“Maybe we should exchange secrets. Mutually assured destruction.” He casually props his left ankle on his right knee. “Remember how we discussed your sister attending the election-night watch party?”
I numbly nod.
“Remember I also mentioned how I’m terrified of my wife, but I’m okay with that?”
I nod again.
“Let’s just say that my wife and Jordan have a lot in common. And no, this isn’t something I felt comfortable admitting to you and Leo during our chat when you asked me to be your running mate. And for that I apologize. I did not, however, believe it to be germane to our conversation, at that time.”
My panic eases with more confusion flowing in to take its place. “I don’t understand.”
“Elliot, Ily is my Domme.”
Stunned, I stare at him for a moment. “She’s…” I need a moment and he doesn’t speak. “You’re her submissive?”
“Her slave, but yes.” His lips quirk in a playful smile. “It seems Ily and Jordan both enjoy having powerful pets at their disposal.”
“Um…wow.”
“Is that a problem?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Nope. Actually makes things a little easier.”
His smile fades. “Ily noticed the matching bracelets and, because of suspecting what they signified, and having closer contact with both of you than the average person, she put two and two together. Don’t worry. This isn’t something that’s general knowledge. No one in your detail has talked, as far as I know.”
I scrub my face with my hands. “Oh, boy.”
“I, personally, don’t have a problem with your relationship with either of them. I’m guessing you’re a triad?”
I nod.
“I will stand behind you and support you as your vice president,” he says. “And I will personally look the other way when it comes to your relationship with Jordan. But you must be careful. If word ever leaks about you and Jordan before you leave office, I won’t have any option at that point but to follow the law.
“Looking the other way and actively covering something up are completely different things. I will pretend to be as shocked as everyone else if it’s ever revealed and claim I didn’t know before then, but that is the extent of the courtesy I will extend the three of you if it becomes public. That meanspleasebe careful. I like all three of you and don’t wish to take a stand against you. I consider all three of you friends.”
Relief fills me. “Thank you. I wouldn’t ask you to do anything more than that. And I appreciate it.”
“Sure. I personally think it’ll be easier to hide things with Jordan once you’re with Leo, though. The average person is clueless when it comes to polyamory and power exchange relationships. They will assume Jordan’s nothing more than a friend and roommate and employee. The only complication is if it becomes public knowledge that Jordan and Leo were a couple before.” He pauses. “Although…”
“Yeah?”
“That might be your out, should you ever need one. Technically, since Jordan works foryou, there’s wiggle room to say Leo’s poly and you’re fine with their relationship. Let Leo take the heat for you. He’s not in office. I doubt a case can be made for impropriety if they are caught. And you know damned well he’d do that for you.”
I hate that I find myself nodding. “Yeah.”
“Let’s hope you never need to use that as an excuse.”
“Seriously, yeah.”
“I’m guessing Casey-Marie, Declan, and George are also a triad?”
Well, the surprises just keep coming. I nod.
“I’d be willing to bet ShaeLynn, Kevin, and Chris are a triad as well.”
Again, I nod.
“My Mistress is too possessive to share me and, frankly, I’m fine with that. But my brother and his husband have a ‘close friend’ who is actually more than that, although they are even more careful than Ily and I are because of all of their jobs.”
