Larkin woke first in the morning and immediately her eyes went to Cotton. He was hanging limply in his bonds, his chin on his chest. She immediately looked away and turned to Wynter, moving to kiss him. He woke with a grin, looking at her as she pushed the blankets back and immediately took his cock into her mouth to make it hard. In moments, he was ready and she moved to mount him. His hands on her hips, guiding her, she rode him to orgasm. She was trying to be quiet, trying hard not to wake Cotton. She didn't want Wynter to think she was still putting on a show for Cotton, she wanted him to know she was doing it just for him. When he grew close, he rolled her to the bed and thrust into her roughly, coming inside of her with a quiet growl. He kissed her then, and it was full of heat. At first she thought the look he gave her was anger, but she realized it was more confusion and she didn't understand what was wrong. He got up and she followed, getting ready quickly. She ignored Cotton as if he didn't exist, though he was making noise and struggling again so she knew he was awake.
In the common room, Wynter stopped a servant. "We will take our breakfast to go, be quick about it. Once we are gone, release the boy in my room and return his clothes to him. Tell him if I see his face again I will kill him."
He left without waiting for an answer and Larkin caught up to him, taking his arm.
The soldiers were still loading the other girls into the back of the wagon and Wynter seemed unusually impatient. Larkin turned to him, laying her head against him as they waited. He slipped his arms around her and stroked her hair and she felt his tension draining. By the time he had her up in the seat next to him, he seemed much more at ease. She moved close and instead of taking his arm, she slid her hand into his, touching his fingers lightly. He cocked his head to watch her.
"I am very pleased with how well you did last night, little love," he said finally. "You will be seeing my home today. Your home soon. Are you excited?"
"Yes, My Wynter, but also no."
"No?"
"You will leave me there, alone, when you take the others where you must take them. I will be without you for that whole time."
"I cannot think you wish to go with me. You would not want to see their fate, would you?"
"No... but must it be you? Can you send the others with them?"
He chuckled. "Even I have those I must answer to little love. I must make an appearance, give my reports. I do like that you wish me to stay. You are... exceptional, Larkin," he said, as if admitting that surprised him. His expression also went from pleased to introspective and pensive.
An hour into the trip, his face had gone dark. He pulled up the reigns and motioned one of his guards closer. "I wish to ride a while, you drive. Put my slave in the back with the others."
He got down without looking at her and mounted the horse the soldier had been on. He galloped ahead as the soldier helped Larkin down and put her in the back with the other girls.
The back of the wagon stank. Badly. Larkin drew back at the sharp smell, but climbed in, feeling uneasy. Why was Wynter so upset? She didn't understand what she had done wrong. She sat next to Mathilde and Sarah, who both immediately hugged her.
"Did they really capture Cotton and punish him?" Sarah asked.
"Cotton really came for you?" Mathilde asked.
"He did, but he shouldn't have. He was punished for it.
They were quiet after that. All of the girls were. They seemed defeated and in shock. Larkin felt bad, but mostly she felt sick. Not just from the smell, but she was worried about Wynter and why he had gone cold and withdrawn.
It was a long ride, full of fear and loneliness. When they finally stopped, Larkin could not bring up excitement, only trepidation. The door opened and the guards ordered them all out. Wynter was not there. Larkin was herded into the back of a huge manor, through a side door. A servants door, with the other girls.
There were servants lined up to take over the girls from the soldiers, but the soldiers still followed them to a large hall filled with steaming baths inset in the floor.
"Which is she?" A woman asked one of the soldiers. "That one there?" she guessed, pointing at Larkin.
"She's the one," he agreed.
The older servant took Larkin by the shoulder and led her out of the room to a smaller room with a tub filled with hot water. It also smelled different, full of oils and scents. "Here now girl, be a good girl and get undressed so I don't have to call a guard in," the woman chided. Larkin obediently undressed and immediately climbed into the tub. She started to wash, but the woman took over. "You seem a sweet little thing, aren't you? So gentle and obedient. It's not a wonder the master took a fancy. Here now, feet up. Good girl. I'll be taking your measurements to see you dressed after this, then putting you in a robe to wait the masters leisure. You know what he expects? What needs doing?"
"Yes ma'am," Larkin answered quickly.
"Good then. I am glad to see he has finally allowed himself some small pleasure. He's not so harsh as you might think girl, be good for him and it won't be so bad."
"Yes ma'am."
"So biddable. Most girls coming through fight like cats in a sack. Likely your friends in the other room will be starting into it soon enough once they have been put in their new clothes. The slave clothes always set them off. Not for you to worry over though, is it. The master arrived early and gave me instructions for you very separate from the usual slaves who come through. You are his alone to keep here. I cannot even tell you how much that pleases us. Here now, lay back so I can wash your lovely hair. So long and curly, such a lovely color. Not brown, not red. Just betwixt. You are so tense and fearful girl. The master is a good man, you do not have to fear."
