He cradled her gently and began to rock. The tenderness was unnerving after the sadistic torture session, and all she’d endured during the longest, most horrific day of her life. Mara began to cry again, more out of relief the immediate ordeal was over than anything else.
“There, there,” he crooned softly. “That’s my good little girl.” He continued to rock her gently, like a father holding his precious baby. Turning her face, Mara buried it against her torturer’s chest and sobbed.
Ronaldo delivered Mara to the girls’ quarters, stealing sidelong glances at her as he drove. The sun was setting, puffy clouds on the horizon glowing pink and orange against the fading sky. Mara slumped in the passenger seat of the cart, held up only by the seat belt straps, her hair a dank, tangled mess, her skin itchy from dried sweat, every bone and muscle in her body on fire.
Dawn was waiting outside to receive her, fresh and crisp in a silky top and matching pants, her makeup perfect, her false smile bright. “You look like something the cat dragged in,” she commented dryly as she eyed Mara. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up before supper.”
Dawn led Mara into the building and marched her down the hallway toward the bathroom. As they walked past the bedroom doors, several were now open, though none were occupied. As before, a bath had already been drawn in the huge sunken tub. Mara didn’t need any coaxing to climb into the steaming bathwater.
She scrubbed her hair and soaped her body, desperate to wash away the touch, the stink, the memory, of the men who had violated her. Her reddened pussy was sore and tender, indentations still on her outer labia where the cruel clamps had bitten into her flesh. Finally as clean as she was going to get, she lay back against the rim of the tub and closed her eyes, the soothing scent of lavender a balm to her senses, something almost like peace moving through her.
“Dawn sent me to fetch you for supper. When there are no guests on the island, we girls eat here in the quarters together. It’s a great chance for y’all to meet everyone.”
Mara’s eyes flew open at the strong, sweet cadence of a very Southern accent. Standing before her was a petite young woman who appeared to be barely out of her teens. She had honey-blond hair hanging loosely past her shoulders, big blue eyes and a pouty mouth. She wore a tight, low-cut Spandex white dress with spaghetti straps over tan shoulders, the hem stopping at mid thigh. The sexy, form-hugging dress belied her child-like features and little girl voice. It was apparent she had nothing on under the clingy fabric, her large breasts clearly outlined beneath it, the nipples protruding like cherries at their centers. A gold chain hung around her throat, a single teardrop-shaped diamond sparkling at her cleavage.
Pushing herself upright, Mara reached for a towel and wrapped it around herself. “Meet everyone?” she echoed stupidly, dizzy from standing too quickly.
“The girls. There are seven of us, since Darlene left. Now you make eight.” Her hands behind her back, the girl turned her bare feet inward so they were pigeon-toed, like a shy little girl might do. “My name is Scarlett. You’re Mara, right? I hope you’ll be happy here, Mara, once you get used to things.”
Mara stared at the girl in confused disbelief. “Happy here? Are you telling me you’re happy?”
Scarlett shrugged, a small smile playing on her pouty, plump lips. “I’m a diamond,” she replied, as if that somehow answered the question. Her hand closed over the jewel between her breasts. “Do you want to be a diamond or a ruby?”
Maybe the girl’s mind had gone. Probably the shock of whatever they’d done to her had turned her brain to jelly. “I’m sorry, Scarlett. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s okay. Alex will decide for you.”
Mara bit her lip, looking away at the reminder of that hateful, evil man. She focused on drying herself and then looked around the large bathroom. “Is there a dress or something for me to wear?”
Scarlett shook her head. “No, ma’am. Newbies go naked at all times. I keep forgetting it’s just your first day.”
“My first day,” Mara retorted. “You make it sound like summer camp or something. I was kidnapped this morning, brought here under false pretenses, raped, tortured and terrorized for hours on end.” She heard the rising hysteria in her voice but couldn’t stop herself. “I have no idea what’s happening to me, other than I can’t get away and I’m going to be used as some kind of prostitute sex slave, if they don’t end up killing me first. And you’re hoping I’ll be happy here?” Her voice cracked, and she very nearly started crying, unshed tears burning behind her eyes. She swallowed hard and looked away again, refusing to give in to the confusion and terror that threatened to engulf her once more.