Her eyelids fought to stay closed. Her temples throbbed. She was dead or at the very least dying. She would open her eyes and, hopefully, see the pearly gates instead of fire and brimstone. Cracking her eyes, she saw the other side of the bed, empty. Gingerly rolling over, she saw the chandelier in her room she shared with Negan. Not heaven or hell, well definitely not heaven…just Earth.
Sunny recalled drinking, having fun the night before, but the cotton mouth and churning stomach didn't seem an equal punishment for a card game and some booze. Never again would she let that devil tempt her with a good time. At least not a drunken good time.
She dragged her body in a sitting position, pulling her legs momentarily to her chest, resting her forehead on her knees. She glanced at the night stand and saw a glass of water and two little white pills. Not caring about wasting medications, she popped the pills in her mouth and swallowed them as she gulped down the water. Guilt would be tomorrow Sunny's problem.
Sighing, she knew she needed to make it to the bathroom before Negan burst through the door and splash some water on her face…cold water. Maybe even a cold shower. She dragged herself from her bed and moved with all the grace of a rotting walker to the bathroom. Crossing the threshold, she recalled leaning over the toilet last night, Negan holding her hair and rubbing her back as she vomited. She lost the card game and tossed her cookies. She was never going to hear the end of this.
A few minutes later, feeling a bit cleaner and her mind a bit clearer, she opened the door to the bathroom and groaned. Negan sat at the table, his chair turned to face the door. His long legs stretched in front of him crossed at the ankles, his chin resting on his fist while a Cheshire cat grin spread across his punchable face.
"How's my pukey princess this morning?" he asked.
Sunny glared and growled as she cut a wide path around her husband, but not wide enough. His hands snatched her hips and pulled her down on top of his lap. "Don't cut those eyes at me. It's not my fucking fault you suck at cards and drinking." His fingers worked their way up her sides playing her ribs like a keyboard until she squealed.
"I don't suck at cards." She laughed, trying to squirm out of his grasp. "You suck at dealing. It's your fault I lost." She swatted at his chest, out of breath. "Let—me—go!"
Negan's grip on her loosened, and she found herself lurching towards the floor, preparing to hit the hard surface. Strong arms wrapped around her once more and pulled her close. His voice rumbled against her ear, "See what happens if I fucking let you go?"
Snuggling into his chest, she breathed the scent of his cologne and sighed. "Maybe you shouldn't manhandle me…then you wouldn't almost drop me."
His chest vibrated as he chuckled. "You like it when I manhandle you."
"Not before breakfast I don't and definitely not hungover. You're lucky I didn't puke on you." She pushed away from him and stood straightening out her tank top and boy shorts.
He slapped her ass and pointed to the chair across from him. "Have a seat, baby doll. You need to get something on your fucking stomach. I only brought you toast and fruit. Bread they bake here is fucking dense as rocks but it'll help settle bubble gut."
Sunny sat and took a swig of some tea sweetened with honey grateful to have something with flavor and caffeine. Lifting her apple to her lips, she bit the sweet flesh and contemplated her next words. "I could teach them how to bake, you know?"
"I thought we discussed you having a job?" he replied, his tone laced with warning.
She shrugged, trying to keep the conversation light. "Not a job. Just a lesson. But I'm sure they'll figure it out eventually. It's mostly trial and error anyways." She could feel Negan's eyes on her as she took a bite of toast smeared with peanut butter. It really was dense. They probably either didn't active the yeast properly. Or maybe they were working the dough too hard. It really was just a matter of practice.
"Quit overthinking everything, princess. Just eat your breakfast and nurse that fucking hangover."
"I'm fine. Headaches pretty much gone."
"Good." He stood and kissed her forehead. "I'm going to go do some work in the office for a while."
Sunny finished her food. Leaning back she sipped her tea. How much longer were they going to have luxuries like this? At some point, everyone was going to have to do without. What would be worse? The walkers or a bunch people going through caffeine withdrawal at the same time?
"Sunny!" Negan's voice boomed from the other room.
She scurried to the office. Her eyes widened when she saw him, arms crossed, glaring at her.
"You've been a bad, little girl," he said in a low dark tone that made her quiver.
That shouldn't turn me on. What is wrong with me? Oh shit. He knows. How does he know?
"What?" she asked tentatively.
"What happens to bad girls?" He took a step closer.
"They get punished." She felt her heart beat racing as her body fought the urges to run away or mount him, instead remaining frozen in place.
"I told you when you got here that you were to eat lunch. That I wanted to see the fucking wrappers. You know what I don't see? Fucking wrappers. And there's the same fucking number of sandwiches and chips from yesterday. Why didn't you eat?"
Damn. How could I forget that? At least he doesn't know about my field trip. But shit. I'm still in trouble.
"I forgot?"
"You forgot? What were you doing that was so fucking important?" he asked, his gaze predatory as he now stood over her.
Oh no. No no no no. Maybe he does know. If I lie and he knows, I'm going to be in so much more trouble. Her stomach fluttered with excitement or was it dread?
She took a deep breath. "I was reading." She looked at the ground, avoiding his eyes.
"Reading? You put your heath at risk for a fucking story?"
"I don't think missing one meal—"
"Excuse the fuck out of me? That's two," he interrupted, holding up two fingers. "You wanna keep adding to the fucking list?"
"No…sir." She snuck a peak at him. He looked angry, but there was no mistaking the lust that flashed in his eyes when she called him 'sir'.
"Go get the book you were reading and bring it here."
Sunny ran to their bedroom and grabbed Jane Eyre off her night stand, bringing it to Negan as quickly as possible.
His eye brows raised as she handed it to him. "Really? A book you've read a fucking hundred times kept you from eating and following the rules?"
"I like it." She blushed as she added, "It's romantic."
"Romantic? Well that's no fucking reason to not take care of yourself. Let's see if we can't fucking figure out a way to help you remember." He took the book and place it on his desk. "C'mere."
Sunny stepped forward, unsure and yet expectant. His hands reached for the hem of her tank top and pulled it up over her head. Her nipples hardened as the cool air moved over them.
"Open the book. Hands on the desk and start reading," he commanded.
"Wh-what?" She stood still staring at him.
"Are you going to make me repeat myself?"
Sunny opened the book. Her lips smirked as she realized what chapter she had opened to. A large hand push her back, bending her over the desk.
She started reading, "'My eye rose to his; and while I looked in his fierce face—"'His hand landed in a hard smack on her ass. She gasped and continued, "'I-I gave an involuntary sigh; his gripe was painful–'" A succession of spanks alternating on her cheeks, made her cry out and her voice faltered as she read, "'and-and my over-taxed strength almost exhausted.'"
Negan ripped her boy shorts off her body and spread her legs with tap of his booted feet. "Keep reading."
She lost her place and picked a random sentence once her eyes refocused. "'(And he shook me with the force of his hold.) 'I could bend her with my finger and thumb:'" Her moans mixed with her cries as the spanking continued. "'A-and what good would it do if I bent, if I uptore, if I crushed her?'" She closed her eyes, the sensations of pleasure and pain washing over her.
"Don't stop," Negan said. His free hand squeezed and massaged her breast, tweaking and pulling the nipple while his other continued it barrage of spanking.
Breathless and panting she tried to finish, wondering how much more she could take. "'Whatever I do with its cage, I cannot get at it–the savage, beautiful creature! If I tear, if I rend the slight prison, my outrage will only let the captive loose. And it is you, spirit–with will and energy, and virtue and purity–that I want: not alone your brittle frame.'" Her legs shook, her ass stung, but her pussy was dripping with arousal. She moaned as his fingers slipped between her folds and whimpered as his fingers left her body.
"This is a punishment, baby girl. Bad girls don't get to come."
Her pout turned to panic as a loud hard knock on the door resounded in the air. She stood, looking at Negan who was scowling at the wood separating them from their unwelcome intruders.
"Go get dressed. A sundress. No panties." He winked at her as she winced with her first step. He walked to her to their room and closed the door behind her.
Negan opened the door and saw his two top men standing there. It must be important if they were seeking him out in his private quarters.
"What the fuck is it now?"
"It's time to visit Alexandria again. Probably the other communities as well," said Dwight.
He stepped aside letting the men enter his office. They sat on the couches. "Time for Rick the fucking prick to learn another lesson?"
"We figure leave today, stay at Alexandria keeping those assholes on their toes, hit up the Hill Top and then back tomorrow for dinner," said Simon.
"Is there a reason we need to hit both? And right now?" asked Negan.
"We think they may still be working together."
Fuck. Overnight. Who the fuck would take care of Sunny? He had just left her yesterday. He didn't want to do it again so soon. Shit fucking god damn pulsating cunt muscle. The honeymoon's apparently fucking over.
"Simon, you and I will head out in an hour to go take care of these fuckers. Dwight, I need you to stay behind and fucking take care of something…well, someone for me."
The two men looked at each other warily as they watched their boss leave the office to his private bedroom. There had been rumors about a new girl but no one had any proof. Yet.
She could hear deep voices as picked out a white sundress with pink flowers and took it to the bathroom. She brushed and braided her hair in a single French braid. She was surprised when she heard the bedroom door open again. Negan appeared behind her in the mirror.
"Come with me, sweetheart. I've got some people I want you to meet." He took her small hand in his.
"Really?" She smiled. It was finally happening. He was going to introduce her to people.
Negan led her to the office where two men waited. She tried not to stare at the first whose face was half covered with horrific looking burns. The other was smiling broadly at her, a thick mustache covering his upper lip.
"This here is Dwight." Negan pointed at the man with the scars. "And this is Simon. This is Sunny, my wife."
"Your wife?" Simon looked her up and down. "Well congrats, boss."
Sunny extended her hand out, Dwight stared at it for a second and then looked to Negan. He was tall and lean, his hair hung in his face. Simon, on the other hand, took her hand and shook it vigorously. He was extremely muscular, his thighs and biceps seemed to want to Hulk out of his clothing.
"It's nice to meet you," she said. "Um, can I offer you guys anything to drink? I think we have some water bottles…"
"Princess, that sure is nice of you to offer, but we've got ourselves a fucking business trip we have to get ready for." Negan said. "Simon here is going with me. Ol' Dwighty boy is going to be in charge of bringing you your breakfast and dinner, and ensuring your safety while I'm away. Isn't that right, Dwight?"
"Whatever you say, Negan," Dwight said as he nodded.
"You guys go get the teams and trucks ready. We're going to need some fucking guns and ammo too. I'll be down in an hour or so."
"Sure thing boss. Milady." Simon bowed to Sunny still smiling. Dwight nodded and followed the other man out of the office.
Sunny couldn't help be feel a wave of disappointment sweep through her. Her second encounter with people at The Sanctuary was a bust too. No way were those men ever going to be her friend. She was the boss' wife. Socializing at The Sanctuary might prove harder than just sneaking out of the room.
Her thoughts of subterfuge were interrupted by a pair of strong arms pulling her close. She wrapped her arms around his waist, placing a kiss on his chest. She was going to miss him while he was gone. Even if it was only for a day. The sound of her zipper being pulled caught her attention. She looked up at Negan whose eyes were already heavy with lust.
"I thought I'd been a bad girl?" she asked coquettishly.
"Oh you have. But there's no way I'm leaving without a proper good bye." He pushed her dress down her body until it lay in a heap around her ankles. She stood naked in front of him. She tugged at his belt buckle then his fly. His shirt was over his head and on the floor before she could get his pants off his hips. He chuckled and swatted her hands away, kneeling to untie his boots. He stayed on his knees after removing his boots, pulling her close, and swept his tongue through her slit. He lifted her right leg over his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her while his other hand cupped her breast. He licked and sucked her clit until her hips rocked, riding his face. Her balance faltered as her pleasure began to build.
Negan pulled away and pushed his pants to ground as he stood. She swayed slightly, he took her arms and circled them around his neck. He lowered himself lifting her behind her legs, pulling them wide, her knees resting over his elbows. She squealed as he grabbed her tender ass, guiding her over his cock until he was able to thrust into her. Her head fell back, moaning as he stretched and filled her pussy. His arms lifted her, she did her best to hold some of her own weight with her arms on his shoulders. As he let gravity pull her down on top of his cock, she rolled her hips. He walked a few paces, she used the movement of his body to ride him, grinding her clit against the base of his shaft until he pushed her up against the wall. His mouth sought hers as he drove himself into her wetness, her moans muffled by his mouth.
"Fuck, you feel so good. Wrap your legs around me." He moved his arms over her legs, she hooked her ankles behind his back. His fingers slipped between them, his thumb stroking her clit. Rarely were their movements so rushed. Desperate.
Her pussy clenched around him, her thighs pulling him closer as her orgasm exploded. He quickened his pace, seeking his own release, focusing on his pleasure. He could feel another orgasm building as Sunny's whines built to cries of ecstasy. He lost himself as she came again. He pulsed inside her as her body shook from the force of her climax.
Negan pulled out and gently lowered her to floor. He pressed his lips against her forehead. "I've gotta get ready to go, sweetheart."
Her hands ran through the hair on his chest, pausing to trace the tattoo over his heart. "Is it going to be dangerous?" she asked.
"Fuck no. These assholes just need a little reminder of who's in charge. Nothing we can't handle." He kissed her again and pushed off the wall to gather his clothes. "Go get cleaned up while I pack."
He watched Sunny walk to the other room, her back as red as her ass from rubbing against the wall. He smirked. She'd think of him for sure the next time she sat down. He dressed himself, knowing he would regret not taking a shower while he had the chance. Maybe he'd shower at Rick's. Use up all the hot water.
He grabbed a change of clothes and stuffed it into a black leather bag. He donned his leather jacket, a gun hiding in his waistband of his pants. Knife in his boot. Last but not least, he picked up Lucille.
"You really need all that?" Sunny asked leaning in the doorway wearing a t-shirt.
"Hell yes. Never know who else is out there and this shit is cool." He smiled at her watching her roll her eyes and shake her head.
Pulling a key chain out of his bag he took a key off the ring. "This is for emergencies only."
"What is it?"
"It's a key to the office door. I want it to remain locked at all times. Dwight'll have the only other key. Understood?"
"Yes."
She joined him as he walked to the door. He turned to face her, his eyebrows stern. She held up her hand before he could speak. "I know, I know…Don't get into trouble," she said.
"I'll see you tomorrow, princess." He pulled her into a deep kiss.
"Tomorrow," she sighed as he closed the door behind him, the lock clicking into place.
A whole day to herself. The adrenaline was running through her veins at the possibilities before her. She could be a good girl and stay in her room like Negan told her to. Or she could explore the Sanctuary some more and maybe make some actual friends. Nothing bad happened yesterday. Well except the drinking and that was her husband's fault. And although the people she had met hadn't given her the warm and fuzzies, she was determined to find a place where she could be useful and appreciated. She had already decided where to go next long before this opportunity arose. But should she really take it?
She paced the room wondering how long it would take for Negan and his team to clear out of the area. There was no way for her to know without leaving the room. She paced watching the minutes tick by.
Okay. You're going to have to make a decision. Are you going to stay in your ivory tower or are you going man up and make your own destiny? Oh my god. Why am I so corny? Too many Disney movies? Yeah, cuz there is such a thing. Just get dressed and go. You'll regret not going more than any punishment. Besides, Negan would never actually hurt you.
Sunny pulled her clothes from yesterday out from under her bed and dressed. She was sure her braid was messy from their sexcapades but it would add authenticity to her appearance. Leaving the key on the desk, she used her pins to pick the lock once more making sure to lock the door behind her as she found her way back downstairs.
She knew exactly where she wanted to spend her day. A place she could actually be helpful. The kitchen. Even if she didn't get to cook, she still could help with a suggestion or two. Getting them to listen might prove to be the biggest challenge if they were as open as the people she met in the laundry.
The cafeteria was empty except for a few workers wiping down tables and sweeping. No one talked. It was as if everyone had forgotten how to make small talk in a world where your ability to keep quiet could be the difference between life and death. She passed by with her head down through the kitchen doors trying not to be noticed.
The kitchen was busy with people washing dishes, pots and pans, and every surface until the stainless steel shined. Others were busy cutting vegetables in preparation for dinner, shelling peas, and peeling potatoes.
A boy who looked to be around Sunny's age approached her, "Who are you?" He looked her up and down in a way that made Sunny feel like she was on the menu.
The lie worked yesterday, no reason it wouldn't today. Best to spice it up though. "Elizabeth. I just got here. They sent me here to help today," Sunny said.
He eyed her suspiciously. "I'm Scott. You wanna check in with Ava over there. She's in charge of the kitchens."
"Ok, thanks." She walked over to the woman who was delegating cooking assignments for the day to people. Sunny waited until she seemed to have stopped making her rounds and introduced herself, "Hi, um…Ava? I'm Elizabeth. I've been sent here today to help. I just got here—"
"Sorry, honey. I don't care about your sob story. I've got a lot of work to do. You can help clean and wash dishes." She motioned Sunny towards the sinks in the back of the kitchen.
"I can bake," Sunny blurted out as Ava had turned her back. The older woman whipped back around.
"What can you bake?" she asked.
"Bread. Cakes. Pies. Cookies. Biscuits. Anything. I've been baking since I was little."
"Baking from mixes and boxes doesn't really help us now a day," Ava said dismissively.
Sunny wasn't about to be cowed. "From scratch and from memory."
"Ok. I want you to bake a loaf of bread. Nothing fancy. Just plain white sandwich bread. You do that and if it's any good, we'll see if we can put you to use."
Sunny set off gathering the tools she needed to bake and got to work. She mixed ingredients, worked the dough by hand, let it rise while she cleaned up her mess, punched it down, the finally put it in the oven to bake. She felt her all muscle memory coming back to her as went through every motion. It felt wonderful to be doing something, creating something again. It felt like home.
Ava and most of the kitchen staff had watched her process as they completed their own tasks, but no one talked to her until she pulled out a beautiful brown loaf to cool on a rack. The smell was divine.
"We usually let the mixers knead the bread. And why were you measuring the water with a thermometer?" A woman's voice sounded behind her. Sunny turned and saw the voice belonged to a woman with a pixie cut and a black and blue flannel shirt open over a black tank top.
"It's easy to over knead in a machine. If you do it with your hands, you start to feel when the dough is right. The temperature of the water is important for the yeast. If it's too hot it kills it, too cool and it doesn't activate. That's how you get bread that feels like a brick instead of a cloud."
"You think your bread is as fluffy as a cloud?" Ava asked with disdain.
"Well, no…a cloud is probably pretty soggy, but my bread is usually pretty good," Sunny replied confidently.
Ava sliced a piece and took a bite of the warm bread. Her eyes closed momentarily, and Sunny knew she had won her over. Her eyes opened as she swallowed and Ava said, "I want you to bake another loaf. You." She pointed to the boy who greeted Sunny earlier. "Write down everything she does and says. And you three," she pointed to the pixie and two other workers, "watch everything she does and copy her.
The kitchen was abuzz with movement as people rushed to get more ingredients, bowls, and pans. Sunny washed her hands and started giving instructions to everyone once they were set and ready to go. For the next hour, she was able to forget that world had ended, that she was breaking rules, and just enjoy what she was doing. She was more than a wife and sex kitten. She was teaching these people a skill that could help them survive and thrive. It was thrilling to see the look of excitement on their faces as they saw how much their dough had risen. Anticipation was high as they waited for their loaves to bake.
"Where did you learn how to do this?" asked Delilah, the girl with the short hair as she helped Sunny wash the bowls they had used.
"Girl scouts," Sunny lied.
"Huh…and here I was thinking y'all just peddled those crack cookies once a year. Man, I miss Thin Mints."
"No no no…the Samoas were the best," said Scott, the boy Sunny had met upon arriving in the kitchens, while his hands worked a towel over the clean bowl Delilah handed to him.
"How do you really pick a favorite though?" asked Sunny.
"So what else did you do besides bake bread and sell cookies, Lizzie?" Scott pushed his wavy brown hair away from his face.
"I was waiting to go to college." She suddenly felt uncomfortable. It felt wrong to be talking to him.
"Waiting for what?" he asked stepping closer to her.
"For the money to pay for it." She concentrated on scrubbing the bowl in her hand.
"Someone as pretty as you shouldn't have had to wait like that. You know, someday, I'm going to be a Savior working for Negan. I won't need points anymore. You stick with me, and you won't have to worry about points either."
"Still sounds like waiting to me."
"Oh, c'mon. It's won't be long. I know a guy that's going to talk to Dwight for me. Get me a chance to prove myself."
"Dude, Scooter. She's clearly not interested. Go peddle your bullshit somewhere else." Delilah snapped.
Scott glared at her. "It's Scott." He whispered to Sunny as he stroked her arm, "Think about it when you start to run low on points." He turned and left.
"Sorry about him. The Saviors tend to get most of the available women, but that's no excuse for him to be creepy. It's not easy for young guys here. They're all desperate."
Sunny shook her head. "Seriously. Did he think that would work?" she asked.
"It's worked for a fair amount of the Saviors." Delilah shrugged.
"Classy." Sunny rolled her eyes as she finished her last bowl and dried her hands.
"You obviously haven't met too many of the Saviors…classy isn't high on their priorities."
The timer dinged. And the group gathered to watch Sunny pull out four more beautiful loaves of bread. The smiles and pride on everyone's face was contagious. Ava pushed through the small crowd gathering over the bread to inhale their scent. "Good. Okay, we need to get everything set and ready for dinner. We start serving in two hours."
Two hours later, a steady stream of workers and Saviors worked their way through the line getting trays full of chicken and rice casserole, veggies, and bread. Ava brought Sunny a tray. "Go and eat. You earned it today. You're going to be a big help keeping all these people fed."
"Well, I'm not sure where my permanent assignment will be, but I was happy to help."
"I don't care whose ass I have to beat. You are going to part of my team." Ava handed her the tray and winked at her.
Oh shit. If she goes around trying to find me, my ass if the one that's going to be beat. Sunny carried her tray to a table in the cafeteria to eat alone. Maybe making friends wasn't the best idea. Worry and panic were steadily seeping through her feelings of pride and accomplishment.
She looked up and a pretty blonde in expensive clothing sat down in front of her setting down her own tray. "Hi. You must be new. I'm Amber"
"Yeah, I am. Elizabeth." She smiled and the new comer. It was weird to see someone wearing a dress and heels. She even had make up on.
"So, how are you liking here so far? Not much is it?" Amber asked picking at her casserole.
"It's fine." Sunny answered noncommittedly. She didn't know if this was some sort of trap. It felt like a scene out of a teen drama where one girl would bait the other into talking trash. Sunny had learned that lesson in real life the hard way.
"Well, it's better than being out there, but compared to before…not exactly how we thought life would turn out, huh?"
"I guess not." Unless you're my dad, she thought to herself. "You seem to be doing really well, though. Are you a Savior?" she asked.
Amber laughed. "Oh my gawd, no. I did alright. It's a shame you didn't get here earlier. You would have done well for yourself too." She pinched a bite of bread off the slice and popped it in her mouth.
"What do you mean?" Sunny took a forkful of casserole. She really was hungry. Working had definitely improved her appetite.
"Hey Frankie! Tanya! Over here." She waved two more beautiful woman over to their table. One had ginger hair pulled to the side in a braid over her shoulder the other had a dark ponytail with bangs across her forehead. Neither was wearing a dress but their clothes looked decidedly newer than anyone else's in the cafeteria. "This is Elizabeth. I was just telling her she got here two months too late."
The two women looked her over. Tanya spoke, "Oh yeah. She is total wife material."
"What are you talking about? Wife material? For who?" Sunny asked.
Amber leaned in. "For the big boss man. Negan, of course. We were all wives."
Negan rode shot gun with Simon driving a truck. The other Saviors were piled in trucks and vans used to move their loot.
"Ok, boss. If you aren't going to bring it up, I am," Simon blurted out.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Don't play coy, man. Sunny. Where did you find her?" Simon prodded looking at the man who sat beside him.
"Simon, I am not fucking discussing my private life," Negan snarled.
Simon turned his eyes back on the road. "Ok. I can see why you would keep a sweet little thing like her hidden away."
Negan's head snapped in his direction sending a threatening scowl at his right hand man.
"No disrespect," Simon added quickly. "But you should know, people are talking. Rumors are flying and curiosity will always get the better of people. What are you going to do?"
Negan's gloved hand pinched the bridge of his nose as he exhaled deeply. "I can fucking take care of what's mine…" He sighed and looked at Simon. "I just need your fucking word that if anything happens to me, you'll take her home."
Simon's mouth gaped beneath his bushy mustache. "Shit, boss. You actually care for her. Shit."
"I'm fucking aware of that," Negan grumbled.
"Never thought I'd see the day…a one woman man." Simon laughed.
Negan didn't join in his merriment. "Your fucking word, Simon. Just fucking keep her safe."
Simon's smiled faltered. "Sure boss."
"Good. Now enough of this mushy fucking bullshit. We need to get ready to deal with those Alexandria assholes. Rick just doesn't seem to be accepting this new world, is he?"
Simon shook his head. "He's a stubborn bastard." He looked at his leader and wondered just how long it would be before Negan finally lost his edge and went soft. Would he be able to keep everyone in line?
Sunny choked on her water. "Wives? Plural? He had 3 wives?" Her heart stopped.
"Well no. He had 5 total," Amber said casually.
"Did you hear the rumors about a new girl?" Frankie whispered. "He's been taking two trays to his room every morning and every night."
Tanya added, "I heard there's women's clothing in his laundry…not his size so they know he's not cross dressing."
The women laughed as Sunny stared. They had to be joking. There is no way Negan was married to all these women. At once.
"Don't look too shocked. We had a great arrangement with Negan. We took care of him, and we didn't have to worry about anything. No points. First pick on every truck load. Everyone won."
Sunny didn't know what to think. "Why aren't you wives anymore?" She felt bile rise in her throat as she asked, not knowing if she really wanted the answer.
"That's the thing. We don't know. He just up and told us we were done about 2 months ago or so. Wouldn't tell us why. He gave us a huge credit of points to cover us for a long time but other than that nothing."
"I expected him to at least ask for a massage if not a blow job by now." Frankie chimed in twirling the end of her braid between her fingers. The others laughed. Sunny didn't.
"Look there's Dwight. He was an ex of one of the wives." Tanya whispered. "Sherry. I think she went to an outpost or something." Sherry? Sunny turned to look and saw the recognition dawn in his eyes when he saw her. "See his burns…" Her whispering stopped as they saw Dwight approaching them.
"Hey, Dwight," said Tanya and Frankie in unison.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Dwight asked her, ignoring the other women and motioning for her to join him.
"Um, sure," said Sunny as she stood. She nodded to other women who stared at her.
Dwight's hand pushed her lower back, and she began to walk. She was terrified and grateful for a reason to leave the other women. "What do you think you are doing? Are you trying to get us in trouble?"
"You're only in trouble if you get caught." It was the mantra she had been repeating to herself the last two days.
"You are supposed to be in your room. The last thing I need is some girl not knowing her place. If Negan tells you to stay somewhere, you do it. You have no idea how much trouble I would be in if he found out anything happened to you on my watch." He opened the door to the stair well and guided her inside.
"But nothing's going to happen. How is he even going to find out?" She looked at his face flushed blending in with angry smooth scars.
"How many Sunny's do you think are at the Sanctuary?" Dwight asked testily.
"Just me. But how many Jane's and Elizabeth's are there? Probably a couple."
"This isn't a joke, Sunny." He glared and unlocked the door to the office.
She sighed. He was right. She wasn't thinking about anyone but herself. Dwight getting in trouble because of her hadn't even occurred to her. "I'm sorry. I've just been so bored."
"I don't want to hear about your boredom. I'm not your friend. I'm your warden." He shut the door and locked it.
Sunny looked around the office. It no longer felt the same. It felt foreign. Her husband, a stranger. He had five wives. Five! How was she going to compete with five? Oh my god. They were all gorgeous. And Sherry. She had been right to be jealous of Sherry. How could he bring Sherry to her house like it was no big deal? Why was he with her when he had had all of them? She didn't know how to give massages. She wasn't sure of anything right now.
She decided to take a shower and wash first, undressing and hiding her clothes again. She didn't know if she wanted them anymore. All she knew right now was that she felt hopeless and dirty. Six. She was number six. Had he called them pet names? Touched them the way he touched her? Told them he loved them? Did he even mean it? She felt the tears welling in her eyes as she started the shower. She let them fall washing away with the flowing water. She tried to scrub the day's stresses away but never felt quite clean. Giving up, she stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around her body.
She put on a t-shirt and some panties then raided the fridge in the office for some food. She grabbed a pbj and some chips making sure to leave the wrappers where Negan could see them. She found a chocolate bar and a coke and decided to indulge. She took them back to her room and flipped on the tv. Setting up a movie, she sat back and tried not break.
She failed. She ended up in her bed sobbing. When would he get tired of her? Would he just cast her aside? Would another man be her only other option? The thought of Scott made her shudder. Would Negan take her home? Did she even want to be with him anymore? She fell asleep with smell of him on the sheets no longer the source of comfort it once was.