Darkness, Pleasure and Pain

Chapter 1

'Order's up! Table 3, Vi!'

'Be right there.'

Viola smiled at the customer after scribbling down his order and pocketing it in her white apron. She went to the kitchen and plucked all seven dishes carrying varieties of diner foods, balancing them out on both her arms. She was quite a sight carrying a heavy load and walking with the grace of a flamenco dancer, especially at 5'10". Her lithe, curvaceous form drew lustfully admiring gazes from men, but they did not dare touch any part of her for it was well known how tempestuous she could be. One who had dared before paid the price with a cut lip and two black eyes.

As she smiled at her customers and took orders and served food, she surmised the way her life was now. She straightened the pale-yellow uniform which was not form-fitting but still flattered her curves and coloring. Her expressive yet shuttered caramel brown eyes took in the friendly cheerful environment of the diner and as she scanned across the room, she spotted something that made her heart stop and stutter.

Or rather someone.

A blond head cropped out of one faraway booth and for a second she thought she saw sunglasses and a wide, gleaming smile in the profile. But when she turned around again, no one was there.

Dios Mio! It was my imagination. There was no way HE could be here.

She nervously pulled a stray strand of her black hair behind her ear and wiped palms on her apron.

Relax, Viola! Think of Damian.

The thought of her little angel washed away the trepidation of seconds before. He is going to be 6 this year.

As she smiled, one of the waitresses named Benita came over, concern written across her face.

'You okay, Vi?'

'Don't worry. All good.'

She tried to look reassuring, but Benita looked like she was going to object when….

'Oi, Benita! Tables 5 and 10! Now!'

She walked away but threw a look in Viola's direction which indicated that it was not over. Viola sighed softly and went through the kitchen to the back alley for her break.

As she breathed in the balmy evening air, she closed her closed her eyes to again witness a rush of memories..

A shadowed room bathed in moon light, the whisper of sheets and sighs. Clothes coming off, slowly and being torn off in urgency. Skin on skin, hands running across a body well-built yet lean. Golden hair reflecting silver. Hands gripping hips and running over thighs and tongues and lips exploring pleasures untamed. Strong, lean arms holding her close as HE is pounding away inside of her, never wanting to leave. Possessing her with imprints not only physical.

Her mouth sighing and screaming his name as he continues plunging inside of her and a hand snaked up to grip and caress her hair. Kisses long and slow and rough, dueling of tongues.

A few flashes later,

She sat on her bed with a wondrous look as the proof of new life growing inside of her. As she pictured him and her with a baby boy and a girl, realization turned that dream into dust. They could never be together. His lifestyle which entangled hers would always get in the way.

She decided. She has been sneakily collecting cash and other necessities. She had access to the executives account of course (being one herself) but removing too much money daily would have been noticeable. Rebecca, her niece, had been helping her as well. The 19-year-old was a blessing to have around.

She took off in the dead of the night with Rebecca in tow and for the first few years, never settled for long into any of the towns. Finally, they stopped in Miami which was haven for people of their kind.

Looking back, she wondered if she would have gotten used to that life and immediately shut down that train of thought.

HIS memory still haunted her, deep into the nights when she could not sleep. His taste, his touch and his smile which could be salacious or threatening and very rarely gentle. Sometimes, she woke up gasping and panting from dreams which were her past life, desiring and resenting it all the same. They had very few happy, cherish-worthy moments which were eclipsed by the truths of what he was.

She swallowed the dull throb of pain and bit her lip, thinking about a good soak in her tub. With that tempting vision, she pasted a smile on and went inside.

A few hours later

It was a good day. She scored plenty of tips which would be going towards her savings. She climbed up the stairs to her small apartment which was empty as Damian was staying with Rebecca and her husband Cavendish. They had children of their own, 3-year-old Max and 2-year old Scarlet. Her niece had met the man while they were on the run.

Cavendish had understood the situation, being that he was running from something similar. Their story is for another time.

Viola appreciated this as she had one night to unwind and relax. She loved her little boy to the point of stabbing someone if they blinked at him wrong, but sometimes she would get in one of her moods and Damian being perceptive, caught on. She was glad because she was still shaken by the incident at the diner, even if it was her imagination.

She called Rebecca while unlocking her apartment. Damian was happily giggling on the other side with his niece and nephew. She came in and put her purse and plastic bags full of diner food.

She got into her tub and had an hour-long soak as tomorrow was her day off. After belting on her toweling robe, she stepped towards her room when a feeling of trepidation hit her.

She picked up a razor blade and waded carefully through steam. Her neighborhood was not the nicest, but burglary was uncommon. She tiptoed to her room and flicked on her lights, which she now truly regretted.

A tall, intimidating man was sitting on her garage sale armchair, his blond hair and even white teeth gleaming. Even as he was sitting with a smile that could scare a hard-boiled war veteran, his long lean body in a relaxed manner, there was no doubt he was angry.

IT WAS HIM! HER WORST NIGHTMARE COME TRUE!

Donquixote Doflamingo. The family head of the Donquixote group They had fingers in all slices of the mafia pie back in Spain, Italy and a few others in Europe. He was a complex man, with many more layers than a Russian doll. His cunning and ingenuity combined with ruthless intellect, made him a formidable force in the underworld. To the world outside, they were a respectable import-export business, but their true dealings and profitability came from black market trades.

'Been a long time, Senorita.'

Viola felt a frisson of fear as his eyes scanned her from head to toe, becoming more appreciative as he continued his perusal.

'Doffy, why are you here?'

Viola kept her fear in check as she knew he admired boldness. He was here now. It was terrifying given Damian's existence, but it was happening, and she had to deal with it.

He stood, his pink shirt and white cotton pants in no way undermining his masculinity, as his eyes still drank her in.

'It's night. You can take off the sunglasses. We both know you have perfect vision.'

Viola retorted as she was backing away from him. She was quick when it came to defending herself but this man, right now, was confusing her fight-or-flight instincts. Her body moved in motion with his as he slowly cornered her while her mind screamed at her to run.

'Do you have any idea, mi feroz belleza, how difficult it was to find you? I admit I was furious and yet impressed with your ability to vanish completely.'

He took in her drying hair and mesmerizing eyes as he completely caged her in, his hands beside her shoulders. Her head barely reached his chin and she felt trapped, despite her Amazon height. She could not stop looking at him as he was at her.

His visage was compelling with tanned skin and a square jaw complimented by a Roman nose. His sunglasses should have been intimidating but they only added to his menacing appeal. She drank him in just for a moment when she suddenly realized he was here for a reason.

'Answer me. What do you want?'

Viola calmly stated as her mind worked out ways to escape. He took a deep breath and said, to her amazement…

"isn't it obvious? I want you. Mostly, I want answers. But I wouldn't say no to your…. ferocity.'

He whispered seductively while lightly skimming her throat.

Viola shuddered in reaction. Her body was betraying her. In a last desperate attempt, she sliced across his chest but he caught her hand and slammed it against the wall, not enough to hurt but to drop the blade which he kicked away with a booted foot under the wardrobe beside them.

'I have forgotten how passionate you are, in everything you do.'

'I want nothing to do with you. I belong to myself. Besides, whatever happened to your harem for you to come running here?'

Viola was now struggling to get out of his grip wildly shaking her head as if to deny her past.

'That mouth of yours should be only for my pleasure.'

Doflamingo declared when he tangled his hand in her hair and slammed his lips on her. He pressed her tightly against him, his arms circling her waist and long fingers skimming her hip. She kept struggling until his tongue persuaded her lips to open and then their tongues started dueling and she lost all reason and returned each nip, lick and bite in earnest.

It is still the same between us.

She though as she ran her hands through his hair, caressing his face and neck and slowly sliding over his chest. Nerves lit up with sparks and exploding in sheer electricity as they continued, his lips now sliding down her neck while a hand came up from her hip to squeeze a breast. She moaned his name as he tweaked a nipple through her toweling robe which was halfway down her right shoulder. Her lower regions were tightening in response and anticipated his touch.

She opened her eyes to get her fill of him again. He was indulging as a man who has finally tasted water after years of thirst. She looked at her surroundings and her eyes fell on a ratty teddy bear.

That's right. Damian. Oh no!

She took a deep breath like she was above water and pushed him away as she gathered her bearings.

'Deny all you like, my beauty. But rest assured, this is far from over. I will be back.'

He kissed her lightly on the lips and walked himself out. She slid down the wall, heart beating a mile a minute as she came to terms with what just happened.

He found me. After all these years. I am lucky he did not find out about Damian. OH MY GOD! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

She sat there, half in fear and the rest in a tumult of emotions she was not ready to process yet.

It was going to be a sleepless night.