Succession (38 page)

Sy makes the next move, taking a step close to Cash, getting into his space but not touching him yet. “Think we should put on a show for the boy?”

Cash nods, reaching out a hand and placing it on Sy’s chest. He pauses, waiting, and when Sy smiles at him, Cash touches him, bringing his other hand up to join. He traces his fingers along the outlines of Sy’s body, trailing down his chest, his stomach, resting at his hips. Cash watches him closely, as I do, but Sy is enjoying this. Slowly, Cash brings one hand in front of Sy, barely grazing over his cock.

“Do you like this?” Cash asks, his tone serious.

Sy nods. “Yes.” He brings his own hand down to cover Cash’s, pressing it tighter.

I didn’t realize how much it would turn me on to see them together.

Taking the cue, Cash speeds up his movements, taking Sy’s cock in his hand and working it. Sy guides him at first, then backs off, letting Cash do what he wants. Apparently, what Cash wants is to make both me and Sy lose control, because he gives me a quick grin before proposing his next idea.

“If you go sit on the bed, Sascha can touch you while I suck you.”

Sy seems quite interested in the idea. He makes his way to the bed quickly, sitting on the edge as Cash comes in front of him, pausing between his legs. I move behind Sy, running my hands over his shoulders and leaning in to kiss his neck. I have a perfect view of Cash going down to his knees, stroking his hands over Sy’s legs as he does.

I stay clothed for the moment; I don’t want either of them to see the colorful bruises I’m sporting. I’d rather enjoy the mood, because it is very, very enjoyable. Cash doesn’t waste any time with words or games. He gets comfortable, spreads Sy’s legs apart with his hands, and then takes Sy’s cock into his mouth. I can feel Sy respond, he’s tense for a moment, then he draws a sharp breath, releasing it after a few seconds. I continue to kiss his neck and run my hands over his skin; I’ve missed touching him so much. He relaxes as Cash develops a rhythm, and his breathing comes quicker.

“He’s good, isn’t he?” I tease. It’s nice to turn the tables on these two.

I can hear Cash trying to stifle a laugh, and the vibrations must feel good, because Sy lets out a pleasured gasp.

“Very good,” he agrees, and he leans back to kiss me.

The position is strange, but I like it, and I get up on my knees, leaning over so I can reach him better. Cash reaches up, groping for a part of me to touch, and he grabs my hand, holding it tightly in his. I’ve never been so close with two people before, not without the pressure to perform. Cash keeps working Sy’s cock, and Sy leans back against the mattress, a smile on his face. I stretch out next to him, my legs dangling off the edge of the bed.

“Do I get to feel your soft skin?” Sy asks, giving me a hopeful look.

I pause. I do want to feel him touching me, I want to feel them both touching me. But I’m not sure how either will react to the condition I’m in. “I’m a little marked up,” I admit. “Maybe it’s better if we don’t.”

Sy reaches up to cup my face with his hand. “You do what you want,” he assures me. “You can’t scare me off.”

Cash is silent, still focusing on Sy’s cock, but I feel his hand creep up under my pant leg, taking hold of my calf, rubbing it gently. The touch says it all. I’m his; he’ll touch me and he’ll make me feel good. I want it.

I realize I’ll have to wait, though, because Cash is speeding up his pace, bobbing his head up and down frantically, and I can see Sy getting closer and closer. He sits up, touching Cash’s head gently, brushing his hair back and away from his face.

“I’m close,” he announces. “I’m not sure….”

“We both want to see you come,” I whisper in his ear. I wrap myself around him, feeling the way the muscles in his legs are tight, the way he seems to draw deeper and deeper breaths as he holds back. “No games. Cash just wants you to feel good.”

Sy nods, glancing at me to confirm it, then looking back at Cash. Cash is staring up at him, looking into his eyes, and the intensity makes me shudder. I’m a part of it, and yet I’m not. This moment is just between them.

Sy comes quickly, the slightest of sounds escaping his lips. He has his hand on Cash’s head, still, not holding him there, just touching him, staying connected. Cash keeps going until Sy has stopped moving, resting back against the mattress again. Cash comes up to join us, resting alongside Sy’s left side, while I am to his right. Sy is distracted and worn out for the moment, but Cash looks at me with a predatory gaze and a smile.

“You know you don’t like to sleep in clothes, anyway,” he comments. I can see where he’s coming from, and I can see the other point he’s trying to make as well. He won’t force me, but he’s not going to let me think I’m turning him off, either.

Slowly, I take my shirt off, giving him and Sy a moment to process the bruises. Sy doesn’t say anything, but he does run his hand over my skin, lightly, feeling good. I smile as I unzip my pants as well.

Cash just watches quietly, but a part of me can tell he’s inventorying every injury on me. It’s sweet in a strange way. And it doesn’t seem to make him any less aroused. As I strip off my pants and toss them off the bed, I watch his face, waiting for his reaction.

“I don’t know what you were so worried about,” he comments. “You’re perfect. Nothing will ever change that.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. No matter how many times he says it, I still forget sometimes. Maybe a part of me just needs to be reminded.

Sy runs his hands over my legs, and the feeling of his skin touching mine makes me hot. He brushes his hand over my cock, and while it feels good, it’s sore, and I wince. Sy pulls back, a confused look on his face, and I’m relieved when Cash interrupts.

“What are you up for tonight, Sascha?” he asks.

“I want to feel you both fucking me,” I admit. “But… we should do that another night. I’m enjoying watching the two of you have fun.”

Cash nods, and I can tell he understands. Sy does, too; he resumes touching me, but stays gentle, and he doesn’t go for my cock again. Wanting them is its own form of torture, but I know I’ll regret pushing myself too hard.

We reorient ourselves, sliding up to the head of the bed, me in the middle this time. Sy and Cash take turns touching me, making me feel good without turning me on too much. They are enjoying me as much as I’m enjoying them, and I let my hand creep down between Cash’s legs.

Suddenly, Sy is there, leaning over me, his eyes locked on Cash’s again. “I can help with this,” he suggests.

Cash smiles. “I’d be honored.”

He’s playful, but he’s still serious. The two of them rarely touch one another; I’m usually their buffer, but they both seem to be quite interested in exploring the other’s body, especially while I’m a bit out of commission.

Sy slides over top of me and takes his place between Cash’s legs, an eager expression on his face. As he dips down to take the tip of Cash’s cock into his mouth, I marvel at how different they both look from a distance. So often, I’m on one end or the other of the fun, and while I enjoy it, I never really get the chance to study their reactions. I watch, amazed, as Sy brings Cash just to the point of coming, then backs off, leaving Cash surprised and pleasantly frustrated.

Cash beckons me over, and as Sy gets him worked up again, Cash kisses me deeply, making my cock hard again. He runs one hand through my hair; the other is resting comfortably on Sy’s shoulder. They’re both so different with one another than they are with me, but I can tell they enjoy it, and I love watching them. In no time, Sy has brought Cash to the edge again, and Cash grips his shoulder tightly. Sy is kind enough not to try to get him to beg, and Cash comes hard, pulling me close as he does and wrapping his legs around Sy. I end up pressed tight against Cash’s chest, hearing the racing pulse of his heartbeat.

Sy joins us after a few minutes, coming up behind me and pressing close against my back, but not close enough to hurt. He puts his arms around me, and as he does, Cash reaches around me as well, touching us both.

“Did we put on a good enough show for you, pretty boy?” Sy teases as I relax into both of them.

I nod, perfectly thrilled to be where I am at the moment.

“You can join us next time,” Cash decides. “I know how you hate to be left out of the fun.”

Chapter 34
Agreements

Sascha sees the news about Oliver first; he’s been watching his tablet eagerly to see if there are any developments with Oliver and the raid we’ve arranged. He seems to trust my mother more than I do, or maybe he just hates Oliver more. It’s a tough distinction, but when we see the media coverage of the raid on his house, I feel a weight being lifted off of me. It’s happening, and within hours, tidbits of news have leaked, many of them indicating that Oliver has been arrested, a few indicating that his property had been seized. My name is rarely mentioned, which I’m glad about. His insistence on keeping his distance from me ended up in my favor. From as far as anyone else can tell, he and I have been working on entirely different agendas. Or, more likely, some of the connections that we’ve made have helped to keep my name out of it.

I recognize some of the officials and political figures as those I made connections with at our sponsorship event. As much as it feels like I’m selling out, it pays to have strong connections. I always intended to further this project on my own—no slave, no partner, certainly no connections to organized crime or corrupt political figures. I was an idiot to think that would work. The Demoted industry is far more pervasive than I ever thought; the connections beyond the industry itself are frightening. But I made my choice to be a part of it. For now, at least, I’m on the right side of the people who matter. If I can stay here, I’ll do well. If not? At least I’ll have some time to prepare.

Sascha suggests we celebrate, even before we’ve really won any sort of victory, and I agree. As he starts to prepare something for dinner, I arrange for a nice bottle of wine to be delivered. I have plenty, but it’s not every day we get to see someone we hate going down for his crimes and ours.

I hear the doorbell, and Sy answers it before I have a chance. I figure it’s the wine, so I go to sign for it, surprised when I see uniformed officers waiting outside of my door.

“Cashiel Michaud?” one of them asks, giving me a stern look.

“Can I help you?”

“We need you to come with us. The state’s attorney would like to meet with you and discuss your pending case.”

I balk, immediately concerned not only for myself, but for Sascha and Syrus. “I’ll need to make some arrangements. I’m not having my property seized again. I have someone on call, it will only be a moment.”

One of the officers shakes her head. “No need, Mr. Michaud. You’ll be home later tonight as long as you cooperate. The state attorney has asked that you leave your slaves at home. She wants a private meeting.”

I hear her promise as clearly as I hear her threat. But the fact that I’m not being arrested outright gives me hope, and I nod to Sy as I’m putting on my shoes.

“I’ll update Sascha and your security team, master,” Sy informs me. I trust him to handle things; I’ve told my security team that they are to answer to him just as they would answer to me.

I follow the officers to their hov-car, trying not to be nervous when they place me in the locked section in back. I glance from the reinforced bars between the front and back to the unidentifiable sticky substance covering the seat, wishing I was riding in the front.

“Just policy,” the officer explains. “If we were arresting you, we’d handcuff you.”

I nod. I’m not being arrested; that would be a media-worthy event. I’m just being taken against my will. No paper trail, no attention. It’s a demonstration of power.

I comply with the orders they give, wondering exactly why they want me here. They bring me to an office, and I’m stunned to walk in and see my mother sitting across from the state attorney.

“What did you do?” I hiss at my mother, taking my seat next to her. I can only imagine the sorts of things she’s said about me. I was stupid to believe her.

“I was about to ask you the same,” she replies, looking as confused as I feel.

I stare from her to the state attorney. Before we have time for another word, my lawyer joins us, a smile on her face that would put me at ease, except for the fact that she doesn’t seem surprised that I’ve been effectively kidnapped from my home.

“I see paranoia runs in the family,” the state attorney comments, shaking her head. At either my or my mother’s startled look, she continues. “I know all about your history, your little family disputes. Your records might be sealed, but they still exist. It was my department that sealed them.”

For once, my mother and I are both silent. We’ve been so busy fighting each other that we haven’t considered the bigger threats that the state government can pose.

“Ms. Miller, the past few months have been very rough for you and the Miller System,” the state attorney reminds her. “Unfortunately, that is a problem for the state as well. We simply cannot support a system that so blatantly disregards any sort of research opposing it. Your actions were reprehensible from a business standpoint. Personally, your actions were nearly criminal.”

Kristine nods. As much as I want to see her pay, it’s uncomfortable to see her so destroyed.

The state attorney turns on me next. “And Mr. Michaud, I’m sure you’re aware of the charges you’re facing.”

“Hard to miss them when you sit in a jail cell for five weeks,” I remind her. To my surprise, she actually smiles.

“Half the state is in love with you,” she admits. “Either because they love your research, or they love your commitment to the Demoted system, or they love that you’re paving the way to destroying the Demoted system—don’t ask me how both of those things can be true—but I think they just like a new face. And you and the pretty slave of yours parading around like centerfold models is exactly the face they want. No matter how hard anyone has tried to discredit you, you’ve captured the hearts of the younger generation.”