Saviour

by Andie M. Long

  ‘It's beautiful to watch Eden. Look. Look down.’

  I open my eyes, not even being aware of having closed them. I watch as Jack feasts on my pussy and then he moves his mouth away and pushes the cucumber in and out of me. My wetness, along with its smooth outer layer, means it glides effortlessly in and out.

  ‘Please,’ I beg.

  ‘You want more?’

  ‘Yes.’

  He thrusts it into me harder, until I take it out of his hand and push it deeper inside, lifting myself up and down on it frantically. I explode and collapse against the worktop, feeling like my knees will buckle. Jack throws the cucumber onto the worktop and thrusts his cock between my legs. ‘I’m going to fuck you hard now with the real thing.’

  My backside hits the island cupboards. I can hear the cutlery jingle in one of the drawers with each thrust.

  ‘Fuck, Eden. Fuck me. Oh, God, Oh God. Yes. I’m coming. Oh. Oh. Yes.’ He pulls one of my legs around him, hitting me deep as he shakes within me.

  ‘God. That was incredible,’ he says as he withdraws himself.

  I can see my chest rising and falling fast, my upper body still clothed.

  Jack reaches and passes me the cucumber.

  ‘Sienna would never do this. Don’t wash it. Slice it and put it in my food. I beg you.’

  I nod. Uncomfortable that I’ve done something his wife wouldn’t do. Then again, I guess that’s probably another reason for this arrangement. I can be the person who does what the other wants but doesn’t necessarily get, from the other.

  He leaves me in the kitchen. I look at the cucumber, feeling my cheeks flame. I will never be able to look at cucumbers again. Lust has overtaken my common sense. I head to the shower and wash thoroughly, as if I can wash away the regret at the same time.

  Chapter Six

  Eden

  I’ve been here just over two and a half months and I’m bored. How can this be? I was so sure that here, living a free life with Jack and Sienna, I would finally find happiness. However, I’m spending less money and the thought that I could soon have enough to go travelling makes my feet itch. I’m over online learning, over cyber stalking and definitely over fucking fruit and vegetables. This is one predilection I find bizarre and I’m scared of getting a bacterial infection. I know they say to wash fruit and veg well but not for you to insert in your pussy for fuck's sake. Even the ménages are becoming repetitive and boring. Sienna has not asked me to go down on her and I’m glad. I’ve realised that I’m basically just a greedy bitch and more than happy for a woman to go down on me, but don’t want to return the favour. If she asks I don’t know what I’ll do. Probably get pissed.

  There seems to be tension between Jack and Sienna too. I had the stupid idea they wouldn’t row, as if they were perfect. Something is simmering there. I’m keeping out of the way as much as possible. God, I need to get out of this house. I might buy a few backpacking things and hide them away somewhere.

  Motivated, I switch on my laptop to make a list of what to buy. Then I have a quick scan of my messages and find one from Kara.

  Hey, bestie. I’m coming back for a few days. Think you can get some time off to party?

  The message carries on to tell me she’ll be back next week and is staying at Dave’s for a few days.

  I message straight back.

  I can ask. Sure it’ll be okay. I’ve been around 24/7 with having no life!

  I rush downstairs. ‘Sienna. My friend’s coming back to the UK for a visit next week. Would I be able to have a little time off?’

  ‘Erm. I would think so. I’m not sure of our schedule, so I must double-check with Jack.’

  ‘Thank you.’ I throw my arms around her and hug her hard.

  She stiffens a little in my arms.

  ‘Sorry. I got carried away there.’

  ‘No, I’m sorry, Eden, I was just a little shocked at how excited you are. You must be really fed up stuck here with us two.’

  ‘No. Not at all,’ I lie. ‘I just miss my friend.’

  Back in my room, I send a longer reply to Kara, letting her know it should be fine to meet her at some point. I tell her how bored I’m getting. That I can’t wait to see her and party. I own up to my cyber stalking of Xavier, telling her that I’ve become that sad I know he goes to Paulina’s every Monday night.

  I close the laptop and head out to the shops. Now for some backpacking things, and a new dress for a night out.

  ‘Oh, Eden. I’m so sorry. I have a series of dinners planned for those nights. We need you there to cook.’

  My nails bite into the palm of my hand.

  ‘There must be something we can do? She’s only here for three days. I really want to see her.’

  Jack shakes his head. ‘I’m sorry. This is what we said in your interview. Our job wasn’t nine to five and sometimes we need you. Maybe you could take some leave later and go and see your friend?’

  I sigh. Then nod my head. It is what I signed up for. It’s frustrating, but I’m going to have to suck it up.

  ‘Okay. I’ll let her know.’

  ‘Thank you, Eden. I’m sorry that on this occasion we couldn’t release you, but these business dinners are important.’

  I walk calmly to my room. Then I fling myself on my bed and cry.

  I’m given a very elaborate menu to cook and strict instructions of how Jack and Sienna want the house to appear for their guest. Apparently, it's some rich bloke they get a lot of business from. I ask the builders not to work that day and clean up the best I can. Then I set the dining table with elaborate wares. Jack brought home what I assume is an expensive wine, along with some whisky. They ask me to wear a plain black dress and a white apron. I feel like Cinderella.

  Their acquaintance arrives while I’m in the kitchen finishing up the starter of smoked salmon and avocado. I hear back slapping and footsteps heading past the kitchen. I leave what I’m doing, smooth down my skirt and go through to the dining room.

  Their guest is a man who I would estimate to be in his mid to late forties. He has shoulder length thin hair. It’s kind of blonde-grey. He wears spectacles. He doesn’t even look in my direction as I walk in. I’m about to ask what he’d like to drink, but Jack gets there first.

  ‘What would you like to drink, Malc? I’ve bought a Talisker Dark Storm.’

  ‘That sounds ideal. You certainly know my taste in whisky.’

  Jack looks up at me. ‘Two of those please, and a glass of Malbec for Sienna.’ He turns away from me.

  Okay then, looks like I’m to be seen and not heard this evening.

  The night passes with no words to me other than instructions. This is the first night my job has felt like work. I don’t know why it’s made me so angry. It’s what I’m paid to do, after all. It must be because my friend’s out enjoying herself and I’m stuck here. Kara couldn’t believe I wasn’t able to meet her.

  Dinner over, I take the drinks through to the lounge and leave Jack, Sienna and their guest to it. I hang around the kitchen, hoping their guest isn’t staying much longer. I hear the murmur of Jack’s voice and a loud guffaw from Malc.

  Voices become louder and I guess the evening is finally coming to an end. As I come out of the kitchen, Malc is indeed leaving, so I get his jacket from the hook in the hallway and pass it to him. He looks at me, the first time he’s acknowledged I exist. His eyes look up and down my body, making my skin crawl. His hand brushes against mine as he retrieves his jacket. Oh, my God, have they told him?

  ‘Well, it’s been a pleasure seeing you, Eden. Thank you for the delicious meal. I’ve enjoyed it so much I’m coming back tomorrow for more. You’ve given me quite the appetite you know?’

  I force my mouth into a smile. Then I bid everyone a good night and go to my room.

  I stare at the ceiling. Surely they don’t expect me to do anything with that man? Why would they tell him?

  There’s a soft knock on my door. I ignore it and make gentle snoring noises until I hear foot
steps walk away.

  The next morning, I fix breakfast but remain subdued. Jack has gone to work but left a change to the menu on the notice board, meaning I’ll have to go shopping again. Then I have hours of cooking ahead of me, again to impress Malc. He must be very rich and important. I message Kara to see if she can meet me as I walk around the supermarket. It’s the only chance I will get to see her. Luckily she can get away.

  ‘Eden.’ Kara’s shouts make everyone look up from perusing supermarket shelves. She flings her arms around me like I’m a long-lost sister. She pulls back and touches my cheek. ‘You look well. Rested.’

  ‘So do you,’ I reply. ‘Plus you have an amazing tan.’

  She pouts. ‘It’s crap they wouldn’t let you come out and play. I’m going back tomorrow.’

  I feel my face tighten. ‘Yes. Well, they’re entertaining some boring as fuck businessman and I’m playing maid.’

  Kara looks at me. ‘But that’s what you kind of are, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, but...’ I stop pushing the trolley. ‘It’s weird because they’ve been treating me like an equal and of course there’s the extra-curricular stuff where they act like they worship me. Then yesterday, I felt like something they’d trodden in.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t take it to heart. It’ll be to impress this man.’

  ‘Yeah, well I think they told him about our extra agreement.’

  ‘What?’ Kara’s mouth slackens.

  ‘Exactly. He never glanced in my direction until he left. Then he perved at me, made some comment about his appetite and how he was returning this evening. It creeped me out.’

  ‘You need to talk to them, Eden. That was never part of your arrangement, was it?’

  ‘No. Anyway, less of my rubbish, tell me all about life abroad. Any hot men around?’

  ‘There sure is.’ She beams.

  We get caught up as much as we can while I do my shopping.

  I’m sad to leave Kara at the supermarket so quickly but I’ve to prepare the evening meal. With a hug, I tell her that Jack suggested I arrange some leave and visit, and with loose plans for me to come over soon, we say goodbye.

  When I head into the kitchen, I’m met by Sienna. She hovers nervously by the window.

  ‘I’m sorry about last night, Eden. Jack was drunk and told Malc about our arrangement.’

  I sigh. ‘I figured as much by how he leered at me.’

  Sienna takes a seat at the kitchen island. ‘He regretted it this morning. He’d had too much to drink. Anyway, I said I would speak with you. The thing is, if you were interested, we could all, well, get together.’

  ‘I’m not Sienna. Malc didn’t appeal to me at all.’

  She nods. ‘That’s fine. I can’t say I find him attractive in either personality or body.’

  My hands clench. ‘Is this something I will be asked often?’

  ‘No. But our arrangement can be fluid. If we do invite someone around and they take your fancy, let us know. As long as all three of us consent. There’s no problem.’ Sienna’s eyes meet mine. That steely gaze is back.

  She makes a dismissive hand gesture. ‘Anyway. It would be lovely if you could cook the meal for us this evening, but I promise that Malc will leave you alone. Jack will tell him you aren’t interested.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘No. Thank you, Eden.’ The lightness is back in her voice. ‘We’re sorry. We’re human, and Jack, well he messed up. I hope you won’t hold that against us?’

  I exhale. ‘No, Sienna, I’m just relieved you aren’t expecting me to do anything with that awful man.’

  Sienna pushes one of my curls behind my ear. ‘Jack doesn’t think sometimes. He can be a little, well…’ She sucks on her lip. Then she leans in and her mouth brushes the side of mine. ‘I’ll let you get the shopping unpacked.’ She walks away.

  True to their word, Malc attends that evening, and he remains polite and courteous. My fears are unfounded and later that evening, after he’s left, I join Jack and Sienna in their room for an evening of mutual satisfaction.

  The next couple of days are blissful. I recollect scenes from our evenings together while I stand in the kitchen preparing food. The builders have finally finished the current scheme of improvement and we’ve agreed to have a break before they do anything else to the property. Everyone is sick of the mess. What they have done looks good though, and the hallway is now bright and clean. Last night, Jack fucked me on the stairs. I have a friction burn on my back to prove it. I decide that I can manage another month or so like this, and then I might be ready to move on and finally do some of that travelling.

  A knock at the rear door startles me. Jack is always ordering tech for his office. We get parcels almost daily. I throw open the door, only to find Malc on the doorstep.

  ‘Oh, sorry, Jack’s not in,’ I tell him.

  He gives me a leery smirk and pushes his long hair behind his ear. ‘I’m aware of that. I came to see you.’ He pushes past me and stands in the kitchen.

  ‘You need t-to leave.’

  ‘What do you charge?’ he says, putting his hand in his pocket and bringing out a stuffed wallet.

  ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘For sex. I know you provide Jack with an extra service. He told me.’ He looks me up and down again. ‘Will five hundred quid suffice? Where’s your room?’

  ‘I’m sorry. I don’t know what Jack told you, but he seems to have given you the wrong impression.’

  Malc stands back with a swagger. ‘Do you, or do you not fuck them for money?’

  ‘No. I do not. Could you please leave?’

  Instead, he moves towards me. His hand sweeps under my skirt and I hiss as his finger pushes into me through my pants.

  I push him off. ‘Get away from me.’ I back against the kitchen island, looking for a weapon.

  He stands back, looking at me like I’m some dirty whore. ‘I was trying to help you earn more money, sweetheart. I’m not a rapist. Thought you’d be up for it. He reaches into his wallet and extracts a business card. He’s an accountant. ‘If you change your mind.’ He places it on the counter. ‘Tell Jack I said hi.’

  With that, he leaves the house. I listen to his feet as they retreat down the driveway. I sink to the kitchen floor, limbs shaking. It’ll be ages until Jack and Sienna are back. I don’t feel safe here right now. I run to my bedroom and wedge a chair under the door knob. Looking at myself in my bedroom mirror, my face is ashen, my lips trembling. Shaking uncontrollably, I try not to cry. The tiniest noises from the house make me flinch.

  Prior to the return of Jack and Sienna, I make my way back downstairs where I help myself to the whisky until I stop shaking.

  Over dinner, I tell Jack what happened. He goes apoplectic.

  ‘I’ll kill him.’ Jack’s nostrils flare, and he tosses his plate at the wall. Shards of plate and crumbs land like confetti on the carpet. Sienna grabs his arms in an attempt to calm him down. His face is red, his lips curled and his eyes have a faraway stare, a tightness to his expression. She guides him out of the dining room, caressing his arm with her hand in a soothing motion. I sit stock-still, having seen a side to my employer not revealed before. His rage.

  After a few minutes, Jack returns. His face is a serene mask now, but the tic in his cheek gives away the loose control he has of his temper. I see the cords straining in his neck.

  ‘I’m so, so sorry, Eden. You’ll never be bothered by that man again. I think we’ll keep our arrangement to ourselves for now. Just us three, okay?’

  I nod my head. More determined than ever that my time here will be ending soon.

  Chapter Seven

  Xavier

  It’s been over three months now but I still think of her. Of fisting my hands in her hair, pulling it out of the ponytail. My dick gets hard just thinking about her hair for Christ's sake. What’s that about? A woman in a nightclub. She should have been out of my mind as soon as my dick pulled out of her but something happened back there, b
etween us. I show no-one my chest, yet I unbuttoned my shirt to offer her a modicum of privacy and exposed a story known only to myself. I used my shirt like it was a shield. Why did I care? She didn’t. She ran. Out of the club and out of my life. I can still remember the touch of her skin. Can hear her moans in my mind as she came apart. I have nothing but her Christian name. Eden. I realise she could have been spinning me a line, like she accused me of doing, but the name fits her so well I can’t imagine her being called anything else. Eden, a place of abundant natural beauty. I think of her pale pink lips as they answered me back. Her pale face with those haunting large aqua coloured eyes. I know one thing. I need to see her again, if only to lose these rose-tinted spectacles, this feeling of something other.

  Yet so far, I’ve turned up nothing, despite social media. She’s a ghost girl.

  ‘Mr Harrington. Don’t you need to set off now?’ One of the staff reminds me of an appointment.

  ‘Thanks, Jemima.’

  I smooth down my shirt, straighten my tie and button my suit jacket, then set off to show some people a house.

  Five years ago, my father suffered a fatal heart attack, making me, his sole heir, owner of a string of Estate Agents. Under the advisement of Jane, my father’s PA and lady friend, I franchised out every single one of them, except the Manchester Branch. When I think back to my naivete those short years ago, I want to laugh. Jane was wonderful, despite my constant disagreement. With hindsight, I know I would never have been able to run them all. I could barely run this branch, the state I was in. In reality, Jane was my mentor, not a PA but much more. Possibly a mother figure. My real mother represents a mess of mental illness and a year of my life I’ll never be able to forget. I shake my head and move my focus back to business.

  Yes, I could sit back and let others work for me, but that’s not my style. I work alongside my team. Show them that bonuses come from graft and trust, not a silver tongue. Our portfolio is impressive. Today’s property is a six bedroom in Altrincham. Houses around here come up infrequently. A reliable estate where people tend to live out their years. The owner had been widowed recently and was moving in with her son. She believed it was time for a new family to find happiness there.