Lily was captured once again in the array of art all around her. Her eyes bounced from one intense scene to another, captivated by the unknown, drawn to each piece for a new reason. This was her favorite room. Her fascination grew with each new portrait before her, and she couldn't help herself following the wall once more to its end taking it all in. Lily wanted to know who they were. What was the look upon their faces they all seemed to share? Were they slaves to the brothers too?
Lily turned, going back to the first wall to find the photo that perplexed her most. She stood before it, analyzing the young woman who smiled up at a suited man holding her leash. He stood proudly, pulling her up to him by the leather connecting them together. Why did she smile? Lily wondered searching her eyes for the answer. The men certainly had a strange connection to dogs and women. The thought perplexed her as she moved onto the next picture.
She could have looked at the photographs forever. The burning questions she had lingering at the tip of her tongue. The foreign positions they were set in that she longed to understand the reasoning for. The way they gazed in wonderment, upon the men above them. She was ready to burst with a thousand questions, but Johnny Boy brought her back to the moment. He stood behind her with a soft caress across her shoulder. She shuddered at his light touch, sending goosebumps down her arms. Lily stood still as they looked at the portraits together moving slowly along the walls until they reached the end once again beside his leather recliner.
"Come Little one, and sit with me." Johnny Boy said gently, extending his hand out to her after he seated himself comfortably. She hesitated only for moment before she took his hand, taking a seat upon his lap. "I am going to recline back now, Lily. Don't be frightened." He said pulling the lever sending the head section back and the legs up. She clung to him until they were still again. Once they were situated in the large chair, his gentle caresses began once more upon her back. He moved her gently placing her head upon his shoulder. They leaned back together, and he held her securely, cradling her as he would a small child.
"Now that we are comfortable, talk to me, Lily." He said softly. "Tell me how you are feeling, and it is okay to be honest with me. While we are in my room you can talk as openly as you need to, as long as you remain respectful. Do you have any questions? Anything you would like to say?" He asked. He seemed genuine in his offer. Lily thought as she searched her mind for what to say. She decided on the honest approach.
"I'm scared, and I don't understand. They're so mean, and I can't do anything right. Even when I try they still beat me, and I am so scared of what he will do to me tomorrow." She cried openly now letting go of all the feelings she had pent up over the last three days.
"First off, Lily. No one here has, or ever will beat you. Beating you is what your father did to you, and we do not support that in any way. We correct your behaviors when they need correcting, and I know the punishments can seem intense but they are all to mold you into the best you can be for us, and yourself. We told you the rules, and when you broke those rules then we told you what was going to happen, and that is all that happened. True or false, Lily?" He asked her, hurt that she felt their corrections were the equivalent to what her father did to her. He would have to think on that.
"True." Lily said quietly after thinking on it a moment. He was right. They had only done what they said they were going to do, and not a thing more. "I'm sorry. You're right, Sir." She said regretting her words before.
"You don't need to be sorry for feeling as you did, Lily. I explained it to you, and now you understand the difference. With that said, my Brothers are a bit stricter than I am, I know they seem mean, but they do care about you. We all do, little one. We just need to be stricter with you in the beginning so you understand your place, and we can trust that you will behave when we start to give you more freedoms later. Everything is earned here, Lily. It will get easier with time. I promise you Lily, as you learn our expectations, and follow them life will get steadily more enjoyable for us all. The beginning is the roughest, but I believe in you. You will make me proud." He said smiling. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, kissing her forehead lightly.
"Why can't I eat with silverware?" She asked, looking up to him for the answer. His words replayed in her mind. If she did as she was told she would gain freedoms. That was the key to her escape. If she did what they said, maybe they would let her outside. The fences could be climbed if she got the right things together. She thought excited by the idea as she half listened to him.
"Good question." Johnny boy laughed getting himself together to answer her question more seriously. "Pet play is Damien's interest, and I don't fully understand it either. You are my baby girl when you are with me, and with Luke you are his slave. You will eat normally with the two of us. Yesterday was a special occasion though. Damien wanted you to see the bowls he had made specially for you. Did you like them, little one?" He asked her, curious to see if her response to them matched her true feelings.
"They were beautiful, and I liked the fancy writing. I have never had anything with my name on it before. I appreciate that he did that for me, but" Her hesitation brought his full attention. "I'm not a dog." She finished carefully unsure of his reaction. She was relieved to see him smile down upon her.
"No, you are not. You are our pet though, and Damien is one of your Owners. That is his way with you, and you need to try, Lily. On Tuesday, when you spend the evening together. I will let him know you have some questions for him. He will listen sweetie, and will hopefully be able to answer your question in a way that makes sense to you." He said reassuring her as he traced his fingertips over her cheek following her jawline down leading up to her lips.
"Sir." She said, trying to find words that were lost in the moment. His fingertips blended in a strange combination of smooth, and surprisingly soft across her lips.
Johnny Boy
"Today you dealt with a lot, my little Lily. I am so proud of you, and I want to reward you now. If you need me to stop then just say stop. That is between you and me. That does not give you permission to tell anyone else no or stop unless they specifically tell you that is allowed. I want you to try, Lily. I want you to feel safe, and I want you to enjoy our time together." He whispered in her ear as he lifted her to straddle his lap. His arms wrapped around her waist holding her gently upon his thighs. "First, I am just going to kiss you." He paused, leaning in to meet her lips with his own.
Her lips tasted sweet as he connected, but he needed more of her. "Let me in, Lily." He ordered gently as the tip of his tongue ran across her mouth lightly. She parted her lips, shaking softly in his embrace, and his tongue wiggled between them drawing hers to his. He moaned, savoring the sweet taste of her tongue as it danced with his own. He deepened the kiss pulling her closer as he explored her mouth tenderly, running his fingers through her hair as he felt his desire grow beneath them.
