"Fedeltà" drabbles by Neville Hunt
Cheek to cheek
Fedeltà #387
Sofia quickly broke away.
“I have another game!” she declared. “We stand back to back, bum to bum and we’re allowed to reach behind each other and touch and feel anything we can, provided that our bottoms remain in contact. Eyes closed; no turning round. I’ll set my timer for ten minutes. OK?”
That seemed a much better game to Paolo, particularly after his humiliating deflation. The reality was that it was more difficult for Paolo to touch that much of Sofia’s naked body, but by contrast, her slim fingers were quite able to tease him into arousal once again.
Floored
Fedeltà #386
Paolo was relieved at Sofia’s poor aim. One IOU clawed back. This was silly but he would humour her.
His relief was shattered when Sofia, who had used the first attempt to get her eye in, turned out to have an extremely good aim. One by one, all the remaining nine rings encircled their target. Each ‘click’, as ring after ring collided with the previous, contributed to Sofia’s delight and Paolo's humiliation. Eventually, that humiliation dampened his ardour and the rings clattered to the floor.
Sofia took pity on him and went forward to kiss him, safe for the moment.
IOUandUandUandUandUandUand...
Fedeltà #385
“This is how it works Paolo. I’m giving you the chance to repay some of your IOUs.” Sofia held up the large coloured plastic hoops, gesturing towards his upstanding manhood as she stepped back about six feet. “I have ten rings here. Every time I miss, one of your IOUs will be rescinded. OK? Does that seem a good game?”
It didn’t seem like a good game to Paolo, but what did he have to lose but a bit of dignity and he’d lost that already. He had lots to gain.
The first ring flew low, falling to the floor.
Exercising restraint
Fedeltà #384
With Sofia finally naked, Paolo took in the view, then moved forward to engage with her. Sofia put up her hand to stop him.
“Steady Paolo! As the song says, let’s make it last. Treat tonight as though it’s the last time we’ll be together.” Sofia figured that it would be. “I’ve got some more games for us to play!”
Paolo’s inclination was not to play any more games but to get on with what his body was visibly waiting for, but he somehow exercised restraint.
Sofia took out ten large plastic rings from her bag, announcing “Let’s play hoopla!”
Sofia's inventory
Fedeltà #383
Paolo couldn’t really lose this game could he? And the longer it took Sofia to disrobe, the more tantalising the experience. Paolo already liked ‘games night’ and, win or lose... who cared?... he would win!. He wondered what other games Sofia had in her bag. Time would tell.
With Sofia’s skill at Poker and her interpretation of the rules to include necklace, bracelets, rings, earrings, one by one... and stockings and suspender belt also one by one plus her two finale items, her bra and knickers, Paolo was quickly clocking up his IOUs, while simultaneously seriously ramping up his desire.
Ready prepared
Fedeltà #382
Sofia was well prepared. It might not look like she was wearing much, but if one counted, then it was surprising just how many individual items of clothing and jewellery totted up. She had played this game before, to win!
Paolo, who unlike Sofia was not wearing so many items to wager was quickly stripped naked. Meanwhile, Sofia had hardly removed anything.
“I win,” she announced, “but if you want to see more of me, you might have to give me some IOUs. I can work out what will be an appropriate repayment later when we tot them all up!”
A better bet
Fedeltà #381
Paolo was in danger of getting, or rather coming, ahead of himself. Sofia pulled away from him. Right now they needed to be separated!
Right!” announced Sofia, “Let’s play cards.”
“I haven’t got any cards...” said Paolo, deflated.
“But I have!” retorted Sofia, pulling out an unopened pack from her bag. Paolo thought how Mary Poppinslike this seemed to be. “Poker’s my game,” she continued.
“But I’m a bit short of cash,” said Paolo, “so let’s not make it for money.
“I’m stony broke too,” replied Sofia. “but who said we were playing for money anyway?”. And then Paolo understood.
We've got tonight
Fedeltà #380
When so invited, what could Paolo say except “OK... as long as you like,” Fear subsided while anticipation and excitement soared. This should be a night to remember.
Paolo gently kicked the front door shut behind him as Sofia turned round. Holding her phone in her left hand, she put her right arm round Paolo's neck, pulling him towards her. They smooched while the song played. Paolo was quickly aroused by her perfume. Sofia felt the need to slow him down.
’We’ve got tonight, who needs tomorrow? Let’s make it last, let’s find a way...’
"Last Paolo... make it last!"
Making it last
Fedeltà #379
“Right Paolo,” she said before he could embark upon any introductory small talk. “I promised ‘games night’ and that’s just what I bring!”
“First things first Paolo, can you put this bottle of Prosecco in your little freezer to give it a rapid chilling.”
(How does she know I have a 'little freezer'? Has she seen in it. Did she see anything she shouldn’t have?).
“And now…” she continued, “some music.” With that she took out her phone and called up an old Bob Seeger track, ‘We’ve got tonight’.
“We’ve got all night Paolo, so let’s make it last, eh?”
Charge
Fedeltà #378
"Does it still hurt?" she asked, meaning the cheek she had most brutally slapped the day before. Paolo made a face which signified pain, but then smiled and said “Of course not; no worries.”
He bade her enter the flat and as she brushed past him he was once again hit by her perfume. It was as before, instantaneously making his heart race. He was intoxicated with her and she'd only just arrived. That intoxication was a combination of simple lust and not a little fear.
Sofia dropped her bag to the floor. Once again, she would be taking charge.
Electric
Fedeltà #377
Sofia arrived at Paolo’s flat at 9pm on the dot. She stood in the doorway for a moment longer than might be expected so that Paolo could feast his eyes on her. She was dressed in a striking electric blue suit, visible under a pale mackintosh, which was unbuttoned. Over her shoulder she carried a large bag. She had a pale beret to match the mackintosh, contrasting with her short dark brown hair. The beret was at a cheeky, rakish angle. She looked ravishing.
Sofia leaned forward to kiss Paolo gently on his right cheek while gently stroking his left.
Arithmetic
Fedeltà #376
It didn’t take a mathematical genius to work out that if she was generous to Paolo, they could split the ransom 50:50, making £200,000 each. Sofia’s decision was when to raise the matter. She decided she would give him a good time and show him what he might expect if they teamed up properly before hitting him with her demand. She didn’t actually see any long term future with Paolo much beyond that evening.
Sofia would have Paolo first and then have him by the short and curlies. And after tonight, maybe she needed to get back into Tony’s bed!
‘Taken’
Fedeltà #375
While Paolo was confused that afternoon before their ‘date’, Sofia had been busy. She’d called her sister Marcia. She needed information, but not in such a way that might seem suspicious. Her call was ostensibly to tell Marcia when she would next be over to babysit Giovanna. At the end of the call she asked casually.
“How’s Tony? I saw him yesterday and he looked like he’d lost a million and found a halfpenny!”
“Close, but not quite” said Marcia.
“How so?” asked Sofia.
“Don’t tell him you know, Sofe, but he just got taken for four hundred grand!”
“Wow!”
Mixed feelings
Fedeltà #374
While Shaun had been despatched in Romford, Paolo was getting ready for his ‘games night’ with Sofia. On one level he was very excited at the prospect of bedroom activities with this very exciting and, he hoped, imaginative woman. But on the other hand, he was bothered that maybe she knew rather too much about what had gone on regarding Terry’s demise. If Sofia did somehow know something, or even everything, how had she found out... and what was she going to do about it?
Having been sent out to west London earlier by Tony he took his time returning.
Bookmark
Fedeltà #373
The great bonus for Franco, Tony and even Paolo was that the police put the two recent, related killings in Romford down to sectarian issues. It was worrying after so long that there was this flare up of sectarian violence on the mainland, but they regarded it as an isolated incident. All thanks to Franco’s thoughtful planning.
For Paolo, it should mean that Tony had closed the book regarding Terry’s killer. He’d been taken out. However, along with Tony’s impetuous nature went reflection. It would have been tidy for him to close the chapter... but maybe he’d acted too hastily...
Counterpoint
Fedeltà #372
Jacqui had been killed with a single shot to the forehead, similar in fact to Shaun’s despatch earlier, albeit by a different agent. Her face was a mess.
For the tabloids, this was an unexpected bonus, with variations on the headline MUTILATED across different newspapers. This time though, the Continuity IRA claimed full responsibility. Their statement added that it was ‘a message to all to keep their noses out and keep their mouths tight shut.’
After Jacqui’s coverage somewhat ridiculing the group, this was a counterpoint of the kind that might further their cause. And of course, tabloid sales soared.
Nose job
Fedeltà #371
With such national newspaper coverage, Jacqui came to the attention of the Irish paramilitaries. Though initially a gift from heaven as it reminded people of the presence of the unit and the continuation of its armed struggle, the media coverage quickly started to ridicule the group. Without her realising it, Jacqui’s gauche quest for celebrity status and efforts to maximise her fees made her very vulnerable.
A dog walker discovered her body one morning in Epping Forest. Fortunately she was face down, as when the police turned her over, her nose had been cut off and stuffed in her mouth.
On a roll
Fedeltà #370
Jacqui told tales of how Shaun had mysterious meetings with men late at night with thick Irish accents. And how she had discovered a ballaclava hat in his sock drawer and that she believed him to be an MI6 Supergrass. And still no organisation came forward to correct any misunderstandings or claim responsibility for the killing.
Jacqui ‘imagined’ backstories for each of the main leaders. Some were so preposterous and, on a roll, with another performance-related bonus in the offing, she had suggested that she had even witnessed one of the Irishmen arriving at the flat in full drag.
A different league
Fedeltà #369
Shaun’s girlfriend Jacqui was getting a little something on the side too. She was getting fame on the one hand and a generous fee from one of the ‘red tops’ on the other. As the partner of an allegedly notorious Irish liberationist ‘grass’, who had been professionally assassinated by paramilitaries, her story was much in demand. No paramilitary organisation had come forward to claim responsibility for Shaun’s slaughter, so Jacqui was happy to fill the vacuum.
Jacqui had always been prone to elaboration and exaggeration, but her current fame seemed to be a catalyst taking her into a different league.
On the job
Fedeltà #368
Inevitably, when Marcia was attracted to someone, however oddly, she must have them. And she did. Marcia manipulated their conversations to more intimate subjects and deliberately touched his arm, and then his face, Franco wasn’t about to turn down her advances. He wasn’t worried that she was the boss’s wife; he’d met lots of bored housewives in his line of work... it was a perk of the job. The customer wants it done ‘on the side’, so why shouldn’t Franco take a little something on the side too?
He had Marcia on the side, underneath and on the top too.
