Talia
What the hell had I done? My cheeks burned with mortification. I’d not only put my hands on him, gotten him off, but I’d begged him to make me come for over an hour. I’m such a slut! I’d never realized an orgasm would feel so incredible. Hearing about it, or reading it, was entirely different from experiencing it myself.
Even now, my body hummed, and I knew if Ram slid his hand into my panties, I’d be pleading with him again. Was he right about me acting like this because it was so close to being that time of the month? I’d never felt like this before. Why now and not the other eight years I’d had a period? If I asked Ram, he’d probably say it was something psychological, and he might be right. Until last night, I’d always equated sex with something degrading and painful. Now I knew how good it could feel, as long as the person you were with made sure you were comfortable and willing.
Ram had been gone when I’d woken up, and Riley had still been in bed. I’d found a note on the kitchen counter letting me know he’d gone to get tested and pick up a few things on his way home. I wanted to hide my face when I remember exactly what he’d said he wanted to buy. Would he really bring home a vibrator? I’d never used one. What if I hated it?
Since I had a feeling Riley would be hungry when she woke, and I was starving, I pulled out the ingredients to make eggs, sausage, and biscuits. Within thirty minutes, I had everything done and on plates. I still hadn’t heard a peep out of Riley and decided to wake her up. Going into her room, I gently shook her shoulder.
“Riley, it’s time for breakfast.”
She mumbled something but didn’t seem inclined to get out of bed. Gripping the covers, I yanked them off her. She gasped and bolted upright in bed. The terror in her eyes made my heart nearly stop. I hadn’t meant to scare her.
“I’m sorry, Riley. I didn’t…”
She focused on me, and slowly seemed to remember where she was. “Oh, Talia. Is it morning?”
“Yeah.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “Who used to wake you up like this?”
She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. She stared at the wall across from her. “When I turned twelve, my mom’s boyfriend started getting me up in the mornings. He’d yank the covers off the bed, then grab me.”
“Grab you?” I had a feeling I knew what she meant, but I wanted to be certain. My gut told me Riley was hiding a lot of pain and abuse. If she didn’t let some of it out, she’d eventually either erupt or break down.
“I don’t have much up top, but for a twelve-year-old, my breasts were bigger than most girls my age. He’d grab them, give them a squeeze, or do the same to my butt. I stopped wearing a nightgown after he…” A tear slipped down her cheek, and I pulled her into my arms. She cried and clung to me. Her dad found us like that about ten minutes later.
Ram didn’t say a word, just quietly entered the room and sat on the other side of Riley. She sniffled and refused to meet his gaze.
“Riley, I think you should tell your dad what you shared with me. Except, don’t hold anything back. He needs to know what happened when you lived with your mom. It could make a big difference in you being able to stay with him legally.” Of course, I didn’t know that for sure, but I didn’t think a judge would give her back to a woman who allowed her to be molested. “I’ll be in the kitchen when the two of you are ready to eat something. Ram, I’ll fix a plate for you.”
I stopped in the hall, just out of sight. Listening to them, I made sure Riley was going to be honest with him. My heart broke as she confided in her dad, and even told him the things she hadn’t shared with me. I pressed a hand to my mouth and felt tears prick my eyes. That poor little girl.
I tiptoed away and set the table. By the time they joined me, I’d re-heated our food and poured some drinks. Riley’s eyes were red and puffy as she took her seat. Ram squeezed my shoulder as he passed me and sat down across from me. It put Riley between us, and it wasn’t the first time he’d done that. I had to wonder if it was on purpose. Was it his subtle way of telling her she’d be protected here?
“Badger texted me on the way home. They’re holding Church again in a little bit, so I’ll have to head over to the clubhouse. The two of you can stay here, or he said you were welcome to go to his place. Adalia was going to bake cookies today.”
“Cookies?” Riley asked.
“If Riley is up for it, then we’ll go say hi to Adalia,” I said. “Can you come pick us up on the way home? I don’t think I’m comfortable driving that big truck, and I don’t know how far of a walk it will be.”
“I can drop you off and pick you up.” Ram reached out and ran his hand over Riley’s hair. “My brave girl. I’m going to make sure your mother will never have custody of you again. All right?”
“Thank you, Dad,” she murmured.
“I don’t know what sorts of things you like for breakfast. I’ve never had the opportunity to do much in the kitchen. Money was tight, so I mostly lived off ramen, hot dogs, and spaghetti because it was cheap and filling.” I took a bite of my eggs, thinking they didn’t taste as good as what Ram had made for us yesterday. “I wouldn’t mind learning to cook more meals. I’m sure I could follow a recipe.”
“We can get a few books,” Ram said. “What about you, Riley? Is there anything you want to learn? If not cooking, then maybe a craft or something?”
“I don’t know what I’d like,” she said.
“Then you can try some different things. I asked Badger who everyone used for Internet and cable, then stopped by the company’s office while I was out. They have us scheduled for next week to get service. The house already has the proper cables run, so it shouldn’t take them long to set it up.” He patted Riley’s hand. “Once we have Wi-Fi, you can watch some different videos to see what you find interesting.”
“I know I don’t need a job to pay for anything here, but I also don’t like sitting around doing nothing all day,” I said. “Does your club ever do volunteer work in the community?”
“Adalia would be the one to ask,” he said. “And if there’s not something already set up, then I’m sure she’d have a few suggestions.”
We finished breakfast and I went to shower and change. Riley got ready too, since we were both leaving with Ram. He dropped us off at Badger’s house on his way to the clubhouse, and Adalia welcomed us with a warm smile.
“Sorry I bailed early last night,” she said. “That was one of my worst headaches ever.”
“I hope you’re feeling better today,” I said.
“I am. Riley, the kids are in the living room watching Disney movies. I know you’re a little old for that kind of thing, but you’re welcome to join them. Or you can sit in the kitchen with me and Talia. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable,” Adalia said.
Riley went to sit with the kids, and I followed Adalia to the kitchen, where she already had snacks and drinks set out. “The kids have sodas and cookies. I made sure to set out enough for Riley in case she decided to go in there with them.”
“I appreciate you letting us drop in like this. Ram said you’d be the best person to answer the question I had this morning. It’s about what to do with my free time. I’m not used to being idle.”
“Hmm. Well, the club runs an underground clinic for women who were raped, or who are trying to escape abusive relationships. The front side is a small bookstore. If you don’t have medical knowledge, you could always help out in the store. Or if you’re good at making things, there’s a small section there where we offer handmade items, and all proceeds are donated to a different charity every quarter.”
“Wow. I didn’t realize the club did so much for the town.” The more I learned about this place, and about Ram, the more certain I became that I was in the right place.
“We didn’t used to. Wolf’s woman actually helped us with the clinic. She’d been raped in college, and her school swept it under the rug. She wanted a way to help women in her situation.”
“She sounds like an amazing woman.”
Adalia nodded. “You didn’t get to meet her last night? Her name is Glory.”
“No, I only spoke with you, Farrah, Mariah, Lilian, and Elena. I have to admit, I could have done without the conversation with the two sisters.”
Adalia sighed. “I don’t know what to do with those two. I’m not sure Badger does either. So far, he’s letting their men handle it. The problem is Savage would do anything for Mariah. I’m not sure he could give her tough love. Demon, on the hand, won’t let Farrah get away with anything.”
“Riley wants to learn a craft. Maybe I’ll learn one too. We could make things to sell in the shop.” I hated turning the conversation so abruptly, but I really didn’t want to discuss Farrah and Mariah. It would ruin my good mood. “What sort of things do the other women here make?”
“Hmm. Instead of telling you, why don’t we use that as a way for you to meet the other women here? We could have a crafting day once or twice a week. Each of us could take turns hosting it, until you’ve had a chance to try a little of everything. Riley would be welcome too, if she wanted to attend.”
I had to admit it sounded fun. I’d never been able to do something like that before. Then again, I hadn’t had a lot of friends in my life, and none in the last seven or eight years. Was this the sort of thing friends did together?
“A few get together for a book club too,” she said. “If you enjoy reading, you might like meeting with them. I think they pick a new book every week.”
I’d never really had the time to read. Buying books had been a luxury, one I couldn’t afford. I didn’t even have a cell phone anymore. The one I’d had was a cheap one I paid by month. It wasn’t a great loss.
I heard the kids giggling in the other room and smiled. This was good for Riley. I hoped she was having a nice time, even though the children were younger than her. Maybe that actually made things easier for her. Although, she’d gotten along well with Coral last night.
“I think Ram said Coral was Steel’s daughter. Who’s her mother?” I asked.
“Rachel. She’s a quiet, sweet woman. I think you’ll like her. You’ve probably noticed most of us are younger than our men. Steel and Rachel probably have the biggest age gap, but it works for them. He treats her really well, and I’m pretty sure she sees him as her savior.”
“There’s sixteen years difference between me and Ram,” I said. “I still can’t believe he’s thirty-six. He doesn’t look it.”
The kids raced into the kitchen, with Riley bringing up the rear. She stood uncertainly in the doorway, and I held my hand out to her. Rushing over, she grasped my fingers and held on tight. Had something happened?
“Mom, Riley said she’s never played a video game before. Can I show her how to play the Switch?” Gunner asked.
“I’m not sure you have the sort of games a girl would like,” Adalia said.
“Please,” he begged. “Besides, Dad got me the Nintendo Pass, so there’s all kinds of games on there. She can pick whatever she wants.”
I glanced up at Riley, and I could tell immediately she really wanted to play yet felt embarrassed over not having done so before. Poor girl probably hadn’t had access to a gaming system. The way her mother treated her, it wouldn’t have surprised me if she’d been starving most days. Something like a video game wouldn’t have even been possible for Riley. Not before. Now? The moment Ram heard she wanted one, he’d get it for her. I really needed to pull him back or he was going to spoil her rotten. I understood why he wanted to. Didn’t make it right. One day, it might come back to haunt us.
“Ivory, let her use your headphones. That way she can sit in the living room with the two of you, and the movies don’t have to stop. I know it’s boring watching someone else play.” Adalia shooed them away, but Riley hung back.
“It’s okay, Riley. Go wait in the living room and Gunner will show you how the games work. As long as he’s fine with you using his game system, I don’t see an issue with it. But if he asks for it back, hand it over.”
“All right.” She hesitated another moment. “If I like it, do you think maybe Dad would get me one?”
“When is your birthday?” I asked.
“Not until next year. I just turned fourteen a few months ago,” she said.
“Hmm. Then you may need to wait for Christmas, but if you tell him that’s what you really want, then I’m sure he’ll get one for you.”
She smiled and hurried from the room. Good. Now I could tell Ram she didn’t expect one until the holidays.
“You’re good with her,” Adalia said. “And that was smart, bringing up birthday and Christmas. If Ram is anything like the other guys around here, he’s a total sucker for his kid. I swear mine would have so much crap it wouldn’t fit into this house if I didn’t tell Badger to wait every time they said they wanted something. Especially Ivory. At her age, she changes her mind every other day.”
“I’m glad to see Riley getting along with them. She broke down this morning. I accidentally scared her, and once she told me why, the floodgates opened up. My heart hurts for her. I may not have had a great life, but it could have been worse.”
Adalia cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “Pretty much every woman here has been abused one way or another. Elena’s adopted parents were going to marry her off to a man who sold women to brothels. Lilian’s past is so horrific none of us thought she’d ever heal from it. When I was a teenager, a man dragged me into an alley to rape me. Badger heard me crying for help and killed the guy. Spent a lot of time in prison for it. I told you about Glory. About the only ones who weren’t physically hurt were Farrah and Mariah, because they were little princesses at the Dixie Reapers.”
In other words, Riley and I were in good company, and so were the women and teens we’d brought here with us. It was a good thing we’d come here with Ram. This place was exactly what we all needed. And in the end, it gave Riley the father she’d wanted.
“Oh, crap. I forgot Ram was supposed to get the paternity test results today. Do you think he has? He didn’t say anything before he dropped us off,” I said.
“I believe that’s part of what Church is about,” Adalia said. “They tend to keep club business from the women and kids. However, I overheard him talking to Outlaw and Riley’s name came up. They’re probably brainstorming ways to keep her out of her mother’s hands.”
“Ram said he’d pick us up on his way home. We won’t be in your way until then, will we?”
Adalia shook her head. “Not at all. Come on. We can go watch the movies with the kids if you want? Or we can keep talking.”
“No, I think I’m all out of questions right now and have a lot to process.”
I followed Adalia to the living room, where Gunner and Ivory were watching the live action version of Aladdin, while Riley played on the Switch. I settled on the couch with Adalia and had to admit it was the most relaxed I’d felt in a while. Almost like… I was finally home.