Chapter 25 Charlie #2
“In this world, you’ll be caught naked sometimes.
Not always by your choice. If they respect you, they won’t look.
No matter how tempting it is. What would your soldiers do in this situation?
” She strokes his cheek gently, but he still doesn’t react.
“You can go,” she orders, and her soldier obeys, turning and walking back out towards the front of the house.
She smiles at me mischievously and dives into the pool, stark naked. “You’re crazy,” I say, shaking my head.
“You need to be crazy to survive in this male-dominant world.” She grins, swimming carelessly. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve done?”
I think for a moment. “Luciano took me on a date and we tortured and killed someone.”
“That’s a start, but not really crazy in this world.” She moves to float on her back, her nakedness available for anyone to see. “Join me?”
“Clothed or naked?” I laugh sarcastically at her.
“Naked, of course.”
“I need alcohol for this,” I mutter. I waltz over to the bar and grab the tequila.
I take a few shots, feeling it burn down my throat, and bring the bottle back with me.
I glance around to make sure no one’s watching before I take off my bikini under the watchful gaze of Izzy, my body starting to tingle. I jump in the deep end.
“So, how’d you meet Luciano?” I ask, swimming towards the ledge.
“Ten years ago. My family, the Maranzanos, made a truce with Caterina, so I could live in New York.”
“Why would Caterina let you live on her turf?”
“My granddad wanted to sell me to another family, the Gambinos. My mum made a deal with Caterina to stop that from happening.”
“And then what happened?” I push.
“Luciano and the brothers rescued me, hid me here until it was safe to live a semi normal life again.”
“How’d you become the leader?”
“The Gambinos killed my family in revenge, tried to take over our territory in New Jersey. Caterina and the brothers helped me fight back. I owe them everything.”
“What was she like?” I ask hesitantly.
She swims up next to me. “I don’t think there’s enough words to describe her. She was ruthless but caring, she was a leader but also a mother to everyone.”
“My whole life, I wondered what she was like,” I say, a tear falling down my cheek.
Izzy reaches over and wipes it away before grabbing my face in her hands, looking me in the eye. “She would have been proud of you.”
I try to pull out of her grasp. I’ve only just met her and she’s already stripped me raw physically and now emotionally.
“Sorry, this is the last thing you want to see,” I say, wiping away more tears.
“Don’t do that, Charlie.”
“Do what?”
“Own your emotions. Who cares if others see? Be confident in yourself.” She pulls me towards her and kisses me gently.
I lean into her, returning the kiss, our naked bodies so close under the water, her tits are touching mine.
I know I should tell her to stop—I’ve only just met her.
Plus, Luciano and me, we aren’t together but there’s something there.
Although, he also said the only other person I can fuck is Izzy, so is he giving me permission?
Does he want us to have a threesome? My mind is going into overdrive while I sit here kissing her back.
“What are you two doing?” We break away to see Luciano storming out of the house. His eyes darken with the sight he’s caught us in.
“Uh-oh,” Izzy laughs, her hands still clasped around my face. I look at Luciano, waiting to see what his next move will be.
His eyes narrow in on me. “What if one of my brothers saw you two?”
“We ask them to join?” I giggle. Shit, must be the tequila.
“Don’t push it, Principessa. I do not share with my brothers.”
“You wanted me to be her friend, this is what you get,” Izzy says, standing tall and nakedly fearless. Jealousy starts to flare in my chest, but Luciano’s eyes never stray from her face.
“Get dressed. Dinner’s in twenty,” he says before storming off.
Izzy bends in front of me, her tits so close to my face I could bite them.
She nudges me. “See? Respect.” She laughs.
“Let’s raid your closet.” She pulls me inside and we stride through the house, hand in hand and naked, past Luciano’s office.
He shakes his head as we pass, and I can’t help but giggle.
In my room, Izzy heads straight to the shower. “You don’t want to smell like chlorine at dinner. Shower with me,” she says.
I shrug and follow her in. “Are you like this with all your girl friends?”
“Only the hot ones.” She winks, smacking my ass as I walk into the shower with her. “Charlie…” she calls my name daringly.
“Yeah?”
“I can tell you’re curious.” She hops under the water, and I watch as it trails down her perfect body.
“I don’t get it…” I start to say, drawing her attention back to me. “Why is Luciano okay with this,”—I point between us—“when he’s so protective over me?”
“Luciano is a complex man.”
“I’ve noticed,” I mutter.
“He has a hard time letting people in and believes he’s not good enough for anyone.
” She squirts soap on her hand and walks closer to me.
She starts to wash my body, her hands roaming, lingering over my pierced nipples.
“I always wanted to get mine pierced but always chicken out,” she says, pinching them.
My body automatically starts leaning into her touch.
“Back to Luciano,” I say, my breath getting a bit heavier. “What does that have to do with this?”
Her hands move further down my body. She cups my pussy in her hand and says, “Lots of things.” She leans in to kiss me, soft and short, just long enough to make me want to explore it more. She pulls away and steps out of the shower.
I turn the water to cold and let it run over me. Calm down, I tell myself. I wrap a towel tight around my body and head to the closet. Breathe, Charlie. It’s just the tequila, I tell myself, even though I’m starting to think it isn’t. Izzy follows, her eyes roaming over my clothes.
“That’s a start, I guess,” she says.
“What?” I almost screech at her. Is she not seeing the same wardrobe as me?
“You’ve got hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes, but with no style there’s no identity.”
“It’s all latest season,” I snap.
“I’ll have my stylist come around this week. We need a fresh start.” She pulls out my dresses and hands me a sheer halter dress. “No underwear.”
“But everyone will be at dinner…”
“You will be the Donna soon. They need to learn to respect you.” She zips the dress up for me, and I see my pierced nipples shining through. I can’t do this.
“Izzy, you can see my nipples!”
“That’s the point.” She smiles, pinching my nipples until the buds stand tall. “Perfect. Now, makeup,” she urges, dragging me back to the bathroom.