Falling for Italy Read online

  He approached the tub quietly, noticing her eyes were closed and a dreamy smile lingered on her flushed face. He watched her lovingly, marveling at the emotions she stirred in his heart, feelings still new, yet so powerful they had to be immortal.

  He put the champagne bottle on the edge of the tub and reached inside his jacket, extracting from the inner pocket one of the two black velvet jewelry boxes he’d tucked there. He took out the long string of glossy pearls he’d bought along with the engagement ring, after hours of following Linda through all the jewelry stores in London. She found a flaw in everything, but when he’d spotted the pearls and pointed them out to her, she had gasped in triumph, declaring them perfect.

  The same story with the ring hunt. Linda told him they had to find something that would suit Sonia perfectly, not just any diamond band. She said Sonia was a practical woman, tough yet feminine, and the ring also needed to match her style of dressing and personality. His eyes had crossed in exasperation every time his sister began counting on her fingers all her demands to the poor clerks, who went to a lot of trouble to show off their best merchandise.

  Finally, Linda—and him, he supposed—had chosen a wide gold band with a square diamond encased in its middle. It wasn’t as delicate or flashy as a usual engagement ring, but it had style and elegance. Besides, it was practical and wouldn’t get in the way when she handled guns, which he was sure she was going to do for the rest of her life. He needed to find her a position as a trainer in Tuscany.

  She sighed deeply, causing the upper half of her breasts to rise from the bubbly water, snapping his thoughts to the present. He couldn’t resist the temptation. He slid the pearls slowly down her bare wet skin, between her breasts, in a caressing motion. She arched her back and her nipples became visible, coated in foam, rising as if to meet the stroking movement of the smooth beads.

  He groaned, his stomach muscles tightening with lust. His manhood became rigid as live steel. She opened her eyes idly and he could swear she’d known all along he was watching her, enjoying herself as she made him yearn for her.

  She smiled and said drowsily, “Have you been here long?”

  He swallowed, sitting on the edge of the tub, the pressure behind his zipper uncomfortably maddening.

  “Long enough.”

  He bent and kissed her deep and long, then dipped a finger into the water, sliding it over her nipple.

  “Your water has gone cold, princess. Better come out,” he told her as she caught her lower lip between her teeth, rubbing her breast against his hand.

  “Okay.”

  She emerged from the water slowly and gracefully, running her hands leisurely down her body to wipe the traces of bath foam. When she was standing, her navel was at the same level with his mouth, and he made good use of that.

  Gasping, she supported her hands on his shoulders and grabbed them tightly when he finally detached his mouth from her. He looked up at her and grinned, his own breath coming out shallowly. Although he burned to make love with her, he wanted to savor the anticipation and make the night memorable.

  “Now, let’s get you dry. I have plans for tonight and the first part doesn’t involve getting naked.”

  She laughed breathlessly, reluctantly letting him go. He left her to towel off and took the champagne bottle in the living room. He removed his coat, placing the pearl necklace on the coffee table, but putting the ring box in his jeans’ pocket.

  He was just about to go in search of two glasses when Sonia appeared from the bedroom wearing a white T-shirt through which he could see absolutely everything, and a pair of white sweatpants.

  He shook his head slowly from side to side, chewing the inside of his cheek.

  “You really do this on purpose, don’t you?”

  “Do what?” she asked, feigning innocence, in contrast to her sly smile, which was a dead giveaway that she indeed knew what he was talking about.

  “Wear skimpy clothes to drive me crazy.”

  “Well, you’ll have to get used to it. What will you do when we’ll be married? I always go around the house naked as a jay in summertime,” she taunted.

  “Then I guess I’ll be on a permanent holiday. Come here,” he urged and sat on the sofa. She came and he took her onto his lap.

  He kissed her gently, and then took the pearl strand from the coffee table.

  “I bought you this. Do you like it?”

  He let the necklace slither onto her palm and she touched it reverently, as if it were a delicate butterfly. She looked up at him, her eyes shining.

  “I love it, baby, it’s wonderful! But I told you, you don’t have to buy me expensive gifts. I’m not used to—”

  “Get used to it,” he cut her off firmly, cupping her chin to make her look at him. “You’re the most precious thing in my life, Sonia. You deserve the best and the best is what you’ll have. It makes me happy to give you beautiful, fine things. Learn to deal with it.”

  She gazed at him for a while, then smiled.

  “Okay. Thank you.” She kissed his lips softly, sliding the pearls over her head to please him. “They’re gorgeous,” she added, looking down at the translucent creamy-white beads between her breasts. “I’ll wear them tomorrow, with the earrings you brought me yesterday.”

  He smiled and adjusted their bodies so he could reach inside his jeans’ pocket.

  “I would also like it very much if you’d wear this too.”

  He opened the small black velvet box, revealing the ring. Her short intake of breath told him he’d taken her by surprise. Her eyes were huge, lighted by the brilliant sparkles of the diamond reflecting in them.

  “Oh, Giovanni!”

  He lowered her onto the sofa, and then knelt in front of her. He’d planned this carefully and wanted to do it properly. Only once in his life he was getting engaged and the woman he’d chosen deserved his best. He’d made mistakes, he’d been short tempered and rough with her, but all that was in the past. Tonight he wanted a new start, with her as the focus of his life.

  His voice sounded roughly emotional to his own ears when he spoke.

  “Sonia, I love you with all my heart. I never thought it was possible for me to fall in love, but I did. I thought I would never want to spend the rest of my life with a single woman. But I do. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Of accepting me as your husband, as the only man in your life, forever?”

  Her gaze was locked with his as he took her left hand and slid the ring on her fourth finger. To his dismay, her eyes flooded with tears. She pressed her lips together hard for a long moment, then said, “Yes. I will, Giovanni.”

  She lifted her hand and looked at the ring as if it were the most beautiful and unusual thing she’d ever seen. Then she sniffed, wiping her tears with her hands before he could offer her his handkerchief. She took it anyway and blew her nose, looking embarrassed by her display of emotional sensitivity. He’d never seen her actually cry. Before he could remark on it, she smiled through tears.

  “Didn’t I tell you yesterday I’ll marry you? You had to make sure by buying me this rock?”

  They laughed together and he sat back on the sofa, holding her tightly in his arms, as she cuddled against his chest. After a while, she lifted her head and looked at him.

  “The ring is gorgeous, my love. It’s the most beautiful and meaningful present I’ve ever got. And it fits perfectly,” she added, studying the ring closely. “Thank you. I don’t know any man who could choose better and who would know exactly what I’d like.”

  He kissed her forehead, grinning sheepishly.

  “Linda helped me pick it.”

  She looked startled.

  “You told her?”

  “Of course I told her,” he replied in dismay. “You didn’t think I would get married without telling my sister.”

  “Of course not. It’s just that…I thought we’d wait a bit longer. How did she take the news?” she asked, looking at him worriedly, which amused him.

  He
recounted his discussion with Linda, as well as the hours spent searching for the perfect ring.

  Sonia smiled.

  “I totally understand her. If I had a brother, I’d be suspicious about any female who’d get close to him. But it was nice of her to help you choose this,” she remarked, admiring the diamond that was gloriously reflecting the light and the joy in her eyes. She stood abruptly.

  “Speaking of surprises…”

  “Were we speaking of surprises?”

  She ignored him and went on. “I have one for you. Wait here.”

  So saying, she disappeared in the direction of the kitchen. She reappeared a few moments later carrying two plates, which she put in front of him.

  “Today I cooked for you. Chicken Cacciatore.”

  She gestured proudly, indicating the food. It didn’t even look that bad, and he was impressed by her efforts. He whistled admiringly.

  “Amore, this looks and smells wonderful! I can’t believe you made this specially for me.”

  He bent closer to study the contents of the plates. He immediately sneezed when his nostrils were assaulted by the extra-spicy smell of the sauce. He displayed a faint smile, hoping the chicken wasn’t lethal. He wanted to live until he got married, at least.

  As though reading his mind, she bubbled out a laugh.

  “It’s a bit spicy, but it’s edible,” she said through giggles. “I’m going to get us some cutlery and glasses for the champagne.”

  After she’d brought everything, she excused herself to go put the pearls in the bedroom. Giovanni opened the champagne bottle and filled the two glasses. He put on some music and turned off the lights, then lit some candles scattered around the living room.

  When she returned he was waiting for her, looking out the window and listening to Michael Bolton’s sexy rough voice singing When a Man Loves a Woman.

  How much truth those lyrics hid, he thought as he went to her and took her in his arms, gathering her close. His eyes burned into hers as they moved together in a slow, sinuous dance, their bodies fitting so well, yearning for one another, as did their spirits.

  He embraced her, and when she let her cheek rest on his chest, his heart began beating faster. They felt so right together. He’d never had this sensation, that his heart was complete. He’d never even realized until this moment that something had been missing from his life. Now his universe felt whole.

  He took one of the champagne glasses and gave it to her, then took his own, still holding her close, swaying in the rhythm of a new song that had started—Gary Moore’s Still Got The Blues. He kissed her deeply, savoring her lips, her taste, of which he could never get enough. His passion left her breathless and he saw her eyes were blurry with desire, as her body melted against his. He lifted his glass slightly.

  “Here’s to us, amore mio. To the new life we’ll make together.”

  His heart seemed to melt too as she watched him, the candlelight showing her gaze charged with love and passion, with the promises of fulfillment he’d found in this woman—his soul mate.

  “To us. I love you, Giovanni,” she whispered, touching her glass to his with a clink, making the frothy liquid swirl and sparkle in the low light. They each took a sip, and then he put down their glasses before sealing her mouth with a galvanizing kiss, as she’d sealed his heart and future the moment she appeared in his life. They were reborn, each lost in the other, bodies and souls merging into one entity. Tonight was their beginning.

  Part Two—Conspiracy Of Silence

  “Never, ever go near power. Don't become

  friends with anyone who has real power.

  It's dangerous.”

  -Stanley Kubrick-

  Chapter Ten

  “For better or for worse…”

  “For richer, for poorer…”

  “In sickness and in health…”

  “To love and to cherish…”

  “From this day forward until death do us part.”

  Sonia stared sightlessly at the waves of clouds through the plane’s window, as she relived the unique experience that had been Gerard and Linda’s wedding. It had been the first and only wedding she’d ever attended and it had left her profoundly impressed. When the bride and groom said the wedding vows to each other, her eyes had filled with tears. She’d gripped Giovanni’s hand hard, feeling as though her own silent vow to him had been said through the other couple’s voices. She couldn’t wait to be there herself, heading to the altar in her white dress, toward the love of her life. The emotion and expectancy on Gerard’s face, the absolute happiness and tears of joy in Linda’s eyes as they gazed at one another facing the priest—all those had made her more emotional than she ever remembered being.

  She’d been in an emotional turmoil lately. If she didn’t know she couldn’t get pregnant due to her contraceptive pills, she’d be worried. All these feelings, so new and strange, were overwhelming. But she wouldn’t have exchanged them for the world, she thought, glancing on her right, where Giovanni had dozed off in his seat.

  They’d paid a ridiculous amount of money to book emergency flights to Florence—the capital of Tuscany—where Giovanni’s home was. Where their home was. He had, of course, shown her pictures of the house, the surrounding property, and pictures of the city, which was a masterpiece of Italian culture. Giovanni had promised to take her to see all the glory of the Roman art, inherited by generations of artists like Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli and so many others. To her shame, she didn’t know much about Italian culture and art. History hadn’t been her passion, but she was eager to learn and see all the pride of Italy—her new home.

  She was trying to see this huge change in her life like an adventure, which in fact was true. She’d often yearned for a change of scenery looking through the windows of her flat. Well, she was getting one, and in style. She’d decided against selling her flat, since they planned to visit Linda and Gerard as often as possible. As for her monumental collection of clothes, she’d taken only her favorite ones, because her fiancé had told her he’d buy her a whole new wardrobe from the best Italian designers. How could she resist that?

  After the wedding reception, just before leaving for their honeymoon in Paris, Linda and Gerard welcomed her to the family. Her future sister-in-law had been warm toward her, taking her hands and embracing her tightly, wishing them the best and urging Sonia to take care of her brother. She demanded to know when the second Coriola wedding would be, but they didn’t have an answer for that yet. Soon, she hoped. She was sure of her decision and of Giovanni’s love, so why wait?

  God, if someone had told her a month ago she’d be anxious to get married, she would have laughed out loud. How much love had changed her—and for the better…

  She glanced at Giovanni again lovingly, taking his hand into her own. He looked tired, but satisfied. Strong. She was entrusting her life into this man’s hands and somehow she was sure he would make her happy.

  His chocolate-colored eyes opened slowly, focusing on her as if he’d felt her gaze on him. He smiled.

  “Couldn’t sleep, amore?”

  She shook her head, then leaned toward him, nuzzling his neck.

  “Nope. Too excited. If you weren’t asleep, I’d have asked ‘Are we there yet?’ every ten minutes.”

  He chuckled, looking at his watch. “It’s 3:45. In a quarter of an hour we should be there.”

  “I can’t wait!”

  “Me either. I’m anxious to show you the house. Sonia,” he lifted her chin to look into her face, “if there’s anything you don’t like or want to change, just tell me, okay? Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  “I want you to love our home.”

  She sighed dreamily.

  “I’m sure I will, my darling. And I’m sure I’ll love Guccio even more.”

  She frowned.

  “Guccio is rather difficult to pronounce. How about if I just call him G?”

  He laughed softly.

&nb
sp; “We could try that. But I’m afraid he’ll get confused. He’s had a rough time, poor chap. And now I’ve been gone for a couple of weeks, barely when he started to get used to me.”

  She looked at him worriedly.

  “It never occurred to me to ask. What did you do with him while you were gone?”

  “I asked my housekeeper to take him. Lucia and her husband, Paolo—the gardener and handyman—are a middle-aged couple with no kids. They both fell in love with Guccio and adopted a dog and two cats after seeing how nice it is to have a pet. He’s a smart boy, Guccio. You’ll like him,” he assured her, stroking her hair.

  The flight attendant announced their imminent arrival, guiding the passengers to prepare for landing, which proved to be perfectly smooth.

  They passed the airport security and checking staff. After that, Sonia found herself swallowed by a sea of people, all talking fast, and she didn’t understand a word of what they said. She actually felt a bit lost and panicked, but Giovanni wrapped a strong arm around her waist in reassurance, making her feel safe. Sensing her distress, he kissed her temple and spoke gently.

  “Don’t worry, my love. You’ll get used to it and learn the language in no time. Besides, Florence is one of the world’s most visited cities. Almost everybody speaks English around here.” He smiled into her eyes, his presence calming her gradually.

  She returned his smile.

  “I know, baby. I’m acting silly. I can’t possibly imagine how you managed to learn to speak English so well.”

  “I simply didn’t try,” he replied as they headed to the exit. “I just learned the basics in school, and then from movies, songs, and so on. When I discovered computers, I first learned the technical language. By building my business and discussing with clients, I learned it all gradually. You will learn Italian quickly, I promise.”