Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 144

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Saturday, September 14th, 11:25 am

“So, they’re taking Nate straight to the airport and out on the helicopter,” Erin said. “He should be there within the next two hours.”

“Why so long?” I asked between bites of eggs Benedict. “It shouldn’t take that long to fly back private, should it?”

“It was a small town,” Erin said. “It took them a while to get back to the plane.” She consulted her notes. “Oh, apparently, they filed a flight plan and flew to San Antonio before changing planes and flying back to New York. I guess to make it harder for anyone to trace their activity.”

Erin looked at Emiko, the only other person eating with us. “And you’re going out there this week?”

“Yes,” Emiko said, carefully placing her cup of tea back on the table. “I will leave to train her on Tuesday. I should be back on Thursday.” She turned her gaze toward me. “If that pleases you.”

“Of course,” I said. “Give Phoebe a hug for me.”

Emiko gave me a graceful nod. “I’m sure Miss Lucas will appreciate it.”

“Well,” Erin said, slapping her planner shut. “If that’s all, I’m going to leave you guys to it.” She shot me a meaningful look and said, “I might see if I can locate Tara for a workout.”

With that, Erin got up from her chair. First, she stepped over to Emiko, leaned in, and kissed the older woman on the cheek, which was returned—it reminded me of something they did in old European movies.

When had that become a thing?

Then, Erin came to me and nudged my chair. I scooted away from the table just enough for her to drop into my lap, place a hand on my cheek, and give me a heated kiss with tongue that must have lasted about thirty seconds before our lips finally parted. It was then that I noticed Jessica had emerged from the kitchen with a pitcher of water. She was placing it on the table at a painfully slow pace, eyeing us without trying to be obvious about it. When she hesitated a beat too long, Emiko cleared her throat, which made her jump.

Jess straightened, muttered something that sounded a little like an apology, and then quickly fled the room.

Erin placed a hand on my face and directed my gaze back to her. “Did she leave anything for me?”

After leaving my room to take a shower, I’d decided to take a detour and see Bobbi, only to discover Jessica in there, delivering my food to my little submissive. After being teased by Erin, I’d decided to utilize them instead and relieve some of that pressure. No doubt, seeing Erin in my lap so soon after fucking her was probably still a little strange for Jessica. Having random orgies was one thing, but the way Erin was sitting in my lap implied other… more intimate things.

“I’ll always save some for you,” I said. “Let me know how things go with your ‘workout.’”

“I will.” Erin grinned as she slipped free of my lap and left Emiko and me to finish our breakfast.

“Miss Malik is very fond of you,” Emiko said.

I blinked and realized I had been staring at the spot where Erin had disappeared as I turned my attention back to my housekeeper. “Uh… yeah. I’m pretty fond of her, too.”

Emiko gave me a knowing look as she took a dainty bite of her food. “A woman like that is hard to come by for people in your situation. Finding someone to be your gatekeeper, right-hand, and to engineer events like the one you had last night? All while genuinely having your best interest at heart? I would do everything to keep that one close.”

As I pondered Emiko’s words, I recalled that she had been in the game room at the very beginning of the orgy. My steward had seen me completely nude, holding a naked Charity in my arms. I couldn’t remember what else she witnessed before leaving, but that had to have been enough to make most people in her position uncomfortable.

“I hope nothing you saw offended you,” I said, a little worried that might be the case since she left so suddenly after I appeared. I didn’t want to assume that just because she used to work in a brothel, she would be comfortable in that kind of situation. 

And, for some reason, I cared what this woman thought about me.

She looked amused. “Admittedly, I didn’t expect anything quite like what I saw, but I was not unsettled. I have seen far wilder things than a simple orgy.”

“What kind of things?”

Emiko hid a smile behind her cup of tea as she took a sip and looked away. Her expression made me think that she was peering into some hidden window that displayed things best left secret.

“I’m afraid I cannot tell you,” she said, replacing her teacup. “If I were to betray the confidentiality of past clients and girls, would you not have reason to distrust me?”

I couldn’t argue there—and my respect for her grew tenfold on the spot.

“I have worked around women,” she continued, “who were considered some of the most beautiful in the world. I consider myself something of an authority on beauty. Some of the women in your coterie are among the most beautiful I have ever seen. And not only that—you command their respect and loyalty. They genuinely like you. That is not an easy thing to accomplish, surrounded by so many who want you for more than the platonic.”

I snorted. “Have you met Bobbi?”

“From my understanding,” she said smoothly, “Bobbi once despised you. She would have sooner bitten you than kissed you. She has come further than most.”

Another good point. God, Emiko had the wisdom of three lifetimes. Where did she get it? Did managing women who serviced the wealthy elite really impart that much worldly knowledge?

“All that to say,” she concluded, “I am honored to be part of such a household.”

“Thank you.”

She dipped her chin in a single shallow nod. “I assure you, I am here to serve—not to judge. What I saw last night does not change anything.”

I nodded.

“Now,” she said, setting her cup down, “since we are on the subject, I would like to discuss the members of your staff.”

The kitchen doors swung open, and Camille stepped through. She offered me a sweet smile—different from the one she’d given me last night… the one heavy with unspoken promises. She stopped beside Erin’s chair to clear dishes, but even without that predatory look, I felt the sexual energy crackling around her. Nothing had changed since last night.

“Good morning, monsieur. Madam.”

“Where is Jessica?” Emiko asked.

“I sent her to the master’s room with fresh food and coffee for his guests.”

Emiko gave her a subtle nod. “Thank you, Camille. The food was excellent.”

I raised my cup. “Could I get a bit more?”

“Of course.” Camille approached and leaned in, plates balanced in one hand.

As she reached for my coffee, her fingers brushed mine. Judging by the heat in her eyes, it was no accident. Her touch lingered a fraction too long before she plucked the cup from my hand. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

When she was gone, Emiko picked up the thread as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “Jessica seems a good place to start.”

“Jessica?”

“Yes. Are you satisfied with her performance?”

Images surfaced: Jessica’s thighs spread as I drove into her, Bobby’s face pressed against her stomach as I made her watch. Jess’s lips wrapped around my cock as she woke me yesterday before the party.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’d say I’m satisfied.”

“Including yesterday’s… incident?”

I blinked. I’d asked Emiko about Jessica visiting my room, but I hadn’t given her details. Jessica must have. “Yeah,” I said. “That wasn’t a problem.”

“Good.” She folded her hands. “I have ensured she won’t do that again without your permission.”

“…What did you say to her?”

“I would rather keep that a private matter. Only—please let me know if she continues.”

I wanted to press Emiko on what had happened between her and Jessica, but something about Emiko made me want to respect her wishes. “Sure.”

“She’s adapting,” Emiko continued. “However, there are risks with her being your ex-partner. Yesterday’s behavior is one example, but there have been and will continue to be others. I believe she is beginning to understand her place here and accept it, but I worry that whenever you show her tenderness, she mistakes it for a chance at what you once shared.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“The intimate looks… the familiar manner… then the humiliation and coldness—it could turn volatile if not carefully managed. My recommendation is that you decide the role she will have here. Will she simply be a servant you are occasionally intimate with? Do you wish to pursue something more personal with her? Or will she fulfill a role in a manner similar to Bobbi?”

It was eerie. She had voiced some of the same questions I had. I wasn’t quite sure what Jess’s long-term role was. I’d enjoyed getting my pleasure out of making her squirm, but that wouldn’t last. Eventually, it would no longer be something I could justify… or even enjoy. Now, Emiko had come along and articulated that dilemma better than I ever could. If I couldn’t put it into words, I sure as hell couldn’t answer it.

“You don’t have to decide now,” she said gently, reading my silence. “But in the meantime, set clear boundaries. If you don’t want her harboring hope, maintain a strict demeanor. Better she understand now that she may never have your heart than to believe otherwise and be crushed later.”

Fuck. She was right. I hadn’t realized I might be giving Jessica false hope in those soft moments.

“Yeah,” I said. “Okay.”

It felt like a lame response, but Emiko seemed pleased, as though she heard all the things I’d been unable to say in that short answer.

“Now,” she said, “Bobbi.”

“Are we going through all of them?”

“If you don’t mind. I would like to make this recurring—a weekly alignment, for the good of the house.”

I didn’t answer, and she pressed on.

“Bobbi.”

“Bobbi,” I echoed.

“Pairing her with Helen was a brilliant move.”

Camille reappeared, setting my coffee directly into my hand rather than on the table. Testing something, I caught the mug by rim and base. It was uncomfortably hot, but manageable. As it slipped from her grip, her fingertips grazed mine beneath the porcelain—so fleeting it could have been missed, if I hadn’t been watching for it.

“Thanks,” I said, giving her a smile.