Chapter 15
To take away from the obvious embarrassment, Bear cast his attention around the room. A busy place filled with attractive women where the men were more arm candy than the other way around. Bear posited to play the game of "spot the heterosexuals" in the room and in all honesty it was tough going. It seemed the lean and hungry look of most females was for each other rather than Mr Right. The enormous TV screen showing a naked woman being set upon by two other equally naked women in a "mΓ©nage Γ trois" seemed to support this. Thing being, the central player was looking at the camera furiously and obviously sending a message. Bear could not help himself and leant over to Ma'am, pointing at the screen and saying,
"Friend of yours, I'm thinking?"
"Payback is a bitch," was Ma'am's reply with a small shrug before turning back to her conversation with Aimee.
Sylvie came around to Bear's side and whispered in his ear,
"Don't worry, it was a long time ago and much ado about nothing, but with the video announcement upon your arrival, old grievances die hard."
Bear laughed.
"Should I be careful?"
It was Sylvie's turn to laugh, adding,
"Oh yes. Of everybody, well, except Aimee and me, as we are ecstatic with how things are. After the longest night there is morning, so to speak. You know she has waited for you for an endless time. Not something you should know, but true all the same. She, oh yes, you call her Ma'am, and so shall Aimee and I henceforth."
Then Sylvie continued,
"Ma'am is a wolf in many, many ways and as a wolf, she mates for life. She is hell on wheels, but still it is her little girl inside, asking your little boy, to love her. This is not to be underestimated or trifled with."
Bear stared at Sylvie for an extended period.
"To be honest with you Sylvie, I am a little scared. First over the depth of my feelings for Ma'am and second, her's for me. I have never thought of myself as born to follow, but she is a force of nature and I find it so comforting that she takes the lead."
Sylvie laughed at Bear's understanding.
"Oh yes, Ma'am was never born to do anything but lead. Please relax from here, Bear, and enjoy yourself. Look around it should be fun. Just take care least you end up in a room with three jelly wrestling midgets all screaming "He made me do it, it was disgusting but so satisfying," all the while looking at the fake video with you in the spotlight, at centre stage."
"She has that many enemies?" Bear replied.
"Oh, you naΓ―ve thing. Not many? Rather it is too many," and with that Sylvie kissed Bear's cheek and moved away to once again stand close to Aimee, who glanced his way before giving Sylvie a tender kiss on her cheek.
At this, Ma'am turned to Bear, her browse furrowed.
Bear activated the comms unit and said,
"A word of warning from Sylvie. Wow kid, you swim in interesting waters."
Then added,
"Do you want to show me around as the jelly wrestlers' speech touched a nerve?"
Ma'am's eyebrows lifted, then she shrugged.
"I enjoy watching, so let's get a fresh drink and go look for something interesting to ogle."
"Okay, I will bite," replied Bear. "What is your favourite subject to ogle at?"
Ma'am smiled and grabbed Bear's arm and said,
"A picture is worth a thousand words." While drawing him deeper into the house.
There were lots of people in every room and an almost carnival atmosphere highlighted with that odd corner holding a couple kissing and cuddling. This brought a smile to Bear's lips, as old-fashioned emotional interplay still had a very real place in his life. He turned to Ma'am and asked,
"Can we kiss is a corner later? It seems very life affirming, given how much of the other is on full display."
I Ma'am stopped and turned into Bear's arm and kissed him.
"You are always in my corner and yes, later we have a date in a spa pool in our suite with a fine cigar for us both and vintage port."
"Oh, the night just gets better and better." Bear said with a laugh.
Ma'am stood there quietly for a minute.
Bear queried,
"You okay?"