Mine & Ours (14 page)

Mr. Donnelly hurried down the hospital corridor to the waiting room of the Emergency Department. “Tim, what the hell happened?” Sean asked.

“Who called you?” Tim and John stood up.

“Judge Carlton called. I guess she’s on her way here. How is he?”

“The doctors are still with him. The officer said there was a photo that was leaked to the press. I’ve got a call into the station to see if they can tell me where it came from or at least send me a copy of it.” Tim explained.

“I didn’t see the news. Did you?”

“Just Judge Carlton’s press conference,” Tim said, pointing down the hall.

Sydney and Paxton hurried into the waiting room. “Any word?”

“Nothing yet. We were just taking a walk in the park and we heard someone yell faggot. We thought it was for us, but when we turned around, he was on the ground.”

“What the hell is a 70 year old man doing in the park at night? He doesn’t even live in the city.”

“No, he lives in Ulster,” Sydney said.

Tim pulled his cell phone out when it chimed. “I got a text from the station manager. This photo was emailed from a general justice account at the courthouse. No signature.” He watched as the photo loaded and then showed it to the rest of them.

“That old fucker!” Donnelly said. “Are you sure
he’s
the victim?”

“He was beaten. Blood all over him,” John said. “It was real blood and there was a real attacker.”

“And he just happen to be beaten behind the two of you?”

“Sean, what are you getting at?” Paxton asked.

“That photo. It’s a selfie he took of himself and sent to me three months ago. I told him I liked seeing him in pink and then he sent me that, from his phone to my email. I have a secured email account and I deleted the email and saved the photo to an encrypted file.”

“He sent the photo of himself to the press? Why?” Paxton asked.

Sydney shook her head. “To make us look bad. We didn’t expose his secret but there was the implication that he did something wrong. So it now looks like I sent the photo to the press to make him look bad, therefore make
me
look bad.”

“Will it work?” John asked.

“Probably not. The station can track the email. I don’t use email at work. I only use the internal chat when conversing with another judge. Everything else I do is documented on paper. Even my memos and internal notes are on paper.”

Sean looked toward the man, wearing a long lab coat, who approached them. “Doctor? How is he?”

“His wounds were superficial. Head wounds bleed a lot, but he’s old and I have to keep him overnight. Are you his family?”

“No, just colleagues. He’s a retiring judge of the New York State Appellate Court.”

“Oh, that’s why he keeps muttering the word
faggot
?”

“To you or to someone else?” Sydney asked.

“I don’t know. I’m sorry, but he’ll be here overnight and then he can go home.”

“Well, thank you, doctor,” Sydney shook his hand. “I’m glad he’ll be all right. Can I see him for a moment?”

“Just for a moment,” he said. “Follow me.”

She looked at the men. “I’ll be right back.” she took her cell phone out of her pocket, opened a recording app, then put it back in her pocket.

The doctor opened the curtain. “Five minutes, judge.”

“Thank you,” she nodded and focused on the frail old man in the bed, three large bandages on his head and face. “You gonna live?”

“I supposed. I have a bad headache.”

“So, what did you expect would happen?”

“I don’t know what you mean. I was fucking attacked.”

“Yes, I know. An old man, wait, and old gay man attacked in the park at the exact same time John and Tim were there. Coincidence?”

“Of course, I didn’t know they were there.”

“That’s why you called them a
faggot
?”

“They are, aren’t they?”

“Why did you send the photo to the press?” She sat on the edge of his bed. “Harold, I would’ve never exposed your secrets. You tried to hurt me. You tried to hurt PJ and John. Why? Just to get me in your bed? You never even tried, and now you’re pissed?”

“Would you have fucked me?” he crossed his arms.

“No, I never cheated on my husband.”

“But he cheated on you.”

“It was part of our agreement. I always knew about my husband. Now, we’ve fallen in love and we’re getting remarried, making a new marriage. Now, you can screw with my career. Make me look bad for loving and forgiving my husband. Make me look bad because I went to a BDSM club. I don’t care what you do. If you and anyone else want to judge me on everything but my work, then do it. I don’t want to serve those who don’t want me to serve them.” she stood up. “Harold, retire. Take a look at the life you have left. You’re the one who screwed up with Sean. Maybe he’d take you back.”

“He won’t,” Harold sighed. “I did screw up. I hurt you and you were my friend. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. Everything is out of control.”

“Do you want to see him?”

“If he’d see me, yes, I would.”

“He’s in the waiting room. He came the minute I called.” She turned and walked out of the room and faced Sean. “Go on in.”

Sean walked behind the curtain and closed it around the bed. “Harold?” he gulped.

“Master, forgive me,” Harold wept.

Three days later, John knocked on Sydney’s door, “Ma’am?”

“Please, come in,” she smiled. “What is it?”

“Judge Maxwell just called. They will provide you with a decision in half an hour.”

“Oh, is that it?”

“Judge Bishop is here to see you. He’s waiting in the corridor.”

“Um. I’ll see him. Will you call PJ and tell him I’m going to be a little late and tell him why. Just tell him I’ll meet him at home.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“John, are you all right?”

“Yeah, I have something on my mind, but it’s personal. I’m sorry. I’m trying to not let it affect my work. I’ll send in Judge Bishop.”

“No, he can wait,” she stood up and then sat on her desk. She pointed to the chair in front of her desk. “John, can I help? Lord knows you’ve been my sounding board for years. The least I could do is help you.”

“You help more than you know. It’s because of you and Paxton that I’m with Tim. I really like him.
More
than like him.”

“Does he know?”

“I know it’s too soon to say the L word, and even to move in with me, but I want him to move in with me. He’s staying at the Hilton and I have plenty of room. My brownstone is really too big for me, but my grandparents left it to me when they died.”

“Then ask him. Tell him how you feel about him. He could even have his own space, it’s that big. You know, his own office or whatever. John, one thing I have learned over the past ten years, more than that with Paxton, is to be honest. If you really like him and love him and you’re falling for him, tell him. Don’t wait for him to tell you. For the first time in both of your lives, you’re out and proud, and glad to be with each other.”

“Thanks,” he stood up. “I will. I feel better. I appreciate it.”

“Remember, Saturday we’d still like for you two to come over. We’ll have dinner, playtime and you two can sleep in the guestroom.”

“We’ll be there,” he smiled. “Shall I show him in?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Thank you.” She crossed her arms and waited until Bishop slowly walked into her office. “What brings you here?”

“I wanted to apologize to you. I came to the courthouse to put in my official retirement papers. I also sent a letter to the press and the committee asking for forgiveness for my actions against you and your family.”

“I see,” she sighed. “Well, you can go now.”

“Can’t you accept my apology?”

“No. I mean, I can let it go, but no, I don’t forgive you. It wasn’t me you went after, it was the man I loved my entire life. That’s not forgivable.”

“You forgave Paxton for what he did.”

“That’s because I love him. I’ll always love him. You can go now.”

“As you wish,” he turned to leave. “Master Donnelly took me back.”

“Good, I’m glad. No one should ever be judged on what they do behind closed doors as consenting adults.” She watched as he closed the door behind him. “Jerk.” She grabbed her blazer and put it on, and smoothed out her black skirt. She opened the door and headed down the corridor to the elevator.

She knocked on the door labeled
Justice Conference
and waited for the clerk to open the door. She headed straight for the table and looked at the panel of judges.

Judge Maxwell focused on her. “Judge Carlton, it has been decided by this committee of sitting judges that your appointment to the Appellate court be granted. Judge Washington would be happy to support your appointment in the seat recently vacated by Justice Harold Bishop.”’

Sydney took a deep breath. “Thank you. I appreciate all of your consideration, but after some consideration of my own, I have decided to not accept the appointment. I have decided that after my term is up at the end of this year, I’m leaving the bench.”

“Judge Sydney, are you sure this is what you want?” Maxwell asked.

“Yes, in ten months, I will retire my seat. I’m going to start next year back in private practice. My own. I’m honored by your support, but I have made up my mind.”

“Will you be making another statement to the press?”

“My clerk is releasing a written press release shortly, thank you.” she nodded.

“You’re dismissed, Judge Carlton.”

Sydney turned and headed out of the room.

Sydney walked into the playroom, and noticed Paxton, completely naked, kneeling in the middle of the room. “What’s this, PJ? Magda said you were waiting for me in here.”

“Yes, Mistress,” he said. “I heard what you did.”

“Oh, I wanted to tell you. How did you know?”

“It was all over the news and the courthouse. I was downstairs in the courthouse when it spread all over. I had to wrap up my Matthew’s case. Donnelly and I got the word together.”

“I didn’t know what to do and when I told them, it felt right. I wrote out two press releases and had John submit the one that matched my decision. I’m sorry. I should’ve told you. Now, you’re here, all naked. You want to play?”

“Yes,” he said. “I shouldn’t have been presumptuous, but since we are playing with Tim and John on Saturday, I’d like for us to play today. I would like to start by rubbing your feet, if you’d allow that, Mistress. I do owe you a foot rub, every day for the rest of your life.”

“Hmm, that long huh?” she smiled. “Stand first.”

Paxton stood up. “Mistress?”

She hugged him tightly and kissed his mouth softly. “I love you, PJ. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“I understand,” he smiled. “Mistress, may I rub your feet?”

“Yes,” she sat down on the kneeling pads of the spanking bench and he kneeled at her feet.

Slowly, with the perfect amount of pressure, he rubbed each of her feet. When he finished, he kissed the top of each foot, and then sucked on each toe. “Thank you, Mistress,” he put his arms behind his back.

She opened the drawer to the dresser and opened the box. She pulled out his satin working collar and placed it around his neck. She locked the collar and put the key on its chain around her own neck. She kissed his forehead. “Thank you, my pet,” she whispered. “You knew just what your Mistress needed.”

“I’m here to please you, Mistress,” he wore his collar proudly, as the satin hugged his throat.

She stood up, walked over to the dresser, and grabbed her crop. She walked back over to Paxton. “On the bench,” she pointed to the spanking bench.

He rested his knees on the kneepads and torso on the upper pad.

She swatted his ass with the crop and watched his erection for a reaction. His cock grew larger and thicker.
God, it was so beautiful
, she thought,
he’s mine. Finally, all mine
. She swatted him again, switching ass cheeks. His ass was turning a beautiful red. “From now on, you must always keep track of my swats. Do you understand, my pet?”

“Yes, Mistress, it was 10.”

“Ten?”

“Swats, Mistress.”

“Very good, my pet. Now, stand up straight. I want you to stand on the large block over there,” she pointed.

“Is that new? Oh, sorry,” he said. “Mistress. I apologize.”

“It is new. I want to be able to be eye level with certain parts of you, my pet.”

“Yes, Mistress,” he walked over and stood on the padded rubberized non-skid wooden block she ordered for the height.

“Spread your legs one foot apart, hands behind your head, my pet.” He complied easily and put his hands behind his head, interlocking his fingers.

She gently rubbed her hands over his ass and kissed each cheek. She ran her tongue over the small of his back, just above his ass. She spread his cheeks apart. “pet, relax.”

“Yes, Mistress,” he purred slightly.

She kissed, sucked, and licked her way toward his asshole. She waited for his response, moaning, groaning, and slightly shuddering. She stuck her tongue in his asshole, fucking him gently with her tongue. He continued to moan and she could feel him trying to balance himself. She walked around and faced his cock. “Did you like that?”

“Yes, Mistress,” his eyes diverted to hers.

“I’m going to suck on you long and hard and when you need to release yourself, do so,” she said, taking in his entire long length in one breath. She continued to suck until he released his seed down her throat.

She looked up at him and his cock was still half-hard. His body shook slightly and she took his hand. She led him over to the bed in the corner of the room. “Lie down, my pet,” She whispered.

Paxton lay down on his side, and she lay down beside him, taking him in her arms. “I love you so much, my pet. My husband.”

“I love you, Mistress,” he lay his head on her chest, feeling the warmth of her comfort, of her love, of his wife.

She held him until his body stopped shaking, and then she gazed into his eyes. “How about a nice hot bubble bath?”

“Oh, yes, Mistress, I’d like that,” he said.

“Good, let’s go to our master bath.” She held him as they stood up and headed toward the bath.

Sydney lay in the tub, the bubbles surrounding her as Paxton stood pouring the bubbles into the large tub of hot water. “Do you wish me to wash you, wife?”

“I wish for you to join me,” she smiled. “Lay here behind me, so I can lay in your arms.”

“You wish for me to hold you?” he smiled.

“Yes, my love, please, hold your wife,” she whispered.

He climbed in the tub behind her and she lay back in his arms. He wrapped his arms around her body and his legs around her legs. He kissed her hair. “I love you so much, wife.”

“I know and I love you, husband.”