Elli was vaguely shocked and yet also excited. “And you’ve taken part in this?”
Aldo nodded, watching her seriously. “You already know I’m a pretty uninhibited guy, Elli.”
Elli considered for a long moment. “Safe sex is practiced?”
“Of course.” He leaned forward, tracing his finger on her bottom lip as he spoke in a low voice. “You know one of my fantasies is to watch you being fucked by another man, Elli. Do you think me strange?”
“No,” she said carefully, “I think as long as it’s consensual and doesn’t involve physical harm, I think whatever turns you on is fine. And I want to make you happy.”
“What would make you happy, Elli?”
She smiled, knowing he would feel better if she revealed her own personal kink. “You know, being fucked by two men—as long as one of them was you—wouldn’t be objectionable to me.” She considered it and realized she was actually excited about the prospect. Aldo had definitely released the kinkier side of her, and that could only be a good thing, she thought. “Will there be anyone we know there?”
“Not that you know. I believe Maceo and Ori are always invited but never come.”
Elli was relieved. “Good. I don’t know if I could face them again if they were there.” Since January, she had been spending a lot of time with the Bartoli’s, and they had become good friends.
Aldo laughed. “You realize we all wear masks all the time, right? Anyway, afterward, some of us head to Maceo’s gallery for his Carnival party. There, you will know a few people, obviously. So what do you say?”
Elli kissed him, buoyed by his enthusiasm and her sudden arousal. “Let’s do it.”
Two days later, she wasn’t so brave as they traveled to the mansion. She clutched Aldo’s hand, feeling very exposed and vulnerable, naked under the long, silver-grey cloak she wore. Aldo leaned over to kiss her, his mask alongside hers in a box on the opposite seat of his limousine. “Don’t be scared, baby. No one will touch you unless you give your permission.”
That made her feel better, but as they stepped out of the limousine, and Aldo helped her put on the beautifully-made Colombina mask, a half mask that covered her eyes, upper cheeks, and nose. It was a deep claret color, decorated with gold and laser cut lace and crystals. Aldo tied the black ribbons fastenings for her. “You look stunning, Elliana.”
His own mask was slightly more frightening. In the Bauta style, it was stark and disturbing in its expression. Black and gold, it hid his entire face and his hair, which Elli had noticed, was longer than it had been when they met, curling as it grew out. She touched her lips to the mask’s cold ones. “Whatever happens, I love you.”
“Whatever happens, I know you’re mine, Elliana.”
They walked into the candlelit villa and a servant took their cloaks. Elli was a little hesitant.
“Your cloak, miss?” The servant didn’t blink as she shyly pulled the cloak from her shoulders, exposing her naked body. She took Aldo’s arm, and he led her up a grand staircase, gold-and-silver-gilt, with marble everywhere. The ceilings were painted in scenes of cherubs and Valentines shooting arrows. This place made Aldo’s home look like a provincial farmhouse, Elli thought, and gave a nervous giggle. The colors of the furnishings, the curtains, and the masks of the other guests were all sensual and sumptuous.
When they entered the main room, heads—or rather, masks—turned to stare at them. Aldo made a gesture, sweeping his hand down Elli’s body as if presenting her, and Elli felt a hot rush of shyness. She stepped back a little, but Aldo wasn’t going to let her get away with running and led her forward into the crowd. It was unnerving, especially when a few minutes later, a masked man with a blank-faced mask and a huge erection came to introduce himself to her.
“You are very beautiful,” he said, in a heavily-accented voice. French, Elli guessed as the man turned to Aldo. “Your lady has easily the most wonderful body in this room. I would very much like to fuck her.”
Aldo turned his masked face to Elli. “Ask her, my friend. If she says yes, then I am happy for you to take her …as long as I may watch and perhaps join in.”
“Of course.” The other man turned back to Elli, who was trembling with nerves and excitement. She was really going to do this, wasn’t she? And Aldo, and other people, would watch her being fucked …she had to admit, she was aroused by the thought. Thank god for Carnivals and masks, she thought. She nodded when the man asked for her permission, then took his hand, clasping Aldo’s with the other as they walked over to one of the large chaise-lounges that surrounded the main room. On a table at the side, Elli saw lube, condoms, and sex toys arranged artfully, as well as glass bowls of water and bottles of champagne on ice.
Her suitor grabbed a bottle of champagne. “What say, friend, that we cover this beautiful woman in the finest champagne and use our tongues to lick it from her beautiful skin That should get her good and wet and make her relax.”
“A fine idea,” said Aldo. “Then perhaps we can both fuck her.”
The man nodded, holding his hand out for Aldo to shake. He shook the bottle and popped the cork, spraying the liquid all over Elli, who gasped at the cold liquid on her hot skin. Then, as promised, the two men proceeded to lick every drop from her. The first time the stranger’s tongue touched her sex, Elli tightened up, but Aldo, seeing this, bent his mouth to her ear. “It’s okay, Elli. It is. Just relax; this is all for you.”
He took the bottle of champagne, poured out a flute and popped a pill into the drink, dissolving it. “This will help you relax.”
Elli, quivering with nerves and excitement, downed the champagne in one gulp, and in a few seconds, she felt her head whirl and the sensations the two men were sending through her body became more intense the more mellow she felt. She placed her trust entirely in them. The suitor’s cock was in her then, huge and rampant, thrusting hard. She didn’t even realize she was still standing until she felt Aldo push his cock into her ass, supporting her as both the men fucked her.
“You have an exquisite cunt,” the suitor said, panting, but Elli was almost delirious with pleasure then, gasping and crying as she was fucked to the most intense orgasm of her life. The suitor came, thanking her as he pulled out. then Aldo’s cock was inside her, fucking her hard.
“That was incredible,” he said, ramming his hips hard against hers, his cock reaming her into submission. Elli came again and again, feeling woozy and like her body wasn’t her own as she fucked Aldo. They had attracted an audience, and Eli found she liked the feeling of being watched as she was made love to. Four other men made approaches, and she gave permission for two of them to fuck her. The men she turned –down—mostly out of exhaustion—simply nodded, shook her hand, and moved on. Elli was amazed how safe she felt in this bizarre, erotic situation. Never had she dreamed she would be a part of this world.
Hours later, she and Aldo left the erotic party on their way to Maceo’s own gala, via their favorite pizza restaurant first.
“Did you enjoy that, my darling love?” Aldo asked over a cheesy bite.
“It was …out of this world. But I am glad it’s only once a year. I think I broke my vagina.” She grinned up at him, her eyes soft with love.
Aldo chuckled. “It will weird to go back to normal life for a few hours, I warn you.”
Then he eyed her dress, which she’d put on after showering their earlier antics away. “I thought you were going to wear that red dress again?”
Elli looked down at the lilac, form-fitting dress she wore, grateful she’d kept all traces of pizza off it. “You don’t like this?”
“You look beautiful …I just love you in red, is all. No problem.” He grinned and kissed her, but Elli had thought, for a moment, she had seen something else in his eyes. Anger. What was that about?
But he chatted away to her, and clearly, there was nothing bothering him now, so she brushed it off as her imagination. They wandered the streets, finishing off their meal before arriving at Maceo’
s water-front gallery. It was already packed with people, some of them still wearing masks from the various Carnival parties around the city. Elli hoped that she wouldn’t recognize any of the masks from the orgy.
Orianthi Bartoli broke away from the crowds and threw her arms around Elli as soon as she spotted the couple. “I’m so glad you came!” she exclaimed, kissing Aldo’s cheek before whisking Elli off to introduce her to some people, who, Elli found, had already been briefed about her. Some of them knew about the nasty op-ed about her and were firmly on her side. “I’ve read all your work for the last few years,” said one rather stately gentleman. “And whatever idiot wrote that piece is a fool.”
Several other people said the same, and Elli was starting to feel appreciated and valued as she talked to the people Ori introduced to her. She spent what felt like hours discovering the artists and artisans who worked with Ori and Maceo and was introduced to some of their international friends too. Grady Mallory and his wife Floriana, Theo and Jessica Storm, and Maceo's best friends, Benoit and Lisander, both alone, as their wives were both home with their children.
Ori grinned at Elli. “They have a million kids between them—personally, I don’t know how Shiloh and Kate keep up.”
“Do you have plans for any more after this one?”
Ori glanced down at her swollen belly. “Right now, I’d rather shove needles in my ears, but ask me again when this little monster is two or three. Of course, by that time,” she said in a stage-whisper as she saw her husband approach. “Maceo will be way too old for any more kids.”
Maceo, gloriously handsome in his early fifties, chuckled. “Yeah, well, that’ll teach you for marrying an old man.”
Ori chuckled. “My old man,” she said and kissed him. Elli grinned at the happy couple and excused herself to find Aldo.
She saw him talking to Theo and Jess Storm. Jess smiled at her as Elli took Aldo’s hand. “Hello again …oh, are you two together?”
Elli nodded, smiling. She looked down at Jess and Theo’s daughter, Lily, who stood shyly at her mother’s side. “Are you having a good time, Lily?”
Lily blushed red and nodded, half-hiding behind her mother. Jess chuckled, looking apologetically at Elli. “She’s still a little jetlagged. We only got to Italy this morning.”
“How long are you here? It would be lovely to have lunch sometime.”
Jess looked regretful. “Only until tomorrow, I’m afraid, but if you ever get over to Seattle, I would love to see you.”
Seattle. There it was again. Elli smiled at Jess as she, Theo, and Lily said goodbye. Then Aldo turned his attention back to Elli.
“I take it those were your Seattle friends you mentioned?”
Aldo smiled. “Yes, and now that you’ve met Theo and Jess, maybe I can persuade you to take a break with me there?”
Elli laughed at his mischief. “You can, but not just yet. We have a busy month coming up.”
She was starting to feel tired now, and noticing, Aldo kissed her cheek. “I just have to go speak to someone,” he said. “I’ll be back in a moment, and we’ll go home.”
Elli used the time alone to look around at the art works, wondering why she’d never come here before. She was staggered by the beauty and artistry in the gallery. Maceo Bartoli had certainly put on an exquisite show.
Elli finished her drink and looked for somewhere to set her glass down. She moved through the audience and found a table. She was putting her drink down when she heard a man talking. His voice was low, mellifluous—and heartbreaking familiar. All the breath left her lungs as she turned and saw him. From the back, his hair looked shorter, neater, and not as wild, but still that glorious dark brown. The person he was talking to was distracted by someone interrupting, and the brown-haired man turned around, his bright green eyes fixing on her.
Elli saw him pale a –little—he looked as shocked as she was—but still, he was the most gloriously beautiful man she had ever seen. At that moment, and with a sinking heart, Elli realized there was, and always would be, only one man she truly loved, and he was standing right in front of her.
Indio.
“Darling, shall we go? You look a little ill.”
Go away, Aldo, go away …Elli pushed past him and sought out her lost love, but he had gone. The look he had given her had been one of hatred. Indio hates me? Why? How? She pushed through the guests, getting more and more upset as she sought out her lost love, the man who had broken her heart—her Indio. She wanted to scream his name out to make him stop and come to her, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.
She was on the steps of the art gallery when Aldo caught up with her, his face creased with concern. “What is it, darling? What happened?”
Elli couldn’t speak for a moment. How cruel to give her that one look, that one glance of him …was it a cruel joke? Just as she was getting used to letting a new man into her heart?
God. Aldo’s hand was on her back now, and she forced herself to turn to him, knowing her pain was written all over her face. “I just …saw an old friend. A friend of my brother’s …I haven’t seen in him eight years.”
And I still love him. God help me, but it only took that one look to prove that Indio Navaro has my heart captive. Elli started to cry, and Aldo, seeming to sense her despair, merely wrapped his arms around her and held her as she sobbed. Usually his arms warmed her, but tonight she found no comfort or heat against his big body. Even when partygoers looked at her in concern, Elli couldn’t find a way to pull herself together, until Aldo finally led her to a car and guided her inside.
He patiently sat with her in his lap, not asking any questions, but simply accepting her sudden torrent of grief. And even that infuriated Elli unfairly. Why didn’t he ask more questions? Why didn’t he offer to fix the situation? Of course, she hated it when he tried to fix things and he couldn’t fix this ever, anyway, but her rational mind seemed to have fled along with Indio …
After a long, long time, Elli drew herself back from Aldo’s sodden shirt, and although she knew she owed him an explanation, she asked him to take her back to her apartment. “I just need some time,” she said. “Seeing him was like my brother being back in the room for a moment.” It was only half a lie.
Aldo kissed her damp cheeks. “Of course, my love, take all the time you need. I am always with you.”
Half of her didn’t want to let him go, knowing if she were alone, she would brood. He escorted into the apartment, then insisted on getting her some aspirin before making sure she was okay.
Elli swallowed them with some water and curled up on her bed. Aldo bent down and kissed her forehead. “Call me when you’re ready, my darling. I’ll have a bodyguard outside your door.”
And he was gone. Elli dragged a couple of deep but shaky breaths into her lungs, but the sobs came easily until she cried herself out and fell into a deep sleep.
A gentle knocking at her door. Elli opened her eyes. From the blue light in the room, she guessed it was just before dawn. She dragged herself out of bed, shuffling her way to the front door. Why did she feel as if she were walking in mud? She leaned against the door as she looked through the peep hole—and everything in her world changed.
Her heart thumping, she pulled open the door. Indio Navaro looked at her with hooded, troubled eyes. Elli didn’t know how to form words to speak to him. He looked haunted, desolate—and so beautiful she could cry, his green eyes intense on hers, his dark lashes thick and full.
Indio stepped forward and took her face in his hands, pressing his lips to hers, and it was like a shot of pure heroin in her veins. She kissed him back, pulling him into the room, and pulling at his clothes as he tore her dress from her shoulders.
Both naked, Indio swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed, his eyes never leaving her face. When he covered her body with his, Elli wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him close, not believing that finally, finally, she held him in her arms. Indio kissed her passionately, and then she felt
him slide his long, thick cock into her ready cunt. Elli was in heaven, her heart exploding with love and desire and a never-ending need. They made love slowly at first, then as it got more and more intense, Indio picked up his pace, long measured strokes driving her on and on toward ecstasy. Elli couldn’t take his eyes off his beautiful face. She wanted to tell him how much she loved him and had always, would always love him, but it somehow didn’t need to be said. It was there in the meeting of their bodies, in the shivering, trembling climax that they both shared as they gasped for air, panting and moaning with desire. This was love. Elli knew it in her soul. She tangled her fingers in his dark curls as he gazed down at her. You are mine, I am yours …forever …
Elli woke, shivering and sobbing, still wearing the lilac dress she had worn to the exhibit. For a long moment, she panicked, stumbling out of bed to try to find him. But Indio was nowhere. It had been a dream; he had never been there. Elli sank to the floor, her head in her hands, and sobbed until she had no tears left.
Somehow, a week passed. A whole week since the masked orgy, Maceo’s party, and, of course, seeing Indio again. The fact that both the orgy and Indio had happened on the same evening made things even more surreal. She’d spent the afternoon fucking various men with abandon, only to spend her evening mourning the one man she’d never fucked or even made love with. All that lust, desire, and love, then the shock of seeing the hatred on Indio’s face … Elli felt broken by the entwined memories.
Aldo was patient, as always, but she knew he was getting frustrated by her pre-occupation and by the obvious half-truths she was telling him. When questioned, she would insist that it had brought back memories of her brother and that she missed him terribly, but she realized Aldo knew that it wasn’t just her grief. Still, he didn’t press her. Nor did he push her for sex, which they hadn’t had since that night. Elli couldn’t. Something in her had closed off at the sight of Indio, even as wild questions had opened up.
Dark Masquerade: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Page 8