Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
It splashed against my legs, dipping the ends of my long skirt into the water, and I sent him a scolding look, but he only chuckled.
“Come on, let me show you around.” He grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together before he pressed a kiss to my knuckles. I blushed, still affected no matter how long we had been together.
“Alright, fine, but you’re buying me new shoes,” I grinned, reaching down to peel the now-ruined heels off my feet.
“Deal.” He grinned and took the pair of shoes from me as we stepped up to the large, foreboding double doors. There was an old-style knocker in the shape of a bird—a running theme, I was guessing.
Gio didn’t even have a key. He simply pushed on the door, and it opened before us. I gasped in sheer awe at the sight before me. If I thought the compound was luxurious, it was nothing compared to this.
Right before us was what I thought was a foyer but seemed more like a ballroom with how large it was. More double doors led to the rest of the house, and above was a double staircase on either side of the walls. A huge chandelier hung above us, the lights twinkling on the crystals, and everywhere I looked were old-fashioned lights fixed to the wall.
Clearly, the house was old—the foundation still firm after all these years and the many renovations it had no doubt gone through. I ran my hand along the wooden walls as Gio took me inside, and I noticed with a bit of shock the unusual texture.
These walls had been hand carved. Little bumps and features in the walls were remnants, stories of those who had lived here in the past. Even the doors were remarkable in their craftsmanship, the lines theabsolutley perfect, though the finish was a little worn in some places.
It was like stepping back in time when this place was full of families and servants. I could almost see where children would run through here, probably tracking mud up and down the carpeted stairs.
“This is amazing,” I breathed. “I can’t believe this. It’s like being transported back to their time.”
“It was built in the sixteenth century and used as an estate for four hundred years until the family line died off. It was left to rot, sadly, and went on auction a few years ago. We won and fixed it up. It’s a beautiful piece of history. All the wood is original, hand-carved, and the foundation is still the same,” Gio explained, taking me from the foyer deeper into the estate.
A massive grandfather clock chimed in the hallway. The estate had an unusual smell to it, like when you open up an old book that no one has opened in years, but I liked it.
We toured the house a bit. Each room was so different from the last but just as beautiful. Neither of us had realized how late it had gotten, but by the time we were done, the sun was beginning to set, and my stomach was rumbling.
Our noses led us to a delectable aroma of food. The kitchens and a private chef met us with a smile. Dressed in a classical white chef’s uniform, he offered for us to take the terrace, and I saw Gio’s smirk from the corner of my eye. He’d planned all this, after all.
As soon as we took our seats under the latticework of the trellis, flowers growing all around us, the staff was quick to serve us.
The candles were lit, the soft glow casting the perfect setting for the romantic evening. We savored the feast of delicious food, laughing as Gio teased me, and I flirted back.
When we were full, we moved to a porch swing nearby, cuddling together under the starlit sky. The wind carried his whispers of affection, and in this one perfect moment, in the embrace of our idyllic surroundings, our souls intertwined even more deeply.
Our love blossomed like the vibrant colors of the Venetian sunset.
*Olivia*
The first official day of our honeymoon started with breakfast. Gio carried me to the table bathed in sunlight as the delicious smells of the private chef’s creations met my nose. Fruits and cream-stuffed crepes were an absolute delight to my taste buds, and we shared a few bites between our meals.
His ham and cheese crepes weren’t too bad, but I definitely had more of a sweet tooth. We sipped on white wine as Gio hand-fed me chocolate-covered strawberries, freshly harvested apparently from a nearby farm. I didn’t even know strawberries grew here, but there was a lot I was learning on this trip.
“Are you gonna tell me what else you have planned?” I asked, rubbing my full tummy happily.
“It’s a surprise,” Gio grinned, throwing a simple outfit at me–shorts and a breezy blouse. I normally never showed this much leg, but I shrugged as I slipped it on.
Gio grinned like a wildcat as I undressed in front of him, refusing to take his eyes off me for a moment. Of course, he was already dressed perfectly, even his hair brushed back. The crinkles around his eyes were more prominent today, but it only made him look that much sexier.
Once we were dressed, Gio led me downstairs and out the front door. We didn’t have to wait long as a sleek boat glided toward us, a new gondola driver on the back. This time, a pretty woman with bright red hair smiled at us as she steadied the boat with her long stick.
My anticipation for whatever Gio had planned peaked, and Gio held my hand as I slid into the boat with a giggle. He took the seat next to me, and then we were off.
There were a lot more boats out today, not just gondolas, but specifically the working boats carrying deliveries or picking up trash or even just ferrying people who looked like they were in a bit too much of a hurry for a regular gondola. I took the time to survey the city, happy to see how bright and sunny the day was. A woman selling shiny wind catchers and chimes caught my eye. She handed a mini pinwheel to a baby in her mother’s arms, and I smiled, a pang in my chest as the baby giggled brightly at the little turning wheel.
“Soon,” Gio promised, kissing my temple as he wrapped a reassuring arm around me. That’s right. Soon we would have a baby of our own. It just took time.
“So where are we going?” I asked playfully, to take my mind off the baby situation.
A mischievous smile danced on his lips as he stared straight ahead, not revealing anything.
“If I guess, will you tell me?” I asked, excitedly.
“Maybe,” he shrugged, still as tight-lipped as always.
“Hmm. San Marco square?” I asked, curiosity burning inside of me.
“Good guess, but no,” Gio chuckled.
“Doge’s Palace?”
That would be good. The monument of Byzantine art was gorgeous and something I’d always wanted to see. The balcony provided a perfect view of St. Mark Square and the Bell Tower too, I remembered reading from one of the tourist books conveniently lying in our room. No doubt my sly husband had placed them there to throw me off.
“Nope,” he said, smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Um…” I struggled to think of what else I knew of Venice and where I thought he could take me first. “A wine tasting?”
“I don’t plan to get you drunk,” he laughed, then smirked, leaning over to whisper, “yet.”
The narrow canals opened into a larger almost-lake-sized lagoon, and I felt a bit nervous. I gazed over the edge of the boat and gasped as I saw colorful streaks under the water. The fish were probably accustomed to the tourists feeding them or just dropping random foods in the lagoon, but seeing them so close was amazing. I could’ve reached out and just barely dip my hands in the water to touch them.
Eventually, it became very apparent where we were going as we pulled into another narrow canal, but this one was different from before. While the main city was filled with beautiful buildings, they all carried an ancient feeling to them. They’d been built hundreds of years ago, after all.
But this section of the city had a different feel. The buildings were painted in vibrant colors – greens and reds and oranges that stood out against anything we’d seen before. They looked less like blocky buildings and more like homes.
We passed under a brick bridge, and soon I caught sight of a massive market on either side of us. Tents were propped up against the summer sun, and the stores were packed with people. The picturesque island nestled within the Venetian archipelago was unmistakable.
“Murano?” I gasped, turning to him with wide eyes.
“Happy?” He chuckled as our driver pulled over to one of the many docks, steadying the boat so we could get out.
“Buona giornata,” the red-headed gondola driver said as we got out. Her accent was much heavier than Gio’s, and I suspected that she didn’t know much English, if at all.
“Grazie,” I said honestly, beaming as we got out of the gondola. It didn’t take long before she was pushing away from the dock and heading down the canals once more, probably to ferry someone else.
“Now,” Gio said, side-eyeing me with a smile, “how do you feel about glass?”
“No,” I gasped, slamming a hand over my mouth. Murano was famous for the renowned glassblowing masters that surrounded the island. Their techniques were legendary, and as an art major, it was one of the things I’d wished to see up close and personal.
“Yes,” he chuckled.
Gio led me deep into the streets, and I was practically buzzing with excitement, skipping along next to him as I held his hand tightly. I could barely focus on all the sounds and sights around us. But the thought of seeing the glassmakers, seeing that in person, was enough to keep me from wandering off, even if the acrobatic troupe and handmade gelato shops had piqued my interest. He led me to a little shop out of the way of the main streets, one that clearly didn’t get a lot of attention over the other packed stores.
The first thing I noticed when we stepped inside was the heat, and the second thing I noticed was the way the sunlight refracted through the glass. Hundreds of glass-blown vases and pipes were held on shelves. Above us was a whole chandelier made of delicate work, like a flower reaching down to us, frozen in mid-bloom. There had to be nothing more awe-inspiring. Nearby, there were smaller pieces, flowers made in glass balls, ornaments hanging from the ceilings, and even wine glasses in every single color there was.
My eyes were caught by the little figurines of animals–an elephant blowing through its trunk and a tiny mouse that could fit on two fingers.
