Fostering Faust 2, page 1
part #2 of Fostering Faust Series
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Book listing
Chp.1
Chp.2
Chp.3
Chp.4
Chp.5
Chp.6
Chp.7
Chp.8
Chp.9
Chp.10
Chp.11
Chp.12
Chp.13
Chp.14
Chp.15
Chp.16
Chp.17
Chp.18
Chp.19
Chp.20
Chp.21
Chp.22
Chp.23
Chp.24
Chp.25
Chp.26
Chp.27
Chp.28
Chp.29
Chp.30
Chp.31
Chp.32
Chp.33
Chp.34
Chp.35
Epilogue
Authors Note
Fostering Faust 2
By Randi Darren
Copyright © 2019 Randi Darren
Cover design © 2019 Randi Darren
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means - except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews - without written permission from its publisher.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Copyright © 2019 Randi Darren
All rights reserved.
Dedicated:
To my wife, Kristin, who encouraged me in all things.
To my son, Harrison, who likes to shout under the door to get my attention while I’m trying to work.
To my family, who always told me I could write a book if I sat down and tried. I’ve now written quite a few.
Special Thanks to:
Niusha Gutierrez
Gavin Lawrenson
Michael Haglund
Eric Leaf
Steven Lobue
Thanks to my Beta Readers (in no order):
Kyle Smith
Felipe Wirth
Bill Brush
Chris Bastian
Peter Drake
Greg Harbican
I appreciate you reading through an unedited nightmare
Books by William D. Arand-
The Selfless Hero Trilogy:
Otherlife Dreams
Otherlife Nightmares
Otherlife Awakenings
Ominibus Edition(All Three)
Super Sales on Super Heroes Trilogy:
Super Sales on Super Heroes 1
Super Sales on Super Heroes 2
Super Sales on Super Heroes 3
Omnibus Edition(All Three)
Dungeon Deposed Trilogy:
Dungeon Deposed
Dungeon Deposed 2 (To be released 2019)
Dungeon Deposed 3 (To be released 2019)
Books by Randi Darren-
Wild Wastes Trilogy:
Wild Wastes
Wild Wastes: Eastern Expansion
Wild Wastes: Southern Storm
Omnibus Edition(All Three)
Fostering Faust Trilogy:
Fostering Faust
Fostering Faust 3 ( To be Released 2019)
Books in the VeilVerse-
Cultivating Chaos: William D. Arand
Asgard Awakening: By Blaise Corvin
Chapter 1
Alex quirked a brow, then laughed to himself.
It’s almost as obvious as a sunrise where everything happened.
Looking at the start of the financial report, he saw massive expenditures from himself. Then they suddenly stopped.
This must be when I arrived here.
Following that line, he could see where he’d made changes. Pushed the economy in the right direction and stopped his own spending.
Riley, making our changes, then watching the economy stabilize.
A short while after that, he saw a massive increase in expenses.
And this must be for the balls, meeting Carla and Valeria, then 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 indicated their return from the war.
Then it remained flat until 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 timely arrival.
We’d already won the war by that point, but she spared us from taking more losses than we needed.
Signing his name at the bottom of the report, Alex set it to one side. He would need this 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 her next visit, didn’t she? And it’s been about that since I was called to testify on 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 was smooth and clear, her hazel eyes curious, amused. Always looking as if she were 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 Five and One. 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 One to trade places with me tomorrow. You know how she loves you so.”
Right. Anna’s had me claimed 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. She knew he cared for his Numbered and their well-being.
Which meant Carla and Valeria had both realized how he felt. That he wanted to keep them as close as wives, without the title.
That and he’d become a shameless flirt with all four of them.
Riley and Nannie still seemed clueless to all this, though.
“You’re not vain in the least, Three. You deserve every compliment given to you,” Alex said with a smile for her. Then he looked over his shoulder, Valeria having reminded him that his other Numbered were here, too.
Riley, Carla, and Nannie were sitting at a table 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 Alex gazed at him. Her red hair was trimmed and cleaned regularly now. Well brushed and lovingly maintained, it hung around her face like a lovely frame. Her pale skin made it look even more vibrant.
Then she smiled at him, her cheeks coloring. Lifting her charcoal stick, she gave him a small wave, then went back to her letter work.
Noticing the change in Riley, Carla lifted her own head up to look at 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, and she wore a slim, well-fitted dress that 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, Anna stepped away.
“Ladies?” she said, raising her voice. All his Numbered looked up from what they were doing and turned 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 bodyguard.”
“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 getting 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 Valeria.
Carla and Riley filed out the door behind Valeria and Anna. Getting swept up in the unending flow that was Alex’s wife.
Alex got up from his chair and wandered over to where Nannie was diligently writing out 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 blond hair all around. It’d been a bit of a surprise to find out 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 formally made her a Number, but never bedded her or got service from her.
Not my fault Anna took every night—but Nannie won’t see it quite that way.
Actually… this is a perfect opportunity.
Smiling at her, he looked down to her paper, pressing in close to her side.
He gently rested one hand on her stomach and the other on her lower back, ignoring her tightly flexing 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 were all well spaced and in a straight line.
All in all, for someone who had never had a day of education, this looked 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.
“Yeah?” Her eyes slowly turned 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 cleaned up, dressed in something nice, and go have a lovely 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 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. “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. But 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 had been lightly caressing Nannie’s stomach and back as the conversation had been going on. His fingertips lightly trailed 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 it 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, 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 the paper, Alex continued to pet and stroke Nannie while getting her back to her writing practice.
An hour later, 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 of them. Thank you, Walter.”
Nodding his head, the older man closed the door.
“Huh. Wonder what she fucked up,” Nannie said, looking at Alex.
