Candace shifted her attention to Sally. "And you?"
Calm green eyes engaged hers. "That’s up to Lon."
"Totally?" Candace arched an eyebrow.
"Totally."
"How totally?"
"Mama…" Lon attempted to intercede.
"Totally, like Beth," Sally insisted.
"Mama…" Lon tried again.
Candace ignored him. "Do you have any idea what kind of control I have over Beth?"
"Some," Sally replied. "I know that you dictate who and how, more or less…"
"And punishments? Discipline? Are you aware of that part of it?" Candace demanded.
"Yes."
"And?"
"It’s up to Lon."
"You know that Dominants can be capricious, right?" Candace asked. She settled back in her seat, assuming a feral smile. "Beth, Honey, I left my purse in the car. Would you get it for me?"
"Yes, Mistress." Beth got up and headed for the door.
"Oh, and Beth?" Candace stopped her.
"Yes, Mistress?"
"Do it naked."
"Yes, Mistress." Beth started climbing out of her clothing, apparently unconcerned that it was broad daylight outside. Candace quirked an eyebrow at Sally.
"Mama! You do NOT own Sally, and you do NOT get to test her!" Lon erupted.
"You do," Candace shrugged. "How hard have you tested her? Do you know how far she will go?"
"What about you?" Lon challenged. "Do YOU know how far Beth will go? Why do you want me to test her to Beth’s standard, anyway? Is that fair? Beth has been doing this stuff for a while…"
Meanwhile, Beth was climbing out of her panties and heading for the door. "Suit yourself," Candace shrugged. "I just thought that it might be instructive to discover whether she was a submissive or only THOUGHT she was…"
Lon turned his attention to Sally, who was watching him, poker-faced, apparently totally calm. Lon knew what was going to happen; Sally was telling him, clearly. Sally had all of the coiled readiness of a bird dog told to sit and waiting to be released to fetch. "Stop Beth at the door, Mama. Sally, go help her."
Sally was up like a shot — and did everything but stick her tongue out at Candace while she got out of her clothing. When she joined Beth at the door, Candace waved a hand, "Go!" Sally waited only long enough to get Lon’s nod and followed Beth outside.
The two women raced to Candace’s car — only to discover that it was locked. "I figured this was too easy, Sweetie — we’ve been had! Let’s go back…" Beth only went back as far as the porch, however, calling through the screen, "Mistress? Your car is locked."
"Oh, so it is!" Candace’s eyelids drooped. "Go out and wait beside it and I’ll unlock it from here."
"Yes, Mistress." Beth turned around and headed back to the car, not bothering to rush. Sally followed. Beth said conversationally, "Just letting us dash outside was too easy; Mistress wants us to stew in our own juices, worrying about when we’ll get seen…" Sally nodded; this was as humiliating as Hell — she couldn’t help looking everywhere for startled witnesses — but it wasn’t actively dangerous…
Inside, Candace hadn’t moved. "Mama!" Lon growled.
"Oh, all right!" Indolently, Candace rose and went to the screen door, Lon following. Outside, each of the women was outside a back door of the car in mirror-image poses; Sally wasn’t settling for half-measures — she was duplicating Beth move for move. "She’s really very nice looking," Candace mused for Lon’s benefit, then directed, "Girls, hang onto the door handles, but turn around and put your asses against the front doors."
"You wait," Beth hissed under her breath. "Candace doesn’t own YOU! Don’t let her!" Sally stopped dead and resumed her earlier position while Beth followed instructions.
Candace turned to Lon, "Sally seems … bashful."
Lon shook his head. "I don’t think you get it. Sally! Go ahead!" Instantly, Sally changed position. Lon smirked at his mother. "Okay, enough is enough."
"Fine." Candace clicked the remote and the door locks popped. "Hurry along, now!" Both women open their respective car doors, but Beth did the retrieval, then the pair headed back to the house. As they reached the porch, Candace directed, "Oh! Lock the doors, please!" Beth stopped dead, turned and headed back; Sally, now clear on what was going on, awaited Lon’s nod before turning around herself. A car went by on the street, slowing perceptively; the women continued on their errand, apparently unconcerned. Candace and Lon returned to their chairs; Beth delivered the purse, and she and Sally resumed their seats, nude.
"Was this absolutely necessary?" Jean grated. "I thought we were planning on exhibiting some decorum…"
"It was instructive," Candace replied. "I wanted to know if, when we figure out just how it is we’re going to protect ourselves, here, Sally would do as she was told. Frankly, I’m impressed…" She turned to Sally, "Besides, is there a male at the table who hasn’t seen you nude?"
"Yes," Sally replied. "Toby."
"Oh, sorry," Candace replied indifferently, "Wait until you see HIM!" Toby colored, but said nothing.
"You can dress," Lon said, abruptly realizing that he could deliver that directive.
Sally cocked her head, "Sweetheart, does that mean you want me to, or it’s up to me?"
"Oh, she’s good!" Beth chuckled.
Lon blinked, flustered. Then he thought about it for a moment, very carefully. "I, uh, offered you the option."
"Then may I remain as I am?" Sally replied. "We’ve already descended to this level — and Beth remains nude. Besides, I think it kind of sorts things out, as far as roles are concerned, don’t you?" She flicked a glance at Candace.
Lon tossed back his hair. "Guess you’re right," he observed. "Do as you like — as far as clothing is concerned. Until I decide otherwise." Had he covered all of the bases?
"Yes, Sweetheart." Butter wouldn’t melt in Sally’s mouth. Beth suppressed a snicker; Sally was very clearly sticking it to Candace…
"Okay! Moving right along…" Candace attempted to ignore the dig. Turning to her son, she asked, "Since it is TOTALLY up to you…"
Lon had plenty of time to prepare for this. "She will, uh, participate, um, as I direct her to. I don’t figure that’s full membership. For instance, she’s under no obligation to have sex of any type with anyone — unless I tell her to."
"Sounds sort of like what Candace has with Ma," Toby observed.
"Yeah, well, the difference is that she isn’t allowed to operate independently AT ALL," Lon replied. "She won’t be doing any playing I haven’t approved…"
"Theoretically, there’s still no difference," Candace interjected flatly, glaring at Beth.
Lon shrugged. "Maybe not, then. But Beth has had sex with everybody but Toby — and I’m not sure Sally is going to do that. If she does, it will be because I made up my mind to have her do so, not because she volunteered or because she was obligated to because of her membership in the group." He turned to Jean, "I realize that might sound unfair, but as Teela said, there is a relationship involved. There is SUPPOSED to be a relationship involved."
"Is this a two-way thing, or a one-way thing?" Jean asked, pressuring Lon.
Lon sat a moment, thinking, and turned to Sally. "It’s a one-way thing," he said flatly. "I still have obligations to the group." Sally nodded, apparently unperturbed.
"What do you think of that?" Jean asked Sally.
"Lon has spoken," Sally replied simply.
Jean puffed out a breath. "Right. I give it a month."
Beth pursed her lips and looked away, "That’s because you don’t get it." Jean flashed her a look.
Shifting her attention to her son, Jean asked, "Have you two figured out how you’re going to operate? I’m guessing that it isn’t as simple with you two as Sally insists that it is for her and Lon…"