6. Veneration
Sam took deeply to heart Victoria's implication that he had thus far been found wanting. He imagined that it had only been through Keri's intercession that he had been kept on, and this made him more devoted to her than ever. He vowed to himself that he would do everything that he could, double, triple his work efforts to justify her undeserved faith in him.
On his own volition he began taking on responsibilities beyond the full gamut of household duties that had been assigned to him. He started doing all of the grocery and other domestic shopping, although Keri demanded that they all share in the costs equally. He made it his business to fully maintain both of their cars, cleaning and washing them regularly, and making sure that each was topped off with gas every night. And in the apartment itself he no longer required any extra instruction on what chores needed to be done, except for the occasional special projects thought up by Victoria, and he continuously strove hard to insure that neither of his Mistresses ever had to lift a finger at home. Except of course for whenever Keri insisted on participating in whatever he was doing, which she did frequently when they were alone together.
Keri couldn't help but notice how hard Sam was pushing himself and she worried that this all was far too much for anyone. She expressed her strong concerns one evening to Victoria, who merely shrugged.
"He's a slave. That's what he's supposed to do. And he seems happy enough with his lot."
Keri had to admit that this appeared to be true.
"Well, at the very least you can let him know that you appreciate what he's doing. It's you that he's been trying the hardest to please."
"I doubt that seriously." Victoria responded dryly. "And anyway, slaves deserve no thanks. They just need to do whatever they're told."
"Aren't you taking all of this a little bit too far?"
Victoria offered her half smile. "I thought we were doing all of this for him. But I can see that you're upset, my love, so for you I'll try my best to be ... less stern."
But the best that Victoria could muster was to pay less attention to him, oftentimes ignoring him completely. This only increased Sam's anxiety as he feared that she was growing tired of his presence.
Though he tried to hide it Keri could see his developing despair. Without being too obvious she tried in little ways to reassure him, that if this is what he wanted in their relationship she would continue on with it. She so wanted to do more for him. He was giving so much of himself to them and to her mind getting so little to nothing in return. She tried to come up with something, anything that she could offer back to him, that wouldn't upset the precarious 'arrangement' that they had all accepted, which while not important in this way to her, certainly seemed to be so for the other two.
As the weeks went by Sam seemed to withdraw more and more into a slave mentality, with no respite even at those times when he and Keri were alone together and she wanted and tried to be more of a companion and friend. It was as if he felt that he was no longer worthy or deserving of anything, and she began to fear that she was slowly losing something that had become very important to her. What could she do to draw him back from the abyss of seemingly joyless servitude that she was afraid he was falling into.
She thought back to how this had all come about and begun and suddenly remembered the one and only request he had made of them at the start. It had been so conveniently forgotten by both Victoria and herself as they were trying to deal with the so many new and strange aspects of this unique agreement. But she strongly doubted that Sam had forgotten, even if he probably now thought that he no longer had any right to re-ask or expect. She resolved to rectify that as soon as possible but realized that she had no idea how. What action could she take to permit him to manifest the 'worship' of them that he had asked to be allowed. She decided the only way to find out was to ask.
She had to wait two more days until Victoria indicated that she had another late meeting at work that and wouldn't be home that night until after ten. After making and eating their dinner together Keri lingered in the kitchen with Sam as he cleaned up. Finally working up her nerve she ventured forth.
"Sam, if I asked you something, would you be honest with me about it?"
Sam was stunned by the question. How could she even think otherwise?
"Of course Keri. Always." he rapidly assured her.
She nodded in response. "You said once at the very beginning of all this that you would like ... well ... you would like ... to ... well ... worship us."
Sam's heart lurched.
"Is that something that after all this time you would still like to do?"
"With all my heart." he answered hoarsely.
"Well then how would you want ... how would you like ... to express your worship, Sam? What would make it special for you?"
