I Need You: A Valentine's Anthology (7 page)

An uneasy look appeared on Tiana’s face and she turned around to look at herself in the mirror. “That bad?”

“You revealed to me just a short while ago that you wanted to put some spice back into your sex life since Gianna’s arrival,” Zerrin pointed out, “how often are you two having sex?”

Tiana thought long and hard. Between going back to her investment firm, raising their young son and daughter, and Kieran running Fits and Giggles, they were lucky if they made love even once during the
month
. “How long ago was Christmas?”

“Wow,” Zerrin nodded, “you
really
need to get laid.”

“I need to show him that I’m still sexy and I still got it,” Tiana walked back inside the dressing room and Zerrin followed her. Insecurities about what happened during her first marriage naturally arose in Tiana, and she was afraid lack of intimacy would make Kieran’s eyes wander before he finally strayed. “Two small children in three years really did mess up my body.”

“So you’re playing it safe by looking like a virginal teenager on prom night?” Zerrin put two and two together.

“I guess,” Tiana shrugged, “My stretch marks have stretch marks.”

“Tee, a piece of advice, if I may?”

“Please, do!”

“A man doesn’t care about your stretch marks,” Zerrin cocked her head to the side, “he only cares if you can give head and you can do it well. When you come out of the clothes, he wants you to own it like a pro.”

“I should go for something a little sexier, huh?”

“Um, that would be a positive.”

Tiana stripped off the lingerie and hurriedly put her clothing back on before she and Zerrin headed back out to the front of the store. “I do want to try something a little different tonight. Maybe it would pique Kieran’s interest again.”

“I’m listening,” Zerrin replied.

“Well, I read this book...” Tiana looked around to see if anyone was eavesdropping on their conversation. “...and it got me thinking.”

“Oh?” Zerrin took a sip of water. “And what is tickling your fancy?”

“Have you heard of that thing... it’s called BSDM?”

Zerrin’s eyes grew wide and she almost choked on her water. “Um, BSDM?”

“I think that’s what it’s called.
BSDM? BDSM?”

“BDSM,” Zerrin blurted before she covered her mouth, “so I’ve heard.”

“Yeah, I think that’s it!” Tiana looked around again before she began talking. “I want to see if Kieran is going to spank me.”

“Well,” Zerrin let out a light sigh and became a little uncomfortable thinking of her brother-in-law as a Dom, though he would be perfect for the role, “have you both tried BDSM before?”

“He’s spanked me a little and pulled my hair some,” Tiana giggled, “I really liked it. I mean, Kieran has always been pretty dominant in the bedroom and we’ve tried a few things but I really want to put it on him tonight.”

“Okay,” Zerrin glanced around the store and walked over to a rack that had very revealing lingerie, “try this on, and tell me if you feel empowered.”

“Empowered?” Tiana grabbed the lingerie from Zerrin and eyeballed it. It left hardly anything to the imagination and Tiana wasn’t quite sure how she would be able to put it on. “Shouldn’t I feel sexy?”

“Being empowered is very sexy,” Zerrin cooed, “though he’ll be the one... ” she cleared her throat, “...dominating you, you’ll be the one in control.”

Tiana’s smile grew wide like a small child’s and she rushed to the dressing room to try on the new piece. “I knew you were the right choice to take shopping! If I took Erin, she would’ve made wise cracks about how I probably wouldn’t remember how to have sex and if my plumbing was still working down there. But you’re mature, Zerrin! You’re the sex doctor!”

Ah, yes.
Sex doctor. That was what all of the D’Amatos knew her as. The moment it became knowledge that she switched fields from English to Sexual Health, she became the Black braided version of Dr. Ruth. Zerrin had to laugh at how her title had evolved throughout the years from Nick’s Imaginary Girlfriend to Nick’s Shiny New Toy to Nick’s Wife Who’s Also as Smart and Serious as He Is to Zerrin the Sex Doctor.

Maybe becoming the sex doctor was the final nail to give her an identity of her own.

As much of a champion as she was for women’s sexuality and the freedom to express it however they chose, the unfortunate side effect was being the sex therapist for each of the D’Amatos. She knew more about their sex lives than she was comfortable knowing, and Zerrin hated that she had a strong memory. She would much rather forget the time Tony came to her with advice about a night he had with one of his paramours that involved a tub of butter, saran wrap, and ten phone books. She shuddered at the thought. There was kinky and then there was
fucked up.

“So, what are you and Mr. Man planning for your Valentine’s?” Tiana asked.

“Well, I have a guest lecture tonight at USC and by the time that gets out, just about every restaurant will be booked to capacity,” Zerrin shrugged. One of her colleagues wanted her to speak to her class about female sexuality and Zerrin jumped at the chance for a free trip to L.A. but not at the expense of her personal life. It was the first time in a long while she and Nick had a weekend alone since the birth of their son, Pietro, and Zerrin cringed at the thought Nick was riding shotgun on her professional trip when he could’ve stayed home.

But Nick was insistent in traveling with her and Nicola and Art were gracious enough to watch Pietro so they could have a private weekend with just the two of them. Zerrin missed their son terribly but she was also craving some alone time with her husband. Their D/s relationship took a small (really, it was large) backseat when Pietro arrived and it seemed that they were still trying to find their groove. Mentally, everything went off without a hitch, with Zerrin still completing her tasks and written assignments.

Sexually, however, things crept slowly. When they resumed lovemaking, it was long after the suggested six-week waiting period and there were often times Zerrin was too exhausted to even
entertain
the thought of sex. Between raising Pietro, pursuing her doctorate, and resuming her submissive duties after she and Nick agreed to put them on hold during her pregnancy, sex was the last thing on her mind.

Not that she didn’t want to make love anymore.
It was a difficult balance—being a mother and a professor. Late nights nursing Pietro combined with grading papers and preparing lectures made her a little batty. She found her dreams becoming increasingly erotic and it seemed the only time she was able to give herself some relief was during the quick showers she’d learned to master since Pietro’s arrival. Nick was very understanding and would wait as long as he needed to in order for his wife to be comfortable, but Zerrin herself was becoming impatient.

She wanted her husband. She wanted to be spanked by him. She wanted to be bound and gagged by him. She wanted him to demand that he fuck her mouth with his cock. She wanted him to bring her to the edge, only to pull back and then push her over it.

Damn, I need to get laid!
“So honestly, I’m not sure what the plans are for us tonight.” She finished.

“Isn’t Nick planning something?” Tiana asked. “He hardly seems like the type to wait until the last minute to plan something on the most romantic day of the year!”

If Nick had been planning something, he surely didn’t tell his wife of said plans. In fact, he didn’t even hint to Zerrin that they were going to do something after her lecture. She’d briefly mentioned how she wanted to go to the ocean and Nick only replied with, ‘That sounds lovely’ with a tone that indicated neither acceptance nor denial.

It was a quality of Nick Zerrin both admired and loathed—he played his cards very close to the chest and his poker face never gave away what he could’ve been holding. For all Zerrin knew, Nick was probably playing with a couple of Jacks when he was up against a pair of Aces.

“I don’t know,” Zerrin covered and hoped her husband would have at least
something
up his sleeve. She hated the thought of them escaping three thousand miles from home and their son just for it to be a sexless and unromantic weekend. “I certainly hope he has something planned.”

He’d better.

Two

He had been planning this day forever. Well, it felt like forever.

Nicholas D’Amato was always a planner. He could recall when he was a teen; he planned his school outfits for the week, often choosing two; one for warm weather and one for cooler. His mother teased him, asking him how he could predict the weather when even the weather forecasters couldn’t get it right. His brothers questioned him, asking him who he was trying to impress and Nick knew he was never trying to impress anyone. He just wanted to look good.

His anal-retentiveness paid off in college, and when he eventually became a professor. Between mentoring students and preparing for lectures, Nick had no time to waste. He needed to plan everything down to the letter, with no stone left unturned.

It was no surprise that Nick took the reins in planning a very romantic Valentine’s weekend for his submissive/wife, Zerrin. She was asked to visit USC and present a lecture on female sexuality by one of their colleagues and he accompanied her on the trip, leaving their young son, Pietro, behind with relatives.

The trip was important on many levels but mainly to renew the passion and excitement that had seemed to dissipate with the birth of Pietro and their respective careers. Nick encouraged Zerrin to pursue her doctorate and he recently received a promotion to associate professor. It seemed like they barely saw each other during the morning and late at night, hardly leaving any time for sex, let alone BDSM activities.

Patience is a virtue.
He’d remembered that.

But there was business to take care of first. Acting on a favor from Eli, Nick and Kieran supervised the decorating over at Sentiment restaurant. They spent the better part of the morning making sure the flowers were just right and the décor exuded romance as their younger brother envisioned with peonies, roses, and hydrangeas.

“It looks like Madre’s opened up a restaurant,” Kieran quipped as he watched Sentiment employees handle the floral arrangements.

“It looks like a funeral,” Nick folded his arms, “like a really nice and expensive funeral at a fancy restaurant.”

“You see, I don’t know if Eli overdid it or the restaurant owner?” Kieran watched a restaurant worker place a very tall floral arrangement on one of the tables. The vase was filled with water, crystals, and long-stemmed white roses stood out.

“I’d say a little bit of both,” Nick noted, “Eli always had a flair for the dramatic.”

“
Dramatical
,” Kieran used a phrase Eli often said.

“Very much
dramatical
.”

“So what plans do you and the
wifey have tonight?” Kieran began walking through the restaurant and Nick tagged along. “Anything super romantic?”

“Zerrin has a lecture at USC so there really goes any super romantic plans in public.” Nick replied.

“In public,” Kieran repeated, “there’s the phrase that pays.”

“Well, I could be like every other man and do something all super cheesy and romantic for her so other women can get jealous and wonder why their men aren’t shit,” Nick smiled, “or I could wait until we get back to the hotel and show her.”

“Spoken like a true D’Amato,” Kieran held out a fist.

Nick pounded fists with his brother.
“Of course, bro. What are the plans for you and Tee?”

“A nice romantic dinner at
Angelini Osteria and a quiet evening at home with just the two of us,” Kieran’s smile grew big just thinking about it, “It’s been a while since we’ve had a moment alone so it would be nice. Rekindling the fire a little bit.”

“Tell me about it.” Nick thought about how his once-thriving sex life had taken a backseat to his son. Each time they tried to get a little intimate, Pietro would cry or they both would be too tired to care. It was to be expected and he wasn’t surprised.

He was surprised, however, on how much he really missed sex. His longest drought since he started having sex was two weeks and he could remember back then when he was young and didn’t know any better, he was going insane. He had never masturbated so much in his life and it was becoming quite old and tired, especially when he had a hot wife right next to him.

“What are your plans?” Kieran asked.
“Something romantic and unexpected?”

“Definitely romantic though I’m still working on the unexpected part.”
Nick purchased many prayer candles for the romantic evening ahead of him. The candles weren’t his first choice and he felt a little unnerved using them, having St. Francis stare back at him, and watching what he was going to do to his wife.

Still, they were going have to do if he wanted their night to go off without a hitch. “I’m attending a painting.”

“Oh? You’re going to an art show?” Kieran asked.

“Yes,” Nick replied. It wasn’t quite a lie. He was going to paint his wife and she was going to put on a show for him.