Fostering Faust 2, page 40
part #2 of Fostering Faust Series
Her eyes met his, and her eyebrows jumped to the top of her head. Immediately, she turned to someone else and nearly shouted several commands.
Suddenly there was a massive flurry of excitement and commotion going on, with people running in every direction.
Pulling on the reins, Rebekah got the horses to ease to a stop. Then she got out the other side of the wagon and vanished. Probably to go find the rest of the Numbered.
Smiling at Regina Tanulf, Alex shuffled over to the edge of the wagon and then began laboriously climbing down.
“Oh my heavens, Alex? What happened?” Regina asked as several men in livery rushed over to help him down.
“Lot of things, honestly,” Alex hissed with a wince when he made it to the ground.
Leaning against the side of the wagon, he took several gasping breaths. The leg splint was doing its job, though it made it difficult for him to move in addition to being painful all on its own.
Before he could say anything more, Alex was literally picked up and carried off with as much gentleness as could be given.
“My personal surgeon is on the way,” Regina said, walking along behind him. “We’ll get this checked right now.”
Alex didn’t bother to say that it was fine, or that it had already been taken care of. For Regina, he doubted that’d matter. She’d still want to check.
He was seated in a comfortable chair, and an older man appeared in front of Alex before he realized it.
“How’d it happen?” the man asked.
“Fell,” Alex said, looking at Regina. She was standing nearby, looking rather nervous but also happy at the same time.
“Mm. Looks clean,” said the man, pressing and pushing in all the wrong places. Making Alex shiver, wince, and want to throw up all at the same time.
“No infection, everything appears to be healing well and true. Keep the splint on,” said the man, standing up.
Thankful to be left to sit there without being prodded, Alex sat with his eyes closed, letting the pain go away.
“Thank you. I’ll let you know if we need anything,” Regina said to what Alex assumed was the doctor. This was followed by the sound of the door clicking shut.
“Alex, I’m so glad to see you,” Regina said. Then he felt her arms around his head, drawing him into what he was pretty sure was her chest.
“We’ve been fighting that wretched old man at every turn to get you released,” she said into his hair.
“I know. I spoke to my father-in-law about it,” Alex said, awkwardly trying to pat Regina on the back. The positioning made it difficult. He vaguely got the impression he might actually be patting her on the backend, but he couldn’t tell. Nor did he care for niceties right now.
If it was, Regina said nothing about it.
Laying his hand on her, he realized it was indeed her rear end—but he didn’t move his hand.
Finally, after a minute of just holding him, Regina stood up and tilted his head back.
“Tell me how you’re here. I’m very glad to have you free and back with me, but it seems… strange. Especially as you’ve turned up with some other members of the peerage and a large number of my soldiers,” Regina said, her thumbs stroking his cheeks.
Ok. Very affectionate, very awkward.
“I blackmailed him into releasing me, all your troops, and your peerage, and also into letting me ransack his dungeons—all at no cost,” Alex said honestly. “Part of that deal was I wouldn’t serve you in any capacity for six months. Not a single ounce of support at any level.
“Which really just means I have to get my father-in-law to do it for me. Or one of my two new baronies. The barony of Lin and the barony of Rift are now mine, which means yours as well.
“Besides, it’s not like I’m going to be able to do anything with my leg like this for a while.”
Regina’s wide and warm smile was honest, sincere, and dazzling.
“You could have just as easily brokered your own release,” she said, her fingers holding his face. She was also drifting closer ever so slowly. “Or resources for yourself. Why do so much for me?”
“You’re my duchess. You’re not a bad person. The idea of seeing you handed off to them like a prized pig was also a motivation for seeing them ruined,” Alex said honestly.
“What else did you do?” she asked, several strands of hair falling over her eyes. She was staring at him intently now, her pretty face completely open and full of curiosity. “Tell me your accomplishments, Alexander.”
It was strangely compelling, staring into her eyes when she used his name like that.
“I set the entire city of Terk on fire, burning down a portion of the duke’s army and maiming him at the same time,” Alex said, beginning to read out his highlight reel. “I stole the earl’s entire treasury that he left behind for the duke.
“I robbed Clark Gaelis the Second of all his wealth, misdirected his troops, and loaned him a large amount of money with land deeds as collateral. Then I had him killed at the height of Winterveil by burning him alive.
“I also loaned the duchess of Gaelis a massive amount of money and took a considerable number of land deeds from her as well.
“Finally, I had my leg broken as part of my plan to kill Clark junior. Then I used that, Duke Gaelis’ treatment of me, and everything else I knew to blackmail him into what I mentioned earlier.”
Regina took in a slow, deep breath, her eyes going wide and her thumbs traveling back and forth over his cheeks.
“Alexander…” Regina murmured. “You’re such an amazing man. You held Terk for so long that it was a blessing. You even rescued most of their population. You did all this for me?”
Now that he thought about it, he had done a considerable amount for Regina’s sake alone. He wasn’t in love with her, nor did he have any particular fondness for her. But she wasn’t a bad duchess, and Gaelis would have been worse.
“Yes,” he said simply.
Regina shook her head slightly, then kissed him. And kept kissing him. After what felt like an entire minute had passed, she eased back.
“I’m sorry, Alexander. You’ll be my husband. You’re too much of a hero to me to let you go.
“I promise to respect you and cherish you, though. I’ll also take care to not upset your other two wives, or your Numbered,” she murmured. “All I ask is you give me a chance to win your heart.”
Alex felt a weird thump in his chest at that.
She means it. Say yes to it all. She’ll leave in a moment, and we’ll have a talk.
Feeling his mind falling behind and then speeding up at Leah’s words, he nodded his head minutely at her.
“Ok, Regina, I’ll marry you. I’ll keep my heart open to you as well,” he said. It didn’t feel wrong to say it, but he felt like he was betraying Anna.
Regina smiled again and then pressed her lips to his, picking up where she’d left off earlier. Then it started to get considerably more heated when her tongue pushed into his mouth.
Only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Duchess, several messages just came in that require your immediate attention,” called a man through the door.
Pulling back from Alex, Regina glared at the door, but she hadn’t released Alex’s face yet.
“Damn it. I just want a moment of time with you,” Regina said softly, looking back to Alex.
She lifted a hand and gently traced a fingernail along his eyebrow. “I’ll be right back, Alexander. I’m going to take personal care of you by my own hand until you head back home. I’ve been in constant contact with your wives; I’ll send a messenger ahead for you.”
Alex nodded, and Regina kissed him again before she turned to the door.
Pausing for a second, she looked at Alex with a crooked grin.
“Anna is an interesting woman, by the way. You must have a very interesting married life,” she said, then opened the door and left.
“Whew,” Leah said, appearing in the empty chair next to him. Her stomach looked massive. As if she was about ready to burst. She looked much the same, except her clothing had changed. She was wearing a very flowy dress that covered her modestly but was clearly much more comfortable than her leathers. “I think she would have mounted you on the table if it weren’t for your leg.
“Talk about absolute hero worship. She’d take it in the ass for you and beg you for more. The emotions she was putting out even made me a little moist.”
Fanning at her face, Leah gave him a smirk.
“You? Ha,” Alex said, taking the opportunity to break Regina’s spell with some humor. “That’s baby-brain talking, and the fact that your husband put a kid in you.”
Leah thought on that, then shrugged with a smile. “Probably.”
“What’s up?” Alex asked, leaning back in his chair.
“Not much,” Leah said. “I needed to check in with you, though. As you can tell, it seems I’m due any moment now. I think I’ll be gone for a time, and I’m not sure how long that’ll be.
“Is there anything you need from me before I go on maternity leave, as it were?”
“No. But my father-in-law may want to become a broker,” Alex said with a grin.
“Not going to happen,” Leah said with a shake of her head. “He’s too ruthless. His deals would break those he made them with. Yours can be tough, but never cruel. My name is becoming associated with strong and powerful deals, but not overly cruel ones.”
Leah was idly stroking her belly with both hands.
“Then… no. I need nothing more at this time. I’d love to hear from you more often, however. Let me know how the baby’s doing. What you named him or her. Maybe bring them by,” Alex said, shrugging his shoulders. “You’re my boss, but also my goddess. I want to be involved more with you.”
Leah gave him a strange look. Which was replaced with a smile.
“You know, you’re a good man,” she said. “If I had an unwed sister, or if have a daughter, I’d let you date them.
“I’m sorry, Alex. I’ve neglected you. I’ll do my best to visit and bring… bring my child with me.”
“Then I’m good,” Alex said with a grin. “Now… tell me what you’ve been up to, and what you’ve picked out for your nursery.”
***
Bone tired, weary, and more than a little spent, Alex sat down in his bedroom. On his own bed. In the quiet stillness that was the keep of Brit.
Adjusting his splinted leg, he got comfortable.
There’d been a grand procession at his return. It seemed the whole city had turned out to welcome him home. As if he were a returning hero who’d conquered a nation and brought home the spoils.
Even though he’d done none of that.
The door opened, and a very pregnant Mary waddled in, followed by an only slightly less pregnant Anna. The guard behind them closed the door.
Both women immediately came over to him, each one looking quite happy to see him.
“I’m so glad you’re home, Alex,” Mary said, hugging him tightly. Her arms were tight around his shoulders, squeezing him into herself as her belly pressed to his chest. “I was so worried. So scared. Every day was a nightmare while we wondered and worried about you.”
Leaning back from her hug, she kissed him deeply.
“Welcome home, husband. Just in time for our firstborn,” Mary said, stroking his cheek. Then she moved a few steps away and sat in a very padded seat nearby.
Anna made a little hopping bounce over to him, her face spread in a teeth-baring grin.
“Honey bear!” she cooed, followed by happy chirping noises. She grabbed him around the head and pushed his face into her breasts. Holding him tight there, she began to rotate back and forth, her expanded belly rubbing into his chest. “Alex, you’re never allowed to leave again. Never, ever. Never, never, never. Stay home. Give Mary and me lots of kids, and become a fat old man.”
Unable to respond—and honestly, he was too busy laughing into Anna’s chest—Alex only nodded his head.
Anna was always Anna.
Finally, she pulled his head back out of her breasts and kissed him repeatedly, peppering his face in hungry little pecks. The constant stream of happy little chirping noises from her continued unrelenting.
Finally, Mary started laughing and reached over to pat the chair next to her.
“Sit down, you silly. He can’t even talk when you maul him like that,” Mary said.
Anna continued unabated for another twenty seconds before finally letting him go.
“Husband. You, Mary, and I are sharing a bed tonight,” Anna demanded. “I want to feel your warmth tonight between us.”
Mary reached over and pulled on Anna’s voluminous dress twice. “Sit.”
“That’s fine, Anna. That’s fine,” Alex said, not fighting her. “And I missed both of you as well. Considerably so.”
Anna relented and sat down next to Mary, immediately picking up Mary’s hand and holding it in her lap. Her fingers were interlaced tightly with the other woman’s.
“I’m home,” Alex said with a chuckle. “And I’m home for a while. That’s if Duke Gaelis doesn’t surrender outright. I don’t plan on going anywhere for quite a while otherwise.”
Anna nodded her head with a harrumph. Mary’s response was a more mild-mannered bob of her head with a smile.
“We’re both very glad to hear that, husband,” Mary said, visibly squeezing Anna’s hand.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” Anna said suddenly, pouting. “I’m mad at you for leaving, but only because I love you so much.”
“I know, Anna. I know.”
“To be fair, I… love you as well,” Mary said. “And I might not be as expressive as Anna, but I’m just as mad. You’ll have to work at making us happy.”
“That sounds like fun, honestly. Happy to give you both lots of attention. Though we’re going to have to eventually talk about the duchess,” Alex said, a small, sad smile on his face.
“Oh. I like her now,” Anna said with a wave of her hand. “She came and visited us often to update us about you. She also sent a lot of letters.”
Mary rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless.
“Duchess Regina was very attentive to us as your wives,” Mary said. “She also treated us both as equals to her, which was quite flattering.”
Anna nodded quickly at that.
“She even slept with me and Mary whenever she visited. She let me cuddle her and hold her,” Anna said, a big smile on her face. “I smooshed her up against Mary a lot and held tight to both of them.
“Regina laughed a bit on the first night, but she didn’t pull away. After that, she just cuddled back up against me and Mary. She falls asleep quick, squished between us.”
“Right. So… you’re ok with her forcing me into a marriage,” Alex said, looking to Mary to make sure she was in agreement. “Ok with the fact that I’m already her husband, actually.”
There was a slight pause. Mary seemed unsure of what to say.
In that hesitation, Alex saw it. A slight head turn of Mary toward Anna. The limp wrist hold of Anna’s hand. The tightening of her eyes momentarily.
She defers to Anna. Anna is the dominant one completely. Even though she’s a loving fluffball to Mary, Anna is the play caller.
There was a tiny, almost imperceptible nod of Anna’s head, and her thumb stroked over Mary’s wrist.
“Yes,” Mary said, having apparently caught whatever sign she was looking for. “I’m alright with having Regina as a wife.”
“So long as she keeps doing what she’s been doing… yes,” Anna said with a firm nod of her head. Picking up where Mary left off. “She felt nice in the bed with Mary. She even let me kiss her at night whenever she visited. I liked holding both of them as my wives. Now I just need another Tilly woman.”
Then Anna leaned over and kissed Mary on the cheek. To which the other woman blushed deeply, her hand clenching in Anna’s.
Oh? Oh. Well. Good. That makes it more fun, and a bit easier, I suppose. I wonder if that was Anna’s intention from the get-go.
Though that does make more sense regarding Regina. If Anna was already cuddling and kissing her when she visited… yeah.
Fun.
“Suppose that’s that, then,” Alex said, feeling like this entire chapter of his life was winding down.”
“Almost,” Anna said, laying her brow to Mary’s jaw. “We’ll need to decide on Alanna soon enough. I might want to wife her, too. I like Tilly women. They’re wonderful.”
Mary turned an even darker shade of red, if that were possible.
“And the Lin niece is still around. She made me sign a paper stating that her year with you was null and void, until you reappeared,” Anna said, a small feral smile on her face. “She’s fun, too. I’m going to break her and have you put a child in her without marrying her.”
“Pity her,” Alex said. “Her barony now rolls up to ours. I’m sure we can have her wrecked in a week.
“Then there’s all the gold I made that we should talk about.”
Anna had a delighted look in her eyes.
Mary winced, her brows coming down suddenly. Standing up slowly, she looked down at herself. A slow wet spot was spreading across the front of her dress.
Early congratulations, my champion!
She’ll deliver just fine, and the baby is healthy.
Consider that the non-existent baby shower gift from my husband and I.
A worry-free and easy delivery.
Oh. Oh!
Yes.
Thank you, Leah.
Wait, what?
Thank you, dear reader!
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