Mother starts talking and the audio quality is perfect. All her threats and her reference to me ‘being of age in this one’, are perfectly clear. A thousand thoughts swarm my mind and I can’t process a single one.
On the video, she removes the tape and saunters away. I blink at that. I’m clearly staring right at her in the recording, but I have zero recollection of her uncovering the camera. It’s disconcerting that she had me so rattled.
Kit flashes me a quick, gleeful grin, and then he turns back to Julie.
“Who else has seen this?” he asks.
She shakes her head solemnly. “No one yet, but she can’t get away with it! Poor Mackenzie-uke!”
I grimace as she stares at me wide eyed, with a condescending look on her face like she thinks she is looking at an adorable kitten. But I manage to keep my expression neutral. Flipping fanfic. Though right now I guess I can’t complain too much.
“You are right, Julie, she can’t.” says Kit calmly. “But, I’d be a terrible Seme if I let her dishonor my Uke by sharing her video, wouldn’t I?”
I glare at the back of his head. Trust him to be fluent in fanfic nonsense and know exactly what to say. Begrudgingly, I admit that rolling with the crazy is probably the right way to go.
“How about, I give you my number, you send it to me and delete your copy?” Kit’s voice is smoother than honey.
If I were Julie I’d be powerless before it. It makes me wonder if he has ever used his dazzling charm to manipulate me, but I can’t bring myself to care. He can manipulate me all he likes.
Julie seems to agree with my sentiment. She flushes happily and nods excitedly. A few moments later and it’s done and Julie is skipping down the driveway to her car.
The door shuts, and Kit wraps his arms around me. I’m too overwhelmed to form a single coherent thought, but my body knows it’s safe to sink into his embrace.
“This is the answer to all our prayers!” he exclaims excitedly.
He steps away from me, moving his hands to my shoulders so he can look at me. His eyes are gleaming with a malevolent joy.
“Now, do you want to send your mother a copy of this, or shall I?” His grin is infectious.
“I’ll do it,” I say, and he beams at me.
I can’t believe it is over. Thank heavens for stalkers and Kit’s reluctance to get security. What an absolute stroke of luck. There is no way on earth Mother is going to want this video to see the light of day. It means we have reached a stalemate. Both with recorded weapons. She will have to leave me alone, so that I leave her alone.
For the first time in my life, I’m free. I’m actually free. I can stay here with Kit, and my secrets will be my own.
It’s perfect. Everything is perfect.
Chapter twenty-nine
Kit
Iamhummingtomyself as I lay out the finishing touches to the table. Setting it up in my home office was a stroke of genius. I don’t think Mackenzie has ever come in here, why would he need to?
So far, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a clue. Which is brilliant. Wouldn’t be much of a surprise if he cottoned on. I step back to admire my handiwork. White table cloth, check. Candles, check. Flowers, check. It looks amazing, if I do say so myself.
I take out my phone and take a quick snap to send to Mum. It’s silly to be missing her like crazy, when she only went home two weeks ago. But I can’t shake the feeling off. At least she made her very serious promise to look into moving out here permanently. I’m quietly optimistic. Privileges of being an only child, she’s not conflicted there. She’s only got the tiny flat and a handful of friends keeping her in London. I know she hates her cleaning job. So I’m reasonably sure Mackenzie and I are a strong temptation. Him probably more than me, truth be told. I’m becoming convinced she loves him more than she loves me.
The feeling seems to be mutual. Mackenzie clearly adores her. He has been phoning her more than I have, and he has been making me look at houses with attached self-contained apartments. Back home, we call them granny flats, and I’ve been having a great time teasing Mum mercilessly. I grin just thinking about it.
One last check of the table and I know I’m dithering. A fresh wave of nerves ties my guts up in knots. But I can’t put it off any longer. Miranda backed down weeks ago. Mackenzie has been living here with me ever since. Sleeping in my bed, and well, doing a lot of not actually sleeping. My cock twitches happily at the memories.
Mackenzie is also dragging me around houses he is thinking of buying, while casually asking if my Mum would like the attached apartment or if I think the master bedroom is big enough or if a certain room would make a great home gym. Which kind of indicates he wants me to move in with him.
All together, it kind of implies we are in a relationship, but we have never actually talked about it. He has never had a relationship before, so I understand him being shaky on the whole communication thing. But I need to know. One way or the other. I need confirmation.
So, time for a big gesture and laying my cards on the table. And then I will listen to what he has to say. No more putting it off. Time to put my big boy pants on, as they say. Taking a deep breath, I set off to look for him.
I find him just as he is stepping out of the bathroom. He is wearing soft gray pajamas and his hair is still damp from the shower. He looks incredible. I swear he gets even hotter every day.
