( NOT MY STORY )
I could feel my palms going sweaty as I walked up the driveway toward the house. It wasn't just the wealth and luxury of the estate that intimidated me, though the opulence would have been enough to scare off less determined suitors than I. No, it was something entirely different that made my heart race inside my chest as I approached the grand front door. It was the task I had in front of me: to ask a man I barely knew for his only daughter's hand in marriage.
Falling for Camila wasn't a choice: she was a force of nature that sucked me into her orbit the moment I laid eyes on her. Camila was an Instagram influencer. Not the kind you might think of, the kind who's famous for nothing and begs for followers anywhere they can get them. Camilla commanded attention the way that most people could only dream of receiving it. With soft and bountiful blonde hair, tan skin as smooth as sin, and a body tighter than a drum, Camila could post a single photo lounging in the Mykonos sun and earn 100,000 likes within the hour.
Her followers were desperate for her, and so was I.
I was no stranger to social media fame either. I'd started out on TikTok after graduating from veterinary school, making silly videos where I danced and shared fun facts about taking care of your furry friends. My social media blew up, and before I knew it I'd amassed a modest 1.8 million followers who would tune in daily to watch me shake my thing (and learn about the importance of brushing your dog's teeth, of course).
It helped that I was a pretty handsome guy myself, with auburn hair and a short ruddy beard that drove my followers wild. I made the most of my good genes and cowboy-next-door good looks, spending hours in the gym working to build a chest like a shelf and biceps that would make a grown man cry.
I could have any woman I wanted. But I wanted Camila.
When Camila first reached out to me about doing a collab, I thought I'd won the fucking lottery. It wasn't long before our conversation went from flirting to full-on sexting. When we finally met in person for the first time over coffee, we were only five minutes in before Camila pulled me into the bathroom and fucked the brains out of me. It wasn't just that she was beautiful--something about her very presence made her irresistible. One taste of Camila and I was hooked.
With our six-month anniversary fast approaching, I was ready to lock things down. I was 28 years old, and it was time for me to get started on building a family. Now, being from Texas, my dad raised me with an old-fashioned sense of manhood. I knew a gentleman asked his girlfriend's father for his blessing before he popped the question to the girl herself.
The only problem was Camila's father.
Don't get me wrong--Dominic had been nothing but warm and decent to me the couple of times I'd seen him, over lunch or at Camila's 26th birthday party. But the man was intimidating by nature. He was 6'5", for one, and carried a decent amount of muscle on his bulky frame despite being in his mid-50s. I was used to being the biggest guy in the room, but Dominic almost had me beat.
Still, I was willing to do whatever it took to be with the girl of my dreams, so I swallowed my fear and grabbed the lion-shaped door knocker, pounding it three times against the heavy wooden door. I could hear the pounding echoing inside throughout the empty house.
I took a look around the outside of the estate, my eyes roaming over the ornate molding and lush greenery that surrounded the entrance. I'd never been to Dominic's home before, so I hadn't really known what to expect. It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't seen a single person on the property. No gardener, no service workers running around, nothing. I had to wonder: how did an estate this size run without constant maintenance?
The door opened to reveal a rugged young man in a traditional butler uniform. He looked to be around my age, with buzzed blonde hair and nervous-looking eyes.
"How can I help you?" he asked.
I noticed him shifting uncomfortably, his left hand tugging at the side of his shirt. Maybe the clothes didn't fit right? They were certainly tight enough.
"I'm Samuel Finn. I'm here to see Mr. Wells? He should be expecting me."
The guy nodded. "Of course. Right this way, Mr. Finn."
I followed after him into the home, past the grand staircase in the foyer and into the living room. I looked around the house, my head spinning at the collection of art and intricate woodwork that filled the mansion. Okay, maybe the opulence was just a little bit intimidating.
As I followed the young man into the living room, I noticed for the first time a strip of black around his neck. It was located just above the collar of his shirt, so closely aligned to it that I hadn't noticed it at first. It seemed to be made of leather, but I wasn't close enough to tell. And was that a glint of silver I saw tucked into his shirt collar?
Before I had a chance to take a closer look, he came to a stop and gestured me to the couch.
"Have a seat. Mr. Wells will be in shortly."
I sat down on the couch as the man scurried away. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to steady my nerves.
"You've got this," I whispered to myself. "He's gonna say yes. Just be a man, look him in the eye, and tell him what you want. He'll respect that."
My eyes shot open at the sound of heavy footsteps coming from the hall. I got to my feet as Dominic entered the room, a glass of bourbon in his hand. He was dressed in a pair of khakis and a polo shirt with two buttons open, exposing a tuft of salt and pepper chest hair that matched the hair on his head.
"Mr. Wells, thank you for seeing me," I said politely as I reached my hand out.
"Nonsense," said Dominic, grabbing my hand and shaking it with a death grip. "I've always got time when it comes to my little Camila."
I tried my best not to wince as Dominic squeezed the life out of my hand. It was the oldest tactic in the book: intimidation through handshake. I knew I couldn't show weakness in front of this man, not so soon. I kept my face neutral as I looked into Dominic's eyes with what I hoped was a look of friendly respect.
"Though of course, I was surprised you didn't just join Camila and me for lunch later," Dominic said as he prowled over to the bar in the corner of the room, picking up the decanter and pouring another bourbon. "She should be here in an hour. You could have dropped by then and joined us."
I cleared my throat. "That's actually why I wanted to meet with you, sir. I was hoping to ask you something," I said. "Oh, I'm all right," I said as Dominic held the bourbon out to me.
"Nonsense," Dominic said as he placed the drink firmly in my hand. "Don't make a man drink alone in his own home, son."
I nodded as I lifted the drink to my lips and took a tentative sip, suppressing the urge to grimace. I was not used to drinking hard liquor straight
"Now, what did you want to ask me?" said Dominic, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I felt a strange sensation in my body at the feeling of Dominic's hand. The rough fingers digging into my skin felt at once comforting and intimidating, throwing me off balance. I cleared my throat, trying to center myself.
"I love Camila, sir. I know that we've only been together for six months, but I don't think I need to tell you how special she is."
"No, you don't," said Dominic, patting me on the back with his massive paw. "She's a special girl, and it takes a certain kind of man to handle her."
"That's why I'm here today. I wanted... I wanted to ask you for your blessing. I want to make Camila my wife."
Dominic raised his eyebrows. "Oh, do you now?" he asked, taking a sip of his bourbon.
I nodded resolutely. "Yes, sir. I know I can make her happy. I love her and I would do absolutely anything for her."
Dominic stared at me without saying anything, so I cleared my throat and continued.
"Obviously, the ultimate decision is up to her, but I wanted to come to you first because I believe in traditional values."
Dominic smirked. "I appreciate it, son."
He set his bourbon down and shoved his hand in his pocket, walking over to the back window to look outside. "You know, you're not the first man to come to me with this idea in his head. No, Camila has had many suitors who've gotten their heads filled with notions regarding spending the rest of their lives with her. Each of them has sadly disappointed her."
He turned to me and folded his arms, regarding me skeptically. "What makes you think that you're different from all the rest?"
"Because I love her," I said simply. "I love her more than life itself. And I can offer her security. I just bought a house in the valley, with the money from social media and my job at the vet clinic. She can move in with me, I can take care of her."
Dominic grunted. "Camila doesn't need your money. She comes from plenty of it, as you can very well see."
"Then I can offer her loyalty," I said quickly. "I will always be faithful to her, I can assure you. I'll do anything for her."
"Anything?" Dominic said with a raised eyebrow.
I nodded. "I promise you on my life."
Dominic grinned, baring his teeth in a way that was somehow both menacing and reassuring.
"Now, that's what I like to hear. Well, son, I think that all sounds very fine. Very fine, indeed. I would love to give you my blessing to marry my daughter."
My face lit up. "Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!" I drained my bourbon triumphantly, my face growing flush as I felt his heart leap with joy.
"There is just one thing I need you to do for me, first," said Dominic as he took the glass from me and set it on the counter.
I stared at him quizzically.
"As we've established, my daughter is a very special woman. She's been burned before, more times than you can count. And if there's one thing I won't tolerate, it's my little girl getting hurt."
I opened my mouth quickly to protest. "I promise you, I would never-"
"Yes, yes, I know," said Dominic, lifting his hand to silence me. "But words are just that: words. I need to know that you're strong enough to take care of Camila the way that she needs."
"What do you want me to do?" I asked.
Dominic took a sip of his bourbon, staring at me curiously. "Did Camila ever tell you I was a wrestler?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No, she didn't. Were you professional, or...?"
"No, nothing like that," said Dominic. "But I did win my fair share of wrestling matches in high school and college. It's been years now since I've been on the mat, but... yes, I think that would be perfect."
"What would be perfect?" I asked, confused.
"Why, wrestling, my boy!" said Dominic with a hearty laugh. "I think that's a fine show of strength, indeed. If you can pin me down for... let's say, five full seconds, then I give you my blessing. Does that sound fair?"
My jaw dropped as I stared at him in confusion. "Are you serious?"
Dominic frowned at me. "When it comes to Camila? You bet your ass I am, boy."
"I don't know..." I said slowly. "I mean, this seems a little weird. Wrestling my girlfriend's father...?"
"Your father-in-law, if you play your cards right," said Dominic. "Come on, what do you have to lose? I'm an old man and I haven't wrestled in years. You should be able to beat me, no problem."
I stared at him. It was true, as buff as Dominic was, I was in the prime of my life. I worked out every day, I could bench twice my body weight...
"All right," I said. "But what happens if I lose?"
"Then you don't get my blessing," said Dominic matter-of-factly. "And let me be clear: if I don't give my blessing, you don't marry Camila. There will be no secret wedding, no eloping in Fiji. You and Camila will be over."
I furrowed my brow. "Sir... I don't understand. Why can't you just let me marry your daughter? I'm a good man, I love Camila-"
"Oh, son... nothing is free in this world," said Dominic, putting his arm around me and tightly squeezing my shoulder. "We all need to prove ourselves sooner or later. Now, do you accept my offer?"
I frowned. This was not at all what I'd anticipated. Sure, I expected I might have to do a bit of groveling, but this was completely out of left field. Still, what other choice did I have? Camila was my whole world, and without her father's blessing, there would be no wedding.
"All right," I said. "Do we do it here, or...?"
Dominic bellowed with laughter. "No, my boy. Far too many breakable heirlooms in the living room. No, I have a private gym in the left wing of the house where we can have our little bout. Joey can escort you there and help you get changed. Joey!"
I turned to the door as the young man from earlier came in, his head bowed subserviently.
"Yes da- sir?"
"Take Samuel here to the gym and help him get ready. I'll meet you there shortly."
"Of course... sir," said Joey. "Come with me," he said to me.
I followed after him, my mind spinning at the strangeness of the predicament in which I'd found myself. I knew that rich people were eccentric, but wrestling for my girlfriend's hand in marriage? This was next level.
I followed Joey into the private gym, my eyes widening as they took in the expansive space. There was a large area in the center of the room covered in mats, with a sea of weights and machines sitting in front of a mirror against the back wall. No wonder Dominic was in such good shape. This place was like a stadium.
Joey beckoned me into a small changing room on the side of the gym.
"There's a singlet in there for you to change into. Mr. Wells will be out shortly."
I entered the room to see a wrestler's singlet hanging from the wall. I picked it up and held it against my body. I supposed this was one of Mr. Wells' old wrestling singlets from college, as it was a bit smaller than Mr. Wells was now. I just hoped it was big enough to fit me. I wasn't confident in my ability to wrestle in the clothes I was wearing now.
I took off my clothes, stripping down to my boxer briefs before pulling my legs through the singlet. Luckily the singlet fit, although just barely. I was glad no one else would be present during our little wrestling match, as the Lycra was snug against my muscular glutes and left little to the imagination regarding my junk. I moved my package to the side, trying to make the imprint of my dick as inconspicuous as possible before walking back out into the gym.
Dominic was already in his singlet, standing in the center of the mat with his arms folded imposingly. His singlet fit much better than mine, although it was still tight against his body. I could see his barrel chest and tree trunk thighs bulging out underneath the fabric. My eyes avoided his bulge like the plague, but I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of what looked to be a pretty impressive endowment. His curly chest hair was pouring out over the top, making him look like an old-fashioned strongman.
"Very nice, son. Very nice indeed. Come join me on the mat," said Dominic.
I walked towards him, conscious of the singlet riding up my ass. I resisted the urge to fidget with it.
"I always shake hands before a match," said Dominic. "Sportsmanship."
He gave me another death grip handshake, but this time I was more prepared for it. I squeezed Dominic's massive hand as hard as I could, staring resolutely into the older man's eyes.
"For Camila," I said.
Dominic nodded. "For Camila."
Joey walked forward holding a whistle. "On three," he said.
Dominic stood in front of me with his hands raised slightly in front of him, staring into my eyes with a look of pure focus. I matched his pose, my heart pounding frantically in my chest. I tried not to feel like a gazelle about to be mauled.
"Three... two... one..."
The second Joey blew the whistle we lunged at each other. Dominic grabbed the back of my neck with his thick fingers as I went for his shoulders, using my body weight to try and shove him over. While he was slightly taller than me, we were about evenly matched when it came to weight, so I was able to push him back a few feet. Dominic kept his grip on the back of my neck, using a surprising amount of strength to spin me around and shove me forward. I stumbled forward a few feet but kept my balance, then turned quickly to face him again.
"Not bad for an old man, huh?" chuckled Dominic as he slapped his burly chest.
I kept my eyes trained on Dominic, watching and waiting for the next attack. I couldn't let myself get distracted, there was too much at stake.
I was right to be vigilant. Dominic suddenly lunged at me with a speed I wouldn't have expected from the old man. He careened into me like a truck, his arm wrapping around my waist as he tackled me to the ground.
I got the wind knocked out of me as I slammed into the ground, all 200+ pounds of Dominic's weight landing on top of me. Dominic's muscular arm slid from around my waist to try and slip around my neck. I needed to act quickly before the man had me pinned to the ground. I thrashed around as hard as I could, beating my forehead into the man's rock-hard barrel chest. I tried to slide out from his grasp but his arms held firm, choking my body like vines.
Suddenly I felt Dominic's arm snake underneath mine, grabbing my left arm and pinning it to the ground. Before I knew it, Dominic's other arm had grabbed the back of my neck, trapping me in a half-nelson.
"Agh!" I cried out as Dominic pulled my head into his side, shoving my nose right into the crook of his sweaty armpit.
My nostrils were instantly overwhelmed by Dominic's musk, forcing me to breathe it in straight from the source. The odor emanating from his armpit was so strong I could almost taste it. It was like the smell was driving straight up into my nose and through to my brain. I began getting lightheaded as the heady scent penetrated me like a knife, invading my nostrils as it traveled throughout my body.
I should have been disgusted by this old man's smell. I should have wanted to retch, just like any other guy would have been getting a whiff of his would-be father-in-law's armpit.
But I wasn't. I was surprised to notice the smell wasn't unpleasant at all. It was powerful and overwhelming, to be sure, but not altogether unpleasant.
Kind of nice, actually.
"That's it, boy," Dominic grunted as I struggled helplessly in his grasp. "Just breathe."
I needed to wriggle my way out from underneath him, a part of me knew that. But that didn't seem so important right now. Something about the smell... relaxed me. It was like slipping into a warm bath, feeling the tension leave my body as my mind became unburdened.
"One... two... three..." I heard Joey cry out, his voice sounding small and far away.
I could feel panic eating away at the edge of my brain. But the feeling was dull, muted. It was being edged out by something much stronger. I couldn't help but feel... good. I closed my eyes, breathing Dominic's scent a little deeper as my struggles became weaker and weaker.
I just wanted to smell it. Just for a moment.
"Five!"
Suddenly Dominic released me from his hold, causing me to fall onto my back on the mat. I lay there limply, my glazed eyes staring up at the ceiling in a daze as the burly man lumbered to his feet.
"Not bad, boy," said Dominic. "But not good enough."
I don't know where I was at that moment, but I could barely comprehend his words through the haze in my mind. As I began to come back into my body, I saw Dominic standing over me, staring down at me with a bemused expression on his face. My eyes settled on the prominent bulge in his singlet. His junk jutted out just a few feet above my face, hanging over me like an imminent threat. I stared in wonder at this impressive display of manhood as the reality of what had just happened began to dawn on me.
