Prologue
Rome, Italy
July nineteenth
11:47 PM
The room was darkish, barely illuminated by the orange hues of the Roman sundown slanting by way of the window. I clenched the rope binding my wrists, my coronary heart pounding in anticipation. My palms had been clammy as I attempted to metal myself, a hum of pressure beneath my pores and skin. My wrists had been purple and irritated from the frayed rope that sure me.
Abruptly, footsteps exterior the door trailed into my ear. The door knob jiggled, and turned idly, the individual on the opposite facet clearly within the midst of an adrenaline rush, the sensations inside my physique intensifying like a wildfire. Then, the door whipped open, pounding the wall, and revealing probably the most scrumptious sight I would ever seen.
He stooped to enter the room, his towering top stretching to the ceiling. His muscular arms pulsed as if his blood had been surging with anticipation for the evening forward. As he noticed me, sure and helpless on the mattress, my coronary heart stuttered at his darkish Italian options. His tongue glided throughout his lips as he watched me, I may see the starvation in his eyes, and will nearly really feel his claws sinking into me. This was the person of my goals. This was Roberto Damiani.
“How does it really feel to belong to me?” he stated, his brown eyes piercing me like a sword, his accent unmistakably Italian. He stepped towards the mattress. His heavy footsteps echoed by way of me, igniting tremors that pulsed all through my physique.
He ran his tongue over his lips and requested, with a devilish grin spreading throughout his face, “Are you prepared for what’s coming?” He sank his arms onto the foot of the mattress, panting closely. Grazing one knee in opposition to the sheets, a hearty snort escaped him. “Tomorrow morning, you will be a brand new girl, a modified girl.” He moved with the precision of a predator, his physique low and managed as he positioned himself over me. The hair on his muscular legs brushed in opposition to my velvety pores and skin.
Lastly, after years, I used to be about to get what I would fantasized of, to shed my virginity. Roberto studied my face one final time, then leaned in, his lips tantalizingly near my neck. He drew his tongue throughout my throat, his heat breath on my pores and skin. Then, in a whisper, he stated the final phrases I would hear as a virgin: “Are you prepared?”
CHAPTER 1
24 Hours Earlier
I gazed out the window because the panorama zoomed by, the sky stretched above like an infinite canvas of blue. A drip of sweat fell from my brow, my breath quickening as I clenched my fingers on my knees. In a matter of hours, I might transcend the confines of the USA of America for the primary time in my life, and I used to be petrified.
“Be very cautious,” my mother stated, her gaze fastened on the freeway forward. “This world is loopy and ugly, and the very last thing I would like is for my child to get caught up in one thing abroad.”
I rolled my eyes. “You are simply paranoid.” However deep down, I could not deny that I secretly shared her concern.
This journey to Italy, the one I had longed for years, had been twelve months within the making. After working two part-time jobs whereas struggling to juggle my faculty programs, the standard plight of a twenty-year-old, I felt relieved that each one my efforts had paid off. Now, I used to be about to embark on the journey of a lifetime, forsaking my stall-town life for a two month sojourn within the Bel Paese.
Earlier than I knew it, we pulled into the departures drop-off loop of Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Folks bustled about, a collective murmur of farewells crammed the air, the sound of suitcase wheels rolling in opposition to the concrete a refined background.
I exited the automobile, staring up on the towering airport earlier than me, my coronary heart fluttering, and my adrenaline pumping, feeling a mix of pleasure and nervousness.
“I like you, Jenna,” my mother stated, giving me one closing hug earlier than waving me off on my means.
Verify-in and safety proceeded easily, enabling me to succeed in the gate simply in time for boarding. As I boarded the airplane, I discovered myself amongst a sea of placing people. In all places I glanced, my gaze met impeccably-groomed, younger Italian males who possessed an attract that set them aside. Their darkish options, runway-model model, and fascinating hair made them an intriguing species unto their very own. A want swelled inside me to know them intimately.
Because the airplane rocketed down the runway, tears of pleasure streamed from my face. I would realized my dream, and one factor was sure: this is able to be an unforgettable escapade. We quickly reached cruising altitude, and I made a decision to take pleasure in certainly one of my favourite pastimes; studying, however not simply any e-book – I had introduced Christian Gray alongside for the journey.
Hovering above the clouds, I withdrew my copy of Fifty Shades of Gray from my carryon bag, and cracked it open to the place I would left off. My coronary heart hammered in opposition to my ribcage as Christian seduced me by way of the written phrase. This was my fantasy, my deepest want, a craving to give up, to expertise the joys of dominance and submission, and on the similar time, to be cherished, enveloped in a love that shielded me from hurt within the arms of my dominant.
Earlier than I knew it, the airplane broke by way of the clouds and descended into Rome. I peaked out the window, anticipation tingling inside me, evoking a profound sense of marvel. I used to be lastly right here! I had lastly arrived in Italy, a land pulsating with vibrant tales of a bygone period.
After navigating passport management, my exodus from the airport unfolded as I set off on a brand new chapter on this Italian land. With a decided stride, I walked towards the road of taxis parked on the curb exterior the airport, I slipped into the backseat, its engine purring with anticipation, and met the gaze of a younger, good-looking driver within the rear-view mirror.
“The place would you wish to go, signorina?” he stated, his seductive accent sending tingles rippling by way of my physique.
As we drove previous the Italian countryside, my thoughts slipped into the realm of day goals. I imagined myself on a mattress, the lovable driver’s arms clasped round my throat, the load of his robust muscle tissues urgent me deeper into the mattress.
“I yearn to be yours,” I stated, “to give up and be underneath your management.” I could not assist however really feel a twinge of envy for Anastasia Steele and her fictional escapades. If solely it had been potential to really signal myself away to the person of my goals by contract, I would do it in a heartbeat.
A bump within the highway jolted me again to actuality.
“Right here we’re,” the driving force stated. “Rome Marriott Park Lodge.”
The resort was gigantic, strolling into the foyer felt paying homage to the parlor of a millionaires summer time home. The cool air of the foyer enveloped me, a stark distinction from the humid Roman air exterior.
After a routine check-in, I entered my room to see an extravagant ambiance, a stark distinction to the simplicity of my hometown life. I would been fortunate to have afforded a set, draining most of my financial savings within the course of. There was a spacious king mattress, ornate gold-colored crown molding, and an awe-inspiring rest room that surpassed my wildest goals. Overjoyed with pleasure, I could not assist however giggle as I reveled within the room. My eagerness prolonged past the resort, nevertheless, I used to be bursting with anticipation to exit into the everlasting metropolis.
The resort, nestled on the outskirts of town, had an hourly shuttle service to and from town middle. Embarking on the shuttle, a large grin stretched throughout my face, hardly in a position to include the ecstasy constructing inside me.
The aura of town pulsated by way of the window as we drove into Rome, a prelude to the extraordinary experiences in retailer.
When the shuttle lastly arrived on the Roman Discussion board, awe overcame me. I felt as if the glory of the everlasting metropolis itself shimmered underneath the fire-hot Italian solar. Amongst remnants of a civilization that formed the course of historical past, the sheer magnitude of all of it left me humbled.
As I scanned my environment, my eyes fell upon the romance of a younger Italian couple. He was caressing her hair, and she or he dangled her arms round his neck, staring up at his god-like face. These Italian males had been undeniably handsome. Since arriving on Italian soil a mere three hours earlier, I hadn’t encountered a single man who didn’t have model-level qualities about him.
Observing the scene earlier than me, an awesome sense of jealousy consumed me. I needed to be in her footwear, to undergo his all-consuming energy and stare up into his blazing eyes. I had lived twenty years however had by no means identified the heat of a person’s embrace, the sweetness of his lips, or the joys of his want. It was a longing that permeated my being, a craving that ran deep inside me, leaving me craving for a connection that may transport me to realms unknown.
A police automobile wailed by, penetrating my fantasy, the distinct European siren grounding me again into my Roman actuality.
I turned away from the couple and approached a fence that gave a panoramic view of the Roman discussion board, taking within the historical past and awe. Turning my head, I noticed the Colosseum and will nearly hear the whispers of gladiators previous murmuring by way of the ages.
Immersed within the enchanting world of Rome, I launched into a fascinating journey that day. By seven o’clock, I had traversed the labyrinthine maze of ruins and arches that comprised the Imperial Discussion board, indulged in a fascinating tour of the Colosseum, reveled within the majestic great thing about Renaissance church buildings, and delighted within the flavors of carbonara, concluding with a tasty cannoli for dessert. It was an ethereal day, a slice of heaven.
Earlier than returning to the solitude of my resort room, a spontaneous urge tugged at me, nudging me in direction of one closing location: the majestic Circus Maximus. From snippets of on-line analysis that I would carried out all through my journey, I knew this historic venue held a secret present — a novel vantage level from the place Rome’s enchanting sunsets had been at their most fascinating. A finale of the day that was nothing wanting a spectacle.
Braving Rome’s labyrinthine streets, I discovered myself climbing an age-old, magnificent set of marble stairs. Every step upward was like delving additional again into Rome’s wealthy historical past, feeling the load of centuries beneath my toes. After I lastly emerged on the prime, breathless and coronary heart pounding, I used to be greeted by an beautiful piazza, a silent ode to Rome’s glory.
From this elevated pedestal, town of Rome sprawled beneath me. I may clearly see the remnants of the traditional Roman Discussion board, its as soon as bustling agora now eerily quiet. Past that, the mighty Colosseum stood, a timeless monument, majestic regardless of its age and scars from the previous.
However my closing vacation spot was nonetheless at a distance. Leaving the piazza behind, I adopted a small, serpentine path that spiraled downwards. Every twist and switch was like an unwinding thriller, main me in direction of the Circus Maximus. The panorama modified subtly, transitioning from historic ruins to an oasis of lush, verdant inexperienced nestled cozily within the coronary heart of Rome.
As I entered the Circus Maximus, the distinction was startling but comforting. The huge expanse of well-tended greenery was akin to stepping right into a pastoral portray. The ambiance was serene, tranquil, its quietness damaged solely by the rustling whispers of the wind brushing previous the grass blades. There, on the crest of the hill, I discovered a solitary bench, inviting me to relaxation my weary legs.
Exhausted however content material, I allowed myself to sink into the bench, my gaze slowly sweeping over the historic ruins specified by entrance of me. The panoramic view was breathtakingly gorgeous; a testomony to Rome’s timeless magnificence. My coronary heart pounded in my chest, the magnitude of the scene in entrance of me leaving me momentarily breathless. Because the sensory overload ebbed, I discovered myself misplaced within the fascinating view, and the scene left me gasping for air.
The tranquility of the second was interrupted by an sudden voice, smooth but agency. “Scusi signorina, un documento per favore.” The phrases hovered within the air, making a momentary ripple in my solitude. I turned, discovering myself underneath the penetrating gaze of a placing Italian police officer. He was an embodiment of Italian youth – his pores and skin easy, the nightfall mild portray a glow on his face. His eyes, a mesmerizing shade of brown, held a sure boyish attraction that I discovered myself drowning in.
He observed my hesitation, the pause in my reply, and his gaze softened. “Do you converse English?” he inquired, his phrases coloured with a thick Italian accent.
Caught off-guard, I fumbled over my phrases, lastly managing to stutter out a response. “I…. uh….. sure… I do.”
A short nod, and his skilled masks was again on. His gaze turned analytical, finding out me with an depth that was disconcerting. “May I please see a doc?” His phrases, although well mannered, left no room for arguments.
“A doc?” I echoed, confusion trickling into my tone. The sudden request for identification was puzzling.
“Sure,” he asserted, with an air of firmness. “Passport, ID, license, I have to see some form of identification.”
And identical to that, the serene great thing about the sundown, the tranquil solitude of the Circus Maximus, had been all forgotten, changed by the startling actuality of my state of affairs.
A glance of bewilderment crawled throughout my face. “What for? Have I achieved one thing unsuitable?”
The police officer crossed his buff arms, shifting his weight from one foot to the opposite. “In Italy it’s the legislation that everyone will need to have identification on them always. We do random ID checks. Can I please see your passport, madam?”
I could not breathe, I could not converse, sweat poured from my face. I had left my passport within the resort, the place I believed it might be secure and guarded. I had no identification on me. “I apologize,” I managed to say, “my passport is again at my resort. However I can go retrieve it and are available again.”
The cop’s face hinted at a smile. “I am afraid that isn’t an choice ma’am.”
I watched as his hulking chest heaved with every breath as he simply stared at me. A flutter of wind swept by way of his lush hair, inflicting my coronary heart to flutter.
His imposing presence intimidated me and my legs trembled with worry. But I could not deny the exhilarating thrill that concurrently surged by way of me. This enticing determine was now in command of me, eyeing me up and down as if I had been mere property.
“I’m sorry madam,” he stated, “I need to take you to the police station. In Italy it’s unlawful to not be in possession of a sound id doc always. Please put your arms behind your again.”
The world constricted round me, squeezing me right into a suffocating embrace. My lungs convulsed, struggling to seek out air as panic surged by way of my physique, forcing my breath into erratic spasms. The adrenaline coursing by way of my veins surged relentlessly, intensifying my internal chaos. With every heartbeat, my imaginative and prescient blurred, reworking the environment into hazy fragments of actuality.
“Put your arms behind your again!” he boomed, his voice deep and commanding.
I summoned all my willpower to regain management, combating in opposition to the tremors in my limbs. With decided effort, I pushed by way of the suffocating grip of the panic assault, compelled to obey my grasp’s command. Reluctantly, I turned away, my arms quivering as I cautiously prolonged them towards the formidable determine of the police officer.
The chilling click on of the metallic handcuff echoed in my ears, intertwining with the whirlwind of feelings consuming me. In that second, a fancy fusion of sensations surged by way of my being. The tendrils of worry and nervousness dissipated, giving strategy to an sudden present of provocative playfulness.
Compelled by an irresistible impulse, I discovered myself irresistibly drawn to press my physique in opposition to his chiseled, unyielding body. It was as if the act of being arrested by him woke up a hidden want inside me, a primal pressure that reveled within the forbidden, blurring the boundaries between worry and pleasure.
As he guided me in direction of the police automobile, a agency grip enveloped my higher arm, a tangible reassurance of his presence. The heat of the officer’s breath brushed in opposition to the nape of my neck, sending a shiver down my backbone, whereas his voice, laced with an alluring intimacy, caressed my ears, “Worry not, bella. I will likely be your guardian, your protector.”
In that second, the load of my anxieties and fears dissolved into the ether, vanishing like mist underneath the solar’s light contact. I felt a profound sense of safety, sparking an intense want for connection and intimacy. The boundaries between captor and captive blurred, changed by an enigmatic bond that kindled an inexplicable want inside me.
“My identify is Roberto Damiani,” he stated, the musicality of his accent filling the automobile as we sped away, sirens blaring. “And yours?” he inquired, his voice laced with real curiosity.
A blur of crumbling ruins zipped by the window as the ultimate vestiges of daylight dipped beneath the distant horizon.
“I am Jenna,” I stated.
Roberto grinned at me by way of the rear view mirror. “Do you will have a final identify?” he joked, his tone extra playful than critical.
“Sumisley. My identify is Jenna Sumisley.”
“Jenna, lovely identify,” Roberto stated, rounding a nook. He drove like a robust gladiator, dominating the highway, his fist commanding the steering wheel into submission.
We whizzed by way of Trastevere, Rome’s most charming quarter, passing lovely piazza’s, centuries-old buildings, and beautiful cobblestone streets.
“Are you from England?” Roberto requested, returning his gaze to the rear view mirror.
“I am from America,” I stated.
“Ah… the USA of America, land of freedom and alternative. What’s a reasonably American lady such as you doing on their lonesome in Rome?”
“Only a trip,” I sighed, ” a trip gone unsuitable, evidently…. immediately was my first day in Italy….”
Roberto flipped a change on the roof, killing the siren. “I’m so sorry signorina, I did not imply to destroy your first day in Italy.” He pulled over, bringing the automobile to a gradual halt. He turned to me, eyes stuffed with an unstated sincerity that added an unfamiliar softness to his stern police demeanor. His chestnut hair fluttered by way of the open window, his regular gaze providing each consolation and intrigue. “Signorina, I am actually sorry. I didn’t intend to have our first encounter like this,” he stated, sincerity etching his face. “I promise to make it as much as you. How about we begin with a conventional Italian meal? My nonna’s recipes by no means disappoint.”
The engine roared again to life as we resumed our journey. We quickly arrived on the parking zone of the police station. My coronary heart started to vibrate in my chest, nearly bursting out of my rib cage.
Roberto swiftly eliminated the important thing from the ignition and turned in direction of me. “Wait right here one second, I will likely be proper again.” He rolled down the home windows earlier than leaving the automobile.
He walked as much as the station, exuding a confidence that appeared to be a pure a part of his bearing. The opposite officers, puffing on cigarettes, greeted him with clear respect — a testomony to his standing amongst them.
I watched their animated Italian dialog, their laughter and back-patting portray a well-recognized scene of camaraderie. It appeared like typical boys being boys. There was one thing remarkably enticing about the way in which he slot in so naturally amongst his friends, his authoritative presence subtly mellowed by an underlying sense of camaraderie and respect. It was a facet of Roberto that hinted at a fancy and fascinating persona beneath his skilled exterior.
It jogged my memory of my father and his mates, the lads who had been the one fixed male figures in my life. They’d that very same camaraderie, that very same simple laughter. It jogged my memory of a house I hadn’t been part of for therefore lengthy. It triggered a longing in me, a longing for companionship and a want to be part of that world, his world
Quickly sufficient, Roberto made his means again to the automobile, leaning casually subsequent to my window, his arms resting on the automobile’s body. “I am afraid we’ve an issue, Ms. Sumisley. The police station is closed. We can’t carry out an id verification test till the morning. So, we’ve two choices. You’ll be able to both spend the evening in jail….”