Learning to live again

[EroticLiteracy]

The airport was bustling and hectic. People of all shapes and sizes walked by him not affording him a second glance as they went about their busy lives. Why would they? Why would they spare a second glance at a broken old man in a coat from two years ago? A man who lost everything?

His wife dead

His only child dead

Richard Stone knew both success and hardship. You couldn’t tell him by looking at him but he was a highly respected teacher who had the honor of speaking at schools all over the country. His knowledge of literature and small career as a writer gifted him with the money to take care of his family and then some. He and his wife made a home in New Hampshire and in that home they brought home the light of their life, their daughter.

He drew in a shaky breath as he thought of his dear sweet Alexandra. Her blonde hair and heartfelt eyes danced at the corner of his vision. Parents weren’t supposed to bury their kids. Yet he had one year after burying his wife after cancer took her. His daughter’s death was random a car accident that left her and three of her friend’s dead. Everyone from the police officer to the insurance agents said that it was just a fluke a series of unconnected things that led to her veering off the road. It didn’t FEEL random to him though.

It felt cold

It felt calculated

But what had he done to fate to earn this? Why was he the only one left? The last year of his life he tried to figure out the answer, tried to understand why he was still alive. He took an early retirement and just sat there writing letters to god and his girls and even death begging for some information.

He never got any.

Then a year later he got an email....

From his daughter.

Instead of a message from beyond the grave it was simply a pair of flight tickets that were set up almost a year in advance. The tickets were for a trip to Rome that the two of them planned to take. Richard hadn’t ever had the pleasure of leaving the united states and they both decided to go together.

His hand reached down for said ticket now patting it as he thought about leaving. Why was he going without her? What stirred him to action after a year of inaction?
Because he knew it was what she wanted.

He rose the long overcoat swishing against the faded carpet flooring. They were calling for his flight to board and he had the luxury of being in first class. It was bitter sweet he and his daughter spared no expense for the trip and now he was going to be going on it alone. He knew it was what she wanted and a part of him thought he might want it as well.

Before he could think anything more on it or possibly turn around he was ushered onto the plane. He was taken to the luxurious first-class seating and after being given his choice of drink and in fight entertainment settled in for the long flight. He drifted off to sleep at one point falling into a fritless slumber as visions of his wife and daughter danced out of his reach.
………………………………………………………………..

FIVE DAYS LATER

He stood out on the patio watching the people lounging in the pool. His intense violet eyes were currently hidden behind a pair of simple aviators. His salt and pepper black hair was wind swept with a few odd ends sticking up. He wore an open button shirt that exposed his fit muscular body. He was developing a tan from being out in the sun and the shorts he was wearing showed off his muscular legs and calves. He had a pair of sandals in his hand but he made no move to put them on.

“Do you want a drink sir?” An attendant asked coming over with a platter of fresh drinks. He thought for a second before nodding and reaching out to take one. It was a fruity drink that carried with it a strong taste. He took a few sips before deciding it wasn’t too bad and drinking more. He moved down from the patio joining the throng of people as he went to find himself a chair. After a night of touring he was ready to relax and find a place to read.

 

[CarlyConners]

Her full name was 26 syllables long. It included a two word first name, three middle names, and two surnames, one of which was a hyphenated double word. That was what happened to a newly born child's name when the parents, grandparents, and great grandparents could count more than a dozen birth countries and cultures between them and each of them wanted the name of that newly born child to reflect an element of who they were and from where they'd come. Since she'd been little, though, she'd gone with a very simple Chloe, which was a shorter nickname version of one of her longer middle names.

Born and raised in Western Greece, she'd been here in Italy since shortly after her 14th birthday. Her father was a Greek diplomat assigned to the Consulate in Rome; her mother was an Irish ex-pat who worked for an international tour company; and Chloe herself was ... well ... she wasn't really anything at all.

At 16, she'd finished high school at the International School in Rome, then tried University ... two of them, actually. That hadn't gone well, so she'd tried art school. Same result. She'd tried to follow in her mother's footsteps, becoming an intern at the tour company. Again, same result: Chloe very much liked touring about Italy, but after just a couple of weeks of interning with her mother, she'd learned that she had no interest in showing off Italy to tourists.

But that would change after meeting the American.

She was staying in the same hotel as Richard Stone, but she wasn't a guest. Well, not a paying one, anyway. A couple of weeks earlier Chloe had met a well-to-do Brazilian who'd spent a fortune on Chloe -- sexy underwear, a tight fitting dancing dress, even jewelry -- with the understanding that later that night he'd been removing them from her body for a night of wild sex. But after a couple dozen stiff drinks and two hours of shaking it hard on the dance floor of a local club, the Brazilian had barely made it to his hotel bed before he passed out on onto it. Chloe stripped him, spit into the reservoir of a condom to give the illusion he'd come, slipped it over his flaccid cock, and gave him a pair of conspicuous hickeys. She mussed up both the bed and a nearby couch, then wrote some sexy prose and compliments on the bathroom mirror in lipstick to complete the illusion that he'd had a wild night of sex.

The Brazilian had spent more than 800 Euros on his faux lover while he'd been conscious, but the real financial damage was yet to come. Chloe used a combination of the man's eight credit cards to book a room for the rest of the week; to prepay tabs for the hotel's room service, restaurant bar, and gift shop, totally more than 1,000 Euros.

Then ... she went home.

Chloe's family had a long term lease on a villa in Marino to the southeast. It was halfway between the hotel and the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani, the massive park situated inside the long dead caldera of the Latium Volcano. Chloe loved the park, not just for the natural beauty of its wild areas but for the solitude provided by the fact that foreign tourists rarely went there.

Oh, Chloe had nothing against foreign tourists, of course. Hell, their money was as good as if not better than anyone else's. She just hated their hurried nature: must see ruin, must see ruin, must see ruin! That was probably what had attracted Chloe to the man she'd learned was named Richard Stone. After making an appearance at breakfast before her parents left for work, Chloe called the hotel to cancel her boss's reservations. When the reservations clerk told her cancellations were not allowed -- not a surprise, of course -- Chloe asked if the charged amounts could be shifted to a gift certificate for a future stay.

"Of course, miss," the reservations clerk had told her. "Shall I put it in your boss's name?"

"No, please put them in the company's name," Chloe responded, giving the name of her mother's travel company. She gave the clerk her name, asking her to note it on the account. "I'll be the one calling in to make future reservations."

And now here she was, enjoying the hotel's luxuries on the Brazilian's centavos. She'd bought some Autumn wear at the gift shop, spent an afternoon in the spa, gotten a Brazilian bikini wax (which seemed appropriate considering who was paying), and eaten and drank some very good food and alcohol. And she'd been spending a lot of time out at the pool, seeing and being seen. It was there that Chloe had first seen the Richard Stone. She'd asked one of the bell hops about him, learning that he was an American and that he was alone, which was always a plus for Chloe. She'd also been told that he wasn't one of those hurry, hurry, hurry type tourists.

Chloe didn't usually target two contributors in a row from the same hotel -- too risky -- but she'd quickly decided that this Richard Stone would be the next man to fall to her charms. Without ever approaching him, she began to get to know him. She casually asked staff and guests about him, and -- when he wasn't out seeing Rome -- she tried to be in his proximity to eavesdrop or simply study him.

Chloe has a knack for reading people. It was the reason she was able to live this care free, happy go lucky life of hers without every spending a penny of her own money. (Her parents gave her a monthly allowance, of course, but most of that had been going directly into a money market account, and -- combined with some of the gifts she'd received from men attempting but more often than not failing to buy her affections -- she had a personal net worth in the mid 5 figures, and she was yet to reach her 22nd birthday.)

Her reading of Richard Stone had Chloe rethinking her plan to fleece him of a big chunk of change. There was something ... sad about this man from America. Chloe could see it in his expressions, in his movements, in his every action. Last night she'd found a seat at the hotel bar out of his line of sight but well within ear shot of a conversation he was having with a couple consisting of a man from New Zealand and a woman from some place called Brooklyn. Despite English being one of the 8 languages she spoke at a conversational level, she hadn't understood everything they were saying because of their very different dialects.

But she'd heard enough to know that she couldn't do to him what she often did to other men. She'd never felt guilt about taking advantage of the men she'd conned. They were more often than not married and shouldn't have been chasing her. That had been her justification. But Chloe hadn't heard anything about Richard Stone having a wife. In fact, she'd begun to suspect that he might even be a widower or, at the least, recently divorced. It was that sadness he projected.

Yet...

Chloe still wanted to meet the American. She wasn't quite sure why. It wasn't as if she was physically attracted to him. Oh sure, he was good looking and more physically fit than most men his age. But Chloe rarely if ever hungered for men based simply upon their appearance. And, of course, it was no longer about his money. So ... why?



Chloe was relaxing in a lounger when she caught sight of the American making his way out onto the patio. She studied him for several minutes, looking for an opening to begin a conversation. But what was she supposed to say to him? She ran a dozen possibilities through her mind, only to decide she didn't have to say anything. Chloe knew how to get a man's attention without needing a line.

She stood and walked slowly toward the pool, coming into his peripheral just as she reached the edge. She was wearing a tiny string bikini, but after casually tugging at the bow knots at her neck, back, and hips, she was standing there naked as the day she was born. With a skilled dive, she disappeared into the clear water, kicking gently to move herself halfway down the pool before surfacing again. She rolled over slowly, letting her breasts break the surface for a handful of casual back strokes before rolling over to her front side again.

A few of the guests took notice of Chloe but not in a way some might if she'd been doing something like this at a public pool back in Richard's more conservative New Hampshire. There were other women relaxing about the pool with their breasts exposed to view; and up on the mezzanine deck a bit above the main pool patio -- where sun bathers were so exposed to gawkers -- there were even some women wearing the same as Chloe was now, which was nothing at all. Chloe didn't mind people looking at her, of course, but there was only one person -- one man -- who she hoped was definitely taking notice.

At the far end of the pool, she turned back, back stroking again, rolling to her front, dipping under the surface for a bit, and finally reaching the end from which she'd started. She grasped the edge of the patio and lifted herself up out of the pool in a swift, graceful movement...

https://i.imgur.com/0G8Leqk.jpg?1​

With her feet back on the tiles, Chloe lifted the towel laying near her bikini and took a moment to dab the majority of the water from her body. She wrapped the towel around her firm breasts, tucking one end to keep it tight about her. She leaned down to retrieve her bikini, which exposed her bare ass for just a moment before standing again.

This entire time, Chloe hadn't once looked the American's direction. But now, as she turned to leave the deck area, she ensured that her path took her directly his way. When she was just a few yards away, she casually met his gaze, then smiled politely.

"Ciao bello," Chloe said softly as she passed by him. "Bel pomeriggio ... si?"

She continued on without looking back until she'd entered the hotel's rear entrance. There, she hesitated and turned to see if the American was looking her way, then headed to her room to get dressed. She was coming down to the lounge for dinner and drinks in an hour or so ... hoping that perhaps Richard Stone might happen across her.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

He was halfway to a row of seats on the far edge of the pool when he saw her.
At first it was nothing more than a passing glance a quick peak at a young woman who wielded sexuality like a weapon of mass destruction. He noted her the same way the other men noted her with a quick approving glance that lingered before he turned away. A girl like that so young and with such vibrant sexuality was someone who wouldn’t be interested in him or a girl he could handle. He kept moving her form lingering in the corner of her eye as he noticed she seemed to be tugging on her back.

Then the bikini fell dropping off of her body as if its strings were cut loose. Richard being the American tourist he was stiffened a bit at such fragrant nudity. His gaze flickered around noticing that no one seemed to really care. He knew Europeans were more relaxed about such things but…. in public! It was then that he noticed the sunbathers above and with a blush resisted the urge to smack his forehead.
She dove into the pool leaving her bikini behind. He glanced around to see if anyone would grab it and debated walking over to it and grabbing it himself. He finally decided not to not wanting to look like a pervert for grabbing a woman’s bathing suit by the pool!

Instead he watched her forgoing his book for now as she moved across the pool. He admired the way her body moved biting back a groan as she pushed herself across the length of the pool several times. He would have to have been dead or touched in the head not to think her sexy. Of course he was far too old for her and her too young but still…. Even his mind couldn’t help but imagine.

She got out wrapping a towel around her delicious body and then showing off her ass when she bent down to retrieve her suit. He idly wondered if she was doing this for a specific person in the area or if it was for everyone. The way she moved was almost tactical as if she was on the hunt for someone. He watched her as she took a path one that brought her directly into his field of view. Their eyes met and he stiffened rising up in his deck chair as he was struck with a startling revelation.
She was doing all that for HIM

She said nothing but five simple words. They were in Italian and he furiously dove for his translator as she passed by. He didn’t know why but he eagerly flipped through the book trying to translate her words. He founds the words easily enough his eyes scanning the page as he read them over and over again. She called him handsome! And asked if it was a good afternoon.

He blinked and leaned back as he contemplated her. Why was someone so young coming up to him? He couldn’t recall talking to her or doing anything to get on her radar. Was she just into older men? Or was she trying to scam him? He heard horror stories from the travel channel about seductive young girls using their willies to scam tourist. Was this how it started? Should he even say anything more to her?

He rose deciding he would retire to his room before dinner. He trudged up to the high end suite he and his daughter splurged on and undressed down to his boxers. He slid into the bed and closed his eyes his thoughts dancing with the women as he took a short nap.
…………………………………………….

THAT NIGHT

He woke up an hour later just as the sun was beginning to set on the city. He dressed for dinner putting on a pair of simple black pants and a tailored white button-down shirt. A tailored light coal jacket went over his shoulders and he completed the look with a pair of black dress shoes and sunglasses. He didn’t know why but he reached for his cologne spraying the Marco Pollo scent onto his neck before shaking his head from side to side.

Was he doing it for the young woman who his mind was dwelling on? He wasn’t entirely sure. His mind still replayed the events of the pool trying to discern some hidden meaning or subtext that might or might not be there. The images continued to tease him as he left his room going to the wide open terrace were dinner was. He sat alone overlooking the city of Rome ordering himself a simple glass of wine and trying to decide what he was going to eat.

He saw her when she came in and before he knew it he was rising out of his seat. He walked over to her internally wondering just what in the hell he was doing! If it was a scam he was opening himself up to get hurt and if it wasn’t….
Well then what?

“Excuse me” He said coming over to her and pointing at his table “Would you like to have dinner with me?”

 

[CarlyConners]

Chloe stood in the hotel's main hallway for a long moment, checking the terrace for the American. She found him at a small table off to the left of the open air restaurant. She watched him for a while and realized that he was casually searching the crowd and watching the doorways as she had been. She smiled: he was obviously looking for someone, and Chloe would have bet a knee high stack of Euros that he was looking for her.

Without looking his way, Chloe made her way to the bar on the far side of the restaurant. She took her time, letting her hips sway just enough to increase the attention that her dress and four inch heels were already gaining her. She took a stool and crossed one knee over the other, exposing one leg from boot to hip and making the 5'6" tall thing appear much more leggy than she was.

She didn’t look Richard’s direction, intending on giving him a few minutes to first take notice of her, then get up the courage to make his way over to the bar. But even before her drink arrived, she caught movement in her peripheral and looked to find him right there.

“Would you like to have dinner with me?” he asked, gesturing toward his table.

"Si," Chloe responded, smiling as she held out her hand for assistance off the stool. She added, "Yes. Have dinner with you."

When they reached and sat at his table, she tapped the fingertips of one hand to her sternum and said, "Chloe. You ... from America, si?"

She listened to his response, hoping to learn his name, too, then explained, "I not Italian. Greek. From Athens. Live here while ... eight years."

They chatted a bit more before the waiter arrived. Chloe engaged him in a fast paced back and forth about wine that ended with him glancing curiously back and forth between the pair before departing.

"Lafite-Rothschild, Carruades de Lafite, 2015 ... 200 Euros," she said with a skilled tongue. "I tell charge to room ... my room ... much money, so ... you invite me eat ... I invite you drink."

She gave him a flirtatious smile.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Even though he suspected her interest in him he was still surprised when she agreed to come have dinner with him. He couldn’t help but blink as he watched her move his eyes drawn down to her legs and the heels she was wearing. He felt that familiar tug on his cock that feeling of lust burning in his gut. He took a deep gulp and moved joining her at the dinner table and pulling out a seat for her. When she sat down he pushed it in before moving over to his own side and nodding at her question of nationality.
“I am” He said “American that is”
He suspected she already knew that but allowed her the question. He still wasn’t sure what to make of all this or what he wanted to happen. She explained her own nationality and he found himself falling more intrigued despite himself. If she really was nothing more than a scam artist she was good at her craft! The way she drew a person in was nothing short of magical!

When the waitress came and they chatted Richard wished he could understand. A part of him was wary she was using him as an accomplice or something. When he left he couldn’t help but shoot her a curious look. She responded talking about wine and he relaxed ever so slightly.

“Ah I see” He said as the food came along with the wine “To your good health then!”

He wasn’t much of a drinker so only took a few careful sips from his wine. He cut into his food and waited for her to eat before taking a bit himself. The mouthwatering morsel all but melted on his tongue causing him to moan in pleasure ever so softly. He blushed a bit at her look and decided he would let her see what all the fuss was about.

“Very good” He said cutting a piece of his lamb and bringing it to her lips “Would you like to try?”

 

[CarlyConners]

"Si!" Chloe answered quickly to her host's question about the lamb. She licked her lips in expectation of the morsel and leaned a bit forward, telling him, "Love lamb, Richard."

When she spoke his name in his language with her mutt Greek-Italian accent, it came out REE-shard. By the end of their time together, Chloe would find herself wondering why she hadn't studied more American Conversational English in school. The answer would be, of course, 'cause you didn't stay in school, silly.

Her mouth opened just a hair more than was necessary, and her tongue extended a tiny extra as well. It wasn't so conspicuously obvious that it could have been mistaken as a pornography movie flirtation, but -- combined with the fact that she had her gaze set on Richard's eyes and not the fork -- it could have been taken as sexually suggestive.

"Mmmm... delizioso," Chloe told him after chewing slowly on the herb-enhanced meat. In all honesty, she'd never much liked lamb, but you would never know by her reaction. She looked to her own plate, then up, telling him, "You must try."

As she used her fork and knife to pick apart a shrimp on her own plate, Chloe delved into this fast paced explanation of from where it had been fished, how it has been cooked, what spices were typically used in Italian cooking, and more. Her words came out quickly, and a couple of times she accidentally slipped into Italian, only to correct herself in her broken English. When she offered it, though, she did so with the small chunk in the tips of her delicate, painted fingers, not on the end of a fork. She did so because she knew he couldn't take the morsel into his lips without them grazing her skin. This, after her taking her own bite, was intentionally meant to be a just bit erotic.

Chloe watched his eyes as she held it out over his plate for him...

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Even though Richard was suspicious he couldn’t help himself. The way she moved and talk with such open sexuality drew him in. Never in his life had he met such a creature. More often than not his eyes would run over her as she talked studying the way her mouth moved before shaking himself out of it. His interest in her…. Well he didn’t know what it was yet. A part of him was still convinced she was planning some kind of scam.

She talked about her own meal switching from her dialect to broken English as if she was playing high speed tennis! He struggled to keep up before finally giving up and merely nodding. He sipped the wine she chose as she explained finding it to be wholly to his liking but limiting how much he took in.

When she offered him a bite of her food with the tip of her finger he couldn’t help but grin. Again he was impressed at her ability to maneuver him into a sexy situation. He leaned forward taking the tip of her finger into his mouth. His tongue wrapped around the digit as he sucked drawing the taste out and trying not to moan. The touch was sexual and for him so unfamiliar given the last time he had sex was two years ago!

“Delicious” He said his tone hoarser than he would have liked. He drew back and cleared his throat gazing out at the lovely view the restaurant offered. Rome stretched out before him pulling of that almost impossible old AND new look.

“She would have loved it here” He murmured loud enough for her to hear but more to himself. He sighed and his eyes saddened ever so slightly. He turned back to her and offered a smile which didn’t reach his eyes.

“So” He said leaning back and putting his fork down “I’m curious what your interest in me is? I asked around and as it turns out you have been asking about me. I saw you at the pool today and…. Well it looked like that show was mostly all for me”

 

[CarlyConners]

Chloe was usually so in control of her emotions and thoughts that she didn't blush at the comments or actions of others unless she thought it was strategic to do so. Yet, her fair skinned, freckled face turned a bright red at Richard's questions, suspicions, inquiries, or what ever they might be.

She lowered her eyes to the table a moment, then looked back to him as she lifted her wine glass to her lips. She took her time sipping, staring into his eyes before setting the glass down.

"You look lonely, Richard," she responded, still mispronouncing his name as she would continued to do so for the time they were together. "I think maybe ... maybe you have ... what word...? vuoto ... emptiness. Void...?"

She sipped at her wine again, eyes still set upon his, then lowered the glass without setting it down to ask, "Who is she?"

She hesitated a moment to see if he remembered using the word, then reminded, "You say she ... she would love here. Who is she? Mulier ... moglie ... um ... wife?"

 

[EroticLiteracy]

She mentioned that he looked lonely and it was his turn to blush red. Was it that obvious? He thought he showed a brave face when he was around other people a face that said “I’m enjoying myself!”. The way she was talking it sounded like instead his grief screamed out of his face. He shifted uncomfortably at the notion looking down at his hands and noting they trembled softly.

She went on to ask him about her and he sighed. His hands came up pinching the bridge of his nose as he debated talking to her about it. She was a complete stranger but…. well she was right.

He was lonely.

“Not my wife” He said glancing up at her “Though she would have loved being here as well. I was referring to my daughter. I lost her a year ago and it was our plan to come on this trip together. I don’t know why I came alone but I did and now everything I see is something she never got to”

He felt his eyes welling up with tears and rose out of his seat. He murmured a quick excuse me and turned moving out of the restaurant before anyone could see him cry. He knew he wouldn’t reach his room and so he moved going down the hallway and finding a shadowy alcove off the beaten path. He ducked in and broke down tears running down his face as he sobbed and cried.

 

[CarlyConners]

Daughter...?

Chloe hadn't expected that, and as Richard excused himself and departed, even her eyes began to glaze over a bit. She let him leave but kept an eye on his direction. She waved a waiter over, telling him that they were done for the evening and to bill the meal to Richard's room. She glanced at the expensive bottle of wine which she had initially claimed to be buying but was actually going to allow the chivalrous American to put on his bill. But instead, she reminded the waiter to put it on her room, then rose to trail after Richard.

She found him in an alcove, sobbing. She moved close but stopped to ensure that he spotted her. Then, she moved up to him and slipped her arms around his mid section. She pressed one side of her face to his chest, finding it more impressively muscular than she would have expected.

"Va bene per elaborare il lutto," she told him, looking up into his face and repeating in English, "Is okay to grieve. Is right."

Chloe pressed her face to his chest again, pulling him tighter against her. She sincerely felt for his loss, and she hoped she was a comfort to him. But at the same time, she hoped that the feel of her young body against him -- firm where firm was good, soft where soft was nice -- would fill his mind with good thoughts, erotic thoughts ... because it was such thoughts that made men like Richard do the things Chloe wanted them to do ... with their bodies ... and with their wallets as well.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

Richard wasn’t expecting the young girl to follow him but suddenly there she was. He opened his mouth to speak and tell her he was fine but before he could she was wrapping herself around him. She hugged him close to him tightening her hold on him when he tried to move away. Her scent… her sweet scent wrapped around him drawing him in. Comfort of any kind was one thing but getting it from someone so vibrant and sexy was causing a whole other set of problems to stir inside of him.

He felt the flickering embers of lust stirring in his gut. He didn’t try to move away instead staying ocked and frozen as she continued to hug him. His cock throbbed in his slacks pressing against the sick material and his cotton boxers. He bit back a moan as she pressed herself to his chest. His hands came up before he could stop himself grabbing her face and angling it up.

He leaned in kissing her before he could stop himself. His mouth pressed against hers and second later his tongue founds it way in to claim her mouth. He made out with her passionately wet kisses that were more animalistic then romantic. His hand moved up gripping her back keeping her on him as he pressed her against his hard-long member.

He finally pulled away and gasped reality hitting him. He looked at her with wide fearful eyes and turned moving away from her and racing back into the hotel. He went up to his room as fast as he could shutting the door and flopping down onto the bed.

 

[CarlyConners]

Chloe hadn't planned on kissing Richard so soon, and when he was suddenly pressing his mouth to hers, she very nearly pulled back to ramble out some line about ... whatever ... it would have come to her. But his lips against hers felt good, and deep inside Chloe felt that it would be good for this sad American -- caught in such deep emotions over his daughter's loss -- to not just feel and show some passion but receive some in return.

And yet almost as soon as she was returning that passion, tugging at his torso to smash her breasts into his chest as he himself forced his obvious erection into her belly, he was gone.

Chloe didn't chase after him this time, instead just standing there by the mezzanine railing, watching him go. She remained where she was for two reasons: one, if she went to his room, she knew she would be taking her clothes off and making love to him this night; and two, something inside her said that this grieving man simply needed his space for the moment.

She headed for the front desk, contemplated and then wrote a note in Italian, had one of the hotel's more English-savvy Italian desk workers translate the text to English below the original writing, and had it slipped under the door of the man's room. It read:

Richard,

Forgive me. I overstepped. Let me apologize. I am desperate to do so.

Please join me for breakfast at the Ristorante La Credenza di Ale. It is known to the taxis before the hotel. I will be there at 10.00. I will be there at 11.00. I will be there at noon, too. I will be there until you are there with me.

Chloe.​

In the past when her exploits didn't land a Big Fish, Chloe typically moved on to the next. There was never a shortage of men ready, willing, and able to spend money in the hopes of getting close to Chloe, if not inside Chloe. But her heart wasn't into tonight. She'd spent the last two days watching Richard, and despite having reservations about taking him as she did most men, Chloe still wanted to spend some time with him and see what he was all about.

She returned to her hotel room to spend the night, rather than catch a taxi for home. She didn't typically spend the entire night out, despite being an adult and having parents who understood that for a long time she hadn't been a sweet, naïve little girl. But she wanted to be close to Richard just in case ... in case what...?

In case he came to look for her ... at her room? He wasn't going to do that. Was he? He had Chloe in his arms and his mouth to her own, then run. No, he wasn't coming here tonight. And yet ... deep inside ... Chloe almost wished he would.

(Sending you a message. Read it first.)

 

[EroticLiteracy]

He spent the night alone with nothing but his grief to keep him company. He was quite simply a mess filled with guilt about having kissed the girl and also the feeling of pleasure he got from it. He wasn’t so much of a fool to think his wife would minded and knew even if she didn’t approve of how young she was that she probably wouldn’t care. It was just the…. Idea of it all! That the could be here enjoying himself while his family rotted away in a cemetery!

So he cried and consoled himself and paced his room for the night. Every so often he would find himself at the door debating whether or not to go her. It would be such a small thing to do to. All he needed to do was simply open the door step out and go find her room. He knew she would welcome him in with open arms and possibly that wouldn’t be the only thing she opened….

He always turned away at the last minute either out of guilt or fear. The night continued like that as he rode the endless sea of grief. Eventually he passed out on the bed his eyes dry with tears as he finally ran out.

When he awoke the sun was shining outside. With a quick look at his watch he realized he had slept in. His head felt foggy and congested almost as if he spent the night drinking instead of crying. He was still in his dinner clothes which were crumpled and in bad need of a session with the ironing board.

He kicked off the blankets and moved to the bathroom straight away. He went about taking care of himself using a cold water to shock his body and a shave to clean himself up. He emerged from the bathroom thirty minutes later refreshed if not still a little sad.

Then he saw it

Nestled on the floor was a simple note written on the hotels stationary. He saw the translation from Italian to American and with a start realized it could have only been to her. He padded over to it naked as he picked up the card and read its contents.

“Shit” He said his eyes widening when he realized she wanted to have breakfast for him. His eyes flickered to the clock on the wall realizing with dread that it was already noon. Would she really be there all day waiting for him? Surely not if she was who he thought she was!
Still….

What if she was still waiting?

He moved quickly dressing in a pair of jeans and a simple white T shirt. He pulled on his comfortable sneakers and paused long enough to grab his wallet and a billowing button-down shirt. Once he was dressed he moved out of the hotel room and to the lobby. Once there he arranged a taxi ride to take him to the restaurant in question. He arrived at 12:30 and all but ran towards her as he tried to think of an excuse. So intent on getting to her he didn’t even bother to take in the view.
“I’m sorry” He said gasping as he got to her table “I was late! I slept in!”

 

[CarlyConners]

After sitting at a table in the open air portion of the restaurant for an hour and a half, Chloe was certain Richard had blown her off. Why would he come here? The night before had not exactly been a wonderful experience for him. And yet she continued to wait. It wasn't that great a hardship, actually: she loved this place. It had an incredible view of the ridgeline of the Latium Volcano in the distance to the south...

https://i.imgur.com/gwjHZ3c.jpg?1​

...and being only two miles from her parents' leased villa, it was conveniently located for her frequent trips to and from home and the hotels popular with well-to-do foreign tourists of the male persuasion.

After two and a half hours, Sophia -- the waitress, a friend, and sometimes lover when one or both of them had the urge and no one to satisfy it -- had begun to seriously question her sanity. Sophia knew how Chloe lined her pockets with foreigner coin, and she knew that sometimes patience was necessary. But two and a half hours?

"He's here!" the waitress announced to Chloe in hushed excitement as she passed by the latter's table with a tray of drinks for some Norwegians sitting nearby. Sophia had never met Richard, of course, but she'd been able to tell by his rushed expression and body language that he was eager to locate a particular person ... and Chloe was most definitely particular. She peeked back toward the entrance as the American neared and whispered, "Now I understand your patience, my friend."

Chloe only smiled. As she watched Richard approach, she took in his appearance a bit more than she had the day before. Yesterday, she'd been considering his clothes and shoes and manicure and behavior for signs as to whether he was a man of money and means. Today, however, she saw a little more of the actual man ... and she liked what she saw. The open button down and tight fitting tee showed off his fit chest and belly more than had his attire of the day before; and the tight fitting jeans as opposed to the long, loose fitting shorts made his appear taller and more fit ... the type of man a woman would want others to see her with, even if he was twice her age ... or maybe even because he was twice her age.

As she stood, he apologized for being late. Chloe waved off the excuse as she lured him in close, kissing him on both cheeks which seemed to surprise the American a bit. She waved to her waitress friend, gestured her guest to the chair opposite her, and said, "No sorry, Richard. You here ... and I happy ... I am happy ... say right, yes?"

Sophia stepped up and began rattling off the lunch special in rapid Italian, to which Chloe responded by ordering similarly for them both and pointing to the wine list while adding the year of the vintage she wished. Sophia looked to Richard, then back to Chloe, spoke to her with a sly smile, and departed.

"She say you ... what is way to say in English ... you stud!" Chloe said, laughing. "Is right, yes?"

 

[EroticLiteracy]

When he saw her sitting there and waiting for him his heart sped up in his chest. A part of him assumed that she would already be gone or at least stayed long enough to tell him off. The idea that she was still here happily waiting for him was something he wouldn’t even contemplate. Yet here she was! Laughing and smiling and looking more than happy to see him. She gestured for him to sit and he did so blushing as she spoke and a pretty waitress came up to talk to her.

Again he didn’t follow the conversation and again he gave up. He instead relaxed as she spoke to her friend looking out at the stunning view. His nostrils flared as he took in the scent of the foreign country and he decided that no matter what today would be a good day. They would want him to at least attempt to enjoy himself here.

“Si” He said in answer to her question “You said it right”

The waitress moved away offering him a sly smile that his date quickly offered context on. He blushed deeper at her words clearing his throat as he reached out and took a sip of water.

“I don’t know about that” He said taking a big healthy gulp of the water and smiling “But tell her I said thank you all the same”

He reached out gently taking her hand.

“Thank you for last night” He told her sincerely “And I am sorry. Things haven’t been easy this past year. I promise I am going to do my best to keep the water works down today! What did you have planned? Just breakfast or more?”

 

[CarlyConners]

Chloe's lips spread in a wide, devilish smile. She said, "More ... oh ... Richard ... so much very more."



They chatted about the restaurant and the volcano remains behind them and what Richard had seen in Italy thus far and much more, taking bites of their delicious meal between words, until finally Chloe just stood and told him without question, "We leave, yes?"

She spoke to Sophia on the way out, telling her to put the meal and a beeg teep on the credit card she had registered. (In reality, Sophia had been serving her friend and sometimes lover free breakfast for years without Management ever catching on; and Chloe made up for it by including the waitress in on some of her more enjoyable, more outrageous adventures about Rome and the Italian countryside.)

"You like?" Chloe asked Richard when they got out to the curb before the restaurant, gesturing toward the car her father had leased her earlier in the year. "They call color ... um, how say...? Vieni a prendermi rosso ... come and get me red ... yes? Come ... let me show you Rome ... Italy ... way it should be see ... the way it should be seen..."

By now she was behind the wheel, pushing the start button on the dash and firing up the loud, powerful motor. She smiled broadly to Richard and finished, "...a centoventi chilometri all'ora."

She didn't translate her last line ... but it wouldn't be long before Richard was experiencing the translation: 110 km/hr ... or 70 miles per hour.



Chloe headed them through the narrow city streets of Marino, south past Lago Albano, and even further south past the western edge of the long deceased volcano. She chatted at Richard almost constantly, sometimes forgetting he was an English speaking American and falling back into Italian or even, at times, her original language of Greek. She pointed at this and that, explained or described this or that ... at times the Ferrari surged ahead at twice the speed it should have been going, and other times she suddenly stopped -- sometimes still in the lane, with cars screeching to a stop behind her -- to point off to and explain something of interest that she thought her sometimes stunned looking companion should understand.

Car horns were honked at her often; angry voices raised as well; and once or twice, pedestrians had to hurry to get out of her way. And yet, Chloe went forth, as if the roads of Italy were hers and hers alone. Soon enough, they were on an open road and achieving the a centoventi chilometri all'ora she'd promised -- or warned -- Richard about. The wind whipped through Chloe's hair as she often broke out in another rapid part Italian-part English explanation, her extended fingers pointing off this way or that.

Suddenly, the sound of the countryside passing by wasn't the only sound to be heard. Chloe looked into the rear view and grumbled at the sight of a motorcycle policeman behind them, red light flashing, siren wailing. She reached a hand over to pat Richard on the thigh -- a bit closer to his groin than to his knee -- and told him with an eased, confident smile, "Nessun problema."

She stopped the car -- which had earned its come and get me moniker -- lifted her rear from the seat a bit, and pulled her skirt up so far that her panties were nearly showing. The police officer arrived as she was fishing a card out of her wallet, and even behind his dark sunglasses, it was obvious that his gaze was not on her driver's license. She chatted with him in an exchange of Italian, looking to and mentioning her Amico americano as she again placed her hand on Richard's thigh, close to his groin.

When it began to appear obvious that the motorcycle cop wasn't going to let Chloe off easy, She reached downward and pulled the hem of her shirt upwards, this time exposing the bright red cotton of her panties. She propositioned him, and as his eyebrows raised over the top of his glasses, Chloe laughed. She looked to Richard and said, "Ufficiale di polizia ... he has ... what you American call it...? Erezione ... hard ... on?"

The police officer began speaking a bit harsher to Chloe, and she responded by ignoring him and reaching again into her wallet. She pulled out a laminated card and offered it up, her eyes on Richard instead as she smiled playfully. She was having fun, no doubt about it. The cop took the card, studied it a moment, then tossed it into her lap as he walked away, grumbling, "Stronza viziata egoista straniero."

"He say I am spoiled selfish foreigner bitch," Chloe translated, laughing again as she returned her IDs to her wallet. She looked to Richard, saw the expression on his face, then showed him the second card she'd flashed to the cop. It included the logos of both the Greek and Italian national governments, and across the bottom the words Immunità Diplomatica. "My father is diplomat ... important man ... how do say, grande parrucca... beeg weeg...?"

She pretended to remove an imaginary wig from her head, not knowing how else to explain the phrase. She threw the car into gear again, looked to Richard, smiled, and just before throwing the car again down the country road asked, "Have fun Richard?"



Ten minutes later, they were parked at a cliff side overlook, with the ocean laid out before them to the west and south. She pointed to places far out of sight as she explained, "Naples there ... Sardinia ... Corsica."

She took Richard's arm and pulled him closer to the railing, pointing to the beach 50 feet below them. "American's land here ... 1944 ... Anzio. Grande battaglia ... big battle. Many die, both sides. Americani ... they land, uh ... peaceful..."

She held her free hand up to mock a pistol and continued, "Bang bang ... no shoot. Germans not know they come."

Chloe looked back out over the beach again, and a solemn look filled her face. After a moment she continued, "But ... Germans find. Fight start. Many die in mountains."

She pointed back behind them, then up the coast a bit. "My ancestor, Greek ... they fight with Americani. Die here. Bury here."

Chloe's eyes glazed over, but she blinked away the tears before they were able to form. She looked back to Richard and suddenly was all smiles again. She turned him back toward the car again, but this time she urged him to the driver's side.

"You drive, Richard," she said, opening the door and insisting that he get behind the wheel. "Go south. Any south ... no matter what ... where ... just go ... I be with you, you be with me ... have fun."

Suddenly, she stood on her toes and kissed his mouth in a quick but wet kiss, then ran around the car to get into her side.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

The rest of his day was a wild ride.

First they ate lunch together enjoying each other’s company. Once the air was cleared he found he didn’t have to work so hard to enjoy himself. The air was fresh and clear, the view was amazing, and the company was warm and a little sexy. She seemed to bring out a fresh happiness out of him and the way she engaged and flirted with him quite simply made him feel good. The early lunch moved forward and with it he gradually began to forget his concerns about her. She wasn’t asking him for money nor was he paying anything.

Eventually she said they were leaving and he got up. He went with her watching as she paid for the meal and wondering if he should ask. Before he could however she was moving pulling his arm and directing him towards the parking lot. His eyes widened when he realized the car she was directing him to. His mouth fell upon a little gazing in wonder as he tried to figure out how a woman like her could afford it.

Was it a gift from another suitor? He thought to ask but decided he didn’t need to know. She called it come and get me read and his eyes flickered over to her running up and down her body as he thought it was very fitting. She got in the driver’s seat and he went around sliding into the passenger side and slamming the door shut behind him. No sooner was she in when she said something in Italian and they took off.

“Shit!” He said laughing as she tore ass down the road. At first he was nervous but he shortly began to relax. He trusted her and it was quite clear she was an excellent driver. The way she took to the streets showed she was one with plenty of experience. Eventually he just allowed himself to enjoy the time and what promised to be a wild ride.

He wondered what his wife and daughter would think of it all. His wife wasn’t one for crazy driving and would probably be having a heart attack by now. Even his daughter probably would have called it too much of a wild ride. The idea of both of them disapproving made him frown but he pushed it away with a wave of his hand. He reminded himself of his promise to make this day as good a one as possible.

They eventually were stopped by a police officer. He watched her nervously as she handled the cop wielding a mix of seductive allure and smart wit. When she revealed she was the daughter of a diplomat he couldn’t help but look at her a little shocked. It brought a whole new level of context to their interactions together. Surely if she was a diplomat’s daughter she was on the level?

They were off before he could say anything else tearing back through the country side. It took them ten minutes to reach the next stop for the day. He listened to her as she pointed and explained their surroundings taking note of where everything was. His gaze swept in wonder around the view taking it all in. She took his hand and brought her to the edge of the railing. She pointed down at the beach and he starred as she gave him the history of the beach.

He was something of a history buff so he quickly connected the battle she was talking about. The idea of being close to such history even a bloody history made him smile. He turned thanking her for showing him this even as she continued to speak. He found himself taking her hand running his large fingers against her own.
When she told him to drive his mouth opened in shock once more. He opened his mouth to protest but before he could she was kissing him once more. Before he could deepen it however she was gone moving over to the car and sliding into the passenger’s seat. He watched her go swallowing as he admired the sway of her hips. He trudged after her and without another word climbed into the drivers seat.
He took a few minutes to acquaint himself with the controls of the beast. He plugged in the key and hit the starter. The beast of a car rumbled to life exhaust kicking out as he gave the gas a firm push. He glanced back at her taking her smile of encouragement and kicking off. The car shot forward kicking gravel every which way as they drove forward.

He drove taking the twisting turns of the cliff side. Once he got comfortable he went faster always staying within the speed limit. Any jokes or comments she made about it he ignored intent on being safe and not pushing things. At one point he stopped treating her this time for some food from a small Italian restaurant. They ate in the car as grew bolder with his speed. Eventually the sun began to set casting the water to their left in golden hues as he noticed a sign pointing to some ruins.

“The ruins” He said pointing. He turned the car onto the road and sped the last bit sliding to a stop in a fun drift.

“Thank you for letting me drive” He told her as he opened the door “I’ll leave it to you to get us back!”

 

[CarlyConners]

"Take two day get back should you drive," she said laughing at the conservative speed at which Richard had driven. Of course, he couldn't be blamed for that: he was driving a very expensive car that belonged to someone else on curving, mountainous roads in a country of which he wasn't entirely familiar. She snapped her fingers, adding, "I get back lickey split. Lickey...? Sound not right ... no?"

They toyed around with her inability to properly use some English or even American English phrases as they walked the path up to the ruins. There had been no cars in the lot at the bottom, only a trio of bicycles equipped for long distance travel. Halfway up the rise to what had once been a monastery, they passed the three riders, who greeted them in French. Chloe was happy to see them descending, and she was even happier to see that she and Richard were the only two at the ruins when they arrived.

"Is legend old ... of young girls who go learn Monastery," she began, taking his hand and leading him through the ruins and beyond them, up a trail with signage that lacked English translations. "No nunnery close, so live here, with rana pescatrice ... monks. Monk has way with girls..."

She looked to Richard with a questioning expression. "You know have way...?"

She inserted an extended index finger into the circular curl of the other index finger and repeated a plunging gesture. She could tell he understood, and as she laughed, Chloe blushed.

"Monk not have way with girls say Church," she continued, once again clutching Richard's hand as she led him deeper and deeper into the woods away from the ruins. She made a hanging gesture as she continued, "Punished. But girls ... uh ... scomparire ... vanish. Is said monk's and girls here ... girls kill girls ... make own spirito ... ghosts ... and girls' ghost find monk ghost ... they here, in forest ... where have way without Church do stop."

Just then, they broke out of the woods into a small clearing, in the midst of which was a small pond that -- because of volcanic activity deep in the earth -- was heated by a thermal vent. Steam rose from the 90 degree Fahrenheit water, giving the entire pond and surrounding shore and woods an eerie look.

"Ghosts," Chloe said, pointing to the mists that, because of a strange wind pattern entering and exiting the clearing, tended to dance about slowly. "Girls ... monk ... float over water ... together ... have way."

Without warning, Chloe reached upwards, pulled her dress from her shoulders, and let it fall to the grass at her feet. She turned to face Richard as she unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the ground as well.

"Me girls," she said, pushing the thong he'd partially seen earlier off her hips and down her legs until she stood before him in only her modest heels. She stepped out of her shoes and added, "You monk. We have way in waters ...yes?"

She took a couple of steps back, then turned, ran forward, and dove with great grace into the waters. The mist above the pond swirled at her movement through them. She disappeared from his view, swimming under the very familiar pond's surface until she was nearly to the other side, fifty yards away.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

He blushed as she mentioned his slow driving and taking two days to get back. He wanted to retort but instead laughed. He continued to laugh as they moved to the ruin realizing with some surprise it was his first true laugh in sometime. He was pleased by the thought so much so that he held her hand as they walked through the ruins of the monastery. They passed a few men and talked to them for a moment gaining some information about the best places to see before they headed out. He was pleased to see they were the only ones here a pleasure she seemed to share.

“I uh know what have way means” He said chuckling as she mimed the motion of sex.

She took his arm again and continued to tell him the story. They moved out of the ruins heading to a cluster of trees. He shivered when she came to the grizzly part of the tale the death of young girls hitting closer to home than it should have. His eyes flickered around the forest taking it all in as they reached the clearing with the pond of water.

“Maybe we should go back” He murmured eyeing the strange mist. He was spiritual and believed in such things like ghosts. He began to inch back but then froze noticing that she was removing her dress and striping down. She mentioned the pond and his mouth hung open in shock.

“You want to here?” He whispered watching as she became nude and dived into the water. He continued to stare at her trying to make sense of what she was asking. Did she want them to have sex? And why in such a morbid place?

He sighed and began to pull off his jacket and shirt. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it but didn’t want to seem like a scared weak man. He pushed his jeans down and kicked his shoes off before moving towards the water. His tight ass bounced as he moved into the water. It was warm and his cock gently floated as he came over to her. He leaned in and kissed her shoulders sliding his hand up and down her back as he pressed himself against her.

“I don’t know what to make of all this” He said softly his voice throaty and hoarse with lust “what are we doing here?”

 

[CarlyConners]

Chloe had been standing in just enough of the pond's dark waters to allow her firm breasts with their now exceptionally pert nipples to be visible to Richard as he appeared from out of the mist. He took her into his arms, kissing her, pulling her to him. She embraced him with passion, whispering sweet nothings to him in Greek, then Italian.

"What this...?" she asked in playful surprise when their lips parted for a moment. Chloe was referring having felt the waist band of his boxers against the bare skin of her belly. She reached a hand down to play with them, to ensure that he understood about what she was questioning. She kissed him again, then slid that hand down inside his underwear, finding his already stiff as stone cock. Without hesitation, Chloe began kneading it, then pulling up and down on it with a tight grasp. She wanted to make Richard cum, right here, right now. She murmured to him, "Sentirsi bene...? Feel good...?"

 

[EroticLiteracy]

He moved into the water with her causing the pond to ripple and small waves to cascade out all around him. The water warmed him from head to toe causing his naked body to tingle as he moved toward her. A part of him kept his eyes on the tree line listening and watching out for everyone as he joined her. This had to be the craziest thing he ever did in his life! After all who knew what kind of nasty things could be in the water not to mention the fact that they were buck naked in public!

She was waiting for him at the center of the pond. He proud tits jutting up as she beckoned for him. The moon was full and swollen above them casting reflections of the water and giving him plenty of light to admire her. He knew she was quite simply put a knock out but seeing her naked once more only further reminded him of that. He knew it wasn’t playing it safe to fall for such seductive charm but he couldn’t help it. Her singular focus on him was a balm on his soul after so long of being alone.

He met her and they shared a passionate kiss. He moaned in pure pleasure as they continued to kiss merging together in a blend of passion and wanton lust. All worry and concerns about someone walking up on them melted away as he lost himself in her. The way her body moved against his was simply put divine and as their tongues touched and wrapped around each other his cock strained in his boxers. He idly thought he was a dumb to have kept them on out of fear of someone walking up on them.

Because who cared at this point?

She said something and he moaned as her soft hand snuck down his chest. Her small hand pushed through his boxers and he panted as he felt her wrap around his cock. She began to move her hand and his head tipped back moaning loudly and in pure wanton need as his cock was touched by a woman for the first time in two years. Quite quickly the idea of telling her no or of putting a stop to what they were doing was obliterated from his mind. It felt to good for him to do such a thing.

“I need you” He said his voice throaty with sex “Oh god it feels so good…. I need you!”

 

[CarlyConners]

At his begging to have her, Chloe kissed Richard passionately once more without ceasing her skilled manipulation of his shaft.

"Molto presto," she whispered, increasing the speed and tightness of her jerking of his length. "Soon ... very soon ... but ... no yet, Richard... no yet."

Chloe held tight about his torso with one hand as the other continued to work upon his cock. It was obvious to her that it had been a long time since someone had done such a thing to the American ... because it was obvious that he couldn't hold out much longer.

 

[EroticLiteracy]

When she told him not yet he growled in frustration. It was clear now what she wanted and also clear to him that he would give it to her. His cock was throbbing after not having something like this for two years. In every nerve was on fire burning with his need for her. His balls themselves were tight filled to the brim with his cum. He buried himself into her neck as she kept groaning moaning and kissing every inch of her skin that he could.

Then the end came.

He felt himself tip over the edge and with a cry he released himself. His head tipped back once more and his mouth fell open as his cock twitched and shuddered in her hands. It exploded with cum filling the steamy water with his seed as he rode out his first orgasm in six months. He failed in the water as he came bucking his hips and splashing until his cock finally went limp in her hands.

 

[CarlyConners]

Chloe had known Richard's orgasm was imminent by his sounds and body language. She tightened her grip upon his shaft and accelerated her manipulation of it until finally it leapt in her hand. Her lips spread in delight at the groan of desperately needed release that filled the night air. She was certain that they were alone in this place, yet couldn't help but imagine what others would think to hear Richard's sounds of ecstasy coming from the mist above the thermal pond.

She continued the up and down stroking of Richard's length with one hand while continuing to clutch his body to her own with the other. Chloe repositioned her feet in the pond's muddy bottom, fearing that as he succumbed to the joy of orgasm, Richard might collapse down into the water. They would laugh about how hard it would have been to explain the dead American found naked in a monastery hot spring later, but right now their attention was fully on their joy ... Richard's joy of orgasm and Chloe's joy of having caused it.

After the leaping of Richard's cock had finally ceased and his forehead collapsed into meeting of her neck and shoulder, Chloe pulled her hand out of his boxers and wrapped that arm about him as well.

"Felice?" she asked simply, a proud smile on her lips. She translated, "Happy?"