The Maiden (The Cloister Trilogy 1)

Mary screams.

Grace smiles. “Again.”

“But I—”

“Shall I do it?” She threatens with the whip.

“No.” I fight the tears that try to well, and look down at the raw, red skin along Mary’s backside. You’re saving her, I tell myself. The flogger is better than the whip. It has to be better than that.

I swing again. Mary’s cry cuts through all my layers and draws blood from my soul.

“Much better.” Grace returns the whip to the wall. “Proper form is important, ladies.” With that, she leaves the room and locks the door behind her.

I drop to my knees next to Mary. “Are you okay?”

Her tears make soft plop noises onto the mat. “I’m okay. It’s for the Prophet, so it’s worth it.”

I take no comfort in her words, and remorse threatens to choke me. It only gets worse when I look up and find several sets of eyes on me, distrust glowing in them like dark embers.

After training, hungry and exhausted, we make our way back to the dorm. A Spinner reminds us that we’re expected to be on our best behavior for our weekly night with the Prophet, then tells us to shower and pray.

I enter my room and stifle a yell when something moves on my bed. Flicking the light on, I find Adam stretched out, his hands behind his head, his dark eyelashes fluttering open.

“Close the door.” His voice is thick with sleep.

“How long have you been here?” I push the door closed and walk over to him, sitting next to him instead of on the floor. “And where were you last night? And the night before that?”

“So many questions.” He grabs my arm and yanks me next to him, my body crashing against his as he wraps his arm around me.

“Unf.” My face rests on his chest, warmth bleeding from him and into me. I’m too tired to protest, and I inhale him—some sort of tobacco mixed with a hint of soap.

“I’ve been busy, little lamb. My father is moving fast on getting the faithful onto the Compound. He makes quick decisions based on his vision from God. I do all the fucking legwork to make his prophecy come true.”

His hand snakes down my side and rests on my hip. “Miss me?”

“No.”

“Liar.” He squeezes my ass.

“What was training today?”

I close my eyes and try not to see the welts across Mary’s backside. “Flogging.”

“One of my favorites.” His hand slides back and forth across my ass, then his fingers begin to crinkle the fabric, inching my dress up bit by bit. “Did you enjoy it?”

“No.”

“You will when I get my turn.” His bare hand touches my skin, his fingertips skating across my surface.

“And when is that?”

“You already want my pain. I knew I made the right choice when I picked you.”

“I was just asking a question.”

“You ask far too many questions. Even Jez told me so.”

I stiffen. “She told you about that?”

He laughs, the sound low and dark and pulling me down like a lure at the bottom of a cold lake. “There isn’t a move you make that I don’t know about.”

Chills ripple across my skin, but I can’t tell if they’re from his words or touch.

“What did you think of our little Chapel?”

“I hate it.” Honesty is stupid and will get me into trouble. But a few truths here and there can’t hurt. At least that’s what I tell myself.

“I thought you might.”

“Will I end up there?”

“No.” His answer is quick, his grip on my ass verging on painful. “Don’t worry about that.”

“What makes them different? Why do some of the Maidens go there?”

“You can’t ask questions like that, little lamb. It’ll get you disciplined.”

“You want to discipline me?” I dance across the thin ice, aware of the frigid water underneath.

“Yes.” He pulls me on top of him and hikes my dress up to my waist. “Straddle me.”

I relax my thighs and my legs spread around his narrow hips. When my bare pussy touches his hard length through his pants, I dig my nails into his abs.

“I don’t just want to punish you.” He grips my hips and rubs me back and forth against him. “I want to fuck you raw,” he grits out. “I want to take your virginity and wear it like a fucking badge.”

My hips move along with him, grinding against his cock, pink flooding my cheeks as I realize my wetness is darkening his pants.

“Take it off.” He yanks at my dress.

I pull it over my head. His hands are on my breasts before it hits the floor. He leans up and claims one nipple in his mouth as I continue riding him despite knowing how wrong it all is. I can’t stop. I want this one release, this ecstasy that only Adam can give me.

He lies back and slaps one of my breasts. I’m surprised, but when he does it again, my toes curl.