30-Surprise!

**Isabella**

I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day. So far, everything has gone as planned. The manor is decorated exactly as I imagined, Sophia and Alli will be arriving within an hour, and our nail technicians are almost finished setting up their areas.

I'm glad I didn't kill Sophia. The time I spent with her while planning this party was surprisingly pleasant. I think even Marcello is beginning to accept her as a changed woman. That speaks volumes. Ezra is still on edge though, which is fine. It's always best to be alert just in case she starts some bullshit.

"Everything looks perfect, Bellissima." Marcello's hand rests on my lower back. His touch will always make my heart do flips in my chest. I love him so much.

"Thank goodness. You know how I get when my plans get messed up." A smile stretches across his face. We both vividly remember the night we met when I found out something went wrong with the Tampa bridge.

"I am glad I had my emergency blunt with me that night. You were ready to break the passenger door window." He chuckles a the memory.

"I wouldn't have gone that far in your truck. I'm glad I wasn't in my own car, though." There's no telling what I would have broken during my rage. I haven't smoked since then, but I liked how it made me feel before I took it overboard. I rarely even see Marcello smoke weed, but when he does, his eyes get glossy, and his eyelids are lower than usual. It probably shouldn't turn me on as much as it does, but he is so sexy when he's high.

"You have improved so much since you moved in. I think we all have grown in a way." He takes me by the hand and kisses the back of it.

"It's crazy what a little time can do when you're with the right people. Who knew love at first sight exists?" I knew I wanted them when I first laid eyes on them.

"I think you mean lust at first sight. I was only looking forward to bending you over in the beginning." Marcello makes a hip-thrust motion while holding onto an invisible waist. He is such a horndog.

"And they say romance is dead," I mumbled loud enough for him to hear, and he chuckles.

Sitting at the table, Ezra is drinking his coffee and looking at Marcello with a smirk on his face. He's great at schooling his expression, but deep down, I know he wants to laugh. I walk around the room to make sure everything is where it was supposed to be for the millionth time. After the longest forty-five minutes of my life, Alli and Sophia arrive. I feel a burst of excitement as I watch them get out of the vehicle and knock on the front door. Stefano escorts them into the dining hall, and Alli's eyes widen.

"Surprise!" Ezra and Marcello yell while I hug the ladies.

"What's this all about?" Alli looks at me, clearly confused because today isn't her birthday, but 'Happy Birthday Alli' is hung up on the wall in giant lettering.

"Well, I won't be here to celebrate your birthday with you, and Sophia knew how important it was to you. We've been meeting while you work to plan a surprise birthday party for you before I have to leave. It was all her idea." Alli always has a hard exterior, and she rarely shows her emotions, but when she looks at Sophia, tears well up in her eyes. Sophia's gaze is lowered as she is always in submission, so Alli lifts her face by the chin to make eye contact.

"Today, you are taking a break from submission. Thank you for everything, Sage." Alli leans in and gives Sophia a passionate kiss. It took Sophia by surprise at first, but she quickly melted into Alli. I know their relationship is not as laid back as my relationship with the guys. Alli has complete dominance over Sophia at all times, so spontaneous kissing isn't normal for them. After a steamy makeout, they finally joined the rest of us on planet Earth.

"I need to kiss you like that more often," Alli whispers against Sophia's lips before turning her attention to me. Sophia is blushing like crazy while rubbing her bottom lip with her thumb. It seems like she's trying to convince herself she isn't dreaming.

"Don't even think about kissing our woman like that as a 'thank you'. We want her to leave with us, not be taken from us." Marcello jokes. Alli rolls her eyes and pulls me in for a tight hug.

"You are the best friend a woman could ask for. What would I do without you?" She releases her death grip and smiles.

"I'm not sure. I assume you'd be pretty miserable though." She laughs and shakes her head.

"Oh no. Marcello's lack of charm is rubbing off on you." She glares his way, and Ezra finally cracks up.

"We will leave you ladies to it. Marcello and I will be out of your way until dinner this evening." They give me a quick kiss before making a quick escape. They're going to get caught up on work that I've been distracting them from all week. We start by snacking on the little finger foods consisting of stuffed mushrooms, mini triangle turkey and cheese sandwiches, sushi, and mini spinach quiche. Sophia and I couldn't decide what she would like more, so we chose to do them all.

"Everything tastes so good! I'll be twenty pounds heavier when I leave here." Alli moans after popping a stuffed mushroom into her mouth. I guide them to our massage chairs where the nail technicians have our places set up.

"We're getting our nails done? This is the best birthday ever. I don't know how I'll top this for either of you." Alli sits in the middle chair while I take my place at her left and Sophia to her right. Four servers are standing close by, each holding different finger foods on a tray and ready to serve on-demand. The nail technicians get started on our pedicures first.

"Don't worry about that. You've always made my birthdays special, even when I was gone." Last year, she paid to have a billboard dedicated to my business off the busiest highway in New Jersey and had pizza from my favorite place delivered to me for dinner. Alli deserves this day.

"That's what best friends are for." She looks at Sophia, "You're quiet. What're you thinking about?"

"Uh, nothing. I'm just relaxing." Sophia looks anything but relaxed.

"I'm glad you're relaxing, but tell me what's really on your mind." Alli uses her assertive tone. She knows her submissive like the back of her hand.

"Okay. I'm not used to being like this with you. It's hard for me to adjust because I'm always under your submission. I'm afraid I will overstep." She explains while keeping her gaze down out of habit.

"Look at me, Sage." Alli takes Sophia's left hand. I see hesitation, but Sophia makes eye contact with Alli. "I guess I should remind you that we are equally important in this relationship. I may be your Domme, but you set the pace. If being a full-time submissive is becoming too much, then we should consider other arrangements. I want you comfortable with me at all times, not only during submission."

"Yes, Mistress Alice." Alli kisses her hand, "Just call me Alli today, baby."

Seeing Alli so happy with someone makes me proud. I'm glad she will have a companion when I'm gone.

"Yes, Mis-... Um, Alli." Sophia quickly corrects herself. She is slowly coming around, joining in on conversations and laughing with us. We all decide on gel polish so that our nails dry instantly before going to the next station for full-body deep massages.

"Oh, so you two are seriously spoiling me today, huh?" We remove our clothes in separate rooms and come back wrapped in towels. When I lie face-down on the massage table, I hear Alli gasp. "What the fuck happened to your back?!"

Shit. I really should have thought this one through. Alli knows I love being whipped with belts, but she still doesn't know the extent.

"Calm down. Kain came over a few nights ago because Marcello and Ezra aren't comfortable whipping me as hard as I like, so they agreed to observe him. It won't be happening again because it's too much for them to handle. Do not kink shame me, Alli." I can tell she isn't happy, but she understands every person has different needs.

"Sexy Sadist Kain? Why am I just now finding out you like it this hard?" I laugh at her nickname for him. She leans in to get a closer look, pulling the towel further down.

"I thought you were gay. And I didn't know what my limit was until now. We found out, and we won't do it again." I shrug it off after telling a complete lie. I know she's my best friend, but that doesn't mean I'm not obligated to this privacy. It's mine and my partners' business; no one else's.

"I'm as gay as it gets, but I know sexy when I see it." She touches some of the marks, "As long as you're being safe and you're happy, I'll support your madness."

Alli gets on her table, and the massage therapists get to work on us. Of course, mine is treating me like a fragile doll.

"I like it rough if you haven't noticed. Don't be afraid to apply a little pressure, Ma'am." I tried to let it go, but it was driving me nuts after a while. Alli laughs at the first sentence, "You can be a real dickhead, Issy."

I guess my snarky remark was just the right thing because the woman worked my body as if she wanted to kill me. I almost expected her to flip the table I was lying on. I forgot about hiring entertainment for the day, so that would be a good substitution.

The spa day was a success. We ended it with facials and eyebrow waxing before Marcello and Ezra showed up for dinner.