Chapter 22
Flora was in the middle of reading a book about biology when she heard a knock at the door. Her head shot up, and she stared at the door. She wasn’t expecting anyone, but maybe it was one of her friends.
She pulled up the application on her phone that showed the camera at the doorbell. It wasn’t anyone she knew, so she pushed the button to talk. “Hello, can I help you?”
“Hi, is this Flora?”
She felt unsure but compelled to answer. “Um, yes.”
“I’m Daria from the California’s Department of Justice. I am investigating your case and wanted to talk to you.”
“Oh. Why?”
“We need information about the community you used to live in, and I wanted to talk to you face to face instead of calling you.”
“Um, can I call one of my friends to come over and sit with me?”
“Yes.”
Flora texted her group of friends, explaining what was going on. Andie replied first, stating that she had the day off and would head over.
Flora opened the door, allowing Daria in. “My friend Andie is on her way over. Would you like something to drink?”
“Water would be nice.”
“Sure.” After Flora got the glass of water, the doorbell rang. “That should be her.”
Flora opened the door, relieved to see Andie. After Daria introduced herself, Andie got really serious.
“You aren’t here to charge Flora with anything, right?”
“Goodness no. I’m impressed by how strong Flora is. She escaped a cult on her own.”
“Is my father in jail?” Flora hated how her voice shook.
“Your father’s name is Leonard, correct?”
She nodded. “Yes. I was Leonard’s third daughter.”
“He is in custody. He was identified as one of the leaders of the community. Right now, we’re looking at what we can charge them with. So I need you to tell me what life was like in the community.”
She nodded as thoughts of the community filled her mind. “There was so much. I don’t know what you need to know.”
“Just tell me what you can think of. You can always send me an email. You have an email address, right?”
“Yes. My friends have helped me a lot. They’ve set me up with a phone and email. They taught me how to text and talk on the phone. They’ve invited me into their houses and out to dinner. They’ve helped me so much.”
“How did you meet your friends?”
“Their husbands and boyfriends work with Q.”
Flora started talking about growing up in the community and the rules they lived by. Daria couldn’t believe they really buried people as punishment. When Flora told her about the times she’d been buried, Daria reached across the table and squeezed her hand, telling her she was brave.
“I don’t know if it was brave or not. I just knew I couldn’t live with the man my father wanted me to marry. I didn’t want to be the wife of an old man and raise his children. I mean, I felt bad for his kids, but I couldn’t stomach it.”
“Were you told anything about the leadership of the group or how they ran anything?”
Flora shook her head. “No. They didn’t let us know anything. When I escaped, I thought most of the population was dead. They told us that only five million people were alive, that everyone else died.”
“I’m surprised they were able to keep you from knowing anything.”
“We were cut off, separated from society. The only time I left the compound was when my father went to buy pigs. I was a kid and wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone. It wasn’t like I knew what was going on. My father was punished for taking me.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m just surprised they were able to keep you all in the dark. I’ve tried to speak to other women from the community, but they wouldn’t say much.”
Flora snorted. “Honestly, they won’t ever talk. They have been conditioned to think you all are evil.”
Daria raised her eyebrows. “It’s how they acted. Like me and everyone from my office are evil. It has made it difficult.”
“It’s hard for them. Their world is being ripped apart. The lack of information they’ve had is scary. Now that I’m on this side of it, it’s weird thinking about how much we didn’t know. But we didn’t know, so how could we have known?”
“I may have more questions later. Can I contact you at a later time?” Daria asked.
Flora nodded. “Yes. And if I remember something, I’ll send you an email.”
“We will keep you updated. Being happy and living a good life is the best revenge against people like this. Don’t give up. Be happy.”
“Thank you. I’m trying.”
Daria left, and then Andie took off. She sent a note to Q telling him about the woman stopping by and Andie coming over. She was proud of herself for staying so calm. The only reason she was able to do it was because of what she’d learned at The Refuge. The people there had changed her life.
When Q came home, she was waiting for him by the door. She pulled him into a hug and held on as he shut the door.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good. I kept my calm, all because you helped me. I feel like I’ve grown so much in the few months I’ve been free, and it’s because of you. I feel like I can accomplish anything.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, but you played a large part in that. If you weren’t so strong, you wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
“Thank you.” She pressed her lips to his and kissed him like she meant it. After the kiss ended, she pulled back and met his gaze. “I want you, want to have sex with you.”
Q had been waiting for her to ask. They’d fooled around but hadn’t gone beyond touching. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes. When I went to the doctor, I got on birth control.”
He picked her up and carried her to the main bedroom before stripping off her clothes. “Shower first. I don’t want to smell like work when I’m with you.”
“Sure, I could shower. Let me put my hair up so it doesn’t get wet.”
“Okay.”
He watched as she braided her hair then pulled it into a loose bun. He got cleaned off fast, then lathered up his hands and washed her off. He wanted her to come before they exited the shower.
He licked her nipples as he slid his fingers between her legs.
She pumped her hips against his hand, and he could feel that she was on edge.
For someone who’d never had any sexual contact six months ago, she was very responsive.
She came alive under his hands. He didn’t have to do much to get her to orgasm.
Her moans echoed off the walls of the shower as she clung to him.
He shut down the water and dried her off before carrying her into the bedroom. When he laid her out, she spread her legs and opened for him.
He dropped to his knees and then lowered, kissing the top of her slit, right where her clit was. She gasped and wove her fingers in his hair as he licked and sucked at her. She arched up off the bed, her body writhing as he brought her to another orgasm.
“I need you,” Flora moaned as she pulled at his shoulders.
He didn’t want to hurt her, so he moved slowly, lining up so his cock was positioned at her entrance. She looked nervous, so he rubbed the tip over her opening instead of slamming in.
“Q, I need more.”
“Just going slow.”
She lifted her hips, and he slid in a little. She didn’t gasp or pull back, so he slid in a little more, watching her reaction. She winced a little but encouraged him to keep moving.
He was almost in all the way when she lifted one leg and wrapped it around his thigh. She was hot and perfect and felt amazing underneath him. He wanted to let loose but held back, doing his best to be gentle.
“I want to feel all of you,” Flora moaned.
“You will,” he said as he slid in deeper and held still.
Flora gasped as his hips pressed against her. He was in all the way, and it felt good, though there was a little pain. He’d gone slow, and she was thankful for that. She’d been worried it would hurt more, but it wasn’t bad.
He pulled out almost all the way and then pushed in a little faster than last time. She held on, clinging to him as he kept moving his hips.
Q adjusted his hold, and his cock hit a different spot inside her, sending sparks through her. She gasped, and he paused.
“You okay?”
“Yes. Do that again. It feels so good.”
He chuckled and pumped in again, sending more shockwaves through her. Her nerves were on fire, and every time he pumped in, his dick pressed against her in a way that made her want to scream his name.
She was going to have another orgasm. It was so freaking amazing she wasn’t sure she could stand it.
“Q, it feels so good.”
“I’m so close.”
“Me, too. I’m going to come again.”
“Come for me.”
He reached between them, and his fingers on her was enough to push her over the edge.
Her mind blanked, and she had to slam her eyes closed.
Then Q paused, and she flashed open her eyes, seeing Q grimace with his eyes slammed shut.
She liked watching him have an orgasm. It was beautiful and amazing seeing him fall apart as he came.
After he finished, he pulled out and rolled off her, pulling her close and hugging her. She snuggled against him, sighing heavily.
He squeezed her closer. “Thank you, my love. That was amazing. I love you.”
Flora moved so she could look into his eyes. “I love you, too. I have for a while, but I know without any doubt that I love you.”
She hadn’t ever expected love in her life. It was beyond what she’d understood, but with Q, it was easy to see what love was. She was lucky to have found him. Maybe it was destiny or something more, but she loved him, and he loved her.