Claw 1

by Lucian Bane

  Then it hit her. The pleasure part. The punishment of Eve. She wasn’t allowed that. Daryl would never allow that. But he’d just said you didn’t need the orgasm to make a child. But in her case, the orgasm would help her.

  “Can I … do these orgasms … without him?”

  “Sure,” he said. Again his tone was so easy like that too was commonplace.

  “Ladies, do that?”

  “Sure, all the time.”

  “That’s normal?” she double checked.

  “Well,” he said, again crossing his arms and considering. “Not every couple is able to do the whole pleasure thing for one reason or another. But that doesn’t change the fact that the pleasure is healthy for the body and mind.”

  “Can it … be bad? Done wrong?”

  “Anything can be misused, Rin. But in your case, your body needs the orgasms, at least for now. Once we get your system at full throttle and accomplish what we set out to do—create life—then you can decide if you want to continue with the pleasure aspect.”

  She eyed him then lowered her gaze. He made it sound so very easy. And maybe it was. Seemed like it should be.

  “Okay,” she said, nodding. “An orgasm a day.”

  “Will keep the doctor away,” he said with a light laugh. “Sorry,” he added when she didn’t laugh. But it was because she was too busy wondering about the orgasms and how she was supposed to do that. “So … how do I …”

  “Oh, that. Right. It’s actually very easy. You just touch yourself and it will happen. Just like I did.”

  “What if it doesn’t work?”

  “It will,” he said, factually. “But if you have any problems, I’m pretty sure I can talk you through them.”

  She nodded. “I’ll try.”

  “Good,” he said. “Well, that’s enough for today I think. Tomorrow, I want to show you some stretches that will help condition your body for child-bearing. In the pool if you don’t mind.”

  “The pool?”

  “Yes, water helps to prevent joint stress when first exercising new muscles.”

  Made sense. She nodded and looked around. “What time?”

  “I’d say nine in the morning. Before it’s too hot. The cold water will be a good aid to the circulation therapy we’ve started.”

  “Okay.” She clutched the sheet to her chest and looked toward him.

  “Oh, right. I’ll let you dress.”

  He hurried to the bathroom and Rin dressed, feeling like she should be ashamed but everything she considered to be ashamed about said she had no logical or spiritual grounds for. Not in her situation.

  But her body trembled with an anticipation that made her very nervous. The pleasure thing was going to be hard for her. She was not used to it. She was not used to any pleasure regarding sexual things. She would have to let God help her change that.

  ****

  Dante dove in the pool five minutes before Rin time. He swam laps until his heart hammered in his chest. He needed his own release but that was something Dante was good at waiting for. He’d made an art out of waiting, in fact. He trained his body to take sexual stimulation as an ongoing foreplay. And what he did with Rin was so very fucking stimulating and the best foreplay he’d ever had the privilege of suffering.

  He couldn’t wait to get her in that pool. He had a little secret bet that she’s orgasm in under two minutes with his devious trick.

  She was punctual as usual, heading to the pool in her sheer wrap with the white bathing suit. It was comical that she’d call it a bathing suit. More like shorts and a tank top. She was beautiful in anything so it didn’t matter. Was sad she didn’t know that, though.

  “Morning, Rin,” he said, swimming to the edge of the pool and resting his forearms on the side. “I meant to tell you that you can have more than one orgasm a day too. I mean if you want to practice. You’re not restricted to just one.”

  The look on her face made him smile to himself as he went under the water and came back up to get hair out of his face. She’d definitely tried last night judging by the color of her cheeks. And he’d jacked off imagining all about it. Then he orgasmed while recalling her orgasm under his hand. He’d wanted to peek so bad but made himself honor his word. But he felt it. Jesus Christ what he’d have given to see it. She’d opened her legs so wide for it, fuck.

  “You can get in. Do you need to warm up?” he asked.

  She removed her wrap and shook her head. “I can swim a little?”

  “Sure. I just did laps myself.”

  He watched her dive in and swim to the far side of the pool without surfacing. When she did, she did it quietly and slowly. No showing off with her, no production. Just sweet, delicate, beauty.

  She glanced over her shoulder and he turned, resting his elbows on the side of the pool. He watched her swim over to him, not giving her his full attention till she stood nearby.

  “You ready?” At seeing her fear he chuckled. “It’s just stretches today. No orgasm. I’ll tell you from now on before we do anything that might cause those.”

  She nodded, unable to look at him. This woman had such a delicate conscience. It was as beautiful as it was disturbing since he knew a lot of that stemmed from negativity.

  “Let’s do it here,” he said, moving to the four foot depth of the pool. He stopped next to the water jet on the pool wall and reached his hand out to make sure it was on. The hard blast of water met his fingers and he glanced at her. Being met with her oblivion, he said, “Stand here. You’ll use my chest as a wall for your back and the pool ledge can be the ankle supports.”

  She nodded and he held his hand out to her, guiding her to stand just before him.

  “Okay, hold my hands while you get both ankles on the pool ledge.” She put both her hands in his. “Now get your feet up on the ledge. Use my chest as support.”

  She gripped his hands tight and brought her feet up onto the pool ledge. “Like this?”

  “Yes, perfect. Now, I want you to slowly open your legs until it pulls the inner thigh muscles. Stop when you get to the ouch point.”

  “Okay,” she whispered, opening her legs gradually.

  Dante eyed the jet and moved a little left. “It’s pulling?”

  “Y-yes,” she whispered.

  He brought her hands up and put them around his neck. “Hold there so I can help the stretch.” She gasped and clamped his neck. “These muscles,” he said, barely drawing his fingers over her inner leg, being careful not to go near the water stream. “That’s the muscle we’re focusing on. What I’m going to do is gradually walk closer to the pool wall and you tell me when to stop, when the stretch hurts. We don’t want it to hurt, we want to stop just shy of that.” She nodded and gasped as Dante held the underside of her legs and slowly moved forward.

  “Stop!” she whispered.

  “Okay, we’ll hold it like that for ten seconds. Dante moved a little more left and when her breath hitched, he stopped there. “If it hurts, tell me.”

  “Th-the water,” she whispered.

  “Yes, the water is a good aid to prevent joint stress. “Is it pulling here?” He ran his fingers along that muscle. “Ye-yes,” she said.

  “Tell me when it’s not hurting and I’ll move a little more.”

  Her panting intensified and her fingers tightened on his neck.

  “Is it too much still?” he whispered.

  “N-no.”

  “I can move again?”

  “Yes,” she nodded.

  Dante moved slowly closer, sending her legs wider and putting her pussy closer to that water pressure. “You’re very limber that’s good,” he said at her ear. She gasped and turned her head against his chest.

  He stopped and ran his hands under her legs. “Nice tight stretch, you’re doing good.”

  “The water, Dante,” she gasped.

  “The water is too cold? Do you want to do this later?” he asked at her ear, his own breath ragged at how close she was.

  “Oh God,�
�� she cried.

  He moved barely closer and her nails dug in his neck as she orgasmed.

  “God Rin,” he whispered, wrapping her body in his arms to support her. “I had no idea this stretch worked so well, or I would have warned you, I’m so sorry.”

  “The water, the water,” she gasped.

  He finally pulled her away from the wall and her legs came down. She stood gasping then cried out when her butt came into contact with his raging erection. She released his neck and spun, looking at him.

  He raised his hands out of the water. “I’m only human, Rin. God made my body with certain reflexes as well and that one caught me off guard. I had no idea that stretch would do that.”

  She covered her face and made her way to the side of the pool. “So embarrassing,” she whispered then angled a pissed look at him. “Why is your body getting pleasure from this?”

  “What makes you think it’s pleasurable?” he challenged with wide eyes. “More like torture,” he muttered pretending offense as he headed out of the pool. “Trust me, it’s not a reflex I appreciate any more than you appreciate in your body.” He climbed out of the pool and walked to his towel, wrapping it around his waist while meeting her sheepish look. “I’m not upset about it, Rin, but please don’t hold me responsible for what God put in me.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Rin’s Realization

  Rin focused on peeling every inch of the potato.

  “This is enough potatoes,” Renee cried. “And why you cooking? This my job!”

  “I need something to do,” Rin said.

  “What about your flowers?”

  No, those were by the pool. And she wasn’t going anywhere around there after that morning. She wanted to be pissed at him but again, she had no justified grounds. She wanted very much to be upset. Maybe she needed to be so she didn’t have to think about what else she was. Constantly aroused. He’d said she could do more than one orgasm a day but he didn’t say if it was normal to want ten a day. Or want one every time her mind went over the name Dante, pleasure, babies, love making. She was trapped and again, had no grounds to be guilty.

  And now her vitamins came in and she’d have to take them to him and he’d want to talk to her and she’d get aroused because that’s all she seemed to know how to do around the man.

  Rin focused on the potato, beating its surface with the peeler.

  “Momma, what is wrong? Why are you angry? Has Dante upset you?”

  Rin paused and looked at her. “I’m not angry,” she said, glancing at the box on the counter. “The … vitamins came.”

  “I see this.”

  “He will want to talk about it.”

  “This is good?” Renee grabbed her arm and took the peeler from her then made Rin face her. “Talk to me, momma,” she cried lightly. “Please, I am so worry about you.” The woman gasped, looking her over. “You’re shaking!”

  “I’m … “Rin closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Renee,” she whispered, unable to look at her while she fought with the words and their unbearable weight in shame. “I feel like I’m sinning,” she finally squeaked out, the tears pouring with the confession. She shook her head and wiped her eyes. “I can’t do this, I can’t. Daryl wants me to do things that I … I can’t do.”

  “Like what?” she cooed.

  Rin shook her head. “With … he wants me to … do things with …”

  “Like … that deacon?” Renee barely whispered.

  Rin’s eyes shot to hers. At seeing the pain in her gaze Rin turned, breathless. How did she know that?

  “I hear more than you know, little one,” she said quietly followed with rapid fire Spanish that was likely swear words. “I’m your friend and you can tell me anything, I won’t speak a word, I have kept all your secrets,” she said, waving her potato knife around.

  Rin faced Renee, suddenly desperate to tell her everything. “Dante … he …” she swallowed, darting her gaze toward the pool. “He is doing things to h-help me.”

  “He’s a very good man and he cares,” she nodded, oblivious. “I see this. He’s not like your husband.”

  “That’s the problem, Renee,” she strained. “He’s nothing like Daryl. He’s opposite, he’s …” turmoil and agony gripped her chest until she couldn’t breathe. “He’s everything I want and can never have,” she wailed quietly.

  “Oh honey,” Renee whispered. “God will work everything out.”

  “But I’ve sinned,” Rin whispered. “I have bad thoughts while I’m married. Daryl doesn’t care, he doesn’t care what I do with Dante. I feel like… I feel like he is trying to kill me.” She pressed both hands to her chest. “Not just my body but my mind and my heart. Like he’s trying to take the life in my spirit, he’s trying to steal the only thing I have left!”

  Renee shook her head with grave adamancy. “He cannot do this, he cannot take that from you,” she assured.

  Rin wiped the tears from her face. “He told me to satisfy Dante’s needs,” she whispered, her whole body shaking as she gazed at a disgusted Renee. Rin shook her head. “And …” she fought the sob taking her. “I want to. More than anything, do you see what he’s doing? He wants me to be a monster, a sinner like him!”

  “You are nothing like him!” Renee said fiercely. “Of course you want to, Daryl is not a husband. How would you not want to?” Renee took her hands. “Look at me, momma.” Rin eyed her, desperate for help, so relieved she’d confessed to somebody what had been crushing her. “You need to let Dante help you. I feel like God sent him here to help you. I think you should ask God to help you trust that? No?”

  Rin was so ready to believe that. But she needed help with that, she couldn’t force it, or she’d always believe it was of her own flesh wanting it, not God.

  “Talk to Dante, explain this to him,” Renee said. “I think he can help with this?”

  God, there was nothing else to do. She needed to be honest with him. And maybe with him knowing the truth, he could help her combat it. She eyed the box delivered by the postal and nodded, wiping her eyes. “I’ll … take him the delivery and … and talk to him.”

  Renee nodded firmly. “He’s worried about you,” she cooed.

  “He said that?”

  “I can see, I am not blind. He is always looking this way and I know he is not worried about me,” she said smiling and nodding, swiping her thumb over Rin’s cheek. “You feel better little one?”

  Rin nodded, a sob escaping. She went again into the woman’s embrace, swallowing down the surge of agony inside her. She could never let it get too close to the surface. It would shatter her to pieces and gush forth until the end of the world.

  ****

  So far so good. Dante’s experience with human manipulation was serving him well with Rin. God, he should feel guilty over that water jet orgasm but fuck if he was. The only thing he halfway regretted was getting busted for being aroused. That almost cost him major but he managed to turn that around he was sure.

  He still could hardly stand that fact that she was so new to the pleasures of an orgasm. Just how the fuck did her stupid husband go seven years not worshipping that ass? Made his blood boil to think about. If he never got a dime for what he did there, touching that treasure named Rin would be payment plenty.

  He slid his omelet from the skillet into the plate, glad they kept the fridge stocked. A soft knock at the door made him jump and he hurried to it hoping it was Rin. He opened the door and smiled. “Rin,” he said.

  “Vitamins came in,” she gushed, holding the box before her like a shield.

  “Come in, put them on the table.” He turned and headed back to the stove, being casual. “I’m having breakfast for lunch, you hungry?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “So what brings you?”

  “The … vitamins came.”

  He opened the drawer and grabbed a fork with a smile.

  “And … I do need to talk to you.”

  “Good,”
he said. “I need to talk to you too.”

  “Oh?”

  She sounded surprised. He wanted to talk to her about her husband. It was time to start facing those demons.

  “You first?” she finally said.

  He sat at the snack-bar and focused on his food while the pull of her gaze screamed look at me. He gave in and glanced up at her. Shit, he should have braced for that. He was damn sure she was more beautiful than the last time he’d seen her. Him first. Everything in her face said she was on some ledge and he needed to know all about that. “Well,” he began, lowering his gaze while preparing to approach her carefully. “I’m not blind, and I can see how bothered you are about all of this still.”

  He caught her nods and decided it was best if he didn’t put her in the spotlight of his gaze during this process.

  “You know, when you came that night and apologized,” he went on, “I thought we had an understanding?”

  “Understanding?”

  “That I was sent here by God to help you.”

  “Yes,” she whispered with a relief that sounded like he’d just confirmed a prophecy.

  Dante silently thanked God for that while praying for guidance on what exactly to say that would put her at ease. “You said you trusted me?”

  “Yes,” she said, this time sounding tormented and torn.

  He looked at her, pausing. “You’re conflicted, I know. And I need to understand why so I can help you. You don’t need to be doing any of this while feeling guilty, that’s not going to help, it’ll only hurt your progress.”

  “It’s …” the word shot out then nothing but strained attempts to say things that were clearly heavy for her.

  Dante put his fork down, hoping to help her. “Rin, do you realize that what I’m doing for you is entirely a medical procedure? And that this is what I do for a living?”

  She regarded him and her brows narrowed. “You … do this for … other women?”