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  ‘Sleep well?’

  ‘Like a log,’

  ‘No more nightmares' I gather?’

  ‘Definitely not,’ Chaise smirked with immense satisfaction like a Cheshire Cat, 'but I suspect you helped me out there.’

  ‘More than helped I believe. And I hope you’ve got that out of your system.’

  ‘Whatcha mean, that?’ he replied.

  ‘Precisely that! Whatever you thought you were up to last night.’

  ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ he jested, ducking for cover as Julie responded with a swift swing of her pillow. She swung it again but he only giggled while fending off Julie’s futile attack. They jostled about upon the bed, tossing the covers about and wrestling until Chaise finally allowed her to pin him down by straddling his waist.

  Julie gasped and caught her breath. ‘You know exactly what I mean Chaise Vallati. Last night…where did THAT come from?’

  ‘I thought THAT was just what you wanted?’

  Julie raised an eyebrow. ‘Wait, what? Why would you ever think that I wanted to…’

  ‘… be fucked like that?’ Chaise interrupted.

  ‘Well, yeah, if that’s what you would like to call it.’

  ‘I don’t know. Why? Is this a complaint?’

  ‘No! Never!’ Julie exclaimed. ‘It’s just that it made me feel so vulnerable. You have never taken me like that before.’

  ‘Was it so wrong?’ Chaise asked.

  ‘You could’ve warned me first, maybe.’

  ‘Warned you? You need some sort of official notice or prediction that something may happen?’

  ‘Don’t be silly!’

  ‘To be honest Jules, I’m not entirely sure how I’d go about doing that. Warning you.

  It’s not exactly the kind of thing that comes up at the dinner table or anything,’ Chaise replied. ‘what could I possibly say? Hey babe, can you pass the sauce over, and oh hey, may I dominate your arse and bang you senseless against the wall tonight?’ he jested.

  ‘Ha-ha,’ mocked Julie. ‘That might’ve been an improvement. And you never dominated my arse, either.’

  ‘That can be arranged. Get me a piece of paper so I can give you a warning.’

  Julie’s mouth dropped open. ‘You wouldn’t!’

  ‘C’mon Julie, who do you think you’re kidding?’ Chaise scoffed. ‘We both know what this is all about, and it’s not as if you haven’t been leaving hints around the place, is it?’

  Julie perched herself on her knees with the pillow folded in her lap. ‘Sorry? What kind of hints are you talking about?’

  Her look of disbelief took him off guard. Chaise shuffled nervously before continuing, ‘Chill out hun. I just picked up on a couple of things you’ve said around the place.’

  ‘What are you talking about? What kind of things?’

  Chaise felt quite defensive with her interrogating questions. He searched his memory for an appropriate recollection. Then he remembered.

  ‘What about this then?’ he replied, reaching beside the bed to extract a book from beneath it. He held it up high to her face, confronting her with the material.

  With a cheeky smirk, she tilted her head awkwardly sideways as the book was upside down.

  Chaise flicked her shoulder with the spine of the book, turned it the right way and confronted her once again. ‘This!’

  The Beginners Guide to Kink

  Illustrated Edition

  Slightly embarrassed by the evidence, Julie began to confess. ‘Okay nosey parker, that is my book, but that doesn’t mean I want to do or try anything in it. It’s just a book, after all.’

  In reality it was so much more than just a book to her. Julies curiosity into the mysterious world of BDSM originated in the back corner of the local pub. Several of friends were ignited with interest about the subject, claiming various accomplishments in their sex lives. Arse spanking, bondage sessions and blindfolded love-making were all rapidly becoming the norm, and Julie started to feel left out on all the fun.

  ‘Just a book? A novel is just a book Julie. Any of your other books are just books. This is much more than a book, it’s a guide. A manual, if you like.’

  ‘A manual? So what?’ she replied. ‘It still doesn’t mean I want to try everything in the goddamn book!’

  Chaise was stumped but remained intrigued as to why a book like this was in her possession. He pursued an answer from her; after all, it wasn’t as if this conversation was going to pop up again in a hurry.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Why not what?’

  ‘Why wouldn’t you try everything in this book?’ He opened to the middle of the book and flicked a few pages. ‘It all looks pretty intriguing if you ask me.’

  ‘Seriously?’ replied Julie. ‘You’d consider anything in this book?’

  ‘Sure. Why not? If it makes you happy, I’m more than prepared to give it a whirl.’

  Julie smiled enthusiastically. Here was the perfect opportunity to explore her naughtier side with someone she could trust and be open with. Their entire relationship was open. They met each other the previous year and decided that the best thing to do was to adopt a connection based upon indulgence. The pressures of exams, student budgets, hectic study schedules and being located far away from their homes and families demanded some form of emotional escape.

  ‘What about the really weird stuff? Whips and that?’

  ‘Yup. No problem there.’

  ‘Nipple clamps…?’

  ‘Interesting. Me or you?’

  ‘Either.’

  ‘… yup, if you wish.’

  ‘Gimps?’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Bondage?’

  ‘We’ve already done that.’

  ‘No. I was talking about Shibari-styled bondage.’

  ‘What’s the difference?’

  ‘It’s ritualistic, elegant, like an art form. You would become a human canvas.’

  ‘I’d like to turn you into a human canvas,’ Chaise replied. He grasped her head, brushing her hair to the side in the process, and tenderly kissed her bottom lip. ‘…and I have other ideas about how to make you a ritual.’

  His words sent a cold shiver of sexual tension down her spine, but how she adored every portion of him, not just his words. She was infatuated with every element of his body and soul.

  ‘But I have another ritual to attend to right now. You’ll have to keep.’

  Julie watched him get off the bed and walk into the bathroom to shave. She observed him from the bedroom, admiring his muscular shoulders, firm buttocks, shapely calves and thighs. Julie began to wonder just how adventurous Chaise could possibly be, and her mind couldn’t resist being carried away with his departing scent before his penetrating voice suddenly snatched it from her spontaneous daydream.

  ‘Julie? Is that alright with you?’

  She snapped out of her daydream. ‘Huh? Is what okay?’

  ‘I’m going to the University this morning to see Professor Gilmour. Will you be able to meet me there this afterwards?’

  Julie’s inner minx grumbled with jealousy. The campus rumour mill painted the professor in a bad light after she was accused of having an extramarital relationship with another student several years ago. No evidence was presented to suspend the professor, but even so, Julie despised the one-on-one meetings between her lover and the professor.

  She had to remind herself of the strength of their relationship to ease the perils of envy gently tugging at her heartstrings.

  ‘I thought you were selling your car this morning?’

  ‘I’ve arranged for that too. But I’m meeting Professor Gilmour straight afterwards.’

  ‘Oh, yes, of course. That’s fine with me,’ Julie bit the tip of her tongue as she spoke, but her cynicism seeped through within the tone of her voice.

  Chaise’s head popped through the door. ‘You alright, babe?’

  ‘Yes,’ Julie hissed.

  He sat back down on the edge o
f the bed, his face partially covered in fluffy white shaving cream.

  ‘You don’t seem okay to me. What’s up?’

  She needed to change the subject. Quickly.

  Sure as hell she wasn’t going to admit being jealous of his visit with the professor. That wouldn’t go down well at all. Then something caught the corner of her eye.

  ‘Don’t worry. I guess my mind is away with the fairies now after talking to you about that book,’ her cheeks flushed with the lie, but it still appeared authentic.

  ‘Silly girl,’ he kissed her on the forehead and left a blob of shaving cream behind. ‘We’ll talk about that later then. Maybe you’d like to tie me up and explain a few things to me?’

  ‘Yah!’ Julie kissed him upon the lips, smearing frothy shaving cream over her chin as she rejoiced.

  Chaise secretly bit the inside of his lip as he wiped it from her face before continuing to prepare for his trip to the University.

  It was a fifteen-minute trip to the University campus. It was one of the oldest and most prestigious of universities in the world. There was a rich diversity of culture with half of the students originating from almost every country in the world. Many of the students came from very wealthy and esteemed families from around the world, and Chaise with his twin brother, Carlos, were in good company with a group fellow American students.

  He enjoyed the drive to the campus. The East Fife Coast Road gently wound itself north past the golf course and Albany Park before threading its way through the centre of town. Chaise smirked to himself as the West Sands beach came into view on the other side of the park. This was where his romance blossomed with Julie as they spent many evenings walking next to the ocean and within the Abbey grounds. Their first kiss took place beneath the arches of the cathedral ruins, which inevitably triggered numerous other sensual ‘first encounters’ in the tantalising twilight hours and beneath the cover of darkness.

  Chaise continued up the A917 onto Abbey Street. He chuckled as he approached the Byre Theatre where a surveillance camera caught the lovers engaged in one of their more nefarious nocturnal adventures. That night the arresting constable remarked that he’d “Never had to remove a pair of cuffs from an offender before putting handcuffs on them.”

  It had been a first for Julie as well.

  Just as the old University buildings swung into view, his car phone rang. He glanced at the dashboard; it was a familiar number calling from New York. His father's office.

  He picked up the call with his hands-free.

  ‘Good morning Papa.’

  ‘Good morning Chaise.’

  ‘Oh, hi Peyton. I didn’t expect you from this number.’

  Peyton chuckled, ‘Well, your father instructed me to get hold of you today, no matter what. So, I set the alarm to make sure it happened.’

  ‘I bet you did. It’s quite early here, must be a lot earlier there?’

  ‘Tell me about it - it’s 3-am!’

  Chaise was somewhat curious as the early morning call had been made from his father’s direct dial line, yet Peyton claimed things could become worse. So much for a healthy work-life balance, but it was typical of Gianni to run such an operation.

  He scoffed, ‘Good grief! 3-am and you’re already in the office? What’s his beef then? Is the ol’ man working you right to the bone then?’

  ‘Not really Chaise, but we have been busy with negotiations and that’ll soon change I suspect. Gianni is coming back from Chicago this morning. An urgent family matter has come up.’

  He could sense the tone of sincerity in her voice.

  ‘Urgent? What’s wrong?’

  ‘It’s your grandfather.’

  Chaise paused. He had a gut feeling churning away at his insides, and something in Peyton’s tone of voice told him that this was the news he had been dreading for so many months.

  ‘What’s wrong with Federico, Peyton?’

  ‘He’s in pretty bad shape, Chaise. His doctor doesn’t expect him to hold on for much longer because the cancer has spread throughout his body. His osteoporosis is taking a toll on him, too.’

  Chaise veered toward the side of the road and parked the car. He knew this time would arrive soon enough, he just hoped that his grandfather would live until after his graduation.

  He replied with a sigh, ‘I understand. Any idea of how long?’

  ‘Days, possibly weeks…’

  ‘Is he in any significant pain?’

  ‘Not a chance. You know what he’s like with the meds.’

  Chaise smiled.

  ◆◆◆

  Federico was the founder of the family business; Pegasus Pharmaceuticals. Throughout his life, he had a passion for chemistry and loved to experiment with various compounds and mixtures in his home-made laboratory.

  His hobby turned into a career working as a lab assistant for a large company where he accidentally discovered several medical compounds. This encouraged him to experiment a little more in his own personal laboratory until he ventured off on his own one day to establish his own business.

  From that point on he focussed on the profitable orphan drug market along with the development of drugs that other companies used for testing the effects of their own.

  ‘Is Gianni with him?’

  ‘Not at the moment, but he was there last week. Gianni and I will be flying out from New York this afternoon after a client meeting.

  Tell me, when is your graduation again?’

  ‘A couple more days.’

  ‘Okay. Don’t make any elaborate plans for the weekend. He wants you in Italy as soon as possible.’

  ‘Gianni?’

  ‘Yes. Federico was asking about you too. He’s such a dear soul…’ Peyton’s voice broke and she started to sniffle over the phone.

  ‘Peyton? What’s wrong?’

  She paused to compose herself, ‘When I was there last week, Federico asked me to help set up some equipment to make recordings’ for everyone. He said it could be his final chance to talk to you.’

  ‘Christ! So he’s preparing himself?’

  ‘Exactly. But hopefully, that won't be the case. That’s if you make it in time.’

  ‘I’ll do my best Peyton, trust me. I need to talk to Carl and get him on board with the trip. When are you thinking about getting us there?’

  ‘In three or four days at this stage. I have a flight departing London in mind for you. It could come out of St Andrews if that doesn't work for you?’

  ‘We’ll make it happen. Is there enough time? For, well…you know.’

  ‘I’m not sure Chaise. I only know what the doctor told me. There’s no point getting you out of there overnight or anything as urgent like that.’

  ‘Overnight? That sounds extreme. Did Gianni give you the company chequebook or credit card?’

  Peyton gave a quick laugh at his accusation. ‘You might be surprised with how Gianni is handling things right now Chaise. A lot has happened since you were stateside last.’

  ◆◆◆

  Chaise hadn’t seen his father for more than nine months. He had taken several trips back home to New York in that period, but each time Gianni was away on business and they missed each other. In fact, the last time he’d seen his father was in Scotland when Gianni took part in an official ceremony to open a new laboratory up at the University. Even on that occasion he had to vie for the attention of his father over senior faculty staff during a formal dinner evening.

  Gianni Vallati was born in the 60’s and grew up under the influence of cultural revolution and change. He was an activist who loved to instigate an argument about practically everything, no matter what the topic was. He grew up questioning everything in life and always challenged popular beliefs’.

  As a child, he watched the lunar landings along with the rest of the nation, but even at this age he still debated the reality of it with his own father. Then in 1975 he watched his mother perform in the Horror Picture Show musical from the backstage of the Roxy Theatre. Behaviour like
this from his mother only taught him to follow what he believed in and live how he wanted.

  From that point in he was always destined to hold a passion for the weird and wonderful. He studied native Indian medicine rituals before he took on a role at his father’s company where he became determined to drive the company in new directions with the help of his two sons.

  ‘By the way, I do have some good news as well…’

  Chaise perked up at her announcement, ‘Really? How good?’

  ‘The best!’ her voice beamed over the phone. ‘Your father has approved the work permit and she is welcome to come and work here on a visa.’

  ‘AWESOME!’ exclaimed Chaise, punching his fist into the air. ‘That’s wicked news, Peyton! Thanks so much!’

  ‘Ha! That’s no problem, sweetie! It’s my pleasure. I’ll flick you an e-mail with all the details shortly. Does she have any idea yet?’

  ‘No! It’ll be a huge surprise. I can’t wait to tell her!’ Chaise said with a huge grin on his face as he processed Peyton’s news.

  ‘Brilliant. She sounds like a real sweetheart,’ Peyton replied. ‘Right then, I should go now and get ready for the flight. I’ll be in touch.'

  Chaise hung the phone up and considered his father’s decision about the working Visa. It surprised him given the circumstances that accompanied the request.

  ◆◆◆

  Several months ago, Chaise had been drinking at a local pub with friends when they began to talk about how they were parting ways once their studies had completed. Most of his student friends came from different parts of the world, including Julie, and that evening the thought of leaving her was difficult to swallow.

  The conversation led Chaise to send his father a text. It was an impromptu request, fuelled by passion but triggered through alcohol, and something he regretted the following morning when it eventually dawned upon him. However, Peyton replied several days later to inform him that while his father didn’t appreciate being woken up at that hour of the morning, he would still consider the request and that she would be handing the paperwork.