Chapter 181

The room was large and bright, with a canopy bed and a balcony overlooking the forest. A vase of fresh flowers sat on the nightstand.

“It’s beautiful,” Cherish said, looking around.

“It is,” Louis said. “And we will have a even better room in Pax Pacifica.”

“With a balcony?” Cherish asked.

“Yes,” Louis said. “With a balcony overlooking the beach and the ocean.”

Cherish sat on the bed. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“I can’t wait to build it with you,” Louis said, sitting beside her. “And with the others.”

“It will be our home,” Cherish said. “Our real home.”

“Yes,” Louis said. “Our real home.”

He took off his shirt and shoes. He lay down on the bed and patted the space next to him. She lay down beside him, her body stiff.

“You don’t have to be nervous, Cherry,” he said, putting an arm around her.

“I’m not,” she said. “I’m just thinking.”

“About what?” he asked, resting his arm around her shoulder.

“About the others,” she said, looking down. “I hope they are not angry with me. For taking you tonight.”

“They are not,” he said. “They are your family. They love you. And they understand.”

“I know,” she said. “But I still feel guilty. For being so needy.”

“You’re not needy, Cherry. It’s me who needs to be with you tonight.” He kissed her cheek. “I want you to feel safe and loved.”

“I do,” she said. “When I’m with you, I do.”

“Good,” he said. “That’s all I want.”

Cherish relaxed against him. He held her for a long time, listening to her breathing.

“Louis?” she whispered.

“Yes, Cherry.”

“Can you hold me tighter?”

Louis tightened his arm. Cherish snuggled closer, her head resting on his shoulder.

“Like this?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Just like this.”

Louis stroked her hair, feeling its softness between his fingers.

“Did the others take photos of you? When you were on the staircase?” he asked.

“Yes,” Cherish said. She took out her phone and opened the gallery. She showed him a photo of herself standing on the grand staircase, her hands on the ornate railing. She was smiling, her face bright.

“You look like a princess,” he said.

“I feel like one too,” she scrolled through the photos. “Here. When I was riding the horse. Donya took this one.”

“Good picture,” he said.

“Here’s one of you and Angelique when your horses were close,” she said, showing him another photo. “I took it. You look so happy.”

“I was,” he said. “I am.”

“I’m glad,” she said, putting the phone away. “I’m still learning how to use it. All the things it can do. It’s like magic.”

“It’s technology,” he said. “And you’ll learn fast. You’re smart.”

“You think so?” she asked, turning her head.

“I know so,” he said. “You are a quick learner. In many things.”

Cherish blushed. “Not in everything.”

Louis chuckled. “That’s okay. We have all the time in the world. We can learn a lot of things together.”

“Like what?” she asked. Her voice was soft.

“Like snorkeling. And surfing. And skiing. And a lot of other fun things,” he said. “We can travel the world. See everything. Together.”

“I would like that,” she said. “I would like that very much.”

“We will,” he said. “I promise.”

Louis kissed her. Her lips were soft and sweet. He deepened the kiss, tasting her. Her body was warm against his. His cock began to swell.

“Cherry,” he whispered against her lips. “Can I take your clothes off?”

“Yes,” she whispered back.

Louis unbuttoned her dress and slid it off her shoulders. She was wearing a white silk bra and matching panties. He took off his shirts and trousers quickly.

“Let’s get into bed,” he said, pulling down his boxers. His hard cock pointed at her.

Cherish stared at his cock. “You are so hard.”

“I am.” He got into bed and pulled her on top of him. “And I want to be inside you.”

“Louis,” she whispered. “I want you too. Can you hold me again?”

Louis held her tightly, pressing her close. He felt the silk of her panties against his cock. Her bra pushed against his chest. He slowly moved against her, feeling the friction. He kissed her again, his tongue exploring her mouth. She responded, her tongue shyly meeting his. She tasted like sparkling wine. His hands moved down her back to her ass and squeezed. She was soft and round.

“Cherry,” he said. “I love you. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Louis,” she said, her voice trembling. “I love you too.”

Louis held her tighter and whispered into her ear, “I want you to be wet for me.” He kissed her neck and her earlobe.

She trembled against him and breathed, “I think I am.”

“I know you are,” he said, keeping rubbing her panties. “I can feel your warmth.”

“Louis,” she gasped. “It’s so embarrassing.” She buried her face in his neck.

Louis felt his cock throb against her. “You are so cute, Cherry. It turns me on so much.”

Cherish looked up at him, her cheeks flushed. “It does?”

“Of course it does,” he said. “You are so beautiful. And so sexy.” He reached around and unhooked her bra. Her breasts were round and perfect, with pale pink nipples pointing upward. He cupped them in his hands. “You have perfect breasts, Cherry.”

Cherish blushed and looked away. “Thank you.”

Louis rolled her nipples between his fingers. They hardened under his touch. She let out a soft moan.

“I love it when you make those sounds,” he said. “It makes me so hard.”

“I can’t help it,” she said.

“I don’t want you to,” he said. “I want you to be loud. Let me hear how much you want me.”

“I do,” she whispered. “I want you so much.”

“Good,” he said. “Then take off your panties for me. Slowly.”

Cherish sat up and slid her panties down her legs. A string of her slickness clung to the fabric before it broke. Her pussy was wet and pink. Her clit was swollen. She lay back down, her legs slightly apart.

“I want you now, Louis,” she said, her voice trembling. “Please.”

“Of course,” he said, moving on top of her. He spread her legs with his knees and positioned himself at her entrance. He looked into her eyes.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, nodding.

Louis pushed into her slowly, savoring the feeling of her tightness. She was so wet. She moaned as he slid deeper, her hips rising to meet him. He buried himself to the hilt, his balls resting against her ass.

“You feel so good, Cherry,” he said, kissing her.

“You too,” she said, her arms wrapping around his neck.

Louis began to move slowly, pulling out and pushing back in. “Does it hurt?”

“A little,” she said. “But I like it.”

“I want you to like it,” he said. He reached down and began to rub her clit with his thumb. “Tell me what you feel.”

“I feel full,” she said. “And warm. And excited. Very excited.”

“I’m excited too,” he said. “You make me so hard.”

He increased the pace, thrusting faster and deeper. She moaned louder, her body moving with his. Her breasts bounced with each thrust.

“Oh, God,” she gasped. “Oh, God, Louis.”

He massaged her breasts as he thrusts. He felt her tighten around him. He could feel the pressure building in his balls.

“Come for me, Cherry,” he said.

“Ahhh… Louis!” she cried out, her body shaking. Her pussy spasmed around his cock. He thrust one last time, burying himself deep inside her, and came. His thick cum filled her. He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard. She held him, her body still trembling.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered after a moment. “I was so loud.”

“I loved it,” he said, kissing her cheek. “It was beautiful.” He looked down at their bodies. “I’m going to stay inside you for a while.”

“Okay,” she said. “It feels nice.”

Louis stayed in her, feeling her warmth around his softening cock. He looked at her. Her hair was spread on the pillow. Her face was flushed.

“You are so beautiful, Cherry,” he said.

“Thank you,” she said. “You are handsome.”

He chuckled. “I’m glad you think so.”

“You are,” she said. “And you are kind. And strong. And brave. And I love you.”

“I love you too, Cherry,” he said. He kissed her again.

He pulled out and lay beside her. A trail of cum followed, glistening on her thigh. He took some tissue from the nightstand and gently wiped her clean.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” he said.

Cherish snuggled against him. “Can we do it again sometime?”

“Yes,” he said. “As often as you want.”

“I want to try different things,” she said. “Like the others do.”

“We will,” he said. “I will teach you. Or Gladie will. She knows a lot of tricks.”

Cherish giggled. “She does. She talks about it a lot.”

“It’s her favorite subject,” Louis said. “After cars and shooting people.”

Cherish giggled again. “She’s funny and scary sometimes. But I like her.”

“I like her too,” Louis said. “She’s a good friend and a good lover.”

“You have many good lovers,” Cherish said. “I’m lucky to be one of them.”

“I’m lucky to have you,” Louis said.

She kissed him on the cheek. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” he said.

“Do you miss her? Jennifer?”

His smile faded. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to ask.”

“It’s not your fault,” he said, looking away.

“I know,” she said. “But I didn’t mean to remind you of her. It’s just Gladice told me I looked like her. And I was worried that you were thinking of her when you were with me.”

Louis felt a knot in his stomach. He hadn’t expected this from her. He should have.

“Sometimes I do think of her,” he said. “But not tonight. Tonight, I was thinking of you. Only you.”

“Really?” she asked, her voice small.

“Yes,” he said. “All I thought was how beautiful you are. And how lucky I am to be with you.”

Cherish snuggled closer. “I’m glad.”

“You should be,” he said. “Because you are my Cherry.”

Cherish kissed him again. “Can we sleep like this? With you holding me?”

“Yes,” he said. “I would like that.”

Louis wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes.

“Do you want to talk about her?” he asked, after a while. “Jennifer.”

“Yes,” she said. “If it’s not too hard for you.”

“It’s not,” he said. “I miss her. But she’s different. We were not lovers. Not in the way I am with you. We were friends. Allies. We helped each other. And she died for me. I will never forget that.”

“She was very brave,” Cherish said.

“She was,” Louis said. “She was also kind. I wish you could have met her. You would have liked her.”

“I think so too,” she said. “She sounds like a good person.”

“She was,” he said.

“She’s in heaven now,” Cherish said. “With God. Mama told me that good people go to heaven when they die.”

“I hope so,” Louis said. He didn’t believe in heaven. But he believed in Jennifer. And he believed that she was somewhere. Maybe not in heaven. But somewhere better than this world.

“Do you believe in heaven, Louis?” she asked.

He hesitated. “No.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Because I’ve never seen any proof of it,” he said. “I was raised to believe in facts. In science. In logic. Not in faith.”

“I believe in it,” she said. “It gives me comfort and hope.”

“I’m glad it does,” he said. “But I don’t need it. I have you. And the others. That’s my heaven.”

Cherish squeezed his hand. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“I mean it,” he said. “You are my heaven, Cherry. And I will protect it. No matter what.”

“I know you will,” she said. “I’m not afraid when I’m with you.”

“You should never be afraid again,” he said. “Not when I’m here.”

Louis felt her breathing become slower, deeper. He listened to the soft sounds of the night outside. The wind rustling the leaves. An owl hooting in the distance.

“Goodnight, Cherry,” he whispered.

“Goodnight, Louis,” she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.

Louis stayed awake for a long time, holding her. He thought about Jennifer, about her sacrifice. He thought about the people who had abducted them, who had sold their lives for profit. He thought about the Mormons, and their Prophet King. He thought about the journey ahead, the road trip, the investigation. And the danger. A familiar anger settled in his chest, despite of the warmth of Cherish in his arms. He would not rest until he found them. And he would not stop until he made them pay. He closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.