7. Aria

As consciousness approaches, I feel disoriented. Where am I?

I open my eyes, and it takes a second, but then I realize I"m at Luca's villa. The giddiness fills me as I lie back in bed and grin up at the ceiling. I inhale, and I can still smell him on the sheets surrounding me. Fairytales do come true.

The door pops open, and I sit up, letting the sheet fall, thinking it"s Luca back to touch me again. My nipples harden in anticipation, and I work to pose seductively.

Roberta enters the room and stands next to the bed. Embarrassed, I hold the sheet up to cover myself. If she has any thoughts about my appearance, it doesn"t register on her face. It makes me wonder how many times she"s found other women in a similar state of undress.

"Shower?" She makes a motion of washing. She follows up with a sentence in Italian in which the only thing I recognize is the word for dinner. Through deduction, I determine I"m supposed to shower for dinner.

I nod but am reluctant to get out of bed completely naked. Roberta goes to the closet, takes out a robe, and brings it over, holding it up for me. I decide that this is something she"s probably used to.

It makes me think back to the castles I've visited in Europe in which I learned that much of the king's daily routine included sitting on the pot while his staff went through his day with him and then helped him dress. I"m not going to go as far as to have Roberta watch me go potty or wipe my butt, but I think I can manage getting out of bed naked and have her help me put on a robe.

I take my time in the shower, making sure the pretty scented soap is leathered all over my body. I wash my hair, knowing it will take extra time to dry it but wanting to look perfect for my first official dinner in Luca's home.

When I exit the shower, I put the robe back on and set about cleansing my face so I can put on new makeup. I pull the towel from my head, brushing out my hair. I find a blow dryer and dry my hair until it"s only slightly damp. I put in mousse, scrunching my hair all over to get nice, soft, natural waves.

I leave the bathroom and find a beautiful emerald dress lying on the bed. Next to it are a matching pair of bra and panties and a pair of black stiletto heels. An erotic chill slides through me at the idea of Luca removing them from my body later tonight. I put on the garments and the dress, then look at myself in the mirror. I look good. I hope Luca agrees.

A few moments later, Roberta enters, taking a long look at me and giving a nod of approval.

"Ti sta aspettando," she says. I"m pretty sure that means that Luca is waiting for me.

I slip on the heels and follow her out of my room and down the stairs. She guides me to an area of the house that I"d only glanced at earlier. She opens the double doors. The room is lit with candles on the table, and soft music plays.

Across the room, Luca is standing, his back to me as he looks out the window. As I enter, he turns and my breath stalls in my lungs. He is dressed in a dark suit, and his hair is slicked back. He looks powerful and sexy. Like an Italian James Bond.

He smiles as he walks toward me. "You are beautiful, Mio Angelo." He puts his hands on my arms and leans in, kissing me on one cheek, and then the other. "Are you hungry?"

Hunger is an understatement. "I"m famished."

He smiles and guides me toward the table, holding my chair out as I sit. He says something to Roberta in Italian that I think means we're ready to eat.

He sits at the head of the table, and for a moment, I feel like a queen. I grew up in elegance and luxury, but there"s something different about it in a home built hundreds of years ago and chock-full of history. Here it feels like royalty, not just riches.

A few moments later, a servant arrives with the aperitivo of prosecco and nuts. Luca holds up his glass. "Welcome home, Aria."

I have dueling emotions from his words, excitement and at the same time, fear. Is this really going to be my home?

Until now, this has been a big adventure, but I realize that my decision has set a new course for my life. I remind myself that this is what I want. I click my glass with his.

"Are you well?" he asks.

"Yes." I worry that his question is leading to asking about our encounter this afternoon. Is he going to ask me about being a virgin?

"So, you"re settling in?"

I nod with relief that I don"t have to talk about my virginity. Maybe he didn"t notice.

As each course of the meal comes, our conversation becomes easier and easier, like it had been on our outings in New York. We talk about anything and everything, although nothing of real consequence except to learn a little bit about each other. His favorite color is green, which is why I suspect I"m wearing an emerald dress.

Having napped for so long, I worry about being able to sleep tonight, but as the eighth and last course of the meal, the digestivo of limoncello arrives, I'm feeling full and lethargic.

Luca rises from his chair, coming to stand next to me, holding out his hand. "Come with me. I have a surprise."

I grin and probably look like a silly schoolgirl. "I don"t need surprises."

He smiles as he leans forward and kisses me on the cheek. "But I like giving them to you all the same." He loops my arm through his, escorting me out of the dining room and to the stairs. When we reach the landing, instead of heading in the direction of my room, we go across the hall and enter an expansive suite. I thought my room was rich and decadent, but this room is definitely fit for a king.

"This is your room now, Aria." His eyes stare at me intently, as if he's wanting me to understand this is a statement, not a question. I don"t have a choice, not that I want one.

Sure, the feminist in me feels he should ask me if I want to share a room with him. But the woman in me is all gooey inside at the idea of going to bed and waking up in the morning next to this man. It"s crazy considering how little I really know him.

Even the memory of his brutality toward that strange man this afternoon can"t take away the feeling that I"ve just entered a dream.

I give him my best flirty smile. "Is it time for bed?"

He laughs, and it"s free and beautiful. "In due time, Mio Angelo. First…" He takes my hand and guides me to an ensuite bathroom that is almost as large as my entire bedroom back at Niko's.

An enormous tub sits surrounded by a bay window through which moonlight shimmers. Luca turns on the water and pours oils into it. As the tub fills, he comes over to me, his eyes capturing mine as he unzips my dress and slowly peels it off my shoulders until it falls away and pools around my ankles.

I shiver from the light touch of his knuckles as he brushes them down my arms and then around to my back to unclasp my bra. It falls away, and his eyes immediately go to my breasts. Hunger fills them, but he only brushes the tips with his thumbs and then he tugs down my panties.

"It"s your turn now," I say, wanting to see him naked again.

He shakes his head as he guides me to the tub. "This is for you." He helps me in, and I settle into the warm, fragrant water.

"I"ll be right back." He"s not gone long when he re-enters with two flutes of more Prosecco, handing me one. I keep thinking he"s going to join me, but he doesn"t.

We clink our glasses again and then he sets his aside. He kneels by the tub, taking a soft cloth that he runs through the water and then caresses it over my shoulders and arms.

He"s behind me now as he leans in and gives me a kiss at the nape of my neck. "Did I hurt you today?"

I tense, wondering if he"s talking about the sex.

"No."

The washcloth brushes along my shoulders and back. "I think it was your first time, was it not?"

I close my eyes in embarrassment. "What does it matter?"

"It matters because that is a precious gift. I don"t know if I"m worthy of it."

I turn my head to look back at him. "I wouldn"t have given it if I didn"t find you worthy."

His smile is soft, sweet as he leans down and presses another kiss to the nape of my neck. I don"t think it"s meant to be arousing, but I feel it in my entire body. My nipples harden. My pussy pulses with need.

"I would have been gentler had I known. But this bath should help with any soreness."

"I don"t mind the soreness." Truth be told, I kind of like it. Not that I like pain, but it's a badge of honor. I"d had sex, and I"d had it with the man I'd chosen. "When do we get to do it again?"

His lips are on my skin again as he chuckles. "I wish it could be tonight, but alas, you need your rest."

I try not to pout. "I feel fine. I had a long nap, and you gave me an espresso." That was the caffe course before the digestivo.

"It was decaf, although don"t tell anybody. It might ruin my reputation as an Italian."

I take his hand and pull him so that he's beside me. "I really want to do it again."

"My poor aroused little angel." He leans in and kisses me. This time, it's not the sweet little kisses but a powerful, fierce, arousing one. I"m trying to pull him in the tub with me, but he"s big and resists.

"Relax. Let me take care of you." His hand slides down my body and between my thighs.

I start to tell him that I want him naked, but his fingers slide against my clit and I gasp at the pleasure that shoots through me.

"Close your eyes," he says softly, his lips brushing along my shoulder as his fingers work wonders.

"What about you?" I ask breathlessly.

"All I need is to see your pleasure. It feels nice, yes?"

"Yes." I close my eyes and give in to his touch. I might have been a virgin, but I wasn't new to orgasms. I'd touched myself plenty of times. Somehow, his touching me isn't like that. It's better, and soon, my hips are rocking and I'm gasping for breath as I teeter on the edge of a cliff.

"Pinch your nipples." His voice is rough, edgy. It tells me this is turning him on.

I do as he commands, my fingers squeezing my hard nipples. "Oh!" I feel the pinch straight to my center, and before I know it, water is sloshing about as I come hard around Luca's fingers.

As I come down, I feel boneless in the warm water. Luca continues to wash me and trail kisses over my skin. It's the most romantic moment of my life, and all my doubts about what I've done wash away.

When I'm finished, he helps me out of the tub, putting a robe on me. "Come to bed."

I shake my head. "I want a turn." My hand covers his groin where his erection is evident.

"This isn't about me."

"No. It's about me wanting to make you come." I undo his belt. I see uncertainty in his eyes. He wants me to take care of him, but he's not sure he wants to deviate from his plan. "Don't you want me to be happy?"

"I live for it, Mio Angelo."

"Then let me do this." I push his pants down, his dick bouncing loose. It's long and hard, and I'm fascinated by it. But I'm also inexperienced, and so for a moment, doubt has me rethinking this.

His finger tilts my chin up. "You don't have to?—"

"I want to." I sink to my knees. I look up at him, and something in his eyes flashes with wild heat.

"Your innocence makes me hungry for you," he growls out.

"Tell me what you like."

He takes his dick in hand and rubs the tip along my lips. "Simply suck it. Like a… illeccalecca…" He frowns. "A candy on a stick."

"Lollipop?"

He nods. "Yes. Lollipop."

It's been a while since I had a lollipop, but I feel confident I remember how to consume one. I lick the tip, tasting a sweet, salty drop of precum.

He growls as I lick around the rim. Finally, I suck the tip into my mouth, swirling the velvety tip with my tongue.

"Si, Mio Angelo." He closes his eyes, and his hips rock gently as I suck him deeper. He speaks in Italian, mostly words I don't know, but I get the feeling they're dirty. It makes me feel sexy and powerful.

His fingers lace through my hair, holding my head as his movements pick up speed, his thrusts go deeper. I'm a little worried if he goes too deep, so I wrap my hand around his dick, using it and my mouth to stroke him.

"Ah… basta… enough… stop…"

I do as he asks and look up at him, wondering what I'm doing wrong.

"I'm going to come," he says gently.

"That's the point, right?" I'm not seeing the problem.

"Some women don't like it."

"I don't know if I like it until I try it."

Again, fire flashes in his eyes. Like he's excited by the idea of coming in my mouth. It turns me on that he's turned on. I bring his dick to my mouth and suck it hard and deep.

He lets out a string of Italian again. His dick is so hard, I can feel the ridges, feel it pulsing. I focus on tightening around him with my lips.

"Si… Aria… ah…" He lets out a long, feral growl and thrusts until I nearly gag. Warm liquid coats my tongue, fills my mouth as he continues to rock in and out of my mouth.

A moment later, he hauls me up by my arms and kisses me hard. He must taste himself in the kiss, and that's erotic too. He moves me to the counter, lifting me until I sit on it. Then he's on his knees and his mouth is on me. I'm already so hot, so needy, that immediately, I'm gasping, and my pussy is on fire.

"Luca… oh, God…"

His tongue does the most marvelous things. Flicking over my clit. Sliding in my pussy. It's not long before pleasure explodes through me. It rockets through me until I'm boneless again.

Luca rises, kisses me tenderly. He picks me up and carries me to his bed. Now our bed.

"Sleep well, Mio Angelo," he says as he tucks me in.

"You're not joining me?"

He gives me an apologetic expression. "I have work."

"What's the point of my being in your room if you're not here too?"

He smiles. "You're very right." He lies next to me, spooning around me. I know he'll be up once I'm asleep. I don't love that, but I know I have time to change that. Someday, we'll be going to bed and rising together in the morning. Maybe we'll have kids. Maybe, when we're really old, we'll die in each other's arms. Yes, fairy tales do come true.