Falling for My Dad's Best Friend

by Cassandra Dee

  And her eyes clouded briefly, that clear blue turning a hazy gray.

  “Oh you know, there are men here and there,” she said vaguely before turning back to us. “I don’t need much and I keep myself busy, I’m happy with my knitting and card games.”

  I snorted. Her knitting group and bridge club were all old ladies, an estrogen fest, so not exactly the places to meet eligible men. And we couldn’t understand Violet’s reluctance. She hadn’t brought someone home in a long time now, in fact hadn’t even gone on a date for years, living the life of a cloistered spinster. There was no reason for her decision, Karl and I didn’t need the sacrifice.

  “Mom, we’d feel better if you found someone,” I said truthfully, concern in my eyes. “It’s odd that you’re home by yourself every night, cooking dinner on your own, eating in front of the TV before going to bed. It’s fine, but a little sad you know? We get worried.”

  Most sons don’t have these types of heart-to-hearts with their mothers but as her only children, we were far more open.

  “Don’t worry about me,” pooh-poohed Violet with a smile. “Besides, I have Alec Trebek and Pat Sajak, so I’m good. They’re the kings of small talk and witty comebacks, time flies when I’m with them.”

  And we just shook our heads. Violet wanted to be alone and there wasn’t much we could do about it, short of creating a Match.com profile for her on the sly and forcing her to go out. So we gave up. Violet was a grown woman after all, perfectly capable of making her own decisions and finding her own path in life. But at least this trip was a nice change, it was good to shake up the landscape once in a while, take a break from the daily grind with a well-deserved vacation.

  “You brought some evening wear right?” I reminded again. “Remember we have the gala at the Palace.”

  “I did,” she confirmed, a bright smile lighting her face. “I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be so fun to get dressed up and see my handsome sons in uniform.”

  Because the Palace was throwing its annual White Ball, a huge event with the cream of Venetian society in attendance. Obviously, Karl and I wouldn’t have been invited but as Legionnaires, our presence was expected and anticipated. Evidently the Legionnaires have a rep as dogs among the ladies, good-looking guys who were soldiers, warriors, the biggest, baddest dudes around, loyal to the Palace and servants of the King. The ladies ate it up, we were like romance heroes come to life, the equivalent of modern-day knights riding into battle, swords at our hips, lances at full mast. Hey, no worries, we were ready to live up to the legend.

  But the White Gala was the perfect event because we’d been angling to get into the Palace, and now it had come without any deception on our part, any efforts to worm our way in, make our way past security. In fact, we would be the security of sorts, on the look out even as we mingled, our eyes scanning, senses on alert. So things couldn’t have worked out more perfectly.

  But that’s the thing. Shit’s good for us now, better than it ever has been. My bro and I have good jobs, we live in a beautiful city, and best of all we’re in a dirty foursome that meets our needs. It’s insane, but we’re the perfect match – Tina’s soft heart and sweet intelligence, Kristian’s power and influence, and mine and Karl’s dominance and sheer physicality.

  So were we ready to blow it up? Were we ready to seriously fuck-up everything when it had just fallen in place? Because what we had planned would ruin everything, throw into chaos everything and everyone that had made us happy recently.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Tina

  “Oh hi,” I said, standing up to greet the older woman with a warm smile. “I’m Tina.”

  Violet was beautiful, petite and trim, aging well. She looked nothing like her sons, except for a humorous expression in her eyes.

  “So nice to meet you,” the older lady gushed, giving me a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you! And Karl and Kato can’t stop talking about you.”

  I smiled back, flushing slightly. How had her sons described me, described my role in their lives? As a friend? A good friend? A “special” friend? God, I hoped they hadn’t mentioned Kristian, just how dirty we were, our set-up non-traditional to say the least.

  But Violet gave me a knowing smile as she sat down, making herself comfortable in the wrought-iron chair. We were at a café in city center, a French bistro with waiters dressed in blue and white striped shirts, an excellent menu and even better drinks.

  “Hmm, what’s good on here?” murmured the older woman, gazing at the menu. “Nah, I don’t feel like a coffee. How about a Bloody Mary?” she suggested with a wink, “Two please!” she signaled to the waiter, miming a drinking gesture.

  And I liked her even more, this friendly, fun woman. It couldn’t have been easy raising Kato and Karl on her own in the U.S., a single mom without many resources and a set of rambunctious twins on her hands. So I felt comfortable immediately, knowing that this woman had probably gone through a lot in life, experienced some serious ups and downs. I decided to set things straight from the get-go and not mosey around.

  “Violet,” I started slowly, “I don’t know what your sons have told you about me, but I wanted to clear things up before we began. Karl, Kato and I, we live together, share an apartment, but we’re not exactly … ah, roommates,” I finished lamely.

  “Of course not honey,” said Violet, taking a sip of her drink. “They’d never be roommates with a woman, too much testosterone,” she said with a wink.

  “Um, yes,” I said slowly. I couldn’t tell if we were on the same page exactly, so I decided to be more specific.

  “It’s not just that, it’s that Karl, Kato and I, well, we like each other, like really like each other,” I said lamely, looking down at my hands and flushing. Why couldn’t I get the words out? I sleep with your sons! In a big bed all together! I’m with both of them, we love each other, and as a kicker there’s another man too! Hmmm, not exactly easy to say.

  But Violet smiled and put a hand over mine.

  “Honey, I know my sons better than you think. They’ve been with me since birth, remember? So I know their proclivities, their preferences, and besides they’re twins, they’ve shared everything since the womb and that includes women,” she said with a wink. I gasped, and Violet nodded.

  “That’s right, Karl and Kato have always shared girlfriends. I don’t think they’ve ever dated independently,” she said, screwing up her face to remember. “Nope, don’t think so,” she nodded. “It’s always been a two for one.”

  I leaned back astounded, and then sat forward quickly, sensing an opportunity to learn more, an opening of sorts.

  “But have Karl and Kato ever done … more?” I asked, my voice hushed.

  Violet looked puzzled.

  “I think they may have dated two girls simultaneously, enjoyed two women together, but is that what you’re asking?” she said, shaking her head, puzzled.

  I took a deep breath. This was so unbelievable, this conversation had started with a jolt, going better than I’d hoped with the twins’ mother no less. So I went for the grand prize.

  “No,” I replied slowly, “What I mean is that there’s not just three of us, there’s four. There’s another man and we’re all together, it sounds complicated but it’s way less complicated than it sounds,” I said.

  Violet threw her head back and laughed.

  “Honey the way you just described it was like a riddle,” she said with an amused smile. “I can’t believe it’s not complicated but you’re young, you’ll figure it out.”

  I paused momentarily.

  “I know we’re young but that’s the thing. I think we’ve already figured it out,” I said slowly. “This is it. We’re all really happy, me especially so. But because the relationship’s so untraditional we’re keeping it under wraps for now.”

  And Violet quirked an eyebrow.

  “So this isn’t some youthful fling, exploring your sexuality, that kind of deal?” she asked gently.

  I shook
my head slowly.

  “No, I don’t think so. I’m in a relationship with three men and it works really well for us. One of us is kind of um, high-profile, so we have to be discreet, but otherwise, it works for us,” I said simply. “I’ve never been so happy.”

  Violet looked at me for a long moment before taking another sip of her Bloody Mary.

  “Well honey, if that’s so, then I’m glad for you,” she said slowly. “That type of happiness is hard to find, and god knows if you’ve got three men it might be even better. Triple the fun, triple the excitement, right?” she asked with a wry grin.

  And my smile burst out radiantly then, like a ray of light from between stormy clouds.

  “Yes, exactly,” I said gratefully. “Thank you for understanding, you can’t imagine what this means to me. We haven’t cleared it with anyone, not that we need anyone’s approval,” I said hastily, “but the boys and I, we haven’t come out to anyone in our respective families, you’re the first,” I finished.

  Violet smiled gently then.

  “Honey, I’m honored,” she said. “I’m honored that you chose to share your news with me, that you chose my sons to love, that you’re in a relationship with them. And so what if it isn’t traditional? It’d hard to find someone at all these days, much less three men. I mean look at me,” she added wryly. “I’ve been single for decades now, drying up on the vine so to speak.”

  And I shook my head, surprised. Violet was a beautiful woman, aging but pretty and vivacious still. Why hadn’t she met someone?

  “Maybe you’ll meet someone here on vacation,” I said encouragingly, sitting back and relaxing. The hard part of the conversation was over now, going much better than I’d expected, and I could let down my defensive walls and open up some. “There’s the gala, I bet there are some nice gentlemen there who’d only be too happy to get to know you.”

  And at that, Violet smiled before frowning again.

  “Oh yes, the gala,” she said faintly. “My sons invited me to St. Venetia to attend the gala,” she said. “They’ll be formally inducted as Legionnaires that night, it’s a big deal. I wouldn’t miss it for the world of course,” she added hastily.

  “No of course not,” I said, “Everyone who’s anyone in St. Venetia will be there.” I didn’t add that our mysterious fourth, Prince Kristian, would be there as well.

  “And will the King attend?” asked Violet casually, a little too casually.

  I nodded.

  “I suppose so,” I frowned. “I think King Georg goes every year, and the money benefits charities that he patronizes, so it’d be a little weird if he weren’t there. But it’ll be a good time nonetheless even if the King doesn’t show,” I said. “We’ll see. The important thing is that we’re there for Karl and Kato.”

  And Violet was silent, nodding thoughtfully.

  “I’ll be there,” she said quietly before pepping up. “Now tell me, where were you from again?”

  And before I knew it, I was spilling out my life history, how my family was in a financial bind, how I’d been shipped off to Miss Carroll’s to find a rich husband to revive our flagging fortunes.

  And Violet laughed, hearing it all.

  “Well I don’t think your mom and dad are going to be too happy hearing about Kato and Karl then,” she said wryly. “I’m so sorry but we were middle class in the U.S., and although my boys are paid well as soldiers of the Crown now, I don’t think it even comes near what your parents are hoping for.”

  “Oh don’t apologize,” I said quickly. “Kato and Karl are my everything, they make a good living and enough is enough, you know what I mean? It’s my parents who are running low on options, they bet the house by sending me to Miss Carroll’s, hoping I’d snag a rich man.”

  And Violet looked at me thoughtfully.

  “You know, I used to be so jealous of girls like you. I’d see you from afar, beautiful, put-together, confident, and think of all the men who wanted to be with you, marry you,” she said wryly. “Little did I realize how much I had.”

  I was puzzled. I thought Violet was American, with a career as a flight attendant. When had she ever been in contact with minor European nobility? But I brushed it out of my head.

  “But you had the twins, and that’s the best gift of all,” I stated stoutly.

  “Tell that to a single mom with babies who won’t stop crying,” she said wryly. “There were times when I hadn’t slept for thirty-six hours, days when I thought to myself, ‘what did I do to deserve this?’”

  And again, I was confused. After all, it’s almost a crime to talk about motherhood as anything but rainbows and light, almost sacrilege if you admit that pregnancy and babies weren’t your thing. But Violet continued, more to herself than anyone.

  “But I came out of it okay and my sons came out of it okay, and that’s what matters,” she said. “I didn’t want them to be bitter towards their dad, he was such an asshole and wouldn’t give them the time of day, never bothered to acknowledge them. I think I did okay, right?”

  I nodded, affirming her question.

  “You did more than okay, Violet. The twins are wonderful, upstanding, honorable men, that’s why they were selected for the Legionnaires. But they never talk about their dad, in fact I don’t even know who he is,” I admitted. “It’s the one area that they won’t open up about. I know about their childhood, their life on the farm, their time as merchant mariners, their hopes and dreams, but you’re all they ever mention when it comes to family.”

  And Violet gave a small, sad smile then, a flash of understanding crossing her face.

  “I was hoping they were better adjusted, that it wasn’t some deep, dark pain inside, but I guess you can only do so much,” she sighed. “Anyways, it explains a lot and I only hope they keep growing, expanding as people, broadening their horizons. And honey,” here she caught my hand, “I think they’ve already started that with you, the new job, moving to St. Venetia, settling down, all these recent changes. I think they’re starting a new phase in life and wanted me to come see just as it blossomed.”

  “Of course they wanted you to come,” I said, smiling. “It’s important to support family on a momentous occasion like this. Cheers to Karl and Kato, the loves of our lives!” and with that we clinked glasses and laughed, bonded in our adoration for the men.

  But what Violet didn’t realize was the importance of our fourth … Prince Kristian, whom I loved just as much, worshiped with my mind, body, and soul, my heart fluttering around all three men, my deepest recesses growing wet in their presence. When would be the time to come out? Would there ever be a time to reveal our dirty quartet to the world? Sure, Violet was fine with it, but everyone else, the world at large? That was pushing the boundaries and only time would tell.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Kristian

  The gala was at full hum, the clinking of champagne glasses and tinny strains of an orchestra filling my ears. The White Ball is an annual event thrown by the Palace to benefit a couple of the Crown’s charities. Of course my dad loved it, he was host, MC and benevolent ruler all in one, the star of the show. Wouldn’t miss it for the world, it had taken triple bypass surgery a couple years back to keep him at home.

  Of course, the gala was also being held in our “home,” the Venetian Palace. This place is awesome, hands down. Two hundred plus rooms, countless pieces of priceless artwork, and period furniture so rare, so costly, that we didn’t sit in it anymore, display purposes only. And speaking of display, we’d brought out all the finery tonight, pulled out all the stops: crowns, scepters, royal insignias, it was all laid out on a giant red cushion by the dais for partygoers to view.

  Because of course we don’t actually use the stuff, it’s ceremonial only. For example, each member of my family has a crown, sure, but no one puts them on their heads because they’re too ornate, too heavy, and really just for show, not to mention this shit has to be surrounded by guards all the time. There are just too many jewels studded on
the headpieces, the rubies flashing, emeralds glinting, not to mention the Koh-i-Nur diamond itself, as big as a robin’s egg, glittering on the frontpiece of the King’s crown.

  So yeah, there were a lot of guards milling about, unobtrusively for the most part, except the Legionnaires. The Legionnaires are a select group of soldiers cum bodyguards who act as personal body men for the royal family. Having just inducted two new Legionnaires, Kato and Karl, into my personal service, we were using the White Gala to celebrate their induction formally, throw a bash to introduce them to high society. And I could see them across the room, a swarm of women surrounding them hungrily, gazing up at the tall, dominant figures like they were gods come to Earth.

  So yeah, Karl and Kato are my “employees” so to say, but it goes further than that. The twins are genuinely cool dudes, intelligent, alert and discreet, which is obviously key for someone in their position, someone with unfettered access to privileged people and information. And I’ve been able to trust them as we explored the relationship, to the point where we’ve worked out a system to seamlessly combine the personal and professional.

  During the day, the twins trail me to royal functions, meeting dignitaries, cutting ribbons, the countless meetings that I attend as a representative of the crown. Yep, those two dudes, their glowering presences and massive builds are perfect as bodyguards, keeping anyone and everyone in line.

  And then at night, we decamp to their apartment on the outskirts of the City where they live with our beautiful girl Tina. And that’s when the fucking gets going, things heating up from zero to a hundred in two seconds flat. Because where Tina goes is where we go, and there are no exceptions, she’s the glue that keeps us together, the star that we all revolve around. Shit, if we didn’t have her … well, I can’t even remember what life was like pre-Tina now.

  So we’ve settled into a routine of sorts, a happy order of events that repeats, each day blurring into the next, day after night after day of productive work mixed with oh-so-satisfying fucking. Take last Tuesday for instance. During the day we’d been out at some event meeting foreign dignitaries, Karl and Kato looked on over my shoulder, making sure everything was kosher as I shook hands, discussed trade deals, did the regular prince-type stuff. But it’d been exhausting and we were looking forward to getting back to our best girl, unwinding with a couple glasses of wine and a wet pussy, ready, willing and open.