I pulled against my restraints. Tamara seemed to enjoy tying me to the bed a little too much for my liking. I was trapped-lying on Tamara's bed wearing nothing but my bra and panties. And the argument outside was making me even more uncomfortable, if that was possible.
"You can't tell me what to do," I heard Tamara's mother say loudly.
"As long as we share a roof, you'll show me respect!"
"No one is stopping you from leaving! Why don't you go share a roof with your whore?!"
"God, you're such a cunt. Why don't you mind your own fucking business?"
"I don't know why I even try anymore. You're drunk right now, aren't you?"
"I work hard day after day to support this family. So what if I have a couple drinks every now and then. You know what? Fuck you!" I heard a door slam and the argument faded away.
Tamara was curled up next to me, wearing absolutely nothing. Her very nakedness was an implied threat.
"I can't wait to move out," she grumbled.
Since I'd been over at Tamara's house a lot more lately, I'd started to pick up on signs that things weren't going so well at home; her parents fought most of the time they were together, and Tamara seemed generally angry at the both of them. Whether or not the two were related, I couldn't say for certain.
"Why don't you leave?" I inquired.
She sighed. "I need my parents to cosign. They originally agreed, but lately they keep fighting about who should do it. I think they're considering separating and neither of them want to take on the responsibility."
"I'm... I'm so sorry," I said awkwardly. For the first time, I felt like there was a brief moment where Tamara and I were connecting on a personal level.
"I don't care what they do. I just want to be out of here when things implode."
"If you really want to miss out on the fireworks, you should consider putting some distance between you and them," I suggested, trying not to be too obvious.
"I've thought about it," she admitted. "I can't even have sex with my own girlfriend without them ruining it." She began untying my restraints.
"I don't understand," I said, cautious but grateful.
"I'm just not in the mood anymore. Besides," she glanced at her phone, "Krista just texted me wanting to have dinner-a double date."
"Krista wants to have a double date with us?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
"Apparently," Tamara shrugged. "I knew she couldn't stay mad forever."
I was relieved, although I still hated that I had to go along with this charade. I was sure Krista was still hurting more than she was letting on.
Tamara smiled. "Let's go find you something nice to wear."
*****
It had been close to two weeks since Krista walked in on Tamara and me in bed together-for the second time. For a brief moment, I had expected Tamara to chase after Krista the way she had the first time. But instead, she'd simply closed and locked the door. It was becoming increasingly obvious that Tamara simply didn't care anymore what Krista thought now that we were officially an item. Yet, Tamara hadn't given so much as a thought to chasing after Krista. She had instead returned to the bed and proceeded to have morning sex with my face as if it was the most natural thing.
It certainly woke one up at least as effectively as a cup of coffee, but there was little I looked forward to less than waking up to Tamara's wet pussy on my mouth. Her whole attitude had changed.
It had been nearly noon before Tamara released me, and I followed her reluctantly to the kitchen. She was ravenous from her morning "work-out," but I wasn't feeling remotely hungry. I was too anxious about what I would say to Krista when I saw her. I could tell Krista was hurt and confused, but there wasn't anything I could say to reassure her.
Krista was in the kitchen eating lunch, and I still had no idea what to say to her. Tamara cheerily served breakfast cereal for the both of us while Krista watched quietly. I felt so tense. I wanted to explain to her why Tamara and I were eating breakfast while she was eating lunch, but I had nothing to offer. Tamara went about her business as if she were oblivious to the elephant in the room-like it was the most natural, normal situation in the world. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt her hand on my leg. It was enough to cause Krista to pick up her plate and leave the room. I didn't follow. What good would it do?
Since that day, Krista and I had barely spoken. In fact, I'd barely spoken to anyone. Tamara had been working tirelessly to establish us as girlfriends. I knew at some instinctive level that the longer I let the charade continue, the harder it would be for anyone to accept an alternate explanation. Every few days, Tamara would pick me up for a date night. I was reluctant to admit it, but our dates were actually fun in their own way. However, it was hard to fully relax when I knew that a night out together meant a night in together.
The worst part of the situation was that simply telling people we were dating afforded her new power over me. If she felt me up in public, nobody questioned. If we came out of a public restroom together, red-faced and out of breath, people just thought assumed were too in love to wait until we got home. In fact, the bolder she was, the less people seemed to question. I could kick and scream as she forced herself onto me on a public sidewalk, and everyone would probably encourage and applaud.
Even Krista was oblivious to the ways in which she was complicating my situation. Between forcing me to sleep in my own room and letting Tamara into the house whenever she stopped by, I had no expectation of privacy whatsoever. She had even given Tamara her own key without so much as consulting me. By telling everyone else we were in a relationship, Tamara had given herself the perfect excuse to never have to leave my side. Tamara and I were together all the time, yet I'd never felt more alone. I'd tried several times to get ahold off Michael with limited success. He was always busy or couldn't talk. I had no illusions about his avoiding me. It was clearly related to him seeing me making out with someone else-a woman, no less. At least with Michael, there was a chance to talk my way out. He hadn't seen too much. Krista on the other hand, I wasn't sure she'd ever be able to forgive me.
*****
I sat on my bed, shocked as I watched in shock as Tamara rifle through my closet.
"Tamara, I'm perfectly capable of picking out my own outfit."
"I'm sure you are, but now that we're dating, people aren't just judging you. They're judging me too."
"That doesn't make any-" I attempted to protest before Tamara interrupted me.
"This is perfect. You'll wear this." She held up a slinky dress. It was the dress I'd originally bought for my double date with Michael, yet it seemed everyone except for Michael was getting to appreciate it.
"I can't wear that," I protested feebly.
"You're wearing it," she said firmly. "You'll look amazing in it."
I sighed. There was no point in arguing with Tamara once she set her mind to something.
"And you'll wear these too." I was shocked to see Tamara pulling down her panties.
"W-wha-why?" I stammered, confused.
"Take them," she demanded. I held out my hand awkwardly, only to realize they were drenched.
"Oh, God!" I dropped them, instinctively. "They're wet?!"
"A little reminder for you on our date of what you get to look forward to tonight."
"Tonight?"
She smiled, winking at me. "I'm back in the mood now."
