To Love and Obey (24 page)
“Your appreciation, huh?” Zerrin kissed his lips, reveling how much she missed them. “And how will you show me?”
“Give me a number. Any number from one to ten.” He smiled.
“Hmm…” Zerrin thought for a moment. “Seven.”
“Seven?” Nick was impressed. “Really?”
“Really,” Zerrin massaged his bulge and felt how hard it was. “Unless that’s a problem for you, Master.”
“No, it’s not a problem for me,” Nick smiled, “but I don’t know if you’ll be able to handle it.”
“Either show it or shut it, Master,” Zerrin taunted.
Nick picked up Zerrin and carried her to the bedroom. “I’m about to show you right now.”
Epilogue
Three years later…
“Okay, so before you leave on spring break, don’t forget about your modern-day Shakespearian play assignment! I need those back a week after you return to class so that’s three weeks from now. Go have fun and please don’t end up on the news.” Nick instructed his class. He quickly glanced at his watch. He was cutting it close but he would still have enough time to make it over to his mother’s. He walked over to the Psychology department and knocked on his wife’s door. “You ready to go?”
Zerrin D’Amato was busy typing her e-mail listing what was good about her day and what she appreciated. “Give me just one moment,” she typed a few more things on the computer. “A-ha! Done!” She pressed
send
and closed her laptop. “Let’s go!”
After Rosemary’s unceremonious departure from NYU, Nick had been promoted to associate professor, teaching the lower-level to higher-level courses. Zerrin took a year off from teaching to become a mother. It turned out the Lucky Seven night was particularly lucky for her and Nick. She gave birth to a son, Pietro, and she and Nick had married a few months later. Once she returned to NYU, Zerrin eventually became assistant professor, specializing in Sexual Health. She changed her concentration to avoid another scandal in the English department.
“We’ll be able to beat traffic now,” Nick navigated down the New York streets, “I’m just glad Mom was able to watch Pietro for the week.”
“I think any time your mom wants to watch the grandkids, we need to take advantage of it!” Zerrin laughed.
“She loves it. It lets her and Art play happy grandparents,” Nick smiled.
They arrived at Nicola’s home a short time later. She was already preparing dinner for the night when they walked in. “And there’s your smart Mommy and Daddy!” Art handed Pietro to his son-in-law. “How was class today?”
“Absent.” Nick played with his two-year-old son. “Everyone already left for Spring Break. I don’t know why I even bothered to hold class.”
“Well, some still showed up?” Art asked.
“Few and far in between.” Nick chuckled.
Zerrin joined her mother-in-law in the kitchen. “Do you need help in here, Nicola?”
“I got it.” She smiled. “Just rest up. I know you’re going to have a busy time being on vacation with your brother and sister-in-law.”
“A long overdue vacation for all of us!” Zerrin smiled. Though it took some time and creative planning between the two couples, Zerrin and Nick were able to go on a child-free vacation with Jake and Alexis. Jake and Alexis left their one-year-old daughter with her parents so the two couples could go on a week-long vacation to Anguilla.
“Good, good. You both need it.” Nicola looked over Zerrin’s shoulder to see if they had privacy. “Come with me, dear.” She led her upstairs and closed the bedroom door behind her.
Zerrin wondered what was going on with her mother-in-law. “Is everything okay, Nicola?”
“Um…I might need some tips,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry?”
“Like…” Nicola paused, hoping no one was listening outside. “…how to give a BJ.”
“Oh!” Zerrin gasped.
“Like I know there’s more to it than just sucking and you know?” Nicola asked. “But how do I…um…like how do I…”
“Deep throat?” Zerrin asked.
“Yeah,” Nicola whispered.
“You have to relax your gag reflex,” Zerrin instructed. The moment felt surreal; she was actually giving her mother-in-law tips on how to perform oral sex on her husband. “And just calm down. Take a little in, inch by inch. Just keep practicing.”
“Great!” Nicola smiled. “Thank you!”
“Not a problem.” Zerrin wondered if the conversation she just had with her mother-in-law was something worth sharing with her husband. She decided to keep that information private.
****
Hours later, Zerrin joined her husband in bed. Pietro was sleeping in the nursery and the grandparents were asleep in their bedroom. Their flight was early in the morning and they both needed their rest. “I thought he would never quiet down and go to sleep.” Zerrin yawned. “My goodness, he’s like a hyperball full of energy.”
“He takes after me,” Nick took off his frames. “Apparently I was like that too when I was younger.”
“You’re like that now.” Zerrin smiled. She snuggled closer to her husband. “You know…the baby is asleep…”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “You know what to do.”
Zerrin got out of bed and began the ritual of taking off her clothing. She pulled the nightgown over her head and neatly placed it on the end table. She then bent over and pulled her bikini panties down. She turned around and knelt on the floor, hands behind her. “At Your will, Master.”
Nick got up and reached into his suitcase. He pulled out a ball gag. “What’s the safe word?” He whispered in her ear.
“Ophelia.”
“Of course it is,” Nick placed the ball gag around her mouth, “you’re still a nerd like me.”
The End.
Other titles by Vera Roberts
:
Dear Diary
Discipline (Scott & Mariana)
Gettin' It
Hot Like Fire (Sweet and Clean Romance)
S&M III, Vol. II (Scott & Mariana)
S&M III, Vol. I (Scott & Mariana)
S&M II (Scott & Mariana)
S&M (Scott & Mariana)
The Train Ride (Free on Smashwords.com)
The Erotic Intoxication, Vol. I: Bad Girls
The Nanny (The D’Amato Brothers Series #1)
The Painter
Til Tomorrow
Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/ms.vera.roberts
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Sneak Peek of upcoming third title in the D’Amato Brothers series, Where I Wanna Be (unedited):
Eliodoro “Eli” D’Amato calmly sipped his cappuccino as watched the impending drama outside the doors of Madre’s. There were five women, two older and three younger. He already guessed the young and petite blonde was the bride-to-be. He assumed the older woman who looked like her was her mother and the lady next to her was an aunt. The other two girls were either sisters or friends of the bride and Eli could already tell they were just as tired of the bride’s shit as the mother was.
There was no father in sight and Eli assumed the man was enjoying college football or hiding somewhere in a dive on the outskirts of town, leaving the mother to handle her daughter. Eli couldn’t blame him. He imagined the father was spending a small fortune for his daughter’s wedding and probably grumbled at all of the things he could’ve bought instead. Despite the fluctuating economy, expensive taste never went out of style.
“And I’m telling you for the last
fucking
time, this is
my
wedding and if I want orchids in my wedding during the summer, I’m going to have
fucking
orchids in my wedding during the summer!” The bride hissed to everyone.
“Oh boy,” Eli sipped his coffee.
Joseph “Joey” D’Amato stood beside his younger brother and watched the drama unfold. Nicola was the face of Madre’s and Eli was the creative force behind the flower designs. Joey managed the shops along with his mother and brother, making all of the business decisions. He was very glad he put his MBA to use so he didn’t have to deal with the onslaught of fussy brides, bratty girls celebrating their quinceañeras, and over-zealous wedding planners trying to get thousand-dollar flower arrangements for a few hundred bucks. He loved to leave that mess in the hands of his brother and mother. “Watch out now. We got a bad-ass in our mix.”
“Wanna bet she was a sweet girl before she got engaged?” Eli asked.
“Before she got a ring on it and she turned into a bratty wench?” Joey smirked.
Moments later, the five women entered Madre’s and walked up to the counter. The nasty bride who just cursed out everyone just moments earlier, changed her tune the moment she was in the store and caught eyes with Eli. There was a reason why he handled the brides instead of his mother. All it took was a smile and a slight nod of his head to make the bride reconsider her wedding and plan a date with Eli instead.
“
Welcome to Madre’s,” Eli smiled at the young blonde, “how can I serve you?”
The bride stopped in her tracks and took notice of Eli in front of her. His voice was husky and inviting, making the bride wonder in what manner she wanted Eli to serve her. He was tall, standing just slightly over six feet. Short dark hair was tussled. He was clean-shaven and his hazel eyes danced whenever he flashed his heart-stopping smile. A square jaw led to a chiseled jaw line that boasted of swag and intelligence. And that cologne he was wearing was sex in a bottle, making the bride inhale and exhale several times just to make sure she could remember the scent for her fiancée.
“Um, I…” She stopped momentarily to collect her thoughts. “I wanted to see if you would have any orchids available for a summer wedding?”
Eli drew back a sharp breath and lightly shook his head. “Unfortunately, orchids are out of season during the summer months. If you really want them, they would cost you a fortune. What’s your budget, sweetheart?”
“My budget?” The bride felt a little foggy and didn’t know her left from her right all of a sudden.
“Yes, your flower budget. What is it?” Eli smiled as he slightly tilted his head, making sure the bride knew the focus was solely on her and no one else.
“Um, it’s um…about a thousand.” The bride stammered.
“Hmm…” Eli thought about the possible arrangements he could do with such a small budget. “How big is your wedding?”
“About 250 guests.”
“And that thousand-dollar figure, that includes everything?”
“Yep! Bouquets, corsages, loose petals for the aisle and flower girl, and centerpieces.” She smiled.
The bride didn’t want the impossible; she wanted a miracle. If there was one thing Eli could count on were the expensive tastes of women. Even the most humble of girls he had encountered had a princess complex the moment they began planning their wedding. Eli would be willing to budge a little, but there were going to be some changes made.
If the bride’s temper tantrum was any indication of what to expect, dealing with her was going to drive Eli to drink. “Okay, if you have a seat over there, I’ll be willing to discuss with you on some arrangements that would look great with your wedding,” he pointed over to a table. “Maria will be out with tea and pastries for you and your guests.”
The tea and pastries were an added touch suggested by Nicola. She knew when a woman was about to get married, she was on running on all cylinders and needed to calm down to make a rational decision about one of the most important items on her big day.
Eli went upstairs to the offices and retrieved his pen and notepad. “So what is she looking for?” Joey asked.
“A million-dollar arrangement on a thousand dollar budget.” Eli shrugged.
“In other words: same shit, different bride?” Joey smiled.
“Orchids during the summer,” Eli muttered, “get the hell out of here.”
“What about peonies and roses?” Joey asked. “Summer, romantic and every girl loves peonies and roses.”
“That’s what I’m about to suggest,” Eli took a swig of water, “and add in some hydrangeas.”
“I’ll let Jessica know to get out the dummy bouquet,” Joey suggested, “anything else?”
“How many freebies am I offering?”
“Hmm…” Joey put a hand to his mouth. “…let’s offer free rose petals and crown for the flower girl.”
“Got it.”
“Smile a lot,” Joey suggested. “Make her wonder why she’s not marrying you.”
“Compliments?” Eli wondered.
“Few but sparingly. Compliment the wedding party. Tell them how beautiful they all are. Butter up the mother.” Joey got up and walked over to his brother. He put his hands on Eli’s shoulders and they touched heads, as if they were in a huddle. “Let’s go!”
“Let’s go!” Eli shouted.
It was the same game they had run at the flower shop for years. Prepping to meet with brides and other clientele was like preparing for the big game. They needed to focus, concentrate on scoring the right deal, block any offensive shots, and they’ll win the clientele. They were the perfect triple-threat combo – Joey being the brains, Eli being the brawn, and Nicola was the beauty.
