Taken

Epilogue 1 of 2

I had a wonderful afternoon with Jonno. We made it to town in time for a late lunch at a beautiful street cafe, after which we decided it was too late to go hiking so we went shopping instead. So, we shopped, we bought half the town, and we laughed and had fun together. It reminded me of the first time Master Johns had taken me shopping. Those were good memories. By the time we returned to Lucas’s manor house we were tired and footsore.

Late in the afternoon I found myself sat at a large round table in an ornately decorated room for my first ever board meeting. I thought I should dress up for such an occasion so I was wearing fitted slacks and a suit jacket with a dress shirt and shiny shoes. I thought I looked pretty hot, to be honest, but I was a slightly embarrassed when Jonno and Arina turned up similarly dressed in jeans and tight fitting t-shirts. Only Pavel wore a suit, as usual. It was like his armour, I thought, as he walked purposefully to his seat.

Arina greeted me warmly and kissed me twice on both cheeks and then fiercely hugged me. She was beautiful and carried the aroma of fresh flowers. She had a tear in her eye when she told me it was wonderful to see me whole. “You remind me so much of our sister” she said. He touched my cheek. “Welcome back. Welcome to your family.” She said softly.

I had a horrible lump in my throat that threatened to turn me into a sobbing wreck at any moment, so I just nodded emphatically and tried to blink away the emotion. She smiled at me, a knowing smile. She wiped her own eyes with a tissue and then she got all businesslike.

“Right,” she said. “Pavel and I have agreed terms to merge his business interests back with the family. Our first order of business is to ratify those terms.” Sheafs of paper were handed around. “Jaimie, we should explain your role here. Pavel, will you start?”

Pavel sat forward. “I have ceded a twenty-five percent portion of my organisation to you. That was always my plan if we found you. This means that you have one vote at this table in relation to my business interests, one of four. I have two, and Jonno here has the last vote.” I was somewhat shocked. I had no idea as to the value, but the idea that I had an equal say to Jonno was surprising to me. I had no time to say anything as Arina spoke next.

“There have always been six vote shares in the family organisation. I have returned Pavel’s old vote to him. I have my own, plus mother and father’s. Jaimie, I would like you to cast the other two. That’s your mother’s vote, and it seems fitting that you cast Oleg’s vote, given the influence that bastard brother of mine has had on your life.

My eyes went wide and I coughed. “But.... how can I have more votes than Pavel?” I asked, astonished. Everyone looked at me and I flushed bright red.

Jonno chuckled. “It’s a fair question.” He said, beaming. “Let me try to explain. There are two organisations being discussed here. Pavel’s organisation first: he owns most of the business, so he has two votes. I own some, so I get a vote. You now own twenty-five percent, so you get a vote too. But after today, assuming we all agree, Pavel’s organisation will not exist because it will merge back with the much bigger family business. Following me so far?”

I nodded.

“Ok, good. Now, the family business is for family members only. Pavel lost his vote when he was booted out of the family for being a terrible human being.....” Pavel cleared his throat indicating this was not the time for Jonno’s trademark humour. I noted, however, that Arina hid a smile behind her hand. He continued without pausing. “So Arina has given him back his vote for this meeting only. You’re taking Sorina’s - your mother’s vote”. I started at that. This was the first time anyone had used my mother’s name. “Arina is also giving you Oleg’s vote. It’s all symbolic really. After today, the votes are reorganised anyway. Right now, you technically have more legitimacy than Pavel at this meeting. So, that’s three votes for Arina, two for you, and one for the outcast here.”

Pavel leaned forward “Really, Jonno, this is not......”. But Arina cut him off with a musical laugh.

“Sit back Pavel. You were always too serious. This is family business, and family means love and happiness. Let Jonno make his jokes. I would rather we laughed about these things than argue about them, or worse! There has been enough discord over the years - especially recently.”

Arina turned to me. “You should also be aware that your mother’s share of the the family profits has been set aside for you. Father was always careful to do that in case she returned to him. He would never quite believe that she was gone. When you meet the accountant he will explain.”

I gulped. That sounded like a big deal. I looked across the table at Jonno and even his eyes were wide. Now it was Pavel’s turn to laugh. “Well, well, well. It seemed that the old man had a heart after all. I always knew Sorina was the favourite.” He chuckled to himself. “My boy, that’s going to be a lot a money. I am happy for you. I always preferred Sorina to my other siblings.” He cast a sidelong glance at Arina, but I noticed he winked at her.

Arina said “okay, okay..... so now you know how we stand. However, this will all change. If we agree to merge, the vote share will change. What is true today will not be true tomorrow. You understand?”

I nodded again. I was beginning to get it, even if I had no idea what the family did or how much money we were talking about. I guessed I would just be led by these people. My family.

We spent some time discussing holdings and finances and shares. I followed most of it and my eyes were wide at the sums of money being discussed. In the end it came down to a simple proposal that we would vote upon. There would be one family business, where seven equal shares would be split between this group. It took me a while to understand that I was being offered equal shares with Pavel and Arina. While Jonno was being offered the final, single vote.

I cleared my throat and asked if that was correct.

Arina smiled at me. “It is, yes. There are only the three of us left, so there’s no reason you should not have an equal vote with Pavel and me.” She said. “My darling boy, you’re the future!”

“It just doesn’t feel right that Jonno has fewer votes than me. Hasn’t he run things for years? I’ve done nothing to earn anything....” I replied.

Jonno laughed loudly. “You’re one special young man!” He said as he recovered. “Listen kiddo, my one vote in the family business is quite the step up from my one vote in Pavel’s business. It’s enough. It’s more than enough. I’m surprised, to be honest, that i’m being considered for a vote share at all. I thought votes were for family only? And you have earned everything, believe me.”

Arina and Pavel exchanged odd looks. I noticed and so did Jonno. “What?” He asked.

“Well, actually....” said Pavel. He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you would...... marry me?” He flushed red with embarrassment. “Then you will be family.”

“B.....b....but I thought.....?” Jonno began, clearly in shock and lost for words. He tried to speak again but couldn’t quite find the words. I had never seen him this way and it was funny.

Arina leaned forward. “Father’s not here to tell either of you what you may or may not do. I’m head of the family now. I’d love to have you as my brother-in-law.”

“Arina, I hate to open old wounds but you were against our being together too.” He said.

Arina smiled, her eyes glassy. “Jonno, you broke my heart when you ran away with my brother. I loved you and everything I did to hurt you both was because you hurt me. I was a silly, spiteful girl. But can we heal that wound once and forever? Marry him. It would make me so very happy to see our family together again and for you two to finally be together.”

Jonno’s eyes went wide. He blinked like a rabbit in headlights. Eventually he turned to Pavel and, words failing him still, he shrugged and nodded.

I rolled my eyes. “Such an old romantic!” I said out loud. The three of them laughed.

“It’s settled then?” Said Arina. “We are partners in this new family business?”

We all agreed.

Arina and Jonno began to clear away their papers when Pavel cleared his throat. “We have one further item to discuss.” He said. “To put this simply, I do not wish to run the service side of the business any longer. I have tried my best to make it a better business for all involved, but after events of the last month or two, I’ve had enough. My recent…. errors in judgement show that I am not the man to finish the reforms that Jonno and I started. I just don’t have the vision and as of now, I certainly don’t have the willpower.”

I guessed, from everyone’s expressions, that was a shock.

“So we need to decide whether we close that part of the business, or find someone else, someone with more vision than I had, to take over.”

Everyone sat back and looked stunned and thoughtful, but I had a sudden crazy idea. I flipped over some pages. I remembered seeing how much the ‘service business’ made every month and it was a staggering amount of money. I wondered if this could be my chance to feel like I was contributing something. And more importantly, maybe I could be the catalyst for real change. With a few changes, the business could be awesome!

I plucked up the courage from somewhere. “I’ll do it.” I said. My voice sounded small and insignificant in my ears. I blushed, hardly believing that I had said those words out loud.

Everyone turned to look at me. They all had serious faces, but I noticed none of them looked like they were about to object outright. I ploughed on with the scheme that was growing in my mind.
“We can’t close it. First of all, it makes too much money. But also the people..... the people want to what they’re doing. I don’t know where they would end up if we closed it down. They rely on what you..... we..... do. It wouldn’t be fair to just abandon them” I said. All eyes were boring into me now. “If you let me make some changes, some big changes, I’ll run it.” I paused. “It’ll make me useful, at least! Give me an opportunity to earn my shares, earn my seat at this table.” I half smiled, feeling out of my depth and nervous. I had a rush of adrenaline.

Pavel and Jonno exchanged glances and Arina was studying me. I was expecting some pushback, maybe some comments about how I had never run a business before. After a long pause Arina asked “What changes would you make, Jaimie?”

I got comfortable in my chair and cleared my throat. “Well, I’d bring everyone together in one place, for a start. One big place to entertain guests and be a kind of family. And I’d allow them to be who they want to be. Let them go out, have fun, have a life. You.... I mean we provide vetted clients and the place to meet them. They keep a fair portion of the money we make to live on and we take our cut for organising everything. We’ll build a different kind of loyalty, take away some of the stigma. If people don’t want that, they’re free to go. They’ll all stay, though. I know they will. They want to do what they’re doing. They just want to feel normal. The work of keeping everyone as a virtual slave is..... too hard. And it’s not right, even if they did agree to it.”

I folded my arms and sat back. I expected an argument or to be told that I was being silly, but Arina pressed on with her questions. “Where would you bring them together?” She asked.

“Somewhere big and that feels prestigious enough for what we’re going to offer” I said, now grinning. “How about the big house where we had the party? There must be enough room there? Pavel, how many bedrooms does it have?”

Pavel snapped out of a kind of trance. ‘Er...... yes it’s big enough I think. If you include the guest wing there must be over forty bedrooms. It was last used as a hotel, so I guess that could work. There is an adjourning property, too, on the same plot of land. It is smaller, but still very large. You could even expand.” He smiled at me, and I thought he winked. “But we don’t own those properties.”

“So, we buy them. We have a fortune here, we must have more than enough.”

“And how will you manage discipline?” Arina asked.

“Discipline is easy.” I said, my confidence growing. “The crew only act out now because they’re caged. You’ll have a lot less trouble when they’re not. But it’s simple, isn’t it? We make it like any other job. Don’t do it right and get fired!” I shrugged.

Arina smiled and her eyes twinkled. “You sound like you have given this some consideration, Jaimie.”

“I haven’t really.” I said. “I need to think about it some more and develop some ideas, I know that…… but it just..... makes sense to me. I know we will make less profit if we’re paying everyone, but perhaps we can offset that against business growth and reduced security and administrative overheads? I can make it work, I know I can. ”

Arina and Pavel exchanged looks. There was a silence which Jonno eventually broke. “One thing I have learned about our young friend here” he said. “If he says he’s going to do something, going to make something work...... well, he will.” He sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “I can’t think of a better way to take this part of the business forward. I vote aye.”

Pavel suddenly sat upright. “I vote aye. The irony is overwhelming, but I like it. Maybe fresh eyes and fresh thinking can achieve what I never could. And aside from any other consideration, you have earned the right.”

“I do have one condition” I said, now a little nervous again. I didn’t wait to be asked. “Pavel and Jonno have to stay on for at least a year to help me and to teach me.” I smiled at Pavel. “I already know my new Uncle Jonno quite well, I think. It’ll give me time to get to know my Uncle Pavel.” I grinned from ear to ear and I noticed that Pavel was grinning too.

Arina laughed her musical laugh. “Aye. I’m in. I’d love to see you make it work, son.” She said. “In that case, let’s have some champagne and seal the deal. The good stuff mind you, we’ve a newly engaged couple to toast!”

* * * *

I was sat in one of the lounges on a large settee later that same night. I had my head in my hands and I was crying softly to myself. I had tried to stop several times, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t really upset, just wallowing, I guess.

I had met with the family accountant. I appeared to have gone from owning nothing and having no money or freedom, to being ridiculously wealthy with sums of money beyond my wildest dreams. I had assets and cash and shares and apparently I even had a yacht somewhere! I had inherited a huge sum from a mother I never knew and to bring things full circle I now owned the house I had lived in all my life.

I was happy, but I’d had some flashbacks this evening to my ordeal in the warehouse that had set me on edge and I was emotional about gaining a family and sad that I would never know my mother or father. I had an empty feeling that the first chapter of my life was closed and I just needed to give myself a minute.

Suddenly someone was sitting next to me. It was Arina. She put her arm around me and pulled me close, stroking my hair with her other hand. “Let it out” she said as he hugged me tightly. “Just let it all out”.

As I sat, my head buried in Arina’s chest, she spoke softly to me. “You know, your mother was like a daughter to me.” She said. “I looked after her when she was a small girl, when father and mother were busy with business matters. She became a fine young woman, headstrong and obstinate like Pavel but kind and caring and thoughtful, just like you. She had such a capacity for love. And she was so smart too. I was heartbroken when she ran away and devastated when news came that she had been killed. We never believed that her child had survived or we would have come for you. Pavel knew it in his heart and thank God he was too stubborn to give up the search.”

She paused for a long while, silently reminiscing.

“You know, I never had children of my own. You have become a fine young man despite having no mother to care for you, despite a tough start in life….. but if you ever need someone..... an ear to listen, or a shoulder to cry on, I would be honoured if you would come to me as your mother used to. You do not have to be alone any more.”

I sobbed at that. Emotions that had been building for weeks and weeks burst through the dam and Arina’s words were the final straw. Eventually I cried myself out. It was all gone. I felt tired and empty, but I also felt like the door to the past was closed. I felt ready for my next adventure and a new life.

Arina cuddled me and kissed the top of my head. “Do you need anything? Maybe to talk with someone? You have been through so much in your short life and I do not know how you can get beyond what happened to you that day when you were taken from us.”

I sat up and shook my head. “I have everything I need right here.” I said, and I smiled. “I’m over it. I have to be, or it will eat me from the inside out. I have to move on.”

Arina wrapped her arms around me. She kissed my cheek and embraced me again. “My brave, brave boy” she said.

I enjoyed the embrace for a moment, then pulled back. I grinned. “Besides, I have work to do.” I said.

“Pavel and Jonno told me how remarkable you are. I see they were right. Your mother would be so, so proud of you.” A tear ran down her cheek.

I refused to cry any more, although that comment threatened to start me off again. I wiped the tear from Arina’s face and kissed her forehead. “Thank you” I said. “And now come on. Let’s go and find the others. I’m done with tears and bitterness and dwelling on the past. I want to party with friends and family and think about the future.”

Arina laughed. “Then let’s do that!” She said. “I want to celebrate too. I have a family around me again. It has been too long. We have a wedding to plan. Maybe Pavel will even crack a smile. Let’s go find where the others have gotten to. Let’s go and be happy!”

I laughed. “Sounds good” I said. I held out my hand and helped Arina to her feet. She looked at me one more time before grabbing me for another hug. “I will enjoy getting to know you, my son” she said. Then she took my hand and we hurried to join the others.

Two weeks later

I was snoozing up in the hay loft of the big barn, comfortably sprawled out over a large stack of hay bales. I was wearing a t-shit, my riding boots and jodhpurs.

Lucas had suggested that Sam and I learn to ride and look after his horses as a way of getting fit and recuperating. After two weeks of instruction we were becoming fair riders and we were starting to really enjoy it. The stable work was harder than it looked, but it was getting me fit and giving me plenty to do so I wasn’t complaining. I had settled into a routine of riding and working in the stables until mid-afternoon, then spending the rest of the day with Pavel and Jonno learning about the business and making plans. Sam had become quite attached to Lucas, or maybe it was the other way around, so after we finished in the stables I hardly saw him. Jonno had reinvigorated his relationship with Pavel, so after we finished with business I hardly saw him either.

I was going to bed early, alone, and waking early. It was a good routine and although I was feeling stronger and healthier than ever, I was beginning to feel horny and was considering jumping on Sam on one of our rides out into the fields!

I didn’t usually sleep in the barn but I had been up and mucking out horses since very early. It was warm and I was tired. I had come up here to the hay loft to put some tools away and had decided to take five minutes to rest. My five minutes had turned into a long dreamy snooze.

I was beginning to stir when an arm snaked around my waist. Someone was spooning into me and holding me. I wasn’t quite sure where I was as I was still half asleep. I didn’t want to wake up properly just yet so I snuggled into the other person.

A hand found its way to the front of my body. The hand was warm and soft, caressing my abdomen under my t-shirt. The hand moved lower, to the stretchy material of my cream-coloured jodhpurs. I made a little “mmmm” sound. It had been almost two weeks since anyone touched me like this and I wondered whether this was real or whether I was dreaming.

The hand slipped below the waistband and inside my underwear. It gently fondled me down there, bringing me to a fully erect state. The hand pulled my foreskin back and ran a finger around my pee hole. This was no dream. I took a deep breath and caught a familiar scent and I suddenly recognised the familiar grip on my cock. I smiled and played along.

The person behind me pulled me in tighter and I could feel a hard cock rubbing against me. A perfect cock. The person kissed my neck and his warm breath made me quiver with excitement. He nibbled on my ear and grasped my cock which was straining against the stretchy material of my underwear and riding clothes. He was gentle and tender and loving.

I started to turn but he held me firmly in place, pulling my bottom back into him so he could grind against me. He pushed his hand further down inside my underwear, sliding my jodhpurs down over my bottom. He brought his hand around and squeezed my butt, running a finger between my cheeks and teasing me.

I knew who it was, but I had to see him. I flipped over quickly before he could stop me. I squealed aloud with delight. It was Craig, and he pulled me in for a long, passionate kiss that took my breath away.

“You’re back!” I said.

He smiled. “You’re observant” he said. He kissed me again and used his hand to push my pants down to my thigh. I had goosebumps all over at his touch and I was fully hard, standing to attention.

“I’ve missed you.” He said between kisses. “I’ve thought about you every minute of every day.”

He pulled my t-shirt up, exposing my midriff and he kissed my neck.

“Seeing you asleep here, your cute little ass in these jodhpurs.....” he said, his voice thick with passion. We kissed some more. “You make me hornier than anyone I have ever met.” He said, pushing me onto my back and leaning over me. He kissed me, starting at my lips, then working down to my neck and my nipples. He kissed my stomach and tickled my navel with his tongue before taking my cock in his mouth. He sucked me, licked up and down my shaft, and toyed with my balls.

I couldn’t speak. I was using every ounce of concentration to not come. Something about the way Craig moved and touched me did something that made me lose control.

He pushed my legs back, pushing my jodhpurs down as far as my high riding boots. He pushed me far enough back to expose my little pink hole and he kissed me there too. He lapped around my ring and buried his tongue in my hole. I moaned. God, he was good.

He held my legs back, the soles of my boots on his chest as he unfastened his jeans and pulled them down. He wasn’t wearing any underwear. His perfect cock was throbbing. He took himself in his hand and guided his purple head to my wet hole and pushed, gently but inevitably forcing his way into me. I was tight, but he took his time. When his head popped inside me I gasped and he stopped for a few seconds to allow me the chance to breath and get used to him. Then, still going slow, he pushed again. It took him a full minute to bury himself balls deep into my rectum. I was panting with desire by the time I felt his neatly trimmed pubic hair brushing against my skin. His cock fit perfectly, just as I remembered.

He giggled and leaned forward to kiss me before pulling back and thrusting, our lips gently touching all the while.

“I won’t last long” he said, an apologetic look on his face. “It’s been too long and you’re even better than I remember. I’ve been like a monk in a monastery.” He fucked into me. I pushed back, tying to get more of him inside me. I wanted it. I wanted this gorgeous man to fuck me and fill me with his cum.

I pulled his face back down to mine and tongued his mouth. “I don’t care” I said through passionate, hot kisses. “I’m so glad to see you. Just shut up and get on with it!” He pushed his mouth down on mine with purpose, his lips open wide and our tongues dancing. He thrust his hips, desperately trying not to climax. He pumped into me, my legs pushed right back, my riding pants wrapped around my boots. We were both hot, sweating, breathing in shallow gasps.

I felt my own passion build in my balls. Craig’s fucking was massaging me in that special place and my two week abstinence had made me hornier than ever. As Craig slowed, his strokes longer and deeper, every muscle in my body contracted and I came hard. The sensation of my ring pulsing and contracting was too much for Craig and he thrust forward one last time. He pumped me full of cum. He just kept throbbing and pulsing, emptying his balls deep inside me as we sucked on each other’s faces.

He pulled out, still throbbing, and collapsed next to me on the hay, his chest rising and falling as he regained his breath. He reached over to kiss me and he ran his hand to my cock, smearing my own cum over my stomach and privates. “I love you” he said through his kiss.

I blinked. I sat bolt upright, pushing him off of me. “What’s that?” I asked, shocked but sure I had misheard him.

Craig was bright red. “I..... well, I said.... I...... I love you.” He stammered.

I practically leaped on top of him and kissed him furiously. “You mean it?” I asked. “You’re not just saying that as an end-of-fuck thing?”

He laughed. “Yeah, of course I mean it! How could I not love you?” He cupped my face in his hand then frowned at me. “And what the hell is an ‘end-of-fuck’ thing anyway?” He asked.

I ignored the question. He knew what I meant. “No-one’s ever said that to me. No one ever loved me before.” I said, looking deeply into his eyes. “I mean absolutely no-one.” I felt like crying but I had made a deal with myself not to do that any more.

“That’s rubbish. Everyone loves you. It’s one of the most infuriating things about you. I just really love you, that’s all.” He grinned, relieved at having said it, having got it out there. Having got comfortable with the word.

I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t believe it. I had dreamed about Craig sweeping me off my feet, but I just didn’t know whether I meant as much to him as he did to me.

He was smiling up at me, happy that he had made me so happy. He finally cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow.

“Oh!” I exclaimed. I kissed him again and giggled. “Yeah, I love you too Mister St.John. I’ve missed you. And you can do that to me any time you like!”

“Oh good” he said. He winked at me, grabbed my bottom with both hands and pulled me fully on top of him. “Give me ten minutes to get my breath back” he said with a little laugh.

I giggled. “I want a shower first. I was filthy before you started and now I’m filthy and sticky and caked in dust. You’ll have to wait. Are you here for a while?”

“A few days” he said, stretching out on the hay. “But don’t pout like that, you’re coming back with me. I hear you have a business to run and it’s time we found a place to live.” He said. He was full of surprises today and I told him so.

“I want you with me. I hate being apart from you just as I found you. And now that you’ve more or less recovered..... I’m not letting you out of my sight again!” He said.

“You don’t have to protect me” I said. “I’m okay.”

“I know.” He said simply. “I’m protecting me. I don’t think I can live without you. Don’t laugh, I mean it. When you were laying there, hooked up to machines and being worked on by every doctor in the land..... It just really cemented everything in my mind. Well, in my heart, actually.” He had a serious look on his face.

I nodded. I didn’t want to be apart from him either. Something about him just drew me in, like we’d known each other for years. Everything just clicked with Craig. I couldn’t explain it better than that.

He rolled me over onto my back and leaned over me. He kissed me and frowned down at me. “I know what they did to you.” He said. I tried to interrupt him but he kissed me to shut me up, put a finger on my lips, and continued. “I know what they did and I’ll never let anyone hurt you ever again. I’ll never hurt you, I promise. So, if it’s alright with you, we’ll just have to set up home together and you’ll just have to marry me. That way I’ll know it’s you and me together, forever. You up for that?”

I grinned like a kid. “You don’t know enough about me to want to spend the rest of your life with me. Not yet anyway.” I said.

“Actually I do.” He said. “I know you have a kind and generous soul, I know that you’re brave and courageous, I know that you’ve had a tough life and that you’re going to find it hard to trust me at first. I know you hide your pain behind those big blue eyes and that beautiful smile and I know you want me almost as much as I want you. I know everything I need to know about you. I know I’m in love with you. When I think of you, my heart misses a beat. I know you make me a better person. And you know what else?” He asked.

My eyes had gone teary and I was blinking to keep myself from crying. “No, what?” I said, forcing a laugh.

“When I think of that ass of yours I feel hornier than I have ever felt with anyone and I just want to jump under the covers with you. So, you score two out of two. Emotional connection and sexual passion. Surely that’s husband material?” He held his straight face for about ten seconds before he burst out laughing. I laughed too.

I studied his face for a moment. “I do love you” I said. “I can hardly believe it, but I do. And that’s enough for me. I want to spend the rest of my days with you. You and.....”

“And....? And what?” He interrupted.

“Well,” I said. “You and your cock!”

He tickled me and we giggled, rolling around in the hay. Eventually he got me on my back and he sat on me, pinning my arms above my head. I was still half-naked, my pants down below my knees and cum leaking from my rear. He didn’t care though.

“So, is that a ‘yes’?” He asked. Before I could respond he pressed his lips to mine and kissed me again.

As he broke off I laughed. “I can’t answer you if you keep covering my mouth!” I said.

“We’ll hurry up then....” he said, theatrically rolling his eyes.

“Yeah go on then.” I said, acting as cool as I could. He tickled me until I squealed.

“Yeah go on then?” He said. “Yeah go on then.....? I ought to spank your bottom, young Jaimie St.John.....” he said, but that was the final straw for me and I cried. Again.

I felt utterly stupid and I was fed up with losing control of my stupid emotions, but I couldn’t help it. Craig, of course, misunderstood.

“Oh god! No, I did let mean that..... oh shit. I’m so sorry. I won’t spank you. God that was totally insensitive.......”

I grabbed him and kissed him. “Stupid man” I said. “You can spank me all night long if you like. I’m leaking out of my eye sockets yet again because you called me by your name. I just...... I wasn’t expecting it. That’s all.”

“Oh thank god....!” He said and he collapsed next to me again. “I thought I’d said something really stupid there.”

“Nope, my lover, you did not. Listen, I’m over it, okay? Please don’t tread on eggshells around me. Even if I do have a meltdown or a flashback, just be yourself. What happened was..... horrible. But it’s in the past and I’m looking ahead. Okay?”

“Okay.” He said and we sealed the deal with another kiss.

“Now, you mind if I pull up my pants so we can go find everyone and tell them?” I said, my eyebrows raised.

He looked at me, let his eyes run down my body to my cock. He looked hungry. “Hmmm..... it’s been more than ten minutes” he said.

“What does that mean....?” I asked.

He muttered something about having got his breath back, but I wasn’t really listening as he pulled off my boots, my jodhpurs, my t-shirt. He stripped me and then stripped himself and threw himself on top of me, our sweaty bodies writhing in the hay. We kissed for the longest time and then we made slow, passionate love again.

He touched me everywhere, his fingers exploring every part of my body. He looked at my healing scars and he kissed them. He sucked on my toes and then he sucked on my cock. He fingered me, kissed me, and then finally when I could take it no longer, he penetrated me and we screwed. He started slow and loving and by the time we were both ready, he was fucking me like I was his whore. I’m sure other people must have heard us because we were loud. Really loud. When we were done my legs were wobbly and we were both hot, sweaty, sticky, and filthy.

“Fucking hell” I said when I’d got my breath back. “That was amazing.”

Craig was laying on his back, totally naked and spread eagle, panting. “Amazing” he said. After a pause he added, “I am one lucky son of a bitch!”

We eventually dressed and walked to the main house. We showered and changed and went to find everyone. Pavel and Arina and Jonno were in one of the lounges sipping late afternoon cocktails. We broke our good news, but the response was more muted than I had expected.

Arina looked to Pavel, a curious expression on her face. Jonno sat back in his chair and whistled. He had his ’I told you so’ look. After a full minute of watching them, I got frustrated. “What?” I said, a little annoyed that they weren’t as happy as me.

Arina and Pavel could not seem to speak, so Jonno poured himself another drink and turned to Craig and me. “Well, I guess we’re all heading home. It seems we all have an appointment with Craig’s father, St.John the senior.” He said, raising his glass.

“What do you mea......” I stopped. By the look on Craig’s face, he understood something that I did not. “Is someone going to tell me what the fuck is going on....?” I said loudly.

Suddenly Pavel and Arina burst out laughing. “Oh my god we’re so happy for you!” Arina said. She put her drink down and came to hug me and then Craig. “I’m sorry. You just took us by surprise. Not the idea of you two getting together, of course not..... we wondered how long it would take. No, I think we suddenly all realised what this means!”

I was totally lost and I knew I was frowning and I looked confused.

Pavel chuckled, sounding more like Jonno than ever. “My dearest boy” he said. “You’re the sole heir to this family business, in case you hadn’t yet figured that out. Craig is the heir to his family’s business. The two of you coming together like this.....well, it promises one formidable empire.”

Suddenly I realised. Craig kissed my forehead. “Glad you could catch up” he said quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Funny” I said. “I don’t think I’m doing badly. I was a simple sex slave only a few weeks ago!”

Jonno piped up. “Yes, and you were the worst......” Craig, Pavel and I joined in. “The worst sex slave in history.” Arina laughed out loud.

“I hate you all” I said with a broad smile.

“My son, pay no attention” Arina said, embracing me again. “They’re all just jealous. I am so happy for you both. And so you know, there’s no problem from our side of the family. I think it’s wonderful and you more than anyone deserve to be happy.” I loved it when she called me ‘my son’ or something like that. It made me go gooey inside every time.

“Well there’s no problem on my side either, I think” said Craig.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“Well....” he looked a bit sheepish. “It wasn’t entirely my idea to ask you...... not that I wouldn’t have! But as I was leaving my father asked my if I had made things official. I told him no, we’d only just agreed to start seeing each other and that I’d give you some time. He clipped me around the back of my head and told me I was a silly boy, an enormous disappointment, and that if I didn’t get on with it someone else would snap you up!” His eyes were wide and I guessed he thought we were about to have our first argument for not divulging that information sooner.

“So your father knows.....?” I asked, just to be sure. I narrowed my eyes at him to turn up the heat.

“Yes. He knows. Absolutely.” Craig said.

I grinned. “Maybe I’m with the wrong St.John?” I said. “You know, I always preferred the older man and your father is very handsome.” I raised my eyebrows. Craig looked shocked.

“But I guess as you asked first……and I already agreed…..well, I’m stuck with you.” I shrugged.

Arina pulled us both into a hug. “You’re both silly boys.” She said. He mouthed ‘we ok?’ At me and I just smiled and titled my head to one side. Of course we were okay.

Pavel poured drinks for everyone. “So we need flights back home and someone capable of planning a double wedding!” He exclaimed.

“Double.....” I stopped. “Oh Pavel, are you sure? I just thought we’d wait until after......”

“Nonsense. I honestly can’t think of anything better. We’ll have a grand family celebration. But first, we get the formal go-ahead from the St.John head of the family.” He winked at me and handed me a glass.

* * * *

The next few days flew by and made my head spin. We chartered a private flight home, saying a temporary farewell to Sam and Lucus. Craig and I met with Craig’s father. He had treated me like I was already his son. He introduced his wife, Eleanor, and when I called him “sir” he chided me and instructed me to call him Frances.

We had a celebration dinner together with Pavel, Jonno and Arina. The plan was to discuss business after dinner, but in his speech Craig’s father welcomed me to his family and toasted the coming together of two powerful houses, which sort-of pre-empted the discussion. Arina laughed her musical laugh. She stood and echoed his toast. It was wonderful.

Over the next few days we hit a roadblock in the development of the service business. The man who owned the properties I wanted was refusing to sell. In my absence I had become something of a celebrity among the families. Most people were pleasant, but not everyone was overjoyed at my return to full health, my untouchable status, or my plans to revolutionise the sex trade. A few people made it clear that they would stand in my way no matter what and I was beginning to see why Pavel had made only slow progress with his reforms. To top that off, the other large families declared neutrality where I was concerned. They wouldn’t stand against me, but nor would they help or support me.

I had my heart set on those properties and on the plans I was developing. I wanted to overcome the obstacles myself, too. I felt it would show everyone that I meant business and that I was capable. I desperately needed a way to ensure the security or my plans wouldn’t work. I had done some research with Craig’s help and I developed a solution. I didn’t want to share it with anyone. I was sure someone would try to talk me out of it. I had told Craig, of course, and he thought I was treading a dangerous path but he agreed to keep it to himself and he was supportive.

I met with Arina and Pavel for breakfast as I had a question for them both. As we ate I asked them directly. “I need to know something.” I said. Pavel put down his fork and sat back. Arina raised an eyebrow and waited. “Is the service business mine to do with as I see fit, or should I be asking before I do something?”

Arina sat back too and looked to Pavel. “It’s yours.” He said with finality. “I’m here - we’re here - if you need help or advice or support…… but no-one will try to stop you doing whatever it is you’re planning.”

“How do you know I’m planning……” I started.

“I confess I didn’t. Jonno did, or at least he guessed. And now I know for sure.” He said with a smile. “Jonno knows you too well.”

Arina chuckled to herself. “Just be careful.” She said. “I don’t care about the business but I have come to care for you. There is still some danger where you’re concerned. Nothing like there was, but there will be people out there who feel that their noses were pushed out by your recovery and rise in this world. I don’t want you hurt.”

I thought for a minute before sharing my plan with them both. I figured it was the least I could do and if either of them wanted to talk me out of it, at least I could listen.

When I finished speaking Pavel and Arina eyed one another across the breakfast table. I wondered where this was going, but they both slowly smiled and relaxed. Pavel looked amused. “I’ll come with you.” He said. “I have no doubt he’ll want to see you alone, but at least I’ll be there. Call it moral support. We’ll take Jonno. You can call that security!” I laughed at that.

“You’re not going to talk me out of it?” asked.

Arina started to eat again. “If you can bring together our house and the St.John’s, and carry this off…… no, I won’t talk you out of it. Just be prepared for him to say no, or to ask more than you’re prepared to give.”

We finished breakfast and made plans. Arina sent a courier with a request for me to meet and it wasn’t long before a response came back. The reply was simple: Yes, we could meet. Business matters would be discussed at his offices, but if it was pleasure we could meet at his estate. I returned the courier and accepted a business meeting. We’d see him today at 3pm. I was as nervous as hell.

* * * *

A sturdy lady showed us to a private waiting room and went away to fetch refreshments. Before the coffee arrived a stick-thin old man came to fetch me. “Mister DeVere will see you now, Master Jaimie.” Pavel and Jonno made to stand but as expected the man held up his hand and said, “Just Master Jaimie, sirs. I’m sure you understand.” Jonno winked at me, but I noticed that Pavel looked almost as nervous as me.

The man led me to the double doors of what looked like a luxurious office. He went straight in and ushered me to follow. It was a huge suite, with floor to ceiling windows on two sides, a large lounge area with a drinks bar, a meeting table, and a huge oak desk where Christian DeVere was seated.

“Master Jaimie Sandu to see you, sir” he said. I smiled. It was the first time anyone had used my full name.

He stood as I entered and told his employee “Over there, please.”, gesturing to the sofas in the lounge area. I waited for Christian to saunter over to me. He looked as handsome as he did on the night of the party and I had a brief flashback to our sex in the back of his car.

Christian sat and gestured for me to do likewise. He had the man pour me some coffee and when he’d departed, he smiled warmly at me. “I’m pleased to see you again and I’m doubly pleased to see you are well.” He said.

“Thank you. “I’m pleased to see you again too, sir,” I said, slipping into an old habit. “I understand I have you to thank, at least in part, for my safety?”

Christian chuckled. “A few armed men on loan, a gunship which I have been dying to play with ever since I bought it, and an edict to the major and minor houses to lift your contract. Hardly the stuff heroes are made from. And don’t call me sir….. I think we can agree to be on first name terms after what we’ve done together?”

I smiled. “Thank you, Christian.” I said, and I had the good grace to blush.

“You realise you present something of a conundrum?” He asked. I didn’t speak. I waited for him to finish. “Providing assistance and canceling your contract was not universally popular. Even some factions within my own organisation - within my own family - have taken umbrage. Some of the larger houses have suggested that it was wrong to interfere. From a business perspective I have been locked out of several lucrative deals.” Christian crossed his legs, a thoughtful expression on his face. “So, while I do not regret my actions for reasons that are my own, I am curious as to why you’re here. Surely that wily old Pavel has informed you that I am unlikely to want to help you any further, at least in a business capacity? Certainly not in buying a property from a member of my own family? Yes, I’m aware.”

I smiled. I had guessed that Christian would be well informed. The properties I wanted were owned by his nephew, a young man with a reputation for being headstrong and impetuous.

“So” said Christian. “What shall we talk about?”

“I would like to thank you properly for the assistance you provided. I also have a proposition for you.” I said. Before I could continue, Christian interrupted me.

“Jamie, I’d jump at the chance of spending some……ah, shall we say quality time together. You were amazing and I admit, I can’t get that night out of my mind. I’ll regret this, I know I will, but I won’t get involved in a business deal with you for the promise of sex. If that’s what you wanted, we should have met at my estate.”

I chuckled and he looked confused. “You were amazing too, I seem to remember. Look, I may be somewhat naive when it comes to business matters, certainly in comparison to you. But if it was a fuck I was looking for, I would have done you the courtesy of meeting you at home. My days of offering myself for payment are gone,” I said. “But another time, for no other reason than I’d like to…..? Well, let’s agree to take a rain check.”

“I see I have underestimated you and for that I apologise. Your manners are as impeccable as I remember. Come on then young Jaimie. What’s your offer?”

I paused to take a breath and steady my nerves. In my mind this was my one and only shot to secure the business, to make it safe for everyone and to change things once and for all.

“You are right” I said. “I would like you to intercede with your nephew. I need you to convince him to sell his property to me.”

Christian interrupted me again. “Why that particular property? Why not simply find another?”

“Originally? Because I wanted that one.” I smiled. Christian smiled too, enjoying the game.

“And now.....?”

“Oh, now I want it because I found out the guy who won’t sell to me is your nephew.” I said.

Christian sat back in his chair. He crossed his legs and studied me intently seeming on the verge of annoyance. “You’re going to have to explain that.” He said.

I sat back and got comfortable. Here we go, I thought. “My aim is to reboot my family’s service business. I want our people to feel that they have as much legitimacy as their line of work can afford them. To do that I need two things. First, we must set them free. Allow them space to live their lives. Second, we must ensure they are safe. If there’s one thing I know about this business, it’s that safety and security are scarce. The two things, in my opinion, are intrinsically linked. Freedom and security. We must all start to treat my employees like real people. When we do that, they’ll be safe.”

“It’s a laudable notion, Jaimie, and I promise you I do not disagree with you. But laudable notions don’t make for great business deals. I still don’t understand why you want this particular property. Why should I intercede with my nephew? It sounds to me like you’re stirring up trouble in my family. That’s something I can’t accept.”

“I promise you, I am not. Aside from any other consideration I owe you a debt of gratitude that I will never to able to fully repay. No. In fact, I wanted to find a way to make everything better. Better for the crew who have sex with our clients for money, better for the family, better for the industry, and better for you, who interceded on my behalf.”

Christian looked curious and he frowned. “Go on.” He said.

“I know that you suffered some….. let’s say loss of standing when you intervened on my behalf. I know that you have refused to comment on why you intervened and that has infuriated some members of your family. What if it became clear that your actions were part of a bigger business deal? That you remained quiet until now because the deal was not yet concluded?”

Christian leaned forward. “I like your thinking. Maybe you’re not half as naive as you make out.” He said. “What do you have in mind?”

“Here we are then. You force your nephew to sell. In return, you take a ten percent stake in the business. That’s more than enough to compensate you for missing out on any deals and I’ll make sure we pay more than the going rate for the property. Going forward, you’re a full partner.”

Christian looked stunned, but it only lasted a second or two. Then he tipped his head back and roared with laughter. “Does Pavel know you’re making that offer? Does Arina?” He asked, still chuckling away to himself.

“Yes.” I said simply.

Christian stopped laughing and met my gaze. “You’re telling me that you’d give up ten percent of your most lucrative business just for the promise of a couple of houses and a plot of land……?” He asked, incredulous.

“No” I said. “I’d give up ten percent of my very lucrative business for the chance of operating in an environment where I know we can offer an even more prestigious service, where I have the most cast-iron insurance policy against incursion or any other form of attack.” I breathed. There it was. All the cards on the table.

“Insurance poll……..” Christian trailed off and then his eyes went wide as the penny dropped. He chuckled, recovered then burst out laughing again. “You’re one smart cookie” he said. “So, you’d merge the St.Johns and your own family to create a formidable empire, then enter into formal partnership with the DeVere’s? No family could match that and no-one, not a single person, would stand in your way. Correct?”

I smiled broadly. “Well, you are head of what’s reputed to be the most powerful family. With Caig and I set to marry, the St.John’s and the Sandu’s combined has the potential be, what…..? Maybe the third or even second largest family? If we went into business together there are several benefits. First, we’re pretty much unstoppable. Second, I gain a little legitimacy by being in business with the great Christian DeVere. Third, your reputation is restored and you are once again hailed as the master deal-maker. Have I missed anything?” I smiled sweetly and batted my eyelashes at him for good measure.

He grinned like a schoolboy. “I think this is where I ask for more than ten percent, where you haggle with me and tell me no, and where I gain two further concessions from you instead.” Christian said with a broad smile.

“Go on” I said.

“First, you’ll employ my nephew in a senior position that befits his station. I want you to knock the crap out of him, instil some humanity into him, and make him more like you.”

I was flattered, but I didn’t have time to show it. “Okay, but he works for me, not you. I’m not having a servant of two masters running around my organisation. “

“Deal” said Christian. “Take him on for two years. You should know, he’s the most likely of my nieces and nephews to be my heir so you and he getting properly acquainted won’t be a bad thing. And if at the end of two years he owes you, as I suspect he will, for making him a better person….. well, that’s a good thing for the future.”

“And......?”

Christian grinned. “The second concession is easy. If anyone asks, tell them you offered five percent and I beat you up to ten.”

We both laughed. He stood and we hugged like old friends and he chuckled the whole while. “I suspect your rise is only just beginning.” He said. “Just so you know, I stepped in to help because my father had an opportunity to step in to save your mother and father and he failed to do so. That ate him up inside when he realised the consequences. He never shared that with anyone but me and I’d appreciate it if you kept it between us. I felt I needed to right a wrong. My father didn’t know what he was getting into, but I did.” He paused. “What I didn’t know is how generous you’d be in return. Ten percent is more than I deserve and more than you needed for legitimacy.” He said.

“Maybe” I replied. “But I needed it to be enough to get your attention, to really involve you. I don’t just want the legitimacy and the insurance policy. I want peaceful partnership. Maybe the first of many. Ten percent seems cheap for that.”

Christian pressed a button on his chair and the stick thin man appeared. “Call Damien. I’ll need him here within the hour.”

The man nodded “Shall I inform Master Damien of the reason for the summons?” He asked.

“Yes, you can tell him he’s coming to meet his new boss.” Christian looked at me and smiled. “Then send in Pavel and Jonno. We have some catching up to do before that boy gets here. I haven’t chewed the fat with Jonno for too long and I guess I’ll need to get to know my knew partner, too.”

“Of course sir” the man said. Christian called out to him as he got to the door.

“Have some come up here from PR, will you? We need to draft a communication to the other families. We have a partnership to announce.”

To be continued one last time.....