Chapter 29

Friday, I found myself looking forward to our next overnighter. It felt so good knowing that I was going to go away with a man who loved me. I trusted him, knowing he would never demand more than I wanted to give. I knew he would use me, but not use me if you catch my drift. Being in love was wonderful, but my mind kept coming back to Gabe’s upcoming lunch with my sister, Deanna.

***

As was my habit, I asked Gabe what he wanted me to wear on Saturday morning. He looked at me, admiring my naked body as I toweled off in my dressing area. We’d been following the weather because it does get cool in November, even in Florida.

“I’d like you to slut it up a bit for me,” he asked with that deep authoritative tone that I have come to love. I nodded happily.

“So how about black tights, those knee-high leather boots I saw in your closet, and a nice … tight … sweater.” He smiled brightly imagining me already dressed in the tight outfit. “Oh, and your collar with the emerald turned out and no bra.”

I was happy to watch him get dressed in a nice pair of slacks and a fitted button-down that I had bought for him. He looked delicious. He was so handsome with his fresh tight haircut and clean-shaven face. He looked young, confident, and virile. God, he made my heart race.

I watched him pack up our to-go bag to include some nice eveningwear for us both. My fine young Alpha had some plans for tonight.

***

We parked at the hotel, and I was surprised at how busy the area was. Off the main roads in St. Augustine, the streets are one lane, one way. It gives the streets a very tight feel, like the French Quarter in New Orleans.

I have been ‘paraded’ before, though it’s been a while. That’s what Gabe did. He took my hand in his and walked me through the crowds to the main desk. With my tights and heeled boots, my ass looked spectacular, and I made sure to wear a G-string so there were no panty lines. My grey sweater was sinfully tight, and my nipples stood out prominently. I was getting a lot of dirty looks from other ladies in the hotel lobby. A look at my man’s face told me that I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“You’re enjoying this,” I said quietly.

Gabe smiled at me. “You’re fucking-A right I am. Do you know what a rush it is to walk in with the hottest woman in the hotel? To know that everyone is wondering what we’ll be getting up to, tonight?” He stepped up and curled his hand around to cup my ass and then kissed me hard. He made me feel wonderful and sexy and desired, and God, I loved him for it.

We turned when the hotel desk clerk was ready for us. Gabe gave the pretty young woman our reservation number, but she kept glancing at me. After we got it sorted and had our room keys, the woman leaned across and motioned for me to do the same. When I did, she smiled widely and whispered, “I love your collar. Is he good to you?”

I glanced back at Gabe who was pretending to examine the decor. I smiled back at the young Latina. “He’s the best.”

***

Our room was beautiful. The view was a bit disappointing though. It simply looked directly into the rooms of the hotel across the street. The bathroom was beautiful; tiled in a Spanish motif and featured a classic claw foot tub.

I looked over at Gabe as he hung up our party clothes. “So, my handsome Alpha, what devious plans have you got for us tonight?”

He grinned. “I think I plan to spoil you a little, my love.” His face got a little more serene. “Tonight, I plan to wine you, dine you, and sixty-nine you. I’m afraid I haven’t gotten anything more elaborate than that. No ropes, no whips, we’ll just have to wing it.”

I kissed him. Sometimes just a little loving is what the doctor ordered. “That sounds perfect.”

***

I sat on the picnic table outside the old Spanish fort. Dad has always been a big history buff, so we visited the location often as I grew up. We’d bring picnic lunches and eat out on the grass. With the sunshine and the sea air, it was always a great day.

I’d made some potato salad and some great sandwiches the night before we left, making sure to bring my mother’s favorites. I watched my mother walk down the path. She was dressed in jeans and a floral blouse. When she spotted me at the picnic table far out on the grass, she stopped and started a few times. She seemed uncharacteristically uncertain. I could relate.

I smiled at her as she approached the table. I left the picnic basket untouched at the end of the table. “Hey, Mom.” I wanted to hug her like I always do, but I felt the need to read the room, so to speak. “I’m glad you came.”

She stopped at the table and looked around nervously. “Is she here with you?”

Our eyes met. “Tina is back at the hotel room.”

Her blue eyes grew steely. “You’re with her, aren’t you?”

I set my jaw. I was not going to be spoken down to. “Sit down, Mom,” I said with an authoritative tone. She frowned angrily. “Sit down or turn around and go back home.”

It took her a full minute before she made up her mind that this needed to happen whether she was in control of the situation or not. When she sat, she looked at me defiantly. I answered her question. “I’m afraid it is much worse than that. We’re in love.”

Her jaw dropped open and her eyes grew wide. “Gabe, she’s … my sister; your aunt.”

I looked at her hard but kept my voice level. “No Mom, she’s not. You made sure of that. I never knew her. To me, she’s just a woman.”

A flicker of guilt flashed across her face. “She’s still a blood relative.”

I shrugged. “Who cares? It’s not like we’re going to have children.”

My mother snorted in derision at that. “I’m surprised she doesn’t have a whole brood of little bastards running around. It’s a fucking miracle, that’s what it is.”

I slapped my hand down on the recycled plastic table, startling her. “Insult her again and you can add me to the people you avoid at family parties.” I saw her bite her bottom lip a bit. “And as for children, she can’t have any.” My mother’s eyes widened in surprise. “Her first husband had her sterilized so that he could have his fun with no consequences.”

Her mouth gaped. “He did what?”

It was a good spot to break off the conversation. I opened the picnic basket and left her with her thoughts for a few moments. I pulled out some sandwiches and sweet tea. I put one on a paper plate and slid it over to her. It was her favorite, smoked turkey with Colby-jack on a nice Kieser roll. I took out a container of cranberry salsa that I’d made and slid it across the table to her with a spoon. For some folks, a little mustard or mayo is the condiment of choice. For my mother, it’s cranberry salsa.

She smiled a bit and started to unwrap the sandwich. “You remembered.”

Our eyes met. “Of course, I did. You’re my mother and I love you. I owe you and Dad everything.”

Our eyes met and I saw her eyes soften. “How did it happen?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Well, like any two people, I guess. I moved in, and we got to know one another. Mom, she’s a wonderful person who has had a tough life. She’s never had someone treat her sweetly like you and Dad treat each other. We were attracted to one another, and it just happened.”

I looked at her hard. “Mom, do you know anything about your sister beyond the fact that she fucked your prom date? Do you know anything of what she’s been through?”

She stammered and her face reddened in embarrassment, “Well no, but …”

I shook my head, “No buts, Mom, you turned your back on your sister. Someone who suffers from a psychological condition because you were humiliated.”

She sat up straight and glared at me. “Being easy is hardly a psychological condition.”

“Really?” I replied. “So, you have done lots of research on the subject of hypersexuality and other impulse control disorders?”

She flinched. “Well, no, I umm …”

“She’s been seeing a psychiatrist and been on medication since she was nineteen, except when her husbands refused to pay for it, citing they liked her better when she was off the meds.”

My mother was finally silent for a couple of minutes. “I had no idea about any of that.”

I looked at her. “That’s the problem. You’ve never been able to forgive her long enough to learn. It was just a high school boy. It’s not like she tried to seduce Dad.”

We sat quietly for several minutes, each of us lost in our thoughts. “Do you know that she feels terrible about it?”

Mom looked at me quizzically, “She does?”

I nodded. “She’s cried in my arms.”

She sighed and I saw her eyes well up as she took another bite from her sandwich. “What are we going to do about this, Gabe? We obviously can’t tell the family about this.”

I grabbed the potato salad and a couple of plastic forks from the basket. “We don’t do anything. We tell no one. Tina doesn’t talk to any of the family except Grandma.” Our eyes met again. “We keep it a secret.”

We talked for a long time after that. She caught me up on Dad and the rest of the family. And I told her a lot about her sister. The personal stuff, the important stuff. I kept it rated PG. After lunch, we walked back to the cars quietly. She left after giving me a solemn cross-your-heart-and-hope-to-die promise to contact Tina and start to mend some old hurts. It felt like a very good start.

***