Chapter 14
XX
Robert Elwin slid into his new favorite seat, right beside Seth Wells, and finally said what he needed to.
"You were right, man."
Seth smiled. "It's all gonna get better now."
"It already has."
At first, Seth's advice had seemed insane. Being turned into property- and embracing that? Accepting himself as an inferior person who was meant to be a slave to someone stronger? It went against everything he'd been taught, everything about how the civilized world was supposed to work.
But ever since he'd given in and decided he liked being a slave, Elwin had never felt better. Terror turned to admiration and hate to adoring awe. Misery and anguish over what had been done to him became pride at being the personal property of the muscular, ebony-skinned Adonis.
"So how do you feel now?" Seth asked. He lowered his voice. "My master was kinder to me once he knew he'd broken me. Yours will be, too."
"I understand why he did what he did to me. I don't know if he'll keep doing some of it, but he hasn't raped me again."
"My master is my brother, so he never raped me, but he beat me and made me hold it until I pissed myself. He punished me a lot until I learned."
"My master has the biggest dick I ever saw," Elwin said. "When he makes me go strip in the showers, he grabs me-" Elwin pointed down- "and he says he could crush what I have. With one hand. I'm so inferior to him. Next to him, I'm nothing."
"Seeing my master fuck his girl in front of me changed my life," Seth said. "Seeing him naked like that- it's insane how much muscle he really has. Allison was just- she couldn't get enough. I could never have offered her that. She's happy with him and she deserves that."
"Maybe I'll ask my master if I can watch him mate one day," Elwin suggested.
"It was accidental that I got to see it," Seth reminded him. "And before that I got to watch him work out. His muscles are fucking huge."
"My master is decked out from head to his fucking toes in the biggest muscle you ever saw," Elwin boasted. "He could bench-press four times what I weigh."
"Yeah? Well, my master can do more than that. Six hundred pounds? Andy can do even more."
"That's just until my master tops him."
"The only guy stronger than my master is Jack," Seth said.
"Have you seen my master work out? He's unstoppable."
"Mine broke me quicker than yours did."
"Mine is more brutal," Elwin bragged. "He can do anything he wants to me. He can make me do anything. I'm nothing. He's everything."
"You haven't stood in one spot for an hour until you finally pissed yourself. My master owns everything in my life. He's so dominant he took my girlfriend just because he knew he was a man and I wasn't."
"That was nothing next to what my master did to some college guys and their girlfriends over the summer."
"Rapper just isn't built like Andy is."
"Have you seen his shoulders? Andy's all chest and abs."
"And arms. They're fucking huge."
"My master is bigger than yours where it really counts," Elwin replied smugly.
"Don't tell my master that," Seth said. "He won't like hearing a slave lying to him."
XX
Life at a military boarding school was always tough, and free time was scarce. Patterson figured he wasn't making it any easier, and neither was the school. Between class time, swim meets and practice, his assigned punishment tours and homework, he had precious little time left for his latest project.
Sitting in class at one point during the day, Patterson's thoughts wandered toward the project.
Man, that is taking so much time. It's a lot of work. After I add that into the day I barely have time just to work out, eat and sleep.
Well, it's probably just a waste of time anyway.
I never said it was a waste of time.
You think so. Come on. Admit it.
Well…
Admit it.
No. No, I really don't think so.
What good is bothering with that gonna do?
Something. We'll see.
You have no way of knowing all that time is gonna be worth anything.
I said we'll see.
XX
Jack was the best and strongest player on the varsity football team, and everybody knew it. He was brutal and he was damn good. Outmaneuvering and defeating his opponents was nothing after the killing he'd done on the island, hunting boar and cowardly traitors through the jungle. Jack couldn't kill his opponents here, couldn't paint the grass red with their blood, but he could dream. And he could hit them so hard they might wish he'd just killed them.
Walters was still being a fucking prick, and so were his buddies Borneman and DeMille. A lot of the guys liked Jack better, especially on the JV team, where ninety percent of the players were in The Wave. But today Walters went further than ever before. He actually maneuvered around Jack for a touchdown, running all the way to the goal posts, even. Jack was furious; he got within a few feet of the idiot before DeMille and Borneman, then two other non-Wave members, grabbed him.
"Lemme go!" Jack shouted, flexing his powerful arm and shoulder muscles. He threw them off, two at a time. "Get the fuck offa me!"
"Jeez, Merridew, take it easy!" Walters exclaimed. "It's a fucking game, man!"
"You're trying to make me look stupid!" Jack yelled.
"Oh, you don't need any help from me, babe."
Jack saw the world flash red, and he had a fist ready to punch that face in, just knock a bunch of teeth out. He shoved past the guys who tried to stop him again, got closer and closer-
"MERRIDEW! Get your ass over here right now!"
Jack was inches from Walters, but Coach's voice stopped him. He turned. "What?"
"Don't gimme that attitude of yours," the burly man shouted. "Get the hell over here, all of you!"
Shaking with rage, Jack stalked over to one of the only people in the world who still had the power to tell him what to do. He expected a chewing out, maybe one for the whole team. He didn't expect Coach to yell at him exclusively for the remainder of practice. The man asked Jack "Who do you think you are?" several times, but never paused for an answer, of course. The dressing down was sharp and to the point, and it made clear that Coach thought Jack was wrong, wrong, wrong. Wrong to try beating up Walters, wrong to act like he was essentially in charge of the team, wrong to have the arrogance of a king around him at all times.
Jack managed to avoid losing his temper and killing Coach then and there, but how he managed it he had no idea. He was so mad by the end that he could barely think. As they headed to the locker room, Jack stormed past everyone else, letting a couple boys loyal to him hold open the locker room door and start a shower for him.
Rage coursed through Jack, and the look on his face as he stripped and showered was murderous. Walters and his cronies wisely kept their distance, but that didn't matter. Jack was fuming and hellbent on getting the respect he deserved on this team and at this school no matter what it took. He had never been able to tolerate criticism and after wielding godlike power on the island, any slight was utterly intolerable.
There was something else. Jack knew as he left the locker room that he couldn't possibly wait until Friday. Since Arianna wasn't willing to just relax and let the two of them achieve their destiny and fuck, the whorehouse would have to do. The women there were stunning. Jack got hard just thinking of last time, of the look of his favorite girl, Mallory, undressing and pulling his pants down…
No. I can't wait. No fucking way. I need to get laid now, tonight! I got all this plus a fucking punishment tour- I'm not waiting!
XX
Andy was busy working on his notebook, updating his file on some of the members and non-members he'd heard from or about lately, when Jack Merridew threw open the door to his room. Seth, who had been carefully polishing Andy's shoes, yelped and quickly bowed his head until his forehead touched the floor.
Jack kicked him aside. "Get outta my way, slave!"
"Yes, sir," Seth agreed, picking himself and the shoes up and scrambling away.
"Do you want me to beat him?" Andy asked. "My slave's been behaving but you can fuck him up if he needs it."
"I don't care about that dumb slave," Jack said. His eyes were wild, and Andy could tell the leader of The Wave wasn't in a good mood at all. So he merely waited, confident that the Chief would tell him what was what. Jack took in a breath, let it out. "I'm not waiting until Friday," he decided. "I need to get laid tonight. I gotta go march another fucking tour but we're going tonight. Make sure all the guys know. Get the money together."
"Do I tell Luke and John they can go with us?"
"Yes," Jack said. He even smiled. "What the hell, man. Let's get 'em laid."
"Okay, Jack. How about we go after we hit the gym?"
"Fine."
XX
Danielle looked at the door as the bell rang, signaling a new arrival, and she and several of the other girls let out a gasp of excitement as she saw "The Boys," as they had nicknamed their new favorite clients, walk into the parlor. From the collection of sofas across the room, they eyed the boys hungrily. Tonight had just gotten a whole lot better.
Mallory had said "I should be the one paying him after that!" following Jack's visit to their room, and that had been the unanimous sentiment among the rest of the sex workers. Jack, Larry, Robert, Andy, and "Rapper" were known as "the Big Five" for a couple of very good reasons, and the two girls who had missed out, Alicia and Heather, were hoping to snag one of them tonight.
After stopping by the front desk, The Boys headed over to where the seven girls were waiting.
"Mallory, babe," Jack said in that deep voice of his, his smooth, pale, handsome face displaying one of his dazzling smiles. "Whaddya say we go upstairs and… talk?"
The brunette he had spoken to was on her feet immediately. "I'd love to," she said breathlessly.
"Hey, Mallory," Larry said, taking her other hand. "I wanna talk with you guys, too."
There were hoots and cheers from the other boys, and Jack grinned. "I talked with him, babe."
"Oh!" Emily hissed. "Damn it!"
"Sorry," Larry said, shrugging one huge shoulder. "I'll be back to see you next time."
"Hey, girls," Jack said, pausing to point at Luke and John. "These two sophomores haven't popped their cherries yet. Show 'em a good time, will you?"
All the girls wore fine silk dresses, in yellow, blue, red, white or black. Rapper sized up Danielle in her red dress, Alicia and Heather in yellow and blue, Emily in white, and Michelle in black. He took one of her hands, kissed the cream-colored skin. "Let's go upstairs."
"Sure!" Michelle said, and they went up the stairs together.
Luke sat down beside Emily. "I don't think it's really cool that Larry's just ditching you like that."
"Yeah," John said, putting an arm around Alicia. "I mean, how could anyone pass you up? What's your name?"
They four kept talking, but Danielle tuned out as Robert approached her. "Hey, handsome," she said with a smile.
"Hey," he said, smiling back at her.
"You ready?"
"I am if you are," he said with a wink.
Oh, God, am I ready for this, Danielle thought. Show me a night like you did last time and I swear I'm gonna end up paying you.
Andy had been talking with Victoria off to the side, but he returned, spoke to Heather, who was looking disappointed all by herself, and the two girls went upstairs with the broad-shouldered redhead.
"So, anything you wanted to do?" Danielle asked, keeping her voice light.
"Oh, you know," Patterson answered. "I can think of some things."
XX
Patterson didn't even mind that he'd had to pay using his own money this time. He just needed the relief. The gratification. He needed this every day, and all they could do was a few times a month. At least Jack had moved the schedule up. Patterson wasted little time once the door was closed, and he had stripped naked by the time Danielle was just beginning to toss her underwear on the floor and saunter towards him, a picture of beauty. She was amazing in bed, and he knew. Oh, he knew quite well. He'd had her before and needed to have her again.
She put her arms around his neck, brushed her chest against his. One of her naked thighs 'accidentally' bumped him between the legs, and Patterson grunted. He was rock hard there. She needed to be careful.
"Looking good, Robert," she said.
"I like what I see, too," he replied, tentatively putting a hand on her buttocks, another on her back. She squeezed his ass in response, then looked down at the gold locket around his neck.
"I like it," she said. "But maybe you best… take it off? You know. In case things get… interesting."
Patterson's right hand immediately went to the locket, closed around it in a fist.
Wherever he goes, she'll always be with him, she had said.
The knight and the princess. The locket. It's a token of her favor. The princess, my princess. As long as I have that she'll always be with me.
Patterson suddenly realized what he was doing. He was about to sleep with another woman while dating Arianna! He was about to fuck a whore for his own pleasure while the most beautiful, the most wonderful girl in the world trusted him with her locket, her gift to her knight!
I'm about to cheat on her. I'm about to violate her trust, turn my back on her love.
Man, I need this. I'm so fucking ready. I need it BAD. Come on let's just fuck her a couple times and relieve some stress!
No!
I'm ready! I need this now! Look at that body of hers!
NO!
Before Patterson knew it, he was pulling his clothes back on. Underwear, jeans, t-shirt, socks, shoes, everything.
"What? What are you doing?" Danielle asked, almost crying out with shock and disappointment.
I was getting ready to FUCK her, man!
You can still do it! You KNOW you NEED this!
I'm not cheating on the princess!
You NEED it!
I don't care!
Oh, for God's sake, just give in!
I said-
She needs it too, man! She wants this!
But-
Seriously? Just do it and enjoy! It's not that hard!
It's extremely hard, actually.
Which says you want this.
Patterson knew he had to get out of here now, while his willpower could still hold. If he stayed, the clothes would be coming off, and he'd cheat on Arianna. That was happening. Stay, and the locket came off. And if he did that, things would never be the same. He had to leave now if he was going to be what Arianna believed him to be.
You might have to wait forever before SHE puts out!
I'll wait as long as she wants me to, Patterson decided. "I'm sorry," he said distractedly, looking between Danielle and the door. "I gotta- I gotta go."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Please, keep the money," Patterson pleaded with her. "All of it. It's- it's yours. I gotta go!"
And with that, he bolted out the door, closing it behind him.
XX
Mallory had been delighted to see her best customer- and the hottest guy she'd ever had sex with, period- show up tonight, leading his group. He was stunning, muscular, a natural leader, and his appetite was unbelievable. He had blown Mallory away. It was like he hadn't gotten any in years. Every time he and his boys returned, Jack picked Mallory, and they went upstairs and just fucked like a couple of animals. It was heaven.
And none of that- none of it- had been anything like tonight.
Jack had not even waited. The second his buddy Larry closed the bedroom door, Jack had yanked his pants down, literally ordered Mallory to undress, and the second she was naked, he almost threw her on the bed and had her. Once he was done, Jack barely rested a minute, then went again, again, again. Mallory hugged his back, his ass, and just tried to hang on. Jack brought her a kind of ecstasy that made the other visits seem boring by comparison.
Then there was Larry. As Jack started making Mallory assume different positions, he gradually began making comments to Larry, pausing to show the other muscular blond different techniques. After ten sessions, Jack finally seemed to relax. He pulled out, rolled off her, and then Larry immediately took his first turn. Then his second, third, fourth… plus a couple of threesomes with him and Jack…
It was unbelievable. Getting picked by two of the Big Five, then having them both act like they hadn't gotten any in years! Mallory was blown away. This was the best sex she'd ever had in her life, and they were paying her for it! Only thing was, Mallory was glad she was on the pill. These two were huge and they were amazing, but they weren't that good at pulling out.
Only strange thing was the way Jack and Larry kept talking like a big brother and little brother. They said they weren't related, and they did have different facial features, but below the neck it was hard to tell their bulging, rippling muscles apart. They even looked and felt around the same size. Larry clearly worshiped Jack; every time he finished, he'd glance at Jack and ask how he did. Jack would respond with suggestions or joking criticism, and whenever he demonstrated something, Larry would sit nearby on the bed, watching closely. Jack liked to slap Mallory's ass when using the "doggy style" position, and Larry immediately noticed that and started imitating the gesture himself.
The two guys clearly had a close, strong bond. They laughed in those deep, masculine voices, commented on each other's bodies and genitalia, critiqued each other's sexual performances, and talked about anything they wanted to. At times, when one of them was resting on the bed and the other was lying in the armchair, they would almost ignore Mallory. She didn't mind. Her job was to make sure they had a good time, and besides, they'd brought her to orgasm so many times she was getting pretty wiped out by the end.
Larry took one more turn, using the male-dominant "missionary position" that Jack liked so much. After Larry wiped off the mess he'd left on the brunette's belly, Jack lay down on her and started. He grabbed her chest, squeezing it greedily, then startled Mallory by yanking her head back, pulling her hair.
"Ow!"
"Shh," Jack said, thrusting faster. "You're my whore, babe." He pulled her hair again, twisted her head so she was looking at Larry, who was sitting naked in the armchair. He grinned and waggled his penis at her. "Tell Larry how it feels right now."
"Ah- it feels- it feels good! I love it!"
"What?"
"I said I love it!"
"Fuck her brains out, Jack," Larry said.
"I'm gonna," Jack answered, grunting as he picked up speed even more. "Christ, I bet this slut's had a hundred guys in her."
"She's still a 10," Larry commented.
"Jeez, Larry," Jack breathed. "Tell me something I dunno. She fuckin' feels like a 10." He grabbed Mallory's chest again. "Mallory, babe, tell me you're a whore."
"I'm a whore, Jack!"
"You like fucking PMI guys?"
"I love it!"
Jack humped away vigorously for a total of twelve minutes, then grunted and collapsed. His bulky, extremely muscular frame weighed Mallory down, pinned her to the bed, and the heat radiating out from his barrel-like chest made her sweat even harder.
"How you feel now, Jack?" Mallory gasped.
"Better," Jack breathed. "What's it to you?"
"You looked really stressed when you came in," Mallory said. She paused for more air. "Your shoulders were really tight."
"Feel 'em now."
Before Mallory could, Larry was there, carefully kneading and pressing the other blond titan's massive shoulders. After a few moments, he said, "There's no tension, Jack. Just a shitload of muscle."
"You know it," Jack said. He pulled out and rolled off her, flopping down on his back beside her on the bed. "Mallory, you're the best. You're a champ, babe."
"I was gonna tell you that," Mallory said, and they laughed together.
XX
When the boys reunited in the parlor on the first floor, Luke and John were smiling ear to ear. Jack looked at them and grinned. "Have a good time?"
"Hell yes," Luke said.
"Thank you, Jack," John added.
"I'll be bringing them back a lot," Jack promised Alicia and Emily, who looked at each other and smiled.
"Yes!" Luke exclaimed.
"Sweet!" John said, and they high-fived each other.
"Oh, uh, you guys are gonna have to tell the rest of us about it," Jack told Luke and John. "Every single detail. Meeting in my room when we get back. Every detail, I mean it."
"All right, Jack."
"Sure thing, man."
"Hey, where's Patterson?" Rapper asked.
"You seen him?" Jack asked the woman at the front desk.
"He left a while ago," she answered.
Jack paused. "Guess he only needed five minutes, huh, guys?"
The other boys all cracked up laughing, enjoying their Chief's sense of humor. Jack laughed along with them, then blew a kiss to Mallory and the other girls. Mallory, looking awed, exhausted, and thrilled all at once, was getting asked question after question before Jack and the boys had even departed. None of the girls had gotten a threesome with two of the Big Five yet, and naturally, all of them wanted to know what it had been like. Jack acted like he didn't notice and just headed out. He was in a good mood again, and knowing that he was the object of conversation all over again thanks to this visit suited his ego just fine.
"That was the best hour of my life, Jack," Larry told him. "Thanks for- you know."
"You asked. It was fun."
"You fuck like a god, Jack."
"And you're learning how to fuck like one, Larry."
"Please bring us next time, Jack," Luke begged. "John and I will do anything."
"Virgins," Andy said, and the other boys laughed.
"Not anymore," Jack corrected his right-hand man. "Right, guys?"
"Yes, Jack."
"You know it, Jack."
"Don't ever forget. I did this. Jack Merridew did you a favor, guys."
"Never, Jack."
"Never."
Once they got back to the barracks, Larry took Jack aside and asked if he could stay up and talk. Jack agreed, and Larry stayed the night on the spare bed, talking graphically about how each of them had performed sexually during the visit, the techniques and positions he most enjoyed, and so on. Jack heard the younger boy out, made comments and suggestions. Larry eventually drifted off, though, letting Jack be alone with his thoughts.
Every day I'm getting more of what I always deserved, Jack thought proudly. Hundreds of guys at this school follow my orders now. Everyone wants to be like me. My kid bro is ready to do anything for me; all I have to do is give the order. He's killed for me already. Nobody knows loyalty better than him or Andy.
So far, Larry and Andy continued to meet even Jack's highest expectations. They had never failed him and never would. And the latest task, spying on Colonel Harding and on Patterson, was being carried out perfectly. In Harding's case, so far, it meant getting a feel for his routine, learning what he typically did in a day and when. A career military man, Harding was long since accustomed to living by routine. Jack knew his boys would know everything about him given enough time.
Patterson, though… that mission was disappointing. Jack was completely calm right now, totally relaxed. The time with his favorite toy, Mallory- with Larry sharing her, of course- had let out all his stress and anger. Jack could think clearly and be honest with himself, and that meant admitting that so far, the surveillance of Patterson had turned up nothing. No evidence of disloyalty, no treachery. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. Patterson had left the whorehouse early, but Jack didn't care about that.
Oh, well. If he's loyal to me, that's fine. He can swim and paint his fucking watercolors all he wants. I guess I'll have him watched a few days more. If Patterson goes on being fucking boring, I'm gonna have the spies called off. No point watching him if he's not up to something.
XX
Alex Preston had carefully cleaned his glasses before starting today's surveillance shift on Robert Patterson. He was a hard guy to miss, as tall as he was and with that much muscle. And the slim, innocuous figure of the red-haired Preston just didn't stand out like that at all. One day, Alex knew, he would be a strong, muscular young man, fearless and proud like Jack Merridew, Andy Wells, or the one and only Larry MacDonald. But for now, he had to watch, and wait.
This was a duty Alex was well-suited for. He had always been observant and thoughtful. Though his eyes were weak, his mind was strong, and behind the corrective lenses, he missed almost nothing. So far, the three primary spies trailing Patterson hadn't noticed anything interesting. Carr had watched him yesterday. Philips, who was the most fanatically-devoted of the three ever since his public beating for losing his ID card and booklet, had watched him the day before.
There was no chance of Alex slipping up or shirking his duties, even if the surveillance had turned up no evidence of wrongdoing by Patterson so far. Alex knew that his leaders in The Wave were always right, as all orders originated from the will of Jack Merridew, the legendary hero of the island in the Pacific. Alex was also aware he had a chance to impress his leaders, namely Larry, and that was an opportunity he could not miss.
With that in mind, Alex wandered into the school library a few seconds after Patterson and trailed him amongst the bookshelves. To further avoid notice, Alex slipped over to the next row and watched Patterson from there. And not a moment too soon, either, because as he settled into his spot, peering between the shelves, Alex saw Patterson taking a piece of paper out of a hefty reference book!
This looks rehearsed, Alex thought immediately. Like he's done it before.
Routine surveillance duty ended, and an intensive spying mission began as Alex watched his quarry closer than ever, his heart pounding in excitement. This was suspicious behavior. Suspicious as hell.
I should tell Larry.
Yes. Wait. No, no- I better stay. If I hang around long enough, I might find out what's in that note. That'll be worth more to Larry. I better do this mission right and impress him.
XX
Unfortunately, nothing happened for the next several hours. Remembering the note and his orders, Alex refused to even consider abandoning his post, so he carefully and quietly spied on Patterson that entire time. A member of Band Company, Alex had a room a little ways from the stairwell that everyone on the company hallway used. That meant that Alex was able to sit there after dinner, door slightly ajar, pretending to read a textbook while actually reading his contraband Wave booklet… all the while keeping his eyes on the hallway.
The payoff came after one more hour of waiting. Patterson walked by, paying no attention to the Lower School boy and his textbook as he passed by Alex's room. Full dress gray, the standard uniform for marching tours, and for going off campus- among other things. Interesting.
Alex set down his book, got up, and left his room, all in complete silence. He made his way down the stairs, quickly getting Patterson in sight and keeping him there, but making sure there was only a minimal chance of his being seen.
The trail led Alex out toward Faculty Row, the stately neighborhood of houses for Bunker Hill's highest-ranking staff and teachers. More intrigued than ever, Alex darted for the cover of a row of hedges opposite from Colonel Lovejoy's house. As he knelt to get a better look through the leaves, Alex bumped his glasses off, and the world went blurry past 12 inches. Cursing his appalling clumsiness and bad luck, Alex fumbled for the glasses, all the while glancing up, squinting, hoping to see something, anything. But no, the Patterson-shaped blob was just standing there on the back porch, holding some kind of brownish blob, a small briefcase or something.
Alex found his glasses just as the back door of the house opened. He hurriedly held his glasses up, and his vision was corrected to 20/20 just in time to see it as Arianna Lovejoy smiled and greeted Robert Patterson with a kiss.
XX
As always, Arianna's heart beat faster when she even thought of her upcoming date with Robert. To keep their relationship- and its growing intimacy- secret, Arianna had begun planning and plotting meticulously, taking full advantage of Dad's busy schedule and the many days he was out of town. He loved her and always had, Arianna knew that, but where she had once lamented his absences, now she liked them. Cuddling in your underwear with your stud boyfriend- with him looking extremely good in his underwear!- was a whole lot easier to do if Dad wasn't in the house.
Mr. Travis was a full partner to this conspiracy, now, but as an old friend of the family and under his duties as Arianna's personal chauffeur, he knew discretion well. So long as Robert behaved as a gentleman should, Mr. Travis said, and so long as nothing happened that was not strictly to Arianna's liking, all would be kept in confidence. That was fine with Arianna. She knew that Robert would never, ever do something she didn't want. Every new step toward further intimacy in their relationship had happened because Arianna had worked up the nerve and made a move.
Well, if he wants to be that way, let him be that way. He looks great in his underwear.
I bet he looks better without it.
Oh, hush!
He does! You've seen him! He's a- well, he's big!
He is. And he's hot as hell.
Alright, now you're getting there. So what do we do with this info, hmm?
Arianna was both excited, nervous and embarrassed at her thoughts, so she turned Robert's head while he sat beside her in the back of the Rolls-Royce.
"Uh?" he said, or something like it.
"I love you, Robert," Arianna said. She cupped his chin in her right hand and kissed him, holding it for a full minute. When she let go, they both gasped a little. They tended to forget to breathe when kissing for very long.
Robert carefully got his breath back, then answered, "I love you, too, Arianna."
Arianna smiled. "Finally. It took so long to get you to stop calling me 'Ma'am" or 'Miss Lovejoy."
"Yes, ma'am," Robert said, grinning at her.
"You're a lot funnier in your underwear, funny man," Arianna said.
Robert went bright red. "Well- uh- uh- I just- uh… wait, are you saying I look funny? Or-"
"You're a hunk, Robert. I'd never laugh at how you look."
"Oh. I am?"
"Yes, now say it."
"I'm a hunk."
"My boyfriend," Arianna said proudly. "He's doing better every day."
Robert unclasped his uniform collar and took out the golden locket. His right hand closed around the heart in a fist.
"I love you," Robert said quietly. "I love you so much. Anywhere I am I have you with me as long as I have the locket on. Isn't that right?"
"Yes," Arianna said. She kissed him on the lips again. "So. You wanna know where we're going?"
"I thought you said it was a surprise."
"It is. So I'll tell you when we get there." Arianna glanced at the small leather case he had beside him, maybe 12 inches by 12 inches at most. "So what's that for, anyway?"
Robert smiled at her. "It's a surprise. My lady must forgive me, but I can only reveal it when the time is right."
"The princess will allow her knight to do this."
Robert hesitated, but he finally put his arm around her on his own, for possibly the first time ever. He gazed fondly at her. "Thank you, my lady."
It was flowery, overdramatic, romantic mush, but Arianna loved it. What was more, Robert knew she did, and he was making a clear and deliberate effort, when they were alone, to talk to her that way. Arianna smiled and kissed him again.
I'm so lucky.
XX
They made quite a sight, the princess in her fine fur coat and dress, the knight in his imperious but elegant dress gray winter uniform, cape and all, stepping out of a Silver Cloud II that still looked brand new 33 years later. Heads turned for it, for him, for her. Arianna raised her head proudly. This exclusive restaurant was widely known as one of the best in Philadelphia. Given some of the thoughts she'd been having about Robert lately, Arianna figured she might as well take the risk of Dad finding out and go for a five-star establishment.
Arianna had insisted that they be given a location that offered some privacy, and the staff of course made the arrangements, giving them one of the private dining rooms that was available at extra cost, and strictly by reservation. Robert's eyebrows went up as he saw the room, the candles, the roses. Arianna worried for a moment. Her old fear of scaring him off or making herself look desperate by trying too hard flared up, then subsided.
"All this for us?" Robert asked quietly.
"Yes," Arianna said. "For us."
XX
Patterson didn't know how to express what he was thinking and feeling about Arianna Lovejoy lately. He'd see her face in the shape of a cloud. In dreams, they traveled, they went on extravagant, elegant dates. They did intimate, exciting things that embarrassed Robert to think of- it was disrespectful of a fine girl like Arianna- but which he fantasized about all the time.
On the one hand, Robert Patterson was a teenager, and a particularly horny specimen of teenage male at that. He wanted Arianna and was more attracted to her than he could say. Ever since he'd first seen her in her underwear, ever since she'd pinned him to the wall of her room and started giving those orders for him to speak highly of himself, Arianna had just plain driven Patterson crazy.
And then she not only allowed but encouraged him to buy four plates of the best steak this place had. Patterson didn't dare ask what all this had to cost. He was out of his depth here, seeing a girl whose looks, money and status were quite honestly out of his league.
No, no, that's wrong. She's in your league. You're a knight, remember? You wear a token of the favor of the princess. She's your girl. You're in love. Be honest. Does a day go by where you don't think of her at least a thousand times? No. Never. She chose you. So don't worry about her money versus yours. She wants to be with you, so… just be a gentleman.
God, I need this meat. I need every plate.
She knows you do.
I could've fucked that prostitute. She's stunning. She was ready, I was ready.
Never. I will NEVER cheat on this girl. I'll endure anything. I'm never cheating on her. She's… she's too good. She deserves loyalty. She's earned it.
Confused by his lusts, his frustrated and unsatisfied sex drive, his pride at having chosen to be loyal and his love for Arianna, Patterson focused on his food. He devoured even the smallest pieces of every plate and dish brought to him, consuming a heavenly and protein-heavy meal. He looked at Arianna, who had just finished her far more light and modest dinner, and saw her looking at him. She smiled. He smiled back.
"So… you said you had a surprise for me," Arianna said.
"Yes, my lady," Patterson said. He stood, bowed to her… and took his eyes off her cleavage after just a second of staring. He picked up the leather case, strode over to her, and on impulse decided to go to one knee.
"Oh," she said, or something similar. Her eyes stayed locked with his until Patterson broke away to open the case. He carefully took out the watercolor and showed it to her.
"The Princess and the Knight," Patterson said, indicating the handsome, brown-haired young man clad in bright-shining armor and the stunning beauty in her shimmering turquoise dress descending the last few stone front steps of the castle to meet him. His hand was outstretched, and clearly, he was captivated. She had a shy smile on her perfect, naturally-tan face, but one that, like her beauty itself, outshone all the stars.
Patterson managed to sum this up somehow, but he barely heard himself. He talked but the words kept getting fumbled. He tried so hard to be a knight, to be good enough for this princess, but feared he would somehow mess it up after getting this far.
Nervously clearing his throat, Patterson decided to conclude, "I beg my lady's permission to add that this piece could never capture- could never adequately capture my lady's beauty." He paused. "Well. Um. I hope you like it."
Arianna stared at him for a long time, and then she startled him by breaking down crying.
"Oh, Robert- Robert, that- that- that's beautiful!" she managed to say. "Please set it down, I-I don't wanna break it!"
"Do you like it?" Robert asked anxiously.
"Yes!"
Patterson set the framed watercolor down on a spare space on the table. He took his chair, moved it close to her. Arianna pulled him closer.
The ensuing twenty-minute 'talk' was a lot of fun. It left Patterson with some rather swollen lips, but that was okay. He'd never been this happy in all his life.
XX
Alex Preston had waited for over an hour in the cavernous space of the indoor pool, continuing to watch the Dean's house for any sign of headlights from that huge, elegant car. Completely focused on his mission, he sat still, off to one side in the stands, keeping his eyes on the windows. Nobody paid much attention to him, but eventually Alex got out a notepad, pretended he was doing an architectural sketch or something.
Then the headlights reappeared.
Getting up from his seat, Alex walked calmly out of the building, heading into the dark. He took cover behind the bushes again, watched as Patterson walked Arianna Lovejoy to the side porch of the house this time. They talked for a long time. She kissed him and headed inside, and he went on his way back to the barracks. He passed by Alex's hiding spot, but never saw him. Alex never moved, never made a sound, and was hidden perfectly in the dark.
Once Patterson was gone, safely out of earshot, Alex grinned and hugged himself with glee, congratulating himself on the success of his work.
Oh, that guy's fucked now, Alex thought excitedly. I did great. Larry's gonna be so happy with me. I bet I'll even get to talk to Jack. This is awesome. I've done The Wave proud.
Determined to make sure his leaders knew what Patterson had been doing behind their backs, Alex Preston hurried back toward the barracks, heading straight for Larry MacDonald's room.
XX
A/N: 3-3-2019.
AM83220 sent me the narrative for this chapter on 2-26-2019, so there was a turnaround of 5 days this time. Not too bad.
To any readers besides AM83220, this story is essentially being co-written by him, so make sure to take a look at his stories if you like his work. To AM83220, thanks for your support.
To Loverone:
"When The Wave finish?" My hope is to complete the story in 2019. I'm working at the best pace I can to guarantee that. Feature-length stories tend to take a while to complete, but I believe sometime in 2019 is a realistic goal for this one.
"When Jack died? I hate him" Jack may not die at all in this story. He's indeed a villainous character, much worse than the 1990 film's Jack is in canon.
"Seth would be free at the end?" Seth will only be freed from being a slave, a status his own brother forced on him, if Andy were to release him, or if Andy were imprisoned or if he died. But given that Andy has inflicted a great deal of psychological damage on Seth, and Seth has eagerly embraced being enslaved to save what is left of his identity and self-esteem, he might not recover from that, certainly not anytime soon, even if Andy freed him or was removed from Seth's life.