She sat up and touched the collar. It had warmed to her body temperature. She pushed the covers off and first went to peek downstairs to confirm she truly was alone. That he wasn’t just sitting quietly in the living room. She tried the front door, but found it was locked. All the windows too were locked. Outside, the street was deserted, but she could see into what she supposed was the main street where people moved, working their various chores, she imagined. She went back upstairs to get dressed.
She stood in front of the full-length mirror. Her thick hair was still damp from yesterday’s bath, but she could work her fingers through it. The nightie she’d worn to bed fit her well, although it was worn and she realized in the light how little it hid. She pulled it over her head, but remained in front of the mirror. She touched the collar. It was a thick, flat metal with smooth edges. It was locked in the back and just tight enough that she couldn’t turn it. It didn’t look so much like a prisoner’s collar, but more like a piece of ultra-modern jewelry. His words repeated in her mind—his warning about not going near the fencing that contained the community. She wondered what would happen if she did. Would there be an electrical shock? How badly would she be hurt? She planned on escape, or at least to attempt it. He was stupid if he thought she wouldn’t try.
Her eyes wandered down her body and without thinking, she reached to strip her panties off. Nothing had changed, she hadn’t changed, but she felt different. Was it the chemicals she was inhaling now? Was that it?
But he’d said there weren’t any in the air.
He could tell her anything though. She was his prisoner. She had to remember the truth.
The collar marked her as his; she felt that more thoroughly than she liked. The sight of him naked yesterday made her cheeks flush pink. Her nipples hardened as she watched herself, although it wasn’t cold in the room. She brought her attention to the small triangle of dark hair between her legs. Widening them, she reached down to run her fingers through the patch before dipping her fingers lower to find moisture there. She cupped her hand over her mound and a foreign sensation made her press harder.
She heard the lock turn on the door and quickly pulled her hand away, shame turning her face bright red. What was she doing? She quickly pulled the nightie back over her head and ran to the bathroom.
“Good morning,” a woman’s voice sang out. She was cheerful. “Olivia?” the woman called from the foot of the ladder. “Are you up?”
“I’ll be right down,” Livvie yelled down, not wanting whoever it was to come upstairs and find her like this. She washed her hands and splashed water on her face.
In just a few more minutes, she was downstairs and staring at a woman who could only be a few years older than she, but who had a grotesque growth in her stomach. She looked from it to the woman’s smiling face, wondering if this was what the poison was going to do to her. But the woman just kept smiling, her expression almost proud, and even holding her belly with a delicate, protective hand.
“Hi, I’m Jenna,” she said, extending that hand toward Livvie.
“Uh, Olivia…Livvie, actually.” Livvie took her hand tentatively, her other hand circling her throat, touching the collar for reassurance, oddly enough.
“Nice to meet you,” Jenna said. “I brought some food and coffee. I know Hayden doesn’t want you to go out alone,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“Ok, thanks.” She couldn’t stop staring at the woman’s belly.
Jenna giggled at what Livvie assumed was her expression. “I’m due in two more months. No, one month and twenty-four days actually. Can’t wait,” Jenna said, smiling proudly once again.
Livvie raised her eyebrows just as the door opened.
“I told you I’d pick up the food, Jenna,” Hayden stood in the doorway looking at them.
“It’s almost noon, Hayden. She’s probably starving.”
Livvie dragged her eyes from Jenna’s growth to meet Hayden’s.
“Thank you, Jenna. I’ll take it from here,” he said.
“Nice to meet you, Livvie. Maybe you can help in the kitchen sometime. If you like to cook, I mean,” she said warmly to Livvie.
“Sure, yes. If I’m allowed,” she threw in, glancing at Hayden.
“Bye.”
Hayden closed the door behind Jenna. “She’s pregnant,” he said to Livvie.
“Pregnant?”
“Yes, as in she’s going to have a baby. We do it the old-fashioned way here. A man and a woman. Family. Love.”
“I understand, I’m not stupid,” she said, although she was confused. At Magnus, women weren’t pregnant. The babies were incubated at special labs. Her sister was one of the lucky ones chosen to donate her eggs. Livvie wrinkled her face at the thought of her sister looking like Jenna did, her belly protruding like that. It was almost obscene.
“You’ve never seen a pregnant woman, have you?”
“No.”
“Well, there are a couple of others in the camp, so I’d try not to make that face if I were you.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“You’re welcome. When did you wake up? I wanted to be here, but had an emergency at headquarters.”
“I just got up a little bit ago,” she said, walking to where Jenna had left the fresh pot of coffee. “Hayden,” she added.
“It’s Commander in public. If you’d like to use Hayden in the house, you may.”
“Oh, well, that’s nice of you.”
“So Livvie, tell me something.” He sat on the couch, but she could feel his eyes on her. “How does a woman get pregnant?”
She poured coffee, ignoring him, but unable to hide the flush of embarrassment. “Only my friends call me Livvie.”
“So Jenna’s your friend?”
“She didn’t kidnap me. Or put a collar around my neck like I’m some…pet.”
“I’d love a cup of coffee too, if you don’t mind,” he said; this time, he was the one ignoring her.
“I don’t mind at all. You can help yourself,” she said, returning to the living room and taking a seat on the hearth of the fireplace. There wasn’t a fire now and the stone felt cool beneath her bottom, but she didn’t want to sit next to him.
“Manners, Olivia. I won’t be disrespected in my own home.”
“Well, then I suppose I’m bound to disappoint you.”
“Go upstairs and get dressed if you want a tour around the camp.”
She didn’t hesitate, but carried her mug up with her, taking care not to splash herself with the hot liquid as she ascended the ladder. She took a sip and set it on the dresser as she chose clothes for the day: a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved, pale pink sweater. She put her boots back on and headed downstairs. This would be a good opportunity to learn the lay of the land for when they came back for her.
Hayden looked her over from head to toe but didn’t comment; instead, he opened the front door and gestured for her to go ahead of him. She noticed that he didn’t lock the door behind him.
The air was fresh and the sky bright blue. She followed him down the street where his house sat alone on the inclining road. His Jeep was parked outside, but they walked into the town which was just a few streets away. She could see between the buildings and onto the main street.
People walked along the streets of the small village. The roads were dirt and rock, and homes in various styles and sizes lined the perimeter and branched off onto side streets. She could hear a river running; rough rapids, she would guess from the sound of it.
“This is Main Street,” he said when they got to what she assumed was the center of the town, which was nestled between high peaks, shielding it effectively unless you knew it was here to begin with.
“What is that bigger building?” she asked.
“It used to be the town’s hotel. We use the rooms as homes now. About thirty families live there. This is the main kitchen where Jenna is in charge. Most of the houses have the capability to cook, but quite a few still don’t, including the h
otel, so we have a communal kitchen. Most people have an assigned task, a job they’re responsible for. The school is just beyond, that larger building there,” he said, pointing.
“How many children attend?” she asked, taking in the tall fence that lined the perimeter.
“Three hundred, give or take. We rotate the classes; we don’t have the facilities to take them all in at once.”
Everyone she passed looked at her without greeting. She noticed they all greeted him though, either with a smile or a handshake.
“What’s that building?” she asked, pointing to the most elaborate building in the town. Well, at least once upon a time it must have been elaborate. It was a dark red in color where the paint hadn’t worn away.
“Headquarters,” he answered.
She glanced at him for a moment, but he didn’t elaborate.
“Where’s the river I hear?”
“This way,” he said, leading her down one of the roads toward the end of Main Street. She just glimpsed the white rapids when a voice from behind drew their attention.
“Hayden,” a woman called. They turned and she wasn’t sure if she’d just seen him roll his eyes.
“Mary,” he said as the woman approached. She looked Livvie over once, but otherwise ignored her altogether. She was older; early thirties, Livvie would say.
“Can you come over later tonight and talk to Billy again? He’s driving me crazy. Maybe it’d be good if you ate dinner with us, you know, just be there. A father figure.”
The line of Livvie’s mouth hardened, although she couldn’t understand why. Was that jealousy that asserted its claim over this man who’d essentially kidnapped her? Was holding her against her will?
“I’ll come by and talk to him tonight, but I’m afraid dinner’s out.” He glanced at Livvie and so did Mary.
“Oh, please. Don’t let me stand in the way,” Livvie interjected.
“I’m sorry, Mary,” Hayden said once again and took Livvie’s elbow, guiding her away.
“You can have your little date if that’s what you want,” Livvie said when they were out of earshot.
“I’m not here to ‘date.’”
“Well, she certainly seemed to be interested in one.”
“And you could gather that in the span of a few moments?”
“It must be all that thinking for myself your fresh air is making me do,” she threw back.
“You’ve got a sharp tongue,” he said.
“Too bad the collar you strapped around my neck doesn’t let you zap me when I speak my mind.”
“I have other ways of making sure you obey. And by the way, that collar means you belong to me and I’d advise you to be careful, Livvie,” he said, adding just a little pressure onto her elbow.
“You’d better be careful too, Hayden.” Her heart was racing as she said it and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if she’d gone too far.
He clicked his tongue and looked at her, a half-smile on his face. “Wait just one minute,” he began, his grin growing. “Are you jealous?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
She snorted, “You wish!”
“Curious about all the things you’ve missed out on? Dating? Sex?”
“Oh, my God! You’re crazy, of course I’m not!” Sweat broke out over her forehead and under her arms.
“Let’s go home; I’ve got a fresh idea for a lesson. We can continue our tour another time,” he said.
“What do you mean?” She resisted, but his hold on her only tightened. People were already looking at her and she had a feeling he wouldn’t hesitate to put her over his shoulder if she didn’t comply.
“Don’t worry; I think you’ll like this one.”
Once inside the house, Hayden locked the door, then closed the curtains on the windows before turning to her.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “You’re not going to spank me. I didn’t do anything,” she said, not liking the look in his eyes, the grin on his face, not to mention the bulge that had appeared in his pants.
“No, no spanking today. Unless you’d like one, of course. Have you ever,” he began, coming to stand so his chest nearly touched hers. She would have moved back, but the couch was at the back of her knees. “Even been kissed, Livvie?”
She put her hands to his chest, meaning to push him away.
“No. We don’t…”
“No, you don’t, that’s right. Magnus doesn’t allow its inhabitants to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. There’s much to be had. And I have a feeling,” he said, lifting her chin, “you’ll be insatiable once you have a taste.”
She opened her mouth in a gasp and he took the opportunity to close his lips over hers. She protested at first, but he put a hand to the back of her head, holding her tight. She made a noise; was it a moan? No, this was…gross.
His tongue entered her mouth, licking inside her. She wanted to shake her head, to push him off. She should do that; this was disgusting. So why was her body opening to him? That quiver she’d felt in her belly last night was back and she couldn’t deny the moisture that now gathered between her thighs.
He moaned and released her mouth, drawing out her lower lip between his teeth as he did so. “Your mouth tastes so pretty, Livvie. I wonder how the rest of you will taste.”
“The rest of me?”
Hayden walked her to the ladder. She looked at him, not sure what to do or say. The look in his eyes was so strange.
“Up,” he said.
“No…I…” she began.
“Up, Livvie.”
She climbed up the ladder with him close behind, his hands closing around hers as they went. Once there, she turned to face him.
“What are you doing?” she asked even as he walked her backwards to the bed until she was out of space and forced to sit down.
“Shh.” He pulled his t-shirt over his head to reveal his big, muscled chest, tanned dark, his shoulders wide and powerful, his hands big as they pulled her sweater off.
She made a small sound of protest, which he ignored.
“Livvie,” he whispered, laying his torso on hers, but keeping his weight on his arms. “Did you like that kiss?”
She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No.”
“That’s not what your body’s telling me.”
With that, he kissed her again, a little harder this time, a little more urgency in the probing of his tongue. She became aware of the thick rod that pressed against her belly and fear gripped her. She pushed against his chest, harder this time. He let her mouth go and followed the line of her jaw to her ear with his tongue.
“Shh, I’m not going to hurt you,” he said.
“I think you should stop,” she whispered, feeling cold when he lifted his torso. He reached behind her and unhooked her bra.
“You’re so pretty,” he said, running the back of his hand over one nipple, which hardened immediately at his touch. “Your body so responsive.”
And it was, it was so wrong, but that’s exactly what her body was doing: wanting him to touch it.
His hands found the buttons of her jeans and slowly popped them open.
“I don’t think you should do that.” Her protest was weak, her body working in opposition to her mind.
He pulled her pants down and off along with her boots. He then lifted her, laying her head on a pillow while he just looked at her. He closed his mouth over one nipple, very softly at first, very lightly, then slowly pulled upwards, sucking on the very tip, until she arched her back and closed her eyes, the sensation overwhelming her.
He covered that breast with his hand, keeping pressure on her nipple as he moved to take the second one. The attention to her breasts, and especially her nipples, was sending a signal directly to her clit. It was as if they were connected, those parts of her. She’d never felt anything like this before; she’d never even kissed anyone. But her eyes flew open in alarm when his mouth trailed wet kisses along the flat of her belly, over her navel, and down onto her lace-covered mound.<
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“Please…stop,” she said.
He took her hands and held them on either side of her, continuing to kiss her through her panties. Through the rough fabric of lace she could feel his soft, wet tongue, his lips, his teeth. She moaned and ground her hips against his face, shocking herself with her wanton movements.
“Put your hands over your head and grip the headboard, Livvie.”
She did, opening her eyes to watch him while he slowly peeled her panties down and off and knelt between her legs. “Open your legs,” he said.
“I can’t,” she said, but she didn’t resist the slight pressure of his hands on her thighs.
He kept his eyes on hers as he spread her, exposing that part of her no man had ever seen before.
“I’ve never…what are you doing?” she asked, but didn’t really expect an explanation, didn’t seem to need one.
“Shh, I just want a little taste.”
With that, he pushed her legs wider, wide enough that they hurt just a little, and closed his mouth over her clit.
She sucked in a breath; this was too much. She was swelling inside his mouth, she could feel herself grow, her pussy dripping with this new desire, this new, foreign need inside her. When his finger found her virgin entrance and pressed into the warmth, she threw her head back, her hands leaving the iron rails of the headboard and gripping his head, his hair, holding him to her as her hips bucked beneath him, her orgasm coming on violently, causing her to spasm and moan. All thought left her in those moments of ecstasy until it slowly faded, leaving her a heaving, wet, limp mess in his arms.
Chapter Four
Livvie woke up tangled in the sheets of the bed. Disoriented at first, it took her a few moments to remember what had happened earlier. Heat flushed her neck and face and she closed her eyes, turning her face into the pillow.
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