Eliza sat on the chair under the window, a book on her lap as she waited, watching the street below, the night sky was turning slowly lighter with each passing minute. A carriage appeared outside the door, she sat up looking down at the man as he staggered out. Jordan Autenbury was a man almost twice the age of his wife, but he seemed to have the stamina of a much younger man, staying out to crack of dawn was just one of his vices. The door still opened as a woman leaned out their lips caught in an embrace. She closed her eyes pushing her light red hair from her eyes.
She stayed in her chair hearing the door slam shut and heavy footsteps could be heard upstairs. She sat back in her seat, her nightgown covered by a light robe. The door opened with a burst of air blowing the candle beside her out, she said nothing as the figure staggered around the room half-undress, half staggering towards the bed.
"Eliza?" He called out from the bed as he realized it was empty. "ELIZA." He bellowed, a cry from another room could be heard, she sat in her chair not moving as his bellow was quickly replaced by snoring.
She sat there int he chair watching him sleep, her mind had gone through the evening a million times, he'd come inside they'd argue he'd hit her, or he'd force her onto the bed... she closed her eyes at the last thought, too many time she had been pinned down, stripped of her clothes and humanity and used. He breath reeking of alcohol and cigars, his clothes covered in cheap perfume.
Eliza believe the sun shone just for him when she was younger, he was a friend of her father, but so kind. He would talk to her like an adult, listen to her complaints, not being allowed to go to a ball, or that her dress wasn't the current fashion, he seemed to enjoy spending time with teenage girl, she couldn't understand why. Until the night of her 18th birthday party.
Her parents had gathered a small group of people, a few neighbours and friends, they were all there to celebrate her birthday. She had been talking to a young man a year or two older than herself, he was a shy reserved young man but he had a mischievous glint in his eye, just as they were about to step outside to talk, Jordan appeared behind her, taking her arm. The young man retreated. Instead of taking her back inside he led her further into the garden, the night air was cool, she shivered in her capped sleeve dress.
"My dear Eliza." He whispered his voice dark and soothing as he settled her on a bench.
"You must not be alone with young men, they will only cause you ruin." He smiled as he sat down beside her.
"Unlike you?" She asked raising an eyebrow at him, at 39 he was still in the prime of his life, not to mention his title made him a sought after man.
"I am not a young man." He chuckled softly. "I don't play those games."
She turned to look up at him his bright blue eyes catching her own grey ones, "What games do you play?" She asked.
He smiled his eyes dipping from hers down, she could feel them burning her skin as they trailed down her neck and over her breasts, leaning towards her and in a deep voice that sent shivers down her spine, he whispered. "I'm rather good at 'hide and seek'." He brushed his lips on her jaw just under her ear sending shivers down her spine before covering his eyes with his hand. "One." He started.
Eliza sat there frozen on the seat.
"Two, I don't hear you moving." He moved his hand from eyes placing it on her knee, "I'd start running, you don't want me to catch you." He was smiling but the tone in his voice sent another shiver down her spine, he covered his eyes again.
She stood up, her eyes looking back towards the house, she could run inside, but... she looked at the fair-haired man before her, he was this older mysterious man. Did he actually like her? She knew she'd be mad at herself if she didn't at least see this through, she could always go back inside. "Five...run along." He smirked.
She stumbled back from him heading away from the house deeper into the garden, past the roses, there was a large hedge maze.
Jordan heard her run away, he stood up watching her run away from the house, she was his. If he played it right, he could have her and no one would be the wiser. He stalked off towards the hedge moving carefully and quietly through the leaves. He made her way to the middle, rounding the corner he saw her looking down the path she had come from.
Silently he walked behind her, he wrapped an arm around her waist, the other over her lips as he pulled her back against him. "Dear little Eliza it seems I have caught you." He whispered the hand loosened on her mouth, down to her neck his fingers trailing over her skin slowly and deftly pushing between the sheer fabric as her skin.
She froze as his finger found a hardened nipple. "Sir, I do not like this game anymore." She whispered struggling slightly to pull back from him, she felt him pressing his hips against the middle of her back, he desires apparent, their height difference, even more, he was almost a foot taller than her and weight more than double, still muscular from his youth.
"But I do, this is a game I enjoy often." She could feel the grin on her skin as he brushed his lips against her neck, he fingers manipulating her nipple as she squirmed against him.
"Sir, please." She whimpered as the arm around her waist pressed against her, his fingers digging in slowly, pulling the skirt of her dress up, exposing her knees to the air before dipping underneath.
