Dave was sat beside Ethan with a very nervous Ed next to him. Next were some of the settlement people, then Allen and Doug who had been corralled by people excitedly asking questions, then more townspeople filling in places to the end of the table.
Mike had a leash attached to the ring in his choke collar. He was pushed to the wood floor behind Wind Seeker. Lucien took in Mike's misery. Wind Seeker would allow him to join the tribe as a 'dog' and work his way up to slightly less than human status. He expected by Harvest Celebration he would work his way up to 'pack horse' if he behaved.
The Indians would throw scraps of food to the floor for their 'dog' and a bowl of water was placed by him. Mike would have to be careful leaning forward for his meal to keep the laces from his collar from torturing his balls. Silent tears were steadily streaming down his face.
After the women placed filled platters along the middle of the three tables and were seated with everyone else, Lucien spoke to them. "This is Ariel, my woman." He squeezed her waist a little. Ariel nervously searched the tables for a woman's face glaring at her in contempt for taking her place with Lucien. Lucien continued introducing the new women and their appropriate Clansmen. "That is Dave, the new Slave-master apprentice." People were smiling at Dave and Ethan with approval. "And his partner, Ed." Further down the table he introduced Allen and his partner Doug.
"I am pleased to announce four very fortunate additions to the Clan. Shawna," Justin nuzzled his brown beauty, "and Allen," Lucien nodded in the man's direction, "have medical training." People started talking excitedly. "Teri has training as a veterinarian, Carl. She'll be a great asset with the livestock." Nathan kissed her on the cheek. "Hannah, Ariel has been studying plants. I'm sure Hannah would like you to show her around once you're settled."
Ariel looked down the table to see a woman smiling and waving at her. Ariel smiled with a small wave back. Maybe this won't be so bad she thought.
"Christal and Ed have experience with negotiations." Nicholas smiled at Christal and Dave squeezed Ed's hand. Lucien had been planning how he could present the two political activists as worthy additions.
"Remember your journey to the settlement and give our new members time to rest. After dinner, the Slave-master will show Dave and Ed to their new lodgings. Paul, you and Zippo see that Allen and Doug are settled in. I take it things are already prepared for our women?" Lucien looked out to one of the older serving women in the group.
"Yes, sir. Sarah, do you need help with sizes?" the woman asked the clothier.
"No, just distributing the clothes. Lucien, we may have to make alterations for Ariel. She's such a tiny thing." Ariel started to blush. "And Nathan, dear God!" There was a lot of laughter from the tables. "I guess I can use what I trim off of Ariel's things." Nathan lifted one of Teri's massive breasts and smiled.
All the men at the table were fully dressed in leather except the new captives who sat uncomfortable in their ball sacks, very aware of their exposed manhood. On the way up to the settlement the captives had become used to seeing each other naked. Now, the men were embarrassed.
Allen and Doug whispered in distress at how no mention had been made of finding them garments. The man next to Allen overhearing the conversation said, "I'm Mason. They're real control freaks at the beginning. You'll get clothes in about a week once they see you've settled in. Don't worry about it. That's how we all arrive here. Hell, we spend half the time naked anyway." Mason shook hands with the new arrivals. "We'll talk later. Look, it's really nice here. You'll get used to it. We all remember how difficult it was when we arrived. You're not alone, guys."
For the first time since the branding, Allen felt tears in his eyes. The stress and uncertainty had taken a toll on the young man. "Thank you, Mason. I think we're going to need the help in adjusting to all this."
"It all works out. Just take it slow. We're a big family here and everyone helps each other. Even the Vamps pitch in if we need it." Mason smiled at Doug. "You, too. Just ask if you need anything, Doug."
Doug looked around nervously. "Thanks, Mason."
Mason looked mischievously at Allen. "Any chance you'll tell me later what dog boy did to earn the Indians?"
Allen glanced over at his miserable former friend trying to reach a piece of meat on the floor and jerking as his hands pulled at the lace down his back. "Let's just say he turned out to be a real prick. I'll tell you about it later."
"Looking forward to it." Mason smiled.
Wind Seeker looked up at Lucien. "We'll be heading back tomorrow morning, unless you need us."
"No. I know you must be anxious to get back. Justin, why don't you take Shawna out to meet Shining Star. She can make sure there aren't any complications with the baby." Lucien guessed Wind Seeker's mate must be close to term.
Justin told Wind Seeker they'd ride over in about a week after Shawna had rested from the trip. The Indian thanked Lucien and Justin for their concern.
After they finished eating, Lucien led Ariel outside. They walked to a house down at the end of the street. After he pointed out an outhouse about fifty feet away, they went inside. "We eat all our meals in the hall," he said, explaining the absence of a kitchen.
There were several chairs arranged in front of a large stone fireplace. Some fresh flowers sat in a vase on a small table. There were two other rooms with no doors that led off of the large living area.
One was a small room to the side with an old fashioned hand pump under one of the windows. It had a small sink under it and could waterfall into a huge stone bathtub along the wall.
The second room was a large bedroom with a big wooden wardrobe and a massive bed. Lucien tossed his hat and gloves on a chair and removed his kerchief. Ariel saw a small dresser with a mirror and some brushes and lotions on it. She gazed at her haggard appearance in the mirror. "Welcome home, Ariel."
CHAPTER 14
THE CLAIMING
There was a light knock on the door. Lucien picked up his hat and walked out to the living room with Ariel following behind.
"Hi, Lucien." A pretty woman of average height and build, and brown hair twisted up on the back of her head stood on the porch with Sarah.
Lucien took the woman's hands and kissed her on the cheek. "How are you, Heather?" Ariel looked curiously at Lucien's former companion.
"Carl and I are doing well, sir. I think we're going to do fine together," she answered softly, looking at her feet. "I'd like to help Ariel get settled in. I'm sure she has questions and I remember how much better I felt with the trail dirt off me." Heather looked up, searching Lucien's face. She saw his slight nod. She leaned up on her tip toes and he still had to bend down to hear her whisper. "I'm so happy for you, Lucien."
Lucien cleared his throat from the unexpected emotion of Heather's sincere remark. "Thank you, Heather. I'd really appreciate that. I need to catch up on a few things. Sarah, did you find anything to fit my little woman?" Lucien noticed Sarah's arms loaded with clothes.
"I think I have a few things that will be fine with some minor adjustments. That'll give me time to put together a better selection for her. I found some blouses and dresses in a chest that will fit Teri. They're old and need a good washing but they seem in good shape," Sarah replied.
Lucien smiled as he remembered Elizabeth, Nathan's companion over eighty years ago. It hadn't occurred to him until now that Nathan was such a breast man. He wondered if his friend would recognize anything Sarah brought over.
"Well, I'll leave you to get sorted out. Ariel, you need rest. We can show you around the grounds tomorrow," Lucien directed.
"Yes, sir," Ariel answered as Lucien walked out to the street.
Sarah laid the clothes on the bed and held up a few things. She took out a measuring tape and wound it around and up and down Ariel's body, writing down the numbers. Heather was busy running water in the tub.
"Well for the most part, these things will fit you. You may have to roll up sleeves for awhile until I can get to them. I need to hem up s
ome of the skirts first, I think." Sarah studied her stack and removed some of the outfits.
"I can help you if you'd like. I sewed most of my clothes growing up," Ariel offered.
"Thank you, but no. You're assigned to Hannah and the gardens. Unless it's an emergency, Lucien keeps things pretty well organized. Especially when the outsiders get here. The routine for awhile helps," Sarah said heading for the door. "Heather, you all set?"
"I'm fine, Sarah. Ariel, your bath is ready," Heather called from the bathroom.
Ariel headed toward her bath. "Thank you, Sarah."
"You'll be fine, honey." Sarah gave her a quick hug and headed to the next house.
"Don't worry. It's easier than you can believe to get used to it here." Heather reassured her. "They can be such jerks sometimes." She was looking at the shirt Ariel was wearing. "What was the purpose of this? Sarah gave them things for you."
"We thought it might be to keep their scent around us, at the beginning. You know, when they were trying to get us to stay near them with that hypnosis stuff," Ariel answered awkwardly.
"Don't you just hate that. Lucien had to use it on me all the time. We just never were right for each other," Heather responded shaking her head in disapproval.
"You've been with him so long, I was worried you might be mad at me." Ariel sounded unsure.
Heather started unraveling Ariel's hair. "No. It would stretch it to even say we were comfortable together. I never could meet his expectations. I'm sure you've discovered he's a very passionate man. I'm just too reserved. Some things about him scare the hell out of me. When Lucien needed me 'his way', he'd have to use one of his little pushes. Lord you have some pretty hair, girl! Is the blonde around the front dyed? I hope not. Chamomile might lighten it a little for awhile."
"It's a natural curse. My mom's hair was the same way. The white started coming in when I was fifteen. All the kids at school used to make fun of me."
"It reminds me of a fox." Heather helped Ariel into the tub.
"The water's warm." Ariel was pleasantly surprised. She looked up at the pump, frowning. "How?"
"It's rainwater. Great for your hair. There's a cistern on the roof that gets heated by the sun. You do not want to know what we go through in the winter for a bath, though." Heather smiled. She helped Ariel lie down to wet her hair. When she sat back up Heather soaped it up with the smell of lavender.
After her hair was washed, Ariel started scrubbing at the trail dirt while Heather combed out her wet hair. "It feels so good to be clean again. I've felt like I've been wearing a mud pack for days."
"It doesn't rain much this time of year, so we kind of limit the tub to once a week. The rest of the time we use the lake. The water at the shore is almost as warm as this," Heather informed her.
Ariel rinsed off and climbed out of the tub. Heather led the way to the bedroom and selected a night gown. "Lucien will have dinner brought for you tonight. He's going to want you to rest." She helped Ariel into the gown and started putting the other clothes away. When Heather looked back up, Ariel was sitting on the edge of the bed quietly crying.
Heather sat down next to her and put her arm around her. "I'm sorry, Heather. I don't know why I'm crying all of a sudden. You've been so nice." Ariel's voice softly hitched.
"It's no wonder. Ariel, I bawled for a week straight, after I got here. I missed electricity, telephones, music – I worked at a bar. I missed all of it. On top of that, I have a head honcho, domineering, sadistic Vampire to deal with." Ariel laughed at her description of Lucien. Heather said, "What do you think about the Vampire thing? I know it totally freaked me out!"
"He showed me how his fangs work." Ariel felt stupid telling her that.
"Really? How? I mean, I always wondered but was afraid to ask." Heather waited.
Ariel explained. She wondered how Heather could have lived with him for so long and not known. "Heather, what kinds of things does Lucien like that you were afraid of?"
"That's better left to Lucien discuss," Heather replied, evasively. "Come on, let's get you to bed. He'll be upset if you don't get rest. Ariel, you're going to be fine. You're going to look around at how beautiful it is here, how close everyone is. I know you'll like it. I can't remember how long it's been since I missed the flatlands. I'll show you around tomorrow, when you're more rested."
"Thank you, Heather. Thank you for everything." Ariel's eyes were already closing. She felt so wonderfully clean with the scent of lavender in her hair. "I know Lucien liked the flowers, too."
Heather smiled at the sleeping woman. I think she'll be good for you too, Lucien. she left the house and went to look for Carl.
Late in the afternoon the Indians retreated with Mike to their small camp at the edge of the clearing.
Everybody in the main hall was having a good time grilling and disbelieving the new male captives about the advancements of the other world. Nathan was the only Clansmen present. Teri was sleeping soundly when he left her. Nathan was fascinated with these talks.
"Seems to me, everything needs electricity. Wouldn't do us any good," said Mason.
"You wave your hand in front of a panel to get water from the sink or paper towels to dispense. They even have a little light on the wall behind the toilet that makes it flush when you stand up," Doug informed the crowd.
"You are either bull shitting me big time or the flatlanders are the laziest people on Earth!" Carl declared. The talks went on for several hours before people started saying goodnight and drifting home.
Lucien didn't stay for the interrogation ceremony as he referred to it. At sunset, he went back to the house after a woman from the kitchen handed him the dinner he'd requested for Ariel.
Lucien started a fire and lit a candle then walked into the bedroom and stared at Ariel. She was beautiful, sleeping peacefully with her gorgeous mane of hair spread out on top of the quilt. He placed her dinner on the nightstand and sat next to her quietly watching.
Ariel felt the bed settle and slowly opened her eyes, disoriented with her surroundings. The warm bed felt so good after so many nights on the hard ground. The room was lit by the flicker of the candle. She thought it was romantic, then remembered in the settlement there was no alternative. Lucien was smiling down at her, the candlelight reflecting in his deep blue eyes. "I brought you something to eat."
Ariel stretched and yawned as she sat up. She saw it was now night. "I didn't realize how tired I was." She took the plate he offered her. "Thank you, sir. Heather's nice."
"I ran into her before I came back here. She likes you, too. I think you'll quickly get used to everyone here," he added. Ariel quietly finished her meal and asked Lucien to walk her to the outhouse. She looked around and realized she had no shoes. He scooped her up and grabbed the candle.
When they returned Lucien began laying his clothes on the window seat. Ariel sat quietly on the bed and watched him. Nervously, she thought this was too much like being lovers. The intimacy of being alone with Lucien in the small bedroom was different than being on the trail where she felt she had no option. Lucien felt her agitation and offered a little calming push. Ariel relaxed immediately thinking she had talked herself down from the panic.
He picked up the brush from the dressing table and sat naked on the bed behind her. She turned her head to look up at him. Lucien nudged her so she faced forward and he started brushing her long, wavy hair. The lavender scent reached his nose and he smiled. Heather had always used gardenia. Relaxing lavender was perfect for Ariel. "I've wanted to do this since I met you," he murmured.
Her eyes were closed in contentment. "You're going to put me to sleep like that," she replied softly. Lucien laid the brush beside them on the bed and reached around in front or her. "Please don't stop," she complained. "It feels so good, Lucien."
"You said I was putting you to sleep. Not exactly what I had planned but we may as well get you ready for bed." He removed her nightgown then Lucien resumed brushing her hair, watching it's length cover her nake
d back like an auburn cloak. Some minutes later, he put the brush on the nightstand. Lucien rested his hands on Ariel's shoulders and buried his face in the long, silky waves.
Lucien began caressing her sides, then embraced her with his strong arms. He pulled her back against his broad chest, resting his head on her shoulder. He stroked in a slow, deliberate motion down her throat to gently knead the curved mounds of her bared breasts.
Ariel kept her eyes closed, her lips slightly parted. She felt his warm breath on her neck stirring her arousal. The pads of his fingers lightly explored her nipples, rolling over the sensitive tips and gold rings. His fingers pinched lightly, tightening the swollen buds even more.
Dampness spread, lubricating the folds of her sex. Lucien gently licked her throat in a rhythm soon matched with tightening contractions of her pulsating core. He inhaled deeply as more of her scent flowed from inside her.
His hands trailed lower and she exhaled a breathless gasp. Lucien left one hand resting on her hip, capturing her while the other brushed along her slick cleft. Ariel began to grind passionately against his muscled chest and down onto his maddening caress. Her pussy was clenching, aching to be filled.
He laid her back on the bed, her face flush with passion. Lucien knew his own eyes were smoldering with the red haze of his desire. He explored her lips with the tip of his tongue and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to pull him closer. Overwhelmed with need, she fisted his hair and demanded his kiss.
Lucien's tongue plunged deeply into her mouth, bruising her lips with his. His hand applied a harsh pinch to her nipple, twisting the ring painfully. Ariel groaned into his mouth and felt herself leaking more heated fluid of passion.
His mouth abruptly left hers to nuzzle the peak of her breast. He licked and sucked hungrily while her hand stayed clasped in his long, dark hair. Lucien was fighting the assaulting scent of her arousal. His teeth bit into her engorged nipple and she arched in response, panting in the pain and pleasure of the sensation.
Lucien's lips feathered down her soft belly and captured her slick folds. Ariel was delirious with yearning to have him inside her. Capturing her lower rings, he kept Ariel spread wide and ran his tongue up and down the path lapping her cream. Lucien's thumb pushed back the protective pink hood to expose her clit. He sucked and nibbled on the hard bead.
Ariel's Desire: A Novel of Vampirism and Submission Page 18
