Page 54 of Longing for Liberty
If this were to turn into a contagion situation, how many people would be allowed to die before they stepped in with medications or preventatives? What would it take for the Order of Mercy to be willing to progress and acquiesce to some level of scientific acceptance?
I washed my hands more times that day than normal and prayed nobody noticed.
* * *
Government Alert!
Shelby Gortund has been found guilty of murdering her husband, Garrett Gortund. Tomorrow at seven pm, all citizens of Community One are required to witness the execution in honor of the State laws and our vow of peace. One person from each household is required to attend in person at Eagle Square. All others must watch on official devices.
TWENTY-FIVE
STATE NEWS: COMMUNITY THREE MAN WINS FAMILY VACATION THROUGH THE LOTTERY!
So much—toomuch—was on my mind when I trudged into the penthouse Monday morning. My brain felt scattered, like I couldn’t collect all of the pieces and put them in their proper places so that I might see clearly and move forward. I was thankful Fitzhugh wasn’t there to witness me in this fog.
By midday I was running behind, having absently taken down the curtains when it wasn’t even time to clean them again until next week. I was a wreck, and my emotions were too close to the surface. When the Secretary walked into the penthouse, I nearly came out of my skin. I stood in the center of the sitting room with curtains still spread over the furniture, my face and neck sweating, my hair sticking to me. His gaze slowly tracked the room and then fell on me, my eyes, then down to my shoes, and back up to my eyes in silence.
“Sir,” I said. “I apologize for the mess. I’ll have these put back up right away.” I began to scramble away until his stern voice stopped me.
“Why are you wearing your shoes when I made it clear you were not to?”
“I…” My heart rate ramped up. “I’m trying to be respectful.”
His jaw clenched, and he said very quietly, “Come here, Liberty.”
I moved forward to stand in front of him, allowing myself to meet his fearsome eyes.
“Take off every piece of clothing.”
Everything in me seemed to rush around, fluttering and pounding all at once as I undressed, tossing each piece down into a pile until I was as naked as he was dressed. His eyes were locked on mine, and I didn’t dare look away, though I saw his hands moving to his waist, undoing his belt. Then the slide of his zipper.
“On your knees,” he practically growled.
I lowered myself before him and took his exposed erection in my hand, looking up at him. His fingers dug into the back of my head, tightening his fist around my hair, and he forcefully moved my face forward as I took him into my mouth. Unlike our other times, he was fast and rough. I did my best to remain relaxed, but I gagged a couple of times, my eyes watering. His hold on my hair didn’t ease until after he finished in my mouth and I swallowed. I pulled back and sat on my heels, catching my breath and wiping my eyes while he tucked himself away.
“Stand.”
I did, keeping my eyes down.
In juxtaposition to his recent roughness, he took my chin between his fingers and lifted my face to look at him. The anger I’d seen when he walked in was gone now.
“I have deleted her code so she cannot walk into this penthouse when I’m not here again. Nothing has changed. You will continue to do what I’ve ordered. Is that clear?”
Though his words were harsh, his tone was not. I nodded and whispered, “Yes, sir.”
“Sir?”
“Yes, Amos.”
He lowered his head and took my lips in a soft, but long kiss, then searched my eyes again. “I’m sorry you had to witness that.”
I started to look down, but he tweaked my chin to keep my attention on him.
When he said nothing more, I felt like he wanted me to speak, so I racked my brain for the right thing to say.
“Every couple is imperfect.”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
