Bayou Baby (10 page)

Rowans fingers were blistered and raw, her nails chipped, when the lock finally opened. She’d barely stowed her tools back under the mattress when the door opened. The room had grown dark, not that the servant that entered would’ve noticed her anyway. He never looked at her once, and he didn’t speak. They never did. He moved about the room, lighting the lamps. His face held no expression, his mouth pressed to a thin line as he went about his chores. Rowan stared, knowing he wouldn’t look at her. He left the room soon after.

Rowan scrambled off the bed to the wardrobe and grabbed the lock. Her hands trembled as she removed it and opened the door. Just looking at what the wardrobe contained made her stomach churn.

She sifted through its contents, leather costumes, whips, chains and strange balls that thankfully she had no idea how to use, but nothing to kill a man. You couldn’t whip someone to death—well, she couldn’t anyway. The rest of it was useless for taking a life.

Scanning the contents, a sense of desperation making her tremble, her gaze paused on the glint of light on a length of chain. Rowan smiled. But how would she keep the other man still while strangling the first? This was getting too complicated. Too much could go wrong.

A small pain started in her temple. She took one last inventory of the wardrobe and finally spotted the handcuffs. She grabbed them and closed the wardrobe. After fumbling with the lock for a long time, Rowan was almost dizzy with relief when she heard the soft click. She jumped when a key turned in the door.

She dashed to the bed, pulled the thin sheet up to her chin, and waited. It wasn’t difficult to look afraid, Rowan was terrified. Scared it wouldn’t work, scared that it would.

Rosaline entered first with Justine trailing behind her. Dressed in a gown of crushed velvet the color of wine, Rosaline dominated the room. Rowan doubted the woman could go anywhere without catching the eye of every person she passed. She didn’t need the clothing to create the effect, although it certainly enhanced it. Justine looked at the floor, her hands fidgeting with the silk tie of her thin robe.

“Good evening, Rowan. I trust you’ve gotten some rest.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Tonight you’ll show Justine how things work here.” Rosaline’s smile was feline, and cold. “She seems to have forgotten her lessons.”

“I don’t understand.” Rowan feigned confusion, looking at Justine and frowning, then back to Rosaline.

Rosaline pulled Justine further into the room. “Oh that’s right. You’re out of the loop. Lucien and I have been discussing loose ends. It seems Justine here has escaped notice for far too long. I can’t have a girl here who doesn’t earn her keep. Cleaning and roaming the house is not productive, and it makes no revenue for me. Of course, I could be merciful, but the other girls might think I’ve taken leave of my senses. Then they’ll talk, and when girls gossip, trouble starts. I loathe trouble.”

Rowan stared at Justine, whose gaze remained on her bare feet. “I’d make a terrible tutor.”

“It’s true, you’ve failed to live up to my expectations, but I think teaching Justine might inspire you to try harder. Besides, if I let both of you continue to do nothing for this establishment, the rest will think they can do the same. Isn’t that right Justine?”

Justine said nothing.

Rosaline grabbed her hair and yanked it hard. “I asked you a question.”

“Yes ma’am,” Justine whimpered.

Rosaline tossed her away, causing the girl to stumble. “It’s Mistress, not ma’am. I’m not some doddering fool.”

“Sorry, Mistress.”

“That’s better. Now there are two gentlemen, brothers I believe, who would like to be entertained together. They have agreed to help me teach the two of you a few much-needed lessons.”

“I’m so excited,” Rowan muttered.

Rosaline walked to the wardrobe. Rowan held her breath for an instant while Rosaline took out her key, unlocked it, and then walked away. “I’m sure you are. I will be up in the morning to find out how things went. If you two have learned anything, I won’t need to punish you. If you haven’t, I’m afraid I won’t be keeping both of you. We’ll discuss which one will have to go when Lucien returns.”

“Where is he?” Rowan bit her lip as soon as she asked the question.

Rosaline raised a thin brow and smiled. “Do you miss him? He’ll be touched to know that. I’m sure he’ll make up for his absence, but it’s none of your concern where he has gone.”

A knock at the door brought all eyes to the two men entering the room. They were older than Lucien, possibly old enough to be his father. The taller one grinned when he eyed Justine before turning his gaze to Rowan.

“Mais oui,
she is a pretty one. You did not lie about that,” he said.

“Of course I didn’t.” Rosaline said. “I never lie. She is rare, this one.” They stared at Rowan a moment and she slunk further under the sheet. The cold steel of the chain brushed her leg.

He smiled, exposing a mouth full of rotted teeth. The brownish green mess made Rowan’s stomach lurch. “Do not be afraid,
cherie
. Your eyes remind me of violets in the springtime and your hair is like flaming silk… I could only cherish such a beautiful creature.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or vomit at his ridiculous words. Didn’t he know she was a whore? You don’t have to woo a whore; the money pretty much seals the deal.

The second man, shorter and stout, walked past Rosaline and reached out to touch Justine’s cheek. The girl flinched. Rosaline slapped her face.

He stepped forward.
“Non, Mademoiselle.
Do not punish her for being frightened. She is so delicate; I fear you may mar her beautiful skin.”

“She is performing, Peter, nothing more. This one is no innocent, though she has learned nothing. I worry that you won’t be pleased with her. Allow me to bring another girl for you.”

No!
Rowan panicked.

“Mais non,
I like her as she is. I don’t mind inexperience at all. It is refreshing.” Peter lifted Justine from the floor and raised her hand to his mouth.

Rosaline rolled her eyes and sighed. “Very well then, carry on. I will see you all tomorrow. I can trust you to leave by sunrise?”

Jean smiled. “We know the rules. Now, let us get acquainted with our young ladies.”

Rosaline shot Rowan a glare. It told her what would happen should she fail to please these old fools. Rowan turned away. She wanted to grin, to show she wasn’t afraid of the woman in the least. That would ruin everything, though, and she wasn’t about to mess things up when she was so close to freedom.

Rosaline left, closing the door but not turning the lock. Once they finished with these two, she wouldn’t have to figure out how to get out of a locked room, which was a relief. Her fingers still stung from the wardrobe.

Jean turned to Rowan, “I know they’ve had trouble with you. We shall get along, yes? You won’t resist me, you hear?” His voice wasn’t pleasant anymore; it had a hard edge that matched the light in his dark eyes.

She looked down at the floor. “Of course not,
Monsieur.
I have learned from my mistakes. I will do as you wish me to.”

“Tres bien.”

Peter pulled Justine against him. She tried to cover her face but he pinned her arms to her sides. “And this one, we have been given a great responsibility with you,
cherie
. There will be no more tears unless we wish to see them.”

Rowan waited. Her muscles tensed so that they ached, as Peter ripped the robe from Justine. The girl was skin and bones and she shivered under their gaze. She had to distract them, before Justine ruined everything.

Rowan rose from the bed and they turned. “Do I just sit and watch while you play or am I allowed to participate?”

It took great effort to sound eager; she wanted only to be rid of them. Justine looked confused, frowning at Rowan with wide fearful eyes. She wouldn’t be of much help when the time came to turn on them.

“Mais oui,
Mademoiselle,”
Jean grinned as he devoured the sight of her naked body. Covered as it was in bruises and scars, it still turned him on. Rowan knew it in the way he licked his lips and the sudden deepening of his voice.

“Of course you will join us. Perhaps you can help get your friend in the right mood.” He waved a hand at Justine.

Rowan walked over to Justine, who cowered even from her. She leaned close to the girl’s ear, as though kissing her, and whispered. “Just follow me. It will be over soon. I promise.”

Justine pulled away, her eyes searching Rowan’s. She gave a slight nod, moving her gaze to the floor once more.

Rowan looked to Jean, who leaned on the bedpost, his arms crossed. “What would you like me to do, Monsieur?”

“Kiss her,” Jean licked his lips and Rowan stifled the urge to groan. Men were so basic.

“Like this?” Rowan tilted Justine’s face up and gave her a wink. The girl shook more than a leaf in a thunderstorm as Rowan lowered her lips and brushed them against hers. They were soft and moist, much nicer than the rough kisses she received from the men.

“Non,
that is not right. Like you would kiss a man. Deep. Use your tongue.”

Justine gasped, shaking her head.

Poor child.
Rowan knew this was beyond her abilities but she had to get her to move closer to the bed, closer to the weapons. “Maybe you could refresh my memory,
Monsieur.”

Jean grinned and pushed away from the post. Rowan circled, backing away until she felt the bed against her legs. He reached out, taking her arm and pulled her against him, his breath smelled as rotten as his teeth looked and she stifled the urge to gag.

He traced a finger over her jaw. “So you want to get right to the point? I am happy to oblige. Such plump, soft lips are meant to be kissed properly,
non?”

He lowered his face and Rowan squeezed her eyes shut. His mouth was rough and his mustache scratched her lips. He forced her mouth open and shoved his tongue inside. She tasted sausage and wine, a combination she would never taste again if she could help it. Rowan gagged but he took no notice.

Justine sobbed. Jean pressed Rowan down on the bed. The chain dug into her back, reminding her of the urgency of the situation. Rowan searched around the sheet until she felt the cuffs beneath. Slipping her hand under, gripping the cool steel, she opened her eyes.

“Perhaps I could show you some things I’ve learned. You can help me to get better at them.”

He pulled his head back and stared down at her. “What do you suggest?”

“You need to undress and turn around.” He looked doubtful; he should be suspicious, but Rowan smiled shyly. “I cannot show you what Lucien likes me to do if you have clothes on. You aren’t afraid of a girl are you?”

Peter snickered from across the room and Jean’s face reddened. “Of course not, I could crush you without a thought.”

He stood and removed his clothing. Rowan sat up on the bed, dragging the cuffs to the end with the sheets and the chain.

“Lucien promised we would see what talent you had,
cherie
.”

“Yes, he is a good teacher.”

“I am to turn around?”

“If you would. Also you,
Monsieur,”
Rowan pointed to Peter. “I need both of you for this. If you would come here then I can put you where I need you.”

Justine’s eyes widened. She watched as both men knelt at the end of the bed in front of Rowan.

“This seems silly. Now you are going to have your way and kill us aren’t you?” Peter grumbled.

Justine choked, Peter chuckled, and Rowan sighed.
“Non, Monsieur,
I won’t harm you. I know I’m no match for two strong men like yourselves. Oh shoot, I don’t think I have a blindfold. Lucien took everything from me when he left.”

Peter reached into his pants pocket, pulled out a white handkerchief, and then passed it to her. “Here, use this. I would prefer to see what is happening, though. Perhaps you could blindfold Jean.”

Rowan shook her head. “This is about sound and touch. You must listen and feel what is happening. It is more intense when you cannot see what I’m doing. Lucien is very fond of this game, and says it allows him to focus on the sensation of my mouth. It’s all right if it makes you uncomfortable. We don’t have to do it.”

The men glanced at each other and Peter shrugged. In her opinion, he was by far the dumber of the two. He allowed Rowan to tie the kerchief over his eyes. Jean was hesitant, but when Rowan rubbed her naked body against his back while leaning over him to take his kerchief from his pants that lay in a heap on the floor, he appeared to lose any thoughts he may have had of resisting.

Rowan looked up at Justine and waved her over. The girl shook her head, backing away.

“Justine, please join us.”

“I’m okay.”

“Get the hell over here,” Peter snapped, turning his face in her direction. “Don’t make me drag you down here with me.”

“I’m sorry.” She murmured and moved cautiously around the men to stand at Rowan’s side. Rowan pulled the sheet back to expose the end of the chain and the cuffs. Justine looked ready to faint. Her pupils dilated and she swayed on her feet, grabbing the post for support.