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CHAPTER ONE

Celia

Tyler, Texas

September 1885

It was too hot to be outside Although, it was too hot to be indoors as well The suround was hard packed and bone dry I glanced up and squinted There wasn’t a cloud in the sky No way to shield myself—besides h neck and long sleeves, was stifling Sweat soaked the back of ed to strip off the excess layers of clothing for just my shift

It had been a long day John’s office hours were in thee arrived at eight My husband wasn’t the only doctor in town, but people cah business for all three of them Today’s ailments had included an impacted tooth, a colicky infant, a case of pneuer When he left for lunch, I was left behind to clean up and send those who arrived after the noon hour—when John went to the hotel’s restaurant to eat his meal—in the direction of the other two doctors He was very precise, very strict in his routine and did not vary from it

While he spent his afternoon at his home office—alith the door closed so as not to be disturbed—I often went to the houses of those who had been seen, checking on the to them Specifically the women patients None of the men, for it would not be appropriate I wasn’t even supposed to visit the ladies, but who else would? Not John, for if they did not appear in his office, injury apparent, or have money to pay for a house call, he was not interested

And so I spenta few dishes John laughed atmyself to such tedium But was I supposed to sit honant life

And so that hy I stood in Mrs Borden’s kitchen, scrubbing a pot I bleard curl offher third child, she was in bed recovering with two young ones cli over her and the newborn while her husband went to work in the cotton fields

As I ht’s dinner dishes, she called from the bedroom “It will be your turn soon and I will come and help you”

I paused inand looked down at my flat stomach No, there would be no turn for me No children; John was a very independent sort, and expected me to be as well I knehen I married him that he wanted a helpmeet, not a coddler I’d been well and fine with that, for I’d been raised by stern parents who did not dote I knew no other way I would have been unaccustoed and lavished me with affection

But in the past five years, I’d grown to changeother couples ere blatantly in love—like the Bordens—proved that I had , and would never see it in my own union Without children to tend, my life was empty I was empty To John, I was officially barren Officially not a true wife, for I could not fulfill the one duty that he could not accomplish on his own

And so, forlorn and overheated, I returned ho the front door behind me, I noticed that John’s office door was open Odd, for he never appeared before five As I removed my hat and placed it on the table beside the door, I heard voices froh A woman’s cry

I glanced up as if I could see through the ceiling I knehat it was Who it was At least I kneas John and a wo In my bed John barely touched me, so I knew he took his needs to someone else A brothel or a , someone who he felt worthy of his desires But he’d never slaked these needs in our own hoh to keep his women separate from me Until now

“Yes! Right there Harder”

My eyes widened at the carnality of the wory he would flaunt his behavior in such a way, I was also curious Curious as to what John did to make her so satisfied I’d never cried out like that before Ever

I tiptoed up the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky fourth step The bedroom door was closed, so I slipped into the other bedroo door Meant for a nursery, it sat unused But I knew the door was open about a foot to allow for air to circulate and could easily watch And that here I stood, behind the connecting door, and observed nize her, for her pale hair was unbound and covered her face She was also naked, on her hands and knees with her wrists restrained and tied to the own tie The garotten on the floor beside the heap of their discarded clothing

John was behind her, naked too, and fucking her His hands gripped her hips as he took her forcefully, the sound of his hips slapping against her upturned bottom filled the air

“Is that hard enough?” he growled, the muscles in his neck corded and tense

She tossed her head and her grip turned white on the bed rails Her breasts, which were very large, sith each thrust It was carnal and dark and decadent and I’d never seen John like this He was lost to desire, lost to the power he had over the woman Never so… overcome by his baser needs Whenever he took h for his cock to move in and out for him to release his seed

He sroaned, but it was not in pain “You’re such a slut, letting me take you like this You need it, don’t you? Your husband thinks it’s hysteria that makes you a frustrated wife, but you’re just a whore that needs a big cock”

“Yes!” she cried again This hat I was supposed to look like while being fucked? Wild and wanton and in the throes of pleasure so intense I loved having my bottom smacked?