| Chapter Five Nini followed Rico up to his garret later that night. She had given in; given over control to him and now felt relief. There was a weight lifted off her shoulders, a weight that was lifted with Rico. They clung to each other's hand and walked into Rico's garret where Satie lay asleep on his bed. Nini walked quietly over to the window and looked out at the river, memorizing the exact spot her and Rico shared the greatest moment of passion two people could share. She wanted to etch it in her memory, so maybe the next time she has a client she could just be at that river, making love to Rico. Rico came behind her and put his arms around her waist. "So you're staying here tonight?" he asked, thinking of nothing more then being wrapped in her arms all night. "Yes, if it's alright," she turned and looked at him. "It's alright," he pressed his lips to hers. He wanted to tell her how he felt; he wanted to whisper so gently in her ear that he loved her. But he couldn't. The next day was a normal day, though it didn't feel normal. Rico awoke with Nini by his side and Satie's eyes on him peculiarly. He got up, got ready for work and left. The same routine throughout the day, he worked in the cafe, his thoughts were on Nini. He walked home; his thoughts were of Nini. He walked past the windmill that was the Moulin Rouge and almost went inside to be with Nini, but he wanted to change. Rico entered his garret. It was empty that was normal. Satie was probably starting his drunken evening already. But there was a letter on the table. It was from his family in Argentina. He opened it and his heart fell. He had to find Nini. Rico walked into Nini's dressing room. Glad it was empty. He looked as if he'd been crying, like his heart was shredding. Nini sat quietly at her vanity, looking at Rico in it. She knew something was wrong, she knew it was bad. "What is it?" She asked, not sure she wanted to know. "I have to go back to Argentina." Rico said. "Why?" "My mother is ill. They say she doesn't have much time. I have to go and take care of my younger siblings. I can't leave them with nobody." Nini was quiet; she could feel her heart tearing. "Will you come back?" She asked, already knowing the answer. She knew there was no way he could come back. "I will try. I can't promise you, but I can try." He looked into her green eyes, now filled with pain. "When will you leave?" She asked, her voice quivering. "Tomorrow morning. By ship." He put a hand on her cheek, the way he had done so many times before. "You could come with me," he didn't want to leave her, even for a moment; the thought of leaving her for good terrified him. "I can't do that," she said, wanting with all her heart to go with him, "This is my home. This is my world." "But don't you want more?" Rico asked. "More? Like what?" Nini asked taking his hand from her cheek and holding on to it. "A family a husband?" "A husband? Who? You?" "I'm just saying, look, it's not the craziest thing ever." He let her hand go and crossed the room. Nini laughs. "I can't get married." "Why not?" Rico looked out the window. She was quiet a moment, looking into his dark brown eyes that eased her fears. She could tell those eyes anything. "I already have a husband," she said. "What?" He turned and looked into her eyes, knowing they didn't lie. "Yea, there you have it. Not only am I a whore, but I'm also an adulterer. They don't get any worse then me." All her fears, all her hopes were now being crushed. Now the one person who always seemed to believe in her, who always saw her as an angel in disguise, knew the demon she really was. "How could this be?" Nini turned, it would be easier to tell him this if she wasn't looking at him, into his face, into her future. "I got married when I was 19 to a rich American oil heir. He promised to give me a whole new life. He gave me a whole new life all right. I was beaten constantly. He was a horrible man," she stopped holding in tears. Rico walked toward her. "I'm sorry. How long were you in that?" "God. Too long. The last straw came after we'd been married two years. I was with child. He didn't know. He came home drunk and furious one night about something, I can't even remember what. He pushed me down the stairs. I was unconscious for a week. I lost the baby. After that, I decided that anything was better then that life. So I got on a train to Paris and I've been here ever since." Rico touched her arm, it made her quiver. "I'm sorry," he whispered gently in her ear as a single tear fell down her cheek. He brushed it off with his thumb. "But you are safe now." She laughed. She didn't feel safe, not at all. She was sold to a different man every night. That man could do what he wanted with her, how he wanted it and nobody could oppose, that was her job. Rico saw it in her face. He knew, he was part of this world too. "I will keep you safe. Come with me." He said. And leaned in and gently kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes, caught in his embrace. "They will know we aren't married, we will be outcasts." "I don't care. I only want you." He took her face in his hands. "I can't...I can't do that to your family." She tried to leave his embrace, but he held tighter. "I will go, I will tell everyone I have a wife in Paris. That you had to stay behind to attend to some business. Then I will send for you. We will be together." Nini couldn't think of anything more she wanted, and she knew it was almost impossible, but she held to the fantasy. It was all she had. "Okay. You will be gone tomorrow, but we have tonight" She said, longingly looking into his eyes. "Yes, my love, we have tonight." He kissed her. She whispered into his kiss, "Then let�s make it a night to remember." She kissed him again. She loved the feel of his lips on hers. He was so gentle in his kiss, yet so powerful. It made her yearn. She led him to her bed, not taking her eyes off his eyes. In his eyes she could see dreams, she could see feelings she didn't know were real. She could see love. A love unlike any she had ever known. A love that was pure, that was gentle and that made her whole. Still gazing into his dark eyes she untucked his shirt from his pants and began to unbutton each button, slowly, sensually. It was killing Rico, he just wanted to throw her on the bed and make love to her, but he knew this would draw it out, make it last longer. He wanted his last night with Nini to last forever. But it was killing him. He couldn't wait much longer. To hurry her along, he unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor. For the first time in minutes, his eyes left hers and his mouth moved down her neck. He lingered on her neck, wanting to leave a mark, so even after he was gone people would know she was loved. Loved in a way nobody else could love her. Nini's eyes rolled in her head, and for a moment she lost track of her goal, to rid Rico of his clothes. Her hands moved slowly up his back and held the back of his head to her neck. She wanted his kisses to stay there, to etch themselves on her neck. But she longed for more too. She longed for passionate kisses and soothing touches. Her hands moved down his back across his butt and reached into the pocket of his pants, teasingly. Rico laughed, not expecting that. "You are the tease," he said now moving his lips up to meet hers, proud of the love bite he left on her neck. "But no more teasing." He picked her up and gently threw her on the bed, then lay down next to her. She looked at him. She would miss him, more then she realized. Rico pulled the strings of her corset lightly until they were unlaced. He gently pulled the corset off and looked at her beautiful form. Her curves were perfect, her breasts were firm. They called to him. He headed the call and gently kissed her stomach, her chest, and her breasts and finally made it up to her mouth, where he was met with a furious tongue. Her hands then finally pulled the shirt off his back and worked anxiously on his pants. Now she didn't want to wait either, now she wanted him. In only a way she knew with him. Finally she got the button undone and the zipper down. Finally he was free from his pants. Finally he was ready for her. His hand gently pulled her panties off and her hand messaged the skin between his legs, keeping it firm. Once she was completely nude, she climbed on Rico, straddling him. She could feel him underneath her. His warm body, his anticipation, him. As if hoping it would last forever, she gazed at him a moment longer before helping him inside her. Their bodies were molded as one. So perfectly it almost seemed like they were created to go together this way. Nini rode him slowly at first, wanting to savor the moment, hold on to the feeling, but soon it became too strong and she couldn't thrust into him fast enough. She fell onto him, still moving herself up and down and whispered in his ear breathlessly, "roll me over. I want to be under your control." Rico wrapped his arms around her back and turned them over, still not missing a beat. Now it was his turn, now he was the one in charge. He looked down at Nini, who was biting her lip in ecstasy. He moved his arms up hers and intertwined their fingers while hearing her moans of passion. Moments later, sweaty and out of breath, he fell on her still recovering from an incredible orgasm. |