Chapter 29

When Dad and I returned to the living room, I was shocked to find Mike asleep on the couch. Doris and Dad had a hushed conversation that I could not hear. I sat beside Mike and stroked his face gently.

“Rosa, my pet,” Doris called me softly and waved me to her. “You must tell me the truth now. Has someone else been teaching you The Art?”

I know my confusion showed. “No. I have not discussed it with anyone.” I looked at Mike. “Is something wrong? Have I done something to him?”

“He’s Ensnared.” Dad said.

“No.” Doris shook her head. “It is deeper. He is Bonded to her.”

“Bond?” Dad looked stunned. “You taught her to...”

“I did not.” Doris looked at me oddly. “She has a natural gift. Tell me, child. How did he please you at this dance last night?”

I looked away and blushed. “We lay together and licked each other.” I tried to remember what he called it but could not. I remembered the hand gesture he made and showed them that.

“69.” Dad said.

“Yes.”

“And what, exactly were you thinking as you did it?”

“Only of the joy he brought me.” I struggled to see the moment precisely in my mind. “I wished – I wished that he were as talented as Dad and suddenly he was. Then I realized that I had use The Art on him and stopped. It was only that. And he, too, came. We came together.”

Doris nodded. “A willing slave. We could no more separate them than we could part earth and sky.”

“So what do we do?” Dad asked. “I’m not marrying her off at 15 to some kid!”

“Oh no!” I began to cry. “I’m sorry! I did not mean to hurt him!”

“My pet!” Doris kissed my forehead and dried my tears. “He is not hurt only, well, he believes he loves you. And he will forever.”

“Oh.” I was stunned. I knew that it was not right for him – Tif had told me that Mike had many girlfriends before me. That I should not expect him to be faithful to me alone. But I could not resist the passion of his kisses. “Oh, Doris, we must fix him.”

“We cannot.” She looked thoughtful. “But perhaps, we may ease his binding.”

“How?”

“This binding is of young passion. Perhaps we may ease it by giving him tasks to win is goal.” She looked at Dad. “He is only a child. He must grow to be worthy of her.”

Dad nodded. “College. A job – a good job.”

“Yes, and the like. He will still burn for you, my pet, but he will know he must be worthy of you to claim you.” She lifted my chin to look me in the eyes. “One day, he will reach these goals and then nothing will stop him from being with you. He would die rather than live without you. We must be careful the goals we give him. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “Will you and Dad help me?”

She smiled gently. “Of course.” She walked to the couch with me. “Kiss him. Wake his mind but not his body.”

I knelt beside him and pressed my lips to his. With my eyes closed, I pictured his face, sleeping so peacefully. “Mike.” I thought to him. “Mike. Don’t wake up.”

“What?” he answered me as if we were both dreaming. I could see him standing in the middle of infinite nothingness. “Where am I?”

“You are with me.” I took his hand.

“Rosa.” He sighed. His kiss grew passionate and I was almost swept away with it until I heard Doris calling me.

“Mike.” I composed my thoughts. “You must listen to me.” I could hear Doris and Dad clearly, even though Mike appeared not to hear either of them. “We may not be together. Yet.”

“Fuck that!” He grabbed my dream body and held it tightly. “Nothing comes between us from now on.”

“Control him.” Doris said sharply.

“Mike. If you want to be with me. You must be worthy. Are you?”

“Yeah.” But he was not confident and I was able to slip from his grasp.

“You haven’t even finished school.”

“But I will.”

“With honors?”

“Well, no. But I’m a shoo-in for a scholarship to college.”

“Then I must wait for that too.”

“I won’t go.”

“And I should give myself to a boy who has not even finished that?”

That gave him pause. “Will you wait for me?”

“No,” Doris told me. “Tell him if you wants you, he must share you with any lover you choose.”

I nodded. “I will always wait for you but I will have other lovers too. You must share me. Just as I have shared you.”

“You knew about them?” I gasped; I had not known, only guessed. “I’m sorry. I won’t ever see anyone else again.”

“But I want you to.” I said without waiting for guidance. “You must practice and become a talented lover. Just as I must practice to please you.”

“You don’t mind?”

“I will be displeased if you do not.”

“Rosa.” He pulled me into his arms again and his dream kisses burned my lips. I thought of how much I wanted to feel his cock against my bare skin and suddenly we were both nude. “Rosa.” He sighed again and began sucking my nipples as if he could not stop.

I moaned softly, my purpose forgotten. Then Dad’s voice boomed around us and I pulled away from him with a start. “¡Mi dios! Mike! You must not do that before Papa! You must be most respectful of Mamma and Dad and Doris. You must promise me that.”