by Viva Gold
“Can’t Iz. Not now.” I nodded to my Dad. “Ben wants to tell us about Remi’s background.”
“Remi? Your cousin? The one who answered your phone the other day?” Izzy bristled and I saw my Dad scowl. I nodded again. “Umm, Ben?” Izzy turned to my Dad ever respectful. “I wonder if perhaps we could come back a little later to hear what you have to tell us once Jason has filled me in?”
My father stood. “No need to go anywhere, Charlie and I have things to do, we’ll come back in an hour or so. Help yourself to refreshments.” Ben took Charlie’s hand and dragged her out of the kitchen. I could tell my mother was reluctant to go but I threw her a wobbly smile and she blew me a kiss as she left.
Izzy’s demeanour changed somewhat. He removed his jacket and plonked himself down at the table while Adam served him some tea and cake. They really were a cute couple and I adored the dynamic between them. If anyone was going to understand my predicament it would be them and I sighed at how fortunate I was to have them on my side. I hoped they still would be after I told them my sordid tale.
“So, nu? Spill…” Crumbs flew out of Izzy’s mouth and Adam tutted loudly. He sat his bulk down next to me and pulled me into his side.
“Don’t let Izzy bully you Jase, just tell us what you want us to know so that we can help you baby, ok?”
Oh God, I loved Adam so much. I snuggled into his warmth a bit more as I hesitantly relayed the story of when Jason met Remi. I left out some of the more debauched details but they got the gist that it was not your average boy meets boy situation, more of a ‘cousin meets cousin and beats the shit out of him until he came so hard he saw stars’ scenario. Poor Adam, I thought his eyebrows were going to be forever stuck in his hairline.
Izzy, however, had an expression on his face that could have been anything from disappointment to admiration with a tiny bit of lust thrown in. I smirked at him and he shook his head. “Dirty fucking little deviant.”
“Umm he’s not so little.” I counteracted.
“Not Remi, Fuck head; you.” Izzy jabbed me in the shoulder. “Jeez, you drive me insane. How could you be so irresponsible with your safety after everything we’ve been through? If you wanted someone to beat the crap out of you, I have friends. You know that, Jase.” Izzy’s BDSM club catered for all tastes and was exceptionally discreet.
“It’s not like that Iz. I can’t explain how he makes me feel. It’s not a kink as such, its pure primal carnality.” I shuddered.
“Do you at least have a safe word?”
I shook my head and stared hard at my lap. Adam and I both jumped as Izzy slammed his fists down hard on the wooden table in much the same fashion as my father had earlier. I winced at the pounding the poor piece of furniture was receiving on my behalf. “For the love of God. Jesus fucking Christ. What is wrong with you? No fucking safe word. Jason Greenall, I never took you for a fool.”
“Enough, Isadore.” Adam’s quiet admonishment silenced Izzy immediately but the scowl on his face said it all anyway. He was epically disappointed in me. I felt sick and as the bile rose in my throat the tears simultaneously fell down my face. I sniffed and Adam passed me a tissue.
“Iz, I understand that as a Dom you find everything about the dynamic between me and Remi is abhorrent…”
“That’s not entirely accurate.” Izzy interrupted but Adam hushed him tersely.
“As I said, I know you find it difficult to comprehend why the element of unpredictability is such a draw, I wish I could understand it myself, but it’s Remi, not the kink that I am attracted to. It’s his power, both emotional and physical that makes me pant with desire like nothing I’ve ever experienced before…. sorry Adam, but that’s my truth right now.”
“And the Twins?” Izzy frowned, clearly not understanding at all and it made me cross.
“What about the Twins? I told you we were over. Yes, I was upset but not for the reasons you seem to think I should be. I love them but they love each other more and they need the freedom to be with each other unhindered by me, or anyone else for that matter. You should be mindful of that Isadore Woolf before you go interfering. God, you can be so much like your mother sometimes.” I rolled my eyes. “Honestly, nothing you say can make me feel any worse about myself than I already do, but that is only due to my having hurt Remi. If you want to help me rectify that situation then by all means stay, but if you are here simply to berate me for my choices then fuck off.”
Izzy arched one very sculpted eyebrow at me and smirked. “Thank fuck, I thought we’d lost you to the dark side. There’s the Jason we love and know – all mouthy and huffy. Bet your new boyfriend loves that about you.”
“No need to be quite so snarky dear.” Adam also sounded a bit relieved as all our pieces fell back into their right places.
Izzy ate the last of his cake and downed another cup of tea. “Right shall we get Daddy back in here to fill in the back story?”
Adam and I both giggled. Izzy saying ‘Daddy’ was just too funny. He grinned at us and in that moment, I knew my friends would support me.
CHAPTER 11
We had moved to the dining room and were lounged around the table having been served a late lunch. Dad poured us a small whiskey each and we settled.
“If I tell you that Remi was a victim in this story it will help you understand the influence Henri De La Roche held over him. Today Remi stands tall and broad and is very strong. A few years ago, he was quite a slight lad, hauntingly beautiful with a vulnerability about him that made him the ideal prey for a vulture such as De La Roche.” Dad swirled the whiskey around in his crystal tumbler lost in thought as the amber liquid splashed against the sides of his glass. He took a sip. “Remi was still discovering his sexual identity and it was no secret that he was a popular kid. No shortage of admirers both female and male from what I recall.’ I nodded my head remembering that Remi had told me he had slept with women too. “Anyway, I reckon he was more mature than most of his friends for whatever reason and it made him curious for what the big wide world held in store. One night he took himself off to a well-known gay establishment in Paris and managed to convince the doorman he was over age. Nothing could prepare the boy for the feast of men that lay inside and he was of course an immediate hit. Henri was smitten from the second he laid eyes on Remi and began to actively pursue and woo him.”
Ben Greenall sighed and shook his head. He gulped his whiskey before continuing.
“Henri paraded Remi around like a prized fucking poodle. Gone was the grungy teenager and in his place Remi emerged polished and pruned, clad in the latest designer gear that would make a super model weep. My cousin and Remi’s mother noticed a change in the carefree young man. He went from a happy grade A student to a sullen and intense young man who often did not even return home to his own bed of an evening. Marc and Marianne were beside themselves with worry. Remi bore bruises which he would try to cover up but a mother knows when her child is going through a change and so they confronted Remi about his new lifestyle.”
My father paused and looked pointedly from Charlie to me and back again. Charlie smiled at me warmly and my chest squeezed. Father continued. “Remi lied. He said he was seeing someone from school but Marc was suspicious and had him followed by a private investigator he uses at work.”
Marc Ferrand was a successful divorce attorney well known among the extremely wealthy French elite. Needless to say, he was extremely busy and had many useful connections in exposing the torrid details of many an illicit affair, romantic or otherwise. Izzy grunted in approval and Adam rolled his eyes. Of course, Izzy would respect an over achiever such as himself.
“So, anyway, the investigator took some photos of Henri and Remi in shall we say a variety of compromising positions, and built a case that suggested Henri was using his age and experience to control Remi for his own pleasure. It wasn’t entirely non-consensual, it was obvious to see that Remi was umm, enjoying himself, but he was just a child and Henri De La Roche should have been more dis
cerning. When Marc attempted to intervene with a friendly warning for Henri to leave his step-son alone, Remi and Henri disappeared. It turns out that Henri owned…”
I cut in excitedly. “A chateau in the Loire Valley!”
“Correct.” My father confirmed. “It’s quite small as chateaux go, and fairly remote. Seems Henri kept it a secret and only very few people knew it is existed so it took a couple of weeks for Marc’s guy to track them down.”
Dad was suddenly very interested in the bottom of his glass and my stomach flipped. Whatever was coming was going to be difficult to hear. I braced myself and Adam took my hand. After clearing his throat several times my father exhaled loudly and continued.
“Henri had completely destroyed Remi’s self-confidence. The once cocky lad was a shadow of his former self. Henri regulated Remi’s food in-take and the boy had grown painfully thin. He laced his drinks with a mild sedative to make Remi docile and compliant and then Henri subjected Remi to extreme forms of sexual practices. Remi never spoke of what Henri made him do but his mother insisted on a thorough medical examination once they had rescued him and the doctor found many inflicted wounds both external and internal that spoke of the torture Henri had put Remi through.”
“What happened to De La Roche once they got Remi back?” Izzy’s voice was like ice and I could tell he was barely in control of his anger.
“Nothing.” My father sounded equally bitter.
“Nothing!” It was Adam’s turn to gasp with disbelief.
“Remi wouldn’t say anything and without his testimony there was no case.” My father finished his whiskey.
I was shocked at the story but it gave me new insight into why Remi behaved the way he did. “Remi didn’t want to get Henri into trouble. In his eyes, Henri wasn’t doing anything that Remi didn’t welcome. He was completely under that monster’s influence.” My voice was quiet in the room. I could feel four pairs of eyes on me.
“Your cousin was sixteen going on seventeen, Jason. While consenting adults are free to pursue whatever takes their fancy, children should not be coerced into such situations. It took its toll on Remi and for a year he became a recluse, then on his eighteenth birthday he vowed to take back his life. Over the next two years he caught up with his school work, achieved a degree in record time and obviously put on some muscle. He has not spoken of Henri at all and I suspect Marc and Marianne are relieved their son has moved on with his life.”
“Until he met me.” It was my fault. I had unbalanced Remi’s carefully crafted existence and sent him spiralling back to the past.
“It certainly seems to have triggered something in him.” Izzy bore a contemplative expression. “Are we off to France then to hatch a dramatic rescue or some such intervention?”
“Izzy!” Adam hissed at his husband. “Have some tact man.”
“What?” Izzy bless just looked perplexed. “I was being serious.”
“I know you are babe, but maybe rephrase?” Adam stroked my hand. “Sorry Jase.”
“Babe?” I cocked my head at him and Adam winked at me. Ah, I realised Adam knew Izzy hated that particular endearment which is precisely why Adam had used it. Izzy was by now no doubt distracted with thoughts of punishing his disrespectful husband. The way he shifted awkwardly in his seat confirmed it and Adam and I snorted. Izzy scowled.
“Boys!” My mother’s scolding tones stilled us in our seats. “What’s the plan? We cannot let Remi fall under this horrible man’s influence once again. It will ruin him forever this time especially as I believe Remi has strong feelings for Jason and this is his reaction to getting hurt.” My mother smiled lovingly at me. “Sorry darling, but it’s true. You said it yourself.”
Izzy and my father put their heads together over the course of the afternoon and following many phone calls, they formulated a plan of attack. There was an awkward moment when Izzy suggested we needed back up and the only two people who came to mind were G & T. It was left to Adam to call them and explain the situation and tactfully request their skilled assistance. They agreed on the spot and told Adam to tell me not to worry, they would remain one hundred per cent professional at all times. I was relieved they were coming and also because I trusted them implicitly.
Izzy stood and stretched out his body groaning as his bones cracked and his muscles creaked. “Lady G, do you have a room for me and Adam, my Boy will be in need of some rest after being reminded not to be rude to his master.” Coming from anyone else, Izzy’s words would have sounded like something from a bad porno, but from Isadore Woolf, Master Dom and devoted husband it sounded like the most natural request in the world. My mind went places it shouldn’t especially when Adam bowed his head and blushed so beautifully it made me yearn for Remi.
“Something wrong Jason?” Izzy asked. I shook my head but his eyes saw right through me. “Get some rest and we’ll set off right after breakfast.”
I didn’t need to know the details; Izzy had it all in hand.
After a restless night spent imagining all kinds of horrendous scenarios involving Remi, interspersed with erotic ones about my two friends down the hall, I shuffled down to breakfast weary, horny and stressed.
“Jason, sweetie, let me get you some coffee and eggs.” Mummy sat me down and gave me a hug before asking Cook for a pot of steaming black roast and a full English. I chuckled as my mother’s version of offering me breakfast was to ask someone else to do it, still my stomach rumbled on cue and I was grateful for the caffeine and sustenance. I was sure I would need it later. Tucking into my eggs while trying to keep my overly anxious mind quiet, I was grateful to hear Adam enter the kitchen. He pulled out a chair and lowered his immense bulk in beside me. He looked both blissed out and utterly sated. He also had an enormous love bite on his collar bone. Adam shifted in his seat and tried to pull his t-shirt up to cover it but of course Izzy had marked him for everyone to see and unless Adam wrapped a scarf around his neck there was no hiding the fact he’d been branded by his master. An adorable blush spread up his neck and flushed his face.
“Oh Adam, you are just the most adorable man.” Charlie gave him a one-armed hug and my poor friend turned even redder if possible. Cook plied him with enough food to feed an army and to be fair he polished it off with ease.
“My Boy needs his fuel.” Izzy laughed as he joined us. He delivered a kiss to Adam’s lips and I swear I saw red hearts float in the air between them. I was about to make a snarky comment when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I scrambled for it praying it would be Remi but alas not.
“The Twins have arrived.”
I made my way to the main entrance of the house to let them in. I was greeted by two sets of concerned eyes and a combined bear hug that threatened my oxygen intake. “Guys, guys…” I tapped out and they let me go. “It’s good to see you.” I meant it. They looked amazing; strong and sexy and devastatingly handsome. They teased I was their ivory to their ebony and we did look great as a three but no denying G & T belonged together.
“Jason, can we have a quick chat before we go and meet the others?” G looked at T who nodded and I led them to the library. I motioned for them to sit and G picked up the conversation. “We know it’s not been more than a couple of weeks since we split…” I began to interrupt but G held up his hand and T asked me to wait and let G finish. “So, T and I want to thank you.” I gasped; that was the last thing I was expecting. “It was the right thing to do and we realise it took a lot of courage, but T and I do need to work out a way to be together and feel good about it. We’re trying.” My eyes filled with tears and I nodded. G opened his arms and I crawled into them and T came up behind and we shared an awkward hug. I sobbed my heart out and they held me and I sent a prayer of thanks to God for bringing us all together. I knew in G & T I would have two best friends for life.
T sighed and stroked my hair until my sobs retreated to hiccups and I finally became quiet. “Tell us about Remi. Izzy gave us an overview but we need to hear it from you, baby.” And so I re-to
ld the story of Remi and I to the two people I knew would get it and they did. They listened without reproach and never once did I feel they were judging me.
“This De La Roche fella sounds like a right menace.” T, the master of understatement declared. “Needs taking down a peg or two, eh? Ok, so where’s the Boss?”
I chuckled, so happy and relieved my little crew were all together. “Come on, Izzy’s this way. Let’s have some breakfast and he’ll fill you in on the plan.”
Several hours later Izzy, Adam, G, T, my Dad, and I boarded a small airplane at a private airfield that was owned by one of Daddy’s poker mates. He had a small crowd who had played regularly for the past twenty-five years and were a close-knit bunch. They were legendary in these parts for their antics over the years, but also deeply respected for their combined ability to move and shake where necessary.
“Bloody hell,” exclaimed Izzy when he’d first heard, “I need to introduce you to my Dad, Jack.”
My father raised an eyebrow. “Jack Woolf?” Izzy narrowed his eyes and Adam bit his lip to contain his grin. “Our paths have crossed once or twice Isadore, young man.” He patted Izzy on the back with a smirk on his lips and Adam and I burst out laughing at the look of sheer incredulity on Izzy’s face. It was one of the only times I’ve ever seen him stumped.
Jack Woolf and Ben Greenall were about as far apart on the social spectrum as you could imagine. Jack was a self-made property magnate. He was as typically Jewish as they come with old mob connections Izzy had only just learned about, much to the benefit of Adam and the detriment of Adam’s attacker. The Earl of Greenall, my father Ben, had aristocratic roots going back centuries and was current Lord of Greenall Manor. His wealth came from old family money; however, my father had added to it considerably and cemented the future of our bloodline, financially at least. We all silently agreed it was probably best not to enquire as to how such two individuals had met but Dad offered up the information anyway.
