Cassya stirred when she felt movement on the bed next to her. As she slowly rose to consciousness she became aware of an ache between her legs, reminding her of what happened last night. A smile crept on her lips. A voice disturbed her reverie.
"Is it too cliché to ask if you were thinking of me?" The voice said with humour.
She opened her eyes to be greeted by Alaric, casually dressed and holding a cup of coffee based on the smell.
"A part of you maybe, based on how my lower half feels this morning." She half smirked.
He chuckled. "Well... gentlemanly conduct would behoove me to apologise for the discomfort I have caused. But my 'ego' is delighted that you're going to be reminded of it for most of the day."
He gave her a wolfish smile. "Coffee?"
He offered her the cup and she sat up and took it gratefully, giving him a wry smile in return.
"Should I expect that kind of treatment every time we lay together?" She asked as she took a sip.
He pondered for a moment. "You mean me bringing you to satisfaction, multiple times in a night? He raised an eyebrow with a smirk.
She wanted to roll her eyes. "I think you know I meant...where you got a little rougher?"
A hint of concern creeped into her voice.
He cottoned onto what she was hinting at. "I thought you liked that part, you were moaning and squeezing me like you did... If your concern is that I might be one of those men who thinks it's normal and arousing to hurt women in bed. Then that is incorrect. I do not seek to cause pain... I say again for the third time, I do not have any deviant tastes. I may occasionally like to be a bit more dominant, rougher and spank that lovely behind of yours, but it is not something I will force on you if you decide you don't like it. You have the right to veto, it's in the contract." He answered, sounding serious.
She blushed. "I...did like it...but...are you going to want that tonight? I might still feel a bit tender." She asked, feeling a bit sheepish.
He chuckled, clocking her blush and liking her confirmation. His tone became more flirtatious, sultry.
"If you wish... later I can be gentle and tender. Watching you writhe and moan while sheathed around me will still be satisfying. I can also go harder if you ask for it...just like last night."
Cassya's blush intensified. Arousal formed between her legs and her breath caught. Alaric leaned over kissing her, wrapping their tongues together and leaving her breathless. He nibbled her lower lip as they parted. Cassya struggled to keep her coffee cup level as the kiss caused some of her blood to leave her brain. He met her eyes as he pulled away, smirking.
"As much as I would love to take you again this morning, we both have places to be. Finish your coffee, get dressed and Dickenson, one of my servants, will escort you home. I can't offer you my carriage because I need it."
"This Dickenson is walking me home? Will I have to walk back here tonight?" She queried.
"No I'll send the carriage, in future if the carriage is unavailable expect Dickenson to escort you. Unless there is anything else, I will be off, see you this evening."
He left the room leaving Cassya there alone, she enjoyed the coffee. It was a much higher quality than what she drank at home these days, she savoured every sip. She slipped out from under the covers, still nude and found her clothes where she left them the previous night. Redressing herself before heading downstairs. She saw Tessa as she reached the bottom milling about doing chores. When Tessa saw her she gave Cassya a nod of acknowledgement before heading upstairs, presumably to tend to the bedroom now that Cassya had left it. She saw a large, broad man in a chair near the front door, reading the newspaper with his own empty cup of coffee on a table next to him. He was in his late thirties she estimated, he had a strong masculine face and a demeanor that would encourage people not to bother him. Wearing inconspicuous clothes that were in good condition but clearly not expensive. He looked up at her as she walked over.
"Hello, are you Dickenson?" She enquired, in a friendly tone. He nodded. Clearly a man of few words. "I'm Cassya, nice to meet you."
She held out a hand to shake, which he took, giving it a strong grip. She thought it best to try and be on good terms with the staff, as technically she was one of them now in a way. Plus walking home in an awkward silence with this slightly intimidating man was something she wanted to avoid.
He escorted her home and she did manage to get a bit of talk out of him. Learning he was married with a couple of kids and the way he talked about his wife made it obvious he loved her, it was sweet. Cassya thought Dickenson just looked unfriendly, he was more of a teddy bear at heart. When they reached her house, he waited until she was safely in the door before walking off.
Cassya suspected there was probably a hidden purpose to Dickenson being her escort going forward. Maybe it was purely for her safety or perhaps it was something else. Like Alaric wanting to be certain she was headed home and nowhere else, she mused. Time to make breakfast, her siblings were already up and rushed over to see her.
"Sis' where were you? I went to wake you up this morning but you weren't there!"
Her little brother asked, curious.
Cassya made up a believable lie.
"I was so tired after work, I took a nap there. I guess I slept longer than I intended to. Sorry if you were worried."
Her siblings smiled.
"S'okay you're here now."
Her mother came down the stairs as she had breakfast and coffee on the stove. She looked at Cassya, then ushered her to a room out of earshot of her siblings.
"How do we stand Sweet Pea?" Her mother asked. Her face was neutral.
"I have taken the 'job', I have an employment contract of sorts. Written down, it covers the exact figures involved and some of the...ahem...more intimate aspects of the arrangement."
Her mother nodded.
"Six months...that's it?"
"Yeah, I can leave before that if I wish but we have to pay the balance. There's also a provision in the event I bear his child. Along with a weekly stipend generous enough that you could give up the second job, stop working yourself into the ground."
Her mother looked pensive, mildly surprised.
"While it would be wonderful to give up the second job...this is all suspiciously generous for what is effectively being a paid mistress...No offence Sweet Pea. He's not expecting you to do anything 'strange' is he?"
"Nothing 'strange', that is also in the contract. Assuming he doesn't throw anything weird or unexpected my way I think I will be able to do this for the full six months. Free us from the debt."
"What's he like? What do you make of him?" Her mother asked genuinely curious.
Cassya thought for a moment.
"Handsome, charming. The kind of man who wouldn't have much trouble luring women into bed with him. Yet incredibly calculating as well. Believe me mother, I share your suspicions. But he is yet to give me any reason to doubt him definitively. After our experience with Father and everything after, we have had plenty of dealings with people with bad intentions. Who knows with Alaric though...He might just want what he says he does."
Her mother took this in, pondering before speaking.
"That lie you told Ash and Willow this morning...Let's stay with that. You are sleeping at work going forward. Working so hard that their Mother can spend more time at home. They shouldn't learn the truth. Assuming you get through this without a child in your belly...we never speak of it again once it's done."
Cassya gave a resigned nod. Her mother gazed at the floor.
"Sweet Pea, I know you are doing this for the family and it's potentially going to save us...I thank you, but I can't help but feel shame in my failings as a mother that this is what it has come to. You should never have been put in this position in the first place. I hope you can forgive me one day." Tears pricked her mother's eyes
Cassya hugged her tight.
"You have nothing to be sorry for...there's nothing to forgive. Father did this to us, he is the only one to blame here, you have done your best Mother. If I ever see him again it will be hard to resist the urge to club him with the frying pan."
Her mother giggled, through her tears.
"Sorry I've already got dibs on the frying pan, pick another blunt instrument."
Cassya chuckled, they broke off, her mother dabbed her tears and returned to the kitchen. They had breakfast and her mother set off for work. She had a normal day with her siblings. When they were at school she walked to the gambling hall, handed in her notice and walked back home. She waited for the carriage to arrive that evening, it came shortly after her mother got back from her second job. She got in and was taken back to Alaric's.
She was ushered in again like the night before. Tessa led her up to Alaric's office, knocked on the door and entered upon hearing his voice. He smiled at her from behind his desk, Tessa closed the door behind her.
"So what is on the agenda for tonight?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
Alaric smirked. "Potentially the evening to yourself. I have a lot more work to get through, I don't know how long it's going to take me to finish it."
"Any recommendations on how I should occupy myself?" She asked flirtatiously.
