My throat is so thick, I can barely swallow. I knew Freedom spent a big part of her childhood in some weird compound with her parents, but she never talked about it. I overheard my mom and Harper talking when they were in high school about it, but neither of them knew too much. All Harper knew is she didn’t want to go back to live with her parents.
“There weren’t a lot of kids, so we tended to hang out together between classes. We were all homeschooled by a couple of the moms. I’ll never forget the first day I walked into a real classroom.” Even though I can’t see her face, I can hear her smile.
I’m not sure if I’m supposed to ask, but I’ve never been one to shy away from saying what’s on my mind. “What kind of compound was it?”
She sighs. “One with few rules. One where it was nothing to see naked individuals walking around or the occasional free love under the night sky. We didn’t eat meat, grew our own vegetables and herbs, some of them questionably legal, and made money by selling goods we made ourselves in a local town. The law didn’t bother us, as long as we kept to ourselves. The land belonged to the leader, an older guy with a potbelly and gray mustache, and I remember my mom frequenting his tent at night as part of the rent they paid to live there.”
My stomach churns as she speaks. I couldn’t imagine living in a place like that, where everyone lived in tents and apparently shared their spouses with others. Where kids were subjected to all of it, their young, impressionable minds soaking it up like little sponges. While I was watching cartoons and eating Cheerios, she was growing pot and selling it.
“He didn’t, you know…” I start, unable to even finish the question.
“No,” she confirms, completely oblivious to the sudden rage I feel on her behalf. “Master Leonard didn’t touch the girls until they were eighteen. It was a rule.”
“Christ,” I whisper, grateful he never got his hands on Freedom, yet still angry it was even a possibility. “When did you go live with your grandma?”
“When I was in seventh grade. I was miserable there. I stopped eating and participating in class. I had contracted a bad case of influenza B and pneumonia that required medical attention. Most of our medical attention was tended to by a resident nurse, but she told my parents I needed to be in the hospital with antibiotics and IV fluids. They took me to the nearest hospital and left. Civilization like that made them cagey and paranoid. My mom ended up calling her mom to come get me. Even though it was hard living with my grandma, it was the best thing my parents ever did for me.”
I wrap my arms around her shoulders, holding her back to my chest. Freedom grabs my forearms and holds on tight, the bite of her nails causing a flashback.
Those nails.
Raking down my back.
As I push inside her body.
I feel myself getting hard. She’s too close. Her ass is too close to my dick. Her familiar scent is filling my body, stealing my sense of right and wrong. That’s the only reason I can think of as I continue to hold her against me. It’s wrong, I know it, but I can’t seem to stop myself. She’s like a drug I crave, a hit I need, even though I’ve never taken an illegal drug in my entire life.
“I’m sorry you went through that, Freedom.” My words are soft, yet meaningful.
She slowly turns in my arms, those dark eyes locked on mine. I mean to release my hold on her and step back, but somehow, I don’t have the ability. My breath halts in my throat as she reaches up and smooths down my necktie, her soft hands sliding along the silk. I catch a glimpse of her wedding ring. The one I put on her finger less than twenty-four hours ago.
“It’s okay, Sammy. I’m just glad I was able to go live with my grandma.” She smiles up at me. “I met Harper and your family, and I haven’t looked back since.”
I clear my throat. “You were horribly annoying at that age,” I tell her, looking for something lighter to talk about.
Freedom laughs, her long brown hair blowing against my arm. “Yeah, that was because I was thirteen and made it my life goal to annoy the crap out of you,” she replies, tapping me on the chest.
“Well, you’re very successful,” I tell her, which only draws out another giggle.
“I am,” she confirms, wrapping her arms around my waist and giving me a hug. I’m not the touchy feely kinda guy, but this is…nice. Really nice, actually. When she pulls back, her eyes seem to light up. “I have an idea.”
Groaning, I already know I’m not going to like this. “Does it involve going back to the hotel and sleeping?”
Sleeping. Together?
Yeah, I could get on board with that.
No, no you won’t.
“Hell no, Sammy! We’re in Vegas. Let’s have some fun!”
“Sleeping is fun,” I grumble, but know it’s no use.
“You can sleep when you’re dead,” she says, tapping me on the cheek. I should hate it, but I don’t. “Let’s go to a casino.”
I give her most horrified look. “A casino? Do you know how many germs are on those machines and those chips, Freedom?”
She rolls her eyes, probably because she knows it drives me crazy. “Come on, Sammy. Live a little. We’ll go play some slots tonight, and then tomorrow, we’ll take in the sights and sounds of the city. We’ll do all of the touristy things I dreamed about doing when I was younger.”
“That sounds horrible,” I state honestly.
“Nope, it’s going to be
