Page 149 of La Dolce Vita

Mirabella swallowed an inch or two which already reached the back of her throat. She stroked the stalk and relaxed her jaw. She slid her tongue under the veined line of his dick as she drew her mouth off and then swallowed again. His hand was at her head. He grabbed her hair but didn't push her down on him faster or stronger. He withstood. Still, she could see his struggle in his staggered breathing. She suctioned on his length as much as she could taste. She continued to suck and squeeze as her head bobbed until his labored breathing was loud and rough. Until her scalp stung as her hair was pulled from the root. Until her jaws cramped and she had to suppress her reflex for choking. He released, and she swallowed.

***

"Who sings this song?"

"It's called 'Never Knew Love Like This Before' by Stephanie Mills," she said. "I was fourteen when this one came out. I remember I was still living with my parents; I hadn't run away yet. My first boyfriend was nineteen. Name was Keith. I lost my virginity to him, and this became our song."

"I don't think I like that," Lorenzo frowned.

Marietta laughed. "Turns out he was a jerk. I had to learn to love myself. Believe in myself. And when I did I ran away. This song then became my song because I was in love with me. And now I'm in love with you. Get it?"

"No."

"Perfect."

He chuckled. "You are perfect, Marie. I wish I had taken your virginity."

“Do you?” she grinned.

“Mmmhmm, I would have been gentle,” he said and thrust his hips against her as they danced.

She giggled. “Who took your virginity?”

“A prostitute. The Same one that took it from Santo and Nico. We paid two lire a piece to let us do it.”

Marietta frowned.

“How old were you?”

“Thirteen, fourteen, don’t remember.”

“Eeew...yuck.”

“Why is mine yuck! Keith is yuck!”

“She was a whore!”

“She was a professional,” he corrected her.

She shook her head. “No wonder you fuck like a madman.”

He pinched her side, and she laughed. She began to sing along with the music while swaying in his arms. Lorenzo looked around the small living room. All the faces and memories in the photos, and none of his wife. She was out in the world alone, surviving. He couldn't believe how fate could have denied him her protective love. How close he could have come to never knowing her. He closed his eyes and listened to the words of the song while holding her close. It was true. He never knew love like her before. She turned his world around. He'd never forget what was most important in his life. Her and their child. At that moment he didn't even care whether it was a boy or a girl. Just a piece of him and piece of her. Their family. Something his mother swore he'd never have. Something his sister tried to convince him he didn't earn. She was his. All his.

Lorenzo lowered his face and rested it on the top of her head.

Never knew... Never knew love like this... Never...

***

The door opened.

"Took you long enough," Mirabella said. She put down her memory book from high school. The only light in the room was from the lamp between the twin beds. Marietta closed the door softly. She wore a robe that was quite short and thin. She was free of makeup and showered, but Mirabella could tell by her flushed state that Lorenzo was responsible for her delay.

"I had to put my big baby to sleep. He should be satisfied for the rest of the night." Marietta grinned.

"Spare me the details." Mirabella rolled her eyes.

"I thought the rugrats would sleep with Giovanni?" Marietta sat on the edge of the bed.

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