that the idiot limp dicks weren’t too heavy handed with the flogger.
With a sigh, she did so and allowed me to run the cloth over the red and inflamed inner skin. I tried not to focus on her jeweled clit, and I most definitely tried to not pay any attention to the fact that my cock was getting rock hard again. Something about this woman turned me into an animal with primal urges and an almost feral desire to throw caution and reason out the door if it meant I could be buried balls deep inside of her.
Clearly. Her pregnant self was proof of that.
There was a small knock on the door with Mrs. H walking in. “I brought a special ointment for the piercing,” she said. “We want to make sure we keep it clean and cared for.”
“It’s coming out the minute we leave this place,” I said, not stopping with wiping the washcloth over every inch of flogged flesh.
“Hey there,” Abilene said, snapping her head off the pillow and glaring at me. “I may want to keep it. I might like it.”
“It’s coming out,” I said again, and I meant it.
“All right, well,” Mrs. H said as she approached the bed, determined to break up any impending fight. “No need to discuss the matter now. Let’s just focus on what’s in front of us.” She handed the jar of ointment to Abilene. “Twice a day.” She then looked at me. “It wouldn’t hurt for you to use it as well on your tattoo for a couple of days. Keep it moist so it doesn’t scab over.”
“What’s your tattoo anyway?” Abilene asked. “I never got to really see.”
“Two sabers crossed,” I mumbled, not really seeing it as a big deal.
Growing up knowing it was a tattoo I’d eventually get sort of took the shock value out of it. However, I was extremely grateful that the Elders had modified the tradition of the belle also getting the mark of the sabers—because instead of just a tattoo, the belles used to get it branded into their skin. I seriously doubted I would have allowed any man to get anywhere near Abilene with a hot poker.
“I want you to get a doctor here immediately,” I said, finally done with cleaning between Abilene’s thighs. “I want to hear the baby’s heartbeat. I want to know that everything is all right, and the baby is in no danger at all.”
“It’s not that easy,” Mrs. H said. “I’ve been working on it since the last time you asked. We can’t use the Oleander doctor because he’ll tell the Elders. Hell… I can’t use a doctor within a hundred-mile radius of Darlington County because it will somehow get back to the Elders. I’m trying to find someone who is so far removed from any of the members of the Order and that’s no easy task.”
“Get Montgomery or even my dad involved if you need to. I trust them to keep it discreet,” I offered.
Mrs. H nodded. “I’ll find someone. But in the meantime, you need to rest easy that everything is fine. Abilene is in perfect health, there’s no spotting or cramping, and women function normally throughout their entire pregnancy with no issues. She doesn’t need to be babied.”
“You know I’m right here,” she said, waving her hands at the both of us. “You are both speaking like I’m not lying here in this bed… naked… I might add. May I have some freakin’ clothes please?”
She moved to get out of bed, but I quickly placed my hand on her leg and gave her a warning glare that was enough for her to freeze and settle back in like I had expected.
I quickly went to the dresser, pulling out a tank top and shorts I had known her to wear for bed.
“I know you both have a lot on your plate right now,” Mrs. H said. “And I want you to know your secret is safe with me. But I also have to warn you that the Elders have a way of knowing everything that happens in this manor. The Oleander has eyes in the walls.”
“We’ll be careful,” I said, helping Abilene get dressed whether she liked it or not.
“They won’t let Abilene continue if they find out,” Mrs. H reminded.
“We know,” I said.
Abilene slapped my hands when I tried to help put her shorts on. “I can do this myself,” she bit out. “Jesus, I’m not an invalid.”
Mrs. H chuckled. “Girl, you better get used