Page 207 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“Of course, she and I have already discussed her dismissal. She refuses to leave now and let me die alone, and she knows she will return to Reuben’s care after I pass. But I would like to take it a step further than that.”

I had sent Alice away because I didn’t want her to hear this conversation. Not that I didn’t trust her to keep a secret, but because I worried it would be upsetting to her. I was about to send her back into the kitchen and out of earshot of the conversation, but Jeff patted her hand again, like he was enjoying her company. Alice was watching him with a cautious expression.

Jack’s eyes widened and he sat up taller as he understood. “Jeff, you don’t mean to...”

“I do, actually,” he said, coughing again. Alice patted Jeff’s back lightly, which seemed to help. “She’s convinced me to try to extend my life with radiation, and I told her I’d give it a year. I don’t think I’ll last that long. I know you adore her, and I know you just lost your girl.”

Jack had taken on quite a few of my rescued girls, and none of them had stayed for any real length of time. He was like any Dom, and he had a deep desire to be needed and wanted like the rest of us. The girls leaving was a sign of the way he had coached, encouraged, and empowered them, but it hadn’t been kind to his heart.

“I’ve asked her to play before,” Jack said softly. “Many times. She’s always turned me down. You all know I have the utmost respect and a lot of affection for Becca, but I don’t think she–”

“She wasn’t allowed,” Jeff cut in. “She was allowed two other Doms to submit to. One for pain, one for pleasure. Reuben, of course, was at the top of her list, but they don’t play much anymore. And Mike Black was her favorite playmate, but he fell in love with a sub and married her, so he’s monogamous with his wife now.Though they do co-top sometimes.

“Anyway, after Mike got married, I told her she could pick another playmate and she chose you. But I struck that the hell down because I had a feeling she’d fall in love with you and leave me.”

“Well... now you know how it feels,” I said, giving him an ironic look.

He knew I meant it playfully, as I’d teased him about stealing her for years. Jeff grinned, showing his yellowed teeth, and flicked me off. Beside him, Alice snickered, and attempted to regain her demure expression.

“But Mike married Stormy almost three years ago,” Jeff said. “Has she not picked anyone else since then?”

“Nope,” he said. “I ask her about it sometimes, and she keeps asking for you, even though you don’t even live in the state. When I asked her if there was anyone else, she said there wasn’t anyone else she really respected enough to submit to.”

Jack seemed to grow taller at his statement, while his eyes softened.

The conversation continued while Jeff told Jack more about Becca and her need for structure, clear and specific domination, and ritual. He also told him about the planned release he’d had for her, the handling of his finances after his death, the return of his collar, and his plan for the destruction and distribution of his kinkwear before his death so his family wouldn’t be stuck with that particular task.

The whole time, he sipped his tea and squeezed Alice’s hand, like she was a stress ball. She patted his back when he coughed and used her dishcloth to dab up some spilled tea off his lap when he choked once.

Alice was staring at Jeff with an expression I wasn’t sure how to read. Something like sadness, or maybe respect? She finally pried the empty mug back out of his hands and disappeared off to the kitchen with it, only to return a few moments later with a second one.

I’d never seen her like this. She seemed so happy and satisfied doting on him. Watching her serve him so selflessly was making my heart melt for her a little more.

I remembered how I’d woken up with her in my bed a few nights ago, that old worn-out quilt pulled over us and a glass of water by my bedside table. Perhaps Alice was slowly getting to the point where she did feel safe enough to serve. I felt pride well up in me as I thought about the changes in her behavior over the past few weeks. It was subtle, but she had tried to communicate more, she had started taking her meds and seemed more even-tempered, and the little moments of service were becoming more frequent.

What a good girl I have.

“I like her,” Jeff said to me as he took the tea, letting the hot steam wash over his face. “What do you think about all this, Monster Girl? Do you think I’m a wicked old man for plotting and planning my girl’s life behind her back?”

Oh, why did he have to ask that question to her?

I opened my mouth to speak, but Alice smiled and shook her head in response to his question. “I wish my daddy had been more like you,” she whispered, her voice shaking. Her eyes welled with tears, and she dropped her head as they spilled over.

“Alice, come here,” I said softly.

Jeff let go of his death grip on her hand and she came over to me, climbing up onto the ottoman by my feet. I wiped her tears away and held her hands firmly in mine.

“Sorry,” she mouthed. “I know you said... but he was coughing and...”

“It’s okay.” I kissed the top of her hands. “I’m not mad. I’m actually very proud of you. That was sweet. Are you alright?”

She nodded.

“You need to keep what you’ve heard tonight to yourself, understand?”

“Yes Sir. I won’t say anything, I promise.”

“Thank you for bringing Jeff some tea.”

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