Under His Rule

In this community, the Family, they are gods.

And gods are to be feared and listened to or you’ll be reckoned with.

“I picked your dress specifically for this,” he says. “It looks perfect on you.”

Somehow, my brain picks that up as a compliment, and I blush as Noah pulls me along with him through the hallways of this giant mansion, up a few long and twirling stairs, until we come to a singular room in the attic. He opens the door, and I peer over his shoulder to see what’s inside.

A large, round mosaic window is in the back of the hardwood-floored room filled with red carpets, and in the middle stands a larger-than-king-size bed with red bedding and a big golden cross at the back. Around it are six chairs … filled with five patriarchs and a president.

My eyes widen, and my heart stops as they turn to look at me.

“What is this?” I mutter in disbelief.

Noah’s grip on my hands tightens as he closes the door behind us. “The Patriarchal Ceremony … The ultimate form of love shown in front of God himself.”

Chapter 22

Natalie

I shake my head, feeling sick to my stomach as Noah pulls me closer toward the bed. The patriarchs and the president sit there on their chairs, looking as though they’re bored out of their minds and waiting for things to be over, while the sweat is literally running down my back. I can’t help but feel watched as Noah sits me down on the bed while towering above me.

He doesn’t look frightened or enraged—quite the opposite, in fact—and I’ve never seen him this calm before. Why? Does he like sharing me?

“Are you ready?” he asks.

I shake my head, my lips quivering.

I don’t understand why this is necessary. No one explained this to me in the lessons I got from that elder’s wife. No one told me this is what would happen to a patriarch’s chosen woman.

I would’ve never agreed if I knew.

Noah bends over and whispers into my ear. “It has to happen.”

“Why? Why should I agree?” I hiss back.

He tips up my chin and looks me in the eyes. “If you want to survive … submit.”

I swallow away the lump in my throat. He’s never said it like that before … like my life is on the line. But when I glance past him and see the president glaring at us, I know he’s speaking the truth. That man would probably kill us both if I don’t comply.

“It’s for your own good,” Noah adds.

“Why do they have to watch?” I ask.

“They’re witnesses to our union,” he explains, and he places both hands on my shoulders. “Now lie down.”

“Give me a reason,” I whisper. “I want something …”

Our eyes connect, and for a moment, there’s no one here but us in my mind. His fiery eyes and steady grip could force me to yield, but he doesn’t push through, almost as though he realizes this has to be my choice too.

He lowers his head and a brief smile appears on his face. “Your mother …”

Two words … that’s all it takes for me to give in.

My mother.

He knows something about her, which means she might be here.

Just the thought of getting more information about her, anything, even if it is just a whisper or an afterthought, is enough to persuade me to let him do to me what he wants. To let him fuck me in front of all these men … just so I can know my own past.

My body in exchange for my history. How poignant.

Noah places his hand on my chest and pushes again, and I let myself fall onto the bed without any resistance. I’ve done this before, and I can do it again. Even though I didn’t know Patrick was watching the last time, if I simply force myself to ignore these men, it’ll work.

It has to work.

Finding my mother is worth it. Any sliver of information could help me find her. Find my past, find myself. I have to know.

So I close my eyes and let it all slide by as Noah’s fingers wrap around my panties and pull them down. His hands slide up my legs, pushing up the dress until my pussy is exposed, and he climbs on top of me. My eyes briefly open to catch the unbuckling of his belt and the rip of his zipper, followed by a quick pull out of his cock before he comes down right on top of me.

Someone rings a bell.

“The Patriarchal Ceremony will now begin,” the president’s voice booms.

Noah takes a deep breath and slides inside me with ease, and I bite my lip when he gets even harder inside me. I try not to let him notice, but it’s too late, as his eyes fixate on me and he caresses my cheek.