Carson Evolved Ch. 02

As they'd been walking, one of the things that had consumed his thoughts was that he had no idea what he was going to do with three wives. Well, he thought, I know what I'm going to do. But where am I going to do it? He and Mara only had a two-bedroom house, and the spare bedroom currently served as an office. Now he had two more wives who deserved to share his home just as much as Mara did.

Carson realized that both of them were still with him when he reached the car. Edwards looked at him and said, "I understand that congratulations are in order...twice." Carson looked at Sam and couldn't stop the grin that split his cheeks. Looking at the giant, he just nodded.

Edwards said, "If I might, sir, I'd like to offer a benediction of sorts." Surprised, Carson nodded. "'Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.' Martin Luther said that." Simple, yet eloquent. Once again, Carson was fascinated at the words that came out of the giant man's mouth.

"That's lovely," said Samantha. Carson added his thanks as well.

"By the way, sir, I've been instructed to deliver you to your mother-in-law's estate." It occurred to Edwards just then that Carson had more than one mother-in-law. "To be clear, sir, Mrs. Livingstone's home."

Carson noted that Edwards assumed he would be driving him somewhere, but shrugged it off as part and parcel of his new life. "Did she say why?"

"Actually, it was your wife, Mara, who gave me instructions. She did not give a reason, sir."

"Well, I'm sure it's a good one," Carson said as he turned to Sam. "Shall we?"

With a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye, she replied, "We shall." Something about the way she said it promised naughty things, and Carson felt a stirring in his loins. Down boy, he thought, and the problem went away. That'll be handy.

Just about the time they reached the estate, Carson realized that he hadn't solved the problem of where to put his new wives. 'Put my wives?' he thought. They're not property. Semantics aside, he wanted his wives to share his life, and he wanted them nearby. It was a question of space.

Almost as if she were reading his mind, Samantha leaned over and said, "It's already been taken care of."

Carson looked at her in confusion. "What's been taken care of?"

Sam smiled and shrugged. "You'll see soon enough."

Carson didn't like being in the dark, but he figured he owed her to have a little patience.

They pulled to a stop beneath the curving glass porte coche that shielded guests from the elements as they exited their transports. The Livingstone mansion was a behemoth of industrial design, with a combination of brick, natural stone, glass and steel. Carson had never understood why they'd built such a large home. There had never been more than four members of the Livingstone house living there at once, and the servant staff was fairly small. He barely had time to grab his belongings before Edwards was opening the door. That's going to take some getting used to, he thought.

"Thank you, Edwards," he said as he stepped out. He turned and offered a hand to Sam, who stepped out with a nervous look on her face. It was the first time Carson had seen her not in charge of herself, outside the bedroom at least.

He leaned in and asked her in a whisper, "What's wrong?"

"It's all happening so fast," she whispered back. Seeing his concern, she kissed his cheek, then wiped the trace of lipstick off. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

By the time they'd finished their conversation, a small crowd had gathered on the wide porch. One of the twins flew towards him in excitement. She was wearing Mara's jewelry, and a dress that Carson had purchased for her for their anniversary a couple of years ago. He could tell, however, that it was Mila headed his way.

He was forced to drop Sam's hand when Mila threw herself into his arms, her hands wrapping themselves around his neck as she pressed her lips to his. It was a move that had to have been practiced, because Mara did this when she was especially pleased to see him. It was usually reserved for when he returned from a business trip.

"Welcome home, dear," said the woman in his arms.

Carson cocked an eye at her in confusion. Home? He chose to ignore the comment for the moment. Instead, he said, "It's good to be home my dear...Mila."

She gasped guiltily and said, "How do you do that? Dad didn't know the difference when we got here earlier."

Carson smiled and said, "I love you...and you," looking pointedly at Mara-as-Mila, before turning to Sam and saying, "And I'm quickly falling for you." Looking into Mila's eyes he said, "I can't really explain, other than to say that you are more than the way you look, as is your sister. When I say that I love you, I mean that I love what makes you uniquely you."

Mila wouldn't have believed that she could love this man any more than she already did, but his words stirred her heart to new levels. A tear leaked from her eye and she softly thanked him as she snuggled into his chest. Carson kissed and stroked her hair until the was content. Mara and Helena heard every word that he said, and he's melted their hearts as well. Each was struggling not to cry.

As Carson comforted Mila, Mara took the opportunity to greet Samantha. She stepped up to the lovely redhead and hugged her neck. "Samantha, it's so good to see you again. I can't tell you how happy I am that you're joining Carson's family."

Samantha looked into Mara's eyes, searching for any hint of jealousy. What she saw there seemed to be a sincere joy at sharing her husband with Sam. "I'm grateful that I got this chance. I already loved you guys, but to marry Carson? It's like a dream..." The ladies started walking inside, arm in arm, and everyone else followed suit. Samantha murmured to Mara, "You know they were trying to set me up with that pig, Jordan van Heuval?"

Shocked, Mara stopped. "Are you serious? He's...he's...he can't be what they're looking for! He's arrogant and spoiled and...ugh!" It was clear to everyone in the group just how Mara felt about the guy.

Helena was skeptical. "Are you sure that's what the directors intended? How do you know?"

"My father told me. He said that they were concerned that the Cross line was going to die out if I didn't get started soon, and they thought maybe the Cross genes would be strong enough to change the direction of the van Heuval line."

Helena shared a look with her husband, Thurston. It seemed to say, What could they be thinking? He shrugged, understanding her concern. The van Heuvals were a problematic group. How they remained a part of the project was a subject of much speculation.

As the hostess of the home, Helena guided everyone to the dining room. "Dinner will be served in a few minutes. How about some drinks?" The butler, Henry, collected drink orders as the people moved to find their seats at the table. Carson had never seen it before, but there were actually name cards designating their places. He made a full circuit of the table, not noticing his name at any of the usual spots. Confused, he looked up to see Helena and Thurston standing at the head of the table. Helena had a look of excitement on her face; Thurston was more ambivalent.

"Carson, dear. This is your seat," said Helena.

The other ladies had already taken their seats, and their heads swiveled to look at him. He couldn't help but be surprised. That was Thurston's chair, as head of the household. He looked at the man. It wasn't that he looked angry, or upset; mostly he just looked resigned.

He said, "I don't understand," as he began walking towards the designated seat. He didn't intend to move slowly, but he was confused what was happening and it made him wary. He took his seat, but it was clear that he wasn't comfortable.

Helena knelt next to him and said, "You are the head of this house, now. My husband and I will be here to support you. You are the alpha. I am your matriarch, and Thurston will be your beta. This house and everything in it now belong to you." Looking into her eyes as she said "everything," Carson was pretty sure that meant everything. Once again, he had to order his erection to subside.

Stunned, Carson was having a hard time processing all that was happening. The pace of change in his life was astonishing. Less than two weeks ago, he'd been eating a lonely dinner wondering if his marriage was going to survive. Now he was, apparently, one of the richest men in the country, married to three smoking hot women who couldn't wait for him to impregnate them, and as many women as he wanted otherwise. It was a lot to take in.

Helena sat to his right, while Mara, Mila, and Sam alternated from his left to right, in that order. Thurston moved to the foot of the table and took a seat. He smiled when he saw Carson watching him. "It's a lot to take in, I know. I can see that you have questions, and I imagine that you're wondering how I feel about this."

Carson nodded, watching him carefully.

"To be honest, it's different than I expected. You have to understand, I've known this day was coming for most of my adult life. My role with the project has always been to prepare the way for you, or someone like you. Now that you're here, I must say, I'm relieved."

"Relieved?" That was unexpected.

Thurston smiled. He looked around at the lovely faces gathered at the table. "Carson, I know that from the outside, most people probably believe that I'm a captain of industry, a leader of men. The truth is, I'm a figurehead, little more. Oh, I have my strengths, to be sure, but I am quite aware of my limitations. More than that, I am comfortable in my skin. I married a beautiful woman, knowing that I would not be the father of our children. That is not something that an alpha would be able to do, but I never struggled with it. No, I've always known that I was building something to give away, warming the seat you're sitting in. My biggest concern, honestly, was that the 'you' that arrived would be someone like Jordan van Heuval, who really is a pig."

Helena's heart swelled with pride at hearing her husband's words. There were many things to love about him. He was smart and gentle, handsome. He would have been a great husband for many women, but he was hers. It was a shame that he was no alpha, but he had done a great service for Orriri nonetheless.

The rest of the meal was much less eventful. His wives spent much of the time catching up on each other's lives. Occasionally, Carson conversed with the others, but he was largely left alone. It was clear that he was approaching overload from the massive changes that his life had undergone in such a short time. He finished before the others and excused himself to the library. The others watched him go, understanding that this was his approach to dealing with uncertainty. Mara made that clear to everyone. "He'll examine things in his mind, turning them this way and that like a puzzle," she said. "Once he feels comfortable that he understands everything, it will be crystallized in his mind and he'll move forward." Her certainty relaxed the rest of the group, and they spent the rest of the evening discussing more mundane matters.

One by one, the members of his new family came in to bid him "Good Night." Thurston was first. He knocked on the door to get Carson's attention, then entered when the younger man looked up. "I just wanted to check in with you. I know this is a lot to take in, and you're going to need some time to adjust. Just remember that Helena and I are here to help you get acclimated. If you have needs or questions, you know where to find us. Okay?" With that, he turned and headed upstairs.

Mara didn't bother knocking. She found her husband standing at the window, gazing out at the stars. She slipped up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She kissed his back and said, "I love you, Carson. We all do. You can do this. But you're not alone. We'll be there with you every step of the way." She stepped around to reach for his chin, turning his face towards hers. Her eyes captivated him, just as they had since the first moment they'd met. A brilliant gray-green normally, they were emerald fire in her passion, and cold jade in her anger. Now, they were the soothing green of a forest, steady and unwavering. His love for her swelled anew, causing his throat to choke on the words "Thank you" that he struggled to voice. He ceased trying to speak and simply poured his emotions into his kiss; Mara read his intentions as clearly as words on a page, and her heart was warmed. She slipped away, leaving him to his thoughts.

Samantha was struggling to contain her delirious happiness. She was married to Carson Jayne. He had no idea how much she'd wanted him from the moment she'd read his file. As much as she'd recognized herself in the description of his ideal female, she could have written the description of him from her own desires. She had fallen head over heels in love with him more easily than she could have ever imagined. It was as if she'd been precariously dangling over a precipice filled with things she didn't want, her grip beginning to slip, and suddenly Carson was there to bring her to safety. Even now, as she watched him deep in contemplation, it was all she could do not to throw herself before him and thank him for rescuing her. Of course, he'd have no idea what she was talking about, but she would. She watched him for a few minutes before joining him at the window.

"It's a beautiful night out there," she said.

"Mmhmm."

Turning to face her new husband, she said, "If I'd known that you hadn't been with Mila yet, I wouldn't have pushed so hard to be with you today."

He smiled slightly, almost cocky. "I'm not sure you were very much in control of yourself there for a while."

She acknowledged that with a smile, her nipples tightening as she remembered her desperate need for him in that moment. She shook herself out of the memory. "I just wanted to tell you good night, and..." She was suddenly shy. It seemed stupid that she felt this way so quickly, and it was important to her that he respect her. She swallowed, and looking down at her feet, she softly said, "I love you. I know you aren't there yet, but I can't help how I feel."

As he looked into her eyes, he saw a panic incongruous with the image he had of her in his mind. He wasn't sure if he loved her yet, but he could never reject her either. He opened his arms and she flowed in. He kissed her hair, then her forehead, her nose, and finally placed a gentle kiss on her lips. He looked into her eyes and softly said, "Mine. I don't know much else, but you're mine. I will never let you go. I will cherish you and protect you until my dying breath." His passion and intensity drove deep into her heart, banishing any doubts about where they stood. Her eyes welled up with happy tears.

She returned his gentle kiss and murmured, "Good night, my love," before heading for her own bed.

Watching her leave, he realized that some of the weight of his worries had evaporated. He could do this. It would take some adjustment, but he could do this.

He took a seat on a small settee to relax and enjoy his bourbon old-fashioned. Assuming that Mila would be the next to wish him good night, he was surprised when Helena arrived instead. She had changed into a set of satin pajamas in milk chocolate brown. She might be in her early 40s, but Helena was clearly the template for her twins and her body was not much different from theirs. Carson had admired her for some time, of course, and he'd definitely seen more of her before; she'd always taken great pleasure in wearing skimpy bathing suits in his vicinity, for example. But this was different. This was the uniform of a woman seeking not to taunt strange men, but to entice familiar men. Carson couldn't help but feel aroused, and he almost put an end to it, but decided instead to enjoy the feelings she was engendering in him.

Helena came and quietly took a seat beside him. She watched him for a moment with a worried look on her face. "How are you doing?" she asked, quietly.

He smiled at her and said, "I'm really doing better. There's just so much to absorb. It's a little overwhelming. But...I'm getting there."

She was relieved to hear it, and she could see that he really meant it from the more relaxed posture. It seemed a shame that she needed to jar his world once more, but she knew that this was the last big piece of the puzzle. Part of her was terrified of his reaction, but there was nothing to do about it. He needed to know.

She slid a little closer to him, one leg tucked under the other as she turned towards him. She took his hand in both of hers, holding it in her lap. "Carson, there's one last thing that you need to know."

After all the surprises of the day, Carson was weary and didn't know how much more he could take. But he also knew that he'd made a commitment, and he had faith in himself to handle just about anything. He took a sip of his drink before responding, and then nervously said, "Okay. Go on."

Helena had never felt more nervous than she did right now. She'd wrapped men around her fingers for years, but Carson was so very different. He affected her in ways that she had no defense for. It was frightening and intoxicating, simultaneously. She cleared her throat and said, "Remember when I said that you were the alpha earlier?" Carson nodded, watching her carefully. "Carson, when I said that you owned everything, I meant everything." She watched his reaction, but all she saw was a little smile. She couldn't know that he'd already guessed that was the case. "What I mean is, uh, I belong to you as well." She sat back, nervously watching to see how he responded.

Carson could see how difficult this was for her, and how nervous she was making this declaration. It hurt his heart to see her frightened of him. The truth was, he'd loved her for being the mother of his wife, but he'd also found her extremely attractive; she was like a polished version of her daughters. He'd never gone further than one extremely explicit dream, but they'd certainly flirted enough through the years that each knew the other found them attractive. Right now, he had two concerns: easing her fears, and understanding how this would affect Thurston. Carson liked the man, and he didn't want to cause any hurt.

Helena was trembling, her eyes fixed where her hands held his. He reached out with his free hand and gently lifted her chin. "Helena, I think we both know that I've been attracted to you for a long time. If you say you belong to me, then I accept joyfully. My biggest concern is Thurston. How will this work?"

Her heart soared to hear his acceptance, and she thrilled that he asked the question she'd expected because he was the man he was. "Thurston will remain my husband, legally. But in this house, I am your wife in all but name. If you take me to bed, it is your right and he will accept it. This is another part of what he expects to happen. Carson, the truth is, you could have had me any time you wanted already. He's been a little surprised that we haven't slept together already. He knew that I wanted you."

Carson was reeling from that thought. It was so foreign a concept to him, even considering all that he'd learned in the past couple of weeks, that he had a hard time understanding. Then he remembered the way that Xavier had described beta men earlier and it seemed a little clearer.

He felt a need to make a gesture of acceptance to Helena. Words meant one thing, but actions always carries greater weight. He leaned forward, and as he did so, he heard Helena's sharp intake of breath. He traced her lips with his thumb, but before he could pull away, she opened her mouth and gently fellated his thumb. He was glad that he hadn't willed away his erection earlier, because this was incredibly hot. He let her work on his thumb for a few seconds before gently sliding it from her lips. He slid his hand to firmly cup the back of her head and drew her lips to his. He painted her lips with his tongue and her mouth quickly opened to suck it inside. They kissed for a minute or two, the passion between them evident, before he slowly pulled back. He looked her in the eyes and said, "I will call for you soon." The intensity of his gaze nearly melted her panties, but she simply swallowed and nodded.