Page 6 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12 (The Residency Boys #8)

Jun’s cheeks tingled so hard. Bright one? Good grief. He was not falling in love with Damian’s dom, but could he please, please, get adopted like a grand-sub or something?

“I want him to play with you. He needs it.” Jun summoned up courage. “I’ll be all right. I’ve relied on him too much.”

Richard listened, pausing a beat to digest Jun’s words.

His hand stroked Jun’s knee like a slow, steady heartbeat.

“When I take Damian out of his responsibilities, they become mine. When Damian surrenders to me, I take on his power. That’s part of our power exchange.

With his power comes his responsibilities, including you.

Though in this case, I can’t exercise that power on his behalf without your consent. ”

“I don’t understand,” Jun whispered.

“You and Damian don’t have a contract, or a formal arrangement, as of yet.

You two both spoke about that two nights ago.

I’ve never had a submissive who already had a dynamic with someone else that was dependent on them except for when I was training a dom or sharing a submissive with another dom. This is new to me.”

Jun’s cheeks burned. He played with the seam down the front of Richard’s shirt.

Richard laid his hand over Jun’s. “I don’t know if Damian would be comfortable with you seeing him submitting to me. These days he doesn’t do that publicly. But I can promise you that while he’s not in his top space for you that I and émeric will do anything for you that you need.”

“Can I be here?” The idea of being “on” and with the kids while knowing Damian was submitting to Richard was too overwhelming.

“Yes. I’ll talk to Damian as well. It may not be until right before I step in and order him to step down.”

Jun nodded. A cup clinked. He glanced toward the sound. émeric had come back at some point. He had three tea cups, two on the table, one in his hands.

“I’ll be here, Jun,” émeric said, voice steady this time.

Jun nodded, and then because he couldn’t help himself, he sputtered, “You’re the scary one, though.”

Both Richard and émeric chuckled.

“Enzo was the last one to say that,” émeric said, fondness and a touch of grief in his voice.

Jun took a second look at émeric’s face. “Enzo was your submissive before Collin?”

“Years ago, yes. He was hit by a car.”

Jun flinched.

émeric smiled and nodded, blinking suspiciously fast. “You can ask about him. It’s good to remember him.”

“Was he scared of you all the time?”

“No.” émeric’s smile grew. “He knew I would push his limits during a scene, but he trusted I would put him back together, that I would help him through anything that scared him. He was never alone with whatever fear I inspired.”

Never alone with fear.

Jun let the feeling roll around inside. He wanted that. He had that, sometimes, when he was on stage, facing the crowd, and Yohei and the others were out there with him.

Afraid and not alone.

He could do that.

“Is this going to be a common occurrence?” émeric nodded toward Jun’s legs, eyes on the hem of his skirt.

Jun pulled down the fabric. “It’s a disguise.”

“It suits you.”

Jun bit his lip. “Thanks? I’m not a girl.”

“Clothes are clothes.” émeric shrugged elegantly. “Wear whatever you like.”

“It makes a good disguise.”

“But do you enjoy it?”

Jun’s cheeks burned. He was a former soldier and a famous K-pop idol, a male one. But goddamn it, there was something about stockings and skirts. “A bit.”

“I’ll try to keep my reactions under control in the future, then. I apologize for today.”

“Uh, why?”

It was émeric’s turn to be embarrassed. “My initial reaction could have been calmer.”

Richard’s thumb stroked Jun’s knee.

“I mean, I did sit on your husband’s lap. Should I not?” Jun half moved as if to get up. Damn it, he’d spent all his thoughts on what Damian would think. He hadn’t thought about émeric. Richard was married!

Richard’s arms tightened, keeping Jun where he was.

émeric’s eyes moved to Richard, gaze soft and warm. “Whatever Richard invites you to do, that’s his choice. I trust him. If he invites you, then I approve.”

Richard’s phone buzzed. He checked the screen and then turned it so Jun could see.

Damian had responded: Be nice, Sir. Did you have to send that now? I’m working.

As Jun read, a second message came through. Fuck, I’m hard now. I’m so biting you for this, someday. Fuck.

And then a third message: Tell my wolfling he’s gorgeous.

Damian

Damian pushed his phone in his pocket before Richard could tease him with any more pictures.

He had things he needed to be doing, and all of them included not showing up with a hard-on.

There might have been fragmented fantasies in his head before of Jun with various members of The Residency, but now he had a goddamn photo.

Jun in lipstick was illegal. Though he’d already known that.

Jun had been in full-face makeup at many points in his career.

And Damian had the saved photos on his computer to prove it.

His security for the day, Mark, a lithe former Marine who was shorter than he was, entered the elevator first and beckoned him in.

“Who are we meeting, sir?” Mark asked.

“May Kirkpatrick.” Damian shoved his hand into his pocket. “Mother to Betti’s friend. Betti’s asking to stay with her. I think she’s brought her daughter, Ruby.”

May Kirkpatrick and Ruby were waiting downstairs in the section usually used for the hotel’s continental breakfast. May stood as Damian approached.

She was tall, even taller than him, with the kind of build that was suited for Olympic disc throwing or perhaps vaulting.

Her natural hair was braided back around her face in well-defined locs that wrapped in a swirl at the base of her neck.

She wore a long African print dress with straight lines.

Like everyone in winter, she’d put a warm layer underneath—an emerald-green turtleneck.

Wood and gold bangles were on her wrists.

She wore beads and what might have been a child’s Christmas decoration around her neck.

Damian held out his hand. She met his grasp with one of the same strength. “Mr. Sathers.”

“Miss Kirkpatrick, thank you for coming.”

She smiled, a little tight, lines around her eyes. “We’re very fond of Betti. Mr. Sathers, this is Ruby. Ruby, Mr. Sathers.”

Ruby stood up and offered her hand, then sat down again, smoothing her skirt. She had sad eyes and neat hair and nails. Her nails were painted, but she had no makeup on, just like her mother. They also looked nothing alike.

Damian gestured to a booth, and he and May sat down facing each other over the table. Damian folded his hands in front of his chest.

“I don’t remember you from when I was in the neighborhood.”

“I didn’t live there, then,” May said. “Was in Atlanta. Came back ten years ago to take care of my nan. She passed.”

“I’m sorry.”

May shook her head. “It was a mercy in the end. She had a full life.”

Damian nodded. “I’m glad you had that time with her, then.”

May’s smile lines cracked a little. “It gave us time. And she willed me her house in the end. Which means we have the room for Betti. She already has her own room; she’s usually been with us these past two years. I’d like to make that official.”

“Betti and Armada speak highly of you. They’ll both be here soon. I just wanted to meet you first.”

May nodded and turned to Ruby. “Why don’t you wait across the room?”

Ruby nodded, eyes big and soft, and hurried away.

She scooted into a chair at a distant table and looked down at her hands.

The way her shoulders hunched didn’t speak well of whoever had raised her.

Damian tried to square that with the quiet way May had spoken to her.

Maybe the woman was someone else when others weren’t around.

If so, he couldn’t let Betti go to their house.

“Ruby is my cousin’s daughter. They left her with our nan when she remarried. I got full custody two years ago. She’s a good girl but scared of men. Betti has been one of the best things to happen to her.”

That made a lot more sense.

“I’m not sure Betti is scared enough of men.”

May’s lips thinned. “Sometimes acting like there’s no fear is a conditioning of fear. I’m only telling you this so you know what the situation is. I’ve done all the home checks before. I know the process.”

“It might not be simple this time around. You should know the situation.” Damian laid it out in brief sentences. May’s eyebrows went up a few times. “I’ll understand if you want nothing to do with any of us,” Damian said. “Or if you can’t afford to be involved.”

“Honey.” May’s lips twisted in a smile. “I was in Atlanta transitioning from Johnny boy to what I am now. My nan only let me back in the house when she thought she didn’t have any other choice. And Pastor Doyle can fuck himself. Betti could come home with us today.”

“Thaddeus is still looking for her.” Damian explained why Betti had been missing from school. May’s eyes softened, but her lips tightened. “My sister isn’t going to give up custody willingly,” he finished.

“She might in return for reduced jail time.”

“There’s no guarantee she’ll be charged. Right now, my father is on the run and Dalia is back in the house. Armada says Thaddeus knows Betti often stays with you.”

“We have two big dogs and good locks. The locks are there to warn the dogs.”

“Until Thaddeus is arrested, social services and I think the two older girls should stay with my friend. Their building has round-the-clock security. I’m just hoping the arrest is soon.”

May nodded. “If Ruby could meet her every week until then?”

“I want to make this as easy as possible for Betti. If it can be done, I’ll try. What I don’t trust is that Betti won’t tell Thaddeus where she is.”

May’s lips thinned again. “She’s still loyal.”

“She still loves him.”

“Kids often do.”