Italy, 1820...
It had been six months since her beloved Giuseppe had passed away. At first, facing reality had been incredibly difficult. She no longer had her companion and friend by her side. She still dressed in strict mourning attire.
— Madam Donatella, — the butler called out.
— Yes, tell me, — she looked up.
— Miss Adriana has come to visit.
Donatella smiled. Her best friend was likely here to scold her.
— Please, show her in, — she instructed, but suddenly, Adriana’s high-pitched voice rang through the room.
— Hello, Donatella! I’m upset with you.
— Hello, Adriana, welcome.
— If I didn’t come to see you, I wouldn’t even know if you’re still alive, — she chided. — You haven’t answered a single one of my letters.
— I’m sorry, dear. My spirits haven’t been the best lately.
She accepted the warm embrace her friend offered.
— Please, have a seat, — she gestured with her hand. — Luigi, bring tea and pastries, — she ordered the butler.
— I don’t understand why you’re still wearing mourning clothes.
— It’s only been six months since my husband passed, Adriana.
Her friend huffed and said, — Do you think I don’t know that? Giuseppe wouldn’t want to see you still in mourning.
At that moment, the butler arrived with a tray of refreshments. Once he left them alone, Donatella responded.
— It’s out of respect.
— Donni, you’ve mourned your husband long enough, — the hostess poured tea into both cups and handed one to her friend.
— I feel right keeping to mourning.
— No, dear, you’re going to wither away, — Adriana remarked.
— You’ve never been in love, so you wouldn’t understand.
Adriana scoffed.
— You should take a lover, — she advised. Donatella’s face was a picture of shock. — Don’t look at me like that. Nothing rejuvenates you more than intimacy, — the hostess turned redder than a tomato. — You say I’ve never loved anyone, — Adriana shrugged.
— I’m sorry, — Donatella apologized.
— But the truth is, I’ve loved every single one of my lovers, — Adriana added with a shameless grin.
— I don’t know if I could betray Giuseppe’s memory.
Adriana set her teacup down on the table between their seats.
— Donatella! — she exclaimed. — You need to live. Leave Giuseppe in the past. He’s gone, and he’s not coming back.
The widow covered her face with her hands and began to cry.
— Dear, forgive me. I’m just worried about you, — Adriana stood to embrace her. — Cry, Donni, cry and let out all that pain that’s holding you back.
Donatella wept uncontrollably. Even the butler appeared in the room, drawn by the sound of his mistress’s sobs.
— It’s alright, Luigi. Donatella needs to let it out, — Adriana reassured him.
Adriana knelt in front of her friend and took her hands.
— Feeling better?
Donni nodded, her eyes still teary.
— I just want you to be well and to keep living.
— That’s what Giuseppe told me in the letter he left me.
— See, dear? Giuseppe, the wonderful man he was, wants his wife to be happy.
— I don’t know how to move forward, — she said through hiccups.
— First, — Adriana stood up, — by taking off the mourning clothes. — Donatella looked at her, hesitant to comply. — If not for yourself, do it for Giuseppe, who asked you to in that letter.
— Alright.
Adriana clapped her hands and bounced in place with excitement.
— Tomorrow, we’re going shopping to revamp your wardrobe. The clothes you have must be out of style by now.
Donatella shook her head with a small smile. Nothing would stop her friend until she shed her mourning attire and bought new clothes.
— I’m glad you came to visit.
— I’m even happier to see you and maybe find a handsome Trentino lover to sample, — Adriana commented without a hint of embarrassment.
*******
The next day, they went into town, visiting countless shops and dressmakers. Donatella bought several dresses, skirts, blouses, shoes, ribbons, and even a few pieces of jewelry.
— Don’t you think this dress is too revealing? — Donni asked, examining her reflection in the mirror. — It shows too much.
— That’s the point, and it’s what’s in fashion, — Adriana replied, sipping her tea. — Besides, we Italian women are blessed with a full bust, — she added with a wiggle of her eyebrows. — You’ve got to show just the right amount.
— I’m not sure, — the chestnut-haired woman hesitated. — I think I prefer my old dresses.
— Don’t even think about it. Besides, I already asked your butler to remove all your old clothes and burn them.
— What! — Donatella exclaimed, indignant. — You had no right. Did Luigi actually listen to you?
— Yes, at first he refused, but I told him it was for your own good, and his expression changed.
— You’re impossible.
— I know, dear.
After their last stop at the dressmaker’s, they decided to visit a tea room. They sat at a corner table and ordered tea with milk and some scones with cream. They chatted about various topics until two handsome gentlemen sat at the table next to them. Donatella thought her friend was being far too brazen, openly flirting with the men.
— What do you think? You take the one with chestnut hair, and I’ll take the redhead, — Adriana suggested suddenly, smiling at the men at the neighboring table.
— You’re out of your mind! — Donatella exclaimed nervously, though a smile crept onto her face.
— Fine, you take the redhead, — the dark-haired woman teased.
— No!
Suddenly, one of the gentlemen approached their table. Donatella wanted to sink into the floor, while her friend seemed to revel in the attention.
— Good afternoon, ladies, — the redheaded gentleman greeted them with a wolfish smile. — My friend and I were wondering if you’d join us for dinner tonight.
— No, thank you, we already have plans, — Donatella replied quickly.
Adriana looked at her in surprise.
— We’d be delighted, but we’d like you to introduce yourselves first, — the dark-haired woman said, openly admiring the redhead’s muscular frame.
— My apologies! — he said. — I’m Captain Matteo Costa, and this is my friend, Lieutenant Piero Morelli, — the chestnut-haired man bowed.
— Oh, you’re military men! — Adriana exclaimed, clearly delighted. — My friend Donatella and I, Adriana, would be pleased to have you for dinner at her home, — she invited, much to Donatella’s horror.
— We wouldn’t miss that dinner for the world.
Adriana gave them the address, and the gentlemen took their leave.
— What have you done?
— You need some fun, and so do I, — Adriana replied. — Come on, we need to pick out the dresses we’ll wear tonight.
They paid their bill and climbed into the carriage that would take them back to Donatella’s manor.
Donatella chose a blue dress, the most modest of her new purchases, while Adriana opted for a red gown that was scandalously low-cut.
Around eight in the evening, the military men arrived, each carrying a bouquet of flowers. Matteo handed his to Adriana, while Piero gave his to Donatella. The chestnut-haired woman felt a bit uneasy; the only man who had ever given her flowers was Giuseppe.
Once seated in the dining room, a maid and a footman served various dishes, along with wine produced on the estate.
— Exquisite, — Matteo commented after taking a sip of the red wine.
— Thank you, it’s from our own harvest, — Donni explained.
— We’ve been very fortunate to meet these two lovely ladies, — Piero remarked.
— How charming! — Adriana exclaimed. — It’s not every day you come across two handsome military men.
— To this encounter! — Matteo toasted, and everyone raised their glasses, though Donatella wished they would eat and leave as soon as possible.
When dinner concluded, Donatella thanked them for their visit, but the gentlemen and her friend seemed oblivious to her subtle hints to leave.
— If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to retire for the evening, — she said, placing her napkin on the table and standing. The gentlemen followed suit, bowing to her.
She quickly retreated to her bedroom, where she began to cry. She felt as though she was betraying Giuseppe by having these two men over for dinner. Though, to be fair, she hadn’t invited them—Adriana had. With the help of her maid, she undressed and finally went to bed. The day had been exhausting with all the shopping.
*********
— The lady of the house is very beautiful, — Piero commented.
— But a bit dull, — Matteo added.
— Don’t say that, gentlemen. My friend is in mourning, and it hasn’t been easy for her, — Adriana explained.
— Such a shame. A beauty like that could wither away from grief, — the chestnut-haired man remarked.
— Life is meant to be enjoyed, — Adriana pointed out.
— That’s what I always say, lovely lady, — Matteo declared, raising his glass. The three of them drank.
— How long are you staying in Trento? — Adriana asked.
— Until tomorrow, — Matteo replied. — We’re being stationed in France.
— We came to visit my brother before we leave, — Piero added.
— Well, since you’re here, — Adriana began, — we could have a little fun.
The two men exchanged surprised looks at how forward the woman was.
— What do you have in mind, beautiful? — the redhead asked, clearly intrigued.
— I’d like to try what the French call a ménage à trois.
The friends looked at each other and grinned.
— Your wish is our command, — Matteo said.
— Let’s go to my room, or Luigi will throw us out, — Adriana laughed. She took Matteo by one hand and Piero by the other, who in turn grabbed a bottle of wine from the table.
They climbed the stairs, and Matteo kissed her on the lips while Piero began unbuttoning her dress and loosening the corset ribbons. Adriana felt like she was in heaven; these two handsome military men were about to take her to paradise. As the dress fell, Matteo took one of her breasts and licked a nipple. Adriana moaned.
— Bite me, — she urged the dark-haired woman, as she received kisses along the curve of her neck.
Matteo obliged, nibbling gently on her nipples. Adriana felt herself growing wet with desire.
Piero helped her step out of the dress, sliding down her undergarments until she stood completely naked between the soldiers.
— Undress, — she ordered. — I want to see your magnificent bodies.
Accustomed to following commands, the gentlemen began to strip. Adriana eyed their evident arousal and licked her lips. She knelt before them, massaging Matteo while taking Piero into her mouth. Then she switched, alternating her attention between them. A minute later, Matteo lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He positioned her on all fours and began to explore her with his tongue, while Piero enjoyed her ministrations. The pleasure Adriana felt was incredible.
Piero lay down on the bed, and immediately, Adriana straddled him. He lifted her slightly to align himself with her, and she moaned as she felt him inside her, moving to savor the friction. It was her first time in a threesome, a fantasy she could now check off her list. She smiled. Her eyes widened as she felt a finger at her rear.
— Relax, beautiful, I’m just preparing you, — she heard the chestnut-haired man say before kissing one of her cheeks.
Adriana continued moving on Piero, feeling him thrust in and out, until Matteo gently pushed her forward to gain better access to her backside. The redhead gripped her hips and began to ease into her. For a moment, Adriana tensed, but the pleasure soon overpowered the initial discomfort. Matteo knew what he was doing, slowly introducing himself to let her adjust to the sensation.
— Do you like it, dear? — he asked.
— Yes, yes, yes, — she replied between moans.
She had never had two men inside her at once. It felt like heaven. The three of them moved in sync, matching each other’s rhythm, until she reached her climax, crying out in pure ecstasy. The soldiers gave their final thrusts until she felt them release inside her.
She kissed Piero on the lips first, then did the same with Matteo.
— You’re incredible, darling, — the redhead told her.
Adriana reveled in her sexuality, and this experience had been extraordinary. She lay between two soldiers with sculpted bodies, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep nestled between them.
********
Donatella came down to the dining room, expecting to see her friend. She was taken aback to find Adriana accompanied by Matteo and Piero.
— Good morning, — she greeted them, glancing at Luigi, who shrugged, equally surprised to see the two gentlemen emerging from the guest room of her friend.
— Hello, dear Donni. I hope you don’t mind that I invited these handsome gentlemen to join us for breakfast.
— No, not at all, — the chestnut-haired woman lied.
They ate breakfast calmly until the men announced they had to leave. Donatella was shocked when her friend bid farewell to the gentlemen with a kiss on the lips for each. She couldn’t help but blush.
— What on earth was that? — she asked once the men had gone.
— I slept with them.
— You slept with both of them? — Donatella asked, astonished.
— Well, to be honest, sleeping was the last thing we did, — Adriana replied nonchalantly before popping a grape into her mouth.
— You’ve turned my home into a brothel, — the chestnut-haired woman accused.
— Sometimes I feel like hitting you over the head with a mallet, — the dark-haired woman laughed. — You have every right to enjoy intimacy, especially now that you’re a widow, — she said, eating another grape. — I know what he told you. Find yourself a lover who’ll mess up your hair.
Donatella rolled her eyes. Her friend was crazy and wouldn’t change, but she loved her all the same.
— Excuse me, Madam, — Luigi interrupted. — A note has arrived from Miss Rossi.
Donatella brightened; her niece had written to her. She took the note and read it.
— What does it say? — Adriana asked curiously.
— She’s inviting me to spend some time in London.
— Accept.
— I’m not sure, — she folded the note.
— Accept, darn it! — her friend urged.
— Adriana!
— Donatella!
Both women laughed, and finally, Donni agreed to travel. In a month, she would depart for England with her nephews, Alessandro and Rossi.
*******