Somewhere, out there in the great beyond, where good things happen and people have the capacity for happiness, her 'other' was living the good life. That particular version of herself had enjoyed a loving childhood, raised by good people. She had grown into a well-adjusted woman, had a rewarding career, was married to a caring man with 2 wonderful children, had many friends to share her ups and downs, and no reason to believe that life should be otherwise.
Here in this world it was more about making it through the day.
To the normal 'outsider' it might appear that she was that other version of herself. Looking in, she was sure it appeared as though she had married a caring man, a good provider, and had no reason whatsoever to even need a career, let alone one that might be rewarding. Thankfully, there had never been and would never be any children.
A teacher had once told her "we live what we know". She had never heard a more accurate truism. She was, at thirty-six, living the only life she knew.
Having been raised by two people who appeared to be loving parents, she was well acquainted with the perception of showing a different self to the outside world than what existed in the home. Observation had shown her that most parents didn't show their love for their only child by locking her up in her room for sixteen hours a day; feeding her on a tray twice a day; making threats to her well being if she ever told anyone.
Her father had introduced her to Stephen when she was seventeen. He had seemed to be her savior; talking about taking her away to exotic places, treating her like a queen. Although he was years her senior, when he proposed to her six months later, she readily accepted.
She and Stephen were married at her parents house two weeks after her eighteenth birthday, with only her parents in attendance. Stephen had no family, and had told her that their wedding would be more meaningful if there were no outsiders present.
The nightmare of having been locked up in her room had been replaced by having the run of a large house out in the country. Fifteen rooms on three acres of land, all hers to do as he saw fit. No telephone, no television, no contact with anyone Stephen didn't hand pick.
Stephen didn't keep her locked up in the house. There were parties. Some were at their home and he would hire a crew to come in and clean, cook, serve. Most times they were at the home of one of his associates.
The first time he had taken her to one of his parties after they were married, she had been taught that she was to speak to no one unless he was beside her. Not having known it was forbidden, when a younger man sat in a chair near her and said hello, she had returned the greeting. Stephen was at her side before she could say anymore, excused them, then escorted her to a room at the back of the house. There, he had made it clear that she was never to speak unless given permission.
Years later, she still remembered that experience as if it had just happened.
He had locked the door and thrown her into an overstuffed armchair.
"That dress is for me!" he hissed at her, referring to the red gauze knee length halter top dress he had chosen for her to wear. He had also chosen the tiny red lace panties she wore beneath it. She didn't like the dress, feeling completely exposed by the sheer material.
"You're not wearing it so some jack ass can ogle your tits and pussy. You wanna fuck him?!"
"No," she stammered, wondering why he would question her.
"I married a virgin, and a virgin you will stay!" he said between clenched teeth.
They had been married three weeks at that time. Although they shared the same bed every night, they had yet to consummate the marriage. She realized then that they never would.
He ordered her to untie the top of her dress and she had complied. Then he had come to her, brushed the material aside, and cupped her bare breast in his hand, gently rubbing his fingers over her nipple. He continued for a few minutes, moving his hand from one breast to the other. The sensation it was causing was new to her; a tingling warm feeling low in her belly, a slight throbbing between her legs, and a dampness in her panties that had never happened before.
"You like that?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
"Mmm," she had replied.
He then took her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, pinching and tugging until it felt like he was going to twist it off. When she tried to push his hand away he increased the pressure. Then he did the same to the other. The pain was excruciating. As soon as he removed his hands from her, she placed her own on her bruised and swollen nipples, trying to stymie the ache that ran like a knife to her insides.
He pushed her hands away.
"You little slut! You don't touch them unless I tell you to, or I'll cut them off and put them in a jar for you to look at."
He began rubbing his hand over the front of his pants.
"Damn you , bitch!" he said, still rubbing the bulge in his pants. "Go get Margo and bring her here."
She pulled the front of her dress up, tying it behind her neck. Before she left, he told her to wipe her eyes and warned her against talking to anyone.
She left the room in search of their hostess, fully aware that her nipples were protruding against the thin material, gaining the attention of everyone who even glanced in her direction. She found Margo in the kitchen.
Margo made no secret of staring at her breasts. In fact, the woman smiled and licked her lips.
"Stephen would like to see you," she said.
Margo linked her arm in hers, brushing a hand over her bruised nipple.
"We mustn't make him wait," Margo purred.
As soon as the two women entered the room, Margo locked the door. Stephen was standing in the same place he had been when she left, only now he had his back to the door.
"Celia is delectable," Margo said, not letting go of her arm.
"She's not for you," Stephen said.
"Can I at least look?"
Stephen turned his attention to Celia. He ordered her again to untie her top and pull it down. Fearful that he would cause her more pain if she resisted, she did as she was told.
"Oh, Stevie," Margo said. "You've bruised her. Can't I kiss them and make it better?"
"She's a virgin who wants to be a slut. Stay away." he said to their hostess, then turned his attention to Celia again. "Take your panties off, slut!"
She reached up under her dress and pulled the bit of lace off.
Pointing to the chair she had been in earlier, he told her to sit down. He then demanded that she pull her skirt up, tucking the hem into the band beneath her breasts. Humiliated and feeling shameful, but more scared of what he might do if she refused, she closed her eyes and did as she was told.
"Open your eyes, bitch!" he said to her.
When she didn't open them immediately, she felt him pinch her nipple again, causing a new rush of pain.
"She's delightful. So young and firm," Margo said, her hands on her own breasts, rubbing them through the material of the simple white dress she was wearing. "Unzip me, Stevie."
As he unzipped the back of the white dress Margo was wearing, he warned Celia to keep her eyes open and to watch. Margo pulled the dress forward off her shoulders, exposing her own bare breasts, nipples hard and extending nearly an inch. She wiggled her hips, sliding the dress all the way off until she was standing there wearing only a garter belt, stockings, and a pair of wispy white panties.
Margo turned to face Stephen.
"Bite me," she instructed, holding one breast out to him.
Celia saw him clamp his teeth down on her nipple while Margo placed her hand on the front of his pants, rubbing his bulge, whispering to him. Stephen put his hand inside Margo's panties, causing the woman to arch her back and moan loudly.
A moment later he pulled Margo's panties so hard they ripped away from her body. Standing behind her, he reached around to the front with his hand and began stroking the patch of hair between her legs. With his other hand, he undid his pants and pushed them down to his ankles.
Celia couldn't see any of her husbands' nakedness with the exception of a bare hip and thigh.
"Touch yourself," Margo said to her, her hands tugging at her own nipples. "Touch your pussy for me."
When she didn't comply, Stephen made it an order.