Friday, July 10th - Afternoon- Eighth hour (13:20)

Tita and Elena laughed at Remo’s enthusiasm to do favors for Elena.

“You have many admirers,” noted Tita, still chuckling.

Elena smiled. “At Remo’s age, the admiration is very adorable. It is funny, but very sweet… And it seems he admires you as well.”

Tita giggled. “He is cute and very clever. But my satchels are a bit heavy. He will be okay?”

“He will be fine. Do not worry. Come. Let us go meet your dear friends.” As Elena stepped next to Tita, the citrus scent from Elena’s skin was even stronger. Tita loved the intoxicating scent. It drove her wild. She cleared her throat, realizing she was absently staring at Elena’s bosom.

“Ahem… Where is Aurelia’s villa?” Tita asked, keeping her eyes on Elena’s eyes.

“It is about a half hour walk east of the city walls.”

“Oh, it is a little far… Even for poor Remo.”

“Do not worry. He has carried heavier things. And at this hour with the hot, bright sun, the road will be empty. And Remo is quick on his feet. For you and the others, you will always have protection when walking to the villa, especially at night. Tacitus or one of the other bodyguards will accompany you. It is Aurelia’s first rule.”

“How many bodyguards does she have?”

“Currently five, plus Tacitus.”

Tita nodded. “And you manage things also for Aurelia?”

“Naturally. We have a few managers. Lucretia is the main scheduler. She is gruff and precise, but you will get used to her. Normally, Aurelia stays here to coordinate tavern activities. But since we were waiting for you to arrive at the tavern, Aurelia recommended that I stay here to meet you first.”

“Why did Aurelia want to do that?” Tita asked, genuinely curious.

“Aurelia and I discussed the possibility that your dancing friends might be in Pompeii today. Aurelia and I were in agreement that it would be good if I met them, to learn about you from their perspective and how your journey with them went. And also to see if your friends might be travelling back to Rome later or if they wanted to stay in Pompeii for a few days.

“And mostly because Aurelia wants me to start your training right away. Aurelia is very anxious to make sure you receive good training so you can get to work quickly. You see, Aurelia has high hopes for you because your cousin Claudia constantly promoted you to Aurelia…” Elena smiled. “So you can thank your cousin for all the attention you will receive.” Elena laughed. “But meeting you, I understand Claudia’s love for you.” Elena caressed Tita’s shoulder.

“Thank you, maestra.” Tita felt proud of Elena’s compliments. She was especially touched by her cousin’s enthusiasm. Tita hoped she would make them all proud of her.

Elena took Tita’s hands and paused to look at the dark large freckles on her arms, and then on her face. Tita realized she had not covered her face with her shawl.

“Your freckles are generally like this?” Elena asked calmly, looking at Tita with a steady gaze.

Tita turned red. “Yes,” she said quietly, as she covered her mouth and nose with her shawl again. “I have them everywhere, except the bottom of my feet and the palm of my hands.”

“Good! They are quite lovely! I know you hate your skin now, and you wish you were normal like everyone else. But you have been given a gift from the gods. You may think it is a curse because your skin makes you different. And I know from Claudia that many have commented negatively on your freckles, or with disgust, or fear that you have a type of leprosy. But those are all foolish comments. They do not reflect the true value of your skin or your value as a beautiful young woman.

“There is nothing wrong in being different. We are all a little different. You have light skin; I have dark skin. You have spots, I do not. Tacitus has dark brown skin. We have two girls who have very black skin, so black it is almost blue-“

“Really?” interrupted Tita. “They must look very beautiful!”

“They are very beautiful. Now, most women have skin color ranging from tan to white, like your skin. Some skin is dry, or oily, or smooth, or rough, or wrinkled. Some skin has spots, or pimples or blemishes or birth stains. There is a great variety of skin, just like animal hide has an infinite variety of colors, hairs or textures. Some insects are green or yellow or red or brown or black. And as you well know, skin changes as you get older. So skin is a dynamic characteristic. Do you know, there are some people who are completely white and have no skin or hair color at all?”

“Really?” asked Tita, amazed.

“Yes. It is a rare condition, but it can happen. And it is fine. Such differences in skin color do not mean leprosy. So ignore and forget those hasty judgments. Do not give those negative comments any value. Let them fall off you like dust. Remember you always have a choice in how you let words affect you. You should only value comments when they offer value to you. You know the true value of your health, your body and yourself. Your gift makes you more memorable. Eventually you will learn to love your skin.”

“Thank you…” Tita did not know what else to say, feeling embarrassed, annoyed, intrigued and in awe of Elena’s wisdom and her faith in Tita.

“Oh, do not thank me. Thank your parents. And thank yourself,” said Elena with a grin.

Tita smiled at the small joke. Elena bent down to pick up a leather pouch on the bench where she had been sitting. She slung the pouch over her neck and shoulder, so that it hung in front of her.

“Water,” explained Elena. “At the villa, you will be given one of these for yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“It is necessary here, especially in the summer. Come. Tacitus, we’ll see you tonight. Take good care.”

“Good bye, Tacitus.” said Tita meekly, slightly waving to him.

Tacitus gently growled and Tita sensed he could be much warmer and gentler than he appeared.

Elena took hold of Tita’s right hand and guided her out the tavern. They found Caecilia standing outside as she was before in the hot, bright sun.

“Caecilia, we are going to meet some dancers,” said Elena. “We will be at the villa later. Before your shift ends, make sure to have Remo get Catilius, so Catilius can accompany you, in case you do not have someone to take to the villa. Doria will probably leave soon with her client to go to the villa, and Ezra and Valeria will be coming here later from Herculaneum. So Tacitus must stay here.”

“Yes Elena. Understood. Good luck!”

“Thank you… You may go inside and stay at the window. It is too hot now. Later, around the tenth hour, when there are more people on the street and the sun is less bright, you can stay out in the street. But for now, sit, rest and drink.”

“Thank you Elena! Bye, Tita. See you later!” Caecilia went inside the tavern with a broad smile.

Elena took Tita’s arm in her arm. “Come. We can walk this way to the forum…” Elena and Tita proceeded west on the hot, bright street.

“I did not see Doria,” noted Tita.

“She was in the back cubicle with her patron. The cubicles are through the wall opening and to the right, behind the ovens. Tomorrow you will see them. They are small, but two people can stay without feeling too oppressed… Tell me about your trip. It must have been a very new experience for you.”

“Oh yes. It was quite a journey. I had travelled with my family from Gergovia to Massalia a few times. But I had never travelled alone.” Tita noticed how Elena walked with a flowing movement. She felt like she was being pulled by Elena’s graceful walking. “It was a long journey. But I am very grateful for the experience. I learned a lot of things!”

“Good! It is excellent you have that attitude. I imagine Quintus and Sextus treated you well?”

“Oh yes. They were very respectful. I have never had the honor to be guarded and treated so well.”

“Good. They have worked as bodyguards for many years for Aurelia. Tacitus knew their father, who fought as a soldier in Carthage. Aurelia trusts them with her life. All the women they have accompanied for Aurelia have praised them. I am glad to hear they maintain their level of service.”

“They helped me many times. We had to fight off a few bandits and animals, especially between Genua and Pisae. But they are very skilled with the sword. And they are exceptional at hunting and fishing. They found fish, quail or rabbits anywhere when we were between towns. I very much enjoyed their company. They really made the trip easy for me. And they had amazing stories to tell about their days as soldiers. And I especially liked their funny bantering. I did not know brothers could be funny one moment and argumentative the next.”

“As brothers they are inseparable. Even though Sextus is eight years older than Quintus, they like to stay together. Things will change in a few years when Sextus retires to his farm and family. But for now we are lucky to have them… So they accompanied you to Rome?”

“Yes, from Gergovia to Rome. They accompanied Claudia and me to Massalia, and then once Claudia took her boat, we went back north to the via Aurelia and they took me all the way to Rome. We travelled mostly by mule, but we made many stops. We had five mules, and two were for goods they transported for others. They brought some packages from Massalia to Genua, then other goods from Genua to Dertona, and so on. I was amazed at how many merchants and tradesmen they knew during the trip. In each major town we would spend about two days to rest and resupply, also so they could greet all the local people they knew. I was very surprised and comforted.”

“Yes, they wisely combine their escort service with their transport service. Knowing the local merchants affords them extra security and better treatment in the towns.”

“I thought the same thing. It felt like we were going from one group of friends to another at each town. It was very enjoyable that we were not complete strangers. We actually escorted two older ladies from Dertona to Placentia. They were relatives of a family in Dertona that Quintus knew. They rode the extra mules.”

Tita kept pace with Elena’s fluid walking.

“And how did you meet the Bactrian dance troupe?” Elena asked.

“Oh, Quintus was the one who saw them first. In Pisae, the night we first arrived, he went to see a friend and on the way back, he saw them performing in the forum. So he came running to get Sextus and me. We were eating at a tavern…” Tita laughed at herself. “It was a funny moment because I was very tired and grumpy that day, since my bleeding had started. So Quintus and Sextus were pleading with me and I just did not want to go. I was really exhausted. But then Sextus insisted, saying they would leave me in the tavern alone. And I did not like that because it was also a brothel, and not the best level. And the patrons were getting drunk. So I went with them to the forum, which fortunately was not too far. And then… I was shocked.”

Elena turned to her, smiling. “Oh?”

“I mean, I had always known I favored women. I am sure Claudia has told you already. But sometimes I had doubts. I guess because I am still a virgin. With Quintus and Sextus, I could see myself enjoying either of them, or kissing them anyway. They were both appealing and I liked their company a lot. But it was kind of a weak idea. I mean, seeing an erection does not really excite me, though I know it excites Claudia. So when I thought about being with them, I felt only very mild excitement and curiosity.

“But, when I saw the Bactrian dancers, it was like lightning from Jupiter had started a fire in my belly. I had never felt so excited. The way they danced and moved, especially Zina and Zine. It was completely amazing and very erotic. I thought I knew about attraction, but I realized I had only felt embers to the fire they made me feel.”

“Very good!” exclaimed Elena, smiling broadly.

“Really? Why is that good?”

“Because the more you experience and understand sensuality, the easier it will be for you to encourage that same feeling in others.”

“Oh I do not know Elena. I feel so clumsy in this respect. Whenever Claudia lets me dance, she laughs at me. And I laugh too because I am so clumsy. I think I am the least sensual person I know.”

“That is normal. One always feels clumsy when learning new things. But sensuality is not something you learn by imitation or by reading. It is something you learn by feeling. So the more you feel it, the more you understand how it affects your body, and how your body expresses itself in response. Because sensuality is about feeling and expressing with your body, not with your mind or heart…”

“Oh,” Tita stopped walking to think about this. “So sensuality is like learning a sport?”

“To some degree yes. But sport involves actively thinking about your body. Sensuality has almost no thought at all. It really is about feeling with your body. Remember what music does to you. Different music can make you want to dance in different ways. I am sure you have felt that impulse.”

“Yes, certainly. I love music.”

“Excellent, that is a very important first step. Now, sensuality is similar to that impulse to dance, but with excitement added in, excitement that your body wants to express. Not you, but your body.”

Tita noticed how Elena emphasized very strongly ‘your body’. “My body is my greatest asset,” she said, half-smiling at her recollection of what Elena had said earlier.

“Excellent Tita!” Elena kissed Tita on the cheek. Tita blushed a deep red, and Elena laughed heartily. Tita joined in, giggling. “That blush is your body feeling,” added Elena. “Remember that.”

Elena took a sip of water from her pouch and offered the pouch to Tita. Tita followed Elena’s lead and took a short sip also, excited at tasting what Elena had just touched with her lips. This water had more orange juice than lemon. Tita liked the taste and took another sip. She found herself staring at Elena’s lips, wanting to kiss them.

“It’s sweet,” she said absently, then woke up from her reverie and gave the pouch back, a bit embarrassed that she was grinning dumbly at Elena.

“Yes. As the water warms up in the sun, it is not as refreshing. But the sweetness gives a little energy and refreshment. As for what you feel now, your desire to kiss me- Remember, that is sensuality.”

Tita felt even more embarrassed, and annoyed by Elena’s uncanny ability to perceive everything. Elena started walking again, holding Tita’s arm close. Tita kept up with her.

“No doubt you are annoyed. As you should be,” Elena continued in a quiet tone. “That is the normal, correct response. Remember Tita, I am your trainer. So I will test you often. You may feel disrespected, hurt, annoyed or angry. You may even feel pain. But remember I do not have you do things to hurt you out of malice. Everything I ask you to do is to put sunlight on details you have not considered before. So expect to be annoyed many times this week.”

“Do all the girls get annoyed?”

“Of course! If they did not, I would be a terrible trainer.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because the work of a prostitute relies entirely on knowing and understanding in a very profound way your own limits. You must know your feelings and expectations, both for yourself and for when you treat others. By having negative experiences, you learn to understand why those experiences are negative for you. Then you can consider whether to give such experiences value for yourself.

“As I am sure you have thought already, prostitution involves opening yourself and your lovely body to others requests. And doing so with certain grace, positivity, skill and sensuality. So it is important to understand yourself, to analyze what you feel in doing certain activities and then determine what feelings are truly important for you. It is critical that you learn enough about yourself so you can maintain your wonderful sense of self, and most importantly, your self-respect.”

“Ah…” Tita reflected on this for a moment. “Now I understand…. Thank you, Elena. I see I will learn a lot from you. Thank you for being my teacher. Now I understand why Claudia spoke so well of you... I guess I was already an admirer of yours before I started the journey.”

“That is fine. And do not apologize for your feelings. It is good to feel what you feel. Just remember I am your trainer, and while you are a lovely young woman, I cannot love you completely. I can love you as a teacher loves her student, as a confident, as a good friend, as a special sister. But no more.”

“Why do you say a ‘special’ sister?”

“Because we will do sensual exercises together.”

“Oh…” Tita flushed bright red, as she felt her ‘sensuality’ fire up. “Have you trained all the girls this way?”

“Of course. Especially those who prefer men and have never really considered women erotically. Aurelia has male and female clients, and it is important to have some sensual taste for both sexes.”

“So I will need to train with men also?”

“Naturally, but you will maintain your virginity. There are other ways to please men. Generally speaking, the training is easier for women who prefer women, because they tend to already have some experience in pleasing women. And men are easier to please than women, so the training for pleasing men is also easier.”

“Ah. And do the girls…” Tita paused. “…like the exercises?” Tita blushed even more deeply.

Elena turned to her and smiled. “I have had no complaints so far.” Elena laughed and Tita giggled nervously, still blushing. They walked in silence for a moment as Tita understood Elena was letting her fire quiet down.

“Do all the girls get desires for you?” Tita asked, reflecting on her own desires for Elena’s skin.

“Very good Tita. You ask excellent questions. Yes, I have that gift from the gods. My gift is to make women desire me. It is a gift just like your spots. And just like your spots are a burden for you, my gift was a burden that I did not like when I was young. Because I too wanted to be like most other woman and prefer men to women. But now I love my gift deeply, because it is part of who I am. But, like any particular thing, my gift has good and bad aspects about it…”

“Jealousy?” asked Tita.

Elena stopped to look at Tita. “Very good, Tita. It is very, very good that you are quick to see the good and bad aspects. That quickness of mind will serve you very well...” Elena started walking again, still holding Tita’s arm. Tita walked with the Elena, trying to match her flowing movements. They arrived at the intersection with a street Tita recognized as the cardo. They waited for a few chariots to pass by, and then crossed the street.

“So, getting back to your friends,” continued Elena. “I imagine you spent a lot of time watching the Bactrians dance.”

“Oh yes, they were mesmerizing. Sextus and Quintus were always joking that I was more taken by them then they were.” Tita laughed.

“How did you find them in Rome?” Elena asked.

“Oh it was a coincidence. We last saw them in Alsium, and then the next day we arrived in Rome. The brothers took me to an inn and stayed with me that night. The next morning, we said goodbye because they had to find a few merchants for goods they needed to deliver to Ostia. So I was walking about Rome and I just happened to find the dancers camped near the Domus Aurea. They are clearing the area for new amphitheater- a very big one it seems!”

“Ah, so the gods gave you a gift.”

“Oh yes, very much so! After I met them, I went right away to Fortuna’s temple to give thanks. But they were very happy to see me. I guess they recognized me from all the times we saw them- I mean Quintus, Sextus and myself. We saw them six times- in Pisae, Vada Volterrana, Populonia, Cosae, Castrum Novum and Alsium. I guess we were following each other on the via Aurelia.

“Anyway I had lunch with them, actually with Zarina first. And told her I was going to Pompeii, and she said they were going to Pompeii also in a few days. So she invited me to stay with them. I do not know why did that. After all, we really did not know each other. But I guess she thought I was foolish to travel alone. Or maybe because I had seen them many times. So I accepted to stay with them and then Zarina let me meet the others. Then I went to a courier service and used most of the currency Sextus had given me from Aurelia to pay for the message to Claudia, letting her know it would take a few more days to get to Pompeii. It was a big expense, but I did not want to worry Claudia or any of you.”

“You did the right thing Tita. Aurelia had always intended that the money Sextus gave you should be used for emergency communications. So you acted correctly.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, before we meet your friends, I need to know a few specific and important details. Prepare to be annoyed and embarrassed.”

“Oh.” Tita braced herself for the details she imagined Elena would want to know.

“I imagine you told the group you are a virgin?”

Tita felt slightly embarrassed. “Yes. On the first day, during our lunch together, I told them about my new work here and that I am a virgin.”

“Good. You did the right thing. And I imagine Zarina told everyone not to touch your vagina.”

“Yes…” Tita was amazed. “How did you know that?”

Elena smiled, “Experience… And did the women respect Zarina’s orders?”

“Yes… But I do not understand…”

“If Zarina had let you lose your virginity with the group, you would have become her responsibility.” Elena explained. “Since she knew you were coming to work here as a prostitute, she would not want to be accused of damaging your reputation or your status. It would be bad publicity for her group, and she would not want to risk that.”

Tita looked at Elena. “Zina explained something similar to me. But I do not understand how you could know all that so quickly by yourself.”

“Experience,” Elena repeated. “We deal with many situations here. And I have dealt with similar situations in the past.”

“How old are you?” asked Tita, in awe of Elena’s deductive powers.

Elena smiled demurely. “That is another one of my secrets. I have a few.” Elena grinned. “I will just say that I look much younger than I am.”

“Do you have magical powers?”

Elena laughed. “If you wish to think so, I will not be offended. So, continuing on. Did all of you sleep together in one large tent? Or there were separate sleeping tents?”

“They have a large tent for night meetings and discussions with all the dancers. And then after the night meeting, we go to the sleeping tents. The women with husbands and children sometimes shared their tent with other women, since the husbands are often away. I slept with Zina and Zine. They had their own tent that they shared with me.”

“And the nightly ritual you mentioned-  this happened in the meeting tent?”

“Yes.”

“So you met them on your first full day in Rome. That was when?”

“About two weeks ago. We spent three nights in Rome, then a night in Aricia, in Antium, in Setia, Tarracinae, Formiae, Sinuessa, Capua, and then two nights in Neapolis and last night in Heraculaneum.”

“Very good Tita. You have an excellent memory for places.”

“Well, Claudia says I am kind of like a navigator. But in reality, I wrote down all the names of the places for the whole trip. I wanted to keep a little list of the places, so I would not forget.”

“Aaah, very, very, very good Claudia. You have excellent habits. Keep up the good work!”

Tita smiled at the compliments. “Thank you, maestra.”

“So… Wait, let us stop here for a moment.” Elena turned into a side street on the right side and stood in the shade provided by the walls of the west side of the street. “We are close to the forum, but I still need to ask you a few things. Here, drink first.”

Elena handed Tita the leather pouch and Tita took another sip of orange water, noting it was warmer this time. But it was still refreshing from the hot day and sun. Tita felt a faint breeze blow down the walled narrow empty street. Elena took advantage to let the breeze cool her back and arms and face. Tita followed suit, appreciating Elena’s way of taking advantage of small gifts of nature.

“So the nightly ritual happened in the large tent. Zina and Zine would start the ritual? Or Zarina commanded the ritual?”

Tita blushed. “I think the original idea was Zine’s, because she is especially fascinated with my face and skin. So they both asked Zarina’s permission earlier in the day, and Zarina had told them not to play with my vagina. And Zarina gave this order to all the other women too. Zarina even said to them to ignore me even if I got too excited and want to have sex. Zina told me that, like you said, Zarina wanted to deliver me intact. But….”

“What?”

“I thought that I would still be a virgin even if I had sex with women.”

“We will discuss virginity another time. This is a very patriarchal society, and sex between women is discounted, or even considered immoral by some.”

“I remember Claudia mentioned this to me at some point, about the immorality. But is it? I thought Sappho’s Ode to Aphrodite shows that it is acceptable…”

“Excellent Tita! You even know about Sappho! Claudia did not say you were so well read.”

Tita blushed. “Well, I have read a little Greek,” she said quietly.

“Good! We will talk about your virginity in the next days. Getting back to the nightly ritual the Bactrian women did. How did they treat your skin? With caresses only?”

Tita blushed more deeply, remembering the nights of fiery excitement she felt with the Bactrians adoring her. “Yes… First it was just caresses. Then in Setia, Zina and Zine wanted to kiss my skin also. And Zarina approved so long as my vagina was left alone. And so they did caresses and kisses in Setia, Tarracinae, Formiae, Sinuessa. And then in Capua, they started licking also. Ahem.” Tita was already hot and now she felt like she was in an oven. She fanned her face, feeling the blood rush through.

“They licked you during the ritual? Or afterwards when you retired to their sleeping tent?”

“In Capua, Zina and Zine licked me in their tent. Then in these last few nights, they licked me during the ritual also.” Tita slightly groaned from the excitement of the memories.

“They were the only ones to lick you?”

“Yes… Oh, and they used olive oil sometimes for massages… Uuf.”

“Very good. Did they have sex in front of you?”

“Yes.”

“All of them? Or just Zina and Zine?”

“Most times it was just Zina and Zine, because I slept in their tent. They often had sex, almost every night. But some times the women had sex in the meeting tent. The last night in Rome, the whole group was practicing dancing with olive oil on the skin and the night was a little cold, and Zina, Zine and Roxana, one of the other dancers, got very excited. They started having sex, and then it happened that everyone got excited and had some sex.”

“Interesting!” Elena exclaimed. “And did you stimulate yourself during that episode?”

“Oh…” Tita said breathlessly, feeling her excitement from the memory make her heart race faster. “Yes. I had touched my vagina before, but not for long. I mean I had never achieved much except some mild pleasure. I guess I did not really feel the need for it. Before the trip, I mean. But that night I was very, very excited. So very excited. So I really wanted to continue. Whew.” Tita fanned herself. “That was the first time I felt something different.”

“You had your first orgasm?”

Tita felt even more flushed in the face, and she used her shawl to fan herself. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Good!” Elena smiled broadly. “Congratulations!”

“Yes?” Tita looked at Elena, surprised by her enthusiasm.

“Certainly! Everyone is free to enjoy their own bodies as much as they please and everyone should experience orgasms. Orgasms are good, healthy, positive experiences. They can replenish you in many ways. Now, did Zina and Zine let you caress their skin?”

“Yes.”

“And their genitals?”

“Eh…” Tita kept fanning herself, feeling terribly embarrassed, and also excited to be with Elena, smelling the earthy citrus scent of Elena’s skin. But Tita saw Elena had a neutral, unwavering look. “Ahem….” Tita tried to keep calm.

“Just be honest,” said Elena quietly.

Tita hesitated. “Yes… Is that bad?”

“No, that is good!” Elena smiled. “It seems Zarina did you a big favor, by keeping your genitals off limits while letting you explore the genitals of others.”

“But… I so wanted to... be explored,” said Tita, as she felt her heart pounding against her chest with fiery excitement, her neck and face ever more hot.

“I am sure you did. And that is normal and good. You would be surprised how many women might not feel that urge, for many different reasons. So, it is all good. Excellent. Now, four more details. Did the women encourage you to touch yourself?”

“No… Except for that night with everyone. Zarina told everyone not to encourage me to do so.”

“Perfect. Then we owe Zarina a beautiful gift for keeping you ‘intact’.” Elena smiled.

“Could I have touched myself more often?”

“Certainly! Zarina probably did not want you to be tempted, so she told the others not to encourage you. In this way, if you touched yourself, it would be mostly a private choice by you, thereby reducing the risk of accidental sex. I am sure that is what Zarina was trying to avoid. She wanted to minimize your exposure to temptations with others.

“But do not worry, Tita. We will practice the vagina in a few days, but again, without affecting your virginity. Now, the second detail. Did you caress your skin during your time with them?”

“A little. But not much. They did most of the caressing to me. And I wanted to caress them.”

“I can easily imagine.” Elena smiled. “But you did not have much desire to caress yourself?”

“Well, I loved how they caressed me. They gave me a lot of pleasure.”

“Understood… And the third detail. Did you kiss them?”

“Yes.” Tita continued fanning herself.

“Only Zina and Zine? Or also some of the others like Roxana?”

Tita cleared her throat. “Mostly Zina and Zine kissed me, and they let me kiss their skin. A few times Roxana would join them and sometimes she would kiss me also, especially on the neck and back…” Tita had difficulty trying to keep calm. She realized it was very exciting to talk about her memories with Elena. She had an overwhelming desire to kiss Elena. “Ahem...” She noticed Elena did not smile but looked at her quite intently.

“And the last detail. Did you lick their skin or vaginas?”

“Uuuuh…” Tita exhaled deeply, fanning her face as she felt her blood rushing through her. “Their skin, mostly. And a few times Zine’s vagina. But most often I licked Zina’s vagina. Zine liked to watch me lick Zina…. Uuf.” Tita felt jumpy and her nerves were on fire. She fanned herself furiously.

“Understood. It sounds like you enjoyed a lot of pleasure and gave pleasure to others. Excellent!” Elena smiled broadly, squeezing Tita’s shoulder. “Good for you, Tita! You chose well and did well! You did some good training already, which I had hoped you would. Thank you! My job will be easier.”

“Um…” Tita was still enthralled by her memories. “Yes?” she replied absently.

“Certainly! So, what did you learn with all your touching, kissing and licking of others?”

Tita paused, feeling like she was going to explode from her excitement, embarrassment and heat. She looked at Elena, half smiling. “That I very much love women.”

Elena laughed heartily, putting a hand on Tita’s shoulder. “As you should! Loving women is wonderful, as you have learned. I can confirm this, speaking from long experience!” Elena continued laughing.

“Yes…” Tita felt like she was melting as she fanned herself quickly, the sweat pouring down her face. She realized she had done well not to put on any face decorations.

“Here.” Elena gave Tita the leather water pouch again. “Drink before you are consumed by sensual fire. Any more sensuality from you and Vesuvius will get jealous.” Elena nodded in the direction of the volcano.

Tita giggled and agitatedly pulled out the stop on the pouch and drank with gusto. Elena let her drink some more and they stayed in a shade for a bit longer. Tita wiped her face with her shawl and exhaled deeply to calm her breathing. After a while she felt calmer and cooler and recovered her face with her shawl.

“Good. Your fire in your belly has quieted down?” asked Elena.

Tita sighed with relief. “Yes maestra. Thank you.”

“You have excellent appetite Tita. You passed an important test. Now, let us go find your friends.”