[Author's note: Cassie made Lily a pact (
WOD09
) that if Lily wanted a life with Cassie's husband, Damian, Cassie wouldn't interfere. But, if he ever strayed, Cassie would punish her by releasing all the footage she took of Lily and Damian having sex. Now, at last, will Cassie have her revenge, humiliating the woman who stole her man?
And what of Eve? She has been invited to the rooftop bar for a confrontation with the one person she can't bear to face.
This is the final chapter of Only Consenting Adults.]
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THE DEPARTMENT OF HAPPY EVER AFTERS
Cassie set a cup of coffee down on the breakfast bar in front of Syn. She circled an index finger, pointing vaguely at the elegant neck of the older woman.
"Better lose that. The boys will be here any minute."
Syn's manicured fingernails went to her throat, touching the shiny silver ring of her collar. She nodded. Leaving the coffee untouched, Syn got up from her stool and knelt down in front of Cassie, gathering up her long, blonde hair in one hand, smoothing the unkempt strands into a semblance of order as she bowed her head and pulled her ponytail to the side to expose the buckle of the collar on the back of her neck.
"Yes Mistress," Syn murmured.
Cassie picked at the leather strap and loosened the collar from the kneeling woman's neck. She gathered the soft leather in her hand and slid it into the hip pocket of her jeans. Without waiting to be told, Syn stood up and resumed her seat, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Nice," she murmured, "Thank you."
"Thought you might appreciate it after last night. How's the...?"
Syn stretched her lithe form, like a cat waking up.
"Not too stiff," she replied, her fingers circling a wrist, "Just a little chafed."
Cassie approached, wrapping her arms around the seated woman's shoulders. She paused, smiling down at Syn then leaned in to give her a tender kiss.
"Sorry."
Syn smiled then returned the kiss. "I'll live. I've been through worse."
Cassie broke the embrace, walking over to the cupboards. "Muesli or toast?"
Syn made a face.
"No," Cassie insisted, "Pick. Breakfast is not optional. My house, my rules."
Syn laughed. "Toast. And isn't it always your rules, regardless of whose house?"
Cassie began to make toast for them both, busying herself with the bread and the butter.
"Busy day?" Cassie asked.
"I'm meeting Cameron at ten to go through the new designs."
"Did you decide?"
"I liked what he did with the Mad Hatter's tea party. I'm thinking a suspension frame in the middle of the club. Eve could hold her demonstrations there. It would be quite a sight."
"Always looking for the spectacle."
"Of course. That's what the Lost and Found means to people."
Syn raised an eyebrow as if that was self-evident and Cassie shook her head ruefully. Then, she became more serious.
"You ready?" she asked.
"Yes."
"They're late."
The toast popped up and Cassie slid it onto plates. She began to apply the spread. "It'll be the boys. They always complicate the logistics."
Cassie brought the plates to the breakfast bar and sat down. They began to eat.
"It's the right thing," Cassie said.
"You know my opinion, such as I'm allowed to have one in this."
"Yes," Cassie conceded, "I know what you would do. Or what you say you'd do. In the end though, I think you'd do the same. I...."
The front door opened, and a wall of sound cascaded into the quiet of the house. Cassie was on her feet immediately, turned to face the kitchen door. Syn remained seated, nibbling at her toast, circumspect.
Charlie burst through the door first, running up to his mother and encircling her waist in a tight hug, grinning. Sam wasn't far behind, hugging her too while Cassie's hands ruffled through her sons' hair. She stole a quick glance at Syn, who was grinning at her, reacting to the joy on Cassie's face as she was reunited with her children.
"Oh, it feels like forever!" Cassie exclaimed, hugging them both, "How was it? Did you have a good time?"
Cassie looked up. In the doorway stood Damian, a large carryall in his hand. He set it down on the floor and nodded at Cassie as the boys began to babble excitedly. Cassie felt that little, familiar knot in her stomach as she looked at him, dressed casually in jeans and t-shirt, effortlessly handsome. Lily stepped into view from behind him, her hand on his shoulder.
"We survived," Damian announced, "Well, mostly."
He turned to look at the willowy, blonde woman next to him. She was dressed in leggings and a casual top, long blonde hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail. She wrinkled her nose.
"Lack of ensuite was a challenge," Damian continued, smiling at Lily, "But at least it didn't rain. Could you imagine that? Four of us in a tent trying to keep dry?"
Cassie fussed over the boys, offering them breakfast, asking if they had showered recently, revelling in the feeling of being with them again after a week apart. Eventually, they pulled away and went storming through the house until Cassie could hear a distant commotion from the rumpus room.
"They might be a little manic," Damian confessed, "Charlie didn't get much sleep. The wheels are going to come off any time now."
"Thanks for the heads up," Cassie replied, then turned her attention to Lily. "How'd you hold up?"
Lily grimaced. "Nature is good in small doses. Up until you need a flushing toilet."
Damian's looked around the room, acknowledging Syn for the first time. "All good here?" he asked Cassie.
"All good. Just working out the week," Cassie replied.
She was watching Lily, noticing the way the younger woman seemed to be drifting in Damian's wake. The piercing emerald eyes that Cassie had once feared so much we dimmed now, skipping nervously from face to face, finally alighting on Syn who was still sitting quietly sipping her coffee.
"Us too," Damian said, "I gotta scoot, actually. New engagement so I'm flying out for the week."
