Brenda pointed to a young woman walking down the other side of the street and said, “What about her? She could be a start at least. It may be that we’re too late today and all of the good ones have been taken. We might need to come shopping earlier tomorrow.”
Lark said, “Perhaps. I’ll call her and we can squeeze her fruit and see if she’s ripe. If so, we’ll take her. The other two don’t come until at least tomorrow and I’m worried about tonight. Brenda, how many times can you perform this evening? I will certainly take over around two AM, but I need to sleep for a little while after my turn at dinner.”
I yelled, “Girls, stop this! Linea, Grayson, I apologize!”
Brenda said, “I don’t know. This morning was long and intense. I think that I can do perhaps six times with him, but I don’t know about more than that. Call her and see if she’s suitable.”
I said, “Brenda, be good. They’re teasing, nothing more.”
Viola said, “No, you can see from here that her breasts are not to our liking. And she’s probably frail. Leave her for another man. One who’s not as vigorous as ours.”
I said again, more forcefully, “Stop that this instant! It isn’t polite to Grayson and his wife. I am so sorry.”
Linea smiled and said, “Girls, I am glad that you are here, actually. I’ve had a question. Will you come into the back with me for a moment? I would ask you for your help in private.”
The girls smiled and agreed. Aspen began to follow them, but I said gently, “Girl, stay with me.”
Viola said, “She will come with us.”
I was left alone with Grayson. I said, “Grayson, I am so sorry for that.”
Grayson smiled and said, “Joshua, what do you think the effect of that teasing will be? I’ll tell you. Linea goes into the back now to ask for instruction about some secret practice of being in bed that only your women, and you yourself know. When they’re done, Linea will talk to Mirea, my other woman, and this evening, there will be some surprise for me. I’m certain that I’ll be very happy with it. The past few weeks have been very fun at my house. I know that they teased about those things, but it was wonderful in the way that they honored you. What more could a man want. But, enough of that. Do you really expect at least two more? To join you in your bed? Or just in your house?”
I said, “In my bed. My women insist, and I am not against it at all. As you see, they are all similar, and different than other women.”
Grayson gasped. He said, “Joshua, I heard it from your own lips! So it is true! The little sisters are not deformed and defective! I’d heard a rumor, but now you say it almost plainly. These women of yours were hidden under the tunic and hood, weren’t? Don’t tell me if you don’t want to, but my friend, if these women were hidden treasures, it’s me and the people of the village who should be ashamed, not you!”
He paused and then gasped again, saying, “Oh my! I saw the two who sat in the square a few days ago, and I heard how they left with you, and today, you come with one in the hood and one as a bedmate, but these aren’t the two who sat in the square, are they? No, after those left with you, that next day, both Paul and the stone carver appeared with new and very lovely women and registered them. Paul and Aaron, know this secret too! The three of you conspire to bless them…and yourselves. I envy you.”
I said, “Grayson, my friend, I can’t speak for Paul and Aaron, and I’ll neither confirm nor deny what you say about them and the new women of their houses. As for me, please, keep my secret as a kindness to these wonderful women who only wish the happiness that all women want. If it becomes known, people less gracious than ourselves might gossip and say unkind things that would be hurtful.”
Grayson said, “And if they do, I will go to Charles the Magistrate and we will pass a law that anyone who says a word against them will be an outcast. Both the person who says it and their family. Joshua, this is fascinating. I know that I’m presumptive, but would it be possible for my women and I to come to dinner at Paul’s farm again and hear the story? My heart goes out to you and to them and I want to be part of your secret. And I will pledge my house to help you however I can.”
I said, “Grayson, that’s very kind. Tonight isn’t the best, but I promise to arrange it soon. Is my secret safe with you and your women?”
He said, “Of course it is! Do I want to be an outcast of my own law? My friend, you are safe with me. But, please, let’s dine together very soon.”
I agreed quickly, and a minute later, the girls and Linea returned.
Linea smiled and said, “Husband, I’ve had a profitable talk with the Fairy Princesses of Goldenwood, for what else could they be, and I’ll tell you about it later. They are wonderful story tellers, but even if part of it is teasing, they are wise even in their parables.”
Next, we went to Paul’s shop where I introduced Brenda.
I said, “Paul, my father! How are you?”
He said, “Fine my son. And you? Oh, who’s this?”
Susan and Amanda were with us now and I said, “Family, this is Brenda. I found her in the haunted woods and now she’s with me as one of my house. In a way, she’s the sister of Clarice. I’m very happy to have her accept me as her husband. We went to the jeweler just now. Mothers, may we stay for dinner?”
Susan laughed and said, “You are such a polite young man; asking to stay to dinner in his own house. But, regardless, we insist. We have to know Brenda better. Send word to Yuki and Tanya. Have you been to the farm? Did you meet Marvella? She is wonderful.”
Amanda said, “She is. We love her. We owe you a debt for your part in bringing her to us.”
I smiled and said, “We all know that any one of us would give everything we have make Marvella happy. Have you talked to Aaron and Beatrice?”
Susan said, “Yuki has visited them, but we’re having them for dinner tonight as well. Their woman is called Fiona, and Yuki says that they seem to be very happy. Though, they are missing their daughter,” she said with an eye toward Aspen in her tunic and hood.
I said, “Oh, that’s a lot of people for dinner, perhaps we should…”
Amanda said, “Nonsense. We’ll eat outside and set a plate for your unicorn, Flossy, as well.”
There was a little more talk, and a lot of welcome expressed for Brenda, but after a while, we left and headed back to the cafe to retrieve our groceries.
On the way, Brenda began to engage Aspen. She said, “So, my dear, I can’t see your pretty face.”
Aspen said, “My kind hide our faces and bodies. It is the custom.”
Brenda said, “But we haven’t even been introduced. What’s your name?”
Aspen said, “My kind have no names. Our Master may give us a name if he chooses. It is the same with all young women though, you must know this. Until a girl has a man, she has no name. For my kind, we will never have a name. Not unless we find happiness.”
Brenda smiled and said, “No face and no name. But,” and she turned and stopped Aspen and put a hand to the girls chest and felt her breast through the course fabric of the tunic, making a point of deliberately pinching the nipple.
Aspen gasped and closed her eyes and said, “Mistress!”
Brenda smiled and began to walk again as she said, “No face and no name, but fine tits. How strange. Well, no-name girl, I hope you find happiness very soon. Those tits are way too precious to waste. I think that Joshua should do something about this right away. I’m new here and not familiar with all of the customs. Why do you wear this scratchy dress when you are obviously beautiful. It must be uncomfortable.”
Aspen said, “It is Mistress. Terribly so. But I am Nogud. We are untouchable. We wear this because…well, I don’t really know why. It’s tradition. It lets others know that we are defective.”
Brenda laughed, “Untouchable? Oh, I don’t think so. I just touched a nice big handful. Of course, it was through that thick dress, but you liked it even so. What do you mean defective?”
Aspen said, “Mistr
ess, the Nogud, like myself, have an active sexual response that is said to be distasteful and dangerous. We are not allowed to have any physical contact, and it is said that men would find our lack of control unappealing. Besides that, we have very little hair between our legs and it is said this is also distasteful.”
Brenda looked shocked. She said, “You have got to be joking! That’s what this is about? For pity’s sake, what’s wrong with the men here?”
Aspen said, “It’s not the men, but the women who run the school who decide these things.”
Brenda sidled up to Aspen and whispered, “So, that’s the tradition and the official story, but tell me, what are you really thinking right now?”
Aspen whispered back, “Brenda, if I don’t get out of this tunic and spread my legs soon, I’m going to die! I really will. When you squeezed my tit, I came very close to kissing you, just because I haven’t been touched at all for several days. It’s only been a few days, but I’m dying. You know that I love Joshua, don’t you? He’s promised to take me with you and make me a woman as well. You understand don’t you? And you’ll love me and let me be part of your house, won’t you? Nothing’s changed now that you’re with him, has it?”
Brenda surreptitiously squeezed Aspen’s hand and said, “Oh, it changes a lot, but not about you being with us. We love you little one. We’re going to get rid of that tunic very soon. Your pretty tits will be touched in more ways than you can imagine, before long. But, what about your pussy? Is it just as fine as your tits? I bet it is.”
Aspen looked at Brenda and said, “Wow, I’ve never had a girlfriend so ribald before! But yeah, my pussy is very fine, from what I can tell, except that it leaks terribly. There are juices running down my thighs and there have been since our Master appeared at the farm. Brenda, I need help.”
Brenda said, “Just a little longer, princess. Play the part just a little longer. You’re so sweet. I do love you already. Just a little longer. Wow, the fucking you’ll give him!”
Aspen squealed, “Brenda! Not out on the street. Please!”
I could hear all of it and I said, “Girls, maybe we need to rethink our plans for this evening.”
Brenda said, “Perhaps.”
I asked, “Viola, what do you say?”
Viola laughed and said, “It sounds like it. I think that my work is done. Do what you think is best.”
I smiled and said, “OK then. Let’s go get our groceries and take them to the farm. This is a bit different than I’d expected, but I love this girl and I want to be with her and have her out of that tunic and into our family. I wouldn’t even have done this if I’d been left to make the decisions.”
Aspen said, “Master, it was my choice and I love you even more for letting me make it. I have grown up. I owe you an apology for how I acted before. I’m not worthy of your love and I will do what I can to share us making you happy. I owe you my life and now I know it. If you say that you’ll love me, it’s more than I should have hoped for. If you have a plan and it must wait, I will happily wait. My longing is just that. I do long for a new life, but I am even more committed to doing what you think is best. For me and for all of us. I am part of your house, not my own. I will be happy to take my place. What I said in boldness was because the Mistress gave me the kindness to speak freely for a moment. I am under my own control now, and under yours even more than that. If you say wait, it’s for my best, because you will love me. Please do what you think is right.”
I said, “Let me think about it.”
Chapter 30 Grocery Delivery
We made it back to Jonah’s cafe and retrieved out purchases. My mind was on what to do for Aspen. And I still needed to do the baptism for Brenda, and Lark wanted to be with us for that. I considered taking Aspen with us and doing her transformation at the same time, but I didn’t feel that it was quite right. I needed time alone with Aspen.
We walked to the farm in silence. Well, I was silent; the girls chatted quietly, but I didn’t pay any attention. I did have a very brief conversation with Clarice over our ear-pieces.
I said, “Clarice, would you take the garden cart and move it from the farm to the Tanda Cove for me?”
She agreed and that was the end of it.
I also had Viola walk close to me and asked, “Do you have a new dress for Aspen?”
She said, “I do. It is in our apartment.”
I said, “When we get to the farm, run in and get it and hide it among our groceries. We’re going to take Brenda for her baptism and Aspen will come with us. She may need a dress before we’re through.”
Viola smiled and nodded and we walked on. When we came to the farm, Viola ran off to our rooms for a moment and the rest of us went out to the back garden. I explained to Yuki that we would all take our groceries to Havenrest and that we would be back for supper.
When Viola joined us, I said, “Girls, we can take the food back to Goldenwood and I need to take care of the special baptism for Brenda. We’ll come back here for supper.”
I started leading the way. We went down to the river, and then turned onto the path into the woods. Aspen carried a pack with the majority of the food; Brenda easily carried the rest. I would have done it, but Brenda reminded me that she would not get tired and could easily carry several times her own weight without being at all burdened.
When we had gone about a hundred yards and were well out of sight of the farm, I stopped and began to undress. Lark immediately did the same. Viola followed suit, and Brenda put down her pack and joined us in getting naked. Viola looked at me and I shook my head slightly. When Aspen started to ask what she should do, Viola told her that she should keep her tunic on.
I said, “Girl, I hope you don’t mind our nudity. Our household is most often naked when we’re at home in Goldenwood. You should try to be comfortable with us being undressed like this. It’s what we find most comfortable. And, women are beautiful and a joy to look at when they are your mates. Because you are one of our house, we don’t mind being with you like this, even though you don’t take part. But, if I could ask you if you will remove at least your hood so that we can see you face, then you will be able to see all of this natural beauty and appreciate it. I’m speaking of the beauty of these woods, but I suppose that it could mean these beautiful women as well.”
Aspen took off her hood and looked at me and said, “Master, you are beautiful as well.”
I was just finishing taking off my pants as I spoke, and I stood up and faced Aspen, fully nude. I handed my clothes to Viola who, smiling, stuffed them into a small pack that she had brought, along with the dresses and shoes of the other women.
Aspen said, “Um, I have never seen a man naked before. Or, other women. I was told things by my mother, but I had never seen it for myself. Um, it’s very um, lovely. All of you are very lovely. Your bodies are so beautiful. I didn’t really know what it would be like. Master, do you want me to undress now? I will if you say that I must. Um, I’ll do it if you tell me to.”
I smiled and said, “Not yet. I think that you must be very lovely as well, but not yet. We have a way to go still, and you should leave your tunic on just a bit longer. I want to talk to you for a bit. After that, we’ll see. Girls, we’ll go to the cove ahead. The small one. You all go on while I talk to the girl for a few minutes. We will follow you. But first, can I have a kiss and a hug?”
The girls all smiled and lined up and kissed me, one by one, hugging me and pressing their bodies against me. By the time I had pressed myself against the three of them and had their tongues in my mouth, I was semi-rigid. I acted as if nothing was different as I turned back to Aspen and we watched the other three walk away in front of us toward the cove ahead. I smiled as I saw Aspen’s look of surprise as she saw me more fully for the first time.
I said, “Stay here with me and we’ll follow them as we talk. What do you think of them? See how nice they look as they walk away from us? I would follow them anywhere.”
The girl in the tuni
c said nothing as I reached for her hand and led us slowly along the path.
I said, “Listen to me. I want you. I love you and I want to care for you. I want to be your husband and have you in my bed. You said that you belong to me already and that your decision was made weeks ago. But now it’s still your choice to make. I’m going to ask you if this is truly what you want, now that time has passed and you have thought it over. I will let you decide and if you reject me, I will do everything that I can to bless you all the same. You are very special to me and I love you, but if you prefer another, I will make your life and his easy.”
She was crying as she said, “Master, I’m yours and no other. Especially now. I loved you before I met you. When I met you, I fell in love. When Viola came for me, I was thrilled because it meant that I would be with you soon. Master, I have never lied to you. I am yours to do with as you please. I was stupid and young when you saw me last and I acted like I was a selfish princess. I’m your servant and will never be happy outside your house. If I have lessons still to learn, I’ll work hard. If I am not worthy and beautiful like your mates, I’ll stay as a Nogud in your barn. Master, if I displease you, tell me and I will change. If I…”
I interrupted her and said, “Aspen, quiet. I love you. I told you already. I only ask that you consent and make me the happiest man alive. Come join me in my bed and be happy with me.”
She looked shocked and stopped in the road.
I said, “Brenda, will you come and take Aspen’s pack from her?”
Brenda rushed back to us with a smile and took the burden from the stunned young woman and then rushed away again.
I smiled and tried to lead on, but Aspen didn’t budge.
She said, “Aspen?”
The Wounded Page 28
