by A. R. Rend
“You… you told her that…? I… she’s going to have me fired, Phil,” Mildred muttered.
“No, she told me she’d sign me over to you in six months if I wished,” countered Phillip. “That’s her time-line she has till I break free. Worry not, Milly. You’re not being strung along. Though… I can’t deny I do enjoy flirting with you and pushing at you a bit.”
It wasn’t as fun as pushing at Lenore was, but he did enjoy getting in close to Mildred. To taunt and tease her.
She was a striking woman, a bold soldier, someone who had seen war and come out as a hero in her own right.
I like to play with fire, apparently. A cad who likes to play with fire.
Mildred was staring at him. Then she slowly bent down until she was at his eye-level. Her eyes had an inner fire to them. Looking into him as if he were nothing more than a delicious meal she was about to take and devour.
It made him realize just how terrifyingly strong Mildred’s control was.
“Milly, are you-”
She grabbed him by the front of his tunic, pulled him several inches forward, and kissed him.
It was brief, wild, and like an inferno unchecked.
Releasing him, Mildred stood back up to her normal height and then looked around, finally turning back to him.
Holy hell that was intense.
For a brief moment he’d seen and felt everything she’d locked away inside herself.
“I can hear someone coming,” Mildred said, watching him with her quiet and stolid way. As if she had done nothing at all. Then she reached over and lightly adjusted his tunic with a single pull of her fingers. “You look very handsome in greens, by the way. I like it.”
“Thank you, Milly. I’ll keep that in mind,” Phillip said.
The door opened suddenly and Phillip found himself looking at Mim, rather than one of her house servants. She was dressed in a lovely dark-green dress that hung to her knees.
“Hello, Phil!” Mim said excitedly. Then she darted forward and grabbed his hand in hers, pulling him across the threshold. “And hello, Milly. How are you?”
“Quite well, Sophia,” Mildred said, following Phillip and Mim into her house.
“Mim. Not Sophia. Phil named me,” declared Mim. “Close the door, Milly? And uh… please? Just a few seconds? I’ll pay you back in return next time.”
Sighing, Mildred turned, and then closed the front manor door. She didn’t however, turn back around.
Before Phillip knew what was happening, Mim had her tongue in his mouth. Both of her hands on his chest.
Moaning, Mim pushed him up to the door-frame, kissing him hungrily, her tongue rolling all over his own.
Unable to shove her off, and not actually wanting to, Phillip kissed her in return, his hands finding her hips quickly.
Losing himself in it, Phillip managed to shove Mim’s tongue back into her own mouth and pursued it.
“Alright. I… that’s… okay, enough,” Mildred said gruffly.
Mim moved away quickly from him and stood several feet away. Fanning at her face, she was looking at him with more than a little heat.
“I’m… I’m so sorry, Milly. I know you’re after him, too… but… oh… that was so worth it,” Mim said, still fanning her face.
“It’s… I-”
“You can do the same to him next time. I’ll guard the door,” Mim offered, looking over to Mildred. “Just like I promised.”
“I accept,” Mildred said firmly, standing up straighter.
“Hey, don’t I get a say in this?” Phillip asked, his brain catching up.
“You wouldn’t say no. Admit it, you want to put your tongue in Milly’s mouth. Look at that face. I know I would if I were you. Being the Dread Maiden or not,” Mim said, then let out a hard breath. “Wow. Alright. Time… time to go talk about something else. My gears are just… flying right now.”
Phillip had turned his head to watch Mildred as Mim spoke.
The soldier had slowly blushed until her face was a crimson color. She was indeed very pretty to him.
“I wouldn’t say no,” Phillip agreed, causing Mildred to look away. He didn’t feel bad admitting the truth to her.
“See? Okay. Come on. To my parlor. I do have some news anyways,” Mim said, taking in a quick deep breath. Turning, she started walking away. “Damn me. I shouldn’t have done that. I can’t slow my heart.”
“Want that turn Mim mentioned? Maybe right now?” Phillip asked, moving closer to Mildred.
Taking in a slow but very deep breath, Mildred was staring at him hungrily again.
“N-no. Honor… honor and duty. I’ve already failed both terribly. I’ll not make it worse,” she murmured, then gave his shoulder a shove, angling him toward where Mim had gone.
“I don’t think you have. Your honor and duty is to me. And I know what I’m allowing and what I’m not allowing. I can shoulder all of that for you. Your honor is mine and your duty is to me,” Phillip said, letting himself be directed.
Mildred didn’t respond. She quietly walked along behind him.
He hoped she would understand him. Though that was an entirely selfish hope that would lead her back to him.
Right now he was in a blissful bubble. Where he could explore his options between four women who were interested in him.
Where he could do so without actually being fearful of it blowing up in his face.
Everyone seemed more than willing to let him do as he will as long as they still had a chance at him becoming their husband.
Or in Alice’s case, remain their husband.
On top of that, they all had an awareness of one another.
Truthfully, he only had one hard and fast rule in all this. He just had to have a care to not engage in sexual relations with anyone but Alice. That was the only line he couldn’t really cross.
There was a hint of guilt in him for what he was doing, though. Only because it was frowned upon from a societal standpoint.
Phillip was being fast, loose, and far too familiar with women that weren’t his wife.
Except, again, they were all aware of the situation and actively participating.
“So, the news,” Mim said, sitting down on a love seat. “We’ve heard back from Madeline’s guild leader. The weavers guild leader, that is. What we heard back wasn’t… very helpful. I get the impression that they’re going to try and strong arm us. Or force us into a pretty bad deal.”
“Oh? Why’s that?” Phillip said as he walked toward a recliner near Mim.
Patting the seat next to herself, Mim gave him a solid and steady stare. One that told him he could sit next to her, or she could pick him up and put him there.
“They’ve asked to meet in person with all the current investors,” Mim said. “We’ve refused as that’s not a normal request.”
Phillip started to sit down in the recliner, only for Mim to start to get up.
“Really?” he asked, eying the woman.
“Really. You can sit next to me, or I can come get you,” Mim said, holding his gaze. There was no bluff or bravado there. “I’m going to make you mine, Phil. I backed off once due to duty. I’ll not do it again. I missed out and I regret it. Deeply.”
There was a promise in her words.
He realized in that moment that he had to be careful with Mim right now. She didn’t just want him, she yearned for him.
“I’ll agree this time, because I’d like to sit next to you if I’m honest. But I’m not yours to command, Mim,” Phillip said eying her.
“Of course. But I will pursue you till you’re mine. You may not be mine to command, but I’ll have you as my husband,” Mim promised, slowly easing back into her seat.
Mim is… extremely… determined all of a sudden.
Maybe she spoke with Matilda or Alice.
I’ll have to take her seriously.
Walking over to her, he sat down next to her.
Mim settled her arm around him possessively, but didn’t pull
on him. In fact she seemed quite content just to have him next to her.
Instead she looked toward Mildred.
“Sit, Milly. I already told my servants to go gather elsewhere. We won’t be disturbed. You’re an equal here,” said Mim. “It’s why I answered the door myself.”
Mildred looked at Mim for a single breath, then moved over and sat in the recliner closest to Mim on her right side.
“So, we said no to the guild leader,” Mim said, turning her head back to Phillip. “She refused to do business with us after that. Madeline, Lenore, and I feel that if we plan on working through the guild leader as we intended, we’re going to have to meet her.”
“It’s just weird,” Phillip said as he puzzled over the situation. He didn’t mind Mim’s feeling of possessiveness, though he preferred it when she flirted and teased.
Or direct sexual nature.
In fact, he rather liked Lenore being possessive because it felt more like her internal struggle. To take him for his own. Or Mildred’s steadfast nature and wish to love him.
To him, Mim was a flirty, sexy, and flighty young woman who wasn’t the way she was acting right now.
Watching him carefully, Mim looked as if she were peeling his thoughts from his head.
“I feel like they already know who’s investing,” said Phillip, coming to a conclusion of his thoughts. “They just want us to be direct about it. I would suspect this is all to some other end.”
“Likely criminals,” Mildred added in a low tone. “Or part of an organization of criminals. Had to break up a few of those in the last war when we took a city. Always led back to guilds.”
“That’s what Lenny and I were thinking,” Mim agreed. “Madeline swears she has no idea. She was just a weaver in the guild with almost no standing. To her this is apparently a shock.”
“Alright. So… we meet the guild leader then. But we do it on our terms,” said Phillip, looking to Mildred. “And likely with everyone there. I suppose I’ll be paying overtime to the night crew.”
“Does seem that way,” rumbled Mildred.
“Did we get the mercenaries hired and spun up? I know it hasn’t been that long but… I’d rather make sure our investment is safe while we’re all away,” Phillip added.
Sitting up straight at that question, Mildred looked as if he’d just spooked her.
“Yes. That would be what your mother would do. Divert and misdirect, then attack elsewhere,” Mildred said with conviction. “I… I hadn’t finished the contract but they’re already here. Arrived today. I was going to finish it tomorrow.”
“That should be fine,” said Mim with a wave of her right hand. “The meeting isn’t until the day after tomorrow.”
“No. They need a day to settle their shifts and understand the location. At least a day,” Mildred said, standing up. Pausing, she looked to Mim and Phillip.
“May I trust in you, Mim?” Mildred asked, staring hard at the other woman. “I can send in Frankie and Vinnie if you don’t feel like you can keep it above the line.”
“I… you may put your trust in me, Milly. I respect you and won’t-I won’t endanger your trust,” Mim said, looking rather surprised.
The two women kept up their dead-locked gaze for several breaths before Mildred nodded her head. With one hand on her sword, she headed for the door.
Seemingly intent on getting the mercenaries squared away immediately.
The clack of the door was loud as it opened, then closed.
There was no sound of boots heading their way, nor that anyone was coming.
“I… well… I see,” Mim murmured, turning to look at Phillip. “It would seem I’ll back off again, due to duty.”
“I’d say that’s the honorable thing to do,” Phillip agreed. “By the way, I’m not fond of this… possessive Mim that showed up today. I miss my flirty ‘bun in my oven’ Mim who was sexy and cute.”
Going from one shocked expression to the next, Mim sat there unspeaking.
Blinking several times, she took in a sharp breath, then let it out.
“You’re sleeping with Allie,” Mim said.
“Yes. I am. She requested me to perform my husbandly duties, and so I am. As is her right to request of me. She is however using medicine to prevent a pregnancy,” Phillip agreed. He wasn’t ashamed of what he was doing. He was legally Alice’s husband. “Lenore and Milly both know. One of the reasons I came over today was to tell you this.”
With a frown creasing her brow, Mim looked hurt. Then annoyed.
Rapidly followed by anger as teeth clicked together.
Slowly, she averted her gaze, staring off at the corner.
“It… would seem I’m in far deeper than I thought I was,” said Mim after a long pause. Then she let out a huffed breath through her nose and turned back to him with a grin. “I heard you were sleeping with Allie. Not from her, before you worry about that, but from… well, a source I trust. Obviously this was information without the context.”
Phillip felt his mouth slide to one side as he considered that.
“And… this made you-”
“Become a possessive bitch,” Mim said with a laugh. Then she put her hands to each side of his face and smooshed his face between them. “Oh my Phil. I forget how loyal you are. How dutiful and honorable you are. I thought the worst and that I needed to… to be something I wasn’t.”
“Just duty,” Phillip tried to say.
“Yes. Just duty. And I’m just stupid. You were here to tell me in person as you said. Forgive your Mim, would you? I’m learning. I’m learning as quickly as I can,” Mim said, then kissed him soundly, sliding her tongue into his mouth.
Kissing him for what felt like an endless moment, Mim finally pulled away. With a groan she then stood up and moved over to the recliner.
Flopping into it, she slouched low and looked at him with a smile.
“Just be you, Phil. You’ll be my husband in no-time,” Mim promised. “And I’m sorry for being stupid. Though… and I know this sounds truly awful… but… wanna give me that bun while Milly’s away?
“I think I’d let myself lose my honor, dignity, and pride for that. I’d cast it all aside for you to love me, Phil.”
Feeling like his chest had been turned into an anvil, Phillip sat there with his hands on his knees. His heart hammering against his chest at an alarming rate.
“I want to say yes, but it’s all I have left that I value,” murmured Phillip.
“I understand. I don’t even fault you for it but… if you change your mind,” Mim said in a purr. Then she spread her legs apart and put both her hands right up the inside of her dress. She also gave him a very clear view right up. “I’m always willing for you, Phil. You and no one else. I’d dash it all away just to have you for myself. Because I know… you’d never leave me if I talked you into a bed. You’d never abandon me.”
She was right, of course. Phillip had to be very careful with this kind of invitation.
If he did get in someone’s bed, he wouldn’t be getting out again. He’d likely tell Alice the moment he did it, and give her every opportunity to take justice from him.
It’d be the only way for him to soothe his conscience if he cheated on his wife.
“Phil… I fantasize so much about you,” said Mim in a deep voice, her eyes wide and staring at him. Her face was bright red, her hands deep in her dress which was pulled nearly up to her waist, and pressed to her privates. Her fingers and what they were now doing was quite visible. And the slick wet noises were louder than he expected. “So very much. Every fantasy is always about you. I’m not going to squander this chance while Milly is gone. Come over here and get on me. Give me that bun and enjoy me. I don’t care about honor or duty, I just want you, Phil. Or if you can’t do that, just watch me… I’m alright with that, too. I’ll corrupt you one little bit at a time. Get you to eventually just hop on me and give me what I want. Now, watch me fantasize about you as my husband, Phil. Watch me.”
; Heavens!
She flipped that switch right back to who she used to be.
Unable to help himself, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Mim as she began to fiercely masturbate.
Phillip was going to at least watch what Mim did even if he didn’t act on her very clear and direct offer.
Despite desperately wishing to.
Nineteen
Feeling rather odd about this meeting, Phillip really didn’t know what to make of it.
It wasn’t as if they were doing anything truly that earth shattering. Nothing more than a new change to an existing product, in fact.
Which was why it felt all the more appropriate that the mercenary company had been engaged yesterday. Hired exclusively to protect the workshop, Madeline, and her family. No-one was allowed inside other than Madeline, Lenore, Mim, Mildred, Phillip, or Alice.
She’d stopped by briefly to inspect the one-wheeled cart she’d be purchasing.
Madeline had been somewhat awestruck to be in her presence.
Unbeknown to Phillip, Alice had quite the reputation. Even in bad deals she often came out on top, or neutral. She was a true mercantile shark that swam deep waters and with women whose wealth were many times her own.
What’d been surprising to him though, was that Alice had brought a private lunch for him and her. Had wanted to just talk to him about how his day was going.
There was nothing behind it other than spending time with him and talking about things.
It was a stark night and day difference between before she saw his mother and after. As if they were two different people.
Though, Phillip was finding himself rather attracted to her. She was amusing, and had a quirky sense of humor. One he hadn’t expected.
“That’s the building,” Lenore said. “I rented it from the owner for today only. I didn’t think it’d be wise to invite her anywhere near our own properties. Nor to go to hers.”
“See, this is why you make me nervous, Lenny. You’re rapidly growing up into a clone of your older sister,” Mim grumbled. “Just without the heartless idiot, aspect.”
“Why thank you. I look forward to coming by during holidays with my husband in tow. Maybe if you’re lucky he’ll give you a hug as a present,” taunted Lenore.