Secrets Uncovered (11 page)

“Rained last week again,” Kath said. “Lachy mentioned there’d be some new ones until he could get the company in to re-tarmac properly. I think they’re fixed for the beginning of next month.” She closed her eyes, as the ache in her ankle decided to grown in strength. “Oh, I’d love a cuppa.”

“Well once Emma says so, I’ll make sure you get one.” Jeff said. “I’ll even bring a china mug in for you.” It was a standing joke that Kath liked her tea in china not pottery. “Okay, we’re here. Thank goodness for private healthcare.” He helped her out of the car and turned to David. “Cheers, mate. I’ll be back to grab Kath’s stuff and let you know what’s happening.”

“Good luck and behave, Kath. Or you’ll have two Doms and a pissed sub to deal with.” David drew away, and Kath turned toward Jeff.

“Come on then, Daddy, let’s go and get you reassured.” She held out her hand and Jeff took it and squeezed her fingers. “Last one in’s a squidgy carrot.”

“Lovely. Why a carrot?” He felt the fine tremble that went through her, and did his best to keep the talk light and inconsequential. “Why not a courgette or a banana?”

“Too easy.” She took a deep breath. “Oh, hell, Jeff, what if I’ve hurt Bump?” To his dismay Kath began to cry softly. “What if my going out by myself has hurt her?”

“Hey, now come on, pet. You’re not to go to pieces now. And we could say, what if because I let you go and didn’t put you first? What if are two tiny words which, used together after the event, are no use whatsoever. Now chin up, pet, let’s go in and get you and Bump comfy. Hold on, you said her? What do you know?”

“Oh nothing, honestly. I just decided to say she. I’ve not had a scan and at the last appointment, Emma said the heart was beating perfectly. Well, you were there, you should remember. Anyway, I’ll say he next time. Better than it, eh?”

“That’s for sure.” Jeff also remembered that Emma had said even though she could only hear one heartbeat that didn’t mean there was a single baby. A heartbeat could be masked behind another one. Trying not to worry, he rang the bell and a smart auxiliary opened the door, a wheelchair by his side. Within minutes, Kath was sitting in the chair, and they were shown to a small but comfortable room. Not many moments later, Emma Lynn joined them.

“Jeff, this is where you go get a coffee.” Emma looked at him steadily. “No arguments.” She touched her collar and grinned. “I might wear this all the time, but the attitude isn’t there when I’m at work. You’ll get called back in time for the scan.”

“Eh?” His eyes widened, his heart thumped, the pulse in his neck was on overtime and he was damned sure there was a tic next to his right eyelid.

“I’ll do the scan now, it’s well within the parameters I normally use. Now go. The sooner you do, the sooner I can set things up, and you’ll be back.”

She might be a good sub, but Jeff decided Emma would make a good Domme. One look from her and even he quailed and obeyed her.

It was something he saw time and time again. Perfect subs at the perfect time, who held down high-powered demanding jobs and directed and managed people as and how necessary.

He wandered into the visitors’ lounge and helped himself to coffee from the state of the art coffee maker. Next to it were several tins of what were obviously homemade cakes. His stomach churned. Delicious as they looked, it was going to take all his control to keep the coffee down. A soft coffee gateaux would be one coffee too far.

Too uneasy to sit, Jeff paced the room, before he forced himself to stand and sip his drink as he looked out of the window at the scenery. The private hospital was on the lower slope of the hills not far from the castle and he could see down the valley to the loch a few miles away. Between it and him, two doves flew across the valley. As Kath had told him often enough, doves signified hope. Jeff decided to take it as a sign that all was well.

The noise of the door opening made him start and drop his cup—luckily now empty. The auxiliary who had let him in stood there.

“They’re ready for you, Mr Sutherland. I’m here to take you to the scan.”

Jeff swallowed hard and wondered if she could hear the way his heart thumped or see how scared he was. This was it. He picked his cup up—china he realized with an inward grin—and followed the auxiliary.

Kath gave him a big grin as he stood next to her.

“Everything okay?” He kissed her nose, and she wrinkled it.

“That tickles. Yes, truly everything is fine. I’ve wrenched my ankle and it’s going to resemble a gay pride flag, but Bump is as snug as a bug in a rug.”

“Thank goodness.” Jeff’s heartbeat began to slow to a normal pace, and the pulse that had been assaulting his neck gave one last jerk and resumed its proper beat. “Your ankle.

“I barley felt it. I was more concerned about other parts of my body. Once I knew Bump was okay all the other aches and pains demanded sympathy big time. It’s a teeny weeny wrench, really.”

“Hmm. So what now?”

“Hey, Daddy, shall we see if it’s a him, a her or a them?”

His heart began to mimic the samba again. “Oh yes.”

“That’s good because I’ve a feeling you’re both going to be very happy soon.” Emma had re-entered the room unnoticed by either of them. “Right, let’s get started.”

Kath stretched her hand out and gripped Jeff’s fingers. He used his other hand to stroke her arm. “Hey, Mama, let’s see what you do have in there.”

He didn’t loosen their grip as he stood to one side, and Emma smoothed gel over Kath’s tummy.

Jeff stood in awe as the grainy picture unfolded on the screen.

“Here’s the head and here’s the spine. And here’s the other head here. See?” Emma traced a line across the screen with a pointer.

“Two?” Jeff knew his voice wavered, but he couldn’t have stopped it if he tried. Kath gasped and made an indeterminate sound, something between a laugh and a cry.

He cleared his throat, conscious of a big knot of emotion lodged in it. “Really? We’re having two?”

“Yep and both fine, healthy, comfy and doing exactly as they should. You’re twelve weeks five days and all healthy.” Emma grinned. “I’ll get some pictures printed and we’ll get Kath settled in her room for the night.” Emma went out and Jeff lifted Kath’s collar from the table.

“Oh, please, I feel naked without it.” Kath dipped her head to let him fasten it around her neck. “Thank you, Sir. But, oh, I forgot, I was supposed to get my present.” Kath’s face dropped.

“Don’t pout, pet, you’ll get your present soon. As soon as it’s possible. Now do as you’re told, and I’ll bring Jess in with me to see you later. What do you need apart from the obvious?”

Jess touched her collar in a gesture he remembered so well. As she often said, her collar was her comfort blanket. “Chocolate and my eReader?”

“Now how did I know you’d say that?”

Kath rolled her eyes. “Because you’re my Sir and you know everything I like and need?”

“Minx.” He kissed her and groaned as her hand brushed his cock over his jeans and it responded with alacrity. “Stop that, I have to drive.”

“You could just snuggle next to me and let Jess get my stuff?” Kath said in a hopeful tone.

“Good try. No. I need to see what David and Ross have found out. I’ll be back as soon as I can, and I’ll either bring Jess, or she’ll come in first. Okay?”

“Of course, Sir.”

Kath smiled and in it he saw her love and her submission. To see it now meant more than she’d ever know. It had been such an awful day, with scare upon scare. That the good news of twins was topped by her showing him respect was the icing on the cake.

“That’s my pet. Now you rest and I’ll be back almost before you realize I’ve gone.”
I hope.
It really was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had to remember he had a business to run, someone or something was messing on his land and he needed to secure their future. With another kiss and a further soft caress of his cock by Kath, Jeff pulled back and left the room. The sooner he went, the sooner he’d be back. Although maybe he’d let Jess go first so she and Kath could have a girly cry or whatever seemed to cheer them up.

Jeff drove back to the castle on automatic. His mind was full of ‘what if’ scenarios and a deep down anger for what had happened. The ‘what if’ was horrific and his gut churned at the thought of someone messing about with his love, their home and their future. To say nothing of their livelihood. BDSM might not be for everyone, hell, he wouldn’t want it to be, people needed to be individuals not sheep, but as long as you followed the safe, sane and consensual route, it was no one’s business except your own. Why some so-called do gooders seemed to think otherwise was a mystery and an annoyance.

One more annoyance awaited him, it seemed. Lachy was standing patiently, with Finn by his side, as Jeff drew up outside the castle.

The young girl—really she looked as if she should still be in high school, not carrying an empty and open shotgun over the crook of her arm—glanced at him, then dropped her eyes.

Interesting.
It wasn’t a guilty gesture, more a subservient one. Something to ponder over at a later date maybe?

“Come on in.” He had no idea what, if anything, Finn knew about Diomhair, after all she’d worked for Lachy for a relatively short time. They tended to say a private members club and leave it at that.

Jeff unlocked the door that led directly into the foyer for his apartment and ushered Lachy and Finn up the stairs. Had he locked the playroom door? Was their bedroom shut off? Well, he’d find out soon enough. As they reached the top landing, David and Ross appeared from the door that led into the offices of the club. Finn glanced in their direction before she looked away. She stood back as Jeff turned his key in the lock and opened the door to the living quarters.

“Take a pew.”

Finn carefully set her gun down and perched on the edge of a dining chair. “I’m not exactly dressed for indoors.”

Lachy grinned. “Nor me, but if Jeff says sit, you know it’s aright tae do it.”

Finn still looked dubious. Jeff nodded. “They wipe down. Right, coffee?”

A chorus of “yes please” sent him into the kitchen to turn on the coffee machine. While he waited for it to create five cups of coffee, Jeff found a box of biscuits and laughed at the label on them. ‘Emergency rations, one per day’, written in Kath’s elegant script. He made a mental note to buy some more.

“Okay, coffee up. Who’s going to start?”

Lachy took a hefty swallow and put his mug down on the carpet. “Well it’s Finn’s story really, but I reckon it started a few months ago. Back in the spring, when we were feeding the poults, I thought some bugger was poaching the chicks. But there was never any real evidence you know? Over the summer everything seemed as it should. Well with the light nights, anyone would be hard pressed to get up to no good. In June I can be out and about at any time it’s light enough to see. That’s most twenty odd hours of each twenty-four. Lately though, as we get busier, and the days get shorter, both Finn and I have seen a white van around, though we’ve never got close enough to see who’s driving it.

“Then today I went to Keepers to measure for curtains.” Finn spoke in a clear voice although she still didn’t look anyone in the eye. “Someone’s been in it. I left a few bits and bobs after we scrubbed it out yesterday, and well…” She blushed. “Someone’s been looking through it.”

“It?” Jeff asked. “As in what?”

Finn did look at him then. “Well, if you must know, I’d moved a wee chest of drawers and a chair Lachy and Alexina gave me, as well as some of my kitchen stuff. I’ve got more stuff coming today and tomorrow, and I’m wanting to move in at the weekend. Anyway.” She took a deep breath. “I moved some of my clothes and, well, and someone rooted through them. I have a pair of knickers missing.” She paused, and Jeff sensed that had been hard for her to say. Why, he had no idea, unless discussing underwear was new to her.

“Anything else?” he asked gently but in the firm tone of voice he used on a new and hesitant sub.

“Is that not enough?” she asked indignantly. “Some ape pawing through my lingerie and getting his rocks off over my Janet Regers? I had to fling the lot out.” She shuddered.

Jeff blinked as David stood up and paced the room.

“You’re saying someone left the evidence? Of jerking off?” David’s voice rose, and Jeff touched his arm in a calm down gesture. They needed to hear more before they decided what to do.

“What? Oh, Lord, no, sorry. But why pinch my undies? Hell, they still had the labels on. I’m so not impressed, and neither will whoever it was be if I get my hands on them. I’ll stuff the knickers in their mouth and pretend it’s William Tell’s apple. I’m a bit rusty with my bow and arrow skills, but then I’m happy to brush up on them. Bastards.” The ferociousness of her voice was at odds with her five foot two, blonde hair, slim persona. “Not only that, the lock’s been messed with so even if I lock the door, it’s easy enough to slip the catch. Well.” She grinned a gamine, urchin grin that transformed her from a shy, hesitant young girl to a confident, young lady. “I reckon that’s what whoever it is thinks. I know differently. They might get in, but they sure as hell won’t get out. I’ve fixed the door to slam, and once it’s done that it’s locked by a combination that’s known by me alone. Everywhere else is secure. No one, but no one, messes with my stuff. And no one but no one disses with my job.” She bit her lip then went on. “I did ask Lachy if it was okay, and he said as long as I didn’t sort it so I blew anyone’s balls off.” Finn paused and the grin reappeared once more. “I told him he was a spoilsport.”

Chapter Eight

“I’m bored.”

“Stop sounding like Kirsten Black in history classes.” Jess swatted Kath’s bum with the tea towel she was holding. “What’s up now?”

Kath sighed. “Nothing, that’s the problem. Oh we’re sticking to our new protocol, but it’s all so blooming tame. I know we’re not going to scene or anything, but I just want to watch a nice spanking or a really good wax play session. You know, experience by proxy. And Jeff said he had a present for me over a month ago, and I’m still waiting. He just keeps saying soon. Well soon I’ll be the size of a bus, not merely the size of a Ford Transit.” She knew she sounded like a whiny, sulky, spoiled kid. It didn’t need Jess’ raised eyebrow to tell her that.