by Anna Edwards
I swallow his length and hold him there for a few seconds before pulling back and expelling his length from my mouth. Saliva drips from my chin as I repeat the process accompanied by a loud moan of pleasure from my husband. I can feel my own excitement drip from between my thighs. My clit thuds with its own need. I’m getting excited from pleasing a man and making my husband happy.
Theo jolts me away from his dick.
“I’m going to come if you carry on doing that.”
“Then come,” I purr, having newly found the sex kitten within me.
Theo laughs. “There will be plenty of time for that another day. For now, I need in your pussy. I want to be immersed in you and pumping my hips so hard you’re screaming my name as you explode underneath me.”
I let out my own little laugh at the mild-mannered gentleman, and his dirty sex talk. I think I’m not the only one finding their inner self in this relationship.
“Do it then,” I offer and lie back on the bed. He places himself at my entrance and pushes straight in, in one long thrust before settling and allowing me to adjust to his intrusion.
“Wet as always. Are you like this whenever I’m around?” Theo rubs a finger over where we join. He then captures my legs and pulls them up to rest on his shoulders so he can drive deeper within me.
“I have to go and change my panties whenever you walk into the room.”
“I think you should just stop wearing them. I can have you whenever I want, then.”
“I’ll hold you to that if I do.”
The bantering between us is carefree and easy. It’s a normal couple in love. That’s what we are. Here and now, we are free from all the oppression and fear created by the Oakfield Society.
Slowly, he starts to move, and the mood between us shifts. Our playfulness dissipates, and silence fills the room with the seriousness of what we are doing. We are making love. My legs are lowered to the side of his thighs, and we settle into a missionary position, Theo’s eyes meeting mine as we move as one. We have years ahead of us to explore the many different ways you can have sex.
“Tell me what really happened the night my sister was taken to the society.” Theo leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips as he breathes the words into my mouth.
“I can’t.” A single tear falls from my eye and weaves a path down my cheek. I want to tell him and end all of this, but the fear within me is still ingrained. I’m not ready to jump over that final hurdle yet.
“I’ll protect you. Nobody will hurt you.”
“You can’t protect me from the monsters you can’t see.”
“What does that mean?”
Another tear falls, and I shut my eyes as Theo continues to undulate his hips, thrusting in and out of me.
“Joanna.”
“I love you,” is the only reply I give before an orgasm bursts out of me from nowhere. It erupts deep within me and cascades through my body with a powerful surge of pleasure. I’m shuddering and shaking underneath him. I’m calling his name and milking him to his own orgasm. His affirmation of the love we share is spoken on a final groan as his cum explodes into my inner warmth.
We both go still and silent. The sounds of our rapid breaths the only noise filling the room.
“Theo.”
He pulls out of me and gets off the bed. His shoulders are slumped, and he looks defeated. He’s no longer the tower of strength I rely on to protect me.
“If I go to Victoria, will she tell me the truth?”
The question causes my breath to hitch. It’s not something I’ve ever really thought about. I thought he would have already asked her, and she would have told him. I just thought he didn’t believe her because he thought she’d been influenced by Nicholas.
“Haven’t you spoken to her before about the night she was given to the society?”
He shakes his head and looks down at the ground forlornly.
“I think I feared the answer, and then later when she tried to tell me, I chose to believe her mistaken. I was convinced she’d been brainwashed by her husband.”
I can’t believe the words I’m hearing from him. The walls he has built, based on a solid belief in what is right and wrong, are breaking down around him. I should open my mouth and tell him it was his father who bought me, but I can’t. I try, but nothing comes out. In the end, I pull the sheets up around me and curl into a ball in the bed.
“Go to her, Theo. Listen to her. She’s your sister. She can tell you what I’m too scared to admit. She’s the only one who can save us, now.”
Chapter Seventeen
Theodore
I make sure Joanna is safe when I leave her alone, this time. She’s sleeping in our bed with the sheets tangled around her as the early morning sun floods in and illuminates her now flawless skin. I’ve given her the means to protect herself, if necessary, with an illegal hand gun next to her bed. Before leaving, my father gave it to me as a means to protect myself after Elsie’s death. Joanna’s from an upper class family, so I’ve no qualms about her knowing how to use it. It’s the sport of the elite to shoot small discs for fun. She’ll be more used to a shotgun, but the principle is roughly the same. Instinct will kick in should she need it. I know most people would say I’m insane to leave a weapon with a victim of the horrific abuse she’s suffered, but I know she’s free from most of the torment from her bad memories. I don’t fear her hurting herself, even for a moment. Silently creeping from the room, I leave my butler instructions that no one is to leave or enter the house while I’m absent. Nobody at all, no matter who it is. At this point in time, I don’t know who I can and can’t trust any more, but something in the lines of worry crisscrossing his face tells me this gentleman, who’s been with me for most of my life, will protect my wife. He’s aged as much as I have over the last few weeks.
It doesn’t take me long to return to Oakfield Hall. It’s early in the morning, and the streets are still empty. The imposing gothic style manor sends chills down my spine. This place holds so many dark secrets, which those around me seem to be a part of while I’ve been kept in ignorance. Or has it been that I’ve not wanted to hear the truth? No matter what the reason is, I need to know, now. I need to discover what is really happening around me, and what type of pawn I’ve become in a game I fear is about to turn deadly. My sister according to Joanna is the only one who can give me answers. I need to listen to her.
I knock loudly, and a butler appears at the door.
“I’m sorry, sir, but you are no longer welcome here,” he informs me and makes to shut the door. I place my foot across the threshold just in time and curse when the heavy wood slams against it. Damn, English oak! That’s going to hurt for a while.
“I want to see my sister.”
“She doesn’t want to see you. Please move your foot, or the consequences will be upon your own head.”
“Victoria!” I shout through the crack in the door. I can just about see my sister on the stairs behind the butler. Nicholas is standing beside her with his arms wrapped around her. His face is as bruised as mine feels.
“Go away, Theo,” she informs me with a voice I can hear is close to cracking.
“I need to speak with you,” I shout back.
“I’m not leaving Nicholas. You can do whatever you want with that picture of him carrying the painting. We’ll fight you every step of the way.” Her resilience breaks on the last word, and a whimpering sob fills the cavernous hallway.
“Leave,” Nicholas orders with murderous tones.
“I need the truth,” I try one last time. “I need to know what happened the night our father gave you to the Cavendish family.” Victoria’s hand flies to her mouth, and she bends over sobbing, trying to bring air into her lungs. Nicholas rubs her back. “I know Joanna’s father was paid money to give her to the society. I know I’m being lied to, Victoria. I need the truth no matter what it is.” I pause, my vehement pleas for information are leaving me exhausted. “I want to save my wife. I love her.”
Nicholas waves his hand at a butler, and the door opens.
“You’ll listen to her?” He steps toward me as I’m admitted into the hall.
“I just want the truth. No more lies. Joanna is terrified of something. You, I think, but I‘m not certain.” Confusion laces my tone. “All I do know is I want to protect her, and she tells me my sister is the only one who can help me do that.”
“I’m not going with you, Theo,” Victoria repeats. “You say you love Joanna. Well, I love Nicholas. He’s not the monster you think he is. What I have to tell you is going to hurt. It’s going to destroy you.”
“I’m ready.” I take a step closer to my sister and hold my hand out to her. I can tell she’s been crying for hours. Her eyes are red-rimmed, and she looks exhausted as if she hasn’t been sleeping and not only because she’s the mother of a newborn.
With some reluctance, Nicholas lets Victoria go, and taking my hand, she leads me into the lounge where I assaulted her husband earlier.
“Do you need me with you?” Nicholas looks terrified to let her out of his sight.
“I need to do this with Theo on my own. We are at fault for not telling him sooner. I wanted to protect him from the truth, but he’s become embroiled in it anyway. We need to do this as siblings together.”
“I’ll wait outside. Leave the door open.”
She nods at him, and we enter the lounge. She leads me to the sofa, and we sit on it. Her hands feel cold, and I wrap mine around hers to warm them.
“I won’t leave him, Theo. I love him in just the same way as you love Joanna.”
I look at the door where Nicholas stands guard while we converse. He looks tired. His demeanor does not appear to be that of a man who is filled with confidence in regard to his power nor does he seem capable of being the demon I’ve been led to believe he is. His look is that of a man who’s frightened of losing his wife and daughter. The truth finally dawns on me. Nicholas acts exactly the way I do when I’m around Joanna. His eyes always light up when Victoria is with him. He’s protective of her but only because he loves her.
“He loves you, too.” I turn to my sister. “I see it now. Victoria, you have to tell me what happened. I can’t be kept in the dark any longer. When I married Joanna, I was brought into whatever fight it is you’re embroiled in. I’m confused, and I don’t know what the truth is anymore. All I do know is my wife is terrified, and I can’t protect her unless you tell me. Please.”
“It will hurt, Theo.”
“I’m ready. Tell me what happened the night you were brought here.”
She shuts her eyes,
“I want you to listen to everything, please. Before you speak, you have to listen.”
I nod acceptance of her terms.
“Father came and found me the day I was given to Nicholas. He told me it was time for my debut in society. I was dressed by Elsie in a white linen gown, and she styled my hair in a French plait.”
“A white linen gown. Joanna wore one to our wedding.” I realize I’ve interrupted her already and bow my head in apology.
“We all wore them…five girls in total. All born during the same year, and all given to Nicholas on his thirtieth birthday”
I nod because my father has told me about this being a requirement of a centuries old society our ancestors were forced to join.
“I was led into the room and introduced to another couple of the girls. I remember Joanna well. Her father was telling her off because she had frizzy hair. She looked terrified. I, on the other hand, was confused. I didn’t really understand what was happening. Eventually Nicholas and his father appeared, and we were brought forward one by one and branded with the Oakfield Crest.”
Bile rises in my throat. I’ve seen the mark on my wife’s thigh: a vicious scar in the shape of an Oakleaf.
“After that, everything became crazy. We were lined up and inspected by Nicholas. He was told to choose three of us to carry on further in the trials to select his wife. The other two would be sold.”
“Trials?” I ask, and she nods, and then looking sorrowful, she lowers her head.
“I endured some of the trials, and they’ve shaped me into the person I am today. Nicholas seems like a bad man when I tell you all this, but he isn’t. He was under the influence…no, the control of his father. I saved him from that, and he saved me in turn.”
“What trials?”
“Theo, please.”
“What trials?” My response is terse, my hands pull away from warming my sister’s, and I clench them into fists.
“I was placed in a scold’s bridle, for one, before I was led around naked while being whipped.”
“A scold’s bridle?” I can’t believe I’m hearing this from my own sister. She’s suffered just as much as Joanna has, possibly even more. What type of people do things like this in modern society? What type of organization is the Oakfield Society? “Who did this to you?”
She looks up at her husband, and I don’t need her to answer. I know exactly who it was. Without another thought, I’m out of my chair and racing across the room with my fists held up high in front of me.
“Theo, no!” Victoria screams. “Please.”
My fist is inches from Nicholas’ already bruised face when I pull it back before landing a punch.
“You monster. How could you do that?” I spit at him.
“I regret it every day,” he responds, and I see the guilt in his eyes.
I spin around, pulling at the ends of my hair in frustration.
“He did that to you, yet you love him?” I can’t understand my sister’s reasoning, and I’m doubting her sanity at this point. Has she been brainwashed? “Does he still hurt you?”
“No.” Victoria is on her feet and pleading with me to understand. “Never. He’s not the man he was that day, and that’s why we’re being attacked. He’s trying to change the society from what it once was and eradicate the evil element within it.”
“The artwork?” I question.
Nicholas responds, “We are returning it all. Since the inception of the society, art has been stolen to fund it. The eldest son of the leader is taught the skills needed to continue providing for the society. I stole the painting, but I also returned it along with several others.”
“So, you’re a thief and an abuser! Yet my sister says you’re a good man.”
“He is, Theo. He’s the best. He’s trying to make things better, but he’s being thwarted at every turn.”
“I’m not buying this, Victoria.” I reply, shaking my head. My skin heats with fury, and a bead of sweat forms on my brow. “He’s not a good man.”
“Nicholas may have done wrong. He’ll pay in eternity for some of the things he’s done, but he is a good man in a society full of evil,” Victoria hisses at me through her clenched jaw.
“Evil…that’s all I keep hearing from you, but the only evil I see is him.”
She shakes her head and slumps back against a table. “That’s because you are too afraid to look closer to home.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I query, fearing the answer.
“Our father.” Victoria replies.
It’s my turn to shake my head in a furious denial.
“He saved Joanna from Nicholas.”
“No, Theo. Nicholas never had Joanna. Remember I told you two girls weren’t chosen and were sold instead. Joanna was one of them. The night after I was given to the Oakfield Society, Joanna Nethercutt was sold to our father for five hundred thousand pounds. The day you introduced her as your wife was the first we’d seen or heard of her in over a year.”
“No. He took me to her in the middle of the night and said the only way to save her was for me to marry her.”
“It’s all part of whatever plan he has to take over the society.” Victoria holds her hands out to me, willing me to believe what she’s saying.
“No.” I’m done listening to their lies. My father’s a good and honest man. He’d never do anything l
ike this. He’s been trying to save Joanna, not hurt her. “I’m not listening to this anymore. It’s all lies. Nicholas has brainwashed you. You’ve admitted yourself that he paraded you around naked and had you beaten. He’s the bad man, not our father.”
“Theo.”
“No.” I push past Nicholas and into the hallway where William and Tamara are waiting. Tamara holds a pile of papers in her hands.
“Out of my way,” I tell them, but neither move. Instead, Tamara steps forward and hands me a printout from an ancestry website.
“Remember you did a DNA test once, hoping to find a link to royalty? I know you didn’t find that, but you did discover a link to a half-sister.”
“Not this again.” I throw the paper on the floor not wanting to hear her fabricated tales of how we are brother and sister. It’s nothing but lies designed to ruin my father’s reputation.
“Your father raped my mother, Theo. He killed her, and when I get the proof, I’ll see him rot in jail.”
“Lying bitch.”
“It’s the truth.” William bends down and picks up the paper. He holds it directly in front of my line of sight, and I can clearly see the results identifying Tamara and I as half brother and sister.
“This is fabricated.”
“I’ll do a proper DNA test with you, if you want?” Tamara offers.
“No!” I shout with fury.
“Theo, please listen. You promised me you would. I know you love Joanna, and we are just trying to save her. She and I are the only two of the five girls left.” Victoria places her hand on my shoulder. “Please, listen.”
“I can’t.” I’m shaking so violently now. It’s too much to take in. Tamara is my half sister. My father bought my wife for five hundred thousand pounds.
“Show him.” Nicholas steps around to stand next to Tamara. She still holds one piece of paper in her hand, which she offers to me, but I’m too scared to take it.
