FF2 (Ch1) (Patreon)

Alex quirked a brow, and then laughed to himself.

It’s almost obvious as a sunrise where everything happened.

Looking at the start of the financial report, there was massive expenditures from himself. Then they suddenly stopped.

This must be when I arrived here.

Following that line, he could see where he made changes. Pushed the economy in the right direction, and stopped his own spending.

Riley, making our changes, and watching the economy stabilize.

A short-while after that there was a massive increase in expenses.

And this must be the balls, meeting Carla, Valeria, and marrying Anna and Holly.

Moving down the line, he saw another strange fluctuation. Except this time it was a massive jump in military salaries.

Our dearly departed duke Tanulf and his woe-begotten war. Finding Nannie.

The massive uptick in revenue directly after that was returning from the war.

Then it was flat till a sudden cash outlay happened. First in military salaries, then a repayment.

And this is paying for the soldiers, and capturing Mary during our war on Ridge. Followed by paying Anna back for her arrival.

We’d already won the war by that point, but she spared us from taking more losses than we needed.

Signing his name to the bottom of the report, Alex set it to one side. This would be needed for his tax report to the Duchess.

At least she’s leaving me alone for the moment.

Then again, she did say it’d be a month or so before she visited, didn’t she? And it’s been about that since I was called to testify in the deaths of the Ridge family.

Stretching his arms above his head, Alex sighed and slouched down low in the chair.

“Is everything well, Master?” Valeria asked from her seat next to his desk. Her thumb was wedged in her book to keep her place.

She smiled at him when his eyes landed on her. Her lightly colored skin smooth and clear.

Her hazel eyes were curious, amused. Always looking as if she was a moment away from teasing him, or flirting.

“What?” she asked, reaching up with her free hand and lightly pulling at a long black strand of hair.

“Nothing. Just a bit tired of staring at reports. You’re much more fun to look at, Three. A real sight for sore eyes,” Alex said, grinning at her. 

Valeria clicked her tongue and grinned wider at him.

“Oh? You must be tired. You usually reserve the flirting for Nannie and Riley. I’m not normally a target.

“Not that I’m complaining mind you. I’m always a fan of your honeyed words,” Valeria said. “Though I don’t think I can convince Riley into trading places with me tomorrow. You know how she loves you so.”

Right. Anna had claimed me for the last three weeks practically. Today is the last day she thinks she’ll be able to conceive.

No idea how she knows her body-clock that well though. I always thought it could be somewhat random.

Then again, I’m not a woman so…

“Though I will ask, if only so I can get some more compliments from you, or whatever else you’ll give me.

“Call me vain or easy, but I do love your attention,” Valeria said.

Since they’d come back from Ridge, Valeria had seemingly figured him out completely. Knew he did care for his Numbers.

Which meant Carla and Valeria had both realized how he felt. That he wanted to keep them as close as a wife, without the title.

That and he’d become a shameless flirt with all four of them.

Riley and Nannie still seemed clueless to all of this though.

“You’re not vain in the least, Three. You deserve every compliment given to you,” Alex said with as mile for her. Then he looked over his shoulder, Valeria having reminded him that his other Numbers were here, too.

Riley, Carla, and Nannie were sitting at a table. They were working through their letters and numbers.

Lifting her eyes from her practice paper Riley looked to Alex.

Green eyes that seemed to hold an endless warmth for him gazed at him. Her red hair as cut to shoulder length and hung in a well brushed look around her face. Her pale skin making it look far more vibrant.

Then she smiled at him, her cheeks coloring. Lifting her charcoal stick she gave him a small wave of her fingers, and then went back to her letter work.

Noticing the change in Riley, Carla lifted her own head up, looking to Alex. Reaching up with her free hand, she pulled her black curly hair behind an ear. Her light brown eyes were curious, and she lifted her dark eyebrows at him.

It’d been a surprise when Carla’s hair had started to curl as it got longer. Though it fit her face perfectly now.

Then she realized Alex was just watching her and didn’t need anything.

Smirking at him, she shook her head, and went back to her own work.

“They both enjoy your attention as well. Though I do wonder if Carla secretly cares for you more than Riley,” Valeria said. Her lips pressed up against Alex’s ear. “Then again, maybe I love you more than all of them combined. But I’d never admit it.

“At least… not without you tying me up and making me tell you.”

Chuckling, Alex turned his head and deliberately kissed Valeria before she could pull away.

“Keep teasing me like that with promises of your heart, and one of these days Three, I’m going to take you to bed.

“Take you to bed without tying you up, without harming you, without even raising a word against you. Then make love to you like I do Anna,” Alex threatened. He knew for a fact that Valeria was a twisted ball of emotions. That she needed to feel pain and shame to feel alive.

And if he treated her as he did his wife, or Riley, it’d cause her true distress.

Valeria had already looked a bit stunned by his sudden kiss, but his words seemed to find a dark corner in her soul. Because her eyes truly looked panicked.

The door nearby opened and the sex dream made real named Anna Brit took a step inside the room.

Her long brown curls were pulled up behind her head today, a slim and well fitted dress that really showed off her impressive figure.

“Oh, there you are husband,” she said, her bright and wide smile coming easily to her. “Can I borrow the girls?”

She fluttered her eyelashes at him, her light-brown eyes drawing him into the trap.

“Sure. I’m just working on paperwork. I didn’t plan on leaving the office anytime soon,” Alex said.

“Oh good, thank you sweetie,” Anna moved into the room and immediately wrapped his head up in a hug, pulling him into her cleavage. She tucked her head over his, whispering into his ear. “I love you, darling. So much. I hurt when you’re not around.

“Though I have to apologize, I’m a day early on my moon-cycle. We can figure out who can take care of you later before dinner.”

Unable to resist her pace or momentum, Alex had given up when it came to Anna long ago.

Valeria was grinning at him smugly from nearby, her eyes twinkling in mirth at how quickly he surrendered to her in every way.

Yeah, yeah. What can I say. I do actually love her.

Almost as quick as she’d grabbed him, she stepped away.

“Girls?” Anna said, raising her voice. All of his numbers looked up from what they were doing and looked to Anna. “I could use a hand from you all. I went shopping this morning and bought us all new clothes and some more furniture for your rooms.”

The Numbered were all smiles. One and all, they seemed to dote excessively on Anna.

“Mistress, can I stay?” Nannie asked. “I feel like I’m doing good right now and Master does need a body guard.”

“Oh! Of course sweetie, that’s fine. Though later today I want you to come with me to the stylist. Your hair isn’t quite long enough yet, but I want to start getting them thinking on you.

“You’re going to be so pretty,” Anna said, smiling at the confessed, convicted, and admitted, murderer.

Who only smiled back at her. Even she would do anything for Anna. “Of course, Mistress. I look forward to it.”

Carla and Riley tucked away their work materials into the shelves Alex had put in the wall for them.

Valeria leaned over and gave Alex a kiss on the cheek.

“I’ll keep them all in order, Master. I’ll also talk to Riley about tomorrow,” Valeria said, then got up and slipped her arm through Anna’s.

Smiling at the other woman, Anna immediately began describing everything she’d bought for her.

Carla and Riley filed out the door behind Valeria and Anna. Getting swept up in the unending flow that was his wife.

Getting up from his chair, Alex wandered over to where Nannie sat. She was diligently working through writing out small three letter words.

He paused to give her a once over while she was busy. She tended to get aggravated when she caught him checking her out.

Her black mohawk was gone. Now she had short finger-length blonde hair all around. It’d been surprising to find out that she was a natural blonde.

Taking the seat next to her, he leaned in to see how she was doing. Her sharp crystal blue eyes snapped to him, her mouth turning down ever so slightly.

Compliment her. Give her a bit of a positive push. She’s been on edge lately.

More than likely because I made her a Number formally, but never bedded her and got service from her.

Not my fault Anna took everything but she won’t see it quite that way.

Actually… this is a perfect opportunity.

Smiling at her, he looked to her paper, pressing in close to her side.

He gently rested one hand on her stomach, the other on her lower back, ignoring her tightly flexed muscles at his touch.

Reading over her work, he was actually impressed.

“Five, this is very well done,” Alex said honestly. Her letters were clean, almost perfectly straight. The words she was practicing with were all well spaced and were all in a straight line.

All in all, for someone who had never had a day of education, this was great.

“Really?” Nannie asked. Her voice was soft, uncertain. He could actually feel her muscles relaxing under his hands.

“Yeah, Five. This is impressive for your background. You’re doing better than Carla was,” Alex said. Then he turned to face her, smiling wide at her.

“Yeah?” she asked, her eyes slowly turning to his.

“Yeah. So well in fact, that I’d like to reward you. This is definitely worth celebrating,” Alex continued.

Nannie’s cheeks colored faintly. The corners of her mouth turning up ever so slightly. “You think so?”

“I really do. Let’s go out to dinner tonight. Just you and me. There’s a lovely eatery that caters to the wealthy here in Brit, and it’s right next to the guard barracks. No need for a bodyguard,” Alex said. “We’ll get you dressed up, brushed, and go have a nice meal. No strings attached. No deals.”

Nannie looked concerned now, almost down even.

“Master, I don’t think it’d be good to eat with me. You know I’m-”

“Mine,” Alex said, cutting her off. “You’re mine, Five. Whatever you were previously isn’t a concern. I bought everything that there was, and turned it into my Five. Now, will you have dinner with me? I’m asking, not ordering.”

Blinking twice, Nannie smiled at him, and nodded her head. “Yes, Master. You’re still a shit though.”

Chuckling, Alex shrugged. “Yeah, I know. Oh… and I’ll just… leave this out there for you to decide on. Anna will be occupied tonight.

“I’m not ordering you to do this but… I’d really like to spend the night with you. After dinner.

“Maybe go for a walk, work on your letters privately, or just talk. Then take you to bed,” Alex said. “Again, not an order. A request.”

Now Nannie looked absolutely shocked. He wasn’t sure if she was angry, embarrassed, or sickened.

“You’re asking me? Isn’t this the same thing you did with the Baroness before you broke her bed?” Nannie asked.

“Pretty close. Though this time I’d like to try to break my bed with your shoulders. Or your bed, if you prefer. Again though, I’m not ordering you. I really am just asking if I can spend the night with you.”

Alex’s hands were lightly caressing Nannie’s stomach and back as this entire conversation had been going on. His fingertips lightly trailing along against her muscled skin under the thin fabric of her clothes.

“You want to bed me,” Nannie said flatly. “After you dress me up, and take me to dinner. Alone.”

“That I do. So… is that a yes?” Alex asked.

Nannie let out a shuddering breath and shook her head.

“Yeah… it’s a yes on everything but the bedding part. If you’re not ordering me I’d… well… uhm… let me, can I think on it?” Nannie asked, her face turning a deep dark red.

Nodding his head, Alex slipped in close and then kissed Nannie’s cheek. “Of course, Five. Of course. Now, let’s do some more coursework.”

Turning back to her paper, Alex continued to pet and stroke Nannie, while getting her back to her writing practice.

An hour later and Alex heard a soft knocking.

“My lord,” called Walter from the other side of his office door.

Looking up from Nannie’s work, Alex frowned. Walter didn’t usually bother him unless he needed something.

Turning in his seat, Alex faced the door.

“Come on in Walter.”

The door opened halfway and Walter stuck his head in. He was an older man with short gray hair, tired brown eyes, and a diminishing figure.

Clearly in the shrinking part of life. I remember when that started.

“My lord, Sylvia Griffon wishes to see you,” Walter said.

“Oh. Alright,” Alex said, thinking.

“She asked to be taken to her room. I had Douglas escort her, sire,” Walter said. 

That’s different. Something must have happened.

“Thank you Walter. What time is it right now in the kitchens?” Alex asked.

“Lunch can still be served, sire. Should I have meals sent up?”

“Yes, three, thank you, Walter.”

Nodding his head, the older man closed the door.

“Huh. Wonder what she fucked up,” Nannie said, looking to Alex.

“Damn. I’d really been enjoying petting you while helping you with your letters,” Alex said honestly.

Nannie glared at him and then bared her teeth, clearly getting ready to yell at him. Then she rolled her eyes with a snort and grimaced.

“You can try again later. Come on, maybe we can get her to blow you so you go easy on me later,” Nannie said, getting up from her chair. 

“True. Having my hands on you did get me worked up,” Alex admitted.

Nannie’s brows drew down, then her eyes flicked to his pants. There was an obvious tell-tale bulge there.

“Shit. I thought you were teasing me,” Nannie said, a strange smile on her face.

Alex sighed and pushed on her shoulder. “Go on. I’ll feed you compliments later. Clearly you need a lot more for you to believe you’re attractive.”

“I know I’m good looking, I just thought the whole murderess thing…” Nannie said, moving to the door. She opened it and stepped into the hallway, looking both ways, then waved him on.

“Would what, take away from that? Yeah, you’re a murderer. You’ve got some problems in your head and clearly a desire for violence,” Alex said, walking behind her. “That doesn’t change that I’m attracted to you.”

Falling silent, Nannie was in bodyguard mode. She kept him moving, heading for the room Sylvia inhabited.

The only time she looked away from watching the halls, doors, and people, was to point at the door she thought Sylvia was behind.

Once Alex had confirmed it, she knocked twice on the door, waited a beat, then opened it.

Walking into the room behind Nannie, Alex pulled the door shut.

Sylvia was sitting on the corner of her bed, her arms folded across her chest. Her dark blonde hair was arranged behind her shoulders and back, looking as if she’d braided it. Her blue eyes were much warmer than Nannie’s, but they held a similar predatory look to Nannie’s.

All in all, she looked exactly as he remembered seeing her last. Which meant nothing physically had happened to her.

Or so Alex thought.

“Good afternoon, Sylvia,” Alex said, moving to the table and sitting down. There were several books Sylvia had left behind on it. “This is Five. Five, this is Sylvia.”

Nannie grunted at the other woman, her right hand resting on the sword pommel belted at her side.

“There’s no need for that, Five. I’m operating under much of the same oaths you are I bet. In fact, my number was Four,” Sylvia said, eying the other woman.

“Huh?” Nannie said, looking to Alex.

“She was very close to being a Number. In the end, she didn’t make the cut,” Alex said with a shrug.

Watching him for another second, Nannie chuckled at that, and released her sword. Then she came and joined Alex at the table.

“I beg your pardon?” Sylvia asked.

“You didn’t hit all the requirements. In the end, you really didn’t have anything I wanted to keep long term.

“So I cut you loose,” Alex said with a shrug.

“And that is?” Sylvia said, pointing at Nannie.

“Five is. Definitely,” Alex said, reaching over to lay a hand on the berserker's’ forearm before she could react. “She’s a fierce and loyal bodyguard. She does all that I ask of her. She betters herself endlessly.

“She’s my five.”

Alex had gotten ahold of her just in time. The look on her face had been going straight toward rage.

And it cooled instantly at his words.

She snorted and flicked a hand at Sylvia and looked to the table. “You’re not worth my time.”

Picking up the books that were laying there, she cracked them open, and started to pick through the title page of each.

Good for her. I’m sure she’ll be able to recognize some words in those, and it’d help.

Sylvia sniffed once, looking to Alex.

“She’s much more uncivilized than the other one,” she said.

“Uh huh. What can I do for you, Sylvia?” Alex asked.

Sylvia’s face was the noble mask he’d come to expect from her.

Pretty, cold, calculated, and hoping to deflect everything.

“I’d like a deal,” she said finally.

“Oh? I’m not sure I’m in the mood to offer one. I’d be willing to hear you out though. First… I want to know…

“I released you from some of your oaths to me. Did you break any of them since then?” Alex asked. “And I call on your oath pin to speak the truth.”

Sylvia inhaled sharply, her mouth thinning. “You released me from them.”

“I did, but I want to know. Did you violate or break any of them after that? On your pin, please.”

Sylvia looked away from him and pressed her fingers to her pin.

“I violated an oath I gave to you,” Sylvia said, not meeting his eyes.

“Which one?”

“It only happened once. To be celibate.”

“Ah… that’s a pity. Who was it with?”

“No one,” Sylvia said, her voice tightening.

“No one?” Nannie said, looking over her shoulder. “Rubbed one out, did ya? I wish I could. I’ve had an itch in my loins for a month or so now.”

Alex nodded his head slowly.

“Is that true?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Out of sheer curiosity, why?” Alex asked.

I might as well push a little. After this we can start asking about what she wants.

“Because I was… randy. Ok? I had desires.”

“Who doesn’t,” Alex said with a shrug. “Al-”

“Who’d you fantasize about?” Nannie asked, turning partially in her chair and interrupting Alex.

Sylvia’s jaw flexed and tightened, as if she didn’t want to speak.

“Alex,” Sylvia said.

Oh. Well that’s interesting.