Solace (Devastation Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  I wonder if she can hear the uncertainty in his tone.

  Or if she cares.

  She sighs and sits up. “Not tonight. The boy is once again all yours. I’m going home and sleeping late tomorrow. Have fun.” She leans in for one more kiss from me, kisses him on the cheek, and untangles herself from our dogpile. She pulls on her panties, but not the dress.

  When she walks back to where I first spotted her, I realize she’s got a duffle bag with her. I hadn’t noticed it sitting on the floor. From that she produces sweatpants and a T-shirt, and dumps her shoes and dress into the bag.

  We both watch as she waggles her fingers at us in a wave and heads out of sight down the hall. Then the sound of the alarm activating, followed by the door closing and being locked.

  He looks at me. “I never heard her.”

  “I didn’t, either.”

  “I guess I should warn Aussie not to come home without calling first.”

  I snort. “Well, not unless you want her walking in on us like this.”

  He looks down, at the mess between us—I need to tip my cleaners better—and chuckles. “No, I’d prefer not to break it to her like this.” He fishes his keys out and unlocks me, and my cock immediately springs to life between us.

  I figured he’d let me up, but instead he smiles as he wraps his fingers around my erection and strokes. “A little more fun before we head upstairs. That okay with you, boy?”

  I lean in and kiss him. “Sir’s choice.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Then

  “Are you sure this is a good idea, Ma’am?”

  I’m standing behind her in her bathroom early this Saturday evening and looking at her in her mirror as she finishes applying her makeup.

  “Why wouldn’t it be, boy? We’ve had dinner at George and Ellen’s plenty of times before.”

  “I mean…” I swallow nervously. “What’ll they…say?” We’re six months into this and I’m staying at her house—in her bed, this time—during winter break. Yesterday evening, she had me kneeling on the floor in front of where she sat on the couch. I was naked, except for a leather collar and cuffs, when George’s wife Ellen came over for a visit.

  I was mortified, which only seemed to amuse Casey, who then ordered me not to move a fucking muscle or she’d use the cane on me that she’d brought downstairs with her.

  Meanwhile, she and Ellen sat and had a long, friendly chat, including comments about me. Not derogatory comments, thankfully. Which was when I realized not only was Ellen kinky—meaning George, too, by default—but that there was a deeply concealed relationship between the women I’d never picked up on before. Something that obviously predated Ellen’s marriage to George.

  That Ellen didn’t seem the slightest bit shocked to see me kneeling there indicated to me Casey had warned her ahead of time.

  Finally, Casey addressed me. “If you still had any doubts, boy, yes, she’s known about us. Pretty much from the start.” She leaned in and ruffled my hair. “No, she’s not scandalized. By the way, add everything from today’s conversations to the privileged list, understand?”

  “Yes, Ma’am.” The Ma’ams started getting capitalized on day two of our new relationship, when she introduced me to bondage and spanking and I hit subspace for the first time. “Privileged” is our code for keeping my mouth shut about something.

  “There’s a reason I’ve told her what’s going on between us. This is the first chance we’ve had to sit down like this for a while where she wouldn’t be interrupted by the kids or George.”

  Casey opened a drawer in the end table next to where she sat on the couch and produced a large manila envelope. Thick one.

  She opened it and withdrew the papers but didn’t show them to me yet.

  “Declan,” Casey said, “are you really happy with what we have?”

  I nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.” While I was shocked and uncomfortable with Ellen’s presence, I know Casey takes no chances. I’ll get used to this, the way I’ve quickly adapted to everything else she’s done or taught me since I agreed to this relationship with her.

  Because I was currently happier than I’ve ever been in my life.

  “And are you certain you’re okay that I have no desire to get married or have kids?” she asked.

  “Yes, Ma’am. I don’t want kids. And I don’t need to be married to be with you.”

  I’ve seen the horrors first-hand that can happen to kids, so no, I don’t want any.

  I also haven’t even been tempted to cheat on her. Even with school, I manage to see her at least once a week, usually on the weekends, and we text all the time via the Signal app on her personal phone. She also calls me at least once a day. I’m not allowed to masturbate without permission, because she says she wants my mind firmly on her, but at least once during the week she lets me do it while she’s on the phone with me, talking to me, reinforcing her ownership of me as I do it.

  She hasn’t said the L-word to me yet, but I don’t expect her to. I do love her, and am in love with her, and I’ve sworn to myself not to act needy and desperate with her. I show her my love in every way I can, by how I act and what I do.

  Casey looked me in the eyes. “Are you willing to do this with me for life?” she asked.

  I don’t need to be asked twice. “Yes, Ma’am.”

  Then she showed me the papers. “Power of attorney, will, and some other items. The reason I wanted Ellen to know about us is in case something…happens to me. I don’t ever want people to think you’re trying to pull a fast one. I’m leaving most of what I have to you, because I don’t have any other family. At some point, you’ll need to decide what you want to do about your will, all of that. Once we reach a point where we can be open with what we have between us, it won’t matter, of course. But until then, I want Ellen as a witness that these are my wishes, and that I’m in a committed long-term relationship with you.”

  Tears blurred my eyes. This was better than a fricking marriage license, as far as I was concerned. Casey wasn’t just an attorney—she was a very careful, conscientious attorney. If she took these steps for me, it meant she was serious. “Yes, Ma’am. Thank you.”

  She smiled and tucked the paperwork back into the envelope. Then she motioned for me to come to her, to kneel between her legs so she could hug me. “My sweet, beautiful boy. We are going to have many fun years between us.”

  I shake myself back to the present as she turns and looks at me. “Don’t worry about George or his brothers, sweetie. Remember, Ellen knows and is all for it. She’ll keep George under control and on the track we need him to run for us. Remember though—even around George, we’re just friends and co-workers. The only one we can be open in front of right now is Ellen. And anything you learn about me and Ellen’s past? That’s never to be spoken around George. Privileged.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  I’m eighteen and she’s almost thirty-four, but she’s one of the firm’s top earners, in addition to being George’s chief of staff when the General Assembly’s in session. She’s juggling two jobs, in addition to managing George’s political campaigns.

  Everyone thinks of me as more her son than a potential romantic partner. At least in that way, there is no suspicion regarding us spending so much time together. It’s widespread knowledge at the firm that she’s watched out for me ever since we first met, even more after Mom died.

  It doesn’t hurt that everyone knows my professional aspirations. Among political circles, I’m known as her protege, under her personal protection and mentorship. She always includes me in political and professional conversations, where I soak up every bit of knowledge I can.

  Tonight, we’re going over to George and Ellen’s for a holiday dinner. Christmas is in three days, and we’ve already attended the office dinner party. Our plan is to spend most of the time between now and when I have to return to school on January third in bed together.

  She’s wearing a blouse and long skirt, casual by her standards. I�
��m dressed in slacks and a button-up, but no tie required tonight.

  “Oh. I have something for you,” she says. “Come here.” She leads me out to the bedroom and produces a small, wrapped box from her top dresser drawer and hands it to me with a playful smile on her face.

  I immediately feel horrible. “I…I didn’t get you anything, Ma’am. I thought we weren’t doing presents?” I watch every penny so I don’t have to worry about money, and she knows that. It was her idea not to trade presents, just cards.

  “It’s not a Christmas present. Open it.”

  I do…and I nearly pass out.

  It’s a Breitling Chronomat watch, with the blue face, and rose gold and stainless bezel and band. One of the partners just bought one similar to it, was showing it off at the office party, and he bragged it cost him fifteen grand.

  She’s studying my face. “Do you like it?”

  I’m…stunned. I nod, I think. “I love it,” I finally manage. I’m still trying to process that I know she spent at least as much as I could’ve bought two good used cars for on a watch.

  For me.

  She smiles. “This isn’t your Christmas present, because it has nothing to do with Christmas.” She takes the box from me, removes the watch from it, and shows me the back, where there’s engraving.

  boy

  Property of Ma’am

  I gasp, stunned—the good kind of stunned.

  She takes the cheap ten-dollar flea-market watch off my wrist and sets it on the bed. Then she fastens the watch around my wrist and tucks my hand against her chest. The watch is heavier than I thought I would be, solid, there.

  “This is your day collar,” she softly says. “Obviously, you can’t wear a collar around school or the office. I thought about getting you a ring, or a bracelet, but then I saw the way you looked at Lou’s watch at the office party. You really liked it, I could tell.

  “I wanted your day collar to be a couple of things—a statement of my love for you, a statement of how fucking serious I take our relationship, and a testament of my faith in you. You’re going to be an attorney. When things get more difficult in school, and you’re wondering how you’re going to dig down and find the strength you need to make it through your classes, I want you to see that watch on your arm and remember there’s someone who knows you have it in you to make it, who thinks you’re more than good enough.”

  She smiles. “Don’t worry, I insured it. But starting next year, we need to get you an apartment. If you can’t afford it by yourself, that’s fine, I’ll help you out until you can. Something close to the office, little one-bedroom that isn’t expensive.”

  I swallow back the slight sting over that revelation. “You don’t want me staying here with you?”

  “On the contrary, I want you to have your own address so there aren’t any questions from people about why you’re living with me at your age. Having your own address will eliminate all of that. No one will be keeping track of how often you’re here with me.”

  I immediately feel better, because, of course, she’s right. She’s a brilliant strategist.

  “Do you really like it?” she asks. There’s a borderline vulnerable tone in her voice I’m not used to hearing.

  I pull her into my arms and kiss her, although not really taking charge of it because she hasn’t given me permission to do that. “I love it, Ma’am. It’s amazing. Thank you.”

  Her smile turns easy and confident once more. “It’s waterproof, too, so you don’t need to take it off. If anyone dares give you grief about it, feel free to tell them I gave it to you as a Christmas present, and as a reward for your grades. Which isn’t completely a lie. I’m damned proud of you making straight As.”

  “This is really happening, isn’t it? This isn’t a dream?”

  “It’s really happening.” She drapes her arms around my neck. “All you have to do is trust me, boy. We’re a team, you and me. I’ve shown you how serious I am.” She wiggles her body against me and I’m hard as a rock. Thank god I’m wearing briefs tonight. “When you graduate law school, I’m upgrading you to a Rolex.”

  I let my hands slide down her back, to her ass, cupping her and holding her pressed against me. “I love you, Casey.” That’s the closest thing we have to a safeword. Outside of the office, I use her name to speak with her as equals if I need to, which is rare.

  Otherwise, I don’t safeword with her. I give her information and let her make decisions based on that.

  She takes a deep breath and smiles. “I love you, too, Declan. I’m in love with you. In my life, I’ve only said that to one other person. I don’t know if you have any idea how difficult it is for me to admit that.”

  I nod. “I do. I hope one day you’ll feel safe enough with me to tell me the whole story.”

  She nods. “Me, too. But that’s because of me, not you. Just like not marrying you is because of me, not you. I hope you understand that.”

  Instead of answering I kiss her again, letting my heart speak to hers. We’re amazing together in bed. Whether it’s making love or her beating my ass, it’s like there’s always a perfection right there joining us together deep beneath our skins. Something subconscious. At work, we’re a damned good team already. I can only imagine how unstoppable the two of us will be—or three, if you count George as part of our work team—once I’ve got my law degree and pass the bar.

  “I don’t need to be married to you to love you and spend the rest of my life with you,” I tell her when I end our kiss. “I’ll prove to you every day how much I love you and want to be here with you.”

  She smiles and straightens my collar for me, a nervous habit she has that I find incredibly endearing, for some reason. “Let’s get going. George gets a little cranky when he’s hungry.”

  I’ve been to George and Ellen’s home many times before, for social events and for work, either for the law office or for campaign-related reasons. Casey hands me the keys to her car for the short drive over. Tonight’s dinner is us, George and Ellen, their kids, and George’s two brothers, Tyson and Chase, who are both single and in town for the holidays.

  I manage to hold back my irritation when Chase starts flirting with Casey right out of the gate. I mean, he’s not even trying to be subtle about it.

  To the point I quickly excuse myself and head to the kitchen to see if Ellen needs any help with the final dinner prep.

  Apparently, she understands why I’m there. “I don’t need help but stay here with me and keep me company.” She drops me a conspiratorial wink.

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “Hey.”

  I look up, and the smile has vanished from her face. She drops her voice. “She’s in love with you, too,” she whispers. “I promise you. Chase has always had a thing for her. She’s just humoring him and playing the part. Don’t forget that.”

  I nod. Maybe this pretending stuff won’t be as easy as I thought it would.

  Then she spots the watch and smiles. “I knew she couldn’t wait until Christmas to give it to you.”

  “You knew?”

  She sighs. “Honey, I know everything. Just like she knows everything about me.” She touches her necklace, playing with it, that smirk on her face that’s nearly identical to the smirk Casey frequently wears.

  I realize what she’s deliberately not saying—that’s her day collar with George.

  She leans in, her green gaze boring straight through me. “Remember your long game,” she whispers, barely audible. “She loves you, and will never lie to you, but never forget your long game. And don’t let George ever know about that.”

  A shiver washes through me. “Yes, ma’am.”

  After dinner, we end up sitting around the table and talking politics. Me mostly listening and learning. Chase eased up on the flirting with Casey, thankfully, and a couple of times during dinner Casey caught my eye and winked at me.

  I was on her mind.

  Every time she did that, I would touch my watch, or move my left
hand in such a way as to indicate it. She’d smile in return.

  We already have a secret, silent code.

  When we finally return to her house later that evening, once we’re in the kitchen and I return the car keys to her, she smiles. “You made me proud tonight, boy. Even endured the Chase test.”

  I think I might have growled. “Does he have to flirt so hard with you?”

  “I always flirt back with him. It’d look weird if I suddenly didn’t.” She grins. “But good boys always get rewards. Tonight’s a freebie.”

  “Freebie, Ma’am?”

  “Freebie.” She kicks off her heels. “Declan’s choice. Sexytime, whatever you want, however you want it. Your pick.”

  I don’t let myself think about it. I push her back against the counter and kiss her, possessively, feeling the way she tenses for a moment before she melts against me. I reach up under the skirt she wore tonight, find her panties, and jerk them down and off her.

  Then—still kissing her, because I can multitask, thank you very much—I unfasten my slacks, fish out my cock, and fuck her right there on the counter, with her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms draped around my shoulders.

  “Chase doesn’t know how to take care of you,” I rumble against her lips between kisses. “He doesn’t know you have to have a man who wants to follow you and give you what you need, not just what he selfishly wants.”

  She grabs the back of my head and kisses me back. “Fuckin’ A, he doesn’t.”

  I drive myself into her, knowing if I don’t get her off I’ll simply drop to my knees and do what I know she’ll love, and that’s eat her out until my tongue is numb or she stops me, whichever comes first.

  Fortunately for me, this position is always the perfect one for her. I manage to hold back until I hear her moaning and feel her coming, then I unleash. We finish with me panting and leaning against her, our kisses now gentle, playful nibbles.

  “Fuck,” she whispers. “I need to remember to let you do that more often, boy.”