Page 18 of The Man with a Treasure

No longer thinking of Giordano business because we were too busy staring down Noemi’s dress, seeing the tops of perfect little mounds, we blinked when she laughed. “See how easy that was?”

Sal and I looked at each other, then back to Noemi, then nodded in unison.

She sat back on her bent legs. “I could make it easier for you to see what has gained your attention.”

The power…

Sal and I didn’t move. I think we feared if we did, this dream could end.

“But,” she held up a finger, “it has to be fair.”

My mind raced to Isabella and how unfair her treatment had been. In front of me was a girl who seemed to have all the control of the situation. Sal, nor I, would never force a girl to do anything she didn’t want. So, I agreed to the understanding without even knowing what the deal was. “I believe in fair.”

Sal nodded to her. “Always.”

She studied us, and we let her, again not moving.

Then, as if seeing what she was looking for, Noemi inhaled… deeply. “In a couple of years, I will have to marry a man who may think he owns me because of how he was raised.”

With regret, we nodded. She was right. Many still believed in old rules.

“There is not one part of me I want him to have first.” She growled, “What’s mine is mine.”

Had I not just talked to Isabella, and then Sal and our fathers about such a subject, her words wouldn’t have hit me so hard, forever changing me to the core. I would never have understood how serious she was. How sad she was to lose control over her own body.

Isabella’s body had been used. That meant her heart had been used, too. Learning they were connected, I told Noemi, “I promise to not hurt your heart.”

Her head tilted in surprise. “Is that a promise you can keep?”

Sal told her, “He keeps every promise he makes.”

Accepting his answer, she asked him, “What about you?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea what you two are talking about, but I would love to see your breasts.”

She laughed, then tapped her chest again. “Angelo and I are saying, if I let you touch my breasts, know you are touching a part of my heart, too.”

It took all I had to not chuckle as I watched Sal do his best to reply, even though I knew his mind had shut down after she mentioned him being allowed to touch her breasts. His brows bunched as if he was trying to truly read deep and impress her—so that he could touch a tit—then Sal finally slowly nodded. “I can make that promise, too.”

Knowing he still had no idea what he was agreeing to, I told myself I’d explain that night when in our room. For now, I went back to focusing on Noemi.

She was staring at me. “Do you want to kiss me or touch my breast first?”

Her heart… “Kiss.”

Sal raised his hand, then attempted to sound nonchalant. “I’ll take your breast, then.”

Noemi didn’t break eye contact with me as she leaned forward, pressing her lips to mine. Her touch was soft and entrancing. Her tongue even more so. I barely noticed as she placed Sal’s hand gently on her breast.

While he touched her, Noemi’s and my kiss deepened. It was sensual. I literally could feel her deciding to open up to me in a way I don’t think she offered to most. Then she pressed her upper body closer to mine. I wasn’t sure what she wanted until she started to lay on her side, taking me with her, Sal’s hand under her side so he could continue to cup her breast.

I was so enraptured by her mouth I didn’t notice the river rocks digging into my side. I only wanted more silky swipes against my tongue. She was making my whole body come to life as if she was a magician.

The three of us lay there, doing something we had never done before.

Situations like that can create a bond. A trust. The one we were unknowingly building would lead us to more beautiful moments…

Noemi slowly pulled her lips from mine. “Will you touch me now?”