Lord & Master (22 page)

“Then do.”

“What if I mess up?”

Damien got up and took my hands. He pulled them against his ribs, where his heart knocked hard enough to move me. He hadn’t sounded nervous when he popped the question. “I want to place my bets on you and Jake. I hope our bonds will last forever, but even if they don’t, I’ve learned I want a family of people I love and respect. People who love and respect me. I think we should take the risk because we have that depth of feeling for each other.”

“I absolutely love and respect you,” I confirmed.

“And him?”

I looked at Jake, who lounged on the bed smiling. My heart was full enough to burst, but I only said one word. “Yes.”

“So you agree the three of us should do our best to spend our lives together?”

When he put it that way . . . “Yes,” I said. “I really do.”

“Woohoo,” Jake crowed, teasing but happy too. “We’re engaged!”

“You want this?” I asked, to be sure.

His shining eyes were the eyes I’d been dreaming of for ages. Miraculously, they were filled with love for me.

“We’re individuals,” he said. “And there’s no getting around that we need individual ties. You and I will always have something special. You were the first woman, the first
lover
who got past my walls to the true heart of me. I think, maybe, you also did that for Damien. Now you and he will have something special too.”

“And you and him,” I said.

“And me and him,” he agreed. “Basically, I want everything Damien does, and I want—with all my heart—to give it right back to the pair of you. Love and respect, Mia. That’s the rock bottom truth of my feelings.”

I pressed my hands to my mouth, barely holding in my
aw
.

“Two months,” Damien announced, startling me.

“Four,” Jake countered. “I may not be marrying you, but I want a real wedding. Cake. Tuxedos. Everybody dancing themselves silly.” He laughed at some private thought. “I’m going to invite all my best spook friends.”

“Shit,” I said. “My parents are going to be so weirded out by this.”

“Too bad!” Jake chortled. Obviously invigorated, he hopped off the bed, picked me up, and spun me. “After this vacation, you’re officially a shameless hussy. No going back and trying to be normal.”

“Don’t spin me,” Damien warned after Jake set me on my feet. “I don’t need to get dizzy.”

Jake squeezed his arm instead. “
Honeymoon
,” he said meaningfully.

“Jesus,” Damien griped. “Let me go back to the office for a while first.”

“Oh!” I said, abruptly remembering. “The wrap party for the staff. We should start planning that.”

“We
have
to make Curtis come—”

“—and bring his new plus one.”

“I wonder if Sawyer will ask Hillary.”

I laughed at them finishing each other’s sentences. “You’re both ridiculous romantics.”

“Only for you,” Jake said.

From either side, the men kissed my cheeks. Their humor and their affection made my eyes sting again. If this was how shameless hussies lived, I was all in.

Chapter Sixteen

ARRANGING
the wrap party in my Lady Call persona was entertaining. The woman playing the role of cook was a food history buff. She and Sweets and I convened in the drawing room to organize a menu. The club’s regular catering service would do the majority of the preparation but not all.

“I’m keeping back a few period dishes for our participants to make,” Mrs. Patterson informed me. “I’d like them to realize the chopping table is good for more than spanking people on!”

I hoped my face didn’t give away that I’d witnessed it being used for that. “I’m sure they’ll appreciate the authenticity of the experience,” I said.

I was left to organize seating charts and place cards, which I confess I found soothing. Everyone would be in the dining room for the party. Some of Diogenes staff would serve, so as to get more experience at that. Most of the week’s players would fill the chairs as guests. According to Sweets, who was our costume expert, she’d convinced them to wear fancy dress.

“What’s an Edwardian dinner without white tie?” she asked, as if there could be only one answer.

“Nothing at all,” I responded. “Especially if you like ogling handsome men in formal wear.”

I watched to see if she would blush, but apparently Hillary Sweets was more self-controlled on that front than I. I blushed when I consulted the butler on whether to serve cocktails before dinner. He claimed an industrialist might offer them but not a lady—which I took to mean
no
. I was too distracted to debate the point.

I hadn’t forgotten my sight of him wielding the spatula.

Jake and Damien didn’t share my appreciation for these important tasks. They checked in on me, saw I was content with my occupation, and absconded. They were dressed for riding, so I supposed they were taking advantage of the stable while they still could. My modern-day self wondered if Diogenes’ budget would stretch to keeping the horses on. I knew feeding them was costly, but surely other guests would enjoy riding. Perhaps I’d consult Curtis. He had an equal share in the club to me.

My thoughts startled me. I was beginning to view Diogenes as if my stake in it were more than an accident. In truth, I was thinking like a boss.

Maybe Damien wasn’t the only one who was feeling more dominant.

I was engrossed in hand-lettering place cards with a real fountain pen, smiling to myself at the idea of sticking Hillary next to Sawyer, when a maid I hadn’t met before knocked on the open door.

“Excuse me, Lady Call,” she said, obliging me to conclude Damien hadn’t reversed his instructions on how to address me. “Mr. Ewing is here to see you. Should I bring him in from the hall?”

Curtis was here? I hoped he wasn’t trying to wiggle out of tonight’s party. Then again, would he come in person to do that?

“Show him in,” I said. “And—”

“Alisha,” the maid supplied.

“If people aren’t too busy getting ready for tonight, could you have someone bring us tea?”

“Of course,” she said and bobbed a curtsey.

I had a moment to wonder if I’d miss that before Curtis strode over the threshold.

“Look at you!” I exclaimed at the sight of him. I came around the pretty writing desk to hug him. To my surprise, he wore a lovely tweed walking suit. “My goodness, this is smart.”

Sheepishness tugged his mouth. He smoothed the trim-fitting coat and took a chair. “I thought as long as I was coming, I’d get into the spirit. I felt pretty out of place last time.”

Like magic, a footman appeared with a tray of tea things and sweet biscuits. I’d gotten into better practice pouring. Curtis watched me in bemusement.

“You’re getting used to this lady of the manner stuff,” he observed.

“Not too used to it, I hope. Damien doesn’t have live-in servants at the penthouse.” I handed him a cup with a single biscuit tucked on the saucer—since he tended to avoid sweets.

Curtis sipped cautiously. “How is Damien?”

“You mean because of his dad’s wife? Okay, I think. Adjusting. It’ll probably take a while for the change in his situation to sink in. Aside from that, he’s great.” I rolled my lips together, wondering if I was allowed to mention the change in my own status. This was Curtis, though: my surrogate big brother. How could I not tell him?

“I’m engaged,” I blurted. “Like for real.”

Curtis slow grin stretched completely across his face. “Are you now? To which of your admirers?”

“Oh,” I said, realizing I’d have to specify. “To Damien. He offered to marry Jake instead if I didn’t want to, but he said he’d rather do the protector-y husband thing with me.”

Curtis set aside his tea and laughed. “The three of you are a trip. Congratulations. I’d have been happy for you—or Jake, I guess—no matter what you chose. Wow.” His eyes shimmered with emotion as he took in the news. “Mike would be so glad to know those two love you. You deserve everything good, kiddo.”

He made me tear up too. “What about you?” I asked once I thought my throat would cooperate. His eyebrows lifted, but I wasn’t buying what they said. “You didn’t drive out here just to be updated on gossip.”

I’d hit the nail on the head. Curtis squirmed uncomfortably in his chair. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about, and I didn’t want to just spring it on you tonight.”

“You
are
bringing someone to the party!” I exclaimed happily.

He blinked like he couldn’t believe I’d guessed. “How did you—?”

“Curtis, you’re not that good at keeping secrets. We all know you’ve been dating.”

“All of you? Even Damien?”

“Of course even Damien. He’s as observant as Jake or me. Anyway, it’s nothing to worry about. I know you loved Mike, but he died five years ago. It’s past time you got serious about someone.”

Curtis tugged his pants legs and grimaced. “I don’t know that we’re
serious
.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re bringing him to meet the family—or as good as.” I paused as another possibility occurred to me. “Is he why you’ve been staying away from the club lately? I assumed you didn’t want to crowd me while I was sticking my oar in, but did you not want your new guy to know you’re a member here?”

Curtis scratched his knee. “I wasn’t sure what he’d think. Kyle and I have been pretty vanilla. I mean, the sex is great . . .
really
great, but . . .” He trailed off.

“You have to tell him,” I said, earnestly learning forward across the writing desk. “You enjoy the games you’ve played here. If you pretend an important part of your nature doesn’t exist, you’ll only half be with him.”

Curtis lifted his hands in surrender. “I know. I procrastinated. I didn’t want to risk spoiling things. I like Kyle a lot. I figured if you were okay with me bringing him tonight, I’d tell him right before.” He pulled a rueful expression. “I told him you were throwing a
Downton
-theme costume party. He said it sounded fun.”

I covered my face and laughed. “Curtis, you can’t tell him
right
before. This is an S&M club. He’ll need more than a couple minutes to take it in.”

“I thought if I didn’t give him too much time to think, he’d be less likely to bail.”

He looked so anxious I took pity. “Your involvement in Diogenes might not come as a total shock. You and Kyle have gotten close. He could have an inkling about your kinks already. Plus, maybe he has secrets he wants to tell you. Sharing yours could end up being a good thing for both of you.”

I got up and perched on his chair arm, facing him. “You are the most awesome man. If you and this Kyle guy are meant to be together, he’ll know that.”

“You think he won’t run away?”

I smoothed Curtis’s ginger hair where it had fallen across one eyebrow. “I think you’re brave enough to tell him what you have to. I also think I trust your judgment. You wouldn’t fall for a man who wasn’t worth a risk or two.”

Curtis laughed softly through his nose. “You sound like the big sibling now.”

I felt like one, and it was kind of nice. I bent to kiss his forehead. “Go talk to Kyle. And come back tonight, no matter what he decides. We’re all looking forward to seeing you.”

~

My first glimpse of Curtis’s new man made me wonder if I should have trusted his judgment. Damien, Jake, and I were greeting guests in the house’s most
Downton
-esque area: the gorgeous double-height saloon with the massive crystal chandelier. Kyle came in looking like an advertisement for Sexy Bearded Guy. He was tall, had a great build, and wore his obviously bespoke white tie like he’d been born to it. Maybe Curtis had been blinded by his good looks. Maybe Kyle was a conceited dick.

Then Curtis grinned and gave me two thumbs up, clearly delighted their relationship had survived his gut spilling.

You’ll find a way to like this guy
, I ordered myself sternly.
No matter what sort of man he is.

Curtis introduced him to all of us.

“Crap,” Kyle said before I could welcome him. “Sorry. I can’t see one damned thing.” He fumbled out a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and set them on his nose. “That’s better. Contacts make me crazy, but I can’t kiss in these without putting out an eye.”

Now he looked like Sexy Bearded Nerd. For my taste, it wasn’t a downgrade.

“Pleased to meet you,” I said, probably smiling too broadly. “I’m glad you were free to come.”

He shook all our hands with a firm but not too-firm grip. His palm was a little sweaty, which I found endearing. Meeting the people his boyfriend loved
ought
to make him nervous.

I guess Jake and Damien weren’t as easy to win over. They were giving off reserved vibes. Probably because of this, Kyle bent to ask his question in my ear. “I won’t have to spank anyone tonight, will I? Curtis promised I wouldn’t, but the truth is I wouldn’t know how to pull it off.”

I gave in to impulse and squeezed his arm. “Tonight we’re just having dinner. You might hear some bawdy stories, but everyone’s keeping their clothes on.”

“Phew,” he said and tugged at his starched collar. “Good to know I don’t have to dive in the deep end.”

He wandered off with Curtis to rubberneck the period décor. Both my men watched them go.

“He seems all right,” Damien allowed. “Good handshake.”

“Good everything,” Jake put in dryly.

Damien shot him a startled look.

“Just observing,” Jake said. He leaned in to kiss Damien’s mouth. “I have no intention of stepping out on either one of you.”

“I hope not,” Damien said, putting a hint of a growl in it. “Legality aside, we’re all making promises to each other.”

“Agreed,” Jake responded angelically.

“Smartass,” I said as I elbowed him.

Utterly unrepentant, Jake grinned and kissed me too.

~

Now that my worries for Curtis were allayed, I relaxed and enjoyed our fête. Some of the guest-made dishes came out peculiar, but overall the wrap party dinner went off without a hitch. Dessert was an array of pastries, ices, and custards so visually stunning people stood up and clapped.