Chapter 13 #2
D’Angelo smiles more gently at this kitten than he ever has at me. “Hey, Cas. No lectures today?”
The kitten shakes his head. “I’m working on my thesis later, sir.”
I bristle hearing him call my boyfriend sir.
I know that’s not fair; he’s simply being respectful.
But I can be possessive too, right?
After all, D’Angelo is into blonds. And this perfect, good sub is exactly the type that D’Angelo deserves.
D’Angelo appears to notice my discomfort, glancing at me. “Everyone, this is Shay and Robyn. And this is Cassian.”
“Cas please, sir,” Cassian whispers.
Cassian glances nervously at Kay, but she only strokes his hair.
“Good boy,” Kay praises, although her voice is laced with steel. “And he…” She points at the gorgeous man, who has been standing at parade rest behind her without once looking anywhere but straight ahead, “…is Everett.”
Everett’s stillness is bloody impressive.
He is like a statue.
It wouldn’t matter how I was trained, I wouldn’t be able to manage that.
I stare at him.
Everett appears to be younger than Kay but is still older than Cassian. He is athletically built with beautiful, large honey eyes and long, straight white hair to his waist.
He’s remarkable looking.
I am also bloody jealous of his outfit: leather trousers, boots, and leather coat that sweeps to the floor.
Perhaps, I should buy a coat like that.
But then, I notice the thick, leather collar around his neck.
And I’m even more fascinated and jealous.
“Hey,” Robyn says.
“Hi,” Cassian replies, shyly. “I’m happy to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to knowing more people here in Freedom.”
“You’re new here too…?” I ask, brightening.
He nods, and his kitten ear flops forward. “I’ve only been here a year.”
“My Kitten finds it hard to make new friends.” Kay smooths Cassian’s ear back.
“So, what do you think? Have they passed the formal interview?” D’Angelo asks.
“Of course they have. Now, sit down and stop looming, D’Angelo.
I’ve spent an entire morning working on supplies and spreadsheets.
I know that you’re committed to offering free education classes for both doms and subs but you can throw money at it.
I’m the one who has to do the planning. Ty wants to do a class on tying knots next week, and I feel like I’m the one who is tied in knots. I already feel like spanking someone.”
Everett stiffens but he doesn’t move.
D’Angelo hurriedly sits on the stool opposite Kay, dragging Robyn around the waist to pull her onto his lap.
“Comfy, cara mia?” He murmurs.
“Perfect.” Robyn wriggles happily, until D’Angelo loops his arm around her to keep her still. “Feed me.”
Fleet chuckles, sprawling in an armchair with his leg over the arm. “Axel is going to be delighted that he’s not the only brat running around here and causing mayhem anymore.”
Kay picks up a marshmallow and throws it to D’Angelo, who catches it.
“Thanks.” D’Angelo handfeeds the marshmallow to Robyn.
I watch the way that Robyn’s pink tongue licks out around his thumb.
I hug my arms around myself, unsure whether I should just take a seat.
What are the rules?
Robyn is acting no differently to how she normally would. Cassian is being pampered.
But then, Everett isn’t even allowed to move.
“Where is Axel?” D’Angelo asks.
“My toy is teaching a dance class,” Kay replies, unable to hide the pride in her tone, no matter how cool she is acting. “He works hard.”
“You have been with this place as well.”
“I’ve had to. The secret investigations that you keep sending Garcia on have kept him busier than normal. Not that he would divulge what they were about, even under quite literally torture. The problem with that is he enjoys it.”
D’Angelo grins. “Garcia is impossible to break. It makes him the perfect partner in crime.” When Kay’s eyes flash, he hurriedly adds, “Not that I’ve been doing anything criminal—”
“He has been trying to protect us.” I take a step between them. My hands ball into fists. “You don’t know the shit that we’ve gone through and—
“Anger management issues like he has on the ice.” Kay’s voice is as sharp as a whip. I flinch. “Training could help.”
Training?
I pale.
Instantly, I’m flooded with memories of Blythe.
Kay is the first female dom who I have allowed myself to be close to since Blythe. It’s not fair to Kay. But I can’t help my reaction.
It’s visceral. Painful. Unexpected.
Every time that I was tied, gagged, and blindfolded in the name of training.
Every bad boy hissed into my ear in the name of training.
Every crack of the belt in the name of training.
Before I can reply, Everett moves for the first time, although I sense that he’s not meant to.
His amber gaze slides to mine, and he subtly shakes his head.
It startles me enough to slow my panicked breathing.
“Mistress, permission to speak.” Everett’s voice is steady, calm, and cultured.
He has to ask even for permission to speak? How strict is Kay?
Dread churns in my guts.
Is Kay another Blythe?
“Permission granted.” Kay kisses Cassian’s cheek, petting him.
“Thank you, Mistress,” Everett replies. “May I fetch you and the sirs a coffee?”
“Did I ask you to?” Kay’s voice is ice-cold.
Everett winces.
Immediately, I step forward. “I’ll help. I know that I’m shit at making coffee but I can carry them over, darlin’.”
Everett makes a choked sound. His eyes widen with shock.
Whoops, I should have called D’Angelo Sir.
But he said that it was my choice, right?
When I glance at D’Angelo, I realize that he’s trying very hard not to laugh.
“Carry them or spill them all down me,” D’Angelo mutters.
“Fifty-fifty odds,” I agree.
“Better than the ones if I go,” Robyn says. “I once worked for less than a week at Merchant’s Inn and still ended up with a plaque on the wall in the toilets for the record for most smashed glasses.”
“Thank you for the reminder not to employ you behind the bar here.” Fleet sprawls further in his seat.
“That was you?” Cassian perks up, staring in awe at Robyn like she’s the celebrity around this table. “I’ve been to Merchant’s Inn. It’s wonderful. You’re a legend.”
Robyn flushes. “Always nice to meet a fan.”
I start to stroll toward the bar. But then, confused, I glance around to find that Everett still hasn’t moved.
Everett’s gaze flicks to D’Angelo.
“Why are you looking at him?” I demand. “I’m not leashed or something.”
Kay’s expression sharpens. “Oh, this one is going to be fun.”
D’Angelo carefully runs his fingers through Robyn’s hair, and she melts against his side. “I haven’t given him any rules for his behavior. Yet.”
I swallow.
Everett gestures at me. “Mistress, may I—”
“Be quick.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Everett ducks his head and smartly walks toward the counter, shaking his head as he reaches me.
“Do you have a death wish?” He whispers.
I cross my arms, following him to the counter. “What? You’re the one who offered to make drinks out of nowhere. It looks to me like you’re the one with the death wish.”
He raises his brow. “I was saving your ass.”
“One,” Kay’s voice calls.
Everett’s shoulders hunch. “I apologize, Mistress. I meant, Shay, that I was saving your sweet little behind.”
“Two,” Kay singsongs.
“Fuck’s sake.” I grip Everett’s elbow, dragging him further across the room and out of earshot toward the bar. I was wrong to assume that he was broken in anyway or perfectly behaved. “Stop talking before you…”
“Reach three…?” Everett tosses his long hair. “Indeed. Let’s hope that you don’t witness a public demonstration of what that means for my ass’ sake.”
I pale.
Everett’s expression softens. “You look like you’re scared of my Mistress and worried for me. Don’t be. I don’t know what you’ve experienced in your past, although I can guess because my last dom was shitty too. But Kay isn’t like that. She’s strict but fair. Everything is consensual with her.”
“If you say so.” I let go of his arm, and he rounds the bar.
“Watch me make the best coffees...well, an amateur has ever made.”
I laugh. “Impress me.”
I watch Everett shuffle around, setting up the coffee machine. He lays out three black mugs with rope motifs.
“Don’t the rest of us get coffees?” I grumble.
“I was already taking a risk offering to make drinks for the masters and mistresses,” Everett replies. “I don’t have permission to make you one, sorry.”
“Do you need permission for everything?”
Everett nods.
“Cas doesn’t seem to.”
“It’s different for him.”
Well, that’s not fair.
I throw myself down on a barstool. “Don’t you get jealous? I mean, he’s being cuddled and handfed and shit.”
“Aren’t you jealous that Robyn is with your sir?”
“Of course not. It makes me happy to see them happy.”
The answer trips off my tongue without me even needing to think about it.
“See? Same for me. It brings me pleasure to serve. It’s not always easy because we’re all human.
And do I wish that I could sleep in sometimes like he does?
Of course. Or escape with no more than a light scolding?
Obviously. But knowing that the woman I love has someone who can make her smile like that…
” He points at Kay, who is smiling at Cassian with a softness that I wouldn’t have expected her possible of, before gripping him by the chin and pulling him into a tender kiss.
“…means that I wouldn’t change anything. ”
I glance in turn at the way that D’Angelo is smiling at Robyn with the same soft smile.
I understand Everett in that moment more than I’ve possibly understood anyone.
“You can tell me to fuck off if you want to,” I say, quietly, “but isn’t it hard to be treated so much harsher with all these strict protocols and rules?”