Page 6 of Dark Masquerade
Elli woke a little before dawn, her throat dry. Aldo lay on his stomach next to her, his big arm thrown across her. She studied him for a long moment, her new lover. His features were made to look tense, she decided, and smoothed the crease between his eyes that made him look angry. She smiled as it immediately settled back into a line, then gently removed Aldo’s arm from around her waist. She slid from the bed, snagging his shirt and wrapping it around her body. She padded through the quiet villa, down to the large kitchen, and helped herself to a bottle of water from the vast, well-stocked refrigerator, grinning to herself at the difference between this one and her own. She even recognized some of the same foods Aldo had sent to her in the hamper. A man of good taste—of particular tastes. She went to the hallway and tried the doorway to one of the balconies. It opened, and she stepped out into the freezing cold night. The cold took her breath away, but it cooled her too-hot body. It had been a long time since she’d shared a bed with someone else, and it felt strange and a little claustrophobic.
She started slightly as Aldo slid his arms around her waist. “You’ll catch your death out here,” he murmured into her ear, and she grinned, moving to turn in his arms.
“No, stay like that,” he said, and slipped his hand between her legs, parting them. Elli gasped as he thrust his cock into her from behind, his hand on her belly to keep her close as he fucked her. She rested her head back on his shoulder, panting for air. Her bare feet were freezing against the ice-cold stone of the balcony.
“Bend over the balcony for me,Principessa. Put your feet on mine if they are cold.”
She did both, loving the adventure of it and feeling him grip her hips tightly as he thrust his cock deeper and deeper into her. The cold stone bit into her breasts as she gripped the balcony, but she didn’t care. The sensations he sent through her body were exquisite. She heard him groan and felt him come, reveling in the feeling of his huge cock filling her. Aldo panted for air, then swept her up in his arms, carrying her inside. Just before they got to the bedroom, Elli saw a painting she hadn’t noticed earlier. “Wait.” She gazed up at it. The woman in the picture had an ethereal beauty—her dark brown hair was piled up on top of her head and her large brown eyes were soulful—but it was the sadness in them that took Elli’s breath away. She had known this sadness, felt this utter desolation and heartbreak …three times. “Who is she?”
Aldo’s eyes were suddenly wary. “Her name was Yvetta. She was my lover a few years ago.”
“What happened to her?”
Aldo looked away from her gaze. Elli touched his cheek lightly. “Aldo, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry—”
“It’s all right.” He coughed, clearing emotion from his throat and looking back at her with obvious grief on his face. “She died. No, that doesn’t even cover it …she was murdered. By an enemy of mine.”
“Oh my god, Aldo!” Elli said in shock.
He nodded, putting her down and running a hand through his short hair. “He was obsessed with her and kept trying to steal her from me. When she wouldn’t go to him, he killed her on what would have been our wedding day.”
Elli gave a horrified gasp. She touched Aldo’s face again, framing it with her hands. “God, Aldo …I’m so sorry. I can’t begin to imagine.”
“I found her,” he said bleakly, looking up at the painting, his voice breaking. “I found her dead, in her wedding dress, covered in blood. My beautiful Yvetta …”
Elli wrapped her arms around him and comforted him as Aldo tried to regain his composure. They stood for a while, just embracing, before Elli led him back to bed. They made love slowly this time, tenderly, and when they were finally sated, Aldo laid his head on her chest and they slept.
The next day was a Saturday, thankfully, and when Elli opened her eyes it was already mid-morning. The bed beside her was empty, and at the end of the bed, a fresh robe was placed, a note attached.
Help yourself to anything you need, my sweet girl. I’ll be down in my study when you are ready. A.
Elli smiled and went into the en-suite bathroom, which was as palatial as the rest of the rooms in this villa. Elli smiled to herself—Aldo Constanza did not doanythingsmall …his business, his house, his lovemaking …
Stepping into the shower, Elli felt relief as the warm water cascaded over her body. Soaping herself, she saw souvenirs of the night before written on her body; the imprint of Aldo’s teeth on her shoulder and bruises on her wrists and arms. There were bruises the shape of his fingertips on her hips. It didn’t bother her; they were marks of passion and desire, not cruelty or violence.
She dressed quickly, stuffing her underwear into her purse, then went down to find Aldo.
He looked up as she came in and smiled. “Good morning, beautiful.” He stood to greet her, brushing his lips tenderly against hers. “How did you sleep?”
“Wonderfully, thank you.” She looked at his open lap-top. “I don’t want to disturb you, though.”
Aldo smiled. “It is unfortunate that Idohave to work today. May I ask Umberto to drive you home?”
Elli smiled. “Of course. Thank you. And thank you for last night.”
He kissed her again. “May I see you again, Elli?”
She smiled and nodded. “I would like that. But, Aldo, I do have to say …I don’t want this to interfere with my work. It is very important to me.”
“I understand. I would never place any expectations on you, my sweet girl. Please, won’t you stay and have brunch with me before you leave? I’ll ask Umberto to bring the car around in an hour.”
“If it won’t keep you from your work,” she said, but his hands were already snaking under her skirt and encountering bare skin. She grinned, looking up at him from beneath her lashes.
“I don’t put yesterday’s underwear on.”
With a feral growl, Aldo pulled her into his arms and kissed her, his lips rough against hers. He fucked her against the wall of his study, and it was almost animalistic the way he took her, pinning her hands above her head and thrusting deep and long into her cunt.
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