25
HONORING
The morning came too soon and I didn't want to rise from the comfortable bed and leave the arms of my lover but we both knew that I must.
"You must dress and go to Mr. Johnson, Isabella, you promised him," Enrique told me.
"Drat Mr. Johnson, can't I go to him later, I want you just now," I said.
"I want you too but I also have obligations, some of my women stayed the night and I promised I'd please them today before they left; Carmen is first on my list, Giovanna hopes to see you again before she leaves so she can wait while I take care of the others. You go to Mr. Johnson and when you return and I'm finished with my women, I'll take you to meet your husbands and family who should be at Tanya's home by then; Giovanna can amuse you while you're waiting for me," he told me.
I sighed but I knew I must do as he wanted, it was his responsibility as well as my own to honor those who requested it and I longed to see my husbands' again as well as my mother.
"You're right Enrique," I said, "I'll get ready but please honor me in the shower, I don't want to be sick when I'm with Mr. Johnson."
He laughed, "I think it's becoming an excuse so you can enjoy me but I know I want it so I won't say no."
"I think you'll have to stay close by me until my morning sickness leaves," I told him.
"I agree but how will we know, if I continue to sustain you?" he wondered.
"I'm sure Thomàs will know, he knows my body better than I do myself," I said.
"I too am learning a great deal about your body Isabella," he said smiling.
"I guess Mr. Johnson will soon know my body too," I teased.
"I would hope, not as well as I," he said.
We both went to the shower and then Emma came to help me dress while Tabitha brought the babies to feed; soon I was ready and went with Irina so she could show me where Mr. Johnson lived.
His home was not far from Enrique's home, a large ranch style home with riding stables full of horses; Mr. Johnson himself greeted us, he'd been riding from the look of his attire.
"Irina you're welcome to honor the horses if you desire," he said.
"I have an appointment with Enrique, so I don't have much time, the horses are messy creatures and I don't have time to take a shower," she said.
I swallowed remembering what I had experienced and I was so thankful Mr. Johnson didn't insist I spend time with his horses.
I walked with him to his house and he put his arm around me.
"You've had plenty of experience with men, so I've been told," he said.
"Yes that's true," I admitted.
"Good; virgins are good to take but they need a lot of teaching; I prefer women with experience, they give so much more pleasure," he said.
"I hope to give you pleasure, Mr. Johnson," I said.
"You're so young looking, have you been changed very long?"
"I was changed at eighteen, almost nineteen and now I'm twenty two," I told him.
"You're still a baby then," he said.
I rolled my eyes, "I wonder if I'll ever grow up," I said.
We reached the house and a woman was standing to greet us.
"Meet my wife Evelyn," he said.
Evelyn came forward and gave me a hug.
"I'm so pleased you could come, my dear, you seem so young to give my husband pleasure," Evelyn said.
"Don't let her age fool you, Enrique tells me she's had plenty of experience and I'll soon find out if he's right but I declare him never to be wrong about a woman. He's very taken with this girl, in fact, he chose her, he usually allows women to choose him but this time he said he couldn't pass her up; the surprise is that she's pregnant with his child."
"My goodness, how unusual, she must be an amazing girl, Randy," she said.
Mr. Johnson took me upstairs.
"I need to shower, I want you to undress so you'll be ready for me when I'm done," he told me.
I undressed; I wasn't modest around men, so instead of jumping immediately into bed to cover my nakedness, I sat on a chair and waited for him, he soon came out of the bathroom toweling himself dry and looked at me.
"You aren't shy I see," he said.
He dropped his towel and came to me, I stood up and he held me away from him so he could inspect me.
"You have a beautiful body my dear and it's definitely that of a woman and not a child."
He pulled me to him and I felt him harden as he kissed me, he lifted me up and placed me on the bed as he stood over me; I saw that his body was well formed for an older man, he had obviously taken care of him prior to his change, he saw that I observed him.
"Do you approve of me?" he asked.
"So far but I'll know better when we're done," I said seductively.
He lay beside me, pulled me to him and I kissed him, his hands found my breasts and stimulated my nipples, I moaned with pleasure; his lips moved down my body finding every sensitive area I had and soon he was inside me. I groaned as he continued to stimulate me and the passion overcame everything as we moved together; he thrust deep inside me and I gasped as the climax came.
"Do you approve of me now Isabella?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yes Sir, did I give you enough pleasure too?"
"Call me Randy and yes, you felt like a virgin with much more experience, that's the best of both worlds my dear, do you want more?"
"Yes I'd like to enjoy you much more," I said.
He laughed.
"Can you give me pleasure too?" he asked.
"Yes of course and I want too," I said.
I gave him pleasure so that he cried out and then he grabbed me and thrust inside me again; I cried out this time because he wasn't gentle with me but the pleasure was there and I held him to me.
"Don't leave me yet, I want more pleasure," I whispered.
He continued to excite me and I him, the passion smoldered inside both of us; three hours later I was still wound up but he insisted we must stop.
"I have work to do but this was very pleasurable, the horses could use a little of this heat Isabella," he said.
"No I'm only available for your pleasure, I can't give myself to the horses, please don't be offended," I told him.
"I'm not offended my dear, I understand the trauma you went through, can you tell me about it?" he wondered.
"It's difficult for me to talk about," I said.
"Sometimes talking about traumatic events helps relieve your mind Isabella," he said.
"We were in Kentucky at my brother in laws ranch and I was learning to ride, I guess I became overzealous with my riding skills and rode off the ranch by mistake; I became lost and two wandering vampires found me, they raped me then decided to give me to the horse I was riding, they tied me up so the horse could come inside me and I was blindfolded. The next day they brought two friends and another horse, after taking pleasure with me, they gave me to both horses and took pictures, I was able to persuade one of the men to find my family so they could rescue me," I told him.
"What happened to the men?" he asked.
"The first two no longer exist; one went to prison and the one who helped me to be rescued is at present taking care of the same two horses at my home in Italy, he's experienced with horses and Aro spared him because he helped me."
He nodded, "Aro is your husband?"
"Yes, it's because I'm married to so prominent a vampire that I'm required to obey the rules of honoring and sharing; Aro's pleased when I accept such as you," I said.
"Are you pleased my dear?"
"I am now, I haven't been doing this very long, Aro tried to protect me but the board insisted; I now have three lovers including Enrique and all the board members take pleasure with me, of course I also have my husbands'."
"Well I'm sorry your introduction to horses was so traumatic but I truly enjoyed you myself, you will come to me again when you're in this area, I'll expect it and if possible I may even send for you; would you like an escort home?"
"No thank you, I'll enjoy walking home by myself, being without an escort is new to me too and it feels good after being constantly watched before," I told him.
As I walked slowly back to Enrique, I decided to call Thomàs; he answered immediately and knew it was me.
"How's my sweet love, I missed you so much?" he said.
"I didn't miss you at all Thomàs, I'm having so much fun with Enrique and other men plus now I'm free," I told him laughing.
"So why did you call if you didn't miss me young lady?"
"I just wanted to hear your voice and boast that your father says I'm now independent," I said and giggled.
"Little miss, you're not as independent as you think because you can't stand to be away from me and that's why you called," he said.
I laughed, "I guess you know me too well and I do miss you, more than you can know and I miss Edward too; are you here yet?"
"We just arrived at the airport and so we'll soon see you mia amore," he told me.
"Please hurry and be safe, I love you," I said.
I hung up and ran the rest of the way home for it was my home, anywhere my men resided was my home and Enrique was just as much a part of my existence as my husbands', I was expecting his child and I felt fulfilled; I was so much in love with all my men and even though I would never see God because I would never die, I felt blessed and very loved.
Enrique was pacing when I arrived home, he sighed with relief at the sight of me and pulled me close to him.
"Where have you been, you worried me, I called Randy and he said you'd left an hour ago?"
"I called Thomàs on the way back, I was enjoying my freedom, I'm sorry I didn't expect you to worry about me," I said.
"Isabella I love you and miss you when you're gone from me, you're having my child do you understand what that means to me?" he asked.
He kissed my hair then held my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him; he planted another kiss on my lips then pulled me into his arms in a tight embrace.
"I only know what it means to me, I love that you love me so much, I love that I'm having your child and I love that you missed me so much," I told him.
He pulled me down on his lap as he sat on a chair; I held his face in my hands and kissed him.
"I can't bear it if we're separated and I'm afraid I won't see you as much as I want and need you, please stay close to me," I pleaded.
"You know it isn't possible for me to be constantly with you, I have many things to take care of but I know your husbands' will take care of you while I'm gone, you probably won't even miss me," he smiled.
"You know I will," I said sadly.
He lifted my chin so that I looked at him.
"I promise to call you every day when I'm gone and as you get closer to having our baby, I'll spend all my time with you," he said.
My eyes became teary and I buried my face in his chest, his arms engulfed me and I felt safe as we lay together.
"Will you come back to Italy with us?"
"I'm hoping the morning sickness will be gone by the time you leave but I will bring you with me if not, because I have to go to my villa in Spain, that will be my next stop," he said.
"I desperately want to go with you but I need to see my children," I said.
"One week or even two isn't going to make that much difference and I'm sure your morning sickness will be gone by then plus we'll at least be on the same continent; I'll bring you back to Italy with me and spend some more time with you then," he said.
"You make it seem so tempting," I said.
I put my arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I'll talk to Thomàs and Edward to see what they think," he concluded, "I have one more woman to please then I'll take you to Tanya's home; Giovanna's waiting to talk to you; we can shower together when I'm done."
"Yes my love," I said.
Giovanna and I were great friends by the end of our conversation; she had plenty of ideas in which I could show my independence.
"Did you enjoy your visit to Mr. Johnson's?" she asked.
I wasn't sure what she meant by this question so I decided to skirt around it.
"Mr. Johnson is a very kindly gentleman and I enjoyed his company," I said.
"And his sex?" she pushed.
"It was fine, I can't say I didn't enjoy it," I told her.
"Did you want it?" she now asked.
"It wasn't my choice, I went because I must," I said.
"If you had a choice, would you have gone?"
"No," I said, "I have enough men I would prefer to be with."
"So this is one thing your independence doesn't reach?"
"Yes I'm afraid so but I'm getting used to it, my husbands' make sure the men who want me are honorable and sometimes I want to go, I recognize when they want to honor me and I want to let them," I told her.
"Would you have preferred to have a choice?"
"Yes of course but it isn't possible Giovanna, you know it, I live in Volterra with the most important vampire there is and he's just as bound by the laws as everyone else, possibly more so because of who he is; if I refuse to go even to one man, the board will find out and I could risk being separated from my family, forced to please anyone who want me and if I became pregnant, my child will be removed from me after the birth."
"That seems an extreme punishment considering there are many women who do refuse men and are not punished at all," she told me.
"I agree but the worst thing is that they would take away Aro's power and his existence, I could not do that to him, I love him dearly, at least now I can remain with my family and Aro's safe from harm; pleasing men isn't a difficult thing to do, I can incorporate it into my schedule and the men I've been with so far have pleased me."
"But a choice would be more acceptable?"
"I don't know Giovanna," I said, "Without a choice forces me to go and have pleasure with men, I accept that I must and so my conscience is clear; if I was given a choice and I chose to go to the men, then it would bother my conscience eventually."
"So then you'd stop being available?" she questioned.
"Maybe," I said thoughtfully.
It occurred to me that I liked doing what I was doing.
"I fought it at first but now I've accepted it and allowed myself to enjoy it, I'm not even sure I want to stop now; one of Thomàs' colleagues in Los Angeles gave me great pleasure and so did Mr. Johnson," I admitted.
"Let me tell you about myself Isabella," she said, "As a young human girl I came to Volterra because I'd heard I could find a job there, I discovered Volterra to be much the same as other towns except for the castle and so I went there asking for work; I had no parents or family and I was hired to work in the castle. I found myself to be controlled even to what I could do in my spare time and I couldn't leave the castle under any circumstances, I wasn't stupid and soon learned the secrets of the castle, I was informed at that time I would forfeit my life if I tried to disobey the rules I was now given. I elected to keep my life and I lived many years under the rules of the Volturi as a human, as I became older; I started to lose my efficiency and again was given a choice to die or change. As you can see, I changed and since then I was given a home to live comfortably outside the castle and now I can travel wherever I choose with the money I receive as a pension because of my many years of good service and I was given the title of Contessa"
"It doesn't sound like you had much of a life," I said.
"It was life, which at the time was preferable to death but it wasn't much better than death; I was pretty and the male humans working there would use me, all the male humans were sterilized to prevent pregnancies from occurring and so I wasn't given the opportunity to be a mother. The vampires were not allowed to consort with humans because of the strength they possessed and if any did, the woman would have to die because of the possibility of a child being conceived, usually the woman would die from the effects of the intercourse alone," she told me.
"I'm sorry you suffered so much," I said.
"I accept my life as you are now, when choices are removed, it becomes easier to do as you're told even if it's not something you would have done otherwise; I was told I was created to allow men to enjoy me and I shouldn't resist, I found that no one would protect me if I tried to resist so I soon allowed it and found myself enjoying it as you do now. Since I became a vampire as an old woman, I'm obligated to choose my own sex partner or not have sex; I still desire to have sex so I chose Enrique, he allows me because he has no choice, I wasn't fortunate to procure a husband since I waited too long to change," she said.
"I on the other hand am too desirable," I said., "I'm sure Enrique would not choose to get rid of his women, he's very satisfied and I accept that; I would never choose to give him up or any of my present men but I would like the choice of any new ones. Of course Aro won't allow me to have too many men because my first priority is my husbands' and children."
"The point I'm trying to make is that there should always be a choice between one thing or another even if both choices aren't bad choices; a human chooses between right and wrong but a vampire might not need to make a bad choice. He could choose to take a woman or not and either choice would be acceptable, do you agree?" Giovanna asked.
"I think it should be that way but it isn't," I said.
"Well now you've received your independence you have the ability to change the rules if you desire to, you share the beds of the most prominent vampires, Aro and the board members; you can use your feminine charm to change things and make new rules, this I challenge you to do Isabella," she told me.
"How can I do that, what would I say?"
"You must decide what to say and when to say it, use your feminine mystic and cunning, you have the upper hand because these men desire you and will be more inclined to listen to you," she said.
"Suppose they think I'll give them up if they change the rules?" I wondered.
"Would you?"
"I don't know, I enjoy all of them and I've accepted that I have no choice in the matter," I said.
"You'll have to convince them to be willing to give you up then," she told me.
"I need to think this over," I said.
"Very well, there's no hurry, you have your whole existence in front of you and more men besides, I'll see you in Volterra and we can discuss it some more if you like or leave things the way they are if you prefer; I just thought you might like a challenge having gained your independence, you could possibly want complete independence," she said.
"I promise I'll come to your home and bring my children with me, I'll consider what you've told me," I concluded.
"Very well Isabella, I need to leave but call me when you return home."
I hugged her and she left, I was sorry to see her go but she gave me a lot to think about; I was deep in thought when Enrique came to me, he startled me.
"Oh!" I exclaimed.
He grabbed me to him and kissed me.
"A penny for your thoughts," he said.
"Do I have to I wondered.
"No of course not but I'd like to know what my beautiful Isabella is thinking," he said.
"Oh it's just that Giovanna gave me a lot to think about but now you're here, I only have thoughts of you; I want you and my nausea's coming back," I said.
It was true, suddenly I ran upstairs to the bathroom and started throwing up, I just made it in time; Enrique followed me and insisted we go immediately into the shower, he helped me undress, and then he threw off his own clothes. Once inside the shower we kissed and soon were making love, I knelt down to give him pleasure and he released into my mouth, it didn't take long for the nausea to leave me and our passion to increase. He gave me another dose of my medicine before we finally came out of the shower, Emma was waiting to help me dress; I was in a teasing mood now and Enrique had to push me away from him.
"I don't think your husbands' will like that you prefer me," he said.
"I don't prefer you, you mean the same to me as they do, I love all of you but you save me from my nausea," I told him.
"Is that all I'm good for now?" he laughed.
"Don't you like the pleasure I give you so I can take my medicine?"
"I have to admit, I like that very much Isabella but too much medicine isn't good for you," he teased.
"I believe it's addicting and the more I get the more I want."
We both laughed but Emma pulled me away from him and insisted I allow her to dress me, he dressed too and as soon as my hair was done, we left; I fed the babies on the way and soon we arrived at Tanya's home.
Some of my family had arrived but not all, Edward was not in sight only Thomàs and I piled into his lap; he welcomed me with many hugs and kisses.
"Buongiorno, so I see my little girl is much better," he remarked.
"She's still in heat," Enrique told him in Spanish, "And she needs to take her medicine frequently it seems, she had some nausea and vomiting before we were ready to leave; we didn't make love together since the morning and so we did while we were in the shower, it works very fast."
"You were starved from loving all that time?" Thomàs asked.
"Well not exactly," I said, "I spent all morning with Mr. Johnson while Enrique took care of his women."
"Did you please Mr. Johnson then?"
"Yes Thomàs and he pleased me," I said.
"I suppose he wants to see you again?"
I nodded.
"My colleague wants to see you again and spend more time with you this time," he said.
I frowned, "I want to be with the three of you though," I said.
"Tonight you're ours, tomorrow you're his," he told me.
"No Thomàs; please don't make me be away from you again," I said.
"Did you forget why we're here young lady?"
"You have more lectures tomorrow?"
"Si il mia amore."
"Even Enrique?"
"Yes, Enrique does too," Thomàs informed me.
"But Edward doesn't, does he?"
"No but Edward won't be available until we leave, Tanya is insisting, she claims you can manage without him for a few days and nights," he said.
"But I can't, Edward's my love and I need him too," I said this a little too loud.
Tanya's family members glanced at me.
"Isabella don't be childish, you knew this would happen and you'll have enough of us to keep you occupied," Thomàs whispered.
I buried my face in his chest and to my horror, I started to cry.
Thomàs knew I was emotional because of my pregnancy and he kissed me on my head and rubbed my back.
"Enrique and I will take care of you tonight and in the morning you'll go with us to the hotel where the lectures are, my colleague will take care of you in his room, when he's done, Enrique or I will come for you; it will probably be late in the evening so hopefully Enrique can give you enough sustenance to last until then or I can give you a shot."
"I don't want a shot Thomàs, I only want Enrique, his medicine is much better," I said stubbornly.
"Come now, you enjoyed Siegfried before, don't be so stubborn young lady," he told me.
"I'm sorry but I missed you, you're more important than you're colleague Thomàs," I told him.
"Soon we'll be together and you won't be able to stand me around you so much now you're independent," he said.
"Thomàs, the only thing I want to be independent from is having so many men," I said.
He laughed, "Unfortunately that isn't going to change and you know it Isabella."
I decided not to relate the conversation I had with Giovanna because it could be considered a bad thing and she could get into serious trouble for even suggesting it; I decided I would pursue it but not obviously to my men. I changed the subject.
"Is Carlisle, Esme and Renee here?" I wondered.
"They chose to stay in the hotel but Renee will come and visit you at Enrique's home, just not tomorrow, I told her you had an appointment tomorrow which is true, just not where she would expect," he said.
"Where's Edward now?" I asked.
"I told you Tanya whisked him away and I presume they'll spend the next two or three days locked in her bedroom, mia amore," Thomàs said.
"That's not fair, I wanted to see him too," I said, "Doesn't it depend on the approval of all the parties concerned, and am I not the main party."
"Would you have said no, didn't you encourage this relationship as I recall?" he asked.
"Well that was then and now I'm not so sure," I said.
"You can't turn it off once the seed has started to germinate, Isabella; let them be, you know he'll still love you even if he loves her and you know it's possible to love more than one person, be thankful he's no gigolo as Papa used to be in his youth going from one woman to another. He needs the opportunity to experience more than one woman, would you deny him that? He'll always come back to you if he knows what's best and so what if he doesn't, you'll never be short of lovers."
"But I love him," I said.
"You have Papa, me, Enrique, Marcus, Wolfgang to name but a few; do you love him enough to let him go for a time to let him sow his oats?"
"I love him so much but I don't think I can let him go," I told him.
"He and I talked before we arrived here and he told me he wasn't ready to love Tanya but if you would free him to go to other women who desire him, he would feel less pressure; you know he must do as all of us have been required to do, as you have been required to do, once he and you have played the field, so to speak, you can come back to each other and to Papa and I if you choose to," Thomàs told me.
"We were happy, just the two of us, we didn't need anyone else, why must it be this way?"
"It must Isabella, you know it, we've been through this a hundred times already with you, the prominence of who you are now affects everyone else and this includes Edward; he'll talk to you before we leave here and tell you what he needs to do, it's a difficult step for him to take, please, if you love him, let him take that step."
I knew I must and tears slipped from my eyes onto Thomàs' chest, he lifted my chin to look into my eyes and I tried to hold back a sob but it escaped anyway, I pulled myself from his knee and ran outside throwing myself in the snow beneath a tree. Thankfully no one followed me and I wept until the tears stopped, I didn't want to be here anymore, I wanted to be back in my home in Dartmouth, just me and Edward loving each other and being happy; no rules, no other men or women to separate us, no Aro, no Thomàs, no Enrique, no children….
It occurred to me at that moment that it had to be this way, it was meant that I should have children who I love dearly and so I needed Aro, Thomàs and Enrique to fulfill my maternal need and that of other women who need me to have children to fulfill their needs too; I knew also that I now wanted to be with my lovers and this included Mr. Johnson, Siegfried and any other man who desired me, I wanted it with all my heart.
I reasoned then that I must let Edward pursue his needs and return when he'd had his fill, maybe we'd both be done together or maybe not, maybe it would take a year or maybe longer for either one of us but I was sure we'd both want each other in the end, I was almost certain…."