“That’s good. It bodes well for the other Moretti traditions you’ll take part in,” I said.
Her eyes bulged, “What do you mean ‘other traditions’?”
“You have yet to prove your obedience to me, your master. Or as you may prefer to call me, ‘your daddy.’ Daddy will do—you’re such a good girl.” I grabbed her coffee cup, setting it on the bedside table.
“Hey, I wasn’t done with that!” Eva complained.
“You can have it back after you look at this. Get over here,” I pulled her to my side, the place where she belonged, and marveled at her warm smell and soft skin. From underneath the pillow, I withdrew a navy velvet box and placed it on her hand.
“What’s this?” Her mouth pursed and brows raised while running her finger over the lid.
“I think you might guess. The question is, did I guess your size right?”
Opening the box, she revealed the emerald-cut diamond ring inside.
My stomach rolled and my mouth felt like I was chewing cotton balls as she slid the ring on her left ring finger. “Yes,” she said, “It’s a perfect fit.”
“We’re a perfect fit, Eva. Does this mean I get to keep you forever?”
“Only if you promise not to tell our children how we met.”
“You mean how I picked you up on the side of the road? Barefoot and sopping wet?”
“Exactly. Can we please omit that tiny detail?”
“So long as you’ll have my baby, I’ll tell the tiny Moretti’s whatever story you like.”
She held her hand up to the light, “It’s a beautiful ring, Roberto. I love it.”
“I love you, Eva.” I traced the contours of her body with my hand, “Let me prove that to you for a lifetime.”
23
Eva
I can’t keep these things in stock. Tell Livia they’re selling like hot cakes.” The quirky owner of Babe’s Baubles took the delivery box from my hands.
“She’s good at coming up with new ideas, and Gigi and I are her skilled hunters in the flea market.”
“You three make quite a team. I could sell twice as many of these a month if you stocked them that fast.” He used one of his undersized arms to hold a locket up to the window. Livia had a design-your-own locket package. Customers told Ralph what engraving they would like on the back, and for an additional fee, could select matching charms for the front: a silver cat or dog to remind of a cherished pet, a gold book or pair of glasses, the Eiffel tower or London Bridge—the possibilities were endless.
Soon we’d have to expand our operation.
Ours.
After a few months working with the Moretti sisters, Livia talked to me about becoming a partner. I went from being a rain-soaked runaway, to a business owner with cash in the bank in just over six months.
“See you later, Ralph!” I pet his huge, fluffy cat on the way out and opened the door to see Roberto’s Porsche parked out front.
Leaning down to his window, I scraped my nails over his muscled forearm where it rested on the window ledge. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Get in.” His gaze was level, direct, and seemed to bore into me.
It was a struggle to lower myself into the passenger seat without flashing my panties, but I managed.
“Something I’ve been thinking about.” A fiery air of command hung about him, like a furnace flame contained behind its door.
Our engagement party was just last month, but it felt like we were on our honeymoon already.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“How much you liked me fucking you in front of all those men during your initiation ceremony.” Roberto shot the sleek automobile down the two-lane highway towards the coast as soon as we pulled out of town.
“Does that upset you? Didn’t you like it?”
“I did.” He answered with grim determination. “So much so, that I’ve set up another ceremony.” His stare pierced me, and I felt my soul shiver, “This time with strangers.”
“Strangers?” We wound through the tall spruce forest, and the sunlight streamed through the branches, illuminating the sword ferns in certain patches below. “But with the same arrangement? You’ll keep me safe? They have to stay seated until you say, and they can only touch me with their hands?”
“That’s right. And of course there won’t be as many participants. Only ten. They’re not touching you, only… themselves. I said I’d allow that.”
“Ten?” I say, nerves quivering in my belly, and swallowed hard.
Later that evening, he trussed me up in a tantalizing getup, a see-through bra and panty set, only the bra cut below my naked nipples so that the erect buds shoved skyward.
“You’re perfect, Eva.” He spoke in an affectionate whisper and circled me. “There’s one more thing.” Reaching out, he twisted my nipple until I had to stifle a moan.
“What’s that?” I asked.
He strode to the bedside table and removed a flogger, “This thing. Each man may give you one stroke with it, in a place of his choosing. Not the face, of course, and they are all aware of your safe word.”
“Just stay close, okay? I’m nervous.”
He pulled me into his chest and rested his chin on the top of my head, “I’ll protect you, baby.”
The smell of the tapered candles. Dim light. A clinking of ice against glass as we entered the room, as our audience shifted in their seats.
To warm me up, his mouth moved down my neck, breathy and hot, and he trailed his tongue to my nipple, parting my robe to lick and suck there.
Feral sounds kicked up from the observation chairs placed around the room.
“As promised, gentleman,” Roberto addressed the audience as he held the flogger in the air, “You will all take a turn at taming my slave tonight.”
“Wait a minute! Sl-” I tried to protest.
Roberto put his hand over my mouth, leaning down to whisper in my ear, “Hush, now. Be a good girl and play along, you always have your safe word if you don’t like the fantasy. We can stop at any time.”
Something shifted in my brain, and the word came naturally, “Yes, master.”
Roberto removed his shirt and his belt, tossing them aside, “On your knees.” He ordered, and I obeyed. “Unzip me and open your mouth.”
Trousers unzipped all around us and the sound was an aphrodisiac, reminding me of the last time I was here. Likewise, the men boldly advised, “Oh, come on, you’re going to have to open wider than that!”
Roberto’s heavy erection flopped out onto my tongue, and before I licked and sucked it, he forced it all the way into my mouth.
“Choke her with it.” An observer proclaimed. “Make that cock tease down that entire dick.”
My eyes watered as his massive cock slid in and out of my mouth, shoving my lips open, and I couldn’t keep from gagging as I gasped for air between his thrusts.
“Flog please?” One watcher asked.
“You may,” Roberto grunted in reply.
I kept my eyes open and maintained eye contact with him as he fucked my face, and I burned from the inside out, with the epicenter of my ache between my legs. While Roberto chased his rough, oral pleasure, I felt the suede swat of the soft flogger connect with and wrap around my sex. The gentle sting made me want more of the same, and I attempted to back myself up for more swats.