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2024-10-29 19:42:56After Inara stopped crying, sleep overtook her and she found herself in her wedding dress, studying her reflection in the mirror at the dresser in Lemuel’s room.
It then occurred to her that he had earlier yanked her wedding dress off her. How could she be wearing it now? Then it dawned on her that she was in a dream. She gasped as words formed a sentence across the surface of the mirror like smears of dripping blood.
The Last Dare is Lifted, it read.
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Dark Love 28
When the door swung open, she saw that he had changed into dark grey pajamas but without the top on. Seeing him all bare chested again made her catch her breath and he walked straight towards her and enveloped her in his arms. Feeling soothed and seeing his earlier anger gone, she responded, circling her arms around him.“I really want a bath sir.”“You’ll have one now Nara, come with me.”
Dark Love 29
All Inara could think about was what was about to happen. He wrapped his hand around her waist and broke the kiss to brush her hair gently away from her face, his hazel eyes taking in her green ones.Damn, he really loved those eyes with the long lashes. They always, always did him in and he really liked it. He started to kiss her again. Her lips were so soft and felt so good pressing against his.Her hands came up instinctively, circling around his neck and he could feel her fingernails tentatively playing along the back of his scalp as the kiss continued slowly and he could almost feel her heart beating against his chest.He slowly slid his hands up and down over her back, her body pressing up against his. Then he broke the kiss and slowly worked his lips along her jaw and back towards her ear, gently nibbling on it and planting soft k
Dark Love 30
Inara lay beside him in the aftermath of their lovemaking, her mind entirely befuddled about how shamelessly she had cried out in the throes of her pleasure beneath him.His voice whispering sweet words in her ears, coaxing her on was also something she had greatly enjoyed. It made her body want more which brought another source of shame to her. She also felt some ache between her legs and groaned.“Time to ease your sore sweetheart.” he said and carried her off the bed, taking her back to the bathroom where she welcomed a warm bath, allowing the water to soothe her. Then he left to change the sheets and she heard him using the washing machine.When he returned, he joined her in the tub and began washing her again gently, until she felt all the shyness leaving her body. When he grabbed her hand, bringing it to massage his hardening shaft, her eyes widened as she felt it swelling in her hand but he just chuckled in amusement.“Better stop
Dark Love 31
Inara was happy to meet the Cook, a funny pot-bellied man who emerged from the kitchen, which was a door away from the dinning. He dished the food himself from the bowls into two separate plates for both her and Lemuel.“You are both going to be dreaming of this delicacy for days to come. I took my time and ensured all my culinary skills were poured into this, seeing as it’s also a welcome meal for your lovely new bride.”“Thank you.” Inara said, smiling. He looked and sounded funny, reminding her ofSuper Mario. She liked him already.
Dark Love 32
Inara’s mind was away from the punishment. She believed she could stand the one she had chosen and relaxed as he drove toCornerstone,a hotel she had once been to with Zee to swim. She liked it because it was not crowded. When they got there, Lemuel purchased swimming trunks and while he wore shorts and remained bare chested, she chose one that looked like a dress, covering her mid-thigh and wrapping snugly around her body. He appreciated her modesty.At the pool, there were other people swimming inside but he had his eyes on her. A playlist of upbeat instrum
Dark Love 33
Inara was excited when she saw that Lemuel was driving them towardsOxbow,the restaurant where he had engaged her. His mood so far had been nice so she was hoping that this time at the Oxbow, she would get to eat what she wanted. As though reading her mind when they sat down, he asked what she had wanted the first time he had brought her there.“Barbecued Lamb.” she answered.“You do like good food.” he commented, making
Dark Love 34
Inara had an adequate sleep. It was the kind where you did not find yourself in any dream but remained nonexistent until you finally woke up, realizing that you’re a human being that actually exists. It was satisfying.She sat up on the bed and stretched her body, noticing that Lemuel was up already. She had come to know that he was an early riser. She herself had never been one. She was quite lazy and that with no apologies.A gnawing thought began to trouble her mind as she remembered her concealed meal from last night. It occurred to her that she could not quite recollect where she had thrashed her snack wrappings.She had been so tense with the fear of being caught, which had set her in so much of a hurry that she probably must have left evidence. Inara fervently hoped that was not the case.In a fresh wave of anxiety, she got off the bed, noticing from a glance at the wall clock that it was a few minutes to 7:00 am. Lemuel entered the room then
Dark Love 35
After Lemuel left, Inara continued to lie there, hurt and exhausted. The little solace he had given her had helped calm her down but her bum was still burning.She picked up the TV remote control from the bedside table and switched on the huge television peeking through the wall.When it came on, she switched stations to Heaven’s Vine, her father’s channel for their Church. She just wanted to see something familiar and comforting. Her father was concluding a talk on the screen.“Be strong, be courageous, never give up. When you fall, don’t stay down. Get up and rise again. The worst thing that can happen to a man is falling and refusing to get up. Until we meet again, I remain Reverend Anthony. Keep your head up.”Her father’s scene went off and was replaced with comforting scenes of nature like waterfalls and streams. It was something she liked watching but it was doing nothing for her right now. Only her father’s words Get up and rise again stuck to her mind, giving her some strength
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Dark Love Epilogue
One Year, Six Months Later The day was bright and sunny with a clear blue sky that was almost surreal. Heaven’s Vine had a full congregation witnessing the wedding ceremony between Nana and Feedwell. Reverend Anthony was officiating the ceremony at the altar where the love stricken couple stood, facing each other before him. In the congregation, Lemuel was seated beside Inara, her hand in his. He was wearing a navy colored suit while she was wearing a long peach colored dress. She looked radiant and a bit plump like a nursing mother. “I still can’t believe that I’m supporting those two.” He said, smiling. “They clearly broke the domestic rule.” Inara chuckled. “Because you love them.” She said. “They captured your heart.” “Just like you captured mine.” He said caressing her hand with a finger. She blushed. “Definitely, sir.” “Hmn. That’s true. They are very efficient and I will miss them.” “Why? They made it clear they weren’t leaving.” “I know but I’m sure it’s out of loyalty
Dark Love 79
The room was a six-by-six with soft ashen vinyl walls and low, level ceilings. A hospital bed fitted with leather restraints took up most of the floor space. High up on one wall was a solitary window. It had the translucent look of old Plexiglas and steel posts kept it barred.Detective Kyle was talking to a nurse who was already leaving them. She gave Lemuel a glance and walked away with a sullen face.The detective walked up to Lemuel.“This is Suzy’s room. She had a crazy moment an hour ago, kicking and screaming but has been stabilized. You’ll see her right about now.’’“Okay, I’m ready.”“Your conversation will be recorded and monitored by the Psychiatrist in charge of this place and other officers.”“I understand.”Shortly after, Lemuel was in a small room with the detective, a technical sergeant mounting a recording equipment and a male Psychiatrist in a white doctor’s coat who was in his sixties.Before them was a transparent glass that clearly showed a blank room fitted in the
Dark Love 78
“I should be aware of something like this.” Lemuel said furiously through gritted teeth. He didn’t want Inara knowing that something like that was going on. She hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma and the last thing he wanted was for her to know about what Milo had just told him.“The police detective thought it better not to tell you so that you can concentrate on taking care of your wife.”“That is not their call to make.”
Dark Love 77
The hospital sat on a headland overlooking the lake, enveloped in acres of emerald green trefoil that rolled and toppled into the city mist. It was a paragon of modest architecture, auburn-colored bungalows thrown unevenly around a two-story administration building, the compound veined with pebble pathways and flower beds, partly shaded by the spreading branches of shore live oak.Blade points of grey tile roof intruded upon a cerulean sky so untainted it bordered on the imaginary. At the intersection of land and sky, a single twisted city pine clawed at the sky. Beneath its swaying trunk, patches of yellow and blue lupine flowed like paint drips down a slanting green canvas.
Dark Love 76
Milo moved the seat-belt around Vann and belted her in. She was starting to panic, her eyes rounding with fright.“Hang on.” he said as he belted himself in.“Is the Officer following us a bad man?” Vann asked nervously.“Relax.” Lemuel said, “Even If he probably is, I’m sure he has orders from your beloved daughter not to harm a hair on your precious head.”
Dark Love 75
“What’s your name?” Lemuel asked the woman as he rose to his feet.“Vann.”“Get up. You’re coming with us.” he told her and the agent pulled her up to her feet quite roughly.“I’ll come willingly.” Vann stated. “There’s no need to be heavy handed with me.”“Desperate times.” Lemuel said and led the way t
Dark Love 74
“Is there somewhere you think she might be?” Lemuel pressed. “I really need to see her.”The woman shook her head and remained silent.“I’ve been trying her phone number but it isn’t connecting. Has she changed it like, does she have another one?”Lemuel pressed again.The woman hesitated and he suspected that she was not willing to divulge information about that. It w
Dark Love 73
The City’s bustling landscape receded as Lemuel rolled off one of the main express roads that gave way to a single lane road on which he drove for a few minutes until an arrow with a sign that said pal estate directed him northward.The estate was low cost and situated on a property line marked by a large flowering tree that shadowed low wooden gates. The gates were open, meant for décor rather than security.Lemuel parked across from the third apartment, which he knew, was Suzy’s and the agent parked behind him. Alighting from their vehicles, they both squinted at the harshness of the sun’s glare.Lemuel wondered where Inara was. Was she in a shelter or burning in the heat of the sun? Was she alive or dead? God forbid! He thought. She must be
Dark Love 72
The sun was out in its full glory, casting its shimmering rays across the horizon, scorching the earth and raising temperatures all around.In the woods, it was worse because there was no shelter but most of the wildlife didn’t mind and still carried themselves about. Birds flew, called and sang, perching atop branches of trees and surrounding hills while crickets chirped amidst varying sounds from different unseen creatures that filled the air as they wandered and basked at home in their habitat.Inara was not faring well. The forest wasn’t her element and under the heat of the sun, she was strapped to a dying tree with scan
