Page 78 of Tainted Saints

I hear the others groan either side of us, and I smile into Blaine’s heaving chest knowing that they found their releases too. I love how wanton they make me feel, the fact that they can orgasm just watching me is one hell of a turn-on.

“I have to go home soon,” I tell Blaine quietly, my life outside of the Saints always coming in to taint my time with them.

He hugs me tighter. “Let’s get you back and cleaned up then,mi princesa linda.” His voice is deep, huskier than usual, and it sends shivers down my spine.

Breathing out a sigh, Blaine helps me off him, and Forest is there behind me to steady me as I wobble on my heels in the soft earth next to the lake.

“You are so beautiful,” Forest whispers in my ear, placing a small kiss on my cheek that I wish I could turn into more.

“I have to get back tonight so I’m up early for the party tomorrow,” I tell him, straightening my dress. “You are all still coming, right?” My neck suddenly feels stiff as I think about the party. The itch to find a shop and take something flares like a beacon, but I quash it down, knowing that nowhere will be open now anyway even if I did give into the urge.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere else, Duchess,” Lan tells me, striding over and taking my face in his palms. “You won’t be alone there, we will be with you however you want us.”

I close my eyes and let his lavender and leather scent wash over me, let it calm my racing heart and lend me the strength that he always gives me without even knowing.

“Thank you, Lan,” I whisper, opening my eyes and looking into his. They really are dark like the sky above us, fathomless and never-ending, but I find comfort in them too, like he will always be there, always fight for me and keep me safe, no matter what.

ChapterThirty-Two

“In the Stars” by Sami Rose

ASPEN

I wakeup in my bed, alone, and it feels as though my heartbeat is sluggish, like there’s a weight on my chest that I thought I’d shed the moment I met Blaine in that cell.

A knock on the door has me sitting up, my heavy heart thudding painfully as the door opens.

“Good morning, Miss Aspen,” Rosie, one of our maids, greets. “Mrs. Buckingham says you need to start getting ready for the party.”

“Oh, thank you, Rosie,” I reply to the young girl, wondering briefly what her life must be like, working for us and then being able to go home at night. Does she live with her parents? Does she have siblings? A partner?

“It’s no trouble, Miss,” she tells me, walking into my room and hanging up the floral dress that I’ll be wearing today. It’s forties-style, flowing in a wide skirt that cuts off mid-calf, and is an original piece that is one of my favourites.

I’ve often wondered why my mother lets me wear the clothes that I adore. I’m always expecting her to take that small independence away, but I think that her friends once commented how unique and beautiful the style was on me so perhaps that’s the reason I’m allowed.

Just a few weeks until you’re eighteen and then you might be able to leave.

I cling onto that small hope, that I may be able to get out of here when I’ve reached what the world considers adulthood. I come out of my musings when Rosie stops by my bed, a small smile on her lips. My brows dip as she reaches into her pocket, looking around before handing me a small envelope with‘Duchess’written on it.

“Holler if you need anything, Miss,” she says after placing it into my hand with a wink and then leaving the room.

I tingle all over as I gaze at the envelope, feeling something more than a piece of paper in there. With trembling hands, I open it, a small gasp leaving my lips as I tip out a beautiful pearl necklace. I fumble for the piece of paper inside, my eyes burning as I read the message.

Duchess,

This was my grandmother’s, but it’s yours now. Wear it at the party and know that we will always be with you, even if for now, we can’t be next to you.

Lan xxx

P.S. We will give you more pearl necklaces later.

Forest xxx

A choked laugh escapes me at Forest’s comment, dirty bastard. My spirit somehow feels lighter, and carefully setting the pearls on my dresser and the note in my underwear drawer, I head to the bathroom to shower and start getting ready, knowing that mother will have hair and makeup here soon.

After my shower, I get dressed, just putting the necklace on as a knock sounds on the door and then two women are walking in.

“Hello, beautiful!” Bruna, my makeup artist says, pulling me into a hug, and something in me just relaxes at her casual affection. She’s done my makeup a few times now and I love her, she’s so happy and chatty and I love hearing tales of her childhood in Brazil. Jenna, my hair stylist also gives me a hug, and I wonder if this is what it’s like to have sisters. How different would my life be if my parents hadn’t stopped at just me but had another child? Then I shiver, thinking that I’m glad it’s just me so no one else has to go through what I’ve had to endure my whole life.

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