Eleven
LISA
BEFORE
Sex with David is my new obsession. Every fiber of my being is still tingling with pleasure and my clit is pulsing at the mere memory of last night—and the early hours of this morning.
Leaving him in bed was difficult, but when I saw the light of day peeking through the curtains in his room, I was practically beckoned to the back yard to explore the beautiful view.
The ground, the flowers, the bushes, they’re all blanketed in a glorious white snow, all untouched by human hands or feet.
Stepping through the double glass doors leading to the back yard, I listen to the crunch of snow beneath my shoes before closing my eyes to breathe in the scents of the cold December day.
The winter solstice is drawing closer and I’m just relishing in this moment.
This will be the first of many solstice celebrations with my twin flame. We have some things to work out logistically, because of course I want to finish my college courses, but ultimately, we have the rest of our lives together. All the time in the world to learn and love each other…
“There you are, Precious.”
Opening my eyes, I turn to the open doors to find David leaning against the frame, his biceps bulging in all the right places underneath his deep-blue T-shirt.
If I wasn’t afraid of it sticking to my chin, I’d probably be drooling right now.
The combination of his crooked smile and the way those eyes of his devour every inch of me is something I want to bottle and keep forever.
There are lots of things I’d love to bottle and keep from this man…and that is exactly why he is mine and I am his.
With steady and determined strides, David moves toward me and grips my waist, lifting me into the air to reach his lips. My arms automatically wrap around his neck, my legs around his waist, and my long, flowing skirt twirls around with the light breeze whipping around us.
“As much as I’d love to stay and dance in the snow with you all day, I need to feed you. Pancakes?” He places a gentle kiss against my temple, then my cheekbone, the side of my mouth, my chin…
“If you want a sensible answer, kissing me like that isn’t gonna work, Bauble Boy.”
He chuckles against my neck. “Fair point. Let’s go make breakfast.”
I slide down his very solid front, getting a kiss on the tip of my nose, and grasp his hand in mine. “Lead the way to pancakes!”
As we approach the kitchen, voices that don’t sound like Terrence or the TV catch my attention, and I just know this is it. The parents David has told me so much about.
My feelings about them are pretty split down the middle.
On one hand, I’m terrified. Who wouldn’t be when finding out how dangerous their in-laws-to-be are?
On the other hand, if I believed in violence of course, I’d punch them both right on the nose for the way they have treated David.
Like a commodity, something to be molded into their perfect accessory.
Makes me a little sick thinking about it, actually.
I’m well aware the conversation between David and his parents isn’t going to be fun for him, or anyone really, but I’m also incredibly proud that the Universe gifted him to me.
No other guy would have made these decisions as quickly as my David, and to some he may seem weak, like a failure, someone who is afraid of the life he should lead.
But that’s all so far from the truth. David is loyal, and strong, and he knows his own mind—even though it’s taken him some time to build the courage to express it.
He said that was because I gave him the strength, but really, he unlocked it all on his own.
“There you are, Son. We wanted to discuss the Christmas party this year. My dear friend Polly is bringing one of her girls to keep Mr. Reed occupied all night and I was wondering if you could ask your friend Nikos to attend to his wife.” David’s mom barely lifts her head to glance in his direction, flicking her eyes over him so quickly I almost missed it, before returning them to the newspaper on the large kitchen surface in front of her.
The fact that she doesn’t even acknowledge me tells me everything David said about them was the complete truth. I had figured some of it was exaggerated, but nope. This woman’s aura is sketchy at best.
All I see of Mr. Volpe is his back as he exits the other side of the kitchen without a word.
“Nikos isn’t my friend, Mom. And I’m not going to the Christmas party. I won’t be here.”
The room turns icy cold and time seems to stand still as Mrs. Volpe slowly raises her head like a coiled snake, turning her gaze fully onto David.
“I think you’ll find you will be, David. You know how much these things mean to your father.” Her tone is clipped, like her word is final, and she nods once, raising an eyebrow, daring him to question her again.
This woman’s facial features are full of so much expression, and yet none at all.
“Exactly, Mom. How much it means to Father. How about what things mean to me? Has that ever mattered to you?” David’s grip on my hand is tight, he’s squeezing like his life depends on remembering I’m right here with him, and I squeeze right back.
My silence isn’t because I’m scared right now; it’s because David needs to do this. It can’t be me. The decisions he makes need to be all his, in the knowledge that whatever he does, I’ll be right here by his side.
I’d follow him to the ends of the Earth if that’s what he wanted.
Mrs. Volpe’s face falters for a millisecond, and she quickly covers up the hurt of hearing that from her son.
“You always matter to me, David. You know that. But you also know the way things have to be.” Her eyes flick to me, looking me up and down with blatant disgust written all over her face.
“You are aware it’s winter and snowing outside, girl?
Why are you wearing that ridiculous long skirt? ”
“I don’t think you want the real answer to that, Mrs. Volpe.” Which just so happens to be so David has easy access to me on the drive to my parents’ house.
Her eyebrows shoot up and I smirk to myself, knowing I’m everything but what she’d expect in a woman for her son. My own parents may be controlling to some extent, but they’re nothing like this family.
“Mom, I’ve made my decision. But I know I need to speak to Dad to figure out the finer details. I’ll sort it though. Okay?” He waits for her to nod solemnly, some of her haughtiness tampered down at the news.
In all honesty, her vibes aren’t actually all bad. It’s clear that she cares about her son, but he isn’t, and has never been, her priority. And David deserves someone who makes him a priority.
“And this is Lisa, Mom. She’s my girlfriend, soon to be wife, and will be the mother of your grandchildren.” He squeezes my hand again as he says this and my heart soars a thousand stories high at his words. He wants to make me his wife!
“Don’t you think that’s a bit soon? We don’t even know her, David. Is she the—”
“No. My decisions are my own, Mom. And no, it’s not too soon. I’d marry her today if I could, but she deserves more than that and I plan on giving it.”
The air in the room shifts a little as Terrence enters again. I’m still bubbling with joy inside and eager to be alone with him so I can jump his bones for his declaration.
“Mr. Volpe, Sir, your father is waiting for you in his office.” Terrence looks to me with sympathy before continuing. “Alone, please, Sir.”
David turns to me, his apologetic eyes full of worry and apprehension over how the conversation will pan out. Before he can speak, I squeeze his hand exactly the same way he has been with mine and smile up at my man.
“You’ve got this, Bauble Boy. I’ll be here forever and always, no matter what.” Rising onto my tiptoes, I give him the gentlest kiss against his soft, plump lips.
With a deep breath and a sharp nod, David lifts my hand and kisses my knuckles before letting go and heading out of the kitchen.
This leaves me alone with David’s mom. Who may be one of the most confusing people I’ve ever met. Her aura is all over the place. It’s hard, it’s dark, then it’s protective and scared, and now it’s curious as her eyes stay on me still standing where David left me by the entrance.
“Come and sit down, girl. You make the place look messy standing over there.”
It’s not a request, and I abhor being told what to do like that but, as always, I respect my elders. And she’s not exactly asking for the world. With the conversation I know David is having with his father, it’s probably best I don’t stir the hornets’ nest with his mother.
“Thank you, Mrs. Volpe.” I sit on the stool beside her after pouring myself a glass of what looks like freshly-squeezed orange juice.
She takes a deep breath, and then another, and another, and I know she has things to say—she’s clearly struggling with how to say them—but I’m not going to rush her. It feels important.
“David’s never spoken to me like that before.
In all his years, that is the first time he’s ever stood up to me, and I get the impression he’s about to do the same with his father.
” Another deep breath, her eyes are downcast, concentrating on the newspaper in front of her as if she’s just processing her thoughts out loud.
“There’s something about you, isn’t there?
My boy was practically glowing when you both came into the kitchen and that is something I have wished to see for every day of his existence.
” She looks up at me then, a lone tear trailing down her right cheek. “I’m about to lose my boy, aren’t I?”
“Never. He’ll always be yours, Mrs. Volpe.
A bond between mother and son is like no other, but if he has to make the decision he thinks he has to make in that office with his father, then yes, his visits may be few and far between.
But you’ll always, always be welcome in our home.
When we have one, of course.” I can’t help the light chuckle that escapes, because even though everything is moving at the speed of lightning, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You’re a strange girl, aren’t you?” She scoffs, but not impolitely, more as an acknowledgement to her rhetorical question. “Woman to woman, just make sure to look after my boy.”
“Always and forever, Mrs. Volpe.”
The conversation with David’s mom in the kitchen was unusual and enlightening. It’s like Mrs. Volpe has been waiting for the day David would finally make the decision to leave his family’s business and she’s secretly happy about it.
His dad, on the other hand, not so much.
Mr. Volpe forced David to make a deal that he would visit once a year at a time of his father’s choosing.
This would appease the needs of the family business for appearances and mean David could live the rest of his life without them.
He’s been completely cut off money-wise, but we expected that and couldn’t care less.
I feel like there’s a little more to it than all that, but I don’t want to push too much and upset him while it’s still fresh.
We’ve both worked hard our whole lives thus-far, and have a decent amount of savings between us.
We’ll find some land and get jobs so we can provide for our future family, all while we discover our calling and dive right in, just as we have with each other.
I have a few friends at the college who live off the natural land with their parents; I visited last summer and it was amazing.
That’s exactly what we can build. A new community full of love, without all the outside negativity from our parents,
The car engine starts and we begin backing away from the giant house David used to call home. His mother can be seen standing in one of the many second-floor windows dabbing her leaking eyes as she watches her only child drive away.
I mean, that’s got to be tough, and I really am empathetic toward her situation. She’s a hard woman, but she loves just as hard.
David’s father doesn’t see us off. In fact, I barely even saw him as he walked through the kitchen after the conversation in the office. He glanced in my direction and rolled his eyes and that’s the everlasting impression I’ll have of Mr. Volpe. A horribly rude man!
“I’m sorry it had to be that way.” I place my hand on David’s thigh as he concentrates on the road ahead.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for, Precious. It was always going to end this way with me and them.” He sighs, but it’s almost a freeing sigh, like the weight of the world his parents put on his shoulders is finally lifting.
“Ready for some new and exciting adventures, Bauble Boy?” I dance my fingers up and down his thigh, dangerously close to his cock, but not touching, just skirting around it in his thick jeans.
“With you by my side, Precious? Always and forever.”