Chapter 11

It was a bitter harvest on the vineyard ever since that day. Gulfs of silence and distance separated the albino from Olivia from dawn to twilight as they took care to avoid each other to escape the awkwardness that fell between them. She was not rude to him but acted differently than from before; like a person highly insulted that she wasn't let in on an important secret accidentally discovered. In a sense that was precisely what it had been. She never expected to witness what she saw that afternoon in the front garden and it shocked her beyond comparison. The only thing the albino took comfort in was that she treated Laroux the same way, for a reason unknown to him.

Laroux, on the other hand, seemed to understand what exactly it was that upset the woman. It was evident that he knew something the albino didn't and that was what troubled him about the handsome man. He felt obligated to question Olivia's best friend incessantly to learn the secret that he wasn't being let in on but whenever he tried to approach him, Olivia magically appeared and found her way between them. It was obvious that she did not want the men to converse at all with each other which contradicted her preceding expectations of them. Before she had wanted them to be friends, for the albino to give her childhood companion the benefit of the doubt and form a friendship yet now she readily came between them, curtly handing out orders that sent either one of them to a task that kept them apart.

It wasn't just in the vineyard. Olivia wouldn't speak to him during dinner or breakfast when he attempted to make light banter. Being in the dark about what was happening, he carefully chose his words and mostly stuck to literary topics. But the coldness that he was met with encouraged him to shut his mouth and quail away. Olivia just did not want to be bothered and he would retire to his room in a fog of disappointment.

With valuable conversation with Olivia absent, meeting Lisette every Sunday for a day of sex was the only thing that the albino now had to look forward to. It was the lenitive salve for the sting of Olivia's rejection but it also made the albino retrogress precariously back to his life on the streets, a life he strove to put an end to ever since he met Olivia. But the lady of the vineyard didn't want him after all and he was requisite to find other alternatives. So he revelled in his weekly diablerie with the seductive and addictive Lisette, not bothering to conceal his misconduct from Olivia any longer.

Why should he? She'd had her chance and she refused. Did she actually believe that he would pine away for her while he rotted in his room?

These thoughts enraged the albino beyond measure. It instigated him to visit Lisette on Saturdays as well. The first time he showed up at her house under the cloak of midnight and tapped at her bedroom window to wake her she was at first irritated but when her eyes found Goliath, whom the albino rode in on, her eyes widened with affection.

"I love horses!" she proclaimed.

"Then come with me," he commanded. "We will take a ride together."

"Let me put something else on."

His red eyes roamed her lissome form silhouetted inside the frail fabric of her white negligee and he shook his head.

"No," he was adamant on. "Do not dare to cover yourself from me. You are perfect the way you are. A vision of perfection."

"What if someone sees us?"

"You never impressed on me that you care what others think. It should be what I think that matters and you are exquisite. And I do not plan on keeping that gown on you for very long."

She smiled wickedly at his innuendo.

"Then help me out of the window," she instructed.

Grinning reticently at her, he wrapped one of his massive arms around her tiny waist and lifted her up and out through the window. Her bare feet scarcely touched the cool ground before he was raising her closer against his massive and warm frame like a powerfull movie monster thieving her away.

"Mmm!" she exclaimed sexily. "Can't say this is a bad thing to wake up to."

"The night is still young and our horse awaits."

He hoisted her upon the blanket covering Goliath's saddle free back before swinging his own body up and over behind her, taking the reins in one hand and protectively embracing her waist with the other. As he directed the enormous Clydesdale back towards the vineyard, he slid up against Lisette's back to help warm her. It didn't take very long for the arm he had around her waist to slowly inch up her tight midsection and to her ample breasts. Her nipples pebbled from exposure to the chilly nocturnal air which sent thrills coursing through his body when he grazed his fingertips lightly over them.

"It's because I'm cold," she explained roguishly.

"Are you certain of that?" he inquired.

"What else could it be from?" she continued playfully.

"When we reach our destination I have a place for them where they will be kept very warm," he promised.

"Is that so?"

Taking one of her nipples between his fingertips, he manipulated the hardened bit of flesh as he cupped her breast with his massive palm. Giggling, she leant back against him and he switched the attention from one nipple to the other. Finally tiring of the silk impeding his work, he positioned himself so that he could gain better access and reached down to push his hand underneath the negligee. As his calloused flesh touched her soft body she groaned and wiggled back against his burgeoning erection. His hand located her nipples again and continued his groping massage, tugging and twisting each nipple with confident abandon.

They were half way back to the vineyard when he opted to relinquish the sweet torture of his lover's breasts in favour of dipping lower, probing inside the lacy confines of her knickers and through the soft down of pubic hair in search of the little button of tender flesh he knew would drive her into frenzy. Intuitively she stretched her legs to part further, making it easier for him to locate what he wanted. When he found it she sucked air in through her teeth sharply and her body tensed.

"Just wait," he promised torridly in her ear. "This is nothing."

Her flesh responded desirously to his touch, slickening and becoming more tender than it already was naturally. She wriggled against him, rubbing her back against his stiff member as she grinded over his circling fingers.

"Mon dieu!" she cried, thrusting her hips up as best as she could.

Seizing the window of opportunity, he submerged his first two fingers deep inside her and she gasped while her body quivered. Her arm came around to encircle his neck, drawing him forward for a languid, fervid kiss, his fingers pumping into her wet orifice slowly and deliberately.

"I can't hold on much longer!" she wailed lustfully, eyes wide with arousal.

"Patience is a virtue," he murmured against her mouth. "It will be worth the wait."

"You are a bastard! This is torture, you realise!"

"And you believe it to be a pleasant torture so take it without complaint."

She rocked her hips over his fingers, savouring every movement he made. The albino was so preoccupied with his erotic foreplay that he nearly allowed the horse to saunter passed the vineyard. He guided the animal onto the vineyard grounds, continuing up to the isolated fig tree where he often paid homage to his shame. Tonight would be the antipode of those other visitations and would be heralded as a fond remembrance to think of whenever he returned in the future.

Stopping the horse at the tree, he removed his pliant fingers from the woman's body, slid from the animal's back then helped her down. The lovers stood facing each other, carnal hunger protracted in their gazes. The albino took the blanket from the Clydesdale's broad back and spread it out across the grass while Lisette rapidly removed her interfering night clothes.

"An eager one, I see," he teased as he too began stripping.

"You have no idea how eager," she warned.

"That sounds promising."

Reaching out, he took her hand and drew her flush against his body capturing her mouth with his. Her small hand wrapped around his manly thickness and began stroking his inches; he allowed her to take this liberty but only for a few blissfull moments before he pulled free of her grasp.

"Lie back," he instructed, his voice strained with need.

Without hesitation, the Olivia imitation did as she was told, opening her legs to wrap them around his waist. As promised, he lowered his head to her breasts, enclosing a nipple in his hot mouth. Her hands caressed the back of his head as he gluttonously suckled her; she angled her body so that her chest was pushed up more. His mouth trailled kisses from one nipple to the other where he repeated the attentive process as she moaned happily and situated her hips so that the tip of his manhood nudged at her entrance.

Wasting no time, he eased inside her half way before he needed to retract, pull her leg up to open her more then managed to be fully accommodated inside her body. She cried out from the pain of being relentlessly stretched around his girth and bit down on her lower lip to muffle the shout she wanted to make. Despite her experience as a prostitute, she'd never came across a man as endowed as the albino.

"Mon dieu, you shame the horse!" she declared, fighting the straight forward pounding he initiated that made her slide backwards on the blanket.

"You enjoy every inch of me," he acknowledged.

"If your Olivia is a virgin you would have to coat her body in olive oil before you could fit inside her!"

Not caring to hear about Olivia at the moment, the albino shut her up with an impassioned kiss. Helpless beneath his weight, Lisette had no choice but to let him have his way with her. Being joined with him was painfull but the more he stroked inside her the more her body relaxed and succumbed to the pleasure he gave. Sex alfresco was very different from sex indoors as it allotted a particular quality of freedom: man and woman both as bare as the day they were born, performing the most primal and basic act known in the most natural of settings just as it was meant to be like. A woman prone on the grass, the man above her with only the sky at his back, her thighs spread apart, he between them and inside her, mating like the animals they were supposed to be.

He was rough, driving into her hard and fast, pinning her down at the wrists so she couldn't slide away every time he thrust into her. Out here in the secluded spot she was free to moan and scream as she saw fit. When he felt her tense and knew she was about to climax, he pounded her harder and faster, knocking the breath from her lungs. Gasping, she pressed her legs tighter against his sides during her orgasm but he was quick enough to pull her legs farther apart which subsequently opened her body more for him to thrust deeper, which in turn made her scream louder with unbridled pleasure. Her mind became numb from her climax and her body went limp like a rag doll's but he kept at her relentlessly for several more minutes before, with one final grunt, he plunged far inside her and emptied himself copiously.

Finished, he separated from her and stretched out on the blanket at her side. Shivering, she nestled against him and he embraced her, reached over and pulled the end of the blanket over them.

"What a pleasant thing to wake up for in the middle of the night," she said.

"You cannot come to the house like before, Lisette," he bluntly told her.

"Why not?"

"It is Olivia's home. I cannot disrespect her."

"Isn't this part of her property as well?"

"Yes, but it is on the outskirts, far enough away from the house and the vineyard. To my knowledge she does not come out this far. She will never see us."

"And you?"

"I come here for peace. To think. And to indulge."

Lisette smiled widely.

"And in what do you indulge?"

"In carnal appetites that I cannot indulge in while at home."

"Like sex with beautifull women?"

"Like anything of a sexual nature. Usually I am alone when I come here."

Lisette laughed.

"You come here to masturbate? Are you telling me that the shrew you live with won't allow even masturbation? Oh, yes, I forgot. It is a sin."

"Olivia does not know. I would never allow her to find out. But it is not her that I hide my actions from."

"No? Then from who?"

"She decorates every room with Christ figures and saints. I do not like their eyes. They place blame and they never look away."

"I believe it's long passed time for you to move on. Get away from what makes you feel guilt for doing what is natural."

"I cannot leave. I will not leave."

"Why not? Because of her? I told you. I will be her if you want me to be."

"No. You can never be her. You can only be yourself as you should always be."

"I don't understand why you would persist to stay in such a place. I would've smashed all of that religious bullshit long ago if I were you."

"I cannot destroy Olivia's possessions. They are hers, not mine. I must respect her. She was generous enough to take me in without knowing anything about me. She is a good woman."

"Yes, and virtuous beyond human capability, don't you think?"

"There are so many horrible things in this world. When something that is truly good and pure shows itself it is impossible for one to believe in it."

"You honestly don't believe that she has such an angelic soul, do you?" Lisette scoffed.

"What do you mean?"

"She is only human. Humans are born into sin, even Olivia's religion tells that. So I propose to you: what is Olivia's sin?"

"It is not for me to judge. She has shown me nothing but kindness. I cannot go against her."

"You may be right. I don't believe you are for one second but for some stupid reason, you, like every other man, believe the masks of virtue that some lamb of a woman wears, never believing she has a corrupt part somewhere inside her."

"You do not know her, Lisette. How can you say such things?"

"I don't need to know her to know her type."

"Please do not speak ill of her. I will not allow it."

Lisette sighed and the albino could feel her seething in anger. She huffed and twisted in his arms untill her back was turned to him. Dissent shrouded the brief moment of elation and this angered him. Lately he just could not seem to catch a break.

"Do not permit this to spoil the mood," he advised lightly. "I was having a wonderfull time. Why bring Olivia into things when mention of her name offends you?"

"You shouldn't allow her to control you like she does."

"She does not control me."

"Through her idols she does. You said it yourself that you come out here to escape them. I don't like seeing it. You should be your own person without sanctimonious outside influences."

"She found us the other day when you came to the vineyard. She is so upset with me that she has not spoken to me since. If I was concerned over how she sees me then why would I bring you here tonight?"

"Up here she can't see us. After telling me that I am no longer welcome at the vineyard."

He nestled down against her ear and murmured, "That is correct, chérie." He slid his hand below the blanket and between her legs, after that sweet swollen part of her anatomy again. She readily obliged to his search, making it easier for him to locate it. "We can do whatever we please here. She will be none the wiser to it."

Moaning, Lisette hooked her top leg back and over his, granting him simpler access to the area between her legs.

"You never get enough, do you, amour?" he questioned, a new erection hardening.

"How can I ever get enough of a bull like you?"

"You will tire before I do."

"Is that a challenge?"

Yanking her leg back so that they were better aligned, he impaled her completely in one swift and powerfull shove made easier by his already spilt seed which still leaked from her, robbing her of breath as he grinded into her.

"Let us put your endurance to the test," he suggested.

Wrapping his arms around her, he anchored her in place by her shoulders and began to ravage her again. She bucked back against him in her bliss but it screwed up his rhythm and frustrated him even though he knew she was only trying to be an active participant.

Rolling her slightly, he remedied her interference by pinning her to the ground on her belly and plunged into her body with brutal zeal. She whimpered beneath him in concurrent pain and pleasure but she took each thrust willingly.

"My little bitch in heat," he dubbed her in her ear. "Always ready for a man, impatient to mate."

He pounded Lisette with such force that her hips would certainly bruise by morning. But he didn't stop untill they were both spent and Lisette was nearly unconscious. This was a new experience for the albino, unfortunately for the prostitute, and he fully intended on making the most out of it. On and off throughout the night he kept at her. Sleep was merely a pause in activity to conserve energy for the next round and every time Lisette managed to fall asleep the randy albino was penetrating her for more.

When dawn began to break the night sky, he revived her from sleep one last time but rather than having another session of intercourse he told her to dress while he prepared Goliath for her return home. She slept secured in his arms during the trip; he steered the horse through the back roads to avoid the villagers' inquisitive eyes. It would be impossible to miss a hulking albino astride a giant Clydesdale with a nearly naked woman asleep in his arms and the probability of trouble awaiting them worried the young man.

By Olivia's god's good graces, however, they managed to remain unseen, helped her to prudently slip back through her bedroom window, giving her a peck on the lips as she ducked all the way back inside. Waiting for her to shut and lock the window behind her, he then began his long ride back to the vineyard.

Sunday morning came and went while Olivia did her errands in the village as the albino stayed in bed and slept the day away. While in town the lady of the vineyard sensed a blanket of unease in the constant stare of the villagers and she was frustrated at them. Why they were behaving in such a way she did not know but it made her uncomfortable.

Upon returning to the vineyard that evening, she went out for a walk through the grounds but when she entered the house it was to a desolation that was worse than if it had been empty. But the house wasn't empty; somewhere in its dark walls was a man who believed himself to be a ghost. Yet all she heard besides her own footsteps across the floor was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the lounge as she walked into the room. To her relief he was not there so she decided to sit and relax for a while in her favourite chair with a random book. Selecting Great Expectations, a book she hadn't touched since she was a child, she seated herself in the chair, snapping on the lamp next to it.

After the fifth page turned but nothing was actually read, she gave up and simply stared blankly at the open book. Visions of the albino with that specious woman continually fell before her eyes, interrupting her reading enjoyment and making her grow angry. What did she expect? She only had herself to blame. He was a street urchin, taken under her wing out of the naïve goodness of her heart. Untouched by the love of family or friends, how did she expect him to behave when he was at last accepted by someone who was genuinely good? The person she wanted him to be was a mere chimera, potential which was impossible to be fulfilled by any man let alone a misused albino.

Almost an hour passed before she heard shuffling and, looking up from her reading, she watched him emerge from the darkness like the spectre he purported to be. Dropping her eyes back down to the book, she gazed at him askance but made an effort to not pay him mind. He took his usual designated place but rather than choosing a book of his own to read he focused his eyes on her. For a while she was able to ignore him but after a few moments passed she shut her book, peered up at him and asked shortly, "What?"

"Bonsoir, Olivia. We must talk. I do not like this silence that has fallen between us. It is uncomfortable."

"So was finding you with that…"

She stopped herself hastily, knowing that she was about to say something she would not be able to take back then would later regret. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she gathered her composure before continuing.

"It is none of my business what you do in your private spare time," she told him, "but what you do on these grounds affects me and my business. As a matter of fact, I was hoping that you would show some sort of common sense and make better judgements about the company you keep."

"The company I keep?"

"That woman…"

"Is a friend."

"Is more than a friend. You can't make excuses for what I saw you doing with her. It was self explanatory."

He remained tacit, waiting for her to have her say before he said his.

"I don't care if you have…friends," she said through gritted teeth. "But you need to be responsible. She was here during work hours. Étienne could've been seriously hurt and you weren't there doing your job. You were off somewhere with her groping each other."

"I am at fault, Olivia, I do not deny that. I am sorry for my disobedience. I wish to have the opportunity to absolve my sins. I will do anything."

She glared at him with heated anger, wanting to slap him as hard as she could across his face and see if a red handprint would form on his pale flesh, wanting to scream at him, wanting to tell him to leave. A rampage was called for, perhaps a broken finger or two – she preferred the fingers she watched touch the woman's thigh.

"I can't tell you who to share your time with, but your dalliances will cost this vineyard dearly if the villagers tell negative rumours. This vineyard has been in my family for generations and a developing bad reputation can destroy everything they've built. I can't allow that to happen. Do you understand that?"

He bowed his head solemnly, feelling guiltier by the syllable.

"Oui. I understand."

"Good. Then I trust you will not only keep her from this property but you will take care as to who in the village sees you with her. Or, more importantly, take care as to who sees you take your liberties with her."

"Of course. I promise to do so."

"Good. I trust that you will." Olivia offered him an awkward smile. "If you don't believe me to be prying, might I ask you her name?"

"Why would you wish to know?"

"Never mind. It's your private affair, I understand. However, I was hoping to know it so should I ever formally be introduced to her I can address her properly."

"Her name is Lisette."

Olivia cocked her eye brow in what could only be termed as pure shock.

"Lisette?" she repeated.

"Oui."

"And, might I ask how you met your…Lisette?"

"Through a mutual friend, chérie."

Olivia tried to swallow the painfull knot of disbelief that formed at the centre of her throat.

"Laroux," answered the albino.

"Étienne?"

The albino nodded affirmation.

Olivia wanted to burst into tears and struggled desperately to maintain her composure. How could her beloved friend do this to her after all she'd done for him, after all she'd confided in him about?

"Olivia?" the albino called softly, worry punctuating his voice. "What is wrong?"

"Lisette is her name, you say?"

"Oui. But I am so sorry, Olivia. I do not understand the relevance."

"You honestly don't know? He never bothered to tell you?"

The albino shook his head and asked, "Tell me what?"

The expression on Olivia's face was an indelible mark of hurt and disgust. Her next few words explicated everything in a staggering way.

"Lisette is Étienne's sister."