Author's note:
This series was originally posted in the loving wives section. However, as the story evolves in my head, I've come to realise that it would be more at home here.
For new and old readers, here's a brief summary.
This story takes place in a theocratic version of modern day Earth. A female dominated worldwide religion rules over all aspects of society, the most relevant to this story being marriage. Sexual intercourse and the possession of sex related paraphernalia is strictly prohibited except by married couples. And, after completing the marriage ceremony, the new couple must be approved of by a member of the Church; a Confessor.
This story centres around a man named Samuel who has just married his high school sweetheart. If you want to know why Samuel is currently standing in a motel with a baseball bat pointed at his head, you'll have to read parts 1 and 2.
As always, all characters engaging in sexual activities are above the age of 18. Do forgive any spelling/grammar errors I might have missed. All feedback is welcome and encouraged. Enjoy. (24,000 words.)
P.S.
Remember when I said I'd have this done by the end of the week? Yeah, let's just forget that happened. :-)
***
"Let me in," Samuel said, "There's nothing left for me out here..."
The baseball aimed at Samuel's head lowered ever so slightly after he spoke the passphrase and the man wielding it frowned at him like he'd said something in a foreign language. Thinking he might have been misheard, Samuel repeated himself.
"Let me in. There's noth-"
"I SAID THERE ARE NO FUCKING ROOMS HERE, YOU DEAF SON OF A BITCH! NOW PISS OFF!"
Samuel flinched when the man suddenly yelled at him. The tip of the baseball bat was slowly growing closer as the man began to advance and panic gripped Samuel as he was forced to retreat.
Had he done something wrong? Was there something on the slip of paper he'd missed? Some step he'd overlooked? He had to check because, as he had just said, there was nothing else left for him but this. His body began to shake as he looked for the slip of paper; partially from the exhaustion of the long walk, but mostly, it was pure adrenaline and fear.
"Wait," Samuel said as he fumbled around for the slip of paper. "P-please, just g-give me a moment."
Finally, he found it. But just as he began reading it over, it vanished from his hands.
"Hey, what is that?!" said the man, easily snatching the slip of paper from Samuel's feeble grip.
"No... No, wait," Samuel said helplessly as he tried to get the paper back, but the man just warded him off with the bat.
Samuel watched with growing trepidation as the man appeared to read the slip of paper over several times, his frown deepening with each pass. When the man's eyes finally returned to Samuel, the hostility that had been in them was gone but it had been replaced with blank expression.
The man looked Samuel up and down. "Your name."
Samuel was so caught off guard by the man's sudden measured tone that he didn't answer.
"You want a room, right? No name. No room."
"Samuel... Cantor," Samuel said finally.
"Samuel Cantor," the man repeated to himself as he lowered his bat and went back behind his desk, not taking his eyes off of Samuel for a second.
There was a wall off keys behind where he sat, but he ignored all of them and instead produced a key from some unseen drawer. The man hesitated for a moment, looking Samuel up and down.
"Are you sure you need a room, Samuel Cantor?" he said. "You could always go back home, ya know? Forget you ever came here?"
Samuel frowned at the man. He sensed there was a hidden meaning behind his words, but he was already committed to the path he was on. Going home was no longer an option.
"No," said Samuel. "I'm sure."
The man looked at Samuel a moment longer before throwing the keys over to him.
"Suit yourself," he said. "You saw the rooms outside before you came in, right? It's the one on the far end."
"Ah, yes... Thank you," said Samuel feeling both relieved and somehow even more anxious than before. But the man continued, holding Samuel's gaze as he spoke.
"Listen to me. When you leave this building don't talk to anyone. Just go straight to your room. The phone is going to be ringing when you get there. Make sure you answer it. Do you understand everything I've said?"
"Y-yes," Samuel said, a little overwhelmed. "Yes, I understand."
"Did you bring anything with you?" the man asked.
"...What?"
There was a sudden flash of annoyance in the man's eyes. "I there anything else in your fucking pockets, dumbass?!"
Samuel flinched again. "Just my phone. A-and my wallet."
"Leave them. On the floor at your feet. Then get out."