Elena woke up to the sound of rain and the smell of coffee. Robert was standing next to her bed with two cups of coffee. Lincoln stretched and opened her eyes. - Good morning, - De Niro put the cups on the nightstand and sat down next to her. Elena hugged him around the neck and kissed him. - This is the best morning I've ever had, - she threw back the blanket and stroked her chest invitingly. - So, someone tried vanilla and got hooked, - the Cannibal leaned on her and ruffled her golden curls. - You are a great teacher, Mr. De Niro. Was this your first vanilla too? - Elena wrapped her legs around him. - Yes, the first. But at least I know the theory. I watched erotica in my youth and now I remember it. Did you like it? - Robert grabbed her face with his palms and kissed her forehead. - I felt like I was in heaven, - Elena kissed Robert, - I like kissing you, I like hugging you. Have you ever thought about being a bottom? Like with me? - Lena, don't make plans. Enjoy what you have, - Robert bit her earlobe. - That's what I do, but still... I'm used to making plans for the future. Okay, I'm going to take a shower. And you join me, - Lincoln got out of bed and went to the bathroom. Standing at the round mirror, the girl examined herself. Her eyes were burning, her hair was disheveled, her cheeks were flushed. And then she lowered her gaze lower. Her chest, neck and shoulders were covered in hickeys and bites. Damn... The girl had bad associations. - Lena, I'm coming, - a naked Robert appeared behind her. The girl turned to him angrily. - Robert, your mother, what is this? — Lincoln pointed to the hickeys and bites. — My marks, Lena. You are mine and I have marked my territory. Now everyone in your club will know that you are mine, — De Niro growled imperiously. — I am not a sub! How will I show up at work and to my Parents with this? Father will start asking me who I have and he may accidentally find out the truth, — Elena was angry. Hickeys! She had never encountered this! Yes, she gave them to subs, but she herself had never received them. And now she was in a panic. — Well, you have foundation or a scarf to hide them, — Robert hugged her, — you are mine, Lena Lincoln. And no one dares to encroach on you. — And what about you? Are you mine? Or will you go fuck Sophie at the first opportunity? — Elena broke free from his hands. The wonderful mood was gone. Elena felt like the bites and hickeys were equal to the scars she got as a child. The girl was angry with De Niro. If she didn't feel his bites, then what next? A BDSM session at the Sabbath? "We'll only have vanilla at the Sabbath," Robert kissed Elena on the top of her head. "Who said I'd come there?" Elena turned around. "I'm not going there." "Lena, that's where we relax. I'm not asking you to eat people and kill in my honor, just come there with me. Dance and fuck. Only with me," De Niro hugged her. "Rob, I… my childhood… I'm scared to be there. But I'll try. Honestly. You tried vanilla for me," Elena smiled, "and I'll cast a spell on your marks. I completely forgot that I can cast a spell." The argument was quickly forgotten and the couple sat down to breakfast. Chatting about trifles and laughing, they gobbled up the omelette. An hour later, holding hands, Elena and Robert left the room and went down to the lobby. They had almost left the hotel when suddenly... "Since when do you go on dates with ex-subs?" Martin Scorsese blocked their way. "Marty, Elena is not a bottom, she is my girlfriend. We tried vanilla, we had a great morning," Robert grinned. Martin looked at Elena with disdain. She responded in kind. "Miss Lincoln, the fact that you were not eaten at the Sabbath is just a coincidence. Your prank there undermined the authority of our Lord," the Dark Advisor hissed. "I don't think so. He still punished Sophie and retained power. Yes, you did not get a tasty victim, but it happens to everyone. Don't interfere in our relationship," Elena stepped forward. - You can't even imagine how many secrets and wounds he has, - Martin began, smiling unctuously. - And in due time I will learn them all, - Elena smRobert's POV What the hell? Marty is crazy. Yes, we are best friends. Yes, he taught me how to be dark, but damn it, he doesn't know Lena. She is not Frau Goeth, she is different! Your mother! I am shaking and only Lena's warm hand in mine prevents me from going back to the hotel and fucking Scorsese to the tomatoes. We approach the car and sit in the back seat. Elena hugs me and smiles - Is Marty jealous? - the girl unmistakably reads my advisor. - A little. We were lovers and friends. He found me in New York when I was 17. Then I considered myself an outcast, avoided people, earned a living participating in fights without rules. Marty was a year older than me and he had a happy childhood among the dark. He taught me to enjoy my life. Taught that Darkness is not evil and many other things. But now we are not sleeping, we are just friends, - I say hugging her. - Jealous ex. Another first time, - Elena kisses me on the corner of my mouth and we continue driving in silence. POV Elena. Three hours later we reach a forest clearing where there is a huge hot air balloon ready to fly. I let out a cry of delight. - I thought we would fly on a plane, but this, - I laugh and get out of the car. We walk to the balloon, Robert climbs into it first, then picks me up and helps me climb in. - Thank you, - I kiss him on the lips and he lights a fire under the balloon and a few minutes later we take off from the ground and soar into the air. The wind ruffles my hair and I squeal with joy. I feel so good and free... The trip to London changed me and I hope that I will remain the same as I am now forever. =========== 39 ========== Houses, forests and cities float below us. I look at them with delight and feel happy. A smile never leaves my face. - Traveling by air has its own romance, - Robert hugs me from behind. - Yes, I love the little prince too, - I cuddle up to him and admire the clouds. It's beautiful and calm here, like in paradise. Is all this real? He and I... The past has no power over us... - And they said that I'm not a romantic, Mr. De Niro, - I wink at him. - With you, Miss Lincoln, I can be anyone, - the Cannibal kisses me. - When will we meet? Well, in New York? - I'll write to you, - I whisper and kiss his birthmark, - there's a lot of work for now. The contract with Daphne needs to be legalized, a lot needs to be discussed with my lawyers, and about little things. Haven't been home in ages. - So you spend every weekend at the Grays'? - Robert leans against the side of the basket. - Not all. Sometimes I go to the club. I think I'll go this weekend too. - And you're going to spank young Subs there? I'm against it, - Robert starts growling. Well done, Lincoln, as always. You ruin everything in 5 seconds. Okay, let's save the situation. - Are you jealous? - I look at him with interest and playfully raise an eyebrow. - Miss Lincoln, I said that you are mine, and I will bite off the balls of any boy who stands at your feet in the bottom position, - Robert bites my neck. Oops! Jealous cannibal... hmm... interesting. - Lord, I didn't even think of looking for a bottom. It's just that on weekends there are sometimes master classes for experienced Tops and Bottoms. If you want, come there and have a session with me as a bottom, - I say and immediately bite my tongue. Damn, this will remind me of my childhood. What did I just offer him? - I'll come. On Saturday at 9:00 pm, I'll be waiting for you at the club, - De Niro grins predatory. - Robert, I was... joking, - I start to shake. - And I'm not. Be responsible for your words and actions, Miss Lincoln. This is the main rule in BDSM, - Robert growls. - You wouldn't dare! I can't! I can't! Red! - I scream in panic and teleport from the ball straight home. I ruined everything... What a fool I am. For what? I should have kept quiet about the club and everything else, and now we would be drinking wine and admiring the English Channel, but no, I backed out. Silly, pathetic... I fall to the floor by the fireplace and curl up into a ball. Tears choke me... I haven't left the house for two days. I'm lying by the fireplace and crying. I'm mourning something I never had, my short vanilla life. Why did I say anything about the club? Why? Well, what's done is done. I need to move on. I tidy myself up and sit down at the computer to sort out the mess at work. My inbox is full of letters from the Grays, Sophie, Daphne, Nixon and Welch. Nothing from De Niro. Proud piece of cat meat! But I won't be the first to write to him! I put his email on the ignore list and continue to answer his letters. On Saturday, I'm going to the store for groceries and I hear behind me: - Jack, this is not humor, this is degradation. I turn around and see Mia and Hyde. She is gesturing and loudly arguing her case. Hyde looks hurt and upset. I run up to them and hug them in turn. - What happened to you? — I ask, walking next to them. — You know, Al, all normal couples go to the movies, musicals, or at least a picnic. And your dominant took me to Poperechny's stand-up. My ears wilted, I sat there red as a lobster, and Jack laughed like crazy. And by the way, it was our first date, — Mia is indignant. — What a big-unimportant crap, Mi. We were together, we drank, we kissed, I groped your pretty knees. Everything as it should be. Everyone has their own concept of humor, — Hyde kissed her on the cheek. — It would be better if we went to your club and drank there. At least your subs don't swear, — Mia grins — You know, Gray, let's go to my club. We'll dance, drink, I'll teach you how to tie up. Let's find Elena a sub, she looks like the dollar exchange rate fucked her in the mouth and all her teeth fell out, - Hyde winks, - Besides, there will be a scene with a new Dominant, who only joined our club yesterday, but has already gifted us with new devices and equipment. Damn, is that Robert? However, how generous he is. Hmm... to go or not to go? I want to relax, but I don't want to see Robert. Okay, I'll get lost in the crowd and tell all the subs to go to hell, and after the show I'll talk to De Niro.