Under Her Skin

by Michelle Love

  Arturo told Hero what her father had said about Tom’s parents when they cuddled down in Hero’s old bedroom later that night. The queen-sized bed was snug, and Hero giggled as the six-foot-five Arturo struggled to fit himself into it. He gave up in the end, and let his feet hang over the end of the bed. “Shorty,” he said to her, pressing his lips to her mouth.

  Hero grinned. “Boy, if you think you’re getting lucky when my parents are in the next room, you have another thing coming. And it’s not me,” she quipped, realizing how her words sounded.

  With a wicked chuckled, Arturo slipped his hand between her legs and began to caress her. “Wanna bet?”

  “Stop that … no, wait, don’t stop.”

  He stroked her into a mellow orgasm, muffling her cry with his mouth. “You are such a bad, bad boy, Arturo Bachi. Let me return the favor.”

  He shook his head. “Believe me, cara mia, I couldn’t be quiet enough. Just holding you is enough.”

  “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow night at the club.”

  “Well, you’d better.”

  They left Kenosha the next morning and drove back down to Chicago, extracting a promise from Hero’s parents not to stay away too long.

  In the city, they checked into a five-star hotel (of course—Arturo insisted on it) and enjoyed an afternoon of lovemaking, before heading out to Hero’s favorite pizza place, much to Arturo’s (mock) outrage.

  “No, really, you’re taking an Italian to an American pizza place?”

  Hero grinned as she pushed open the door to Giordano’s and a rush of chatter and music poured out into the night air. “Believe me. This place is life-changing.”

  Arturo sat back and let Hero order for them, grinning at the mischief in his wife’s eyes. Life, since Peter Armley’s attempted murder of them both, had gone from terrifying to magical in just over a year. Now safe from all malevolence, he could enjoy the time he spent with Hero, her naturally fun-loving nature taking over from the scared, grieving woman he had met.

  An hour later, he put down the last crust of pizza and groaned. “I can’t handle any more.”

  Hero smiled triumphantly. “Was I right or was I right? This pizza pie is the best, huh?”

  Arturo looked at the few remnants of the Giordano’s Classic Deep-Dish pie and sighed. “Okay, I admit it … that was sensational.”

  Hero looked smug. “Correctomundo. I love this place.”

  “Did you and Tom come here?”

  “When we could afford it. Not so much after Beth was born, because we just didn’t have the time. It hasn’t changed.” She looked around, a happy smile on her face. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Very much.” He leaned forward and kissed some marinara sauce from her lip. “Now,” he said, lowering his voice, “tell me more about this club we’re going to later.”

  “Ah,” Hero said, grinning at him, then leaning her forehead against his. “I hope the carb overload won’t hit you, because we’re going to be keeping each other up all night.”

  “You’d better keep that promise, piccolo, because you’re not going to be able to walk straight in the morning.”

  Hero gave an anticipatory moan, and Arturo felt his cock respond, pressing against his blue jeans. “I’m going to fuck you into next week,” he growled, covering her mouth with his. They kissed, forgetting where they were until they felt they had an audience. Peeking, Hero blushed when a group of diners gave them a cheer.

  Arturo laughed. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I don’t want to be arrested for fucking you right here, and that’s what’s going to happen unless we go now.”

  Hero insisted on going back to the hotel before they left for the club. “I have to change into a little surprise for you.”

  Of course, Arturo had to have her as soon as she stripped off, and as he fucked her on the soft carpet of their suite, he tried to guess her surprise. Hero, despite his cock slamming into her, wouldn’t give up her surprise and when she went to change, she locked the bathroom door.

  “Spoilsport,” Arturo muttered through the door. A few moments later, she reemerged, her dress back on over whatever she had changed into.

  “Impatient boy,” she purred. “Not long now.”

  They took a cab down to the Logan Square neighborhood and Hero took Arturo’s hand and they walked to a small building, where Hero spoke to the doorman. He stepped aside to let them in. Arturo looked at Hero curiously.

  “Before you ask, no, I never came here with Tom. The woman who started this club is an old college friend of mine, Ines. She was always trying to get me to, er, come, to this place after Tom died. She said I need some fun. I think she’ll approve of my Italian playboy.” She gave him a mischievous grin and led him deeper into the club.

  Arturo saw Hero walk up to a stunning woman, tall and curvy, with jet-black hair tumbling in a Veronica-Lake-like a curtain over one eye. The woman threw her arms around Hero, and they hugged.

  “Ines, please meet my husband, Arturo Bachi.”

  Ines looked him up and down slowly. “My, aren’t you a pretty boy? Congrats, Hero.”

  Arturo grinned at her. “Hello, Ines, a pleasure.”

  “The pleasure is most assuredly all mine. I hope you know what my girl here likes, Signore. Hero is my ultimate girl crush, so take care of her.”

  “I promise I will.”

  Ines nodded, obviously approving. She turned to Hero and kissed her full on the mouth. Arturo felt his cock stiffen at the sight of these two heartbreakingly gorgeous women kissing.

  “I’ve reserved the red room for you, darling,” Ines said to Hero, before winking at Arturo. “Enjoy. Let me know if you need some company, male or female, or just someone to … watch.”

  She trailed a finger lightly down Hero’s cleavage, then reached down to squeeze Arturo’s cock. “Huge. Nice,” she nodded to a laughing Hero.

  Hero held her hand out to a slightly stunned Arturo. “Come on, big boy. Let’s go play.”

  The room she led him to was, as expected, painted red, but the subtle lighting gave it a warmer glow than he’d expected. A St. Andrew’s cross stood in the corner. On the walls were racks of toys for them to play with, whips, crops, paddles. There were drawers full of dildos and cock rings, lube, condoms, everything they could ever wish for. A bondage table was set in front of a huge antique mirror so they could watch themselves fuck, and one whole wall was glass, looking out onto a nightclub. Hero nodded to it. “One-way glass … unless we want people to watch us, then we just flick that switch.”

  Arturo’s cock was painfully hard against his pants. “Hero Bachi … unless you get naked in the next five seconds …”

  Hero grinned and stepped away from him, slowly pulling the belt of her wrap dress open. She drew open the fabric to reveal that underneath, she wore a leather harness, buttery soft straps crisscrossing her body, showcasing her breasts, highlighting her belly button before swooping between her legs and crisscrossing her butt. “You like?”

  “Mio Dio, Hero …”

  Arturo was breathless as she moved toward him, her long brown hair tumbling around her. She was achingly beautiful. She slowly undid his fly and drew his pants down his legs. Arturo yanked his sweater off as she pushed down his underwear and he stepped out of them.

  Hero stroked his cock against her belly, looking up at him from underneath her lashes. “Touch me, Signore.”

  With a growl, he swept her onto the bondage table and pushed her legs apart. “Time for whips is later, right now, I just have to have you … God, this harness, Hero … so fucking hot …”

  He thrust his cock inside her wet warmth, fucking her hard and fast. Hero, panting for breath, loved the violence of his lovemaking, the feral need for her. He was like an animal.

  For the next hour, Arturo couldn’t keep his hands off of her, or his cock out of her. He handcuffed her to the St. Andrews cross, hands and ankles, and fucked her against it so hard that he knew they would both be bruised. Hero didn’t care. She
lived to be fucked by him, to do what he asked, and when he finally chose a riding crop from the many available and swiped it across her body, she came again, just from the intense pain of it. At her urging, he whipped across her breasts, her belly, her thighs and finally, she begged him to strike her clit and her cunt with it. Only hesitating slightly, Arturo did, and Hero arched her back up, coming from the feel of it.

  It only made Arturo hornier to see her like that, and he thrust his cock deep inside her again, and they fucked hard and fast against the wooden cross.

  “I want them to see your beautiful body as I fuck you,” he growled as he kissed her. “I’m going to fuck you from behind so they can watch your tits and your belly press up against the glass and wish they were me. Every man and woman in this place will want to fuck you.”

  Hero groaned and as he freed her from the cross, she went into his arms, and he kissed her tenderly. “There’s so much more I want to do with you,” she said, “but before that, do it. Put me against that glass and fuck me until I’m raw.”

  Arturo flipped the glass switch and pressed her against the window. His hands covered hers as they made love, his lips on her neck, her shoulders. He looked to see the lascivious, envious eyes of their audience. “They all want to be me,” he whispered into Hero’s ear as she gasped and moaned. “They all want to fuck you so badly.”

  Arturo grinned as Hero cried out his name over and over; his eyes met Ines’ as she watched them through the glass wall, a small smile playing on her face. Arturo nibbled at Hero’s earlobe. “Ines wants you so badly … I can tell, she’s wet for you. Would you like her to fuck you?”

  Hero didn’t at first. Then she said … “Do you want to watch her fuck me?”

  “I do. I really do.”

  Hero turned in his arms and studied his eyes. “You wouldn’t consider it cheating?”

  Arturo shook his head. “No … and in case you’re wondering, I have no interest in fucking Ines. But the thought of the two of you together … mio Dio, that’s hot.”

  He stroked her face. “But you absolutely say no if you’re not comfortable with it. I promise, no regrets.

  Hero considered, and he watched her expression change from uncertainty to thoughtfulness to arousal. “Let’s do it.”

  Ines joined them after being summoned by Arturo. She entered the room, naked except for a long black velvet cloak, and an immense strap-on, the dildo part curving upwards. She smiled at Hero. “Don’t be nervous, beautiful. Nothing has to happen you don’t want it to.” She glanced at Arturo, who smiled and nodded, then Ines held out her hand to Hero.

  Ines stroked her hand down Hero’s curves. “I always knew you’d be sensational, Hero.” She pinched one of Hero’s nipples hard, and Hero drew in a deep breath. Ines looked at Arturo with a smile. “I think our lovely girl needs to be a little more relaxed.”

  Arturo stood behind Hero, and she leaned back into him. His arms snaked around her waist. “Don’t be scared, little one.” He stroked her belly as Ines dipped her head and took Hero’s nipple into her mouth. “Touch her,” Arturo urged, and Hero cupped Ines’s breasts in her hands, stroking her thumbs over her nipples.

  Hero leaned her head back on Arturo’s shoulder and turned her head to kiss him on the mouth. Arturo’s cock was hard, pressing against the curve of her buttocks.

  Ines dropped to her knees, and Hero gasped, trembling as Ines’s tongue lashed around her clit. Arturo’s hands were on her breasts then, caressing them as he whispered what he wanted to do to her in her ear.

  Hero closed her eyes and lost herself in the pleasure of being touched by these two beautiful people. When Ines stood and pushed her legs apart, sliding the dildo slowly into her cunt, Arturo took her ass, both of them gentle, at first, then fucking her hard until she was almost screaming, her orgasm taking all of her control.

  Afterward, they laid her back on the bondage table to recover. Ines kissed her thoroughly, then kissed Arturo, just once briefly, on the mouth. “Thank you to both of you. You just made a fantasy become a beautiful reality.”

  Hero couldn’t speak; she just smiled at her old friend. Ines stroked her cheek. “Number one girl crush forever,” she whispered, with just a little regret. “Later, lovely people.”

  She left them alone then. Arturo gathered Hero into his arms. “Did you enjoy that, baby?”

  Hero, still breathless, nodded. “I never even considered a threesome before, but that was … incredible.”

  Arturo chuckled. “For me too. Two of the most beautiful women in the world enjoying each other … man …” His cock was still hard, and Hero smiled as she stroked her hand down it.

  “Put that inside me, Turo, I need you.”

  They made love slowly, taking their time, then finally got dressed. They said goodbye to Ines and went to find a cab. Arturo couldn’t stop kissing her. “That was incredible, thank you.”

  “Why are you thanking me? I feel like I got the best deal out of anyone.”

  “And so you should, but believe me, I had an amazing time too. Hey, look, here’s one.”

  As they were driven back to their hotel, Hero snuggled into his arms. “For once, I’m actually exhausted.”

  “Big day tomorrow.” They were meeting Tom’s parents at the cemetery where Tom and Beth were buried.

  Hero nodded. “I know. I’m ready.”

  The snow held off as Hero laid the flowers she’d brought for Beth and Tom on their shared grave. It was harder than she realized to be there, and the tears were flowing freely. “I feel so bad about being so happy when they’re lying in the ground.” She began to sob, and Arturo wrapped his arms around her, holding her while she wept.

  “I can’t imagine what it must be like for you,” he said in a low, soft voice. “I wish I could make it okay for you, bring them back. At the same time, I’d be loath to give you up.”

  Hero half-cried, half-laughed. “I’m selfish. I’d want you all at the same time.”

  “To make you happy, I’d make it work,” he said, and she shook her head.

  “You really are the sweetest man.”

  “I love you. I’m sure I would have loved Beth, and been good friends with Tom. How could I not be? We all loved you, Hero. We all love you.”

  “Hear, hear,” said a voice behind them. Arturo and Hero turned to see two middle-aged people walking towards them. The woman smiled.

  “Hello, Hero, dear.”

  “Gillian … Roger …” Hero’s voice quivered, and for a second, everyone froze. Then with a sob, the two women threw themselves into each other’s arms and hugged as if their life depended on it. The man, his eyes red, stepped forward and shook Arturo’s hand. “You must be Arturo … we’ve heard a lot of good things about you, son.”

  Arturo smiled at him. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir, and your wife. I wish I had met your son.”

  Roger Lambert nodded, his emotions close to the surface as he took his turn to hug his former daughter-in-law. “Hero, darling. We were so sorry to hear about the terrible goings on in Italy. Are you fully recovered?”

  Hero, her face wet with tears which were quickly freezing, nodded. “Thanks to Arturo.”

  Gillian Lambert was kissing Arturo’s cheek. “You saved our girl.”

  “She saved me,” Arturo said again, gently, “in so many ways.”

  Hero tucked her arm back in his. “He’s too modest. How are you both?”

  They chatted politely for a few minutes then Roger rubbed his gloveless hands. “What say we go somewhere warmer and talk? No disrespect to Tommy and the Munchkin, but my butt is an icicle at this point.”

  Settled in a warm hotel bar, Hero smiled. “Beth loved you so much, Grandpa. I bet she still hangs out with you, whatever plane she’s on.”

  Gillian nodded. “We still see her running around, messing with the dogs, and chasing butterflies. Beth was the spitting image of her mommy,” she told Arturo. “You’ll see when you have daughters.”

  Arturo and Hero share
d a smile. “Hopefully, that day will come soon,” Arturo said, “when it does, we’d love it if you would … be de-facto grandparents again. If it’s not too painful.”

  Roger actually looked as if he might cry. Gillian did cry. “That would be heavenly,” she said, her voice breaking. “We miss Beth so much.”

  Arturo was moved. “You don’t know how much I wish she could be here, Tom too, but without presuming, I would love for you to be involved in our family. Hero adores you both, is always talking about you, and it made me a little envious when she talked about her family back home. My parents are both dead, and I’m an only child.”

  Gillian squeezed his hand. “We’ll always be family now, Turo.”

  Roger was checking his watch. Hero nudged him. “Do you have to be somewhere?”

  “Oh, no,” he said, coloring a little, and Hero narrowed her eyes at him.

  “What are you up to? I know that look, Roger.”

  “Nothing, nothing.”

  Hero left it alone but was aware of Roger, Gillian, and even Arturo glancing at the door to the bar now and again. Something was going on, and when, a half hour later, her own father walked through the door, she was shocked. “Dad? What are you doing here?”

  William Donati greeted Tom’s parents and Arturo, before turning to his daughter. “Turo, Deirdre’s out in the car with … the surprise. Would you?”

  “Of course.”

  Arturo shot a grin at Hero, who was still agape.

  “What’s going on? I feel like I’m being ambushed by something.”

  William put his arm around his daughter. “Sweetheart … for a couple of months, Melly has been looking into something. She had the idea at your wedding—the third one,” he laughed as Hero grinned, still wary. “And we’ve been talking about it, wondering if you would want this particular … surprise. I talked to Arturo and he agreed now is the time.”

  Arturo came in then with Deirdre and another woman, smaller than Deirdre, darker skinned, her long dark hair pulled up in an elegant chignon, her heavily padded jacket over a beautiful green sari. The resemblance between Hero and this woman was undeniable, and Hero felt a shock run through her. She looked at Arturo, then Deirdre, her father, the Lamberts before her gaze returned to the woman.