The doors close behind me, and the elder directs me toward the center of the room. On the seat in the front sits the president.
When our eyes lock, it’s as if the earth has been set on fire, and I’m dancing on the charred remains.
“Sit,” the president barks.
I do what he asks and peer up at him on his little throne.
“I want you to know that I only brought you here because of my daughter,” he says.
“What did she say?”
He glares at me as though I said something I shouldn’t have.
“You’re lucky you’re still alive, you know that, right?” he growls.
I nod. “I am aware.”
“Then you should be thankful for every minute.”
I avert my eyes because if I’d look at him now, he’d realize how badly I’d like to murder him. “I am … very thankful,” I say in the softest tone I can muster right now.
“The only reason you’re still alive is because of her,” he says. “Because you have made a child with her. Because she begged for me to keep you alive.”
She saved me?
She’d … do that for me?
I didn’t know I had a heart until it suddenly started beating at right this very moment.
“However, I cannot overlook the choices you’ve made,” he says.
I breathe in and out slowly, trying not to panic.
Everything, all I’ve worked for, my entire life’s plan, could go up in flames from his command.
“You chose not to tell me that Natalie was my daughter. You chose not to tell me that she was pregnant.”
“For her safety,” I mutter.
“Yes, I’m aware, she already told me,” he barks. “You still defied my rule, and for that, I cannot forgive you.”
“I apologize,” I say. “I only did what I thought was best.”
“Then you shouldn’t have let her escape to begin with,” he says, tapping his chair with his fingers. “In fact, I’m starting to wonder how she managed to escape the first time, at such a young age …”
“There is a reason I went along with all those trips my father made,” I explain. “I was searching for her all this time.”
He narrows his eyes. “Convenient.”
“I wanted her back more than anything,” I say. “And I did bring her back.”
“The first time, perhaps, but you failed the second time.”
“I was trying to keep her safe. She was in a very bad mental state because of the pregnancy,” I explain.
He waves it away. “Excuses, excuses …”
“I apologize if I have taken too much time or if anything I said was offensive,” I say. “But I did everything in my power to bring her back safely and unharmed so that she could remain my wife and we could have our child together. It’s all I ever wanted. To continue the legacy of this great Family.”
The silence that follows seems to last forever. I look up into his judgmental eyes, hoping he’ll believe my words and won’t see the truth resting in my eyes.
“I wanted nothing more than a grandchild, and I will not let anyone risk its life, do you understand?” he says. “Not even you.”
“Yes, president,” I reply, licking my lips.
“My daughter will be taken care of properly from now on. You will see to it that she is treated well and that her needs are taken care of,” he says.
Oh, yes. Yes, I’ll most definitely take care of all her needs.
“But …” he adds, pointing at me with his index finger. “If I even catch a whiff of something going wrong …”
I know he doesn’t trust me, and he’s right. But if I’m to survive, if I want this plan to succeed on its very last possible thread, I have to give him something. There’s only one more thing I can try.
“I vow to keep her safe,” I say.
His brow rises. “You vow?”
“Yes,” I say, without hesitation.
“You do realize the gravity of that word?”
I nod. “I am aware …”
“A vow is sacred. It can’t ever be broken or …”
He makes a gesture around his throat, slicing it through with his finger.
No words are necessary. I get the picture.
He leans back against his makeshift throne. “Fine. I accept.”
A weight is lifted off my shoulder, but at the same time, another is added, and this one is much, much heavier.
“Now get out and don’t get in my way again,” he growls.
I quickly get up and bow. “Thank you, President Lawrence. I will do my utmost best to uphold the rules of this community and let it prosper.”
Then I leave as quickly as I came, not sparing a second to even glance at the elder who opens the door for me. There’s no more room in my mind or heart for frivolous, fake greetings and merry smiles.
My soul has darkened, and my conscience has left the building.
My own life is on the line now.
It’s either time to forever fake it or break this entire community into half.
And I plan to do the latter.
Chapter 14
Natalie
I sit on my bed, my legs swinging back and forth in an attempt to calm myself down. It was hard for me to see Emmy hurt like that, and I would’ve given anything to get her out of there and keep her from harm. But we’re both stuck here now, prisoners once again.
There’s no escaping this place.
No running from the people who seek us out.
So what should I do when there’s no more options left?
Burn the whole place down to the ground.
My mother was on the right track, but she didn’t enlist more people to help.
But I will.
I most definitely will.
And the first person I’m going to start with is Noah.
A knock on my door makes me pause and look up. The door slowly opens, and someone steps in.
“Noah,” I mumble as I get off the bed.
It’s been only minutes since I saw him going into the president’s room, but it was too short, and we didn’t get a chance to speak. We haven’t had time alone since … since we were brought here.
And for some reason, seeing him makes the tears well up in my eyes.
“Natalie,” he says as he comes toward me.
My legs tremble as I take a step forward too.
Even if he was the bad guy, something’s changed. Something about his demeanor, his choices … his heart. He chose to save my mother, chose to love me instead of following the rules, and he chose to give me what I needed the most, which was time to make my own decisions.
His heart is finally in the right place, and it resonates with mine.
When his arms lock around my body, I collapse against his chest, sniffing, taking in his musky scent, which reminds me of the time we spent together in my apartment and of all the dirty things we never spoke about again.
My body instantly responds to his touch, and I feel hot to the core.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he murmurs as he buries his face in my hair and takes a whiff. “I’ve missed your touch, your scent, your body … everything.”
“I thought I’d never see you again,” I whisper, my throat almost clamping up from the thought. “I thought he was going to kill you.”
He leans away and looks me deeply in the eyes. “I thought so too.” When I lower my head in shame, knowing it was my choices that led him to a certain death, he tilts it right back up again with a single finger. “But you saved me.”
“I almost got you killed by fleeing,” I say.
“Because I drove you to,” he says. “But I’m not going down that path again. No more lies. No more pain. I can’t offer you anything but my heart and my truth …” He grabs my hand and presses a kiss on top. “I just want my wife and my child to be safe.”
I can’t help but look at his reddened hand, marked by the fire. “You didn’t tell me this was from the fire.”
When he notices what I’m looking at, he quickly pulls down his sleeve and hides his hand behind his back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I cock my head. Still trying to save face? “No more lies, remember?”
My hand instinctively reaches for the neck of his shirt, and I slowly unbutton it to reveal his delectable six pack that tightens as my fingers graze his skin. I pause and take in just how sexy he truly is. Did I never realize, or did I never allow myself to see him in that light?
Biting my lip, I slowly slide the shirt off his shoulders, and it drops to the floor.
He swallows, judging my every movement with a penetrative gaze, but he won’t stop me either. My eyes follow the red lines from his hand all the way up to the burned skin on top of his shoulder. The scars go all the way into his back muscles, but he doesn’t seem fazed by it.
“Does it hurt?” I ask as I gently touch his skin.
He shakes his head, but winces when I press down too hard.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“It’s okay,” he says. “It’s still healing.”
A soft smile forms on my lips. “You saved her, didn’t you?”
As he looks down at me, his nostrils flare to release a big breath.
I place a hand on his muscular chest, and whisper, “Thank you.”
His lips part strenuously, and his muscles harden under my touch. Suddenly, he grabs my arms and smashes his lips onto mine. My eyes burst open as his mouth covers mine, claiming me with fervor. He groans into my mouth, and my pussy thumps in response.
Fuck.
He’s never kissed me like this.
So hungrily, so all-consuming, as if his life depended on it.
Like he wants me for more than my body. As though to him, I’m a true queen.
And I completely melt away in his arms. He kisses me so hard I even forget to breathe. And I don’t even care.
When he pulls away for a second, I gasp, my lips tingling with desire.
Why did he stop?
Right now, I want nothing more than him, so I say it loud and clear. “Take me.”
* * *
Noah
Her words undo me, ripping away all my resistance and power, and put it all into her hands. I never knew a desire could grow so deep, that I could want someone so badly that I’d move heaven and earth to be with them. That I could sacrifice even my own body in order to save something that’s precious to her.
I did it all without a second thought. I did it because I’m smitten with her, because she’s the mother of my child … because she’s the only girl I could ever want.
She always was, no matter where we were, how much space there was between us, or the distance I had to travel to find her twice.
I need her like I need oxygen to breathe, like I need her kisses to feel whole.
And I grab her face with both hands and press my lips to hers, greedily taking more of her than she already gave. It’s not enough, and it never will be. I need more, and I’m claiming it now.
Whether she likes it or not, she’s mine.
She said the words, and she can’t take that back. I won’t allow her to, no matter how heavy or hard it gets.
Holding her face, kissing her hard, I push us both to her bed and shove her down without ever unlocking my mouth from hers. My tongue wraps around hers as I lean in and press her down onto the bed. Her beautiful black and red-laced dress is so tightly fitted around her perfect body that I can’t nudge it up her legs, so I rip it apart instead.
“Ah!” she squeals in response.
I cover her mouth with mine. This is not up for debate.
She wants me to take her? I’ll fucking ravage her, and I’ll do it right fucking now.
She bites my lip and I lean back, my tongue darting out to suck up the droplets of blood.
“You bit me.” I narrow my eyes.
“You destroyed my dress,” she retorts.
A wicked smirk spreads on my lips. “And I’ll destroy your pussy too.”
I quickly dive in and kiss her on the lips before she can protest any more. Her lips eagerly part to accept my tongue, and I circle around inside her mouth, owning her completely. I’ve waited so long for this moment, for her to willingly submit to me even when I’m like the devil to her.
Now she’s finally here, underneath me, begging for release. And I’ll happily give it to her … hard.
I tear off what’s left of her dress, ripping apart her bra too. She moans as I cover her nipples with my mouth, gently tugging with my teeth until she squirms underneath me. I love the noises she makes while I twist her nipple with my other hand.
Without hesitation, I move down between her legs and slide my fingers between her slit to get her all riled up. Her cheeks flush as lust fills her veins, and I revel in her delight. As much as I’m a power-hungry asshole, I also love to make her feel good, and I plan to do just that.
My fingers dive into her pussy, and I swirl around inside and push all her buttons, thrusting in and out until she begins to moan out loud. With my thumb, I circle around her clit and press rough kisses onto her belly.
“Mine,” I growl, which makes her tense up.
I nudge her legs apart and finger her deeper, harder, flicking her clit until she’s about to burst.
Right then, I pull out. She gasps. “Why’d you do that?”
I get up off her and zip down my pants. “I want to feel you come.”
When my dick pops out, her eyes almost do too.
I grab her body and flip her around. “What are you doing?” she mutters.
“Ass up,” I growl as she gets up on her knees. I spread her cheeks and position the tip close to her entrance. “You ready?”
She glances at me over her shoulder; the look on her face a mixture between confusion and complete ecstasy.
I grin when she nods. “You asked for it, so let me give it to you.”
* * *
Natalie
When Noah plunges in, I feel it.
I feel it everywhere.
In my lungs that fill with air.
In my legs that tighten up.
In my clit that thumps with desire.
In my fucking belly … which feels full to the brim.
Not just because I’m pregnant, but because I can feel him there every time he slams into me.
One, two, three. I can’t keep track; he’s going so fast. My body is thrust into the bedding, and I can barely breathe as the pillow below me covers my face.
I shove it away with what little strength I have, but he quickly grabs my hands and presses them down on the small of my back. “There’s no escaping this time, Natalie,” he growls, fucking me like a beast. “You’re taking my cock like a good girl now.”
His dirty words have me on the edge. After toying with my pussy and pulling away when I was about to come, I’m now in complete delirium, almost ready to beg him to make me come.
I feel pathetic, and at the same time, I don’t even care, I just want him to fuck me into oblivion.
With my face down onto the bed, I have no choice but to let him fuck me hard. And it feels so damn good too. I’m so close to exploding that I can barely keep it together, and my eyes practically roll into the back of my head.
“Yes, let me feel you come,” he groans, plunging into me deeply. His fingers dive underneath my body, and he plays with my clit until I succumb to desire and fall apart with him inside me. Bliss ripples through me, caressing my body like a velvety stream of water, and my entire body goes limp.
As his cock thickens inside me, he flips me around on the bed again, so we’re eye to eye. With a single hand gesture, he beckons me to rise, and I do. I’m naked, vulnerable, and I’m completely consumed with the hungry look in his eyes.
We just fucked like animals in heat, and I’m still smitten.
With his thumb, he nudges down my chin until my mouth opens, and he steps closer, dick pointed at my mouth. I open farther, allowing him
to slide in. This is so wrong and probably sinful here in the community, but neither of us cares as he slowly slides down my throat.
The way Noah bites his lip gets me going, and I’m almost contemplating touching myself too, but that might go too far for him, so I don’t. Instead, I look up into his eyes as he clutches my face with both hands and pleasures himself on my mouth.
He thrusts into me, every time a little bit faster and deeper, until I almost gag. He pulls out and allows me to breathe, only to plunge right back in again. The look on his face is so animalistic, so downright dirty, that it turns me on like nothing else. I’ve never felt so filthy, never done something so slutty, but this man … this man makes me do things I never thought I would. He’s my man … the man who destroyed me and saved me all at the same time … my husband. And I choose him.
My tongue wraps around his length, licking and enjoying the feel of him inside me.
“Fuck …” Noah growls in pleasure, and he grabs a handful of my hair and plunges in even deeper, entering my mouth fully and staying right there, cock pulsing with need. “Hold it. Hold it.”
When he pulls out again, I gasp for air for just a second. Then he slams right back in again and keeps thrusting all the way until his balls are tightening, and I taste the sweet, salty drip of his pre-cum.
“I’m gonna come,” he says, and then he roars out loud. Warm seed jets down my throat, and I gulp it down in one go, unable to stop it. My eyes tear up from the inability to breathe as he keeps going, filling me up to the brim. I swallow it all down, gulp after gulp.
When he’s spent, he pulls out, and I choke on my own breath while heaving too.
He pets my hair and caresses my cheek. “You swallowed it all …” He leans over to press a gentle kiss against the side of my lips. “Such a good wife.”
A good wife.
I said I’d never be the good little wife he wanted me to be. That I’d never do any of the things I just did for him. I guess people change. There are feelings now, and I can’t ignore them, no matter how hard I try. And boy, I tried … so damn hard.
But the way he looks at me right now, so full of love and adoration, makes all of my doubts disappear.
Beyond His Control Page 10