Swinea abruptly stops her march toward the farmhouse to turn and ask me a question. “What sort of trap?”
“I think— I think,” I stutter, unsure of exactly how to explain my belief that the zombies want to capture Bella and Hamma so they can lure me out of the safety of the farmhouse compound.
“Spit it out, hucow,” Pigletta turns and looks down at me with a look of disgust that uglies her beautiful face.
“Please, hear me out. I know this sounds crazy— ”
“You have five seconds to start making sense, or we’re going to drag you into the farmhouse and tie you to our bed — like Hamma wants us to.”
What the hell? Hamma told them to tie me to their bed? I want to ask them why and when Hamma ordered them to do this, but I don’t have time. I’ve got to explain myself quickly so we can stop Bella and Hamma from walking into a trap. I allow my fears to spill from my lips.
“I’m the last hucow, and I think the zombies want to capture me and make me into a zombie hucow just like them. ‘Come find us. Come take back your farmer and your head stud — if you can.’ That’s what they said when they paraded the farmer and Magnus outside the compound gates. I think they want me to try and rescue them.
No! Now that I think of it, Bella used to be a hucow too. Maybe they want her back as well. The zombies want to lure both Bella and me into their lair so they can kidnap us and transform us into zombies. Hamma, Magnus, and the farmer will all just be collateral damage. They will probably kill them all as soon as they catch and imprison both Bella and me.”
“Daisy’s right!” Swinea screams. “The zombies will kill them all. How can we warn them?” Tears roll down the young hupig’s face. She shakes her hand free of mine and rushes over to Pigletta’s side to clutch her arm and bury her face in her neck.
Pigletta grunts and shakes a trembling Swinea off of her. “You truly believe they are in danger?—”
“I do,” I nod my head, demonstrating my now complete certainty.
“I don’t believe you,” she accuses. “You’d say anything to make me release you—”
“I honestly believe –”
“No. We must obey Hamma’s orders,” Pigletta scowls.
“But –” Swinea begs.
“Shush. It’s too late to go running after them anyway,” Pigletta insists while releasing her grip on my fingers. “They’ve already hiked too far ahead of us. We’ll never catch up to them on foot.”
Swinea’s sobs become violent. “But— but — our Hamma! We can’t abandon our wife!”
“Hamma’s your wife?” My eyes widen with the realization that Swinea has revealed a secret I am not meant to know.
“Damn it. Be quiet baby—”
“Sorry—”
“Hamma’s your wife?” I repeat, trying to make sense of the new information exploding inside of my brain. “But you two are carrying her son’s babies. You both are Magnus’ wives—”
“We’re Magnus’ wives in name only—”
“Shush!” Pigletta hisses at her confessing mate. “We can’t trust her—”
“No more secrets. I’m done pretending!” Swinea shakes her open hands at the sides of her face as she screams. “I refuse to play games of intrigue any longer. I love Hamma too much. Our wife and the mother of our unborn babies needs our help — ”
“Hamma is strong. I doubt she’s in any real danger. You two will never convince me to defy her orders. I’m determined to do exactly as my mistress instructs. I won’t be moved—”
“I’m calling in my favor,” I blurt out, interrupting the two wives. “You will release my hand and help me to rescue Bella and Hamma.” Time is rushing by. We’ve got to stop arguing about this. The women we all love could be in grave danger. We must act now to save them.
“No. No. No!” Pigletta screams then clenches her jaw and saws her teeth making an explosive gritting sound.
“Are you refusing to honor your favor?” I push her to comply with my demand.
“Okay — okay,” Pigletta beats her fists against her upper thighs. “You two follow me — and be quick about it.” She reaches down and unsnaps the tiny pouch on her leather waist harness. Pulling out a single piece of butterscotch candy and handing it to me, she huffs, “eat this; it will protect you from the zombies”.
“A piece of candy is going to protect me from the zombies?” I ask, incredulous.
“Please, just eat it,” Swinea begs. “It’s not regular candy. It’s a special formula Hamma invented long ago when she was working as a government scientist. We risked our lives to smuggle this formula out of the Sky Mountains and bring it here to her. She uses it to help Bella. It keeps the zombie hucows from being able to invade her thoughts. It will do the same for you—”
“That makes no sense,” I argue. “Zombieism is a relatively new scourge. Hamma couldn’t have developed a cure for something that didn’t even exist at the time she was living in the Sky Mountains. There would have been no need for protection against the zombies then—”
“Shush,” Pigletta hisses.
First she whips her head from side to side. Long stripes of her black hair strike the sides of her cheeks as she scans the many faces in the crowd surrounding us. Then she glares harshly at both me and Swinea. “We can’t argue about this outside where anyone can overhear our conversation. Come with me inside the farmhouse and I’ll explain everything. I promise.”
Swinea glances at her wife then back at me before snatching the piece of hard candy from Pigletta’s hand and holding it up in her open palm for me to take. “Please eat it,” she begs.
The young hupig’s concern for me appears genuine. I can see desperation in her eyes. She truly believes eating this candy will protect me, save me—but from what?
Hmm, so this little piece of candy being held out in front of me is supposed to me my salvation. Quickly, I mentally work to discover the truth, trying my best to make sense of the new information I’m learning. I deconstruct then recompile the data in my mind in the same way I imagine the brilliant Hamma does. Could these aristocratic mean-girls standing before me actually be telling the truth?
I don’t want to trust these two hupigs. They represent everything I’m both simultaneously attracted to and repulsed by: the power of the ruling elite. I’ve been trying to overcome the tyranny of their kind since I was a young human raising myself in a concrete workers’ city.
These Sky Mountain noblewomen are powerful enough to do whatever they like. They can help or harm, be kind or cruel according to their desires. The question invading my mind is: what do these two hupigs desire to do to me now? Hurt. Help. Perhaps a little of both.
Earlier, these two barbarous beauties had craved humiliating me. Like the farmer and Bella, they’d used my body cruelly, because they could. They’d behaved like the factory owners who’d used my parent’s bodies until they’d used them up.
The owners had worked my obedient parents 12 hours a day in the workhouses until their once strong physiques grew weak then gave out. And I, their only child was left alone in a city of millions to fend for myself. I became an orphan. I was alone and unprotected, with no one to care for me.
I mattered to no one.
I had no family to feed or clothe me, so the city government did the job. Unfortunately, they did an inadequate job of caring for even the most basic of my needs. It’s why I’m so small in build and stature today. If I’d been fed more protein as a child, I’m convinced I would be a much taller and curvier woman now. I might even be as well-built and beautiful as the two hupigs standing in front of me.
Back when I was an orphan, I never went naked the way I do now. No. I wasn’t lucky enough to be collared and allowed to shine with the glory of my natural form. I was made to wear clothes: worn and faded clothes. At school, my wretched appearance made me a walking joke. Every single day my classmates laughed at my shabby looks.
Those girls spoke hurtful words. However, they never said their cruel taunts directly to my f
ace. No, the meanness was always whispered in private conversation. But, those conversations were frequently close enough for me to hear.
‘Look at poor Laura the loser. She’s nothing. She’s no one. She’ll never amount to anything. So, so sad.’ Their cruel, humiliating words made me feel worthless. They still cause me to feel the stabbing pain of shame in my throat whenever I remember of them.
Rage burns in my chest over the suffering I’ve endured because of the whims of the elite. Magnus, my first lover, abandoned me because an elite – the farmer – ordered him too. He didn’t even try to come and see me. He ignored his desires and mine, choosing to obey orders, just as my parents had. Little good it did any of them—or me.
Bella and the farmer hurt me too. They abused my trust in them. Those two kept me hidden away in the gilded cage of my barn for nearly two years. So long. Too long. I’ve spent far too many nights lonely because of them and their desire to own my body – and my heart.
I breathe deep and push my rage down in the exact way I imagine Hamma would in this situation.
But, Bella and the farmer have also been kind, I recall.
Whenever we are together, I feel their devotion and desire to care for me. Aside from Magnus, they have been the only people to ever faithfully meet my needs for food, shelter and sexual release. I have to remember, that just like the young hupig Swinea, they aren’t inherently vicious people. Bella and the farmer have simply been taught that cruelty is the best way of demonstrating their desire for me.
I must remember that—hold onto its truth and not allow my bitterness over my lot in life to consume me. I am valuable. I am desired. I matter. I remind myself.
I’ve only been standing here mere seconds, but it feels as though I’ve been ruminating for hours. My thoughts dash through my mind as I consider my options. The two more-beautiful-than-me hupigs standing in front of me are offering to help me. However, they both laughed at me when they used my body, not so long ago. And I’m still furious about it. I don’t want to forgive them.
I also don’t want to believe that eating the candy Swinea is holding in her hand is the solution to any of my problems. But, perhaps it truly is. Hamma did give me a piece of the delicious butterscotch to suck on earlier. And at this moment, I remain unharmed.
The only clear side effects of consuming the candy seem to be an increase in my milk production and a lack of hunger. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, yet surprisingly, I’m not desperate for food.
What Pigletta said about the candy protecting me from the zombies’ mental invasions might be the truth. It explains why I haven’t been able to hear the hucow zombie horde inside my mind since I’ve been inside the farmhouse compound.
At first, I thought I couldn’t hear them simply because I was inside of the farmhouse gates. I thought that perhaps there was something protective about being inside this area. But, now it seems I’ve learned the truth.
It’s the candy Hamma gave me to suck on this morning that’s protecting me. It’s the sweet treat Swinea is offering me that will be my salvation when I leave this compound on my mission to rescue everyone in the world I care for—and who I’m also furiously angry with.
I make my decision. Reluctantly, I snatch the candy from the young hupig’s hand, unwrap it and pop it into my mouth.
“Thank you,” I begrudgingly acknowledge the help the two noblewomen are offering.
“Come,” Pigletta orders, then takes off, sprinting toward the farmhouse.
Swinea and I follow closely as she bangs her fists against the house’s side entrance, and the ponyboy doorman opens the private door granting us access. We move with speed across the entryway toward the elevator that leads upstairs.
“We can’t catch up to Hamma and Bella on foot,” Pigletta barks. “But, we can still warn them of the danger they’re in. We’ll utilize the secret communication device inside Bella’s milking machine. It’ll transmit a short message directly into Hamma’s collar—”
“Why is this the first time I’m hearing about this communication device?” Swinea crosses her arms over her chest and juts forward her bottom jaw pouting.
Why does Bella have a milking machine? She’s no longer a hucow. She’s fully human now. Why would she need to be milked? I think, trying to make sense of the secrets the two hupig brats are revealing. Her need to be milked must have something to do with the candy. But, I’m confused. I’ve never witnessed Bella lactate since she was returned to the farm as a human three years ago.
The hupigs and I race inside the elevator, and I nod toward my two companions, in question.
“Third floor,” the pouting Swinea huffs. I push the third-floor elevator button with a single shaky finger.
“It’s not fair,” the young hupig stomps one crystal studded sandal on the marble elevator floor. “You two don’t tell me anything. It’s like you don’t trust me.
“We can’t trust you,” Pigletta grumbles. “You know you’re incapable of keeping a secret, baby,” Pigletta grabs and pulls her redheaded bride in for a kiss, but Swinea turns her head away as their pregnant bellies bump together.
I clear my throat and dip my head down low, trying to stay out of their lover’s quarrel. I don’t want to be drawn into their drama. I’ve got plenty of issues of my own to deal with. The most pressing of which is how to warn Bella and Hamma of the trap they’re walking into.
The ground is unsteady beneath my feet as the elevator shakes and settles at the third-floor landing. Pigletta grunts as she pushes past me, forcefully knocking me to the side. My breasts slam against the side of the elevator, and I wince as my milk sprays out, coating the wall.
No, not again, I bemoan. My milky tits are two of my greatest treasures. But, relieving my breasts of their creamy bounty can be inconvenient at times. Crap. My tits are already bursting full with sweet cream and need to be pumped dry again. Damn this. I want to rescue everyone. But, until I relieve myself of the milky load filling up my bosom, I’m in no condition to rescue anyone.
Chapter 16
Magnus
‘Daisy! Daisy!’
I continue to shout the name of the woman we both love inside Flavi’s head. It’s my only weapon to keep his thoughts from penetrating my mind. He’s mentally strong. Strong enough to overcome my defenses, if I allow him to. Curse this mental link the zombies are building between our two minds. And damn every scientist to hell who had anything to do with creating the zombie scourge.
I don’t give a flying fuck if Flavi finds out about my master plan. He’s going to learn all about it soon enough. But, I can’t risk him fighting me for dominance. For us to survive this battle with the zombies, he’s got to relinquish his control to me.
My best friend Flavi is a headstrong farmer, an ultimate alpha male. He’s not going to just give up his power and let me take the lead. I’ll have to rip his dominance from him.
He’ll fight me hard. But, if we two are to survive, I’ll have to fight harder.
From the way he’s struggling against our growing mental link, I can tell he’s going to battle me for dominance with all his strength. I can feel through our physical and psychological connection that he’s at his physical peak. He’s as powerful as ever. His grip on my fingers burns hot into my flesh. The massively chiseled muscles of his arm are bulging big with use. Even though I am the larger man, subduing this Adonis will be one of the greatest challenges of my life.
I’ll break my best friend. I’ll tear the man’s body apart to gain control over him and our developing mental link. I’ll dominate his body. He must learn the facts of what will become his future life. I’m the true alpha male here. And I will train him to submit to me. Make him be willing to follow my plan.
When I finally overtake him, I’ll become his farmer. I’ll be the man he’s bound to obey. It’s the way things always should have stood between us. I’ve been too lenient with him. For too long I’ve allowed him to dominate me while he pursues his lust for power. That domination ends tod
ay. I am the one true farmer, and he is my right-hand man – my head hubull—and my soon to be husband. With our future shared wives Daisy and Bella between us, we will make the most powerful foursome.
‘Daisy!’ I scream to distract Flavi.
My thighs clench with anticipated agony as a group of zombies rush toward us bearing their bright green teeth. I lock the soles of my feet to the cold concrete ground, steeling myself as I stare into the bright blue glowing orbs of the zombies’ eyes. The owners of which, intend to inflict great suffering on both Flavi and me.
In seconds, they are upon us. First comes the hot suction. Then the piercing pain of teeth penetrating flesh overtakes my senses. Finally, the agony of the biting and ripping into skin just about overwhelms me.
The zombies are draining our life force again, trying to break us. I want to scream and curse as I fight off these devourers of our flesh. It takes every shred of willpower I own not to use the raw power stored in every muscle of my body to fight back.
In my mind, I picture myself ripping their ravenous mouths off Flavi and me. I break us free of our restraints, and we escape this torture unharmed. In my mental fantasy, that’s the way I use my brute strength to save us.
I scowl downward as the zombie consuming my essence releases her teeth from my flesh. “Yum. You taste delicious. You’re a meal fit for a queen.” She smiles up at me. A wide green and red toothy grin stretches across her face before she dips her head again to tear her teeth back into my tender organ.
This is my opportunity to strike. Moving swiftly, I separate my aching legs, cementing my connection to the ground and enhancing the power in my core. Quickly, I grasp Favi’s hand tighter, securing it firmly in place.
Sorry bud, but this is going to hurt.
Crack! I snap two of his fingers like twigs. He screams out his suffering as his hand convulses against mine in torment. He wails loudly then huffs and pants.
Once I’ve done my cruel work of fracturing his bones, I loosen my grip on his fingers. I would completely release his spasming hand if I could, but the way the zombies have bound our fingers together make it impossible. My victim shouts something incomprehensible inside his mind. Yet, he turns his head and smiles at me, attempting to hide his anguish.
Taboo Desires: Dirty Forbidden Secrets Bundle (The Complete Miranda Cougar Collection) Page 34