AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stared up at him, trying to gather my thoughts. I didn’t want to stop, if I were being honest.
No one had ever touched me like he was. I’d never been allowed a liberty like this. The tornado of feelings swirling within me was a whole other matter.
“What was that? Why did you kiss me?”
“The question you should be asking is why you kissed me back.”
The knock came again, and he skimmed his lips over mine one last time. His eyes dipped down then flashed back to mine. “Better question, why is your pussy so wet I can see my reflection between your thighs?”
I didn’t have a chance to think up a reply.
“Get dressed,” he said, flashing a smile.
With a light pat to the side of my hip, he stepped away and left the bathroom.
He kissed me because he could.
I kissed him back because I wanted to. That was a simplified version of events that didn’t require me going through emotional warfare to come up with one that held some deeper meaning.
My pussy still ached for what I knew he could give me. I could still feel the fullness of his lips pressing against mine as I dug through the box he’d left. I didn’t want to sit and reminisce.
I wanted to get some clarity on my future.
I picked out a few pieces and hurriedly dressed. Wherever Luce got the clothes from, they were a perfect fit.
In dark jean shorts and a solid racerback, bra and underwear added to keep an acolyte safe, I could almost pass as normal. The last time I’d worn denim was the day my dad, my brother, and I had stumbled upon the A.R.C. There was something freeing about being in it again.
I had three pairs of shoes to choose from but only a set of black combat-ish boots were comfortable. Once I laced them up, I finished getting dressed, using all the basic hygiene products I’d had to go so long without.
When I was done, I felt like a brand-new person.
I took a good look at myself in the mirror, trying to see what others did. My reflection had grown a lot the past couple years.
I’d been living as a prisoner and struggling to keep some small part of who I was once was alive. I wasn’t sure who this new version of Astraea was supposed to be, but I was looking forward to finding out.
Someone knocked on Luce’s bedroom door and broke up my inner monologue. I exited the bathroom, wondering if I was meant to answer. But then, why else would they be knocking?
I opened the door, finding a girl only a few inches shorter than me on the other side. She looked almost ethereal.
“Oh, wow. You clean up nice. You’re really pretty.” She made a face and waved a hand in the air. “That was super weird, wasn’t it?
“Sorry. I’m Belladonna. Most times Bell or Bella. Luce’s sister.” Her bright blue eyes showed the geniality of her smile.
She was the girl with him and Cam that night. I’d placed her as being someone their age, but she was clearly younger.
“Can I borrow a few minutes of your time? My brother told me to come up here and relay that he needed your ass downstairs, but he’s lacking in chivalry. Don’t take it personally. He gets it from our father.”
I don’t think she paused for air while saying any of that. She was a ball of energy. I could practically feel it wafting off her. Picking up on the sound of multiple voices coming from below, I eased out into the hall.
One stood out in sharp contrast amidst all the others, causing the air to freeze in my lungs.
It didn’t take Luce’s perception skills for anyone to see I was not okay. Bella reached out and took my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. That small gesture made me feel marginally better. Me and the girls always comforted one another. God. I missed them so, so much.
Bella started forward, still holding my hand. “It’s going to be all right,” she assured me.
For whatever reason, I believed her.
When we reached the top of the stairs, I paused. Luce was at the bottom, two robed men on either side of him while another two stood a way back. Cam was mirror of him, and a guy I hadn’t seen before stood on the second to last stair in a relaxed stance.
