CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
VICTORIA
Nicholas carries me out of the house and races toward a car. I’m still shaking. The only task that she could never complete. Her father had asked her to commit murder before, and she’d naturally refused. I dread to think the punishment she must’ve received from him. Whatever it was broke her enough that I just watched her commit suicide. I bury my head into Nicholas’ chest as he shouts instructions to a liveried man.
“Give me the keys.”
“My Lord, this is your father’s car. If you wait a moment, I’ll get one of yours.”
“Just give me the fucking keys.” Nicholas gently places me down against the midnight blue Land Rover. “Wait there,” he orders. I don’t think I could move if I tried. My legs are like jelly, and I use the car to hold me up. Nicholas spins around and stomps over to the guards. He pulls his hand back and floors the surprised man with one punch. He picks the keys out of the livery man’s hand and clicks open the car. “Get in.” I obey. He goes to the driver’s side and gets in. He puts his seatbelt on, and I do the same before he takes off, speeding down the long driveway.
“Nicholas.” I reach out and touch his leg, but he doesn’t respond. He just focuses on the massive gateway in front of us. It starts to open — alerted, no doubt, by a sensor in the car. He’s going to take me away from here. I squeeze his leg a little harder. His breathing’s getting quicker and quicker. “Nicholas,” I reassure again as the gate finishes opening. The path to freedom is laid bare before us, but at the last minute, he slams his foot down on the break. The car skids sideways over a manicured lawn and halts just before a garish statue of a little girl entwined with a snake. He bangs his hands on the steering wheel and gets out of the car and starts to beat the crap out of it. The thumping of the metal makes me shudder. He’s falling apart before me. I undo my seat belt and slide across and out his side. He's going mad — the strength of his fury is so great that dents are appearing on the Land Rover. Without thinking, I step closer to him and wrap my hands around his waist. I’m standing behind him, and he stills. I can hear his heavy gasping breaths. I lay my head against his back and hear the anguished cries wracking his body.
“I killed her,” he laments.
“No,”
“I didn’t listen to you. I killed her. I want to take you away from here, but I can’t. I should be able to drive through that gateway, but I can’t. I’m going to kill you as well.” He turns around, and I can see the tears falling down his face. I step up on the balls of my feet and use my thumb to wipe them away.
“You didn’t kill her. The society did. She never had any hope. She told me that her father had been preparing her for the trials since she was young. He was abusing her and hiding behind what this society is. She was broken. You didn’t kill her. The murder was the one task that she could never complete. She’d rather go to heaven with her conscience clear.”
“I should have seen how broken she was. I knew she wasn’t right, but I thought it was the stress of the situation.”
I shake my head.
“She was a dead woman walking. I don’t think anyone could have saved her, no matter how much we wanted to.” I feel sick. Amelia was only twenty-one and had known nothing but abuse all her life. “Her father is a vile man, and I won’t rest until he’s punished for this.”
“Neither of us will.”
I look over to the gateway. I could push off Nicholas and make a break for my freedom, but I’m pulled closer to him by the situation we’re in. Somewhere, in all of this, I’ve developed feelings for my captor.
“William,” Nicholas speaks.
“I won’t risk him. We’re going to finish this together.” I step back and slide my hand down to his, so he can lead me back to the car.
“Victoria.” He doesn’t move. “Marry me?”
“What?”
“Marry me?”
I can’t find the answer I want to give — my throat goes dry. Most people would think that I’m insane for even considering this, but I am. I’m in love with him and all that he wants to do. He’s been in the worst position just as I have. We’ve both been oppressed and forced against our wills to conduct acts that have left us confused and hurting, but together, we’ve discovered we can beat our devils. Together we’ll win.
“Make me your woman first.”
“What?”
I step up on the balls of my feet again and press a soft kiss to his lips.
“Stop the pain in my chest — stop my heart from breaking at all the death and hate around us. Show me what love is.”
He crushes his lips to mine, apparently not needing to be asked twice, to show me what pleasure feels like. Before long, I’m lifted up into his arms, and we’re moving. Our lips part.
“Where are we going?”
“There’s a summer house a short walk away. I want you privately, not in the middle of the driveway with the rest of the society leaving.”
“Good idea.” I join our lips again, and we stumble, well Nicholas stumbles, through the gardens to the summer house. The smell of roses hits me, and I pull back. Nicholas puts me down on my feet and opens the door. The summer house is filled with highly fragrant blooms. I pick a vibrant red rose and twirl it around in my fingers.
“They’re my favorite flowers. The garden where I grew up had loads of them.” Memories of my father being the one to put me in this position surface, and a tear escapes my eye.
“Wait here,” Nicholas orders and disappears back outside. I take a look around. It’s small and secluded — a place for bringing a book and lounging on the daybed in the center of the room. White blinds are at all the windows, but this place is private, and they don’t need to be drawn. The daybed is covered in a white blanket. Oakfield Hall is masculine to the extreme, but this place is feminine. Nicholas returns with a few more roses in his hands. He pulls the petals off and strews them over the bed.
“This place isn’t like the rest of Oakfield Hall.”
“No, my mother had it built. She wanted a place to escape when my father had his mistresses over. He at least did one nice thing for her.”
He pats the bed for me to go to him. I do and stand between his legs.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks.
“Am I sure I want you to strip me naked and make love to me, or fuck me? However, it is you roll.” I chuckle to diffuse the sudden tension that pools in my stomach.
“This is your first time. I’m going to be gentle. The fucking can come later.”
“Sounds good to me.”
He reaches up and strokes my face.
“Things will change.”
“I know.”
“She won’t have died in vain.”
“We’ll always honor her.”
I lean forward, and we kiss slowly. He pulls me onto the bed and lays me down.
We part lips, and he pulls the t-shirt that I’m wearing over my head. I sit up a little, so he can remove my bra. I’m not big breasted, but that doesn’t seem to bother Nicholas as he instantly buries his head between them.
“Delicious.” He flicks my nipple, and I moan low in my throat. I’ve always had a sensitive body, but around Nicholas, everything seems to double in sensation. I’m vibrating underneath him with the need for more. He flips me over and places the same kisses on my back. I feel him tense when he sees some of the bruising and deeper wounds, which haven’t fully healed, yet. He pays particular attention to them as if apologizing for being a part of their infliction. I’ve long since forgiven him.
My jeans are next to be removed and then my knickers. He steps back and drops his suit jacket to the floor. I’ve never seen him without it and lick my lips at the sight. He pulls the left sleeve of his shirt toward him and unhooks the cufflink. He places it on a table, next to the daybed, and does the same with the other one.
“Do you always wear suits?” I ask while he removes his shirt and places that on the table as well. I take in his chest. It's defined with chiseled muscles and taper’s down to a place of hidden promises in his trousers.
“I feel like I have, lately. I prefer jeans and a t-shirt, but unfortunately the position often requires a certain dress code.”
“I want to see you in jeans,” I blurt out, and he smiles. “Are you liking what you see, Victoria?”
“Maybe,” I tease.
“Well, how about this?” He undoes his belt and then the zipper of his trousers, which he then lowers. Between my thighs starts to throb just at the sight of him in tight boxers. He kicks off his shoes and removes his trousers and socks. Next thing I know, he’s back on top of me, kissing down my body.
“Isn’t the underwear coming off?” I ask.
“Soon. If I take them off right now, I won’t be able to take this slowly. I’m not going to risk hurting you anymore.” The ‘anymore’ is said with poignant emotion. I need to reassure him that I’m not going to fall apart.
“I’m not broken. You’ve made me stronger, if anything.”
“I’m still not prepared to risk that fact when it comes to carnal activities. Now shush and let me be the master here. I want to make you feel good.”
I lay back and shut my eyes as Nicholas puts his head between my thighs. Before long, I’m coming on his face in a much-needed release. I know I’m mourning the loss of my friend, but she’s been the catalyst to bring about change. No more women will be harmed as a result of the sacrifices that she's made in her life.
Nicholas slides up my body and kisses my lips. He tastes of me, and it’s decadent and totally wicked. I forget, for a second, who I am and why I’m here.
“Last chance to say no.” His eyes flicker with fear, a concern that he’ll hurt me or worse.
“I’m beginning to think you don’t want me as much as you say,” I taunt.
He raises a playful eyebrow while grabbing the waistband of his boxers and pulling them down his legs. Holy fuck! My eyes almost bug out of my head at the sight of him naked. It’s like one of the Greek gods in the paintings that adorn the walls of Oakfield Hall, except he’s so much better endowed. His cock struts out from his torso, covered in clear liquid at the tip. He’s ready for me already.
“I’m going to hurt you, at first. It’s unavoidable. I was blessed with girth.”
I chuckle at his formal use of words.
“It’s a pretty big dick.”
He shakes his head and positions himself at my entrance.
I lay back and allow my hands to entwine in the sheets when he pushes in. He wasn’t joking when he said he had girth. I breathe through the discomfort until the pleasure takes over again, and I relax around his intrusion.
“Move, please,” I pant, and he obeys. In a slow, tantalizing movement, he withdraws from me and pushes straight back in.
“Move.” I shut my eyes and allow my head to fall back. I’m no longer a virgin. I’ve broken the rules: joined with the man I was given to, and I don’t care. All I want is for him to move faster. To fuck me. I rotate my hips to encourage him, and he grunts out a strained response.
“Victoria, don’t tempt me. I’m struggling to be gentle.”
“Haven’t you learned, yet. I don’t break easily. Fuck me.”
He moans deeper, and his pupils dilate to the pitch of the darkest night. The devil is released, and I’m pleased. He pulls his hips back and slams into me. The force sends me up the bed and an explosion rocks through my body. I’m coming again, already. Nicholas continues his thrusts as I reach my precipice and fall over. I’m flying in his arms as he fucks me like a wild animal. I’m raw and loving every moment. My lover buries himself, deeply, inside me and stills. He comes with a loud raspy call of my name. I feel the jets of seed flood my womb. Fuck, he’s bare. No condom. He must see the moment that I worry, for he bends and kisses my lips.
“I’m clean, and you're protected. You have my word on this.”
I relax again. Nicholas withdraws from me, and we entwine our limbs on the daybed. He pulls a blanket over us.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
“I feel different,” I respond.
“Is that a good or bad different?” He looks worried and sits up a bit.
“Good. I made a decision for myself. It’s probably the first time ever.”
His face softens, again, and he lays back down. “Do you want to make another one? I asked you a question before.”
“You did.”
“Will you help me end this for good? Will you be my wife?”
“Yes,” I answer — confident that I’m doing the right thing.