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“Why did you do this for me?” I asked, brows knitting curiously. “I’m not complaining. It’s just so surprising. The men here are usually so thoughtless and unkind.”

“I did it because I wanted to see you smile like that,” Mason said with a grin. “But we do have one problem.”

I wrinkled my forehead. “What’s that?”

He pointed to the tank. “See the little light in that? And the filter on the back.”

“Yes.”

“It needs electricity to run. You can’t actually keep fish in bowls like they used to show on TV.”

I blew out a deep breath, my shoulders slumping. “Oh. I’m not allowed to use electricity.”

“But I am. So if you want, you can keep him here for now and visit him a few times a week. I’ll just say I’ve asked you to clean up in here if anyone sees you coming in,” he said. “But don’t worry, we won’t have to do that for very long. One day soon, you’ll be able to see your little fish buddy whenever you want.”

“Yes, because after we’re married in the spring, we can just say I’m in here to service you in other ways.” I smiled. “As your wife.”

Mason stared down at me for a long moment, a strange expression on his face. He almost looked angry, but I couldn’t imagine why. “Yes,” he finally said. “That’s why it won’t be for long.”

I crouched down to look at the gorgeous fish again. “What should I name him?”

Mason smiled faintly. “Whatever you want.”

“Hm… how about Buddy? Seeing as you said he’s my little fish buddy.”

He nodded. “That sounds good. Buddy.”

I watched the fish swim around his little aquarium as a smile threatened to split my face apart. Why was I so lucky? None of the other men had ever been nice to any of the women here. I’d always believed we didn’t deserve it, but Mason believed otherwise, and I had to admit, it felt good to reap the benefits of it.

“The Joining ritual is soon,” Mason said softly, breaking me out of my reverie.

I looked up at him. “I know.”

“Your father is still recovering from the stomach flu, so he won’t be there, but most of the other Elders will. They’ll be watching us carefully and reporting back to him.”

“I know,” I repeated, standing up again.

“The thing they want us to do in there tonight… I won’t lie, Jolie, it’ll probably hurt you at first.”

I pursed my lips. Though I’d been taught for many years that I was supposed to feel pain during sexual acts, never pleasure, I’d been spoiled over the last several days with Mason. I wasn’t looking forward to the next few hours at all.

“It won’t be uncomfortable for long. I’m gonna make it good for you. Really good. But you have to pretend it hurts the whole time, okay?” Mason continued. “Last thing we need is for everyone to get suspicious of us.”

I nodded. “I understand.”

“One more thing.”

His lips connected with mine with such abrupt fierceness that I didn’t have time to say no or try to push him away for fear of being caught. I moaned into his mouth, a mixture of surprise and pleasure. His kiss quickly softened from downright vicious to affectionate, and one hand slid up and down my spine, making me shiver.

“I can’t wait until I can kiss you like that without worrying about anyone walking in,” he said when he broke away, desire glimmering in his eyes. “And more.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant. That would never happen. Not here. But I nodded anyway. “That would be nice.”

I said goodbye to Buddy and let Mason lead me to the door. I needed to go and bathe before the Joining ritual began.

Afterwards, I put on a clean dress and met up with Lauren and some of the other girls in the hallway. We headed for the Great Room, our collective mood tense and nervous. Before now, I’d never noticed just how much we all hated these rituals. Not until I discovered how much pleasure could exist for us in the world, if only we didn’t serve such cruel men.

When we arrived in the enormous candlelit room, we found that we were late. The Joining had already begun. Scores of women were spread around the room with either their husbands or their unmarried partner for the evening, depending on their own marital status. Some of them were on their hands and knees on the floor or standing and bending forward with their fingertips touching the walls, eyes scrunched with pain. Others were being attended to with the implements left around the room for the men to use on the women to enhance their own experience—braided whips, wooden paddles, canes, ropes.

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