"We all want to hear it," Master Mac says.
My cheeks are so hot I could fry eggs on them. "It's not any good yet."
"Then Daddy will help you make it better," Daddy promises.
Could I have a better Daddy? I tap with renewed zeal. “Ta very much.”
I work all through the game the men are watching, in my zone despite the grumbling and hissing and occasional cheer from Austin, whose team is winning. Between the golden November sunshine pouring through the French doors, the roast in the oven, and the central heating, I’m not cold, even mostly nakey. Daddy checks my fingers several times over the course of the game and I’m happy to wiggle my pink digits at him.
Master Mac finds another way to keep Brenna warm. Her feet get cold easily and she doesn’t have my toasty thigh-highs. Master Mac gives her a long foot massage that has her squirming all over the floor cushions. As he’s digging his thumb into a spoton her instep that makes her writhe, he says to Daddy, “Now the vote’s behind us, son, we have some work to do with the house subs.”
My ears perk up. Although I’m not a house submissive, I’m more than a little interested in what’s happening with them.
Cappa, who was lolling half-asleep on the other section of the couch, rolls over to look at Daddy and Master Mac.
“Something to say, boy?” Daddy asks.
“Just that—if you wanted to talk with some of the subs who are struggling—I could suggest where to start.”
“Someone other than Mally?” Daddy asks.
“Yes, sir,” Cappa says.
We had a dinner with Cappa and Mally back in September. I thought Mally was going to tell Daddy about the problems the house subs were having. But the timing was all wrong. Mally was totally preoccupied with Mistress Dana hooking up with Austin. All Daddy took away from the dinner was that the Blunts Doms had to do a better job of setting expectations about exclusivity with the house subs. Daddy got Mistress Dana to talk with Mally and that was the end of it.
It definitely wasn’t the end of the problems, though. A lot of house submissives are going outside the club to find Doms. Lucy asked Daddy to top her. And just a few weeks ago, Cappa picked up a Dom who ignored his safe word and beat him so badly that he needed sixteen stitches.
Daddy’s been working with Cappa ever since, and although I wouldn’t exactly call Daddy Cappa’s Dom, Daddy provides Cappa with a lot of structure. Daddy gives Cappa a daily schedule and punishes him if he deviates from it. Cappa has more rules and consequences about self-care than even I do. Daddy’s been vetting all of Cappa’s scenes to make sure he’s topped in a safe way and that his tops are clear on Cappa’s signals and safe words.
Cappa’s already so much better than he was. I can’t resent the time and attention Daddy’s given him when it’s clearly what he needed. Daddy’s good about making sure we still have a lot of one-on-one time, even when Cappa stays over, although he hasn’t been doing that this week. It also makes a difference that Master Mac and Bren live with us now. Any pique I might have felt during the time Daddy’s focused on Cappa is offset by having Master Mac, my confidante and co-conspirator in all things relating to Logan’s daughter, and Brenna, my Big Sub Bestie, around all the time.
I wish I was a big enough person to feel the same way about Daddy topping Lucy. But that’s a different story.
Unfortunately, all of Daddy’s efforts so far haven’t improved things for the house subs. Annabelle, a newer sub and one Daddy didn’t train, quit over the weekend after a scene with Master Emmett. Brenna said that she, Austin, Fleur, and Master Javier tried to talk with Annabelle to understand what went so wrong and if it could be fixed. Annabelle wouldn’t talk to them but she told Master Chess when she resigned that nothing could bring her back to the club.
Maybe Cappa’s gotten through to her and wants her to talk to Daddy?
“Let’s start with them,” Master Mac says, rubbing between Brenna’s toes so she’s a floppy puddle on the floor. Daddy chuckles against my temple as we watch her melt. “Something low-key. I don’t want anyone feeling like we’re interrogating them.”
“Movie night,” I suggest.
“Movie night,” Daddy echoes. “Something neutral like Titanic.”
I hide my grin as everyone around the room groans.
“No, Daddy,” I say gently, patting his knee. Daddy doesn’t cry at movies, so he wouldn’t understand why watching Rose’sgoodbye to Jack would reduce someone who might already be emotionally fragile to rivers of tears.
“Maybe something a little less loaded,” Master Mac says.
“Die Hard,” Daddy grumbles, which makes everyone laugh.
Brenna and I have breakfast down to a fine art.
With all of us having very different schedules, breakfast could be chaotic. Daddy doesn’t like chaos and I hate displeasing Daddy. Bren and I have worked out a schedule that suits everyone. On the island between the kitchen area and dining area, we set out a cold buffet with cereal, homemade Bircher, and a bowl of different kinds of energy bars. When Cappa stays over, he usually sticks to the buffet but he took off after dinner last night.
Once the buffet’s set up, Brenna starts the coffee and puts links on the grill. She also puts on some music that we both dance to as we grill tomatoes from the little greenhouse Daddy’s built me in the backyard, scramble eggs, and pop bread into the toaster. How much do I love starting my day dancing with my Big Sub Bestie? By the time Master Mac and Daddy come up from the basement, still sweaty from their workout, we’re plating up the hot food to take to the table.
Daddy smiles and kisses my forehead as he takes his seat. I sit beside him, while Master Mac and Brenna sit across the table from us. We often have High Protocol dinners where Brenna and I kneel to our masters but so far, Daddy and Mac have kept breakfasts informal.