I feel even more confused and hurt than before I had any information. “Then what thefuck?Lookat me!”
He slowly raises his head and it takes every ounce of will I have not to drop to my knees in front of him and dry the tears from his cheeks.
“He was having all the partners over that night for a graduation party for me. Missing it wasn’t an option.”
It takes me a moment to process his words. “All you had to do was not go back to Georgia, and trust me to take care of you.”
“You don’t understand. Two of his partners are registered foreign agents and deal with people like Russian oligarchs and the Saudi royal family. Even back then they were bad news. If I hadn’t come home, Dad would’ve sent people after me tobringme home. I couldn’t risk him finding out about you.”
“Because you were ashamed of me?”
“Because he would have probably had you set up somehow. Or worse.” He slowly shakes his head as his tears fall. “You don’tunderstand. My father is someone who makes impediments to his will fall, crumble, or otherwise disappear. I know of at least three people in his professional world who pissed him off who then suddenly died under various convenient circumstances, and several more who were financially or politically or criminally ruined. It’s not just ‘doing business’ to him. It’s fun, it’s a game. He lives for people to cross him and piss him off so he can retaliate.
“His partners are just as bad. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Mom admitted to me she was going to file for divorce, then she died of a ‘heart attack’ less than two weeks later, only days after telling my father she was going to file. She told me since I’d finished college and was working, she felt she could finally leave him so it wouldn’t impact me.”
Somehow, I missed that fact when scanning Ward’s bio. I simultaneously feel horrified I wasn’t at his side to help him through it and stunned at his words. “What?”
“Yeah. That was two years after law school. When Dad told me I was running for office the first time and I hesitated to agree, he hinted the same thing that happened to Mom might happen to me, because heart disease tends to run in families, and wouldn’tthatbe a tragedy? So I’ve been letting him build my future for me, for now, and biding my time.”
I’m still stuck on that revelation. “You think he had your momkilled?”
He sniffles. “I’d say look it up except I don’t have any proof. Plus, he had her cremated despite her not wanting that. But you can research his ‘partners.’ Lookthemup. They’re abiding by FARA, for the most part. They’re criminal but not stupid. You’ll see a lot of people associated with their business partners in Russia have an unusual habit of falling out of windows. There’s also a disconcerting pattern of sudden deaths and ‘tragic accidents’ among their friends, family, and business associates. Even a disappearance or two.”
A ragged breath escapes him. “If anything had ever happened to you because of me, I never could have lived with myself, Master. I love you, and I’ve always loved you. I’ve never stopped loving you. I wouldn’t have even cared if Dad killed me, but that’s not how someone like him works. He takes what you love from you. He would have made sure to hurt you, knowing it would have killed me.”
I stare into his eyes and find myself stepping forward before I even realize what I’m doing. It’s like my brain suddenly decides to switch to cruise control and I’m powerless to stop it. Ancient memories pour fourth from their dusty chambers as my body responds to him and his tears the way it always used to. His hands reach for my belt as mine reach for his head, and then we’re both groaning as I bury my cock balls-deep inside his mouth.
Fuuuuck.
I hold still for a moment, my fingers fisting his hair while my eyes fall closed.
I’m back in our second year of college, and Ward got pissy with me while we were at dinner because I was talking with a couple of guys I knew.
Okay, yeah, maybe I was flirting to deliberately make Ward jealous.
I never claimed to be perfect.
On our walk home, he started mouthing off, acting passive-aggressive, to the point that I was ready to spank his ass when we returned.
Which quickly turned into him dropping to his knees before I even had the door locked behind us, and me then angry-fucking him.
And talking.
And making love.
Just like now.
With every slow stroke I take into his mouth I restrain myself, making it last, past and present merging and melting together. He remembers how to tease the head, how to suck, how to perfectly build me up.
I remember how much I loved him and how convinced I felt he would be my husband one day soon.
I open my eyes again to find him staring up at me and that’s all it takes. My orgasm spikes through me, making me shudder and gasp and I realize I’m crying and apparently have been, for a while.
When didthatstart?
I sink to my knees with my cock still hanging out. Ward throws himself into my arms and I tightly hold him while he softly sobs, whispering, “I love you, Master. I’m so sorry,” over and over again.
* * * *
