A Night of Indulgence and Sloth

Copyright © 2023 Victoria Pauley All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or used in any manner without written permission of the authors except for the use of quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. ISBN: 978-1-7781022-2-6 (ebook) ISBN: 978-1-7781022-3-3 (paperback) Cover Art by: TRC Designs Formatted by: Kismet New Moon Graphics and Design Editing by Telisha Merrill Contents Chapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36AcknowledgementsAbout the AuthorAlso by Victoria Pauley Content Warning This book is classified under the dark romance category and includes themes which some may find triggering. The FMC in this story deals with trauma from her childhood which we see internally through monologue or flashback. It's intended for adults who enjoy dark romance with sexual scenes between 2-3 consenting adults (both inside and outside of the sex club), secrets, office romance, and other scenarios that could be harmful. Should the above make you uncomfortable, you may want to consider skipping this book. If you need further clarification on any of the above listings, email me at [email protected]. Liliana The strong scent of horse dung and wood shavings overpowers everything else around me in the crowded cabin. It doesn’t seem to matter that my younger sister, Calantha, is no longer mucking out the stalls and instead preps for bed after a long day. I desperately wish for the chance to help her get clean, but she isn’t afforded such luxury. Only those of us who serve the guests get to bathe properly, while the rest of my aunt and uncle’s foster children have to wash up in the creek beyond the house. “I’ve got to go, Calla. Uncle insists I not be late for their special visitor again, but I promise you, we’re going to get out soon. Here. They don’t feed you enough.” I hand over the extra bread roll I stole from the kitchens earlier that day. “You’re the best big sister anyone could ask for,” she says before taking a massive bite from the crusty bread. Luckily, the others in the cabin are preoccupied and don’t notice the extra food, or else I’m sure they’d get us in trouble. Living here beneath the heel of my uncle doesn’t allow for false beliefs about the way people are. It doesn’t take long to realize just how far someone will go to earn favor. But they’ll find out soon enough that Aunt and Uncle don’t appreciate tattletales. After one last hug, I head toward the door with every intention of doing my duty, when heavy footfalls sound on the steps outside. I freeze as the large wooden door bangs wide and my uncle steps into the cabin. He’s rarely found out here this late at night, and my insides curl with worry. “I thought I told you not to be late, Liliana, yet here you are, wasting time.” Despite every atom in my body begging me to cower under the weight of his stare, I stand tall. “Sorry, Uncle. I wanted to see my sister before she went to sleep. I was just about to leave.” He tsks, roaming his eyes along the row of bunk beds until he finds Calantha. To my surprise, she’s hidden the hunk of bread and pasted a tired, weary look on her face. “It’s true, Uncle. She was just leaving, and I’m all ready for bed,” Calla insists. Just like always, she backs up my stories, even though I’d rather she didn’t. I’m supposed to be the one protecting her, not the other way around. “If I couldn’t tell from your looks that you were related, it’s clear from the lies that spew from your foolish mouth.” Uncle strides forward, gripping Calantha’s arm so tightly that she winces. “No!” I shout, racing forward to pull him off her, but it has the opposite effect. He holds her more firmly until a whimper escapes her, and I stop dead in my tracks. “You thought you could steal from me? Give away my offerings of food to someone else? That food is only available for those who earn it, but she hasn’t, has she, Liliana?” He pulls her toward the door, shoving past me until I’m knocked to the ground. “It was my fault! She had nothing to do with this. Leave her alone!” I shout, desperate for him to turn his attention on me instead of my younger sister. He stops on the porch, still holding on tight to Calantha as he turns to me. “She will earn back what you stole, and you will take her place in this cabin until I feel she’s paid it off.” His saggy old face shakes with his anger, but the gleam in his eyes tells me just how much he’s enjoying this. “I was more than willing to hold off on inviting her to work at the main house, but you’ve forced my hand. She’s doing this because of you. Remember that next time you try to pull one over on me.” Then he shuts the door and locks it from the outside. “No, no, no,” I scream, pounding on the door with all my strength. The other kids watch, completely uncaring that my little sister is on her way to service one of their guests. And it’s all. My. Fault. “Lily!” Calantha screams as I continue to thrash against the door. “Lily! Lily! Lily!” On and on she shouts, begging for my help, for my protection, but it’s no use. I’ve finally done it. I’ve ruined her. “Lily, wake up.” I lurch awake, scrambling back as my eyes focus on the person