Acclimation (The Wild White Orchid Trilogy Book 2), page 12
She nods her head.
I rub her soft shoulders. “I need to hear you say it.”
She wets her lips. “Yes, Daddy.”
Goddamn. I’d never had a woman call me Daddy before Genevieve, but I knew early on in our relationship that it was the name I wanted to hear coming from her mouth. Every time she says it, it makes me go wild.
“Fucking perfect. Take off your bra for me.”
Her French manicure reflects under the natural light shining through the windows as she unclips the front of her black lace bra. Her heavy tits relax, and her hard nipples stand at attention, tempting me.
I pinch her sensitive points and she moans, then I move my hands away to stay in the zone. I don’t want to rush this. I don’t want to make it about me. All I want to do is treat my girl and do something special for her that she enjoys.
I glance down at her perfect body. “Spread those sexy legs and show me what’s mine.”
She licks her white teeth and opens her smooth legs, showing me her private place. Every time I look at my wife’s cunt, it’s like the first time all over again. I could never get tired of looking at her. My mouth waters at the slickness I see between her legs.
“Good fucking girl. So wet for me already. Put your fingers on your lips and spread them. I want to see that pink pussy.”
She takes her index fingers and pulls herself open, just like I asked. My heart races, and I want nothing more than to hold her down by her neck and fuck her until she can’t take it anymore. I take a deep breath and try to remain focused.
“I want you to make yourself come for me. Will you do that for me?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good.” I palm her breasts. “When you’re in our bed at home alone and I’m not there to watch you, what’s your favorite way to make yourself come?”
She smirks. “I don’t touch myself when you’re not home.”
I pinch her nipples and she squeals. “Don’t lie to me, sweetheart. Tell me what you do.”
She shuts her eyes and moans while I keep massaging her. “You’re going to think I’m weird.”
I pull my hands away and cup her cheeks, making her look up at me. “I would never think that. I want you to tell me, Gen.”
She looks up at me with her bright blue eyes. “I like to grind on a pillow. And play with my tits. I pretend I’m riding you.”
Good God.
I look toward the bed. “Go pick out your favorite pillow, bring it back over here, and you’re going to sit on it facing me. Okay?”
She nods her head and stands up. “Okay.” Her eyes wander the bed as she looks at the different pillow options. After a few minutes, she decides on a mint green oval-shaped one.
I spread my legs a little wider to give her room to put her pillow down and kneel before me. Her brown skin glistens with sweat and her thick curly hair is tousled around her shoulders.
I smooth her hair back with my hands and hold onto it tightly while she gets in position. “I’m going to hold your hair while you ride your pillow. Is that okay with you?”
She licks her lips. “Yes.”
“Perfect. Show me how you make your pussy feel better when I’m not home.”
She stares into my eyes as she presses her clit up against her firm pillow. My heart nearly stops when she starts rocking her hips. I’ve seen my beautiful girl on top of me too many times to count, but watching her like this with a front-row seat is something truly special. Her tits bounce as she grinds back and forth, and it takes every ounce of energy not to unzip my pants, yank her back by her hair, and shove my cock between her wet lips. And I still might do that, but I want to make her feel good first.
Her back arches as soft moans and whimpers escape her.
I slide closer to her, still sitting in my chair. “What do you imagine when you’re riding your pillow, sweetheart?”
Her eyelashes flutter while she keeps grinding, slowly building her orgasm. “I pretend that you’re tied down, and blindfolded.” She nibbles her bottom lip. “And you have a gag in your mouth. And you lie there like a good boy while I fuck you.”
Fuck me to hell.
Every day, I learn something new and exciting about my wife. And now I’ve learned this.
I feel myself smile. “Gen, that’s such a naughty fantasy you have. We may have to act it out soon.” I let go of her hair, lean forward, and grip her neck softly with both hands. My wife likes being submissive, but she wants to be dominant too. I never would’ve guessed she was a switch. I am too, but I’ve never had a chance to see what it’s like to be on the other side.
I squeeze her neck a little tighter. “Are you getting close?”
She lets out a breath. “Yes.”
I release her neck. “Stop.”
She looks up at me with her mouth agape. “What? I—”
“Shhh. No backtalk. Get on the bed. Face down.”
Standing up, she waltzes over to the bed and lies on her stomach. She doesn’t have a bump yet, so I want to enjoy having her face down like this while it’s still comfortable for her.
Getting impatient, I take off my pants and get completely naked. I’m still going to make this all about my wife, but I want her to come on my cock instead of a pillow.
“Arms stretched out above your head.”
She stretches her arms out, and I reach under the bed to grab the restraints anchored to it—furry green handcuffs on chains. After a moment, I have her wrists cuffed to the bed with her arms spread apart as well as her ankles.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Yes.”
I run my hands up and down the back of her thighs, making her tremble. Keeping my touches light, I trace the upper part of her legs where her ass meets her thighs before slowly sliding my hands between her legs and trailing my fingers down to her ankles. I’ve only had her tied down a few minutes, but she’s already making a wet spot on the bed.
“Ass in the air.”
She lifts up, resting on her knees while her arms stay pressed down into the mattress. After grabbing a bottle of lube, I set it on the bed next to her and kneel behind her ass.
Once I get comfortable, I slide two fingers into her tight cunt, making her cry out. She sighs when I remove them and stick them in my mouth.
In an instant, I bury my face into her cunt from behind, and she screams when I stick my tongue inside of her warm pussy. She squirms and moans as I give her butterfly kisses on the inside of her lips. I run my tongue over my mouth, spreading around her sweet arousal before I nibble her soft flesh, teasing her with my teeth.
“Oh, James.”
I slurp her and drink her down until she’s on the very edge again. When she’s right there, I pull away, and her body twitches.
I massage her firm ass. “You’re doing so good, Gen. I’m so proud of you, baby. Keep being a good girl, and I’ll make sure you come. Okay?”
She breathes quickly. “Okay.”
I spread her ass cheeks and run my tongue over her puckered hole making her scream out again. I do it a few more times, pressing it against her opening firmly, and her body shakes uncontrollably.
Precum drips from my cock while I tease her, making my balls tighten with need. Once she’s nice and warmed up, I grab the bottle of lube and squirt some on my hand.
Her body tenses immediately. “What are we doing?”
“I’m just going to use my finger like last time. Is that alright?”
She pauses. “Yes.”
“Try and relax. I’m not going to hurt you, baby. This is going to feel good.”
She eases up as I slip my finger between her cheeks and work the lube up and down the seam of her ass. I add a little extra to make sure she’s nice and wet back there. Once I have enough, I slowly slide the tip of my finger into her tight hole.
“How does that feel?”
Her breath shakes. “Good.”
I push my finger in a little deeper until I’m two inches deep and nearly explode at the way she squeezes me. I slowly spin my finger around making her whimper into the blanket.
“You love having my finger in your ass, don’t you, sweetheart?”
Her body shakes. “Yes.”
I spin my finger around faster making her grunt into the mattress. “I know you do. Your cunt is dripping all over me. Just begging to be fucked. Such a good little slut for Daddy, aren’t you?”
She yelps. “Yes.”
“That’s my girl. Are you ready for my cock?” I push in just a little deeper.
“Yes. Please.”
“Tell me you need my cock in your hot little cunt.”
She looks over her shoulder at me with hooded eyes and her bottom lip between her teeth. “I need your cock in my cunt.”
Christ.
I hold her head down and shove my cock into her waiting cunt. She grunts and shudders while I fuck her from behind, still teasing her ass with my finger while I pump in and out of her steadily.
I don’t even get another word out before she’s crying out into the mattress and coming all over me. Her cunt and ass squeeze me simultaneously, and I explode inside of her, unable to wait any longer. When I pull out, my cum drips down her legs, and I’m already fantasizing about knocking her up again as soon as our daughter is born.
I can’t help myself as I slide my fingers in it and rub circles on her clit while she grinds against my hand. “That feels good, doesn’t it?”
She sniffles. “Yeah.”
I press down on her clit harder while I cup her pussy from behind. “You like being Daddy’s pretty little cumslut, don’t you?”
Her back arches. “Yes.”
“Then be a good girl and grind on my hand until you come.”
Moving her hips slower, she slides her tender bud up and down my palm until she screams out, reaching her high. Once she’s overcome the aftershocks, her body slumps.
I remove her restraints and rub her wrists and ankles then move to her shoulders.
“How did you like being my Darling tonight?”
She lets out a breath while my hands rub her back. “I loved it.” She winks. “But next time, I want to be your little whore.”
Chapter twenty-one
James
After getting Gen back upstairs and giving her a bath, I tucked her into bed. She was exhausted after her experience downstairs, and I’m glad to know she’ll be at home getting rest instead of sitting in bed worrying about me and the blood sacrifice I have to do tonight.
Instead of having my mother come over to sit with Gen, I’m just having her drive by the house to make sure everything looks alright while I’m out. I also asked her to make sure her boyfriend isn’t with her. She didn’t like that comment very much, but I don’t care.
I drive about an hour out of town to a pasture in the middle of nowhere. Most locations associated with my society are in the middle of nowhere, but that’s how we’re able to do so many heinous things privately.
The pasture is where the sacrifice will take place. Normally, leaving my wife home alone at this hour would have me on edge, but all of the other council members are supposed to be present tonight, so I shouldn’t need to worry about anyone showing up at my home.
When I arrive, I park my car in the middle of the field with the others. There aren’t many cars as some of the men carpooled, but I don’t trust any of them enough to be in a locked car with them.
Getting out, I drape my black cloak over my shoulders, put my hood over my head, and meet the men in the center of the field. Taking a look around, I see everyone present from this morning apart from one person: Jace.
I pull Hades to the side. “Where is Jace?”
“He’s sick.”
I try to hide my annoyance. “Too sick to be present for the sacrifice?”
He sighs. “According to Gabriella.”
Gabriella. I’m not as close with her as I am to everyone else, but I think she has enough respect for me not to lie. If she says Jace is sick, I’m inclined to believe her. With everyone else present, I’m not sure what she’d gain by making it up.
I rub my hands together to keep warm. “And why didn’t she tell this to me?”
“Because I’m your second, and everything is supposed to go through me. Do you trust me, James?”
Do I trust Hades? With a name like that, I shouldn’t. But, he’s proven himself trustworthy to me even after he nearly backstabbed me. And as valuable as Genevieve’s trust is, I need men I can trust on this fucking council.
“Yes. I trust you.”
He smiles softly. “I’ve got your back, son. Don’t worry. If I hear anything of concern, I swear you will be the first person I notify.”
I pat his back and we join the rest of the circle. When we’re all in place, Hades begins the meeting.
“Good evening, men. Tonight is a continuation of our meeting from earlier. Tonight, we will solidify the new vow with a blood sacrifice.” He turns to face me. “Our Head Father will select a lamb from the pasture, he will say the sacrificial oath, and he will offer up the lamb as payment for the tenet change. We will bear witness. Let us begin.”
I turn away from the crowd and head out further into the field where the animals are fenced in. My stomach gurgles at what I’m about to do, but I’d do anything to protect my family. I hope this little lamb and God will forgive me for that.
Once I make it to the fence, I unlatch it and step into the enclosure. The sheep bleat as soon as I walk in as if they can sense I’m here to do something terrible. I have no idea what other uses we have for these creatures out here, but I’m certain that none of the reasons are good.
I make my way through the herd and find a little one to take from its mother. I have never felt so guilty in my entire life. I scoop up the helpless animal and apologize to them all, turning away and running back outside the fence before they can rush me. When I’m back outside, I bundle the tiny creature in my cloak and head back toward the circle.
In the brief moment I was away, the men prepared the area for the sacrifice. Rejoining the group, I see a long wooden table before me with rope.
Hades puts his hand on my shoulder. “It’s time.”
I pull the lamb from my cloak and hold it steady on the slab of wood while Damion ties it down. I can barely look at the thing as it stares back at me helplessly, waiting for me to do something.
Once it’s secure, the men circle me as I stand in front of the table.
I place my hands on the shivering lamb.
“Tonight, we sacrifice this lamb to honor our society. In exchange for this life, we will turn over a new leaf and baptize our daughters in the ways of our society. May The Wild White Orchids always prosper.”
Paul reaches below the table and hands me an axe.
I can’t believe I’m about to do this.
Sweat drips down my back as I turn the handle of the weapon over in my hands.
I’m so sorry.
I heave the axe over my shoulder and lop off the lamb’s head in one swift blow. Its body twitches as blood pours and the head rolls onto the ground.
Hades looks my way. “History has been made tonight. The sacrifice is complete. You’re all dismissed.”
My drive home is long and depressing. After I got in the car, I drove ten minutes away to a nearby gas station where I vomited my dinner. On an empty stomach, I ride the rest of the way in silence.
When I get to my home, all I want to do is take a shower and get into bed. I’m covered in blood, and the last thing I want is to scare Genevieve and have her ask me a million different questions about what I had to do.
It’s when I pull up to the driveway and park that I realize I have bigger concerns.
What the hell is that?
I take a look around before stepping out of the car. My mother’s vehicle isn’t here, so she must’ve been by and left already.
She better have been by.
I step out of the car and grab my blade. I’ll never not be prepared to defend myself. Except I don’t need my blade. What I see can’t hurt me.
No.
No. No. No.
My heart slams in my chest as I stare at my front door.
I slowly walk up to it. It’s something that should definitely not be at my house. And certainly not on the ground.
Fuck.
The bloody thing before me isn’t a butchered animal. Or a watermelon. No. It’s something that used to be on a set of fucking shoulders.
It’s Deacon’s head.
Chapter twenty-two
Genevieve
Iwake up to the sound of water running.
What time is it?
I look over at my phone and it’s ten-thirty.
I rub my aching shoulders that are still sore from earlier this evening. “James?”
He ignores me. I know he’s in the bathroom right now and can hear me. The door is cracked and light peeks into the bedroom.
I stand up and tie my pink silk robe closed. “James.”
His voice comes out muffled and cold. “Get back in bed.”
Goosebumps coat my arms as I walk toward the bathroom door. “What are you doing—”
“Genevieve, get back in the goddamn bed. Now. I will be out in a second.”
I know he’s not talking to me.
“Who in the hell do you think you’re talking to, James Barlow?”
He groans and pauses. “I’m sorry. Please get back in the bed. I will be right out. I swear.”
I want to barge in there and see what the hell he’s up to, but my intuition tells me it’s not a good idea.
“Fine. But if you’re not out in five minutes, I’m coming in.”
“I’ll be out in three.”
Three minutes later, James comes out of the bathroom in a black robe with a scowl on his face.
I grab my hair clip off the nightstand and pull my hair back. I lost my bonnet and haven’t had a chance to buy a new one, but I’m not too worried since I sleep on silk sheets every night.
“What happened?”
James shuts his eyes and sighs. “I killed a lamb. I came home covered in blood, and I needed to shower. And I puked.”
I rub her soft shoulders. “I need to hear you say it.”
She wets her lips. “Yes, Daddy.”
Goddamn. I’d never had a woman call me Daddy before Genevieve, but I knew early on in our relationship that it was the name I wanted to hear coming from her mouth. Every time she says it, it makes me go wild.
“Fucking perfect. Take off your bra for me.”
Her French manicure reflects under the natural light shining through the windows as she unclips the front of her black lace bra. Her heavy tits relax, and her hard nipples stand at attention, tempting me.
I pinch her sensitive points and she moans, then I move my hands away to stay in the zone. I don’t want to rush this. I don’t want to make it about me. All I want to do is treat my girl and do something special for her that she enjoys.
I glance down at her perfect body. “Spread those sexy legs and show me what’s mine.”
She licks her white teeth and opens her smooth legs, showing me her private place. Every time I look at my wife’s cunt, it’s like the first time all over again. I could never get tired of looking at her. My mouth waters at the slickness I see between her legs.
“Good fucking girl. So wet for me already. Put your fingers on your lips and spread them. I want to see that pink pussy.”
She takes her index fingers and pulls herself open, just like I asked. My heart races, and I want nothing more than to hold her down by her neck and fuck her until she can’t take it anymore. I take a deep breath and try to remain focused.
“I want you to make yourself come for me. Will you do that for me?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Good.” I palm her breasts. “When you’re in our bed at home alone and I’m not there to watch you, what’s your favorite way to make yourself come?”
She smirks. “I don’t touch myself when you’re not home.”
I pinch her nipples and she squeals. “Don’t lie to me, sweetheart. Tell me what you do.”
She shuts her eyes and moans while I keep massaging her. “You’re going to think I’m weird.”
I pull my hands away and cup her cheeks, making her look up at me. “I would never think that. I want you to tell me, Gen.”
She looks up at me with her bright blue eyes. “I like to grind on a pillow. And play with my tits. I pretend I’m riding you.”
Good God.
I look toward the bed. “Go pick out your favorite pillow, bring it back over here, and you’re going to sit on it facing me. Okay?”
She nods her head and stands up. “Okay.” Her eyes wander the bed as she looks at the different pillow options. After a few minutes, she decides on a mint green oval-shaped one.
I spread my legs a little wider to give her room to put her pillow down and kneel before me. Her brown skin glistens with sweat and her thick curly hair is tousled around her shoulders.
I smooth her hair back with my hands and hold onto it tightly while she gets in position. “I’m going to hold your hair while you ride your pillow. Is that okay with you?”
She licks her lips. “Yes.”
“Perfect. Show me how you make your pussy feel better when I’m not home.”
She stares into my eyes as she presses her clit up against her firm pillow. My heart nearly stops when she starts rocking her hips. I’ve seen my beautiful girl on top of me too many times to count, but watching her like this with a front-row seat is something truly special. Her tits bounce as she grinds back and forth, and it takes every ounce of energy not to unzip my pants, yank her back by her hair, and shove my cock between her wet lips. And I still might do that, but I want to make her feel good first.
Her back arches as soft moans and whimpers escape her.
I slide closer to her, still sitting in my chair. “What do you imagine when you’re riding your pillow, sweetheart?”
Her eyelashes flutter while she keeps grinding, slowly building her orgasm. “I pretend that you’re tied down, and blindfolded.” She nibbles her bottom lip. “And you have a gag in your mouth. And you lie there like a good boy while I fuck you.”
Fuck me to hell.
Every day, I learn something new and exciting about my wife. And now I’ve learned this.
I feel myself smile. “Gen, that’s such a naughty fantasy you have. We may have to act it out soon.” I let go of her hair, lean forward, and grip her neck softly with both hands. My wife likes being submissive, but she wants to be dominant too. I never would’ve guessed she was a switch. I am too, but I’ve never had a chance to see what it’s like to be on the other side.
I squeeze her neck a little tighter. “Are you getting close?”
She lets out a breath. “Yes.”
I release her neck. “Stop.”
She looks up at me with her mouth agape. “What? I—”
“Shhh. No backtalk. Get on the bed. Face down.”
Standing up, she waltzes over to the bed and lies on her stomach. She doesn’t have a bump yet, so I want to enjoy having her face down like this while it’s still comfortable for her.
Getting impatient, I take off my pants and get completely naked. I’m still going to make this all about my wife, but I want her to come on my cock instead of a pillow.
“Arms stretched out above your head.”
She stretches her arms out, and I reach under the bed to grab the restraints anchored to it—furry green handcuffs on chains. After a moment, I have her wrists cuffed to the bed with her arms spread apart as well as her ankles.
“Are you comfortable?”
“Yes.”
I run my hands up and down the back of her thighs, making her tremble. Keeping my touches light, I trace the upper part of her legs where her ass meets her thighs before slowly sliding my hands between her legs and trailing my fingers down to her ankles. I’ve only had her tied down a few minutes, but she’s already making a wet spot on the bed.
“Ass in the air.”
She lifts up, resting on her knees while her arms stay pressed down into the mattress. After grabbing a bottle of lube, I set it on the bed next to her and kneel behind her ass.
Once I get comfortable, I slide two fingers into her tight cunt, making her cry out. She sighs when I remove them and stick them in my mouth.
In an instant, I bury my face into her cunt from behind, and she screams when I stick my tongue inside of her warm pussy. She squirms and moans as I give her butterfly kisses on the inside of her lips. I run my tongue over my mouth, spreading around her sweet arousal before I nibble her soft flesh, teasing her with my teeth.
“Oh, James.”
I slurp her and drink her down until she’s on the very edge again. When she’s right there, I pull away, and her body twitches.
I massage her firm ass. “You’re doing so good, Gen. I’m so proud of you, baby. Keep being a good girl, and I’ll make sure you come. Okay?”
She breathes quickly. “Okay.”
I spread her ass cheeks and run my tongue over her puckered hole making her scream out again. I do it a few more times, pressing it against her opening firmly, and her body shakes uncontrollably.
Precum drips from my cock while I tease her, making my balls tighten with need. Once she’s nice and warmed up, I grab the bottle of lube and squirt some on my hand.
Her body tenses immediately. “What are we doing?”
“I’m just going to use my finger like last time. Is that alright?”
She pauses. “Yes.”
“Try and relax. I’m not going to hurt you, baby. This is going to feel good.”
She eases up as I slip my finger between her cheeks and work the lube up and down the seam of her ass. I add a little extra to make sure she’s nice and wet back there. Once I have enough, I slowly slide the tip of my finger into her tight hole.
“How does that feel?”
Her breath shakes. “Good.”
I push my finger in a little deeper until I’m two inches deep and nearly explode at the way she squeezes me. I slowly spin my finger around making her whimper into the blanket.
“You love having my finger in your ass, don’t you, sweetheart?”
Her body shakes. “Yes.”
I spin my finger around faster making her grunt into the mattress. “I know you do. Your cunt is dripping all over me. Just begging to be fucked. Such a good little slut for Daddy, aren’t you?”
She yelps. “Yes.”
“That’s my girl. Are you ready for my cock?” I push in just a little deeper.
“Yes. Please.”
“Tell me you need my cock in your hot little cunt.”
She looks over her shoulder at me with hooded eyes and her bottom lip between her teeth. “I need your cock in my cunt.”
Christ.
I hold her head down and shove my cock into her waiting cunt. She grunts and shudders while I fuck her from behind, still teasing her ass with my finger while I pump in and out of her steadily.
I don’t even get another word out before she’s crying out into the mattress and coming all over me. Her cunt and ass squeeze me simultaneously, and I explode inside of her, unable to wait any longer. When I pull out, my cum drips down her legs, and I’m already fantasizing about knocking her up again as soon as our daughter is born.
I can’t help myself as I slide my fingers in it and rub circles on her clit while she grinds against my hand. “That feels good, doesn’t it?”
She sniffles. “Yeah.”
I press down on her clit harder while I cup her pussy from behind. “You like being Daddy’s pretty little cumslut, don’t you?”
Her back arches. “Yes.”
“Then be a good girl and grind on my hand until you come.”
Moving her hips slower, she slides her tender bud up and down my palm until she screams out, reaching her high. Once she’s overcome the aftershocks, her body slumps.
I remove her restraints and rub her wrists and ankles then move to her shoulders.
“How did you like being my Darling tonight?”
She lets out a breath while my hands rub her back. “I loved it.” She winks. “But next time, I want to be your little whore.”
Chapter twenty-one
James
After getting Gen back upstairs and giving her a bath, I tucked her into bed. She was exhausted after her experience downstairs, and I’m glad to know she’ll be at home getting rest instead of sitting in bed worrying about me and the blood sacrifice I have to do tonight.
Instead of having my mother come over to sit with Gen, I’m just having her drive by the house to make sure everything looks alright while I’m out. I also asked her to make sure her boyfriend isn’t with her. She didn’t like that comment very much, but I don’t care.
I drive about an hour out of town to a pasture in the middle of nowhere. Most locations associated with my society are in the middle of nowhere, but that’s how we’re able to do so many heinous things privately.
The pasture is where the sacrifice will take place. Normally, leaving my wife home alone at this hour would have me on edge, but all of the other council members are supposed to be present tonight, so I shouldn’t need to worry about anyone showing up at my home.
When I arrive, I park my car in the middle of the field with the others. There aren’t many cars as some of the men carpooled, but I don’t trust any of them enough to be in a locked car with them.
Getting out, I drape my black cloak over my shoulders, put my hood over my head, and meet the men in the center of the field. Taking a look around, I see everyone present from this morning apart from one person: Jace.
I pull Hades to the side. “Where is Jace?”
“He’s sick.”
I try to hide my annoyance. “Too sick to be present for the sacrifice?”
He sighs. “According to Gabriella.”
Gabriella. I’m not as close with her as I am to everyone else, but I think she has enough respect for me not to lie. If she says Jace is sick, I’m inclined to believe her. With everyone else present, I’m not sure what she’d gain by making it up.
I rub my hands together to keep warm. “And why didn’t she tell this to me?”
“Because I’m your second, and everything is supposed to go through me. Do you trust me, James?”
Do I trust Hades? With a name like that, I shouldn’t. But, he’s proven himself trustworthy to me even after he nearly backstabbed me. And as valuable as Genevieve’s trust is, I need men I can trust on this fucking council.
“Yes. I trust you.”
He smiles softly. “I’ve got your back, son. Don’t worry. If I hear anything of concern, I swear you will be the first person I notify.”
I pat his back and we join the rest of the circle. When we’re all in place, Hades begins the meeting.
“Good evening, men. Tonight is a continuation of our meeting from earlier. Tonight, we will solidify the new vow with a blood sacrifice.” He turns to face me. “Our Head Father will select a lamb from the pasture, he will say the sacrificial oath, and he will offer up the lamb as payment for the tenet change. We will bear witness. Let us begin.”
I turn away from the crowd and head out further into the field where the animals are fenced in. My stomach gurgles at what I’m about to do, but I’d do anything to protect my family. I hope this little lamb and God will forgive me for that.
Once I make it to the fence, I unlatch it and step into the enclosure. The sheep bleat as soon as I walk in as if they can sense I’m here to do something terrible. I have no idea what other uses we have for these creatures out here, but I’m certain that none of the reasons are good.
I make my way through the herd and find a little one to take from its mother. I have never felt so guilty in my entire life. I scoop up the helpless animal and apologize to them all, turning away and running back outside the fence before they can rush me. When I’m back outside, I bundle the tiny creature in my cloak and head back toward the circle.
In the brief moment I was away, the men prepared the area for the sacrifice. Rejoining the group, I see a long wooden table before me with rope.
Hades puts his hand on my shoulder. “It’s time.”
I pull the lamb from my cloak and hold it steady on the slab of wood while Damion ties it down. I can barely look at the thing as it stares back at me helplessly, waiting for me to do something.
Once it’s secure, the men circle me as I stand in front of the table.
I place my hands on the shivering lamb.
“Tonight, we sacrifice this lamb to honor our society. In exchange for this life, we will turn over a new leaf and baptize our daughters in the ways of our society. May The Wild White Orchids always prosper.”
Paul reaches below the table and hands me an axe.
I can’t believe I’m about to do this.
Sweat drips down my back as I turn the handle of the weapon over in my hands.
I’m so sorry.
I heave the axe over my shoulder and lop off the lamb’s head in one swift blow. Its body twitches as blood pours and the head rolls onto the ground.
Hades looks my way. “History has been made tonight. The sacrifice is complete. You’re all dismissed.”
My drive home is long and depressing. After I got in the car, I drove ten minutes away to a nearby gas station where I vomited my dinner. On an empty stomach, I ride the rest of the way in silence.
When I get to my home, all I want to do is take a shower and get into bed. I’m covered in blood, and the last thing I want is to scare Genevieve and have her ask me a million different questions about what I had to do.
It’s when I pull up to the driveway and park that I realize I have bigger concerns.
What the hell is that?
I take a look around before stepping out of the car. My mother’s vehicle isn’t here, so she must’ve been by and left already.
She better have been by.
I step out of the car and grab my blade. I’ll never not be prepared to defend myself. Except I don’t need my blade. What I see can’t hurt me.
No.
No. No. No.
My heart slams in my chest as I stare at my front door.
I slowly walk up to it. It’s something that should definitely not be at my house. And certainly not on the ground.
Fuck.
The bloody thing before me isn’t a butchered animal. Or a watermelon. No. It’s something that used to be on a set of fucking shoulders.
It’s Deacon’s head.
Chapter twenty-two
Genevieve
Iwake up to the sound of water running.
What time is it?
I look over at my phone and it’s ten-thirty.
I rub my aching shoulders that are still sore from earlier this evening. “James?”
He ignores me. I know he’s in the bathroom right now and can hear me. The door is cracked and light peeks into the bedroom.
I stand up and tie my pink silk robe closed. “James.”
His voice comes out muffled and cold. “Get back in bed.”
Goosebumps coat my arms as I walk toward the bathroom door. “What are you doing—”
“Genevieve, get back in the goddamn bed. Now. I will be out in a second.”
I know he’s not talking to me.
“Who in the hell do you think you’re talking to, James Barlow?”
He groans and pauses. “I’m sorry. Please get back in the bed. I will be right out. I swear.”
I want to barge in there and see what the hell he’s up to, but my intuition tells me it’s not a good idea.
“Fine. But if you’re not out in five minutes, I’m coming in.”
“I’ll be out in three.”
Three minutes later, James comes out of the bathroom in a black robe with a scowl on his face.
I grab my hair clip off the nightstand and pull my hair back. I lost my bonnet and haven’t had a chance to buy a new one, but I’m not too worried since I sleep on silk sheets every night.
“What happened?”
James shuts his eyes and sighs. “I killed a lamb. I came home covered in blood, and I needed to shower. And I puked.”
