Iris POV:

Open. People here are so open and kind.

I was standing in front of a waterfall, and most of the people were naked in the water.

I was the only one who was wearing something.

The drawstrings of my petticoat are tightly tied to my upper chest.

Iris, come inside,” Penelope said, sitting naked in the water.

Umm.. Penelope do I have to be naked also,” I asked looking around.

Come on, don’t be afraid, not a single man will peek and come here,” she said, candidly.

I loosened the strings and put the petticoat safely on the ground away from water.

I looked around if someone was seeing me but NO! Every woman was so comfortable here. Naked.

OK… I went inside the lukewarm water, the water covered my body till my neck.

“Βασίλισσα”

Some girls in their 20s started to talk to Penelope.

Iris, follow me,” she said walking away from the waterfall.

I followed her outside, anxiously.

She sat on the wet ground and told me to sit beside her.

I tried very hard to not look down at any girl’s kitty-pitty.

Women here are like goddesses, no artificials. Only natural beauties.

I sat down on the wet ground, ugh… my thighs looked fat. It always happens when I sit down.

“Έχετε ένα όμορφο σώμα” one of the girls said.

I looked at Penelope and she giggled.

You have a beautiful body,” she said.

Thank you,” I said, bowing to her.

They all looked at each other and giggled.

Suddenly they put something on my hands and feet.

Ugh... Penelope,” I murmured, my eyes blinking rapidly.

This is turmeric paste, it’s good for the skin,” she said, applying it to her body too.

Ok, but I can apply it myself too,” I mumbled.

What! NO!, you’re our queen we have to take care of you,” she exclaimed.

Penelope started to say something or yell something to the girls.

Then the girls looked at me, shaking their heads in disapproval, their eyes widened in shock.

Look they are also disagreeing with you,” Penelope exclaimed.

We must take care of our queen,” Penelope paused.

Get used to it, till you’re gonna stay here,” she said, smugly.

I giggled and shook my head.

So, are you excited for tomorrow,” Penelope asked.

I looked at her confused.

It felt like I would sleep because the way they were putting the turmeric paste on my body was so satisfying.

Mating ceremony,” she said, making my ears red.

Umm..yeah..ah..,” I bit my lips looking into the sky.

Don’t say that word,” my lips pursed.

Everyone giggled, softly.

Don’t be shy, everyone performs the ceremony here before they spend a night with their man,” Penelope said.

Why perform the ritual?” I asked.

Our traditions say a woman is a sacred treasure. So, the men here choose their treasures and live with her all their lives,” She paused.

So, if we don’t perform the ritual then it will be against the god’s rituals, it will give unbearable pain,” She whispered.

The other girls nod their heads in agreement.

We stood up and went inside the water, cleaning ourselves.

Unbearable pain,” I asked.

We were standing in a circle. Penelope and the other girls came close and whispered.

When women have sex for the first time it hurts so, by god’s blessing you can fight the pain,” Penelope whispered.

So, it’s okay to have sex with a woman before marriage,” I asked, my brows furrowed.

Come on! The men here are not some twits. If they have sex with a girl then he will marry her compulsorily,” she whispered.

If any man had sex without performing the ceremony then they would die bleeding, painfully because a woman’s virginity is not something to play with,” she paused.

A woman is treated as a god here,” she said, proudly.

I smiled and looked at others. They all smiled and nodded.

They don’t speak English but they understood everything,” I said, beaming.

A girl excitedly said something to Penelope.

We got you a beautiful dress,” she said, translating and looking at others.

And we will make your hair,” Penelope translated, everything the girls would say in Greek.

Ariiii…,” Penelope glared at a girl and she giggled…happily.

What happened,” I asked, nudging Penelope’s forearm.

Her cheeks turned pink and she bit her lips.

She is asking if you…or..king…kiss,” she mumbled, fiddling with her hair.

My breath got sucked in my throat and delicately the girls nudged my calf, impatiently.

Mmm..um..ah..Yes,” I murmured, fiddling with my fingers.

Awww,” they all cooed together.

I cleared my throat and looked away.

Ok, Ok, let’s go,” Penelope said when the other women started to wear dresses.

We got out of the water and put on the dry petticoat.

Now, We will go to our huts and dry ourselves.

Thank god, my mom is not here. She would chop me to pieces by now if she saw me sitting naked with someone even with girls.

I removed the excess water from my hair by squeezing my ends gently.

The temperature here was sunny all day and mild at night.

Βασίλισσα,” a girl hands me a towel.

Penelope, how do you say thank you in Greek,” I asked, excitedly.

Ευχαριστώ,” She said, slowly.

Ευχαριστώ,” I said, bowing to her.

She giggled and bowed to me, vigorously.

We all retreated to our huts before the men would come back.

All of them had gone hunting, even the king himself.

I couldn’t help but giggle as I removed my petticoat.

The thought of the king seemed strange.

“Mini”

I turned around and saw Ace in the corner, standing in the dark.

Ace,” I said, panting.

I put my hand over my heart, calming my pulse.

He stepped out from the shadows and stood before me, devoid of emotion.

“What were you doing there?” I inquired, puzzled by his presence.

“I just needed to get a few things,” he replied as he gently brushed my damp hair behind my shoulder.

That’s when I noticed he had been standing by a box earlier, not merely lurking like a ghost.

“Were you really grabbing some things, or did you just want to catch a glimpse of me undressed?” I teased, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

He let out a soft laugh and rested his hand on my hip while meeting my gaze.

“Is it that obvious?” he asked playfully.

I giggled again and shook my head.

“What do you mean by ‘getting a few things’?” My curiosity piqued; I placed my hand on his stomach questioningly.

He drew me closer and lowered his head, gently placing damp kisses on my shoulder.

“Some important stuff,” he murmured as he tenderly nipped at my skin.

I softly hummed in response and tilted my head away to give him more access.

He seized the opportunity to sweep his wicked tongue along my neck, causing me to shudder with delight.

“Spread your legs,” he uttered softly into my ear.

I let out a whimper and looked up at him, panting.

My eyes grew wide as I experienced a burning sensation in my buttocks.

Gradually, I spread my legs while glancing at his chest.

He proceeded to gently spread my cheeks and grasped them firmly.

I felt an intense heat within me, similar to a raging fire.

“One more day,” he declared with roughness in his voice.

I gazed into his captivating eyes as I struggled to catch my breath.

His lips began teasing mine, never truly engaging in a full kiss.

What a tease.

He leaned down and began licking water droplets from my skin, which felt both sinful and pleasurable.

As he pushed me back, we started walking backward ever so slowly.

At last, he pressed his lips against mine in a deep and passionate kiss.

I grasped his hair with both hands and fervently kissed him back.

Despite stumbling over an object, our connection remained unbroken.

He slid his tongue past my teeth, playfully mingling with mine in an almost sinful manner.

The moment my calf grazed the edge of the bed, he released a pained growl.

I sat down on the bed and began inching away from him.

But his kisses persisted, as if he wished for the moment to last forever.

He knelt between my open legs while I balanced on my wrists, continuing our sloppy exchange of affection.

Longing for closeness, I took hold of his belt and pulled him nearer.

He backed away, breathing heavily.

His hand grasped under my knees and wrapped it around his chiseled hips.

Όμορφο από οποιοδήποτε λουλούδι (Beautiful than any flower),” he whispered against my lips.

A gasp escaped me as his fingers made contact with my nipples.

You’re perfect than anyone,” I murmured looking into his eyes.

He smirked and shook his head.

You understood,” his eyes beamed with amusement.

Maybe,” I giggled, our lips brushing.

He let out a soft hum and kissed me, gently.

Sweetheart, I want to tell you something,” he mentioned, guiding me to lie down on the bed properly.

Delicately, he brushed away the hair strands clinging to my face.

“What?” My thumb tenderly traced the rough texture of his calloused cheek.

I never asked for your permission to touch you. From the first time, I never asked your consent on anything, and I am ashamed of that,” he paused.

I could see – Honesty and sincerity in his frigid eyes while he spoke those words.

“So, do you want to be mine? Do you want to give me your precious thing?” he asked, staring into my eyes.

But it looked like he was staring deeply into my soul.

“Do you think I deserve it?” he whispered.

His eyes didn’t blink, didn’t move an inch from my eyes.

It’s your last chance, Mini. After this, there’s no turning back, regardless of how hard you try,” tightening his grip around my neck.

As a result, my throat began to feel parched.

“Ace is not a man who can live a normal life, no matter how much he tries”

Susan’s words echoed in my mind.

I was well aware that he wasn’t the kind of man who could reliably return home every night, present me with flowers daily, or live a secure existence.

He wasn’t someone who could provide assurances that he would always be by my side.

“Will you always be with me?” My heart raced within my chest.

I can’t but I will come back to you…always,” he struggled with his words.

“No matter how hard I try, I cannot offer you an ordinary life. I can’t give you flowers consistently without the risk of them being stained with blood; I won’t be able to take you out on dates every weekend or assure you that I’ll be beside you at all times but…I will love you as much as I want, without any doubt,” he paused.

You don’t have to worry that I will like any girl or cheat on you. I can guarantee you,” he stood up and took out his pendant from his neck.

It was the pendant that he had never taken off in front of me - the one that accompanied him while he slept, showered, ate, and ventured out to any place.

With a swift motion, he drew out the thin and sharp blade hidden within.

“Darling, would you please sit here?” he asked, glancing towards the edge of the bed.

I wrapped myself in the fur blanket and took a seat on the bed’s edge, my foot touching the floor.

He knelt before me, gazing at me tenderly.

If you think I am cheating on you or lo..like any girl, stab this blade in my chest,” he said, placing the pendant with its blade exposed onto my lap.

So deep that I couldn’t live, Scream in pain, make me feel your pain. If you think I am not loyal to you,” he continued, his chest rising and falling heavily with each breath.

What if you loved any girl rather than me instead of liked,” I carefully pushed the blade back into its sheath.

“I cannot and do not want to love anyone other than you. Perhaps I’ll never be able to love anyone else,” he whispered softly while holding my hands within his own.

He dipped his face inside my palm, kissing it, gently.

Ok,” I said, a big fat tear slid down through my cheeks.

He looked at me, his brows furrowed.

I want to be..yours. You deserve it, only you deserve it. You’re always perfect. For me,” I said, gulping the saliva in my mouth.

I want to be yours. Only yours,” I said, smiling wide that my cheeks started to hurt.

He plucked the pendant from my lap and secured it around his neck.

"Why you never take it off" I inquired while tracing the scars that seemed to make him even more perfect.

Tsk. The day I take it off my neck is when I will die,” he said, looking at my breasts, concentratedly.

Ahh.. here my real boyfriend comes. Shamelessly romantic.

I chuckled and wiped the tears.

“I’m not one to give second chances, but…” he whispered, his words trailing off as he tenderly squeezed my hand.

I offered a warm smile and leaned closer to his face, our lips almost touching.

Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and relaxed.

“I want to be yours forever, Ace Salvatore,” I murmured as my lips brushed against his.

Gently pressing my lips against his, he opened his piercing eyes.

You’re now trapped in my world,” he softly declared.

“It’s my pleasure,” I whispered back.

“Just don’t make me regret this decision,” he implored earnestly.

Furrowing my brow, I brought our foreheads together.

“I may not know your past, but I wish to make your present beautiful,” I stated, our noses rubbing gently against each other.

“It’s already like paradise. Every moment spent with you is heavenly for me,” he uttered, a broad smile emerging on his face.

“I love you more,” I admitted, gazing into his eyes as they opened.

He gripped the nape of my neck firmly.

“I will cherish you, treasure you, and love you for the rest of my life,” he exclaimed passionately.

“Never lose faith in me,” he paused.

“If someone ever claims that I don’t love you or even myself, don’t believe them. Because I vow on my own being that I will love you every single day. Even when we’re miles apart,” his lips crashed into mine with fervor.

“I will trust you till my last breath or until the day I die,” I whispered in return.

La mia piccola Mini

(My Little Mini)