the part where, normally, dommes would give ya another smack. But that’s where Angela questioned me.”

“Excuse me,” Memphis’ secretary walked in, knocking, “but Susie’s on the line for you,” she said to Memphis.

Susie had been texting since the meeting had started, and Memphis had ignored her.

“Tell her I’m in a meeting.”

The secretary glanced at Thane, raised her eyebrows, and then walked out.

“Shut the door, please,” Memphis called.

“We had quite the session last night. It was a first for me, and you know how I like my firsts!” Thane gushed.

“So you’ve told me.”

“She wanted to have a reliable reaction so she kept caning the same spot. It was thrilling at the time but crawling into bed later was difficult. It was like all the smacks came together to impact me at the same time when I was alone in bed. When I woke up this morning, I forgot... until I looked in the mirror. Y’gotta see!”

Memphis knew it was impossible to prevent him. First, Thane wouldn’t be stopped. And second, Memphis wanted to see.

Thane stood up again and pulled his shirt out of his trousers. “Y’gotta see it in the light.”

He walked around Memphis’ desk and stood in front of the window. His dark brown skin had stripes of even darker skin across his abdomen. Around the perimeter of the marks was a reddish hue.

Thane trailed a finger along one of the lines. “It’s pretty cool, huh?”

“Not the words I’d choose, Thane.”

“What would you choose, Mr. Author?”

“I dunno.” Memphis looked out the window and said to himself, “I wish Susie would do that.”

“What’s that?”

“I mean, maybe not that but anything besides just doting would be an improvement.”

“I didn’t hear what you said but I’m gonna guess it was about your girlfriend,” Thane said as he tucked his shirt into his pants.

Memphis snapped to attention. “Uh, never mind my girlfriend. I let you tell me that story because you said you thought about lipstick marks last night.”

“Oh! Right! So at open dungeon nights, they sound a bell every fifteen minutes to let the dommes know how much time has passed so they can work in a hydration break.”

“Okay. So unless you were wearing lipstick and someone handed you an empty coffee cup, I still don’t see the connection,” Memphis joked.

“Not me, but Angela wore bright red lipstick. She gave me a sip from her water bottle, then took some after. When she set it down, I saw her bright red lip prints on the chrome. And that’s  ”

“When you thought about the coffee cups  ”

“  when I thought about no marks on the cups. Right.” Thane smiled proudly.

Memphis grinned. “I think I can bring it up to the producers without mentioning how we thought of it.”

“Don’t do it, Mem. You know what they’re gonna say.”

“Yeah, I’m just kidding. I’ve accepted the fact that there will never be any liquid on set.”

Thane stared at him and said, “No, you haven’t.”

“No, I haven’t,” Memphis agreed with a smile. “So yeah, the bad boyfriend goes somewhere?”

“I guess it has to be the coffee place now, since there’s one in the story already. We won’t need a separate set.”

“Of course.”

“So I was thinkin’,” Thane continued, “that part of the montage would be him cutting in line. Another one could be the camera zoomed in on the receipt, which would show one item, and then pan out to show he actually got several. So he knows he was undercharged but doesn’t say anything. And then another one where we see the receipt again, only when the camera pans out, we see he’s left a very small tip on the table.”

“I like those, Thane. Good job. We’ll use yours.”

“And end with yours?” Thane opened his tablet to the schedule.

“No. It’s one less shot we need, and we won’t need the extras.”

“Good. Got it down.”

“It’s crazy,” Memphis said.

“What is?”

“How overly douchey all the ex-boyfriends are in these movies.”

“That’s to get her to appreciate her true love when she finds him,” Thane said, batting his eyelashes.

“Yeah, but my point is that it’s so backwards. Like, how come nobody thinks, what the hell was she doing with that schmuck in the first place?!”

Thane laughed. “You’re right, Mem. I never thought of that.”

* * * *

The production went into overtime for the remainder of the week because of Shirley. Late Saturday, Memphis and Thane had a quick meeting.

“I’m supposed to tell you that the producers aren’t happy, Mem,” Thane said.

“What do they want me to do? Tell ‘em to talk to Shirley.”

“I told ‘em.”

“And?”

“You know she’s their girl, Mem.”

“Yeah. You should invite ‘em to the set. Then they can see how the finished product takes major effort. Bumbled lines, klutzy, can’t remember blocking.”

“Even if they were here, they wouldn’t see it.”

“Yeah. I know. Plus, she’s just so damn nice and apologetic.”

“The crew loves her for that, that’s for sure.”

“Yeah, but I don’t need apologies. I need her to learn the lines. I mean, what’s a director gotta do to get a Grade A Diva around here?” Memphis laughed... and his cock pulsed at the thought of someone like Angela as the star.

“You just go on right now and take that shit back, Memphis Clark! If it’s one thing we don’t need around here it’s a diva!”

“Yeah, I guess.” He checked his phone. “It’s late. Walk ya to the lot?”

“Sure, I’ll grab my stuff on the way out.”

“What’re you doin’ with your day off tomorrow?” Memphis asked.

“It actually starts tonight. I’m goin’ to a bash where I hope to get used by a group of dommes!”

“Nice.”

“What about you and Susie?”

“It’s been a long week. I’m gonna do absolutely nothing tomorrow.”

“Yeah, well, make sure ‘nothing’ includes some kinky-ass fun,” Thane said, unlocking his car door.

“Oh, there’ll be sex, don’t worry,” Memphis called over his shoulder, “the missionary kind,” he muttered to his car.

“What’d you say?”

“I said, have a good weekend.”

“You know I will! Bye!”

Chapter 3

Memphis played basketball with a group of buddies the following week. They used to meet weekly but when girlfriends turned into wives and that turned into babies, basketball fell out of priority. Sometimes, he brought Thane if they were short on bodies... like that week.

On the court, the focus was sweat, checking, and scoring. During water breaks, though, the guys pressured Memphis into becoming one of them.

“When’re you gonna get hitched, dude?”...

“Your clock’s running out...”

“Susie’s a great girl, and you need to make an honest woman outta her...”

Memphis smiled through it all, like he always did when they brought it up. That night, though, he tried to explain it better.

“You know, I think it’s great for you guys, and I’m really happy for you all, but I really just don’t like the institution of marriage.”

“Whoa, Mr. Two Degrees with the big words.”

Memphis smiled. “You know I’ve never been a down-the-aisle kinda guy.”

“Right, but we thought it was something you’d outgrow, man.”

The guys laughed. Thane held the basketball against his hip and listened without comment.

“I don’t think it’s something you can outgrow,” Memphis said seriously.

“What, so you’re sayin’ it’s like bein’ gay? You were born not to get married, man?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

“Look, we called you to play basketball as an intervention. We all think it’s time for you to settle down.”

“Very funny,” Memphis said.

“If you don’t wanna trust us, the guys who’ve been there for you for your whole life, then ask your new friend Thad here.”

“It’s Thane,” Memphis corrected.

“Thane, you’re with us, right?”

“Me? I’m just here to play basketball. Memphis needs to do what’s right for him.”

There was a low rumbling “ooh” from the buddies, and Memphis changed the subject before things could get heated.

“So regardless of why we’re here, it couldn’t’ve come at a better time because my actress is just killing my schedule this time,” Memphis said.

“Who’s that, Shirley Shine? That hot babe in all the Christmas movies?”

Memphis nodded, and someone else said, “I bet that’s why Memphis is anti-wedding! He can’t commit to anyone when he’s around sexy actresses all the time.”

“How do you even know who she is?” Memphis deflected.

“We’ve been around you the past six years. Plus, our wives make us watch that shit.”

“So is that it?” Another buddy redirected. “You’re gettin’ hot sex at work?”

“I’ll be the first to admit that she’s beautiful,” Memphis said. “But she’s really difficult to work with.”

“Oh riiight, does she not take her orders as you direct her?”

“That’s very funny,” Memphis said. “But she’s not a diva. I was just telling Thane the other day,” he motioned to Thane, “that I wish I had a diva to work with. ‘Cause Shirley’s just awkward and... plain.”

“Shirley Shine is anything but plain.”

The guy next to him agreed. “Yeah, I think that’s Memphis’ way of covering up the fact that he plows every hot chick on the set!”

Memphis scowled, “Yep, y’got me. Can we play ball now?”

Memphis grabbed the ball and walked to the middle of the court. His buddies, interpreting the scowl as guilt, followed and mumbled about how they were right.

Thane was a step behind the group and said nothing.

After the game, Memphis went straight home.

* * * *

The next morning, Memphis and Thane had their weekly brainstorming meeting. After the schedule was set, Thane brought up basketball.

“Hey, just so you know, if there was an intervention, I wasn’t in on it.”

“Yeah, no. Everybody just wants everyone else to be part of the status quo,” Memphis sighed.

“I sure as hell don’t,” Thane spat. “I don’t think you do, either,” he added.

Memphis shrugged.

“What’s wrong? Did they get to you last night?” Thane asked.

“Me? I’m okay.”

“We’ve worked together for six years, Mem. I know when you’re okay, and I know when you’re  ” he stopped himself.

Memphis looked at his assistant director. “You know when I what?”

“Nothing.”

“No, say it. Forget I’m your boss... and ordering you to tell me,” Memphis grinned.

Thane smiled and shook his head. “I feel like I should get you to sign a ‘will not fire Thane’ letter.” He paused and raised his eyebrows, staring at Memphis. “It’s just, you’ve got that thing that you get when you’re about to break up with your girlfriend.”

Thane closed his eyes and cringed, then peeked at Memphis. He relaxed when Memphis didn’t raise his voice.

“You think there’s something wrong with me?” Memphis asked.

“Like, how? Medically?”

“No, like what the guys said last night. You think there’s something wrong with me because I don’t ever commit to anyone?”

“Oh.” Thane tilted his head. “I wouldn’t let them get to you. I have married friends who tell me the same thing.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Thane watched Memphis place his hands on his desk only to return them to his lap. He swiveled to the window and then back to Thane, and couldn’t find a place to rest his eyes.

“Did something else happen, Mem?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, because I’ve heard those guys tell you those same things before but it hasn’t gotten to you.”

“I dunno,” Memphis shrugged and sighed. “I went home last night, and it was late, and I’m all sweaty, you know. And normally I take a shower before I do anything. But I didn’t feel like it. And Susie’s there, like right at the door, like she’s been waitin’ up. And she’s all cheery, and she kept dinner warm.

“So I went to the kitchen and ate. And she didn’t say anything. I mean, she talked. Omigod can she talk. But she didn’t yell at me for not showering. And we fooled around, like we normally do, except  ” Memphis looked at Thane.

“Except?”

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