by Vi Carter
She is really trying to sell her friend. She stops to eat her sandwich. I wait and let her chew it.
“Sandra isn’t all the things that Ella is. In fact, she’s the opposite.” She looks up from her sandwich to see my reaction.
“You said to speak freely.” Her lips tug down.
I try to relax, I’m not making this easy on her.
I bring another smile to the surface. “Yes, I would like that Hannah.” It wasn’t fair to her to spend the date talking about Ella.
“Tell me about you,” I say.
She’s eating again and I suppress another smile. “I like peanut butter sandwiches.”
I open one of the sandwiches on the plate in front of me. “Cucumber.” I never liked them.
She shrugs. “I’m an emotional eater, I eat when I’m nervous.”
“Tell me something else.” There is no point in telling her not to be nervous because she would be. I never made it easy for people. My presence always made people nervous.
“I want to be a doctor.”
Her admission surprises me. She’s the first that has spoken of a life beyond marrying me.
“How would you marry me and be a doctor?” I ask.
She smiles. “I didn’t expect to be picked, Master Lucas.” She starts to eat another sandwich, her cheeks rosy red.
“Don’t cut yourself short, Hannah. You are far more worthy than most girls.”
She smiles, a piece of cucumber stuck in her teeth. “Thanks. That’s really sweet.” The piece of food dislodges and she shrugs. “But I think someone else has captured you.”
I take a drink of water so I don’t smile as she swings the conversation back to Ella. Ella, who I can never have. Knowing that makes me want her more.
The piece of paper in my pocket feels like it’s burning me. I reach in and take it out.
“Can you give this to her?” I ask.
Hannah is no longer smiling, her face is serious as she reaches for the note. I hesitate, after what Sandra did with my note I’m apprehensive.
“If I find out you tampered with it.” I force the warning into my voice.
Hannah is like a deer waiting for the impact of an oncoming car.
I smile and her body softens, but she’s wary.
“Just give that to Ella.”
She takes the note and holds it tightly. We continue our date and as nice as Hannah is, my mind won’t leave Ella. Our date would be tomorrow and I would finally get to see her.
CHAPTER TWENTY
ELLA
I keep pacing across the floor as I wait for Hannah to return from her date. I’ve left the door open so I can see out onto the landing. The noise of someone climbing the stairs has me sitting on my bed and trying to look like I’m not counting down the seconds since she left. Her smiling face appears in my door and I try to look surprised.
“Hi.”
Hannah races to the bed and lands beside me with a piece of paper in her outstretched hands.
“What’s that?” I ask.
“It’s for you. From, Lucas.”
I take the note and open it. Hannah’s excitement has me smiling.
I look forward to seeing you at our date tomorrow.
Lucas
I glance up at Hannah. “My date is tomorrow.”
She claps and bounces with excitement. My own is bubbling up until she stops and gives me a soft smile.
“Are you going to tell me what really happened to your face?”
I’m surprised by her question, I really had taught she believed me. I rise and put the note that Lucas gave me in my drawer.
“Lucas’s father slapped me.” I return to the bed and can’t help but touch my face. “With a pair of leather gloves.”
Hannah shakes her head. “Why, why would he do that?”
“He said I had no manners.” This knowledge is dangerous to share and the last person I want to endanger is Hannah. I know I still have to be punished, I have no doubt that Lucas’s father isn’t finished with me yet.
“Oh, Ella. What a monster.” She squeezes my hands.
“Hannah, you can’t ever tell anyone.”
She chews her lips and I pull her hands, getting her full attention. “I’m serious. Please don’t tell anyone.”
She nods reluctantly. “Okay.”
“Now tell me about the rest of your date.” I move to calmer waters and listen as Hannah tells me every detail. I smile through most of it. She sounds hilarious.
I spend the rest of the day in a daze. I try to avoid Sandra and her narrowed eyes. She looks angry every time she sees me. She must be surprised that I’m still here and not sent away. I want to tell her that I am as surprised as she is.
That night I can’t sleep and toss and turn until the morning bursts through my curtains telling me it’s going to be a warm day. I’ve decided for today that I will wear a lilac, spaghetti-strapped, summer dress for my date with Lucas. The way we parted the last time made me nervous. I’m excited to see him. I have missed seeing him, but I also have to remember that this isn’t going to go any further. Sandra is his future, not me. Straight away my heart plummets as I think of his father’s words. I have been kept here to keep him in line. I need to warn him. I don’t know what Lucas can do, but I need to tell him. He never has to know about the slap, I will leave that out. I doubt he would believe me anyway.
I arrive at the spot where we are having our picnic. George smiles at me. “Miss O’ Leary.” He greets me while gesturing to the rug that’s placed on the lawn. It’s surrounded by all the flowerbeds. It’s a perfect place.
“Thank you.” I sit down and take in the wicker picnic basket that’s half opened. The food has already been laid out, it’s identical to what Hannah described. My stomach churns nervously and I run my hand across my hair and fix my dress. I am so nervous.
I’m not sure what way he will be with me. My stomach flips as I spot him across the way. He looks even more divine and I try to calm my pounding heart. He’s favored a white shirt that has three buttons open at the top, showing his tanned skin. The closer he gets, the heavier my heart beats and I drop my gaze from his inky eyes. I can’t figure out if he’s happy to see me or not but I pour myself a glass of water and instantly think of Hannah eating all this food.
I smile and it calms my heart. Lucas’s legs come into view and he squats down in front of me. I look up into eyes that I don’t mind drowning in. He reaches out a hand.
“Come for a walk with me.”
George is still here and he clears his throat. In a warning? I’m not sure how wise it is. But, this one day, this one moment, I would live it. I place my hand in his, the feel of skin is warm and I allow him to help me to my feet. Once I’m standing, there is a moment where we are standing so close and he still holds my hand. Against my better judgement, I look up at him. His free hand touches my cheek with a gentleness that weakens my knees. His eyes are an oasis of turmoil as he strokes his thumb across my damaged cheek.
No words are passed between us. No words are needed. He knows. He knows and he’s angry. My vision blurs and I want to cling to him, but I remember George is watching. Letting my eyelashes rest on my cheeks, I release Lucas’s hand and step away causing his hand to flutter to his side.
“A walk sounds nice.” My voice is more controlled. When I glance back up at Lucas his eyes search mine for answers.
I start to walk, cutting off his nonverbal interrogation on my heart.
“I haven’t seen you around much lately, Master Lucas.” My delivery of Master Lucas is automatic. Maybe his father’s discipline had worked.
Warm fingers wrap around my wrist and over the beating of my heart. “He will never put his hands on you again.”
Each strike of my heart is bending the bit of will power I had coming to this date. “Thank you,” I whisper. I have no idea what Lucas had to do or say to make that possible, but not to be in constant fear of his father meant everything to me.
His eyes bore into mine until it’s
nearly uncomfortable to hold his stare. He’s too much right now, too much anger, pain and regret swirl in his stunning eyes.
We continue walking, both of us silent. It’s not how I saw this date going. I don’t know what I expected, but not this kind of pain. Each time I steal a peek at Lucas, his jaw is clenched, or his shoulders tight. He doesn’t seem like he wants to be here.
Maybe that’s why he wanted us to walk instead of sitting down and talking.
We walk along the hedge of the maze and I know soon we will come to the opening. The maze that I nearly got lost in. I shiver as I think of Henry, but the cold abates quickly as I feel Lucas move closer to me, his warmth wraps around me like a warm blanket.
“Are you cold? I’d offer you a jacket if I had one.”
I think of him taking off his shirt for me, I would get to see what’s underneath. I try to drag my mind out of the gutter. “I’m not cold.” I admit as we reach the entrance of the maze. I have a thought, and my heart pounds as I take a step towards it.
“What are you doing?” Lucas doesn’t follow me as I take a few steps into the maze.
Looking at him over my shoulder, I see fear in his eyes until they reach mine. “Come in.”
He doesn’t move. “Come out.” He sounds irritated and I know if I go back out to the garden our date will end and I might not see him again. My stomach twists painfully. This is my only chance. I turn and run into the maze.
“Ella.” His warning has me smiling. He’s mad, but he’s following me.
I don’t really go far and he catches me easily. Spinning me around, I second guess myself when I see the fire in his eyes. His lips crash down on mine and I react straight away like two chemicals mixing, exploding and becoming one.
I cling to his wide shoulders as he moves us back towards the wall of greenery. Twigs and branches dig into my back, but it supports us and allows our bodies to mash together. I can feel his erection and I grow wet instantly. Lucas’s large hands graze my shoulders pushing down the straps of my dress, his lips leave mine and follow the path that his hands just made.
Each kiss is carved into my skin, branding me. Scarring me. I pull Lucas’s face back up to mine, craving his kisses. He’s panting, so am I and he pauses. I fear he’ll stop. I don’t want us to think right now, all I know, is that I just want him. I slam my lips against his and he groans into my mouth before pushing his body harder against mine. His erection has me shifting.
His hands grip my face as he deepens the kiss with his tongue. He tastes of mint and lust.
I touch the bare skin at the top of his shirt and want nothing more but to have it off. The heat of his skin has my own searing.
When his hands leave my face and touch my arms, I shiver under his fingertips. My shiver turns into a tremble as he continues down and slowly lifts my dress until his hands touch my bare thighs. It’s a bolt of lightning into my system and I cling to his shoulders again to keep myself upright.
Lucas’s lips leave mine as he kisses my jaw line at the same time his fingers push aside my panties. Automatically I spread my legs a little more, giving him access as he dips his fingers inside me. Both of us groan.
“You’re so wet.” He whispers in my ear as he pushes his finger deeper before pulling it out. The loss is immediate, I groan, and he pushes back in, this time with two fingers. Stretching me. I spread my legs further, giving him more access. His lips return to mine and our kisses are broken with my heavy gasps and moans. Lucas continues his rhythm of plunging his fingers inside me. My body is alive. My breasts feel heavy in my bra and my nipples brush the fabric almost painfully. A feeling in me is building and I clamp down on Lucas’s shoulder and he moves quicker.
“Lucas,” I call his name as my body is overtaken with bliss.
“Come for me,” he whispers against my lips and I shatter right there on his hand.
The comedown from such a high is strange. I take in my surroundings. It's like I woke up. Lucas is watching me and there is a look of awe in his eyes. He removes his hand. His fingers are slick with my juices. I inhale as he sucks them.
My heart beats wildly, I’m trying to understand this want in me, I want him again. How is that possible? My dress has fallen back into place and slowly Lucas pushes back up my dress straps, before placing a kiss on my swollen lips. I can taste myself.
“You taste so sweet,” he tells me and my core tightens again. His erection seems larger now and I wonder what that would feel like inside me. My cheeks blaze.
“You are perfect. Don’t be embarrassed.” He steps away with a pained expression on his face and reaches back, wrapping his fingers around mine. I know this isn’t one sided, I wanted to touch him too, but I’d never touched a man before.
“What about you?” My cheeks grow hotter.
“We have time, but not right now.” He tugs me with a devious grin on his face as we walk deeper into the maze, one I hope we never return from.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LUCAS
I told Ella we had time, but we don’t. My body still hums with a want for her. I won’t allow it. It wouldn’t be fair. Her hand fits perfectly in mine as we walk through the maze. Each time I look at her, my cock twitches. She’s stunning. Her smile has me pausing. My heart is tripping over itself. I love what she does to my system, flooding it with all of her.
“Why did you hesitate coming into the maze?”
Her question catches me off guard. Had I? I’m thinking back to when she stepped into the maze I hadn’t wanted to enter. I didn’t want her to come in here in case she felt the darkness of this place. But that isn’t possible. The only thing Ella is doing is replacing the darkness with her light.
“I got lost in here when I was eight.”
She nods, “I got lost in here the other day.” Her eyes dart to the left. “Henry found me.”
The blood turns to ice in my veins. “Did he hurt you?” What had she endured at his fucking hands?
She looks at me again. “No. He helped me find my way out. How did you get out?”
She’s telling the truth. “My mother found me.” The painful memory has me releasing Ella’s hand. She looks hurt when I untwine our fingers.
“Henry led me into the maze and left me here.” I look at the hedges now. They don’t seem so scary. At eight it was terrifying. As I grew up, it felt worse that he had walked me in here on purpose and left me. He was a cruel nineteen-year-old.
“It took them two days to find me. They had no idea where I was.”
Ella’s eyes grow impossibly wide and she shakes her head. I start to walk because I don’t like sharing and I might find it easier to talk while I walk.
“George told me my mother couldn’t be controlled when she found out that Henry did it on purpose. He was jealous of her love for me.”
I glance at Ella and she's staring directly at me. I reach back and take her hand in mine again, twining our fingers. Her smile is soft and she bites her lip.
“She beat him really bad.” That day is foggy to me. I had spent two days terrified and alone. I remember my mother’s beating heart as she carried me from the maze. I remember her holding me so tightly that it hurt. My father’s shouts were so loud that they hurt my ears, light was shone in my face, it disappeared as my mother held me tighter until my father coaxed her to release me, to let the doctors make sure I was okay.
I was more traumatized than injured.
“My father stopped her.” I glance at Ella again. I felt bare talking about this. “She nearly killed him.”
Ella doesn’t speak but I see the horror in her eyes.
I stop again and look around the hedges. “He built this maze to trap me.” I’m half smiling at his dedication to hurt me.
“That’s so horrible Lucas. I’m so sorry.” Ella tightens her hold on my hand as she speaks.
“He gets credit for dedication.” I try to lighten the mood. I’ve never shared this with anyone.
“Why did he hate you so much?” Ella asks th
e question that I have always asked.
“My mother favored me.” My heart pounds. I haven’t thought about her in such a long time. Now every bedtime story, every teddy bear picnic, roars to life inside me.
“Your mother?”
I have to release Ella’s hand again. She is poking too much and I don’t like it. I stop walking and turn to face her. I don’t know what I’m ready to do, but she has this look on her face of devastation that causes my anger to deflate.
“She’s locked away. I don’t know where. But my father visits her. We aren’t allowed. She’s … not balanced.”
Ella takes the two steps that separate us and wraps her arms around my waist, while leaning her head against my chest. It takes me a moment to respond to her hug before I wrap my arms around her. I can feel the dampness on my shirt before I hear her sniffle.
“Don’t cry.” I try to make her look at me, but she isn’t letting me go. Placing a kiss on the crown of her head I pull her closer and hold her for just a little while.
She gives another sniffle before leaning out. She’s rubbing my shirt, trying to wipe away her tears. “I’m sorry.”
Her body this close is taking its toll on me. “I don’t mind having my shirt soaked with your tears,” I say.
Her eyes dart up to mine and she smiles. “Yeah, you have a thing for body fluids.”
Her words are a joke, but my body hum’s thinking of how sweet she tasted. Her eyes widen.
“I meant the day you tasted your blood.” Her chest flames and I’m smiling as I take her face in my hand and lower my head to hers.
“No you didn’t. You were referring to how I tasted you.”
Her nostrils flare and her chest rises and falls quickly. I kiss her softly and I know I’m prolonging the agony. Our time is running out. I didn’t want anyone to know we were missing. I didn’t want to draw attention to Ella any more than I already had. My father's word is something, but it isn’t a guarantee. I can’t keep her safe here.