Haley Thistle
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Cherrywood Manor: Part Four (rough draft)
🕑 Added 2022-01-12 21:00:04 +0000 UTCThe interior of the manor was not Lydia’s only focus. What she had originally intended was for the renovations to begin on the exterior of the home. She had plans for the roof, repainting, repairing several of the windows and their frames, as well as replacing the doors and completely redoing the front porch. It was these attempts that got her into trouble with her neighbors to begin with. Not that they liked her much as it was, but for some reason, they felt so strongly about a house that wasn’t their own. Most of the houses near Cherrywood were also Victorian relics, and most had been owned by the same family for generations. These were family lines Lydia was seen as not being part of. She was not part of their clique.
Years ago, when Lydia had first moved in with her soon to be husband, she tried to make friends with her neighbors. She attempted to take part in their activities and their way of life. But she was given a cold shoulder enough times to take the hint, so she left them to their reindeer games. Renovating the house was also to spite her neighbors just as much as her dead husband. They would look at her beautiful home and know she was there. They couldn’t get rid of her anymore.
Knox had thought ahead, since they were bringing in the floors and chucking out the old, he ordered the supplies to put in the doors Lydia had gotten. He figured it would be best to tear out the old, throw out all the floor and bring in the new, without worrying about scuffing or struggling to get through the doors. Lydia was so excited, it would be the first glimmer of change. The door was totally unsullied by thoughts of her husband. She would see it every day and have a sense of accomplishment.
The crew installed the door as soon as they could so they could start working on the flooring. Lydia stared at the door with awe. The old door was solid wood with iced glass surrounding it. She had always hated that door.
Now, she had french doors that were almost all entirely glass save for the wrought iron that looked like ivy vines crawling up along the glass. The glass itself was fractales, appearing very much like opal of diamonds, and when light hit them, they cast rainbows everywhere. The doors had been taken from an even older house and restored. She had one a bloody bidding war to get these doors.
“You seem awfully proud about some doors, Ms. Cherrywood.” Naoki was getting something to drink while Asher and Knox argued over how to set up the heated floor system.
Lydia just smiled. “It’s not just a door, Naoki. It’s so much more than that.” She then frowned as she saw the outline of someone coming up her front stairs. “Crap, someone is here.” She turned to Naoki. “Go on back to work. I’m not paying you to dawdle.” She smoothed out her clothes and fluffed up her hair as the doorbell rang. She prepared herself, getting ready to pretend to be cordial when really, she just wanted to be left alone.
Upon opening the door Lydia saw one of her neighbors. The woman was the ‘head’ of everything in the neighborhood. And while there was no HOA to be spoken of, this woman always enforced things like there was.
“Oh, hello there Gwen.” Lydia expertly his her disgust. “What a surprise!”
Gwen was also good at hiding her disgust. She smiled like the good little poster child for uniformity she was. “Hello, Linda, how are you? I see you’re still getting some work done!”
Lydia’s stomach sank and she bit down onto the side of her tongue. “It’s Lydia.”
Gwen threw her head back. “Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I did that!” She chortled along. “I see you have a new door.”
“For my home, yes, I have a door.” Lydia posed her hands like Vanna White showing off a letter.
Gwen was peering inside upon hearing noises from within the house. Lydia stepped further into her line of vision and Gwen tilted her head to the side with a renewed smile on her face. “I wasn’t aware you were still doing your renovations.”
Lydia leaned in the doorframe. “I am! I wasn’t aware it was supposed to be common knowledge.”
“Well, it would have been nice to alert your neighbors so they could have prepared for any and all noise,” Gwen kept a chuckle in her overly produced voice.
Lydia breathed in deep, holding that heavy breath there like the white hot rage vibrating off her bones. “They didn’t seem to mind when I used to scream at night.”
Gwen’s smile faltered ut it came back just as strong and she laughed. “Oh Lydia, you’re so funny.”
It wasn’t a joke, but Lydia didn’t have time to tell her that. “Listen, I’m busy. I have to make lunch and oh look-” She glanced to he bare wrist. “My time is just running out.”
Gwen stepped forward. “What happened to the old door? It was so beautiful.”
Lydia’s pressed into a thin line then curled at the edges to make a mocking smile. “I donated it.”
Gwen looked horrified. “It was an antique! An original to the home.”
Lydia shrugged. “Do you want me to get it back for you? Better yet, go buy it from the thrift store, it supports abused women you know? Most women you know face abuse in their lives. Did you know that?”
Gwen was struggling to keep that Barbie plastic smile afloat. “It’s such a shame! Last we talked, I thought we came to an understanding that the house was beautiful the way it was.”
“Oh Gwen,” Lydia shook her head. “You hear what you want to hear don’t you?”
Gwen’s smile finally faded and she sighed. “I know losing your husband so suddenly was traumatic, Linda. It’s natural you would want such a change. But I fear you’re going to regret it in the future.”
It was taking every ounce of strength to not sink her newly done nails into her face. Lydia bit her tongue, readying herself to say something, anything, that wasn’t yelling. Then a hand fell upon her shoulder and Gwen got a surprised look to her eyes.
“I need her for a moment, can you spare her?” Asher asked with his most sultry voice yet. “We some approval on where to move some furniture around.” He smiled down at Gwen. “You look like you need some furniture rearranged yourself. Would you like my card?”
Gwen’s cheeks flushed into splotches of red and pink. She laughed giddily. “Oh, no. My house is fine! I just re-decorated last fall.”
“How very fun,” Asher purred. “I’d love to see your couch.”
Gwen’s eyes widened. “It’s a reproduction of uhm...from the home of the Fitzgeralds-” Her voice trailed.
Asher pulled Lydia closer to him. “I bet you look stunning on it. But I must consider this another time. Excuse us.” He closed the door and then pulled Lydia into his arms. “It’s okay.”
Lydia held onto him, tears of red hot hatred began to flow.
Asher sighed. “I felt your anger all the way front he library. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”
She shook her head, holding onto his waist as she kept her face pressed against his white shirt. “You saved her life, that’s for sure,” she snarled.
Asher rubbed her back. “I don’t care about her.”
Lydia sniffled and pulled back to rub her eyes. “I can’t stand that woman more than anyone.”
Asher knelt down, using a handkerchief in his pocket to dry up her face. “All I sensed from her was hostility. She was pointing knives at you.”
“I’m used to that,” Lydia huffed.
“Is everything alright?” Kouri asked. He came from the parlor, his hands smeared in pale lavender paint.
“A bitch stopped by,” Lydia huffed.
Kouri turned, looking out the foyer window. “There’s a couple of ladies talking on the street. Should I go and take care of them.”
“Not worth it,” Lydia huffed. “Besides, I’m finally getting the upper hand anyways. I don’t know why I let her get to me like that.”
Asher turned to Kouri. “Do you mind telling Knox I’ll be a few minutes? I’m going to take Lydia upstairs and get her calmed down.”
Kouri rolled his eyes. “Fine. But he’s miffed already.”
“I’ll risk it.” Asher took hold of Lydia’s hand and led her upstairs to her bedroom. He stripped off his shirt and kicked off his shoes. “Come sit with me on the bed.”
“You don’t have to do anything, Asher,” Lydia huffed.
Asher sat upon the bed with his back against the headboard. He patted his lap. “Of course I don’t, but I would like to.”
Lydia crawled onto the bed, sitting between his legs. Asher put his arm around her, making her lean back against his chest. “There we go. Comfortable?”
“Yeah,” Lydia grumbled. She was starting to shut down. Dealing with Gwen was almost too much for her.
Asher’s hands rubbed down her arms then stroked back up and kneaded into her shoulders. His hands then caressed along the sides of her breasts and her gently scooped them into his palms. Lydia closed her eyes and laid her head back against him. She took in the warmth of his palms as they pressed into her and his fingers gripped.
“Is this okay?” Asher purred. “Do you like me touching you?”
Lydia moaned softly. “Yeah. It’s nice.”
“Good,” Asher breathed. “I want you to feel good.” He pinched her nipples through the fabric of her shirt and Lydia whimpered. “So cute.” Asher licked the tip of her ear. “Can I touch more like this?” He pulled her nipples and Lydia gasped loudly, throwing her head back against his shoulder. “You’re responding so sweetly it makes me want to do more,” he growled.
Lydia swallowed and nodded. “It’s fine.”
Asher chuckled, tugging up Lydia’s shirt and exposing her breasts. He smoothed his bare fingertips over her nipples. He flicked them and listened to Lydia’s breath falter. He pinched her nipples again, a little harder than through her shirt. He tugged and let go, letting them snapback into place. He scooped up her breasts, fondling them gently.
“What are you doing?” Lydia whimpered.
“Do you not like it?” Asher cooed.
Lydia watched Asher's fingers sink into her breasts. “I do but...it’s different.”
Asher rubbed her nipples with a fingertip. “I bet your nipples would look so cute pierced,” he breathed into her ear. “Or maybe some light little clamps.” His fingers pinched around them again. “Maybe with a chain attached so they could be pulled.” He tugged and Lydia whined. “Do you like the thought of such a thing?”
“Maybe,” she pant.
Asher licked her ear then suckled on the tip. “There’s so much this body deserves. So much fun that can be inflicted upon it.” His hands slipped down her belly. “I’d be happy to indulge you in all these things.”
Lydia’s eyes followed his hands as they went to her thighs. “I’m sure.”
Asher laughed and her kissed her cheek. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight. “I’ll make sure you always feel safe and warm, even when I am doing the most depraved things to you.”
Lydia lost her breath for a moment.
“But for now,” Asher smoothed a hand back down between her breast and over her belly. Those long fingers pushed between her thighs and rubbed against the soft fabric of her leggings. He moaned into her ear. “I love that warmth.”
Lydia twitched as the pressure against her mound. She bit her lip as Asher’s fingers rubbed, pressing the fabric between the lips. “Are you not wearing panties, Lydia?” He purred into her ear.
“No.”
Asher reached down with both hands and ripped open the crotch of her leggings, exposing her plump mound.
“Hey!” Lydia fussed.
Asher slipped his fingers along the soft flesh and Lydia forgot her argument. She leaned back into Asher again as his fingers did the work. He moaned as he played with her, teasing her so grew wetter, pleasing her so she became limper in his grasp. He patted her with his palm then placed his soaking fingers in her mouth.
“Taste that?” He purred into her ear. “Good girl. Get each one nice and clean for me.” He pulled his last finger from her sucking lips then turned her head to kiss her. “Want me to finish you off now?”
Lydia stared dreamily up at him, nodding silently as his fingers went back down. His free hand held a breast, groping and teasing her nipple. “I can feel how ready you are. You need this.” His fingers rubbed her clit, going in circles then tapping it quickly. “I love this,” he moaned. “This growing pressure, this exhilarating heat. A woman on the brink of orgasm is a delicacy.”
Lydia whimpered, throwing herself into Asher’s embrace. His fingers, his words, how could such simple things feel so good? His fingers slipped inside her while his thumb rubbed against her clit. Her back arched and Archer held her faster against him. He snarled into her ear, moaning and panting eroticlly in her ear. Her blood pulsed, her vision blurred, and she came upon Asher’s talented fingers. He held her still, breathing softly as she gasped for breath. He slowly removed his fingers and placed them upon her tongue again.
“Much better,” he whispered. “Good girl.”
Lydia sloppily sucked his fingers, tasting her release upon them. Asher laid her down after a while, tucking her into bed so she could nap and continue to let her rage melt away. She woke later and went back downstairs after dressing. The crew was hard at work on getting the heated floors set up.
“Feeling any better?” Asher asked with a grin.
Lydia nodded. “Yes. Thank you for calming me down. I almost let that get to me.” She sat down as she watched them. “It’s getting late. Why don’t you get to a stopping point and I’ll order dinner for-” The sound of glass shattering made them all go dead still. Knox was the first to leave, but Lydia sat there as if she’d been turned into a statue. The others raced out and she heard Naoki yelling from the foyer. Lydia shut her eyes, praying she’d wake up and that she was still in bed. She got up from her seat and went through the kitchen. Kouri was blocking the door, but she could see around him. Glass was scattered all across the floor. And her brand new doors were shattered.
Knox was holding something in his hands while Asher and Naoki had gone outside. Lydia tried to push past Kouri put he wouldn’t let her walk out since her feet were bare. Knox turned, looking into her eyes apologetically. It was then Lydia saw the brick in his hand. Her heart sank and she tried forcing herself passed Kouri again but he shoved her back into the kitchen.
Moments later, Lydia sat there in the kitchen while the crew murmured softly around her. Asher had called the police and was standing by the kitchen door waiting for them. Knox and Kouri were looking at the brick that had been thrown through the window. A note had been attached that was directed at Lydia. “If you want a new life, then leave.”
“I’ll kill them,” Kouri snarled.
Knox shushed him. “When the cops get here, don’t talk like that.”
“What’s the point?” Lydia huffed. “They’re all nephews or uncles or husbands of the people here. They’re not going to do anything except pat our backs and say they’ll try.” She stared at that note and it’s glaring, jagged letters. “I just wish it was a window and now my door.”
Naoki leaned over the table and sniffed the brick. “There’s a perfume I can smell. I bet I can pinpoint it.”
Lydia sighed. “Don’t get yourself in trouble. You’ll get arrested before the vandal will.”
Kouri reached out and slapped Lydia across the face. “Wake up and stop whining! You were assaulted and you’re being threatened! Grow and pair and stand up for yourself.”
“Kouri!” Knox roared.
Her breath shuddered and Lydia placed her hand over her cheek. She shivered all over and stood up from her seat. “I need to make a call.” She went to the underused landline, dialing the only number she knew from memory.
“Hello?” Eden yawned on the other end.
“Sorry to call so late,” Lydia murmured. “But there’s been an incident here at the house, and I may need your help.”
“Oh?” Eden perked up. “Did one of the fellas do something?”
“Not them,” Lydia shook her head. “No, someone in the neighborhood threw a brick with a threatening message on it through my window.”
“People still do that?” Eden balked.
Blue and red lights flashed outside and Lydia could hear the crew begin to murmur. “I may have to do something big, Eden. I’ll need your help.”
“I can be down in a few days,” they chuckled. “What were you thinking?”
Lydia saw Naoki watching her, his golden eyes fixed with concern. “I want to dig into my husband’s records. I want to know what he was doing just before he died.”
“Easy enough, I’ll hire one of my investigators right away. Anything in particular?” Eden asked.
“I want to see if he actually was having that affair,” Lydia replied. “I have a feeling, if he was, whoever it was with threw that brick and has been causing all the trouble towards me since he passed.”
“You got it, babe. Be safe. I’ll see you soon.” Eden hung up and Lydia went towards Naoki who handed her a pair of shoes.
“They want to talk to you,” Naoki whispered.
“Of course.” Lydia slipped on the shoes and stiffened her back. “I’ve done this before.”
