He took two steps to the side and sat. He’s always so formal, so precise with every movement. I’d noted the same in Gwen. Someold onesnever quite lose the old ways.
He sighed. “Perhaps I’ll ask you to teach us how to move so we don’t seem odd to modern day humans, but not this month, and probably not next month. I’ve changed my mind about yourspeech restrictions with Gwen. In fact, I’d like us to have a threesome this evening, and then I’ll lock your maypole back up and give the two of you the evening together.”
Was he going to let my dick inside his wife? My cock tried to swell inside the cage and I focused on keeping it soft. “Thank you, Master Kieran.”
“You’re welcome, but please don’t call me Master. You know to call me Sir if you feel the need for an honorific. Why did you choose to use Master?”
It wasn’t like me to argue, but I was frustrated. “You’re the Master, Sir. You decide whether my dick is locked up. You control the key. You decree whether your wife and I can speak with each other.”
Chapter Seven
Kieran
He wasn’t wrong, but having him point it out irritated me.
Which was ridiculous since I’d asked him to explain.
Ajax slid off the chair and back onto his knees in a beautiful kneeling position, his hands folded behind him, his gaze focused on my shoes. “I apologize. I’ve angered you and that wasn’t my intent. You’ve asked me to always be fully honest. Please help me better understand what you wish from me, Sir. I don’t wish to anger you.”
“Not your fault, Ajax.” I sighed. “I’m not angry, just a little irritated, but it isn’t your fault. I asked a question and you respectfully answered it.” And he wasn’t wrong. “Okay, let’s just call me the king of my domain for now, and it’s okay to be a bit of a smart-ass about it. Next month, Gwen may be more powerful than me. One never knows when the balance of power will shift between us. I knew there was a chance she’d be stronger when she returned from Europe, and I admit — I’m thankful she isn’t.”
I sensed the direction of his thoughts and decided he’d have a better chance of navigating the coming weeks if he understood the dynamics of the past couple of years.
“Gwen was never happy with bagged blood. I thought it was fine. I was happy when it was just the two of us, without companions living with us, and I appreciated the technology that allowed it to happen. She felt she wasn’t being nourished, andwe now understand she was right. We also understand that since she and I have a connection, I was benefitting from the life force she took in when she fed from the tap. At the time, though, I resented her human companion, and I was—”
There was no sense beating around the bush. I should tell the whole story. “I was an ass. I wasn’t jealous of him so much as resentful of the time she gave him, but that’s being nitpicky. I didn’t handle it well. She wouldn’t consider getting rid of him to go back to bagged blood, and she was prepared to leave me if I couldn’t deal with it. We very nearly divorced, and it wasn’t going to be amicable. He was transferred to another city and I thought that would fix things, but it hasn’t. We were still headed towards a dissolution, and I’m certain Abbott sent her to France so he’d have time to work something out to try to fix us.”
“And I was his solution, and now you both have someone, so you can spend time with me together? Am I supposed to belong to you, or do I belong to both of you?”
“We’re a work in progress. Abbott set it up so you were mine first, but I think you have to eventually belong to both of us. I’m steering the ship right now, to an extent.” I sighed. “I’m presently more powerful than her, and we have no choice but to let that control us during sex, but we’re mostly partners the rest of the time. I don’t pull rank when it comes to our clients.”
“I’m extra antsy. That usually means the wolf wants to run, Sir.”
I nodded. I’d sensed it, but I was pleased he’d told me. “Thank you for letting me know.”
Abbott owns property north of the city, specifically located so his wolves will have a private spot to be themselves. Abbott and Spence had picked him up and taken him when they went, but it was time I took him. His wolf was still quite wild, but I should get to know both parts of this man we’d invited into our home.The man we entrusted to keep us safe while we were dead to the world.
“You know nothing of what your wolf does, when you’re in his form?”
I scented his unease. More than unease, there was anger, humiliation, and a good deal of frustration.
“No, Master Kieran. I do not, Sir.”
I let theMastergo this time. He was stressed. It wasn’t a good time to call him on it again. I wanted it to feel like a conversation when we talked about it, and not like a reprimand.
“It isn’t your fault. Your former master bastardized the process. This was his intention.” The notes in his file said he’d been turned for over two years before he even found out he was a werewolf. The vampires had made him think his improved hearing and sight were normal. Eventually, he’d needed to know he could be severely injured and quickly heal, so he wouldn’t be afraid to take serious risks during training and while sparring.
He shrugged. “I know. Master Abbott explained. Spence and I’ve talked about it. It’s frustrating, Sir.”
I felt Gwen awaken, and I held my hand out to Ajax. “Come. The Mistress has risen.”
He took my hand, and I led him into our inner sanctum. He can’t make it all the way inside while we’re dead to the world, even when he’s protecting us. Once we’re sealed in, no one can get to us. If Gwen sealed it without me inside, not even I could get in. However, I’d merely locked it when I exited, which meant we could enter.
She’d worn a red silk dressing gown to sleep. It was fancier than some ball gowns worn to white tie affairs, and yet she looked totally at ease in it. Not all shades of red work with her deep ginger hair, but this one did, and the effect was striking.
“Have I told you recently how much I love you?” I asked her.
Her warm smile touched my heart, when not much manages to do so these days. “You can tell me as often as you want, husband-of-mine.” She looked to Ajax and back to me.I’m sorry. I answered your question before I thought it through. I apologize for speaking English around him.
