War: D'amato Brothers 6

by Vera Roberts

  Seven

  “My bisnonnos still own this home,” Eli began as he walked through the cobbled pavement, leading up to a stucco home. “I loved coming here to visit when I was a kid. They always sent money specifically for me and my brothers to come see them. They told my parents there would be no excuse as to why we couldn’t see them. They’re the ones who really taught all of us Italian.”

  Faith admired the history of the D’Amatos as she glanced around the old building. It was sturdy and in great condition. She reached out and touched the hard stucco walls, feeling the history underneath her fingertips. The family had survived numerous wars and battles, yet the home remained. She wondered if this would be the home her and Eli would retire in.

  Eli surprised her with a trip to Italy, just the two of them for a week. Faith didn’t want to lie to her parents about where she was going so she begrudgingly told them the truth. Amy supported her daughter’s decision but had a stern talk with her about birth control and unprotected sex.

  Faith turned her focus back to her boyfriend. There was a strong sense of pride when he spoke about his family, his heritage, and how he hoped to instill that same sense of pride to his children. The D’Amatos did luck out with the lottery winnings, but it was their hard work that made them into a rare success story, and not a cautionary tale.

  Eli opened the front door and deeply inhaled. The saltiness of the Mediterranean Sea wafted his nostrils and he smiled. Back in New York, he would take the same deep breath and have his lungs fill with smog, pollution, and whatever leftover funk from years past.

  Dozza, however, was where it all started. His elders planted their roots there, and many of his extended family traveled back home, so to speak, once a year from New York. Now it was Eli’s turn, but he wanted to do it differently.

  He wanted to experience it with Faith.

  He and Faith had his grandparents’ cottage to themselves for the entire vacation. He planned to cook for them, take open showers in the backyard, and make love under the Italy nightfall.

  There was no other woman he wanted to experience Italy with.

  “Go take a look around the home,” Eli suggested, “I’ll bring our luggage in.”

  “Okay,” Faith walked around the home and was in awe at the history of it. The table and chairs were made out of old wood, yet they seemed sturdy. Old photos of Eli’s relatives adorned the walls. One photo showed a group of men in a field, making wine. Another showed a group of women sitting around a table making bread and chatting. They were laughing while holding cups of wine in their hands.

  Faith lightly gasped when she saw another photo – a very young Nicola with her parents. She was likely in her early teens.

  Handmade items such as pottery, rugs, and clothing were in closets and pantries. Rosary beads aligned several walls with crosses in every room, including the bathrooms.

  There was one television with a satellite dish to keep up with modern times. But everything else was old, worn, and loved.

  And Eli brought her there.

  Faith knew Eli traveled to Italy every summer with his brothers and they all stayed with together in the very home she stood in. She closed her eyes and imagined the laughter, the dancing, the endless glasses of wine, and the pasta dishes…so many and they kept coming out.

  People were singing, love flowed from room to room, and the closeness of the D’Amatos was ever present.

  That was her future. That was their future.

  “So what do you think?” Eli asked. “My bisnonnos’ home. Mama was born in this very room. Lived here until my nonno went into the military. Over the course of several years, he ended up in New York and well, that’s all she wrote. We’ve always kept in contact with everyone here, though. It was important to my nonno that we did.”

  Faith felt special that Eli shared that part of the D’Amato history with her. He’d never said anything before. “That’s amazing.”

  “It is,” Eli crawled onto the bed and pulled Faith on top of him, “you’re the only one I wanted to share that history with. It’s important to me that you know where it all started and how hard we had to work to get to where we are.”

  “I do appreciate it and understand it,” Faith softly smiled, “I’m so glad you brought me here.”

  “I’m happy you’re happy.” He held her waist. “Facciamo l’amore.” Let’s make love.

  Desire dampened Faith’s panties. They barely touched down from the air and Eli already wanted her. “Did you want to rest some?”

  “I did,” Eli slowly unbuttoned his girlfriend’s blouse, revealing her demi lace bra, “Now I’m ready for play.” He flipped her over and nestled between her thighs. Her eyes reminded me of warm, chocolate chips; the kind that’s gooey and melted when the cookies are fresh out of the oven.

  He trailed his hands over her soft flesh, digging his fingers into her curves, and watched her lips purse and coo with each feeling. She was a virgin when they first met, something she’d revealed to him during their first conversation, and he’d never pressured her to do anything.

  He pulled her jeans off, followed by her bra and panties before he removed his clothing. He climbed back onto the bed and laid between Faith’s thighs. “Amore mio.” He purred. “My love.”

  “Shhh…” Faith softly shook her head. “Stop talking.”

  Eli swept his lips over hers before he devoured them. Their tongues softly touched and played with each other before he slid down her body. He circled both nipples with his tongue, trailing it down to her small patch of hair.

  Eli spread Faith’s thighs and stared at her love. It was so petite, precious, and belonged all to him. She could’ve given her virginity to any man, yet she chose him. It was a thought not lost on Eli. He silently promised he would always protect his woman.

  He curled his hands under her thighs and dived into her heat. Faith gasped and moaned as Eli tasted her. She rode his tongue in the steady, deliberate rhythm he’d created. He sucked on her nub, flicking it and sucking on it before he resumed his furious licking.

  Faith’s soft moans became screams as Eli increased pressure on her sex. He was trying to make her come and come hard. Her body began to shake against her volition as she called out into the heavens. “Eli…” His name came out long and drawn out.

  Eli gathered Faith’s legs and held them up in the air as his tongue assaulted her. She didn’t have time to tell him she was about to orgasm when it ripped through her body, causing her body to shake. “Oooh, fuck!” She screamed and grabbed the sheets.

  “That’s my girl,” Eli released Faith’s legs and sat back on his heels. He pulled her up and sat her down on his hardened cock. She lightly gasped and moaned as he stretched her out. “Hold onto me, Faye.” He instructed and she complied. He began to rock slowly as he watched her reaction. “That’s it, baby. You feel so damn good.”

  Faith wrapped her arms around Eli’s neck as he guided her on his cock. He guided her just right, not too hard and not too soft. It was no wonder he turned her into a nymph. She couldn’t imagine being with anyone but him.

  They both built a steady tempo, kissing each other with a maddening intensity and tangling tongue. Faith felt the pressure building in her core as she grasped Eli more. She felt his hard, rugged breath on her neck and knew he was close too.

  Gasps and whimpers spilled out of Faith’s mouth while Eli whispered Italian nothings to her. “Daddy, I’m about to come.”

  “Not yet,” He demanded. His thrusts became hungrier. “Not yet.”

  “Eli!” His name came out as a drawn-out scream. Fireworks exploded in Faith’s body and heat billowed at her core. She felt Eli’s warm breath against her neck and how rugged it sounded. He was close, too. She wouldn’t be able to hold off much longer. “Please!”

  Eli’s thrusts became faster and harder. “Come all over my dick, baby girl.”

  Faith erupted into a loud scream and her body shook. She dug her nails into Eli’s back as the orgasm rolled over he
r body. He thrust a few more times before Eli met a release of his own.

  They stayed in that position for a short while, feeling each other’s heartbeats and listening to their breaths. They both never felt anything so strong like that before. Eli hoped it would never end.

  ~~~~~

  “My mother knows we’re having sex,” Faith began, “I told her. I think she already knew, though.”

  After the pair made love, Eli and Faith showered in the open air on the side of the home. They viewed the hillside and the mountains to their right, while looking at the city below them. The sea was across from them.

  Eli knew how close Faith was to her mother. They were more like sisters than mother-daughter. It couldn’t have been an easy conversation. “And how did that go?”

  “She’s concerned and she’s right to be. She’s concerned about pregnancy and other things.”

  “Other things,” he repeated as he bathed himself.

  “You know what she means, Eli.” Faith defended.

  Eli shrugged. “I know better than to bring something back to you, Faye.”

  “I’m her only daughter, baby,” Faith pressed on, “She has a right to be concerned. Not to mention she’s not a fan of me having premarital sex.” Eli remained quiet. “Look, I told her because I was about to go on a weeklong vacation with you to another country. I’m sure my mother would’ve put two and two together.”

  “I’m not dogging you for being honest with your mother, Faye,” Eli turned back to look at her.

  Faith felt growing tension from her would-be fiancée. “My mother knows about the other girls you see during our breakups.”

  “So your mother is TMZ, now?” Eli continued to bathe.

  “Don’t be a jackass, Eli.” Faith warned.

  “You and your mother pretty much just accused me of bringing something home to you whenever we break up and I’m not supposed to be offended by that?” He rinsed off his hair. “I fucking flew you across the globe, only for you and your mother to accuse me of being reckless with your health. Got it.”

  “She knows about the pregnancy scare,” Faith admitted. She saw Eli’s shoulders drop and continued. “She thinks we’re both too young to be parents. She wants us to wait a bit longer.”

  “I agree,” Eli replied, “but what we do is none of your mother’s business, though.”

  “The relationship between me and my mother won’t ever change,” Faith stood her ground, “she comes with the package. You accept me, you accept her, too.”

  “I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk to your mother, Faye,” Eli defended, “but I draw the line when she wants to be a part of our bedroom conversations.”

  Silence.

  Eli continued to bathe while Faith joined in. She stepped in front of Eli and felt the water stream down her face. It was fresh water pouring from the showerhead and not the kind she had to wait a few minutes before it became clear. “My mother likes you, baby.”

  Eli wrapped his arms around her. “Your mother likes my flowers.”

  “She makes you a pecan pie.”

  Eli took a bit of soap and began to wash his girlfriend. “It’s my favorite.”

  Silence. Now with tension.

  Faith stilled as Eli washed her body. Even though he was mad at her, his hands didn’t reflect it. Her took care of every crevice on her body as if there were no problems. She watched in awe and desire how his muscular body flexed when he lifted one of her legs to scrub the bottom of her foot. “I’m afraid I won’t ever be enough for you.”

  Eli felt the prickle of a burgeoning fight coming on. He just flew his girlfriend across the world, only for her to accuse him of eventually stepping out on her. He didn’t know whether he wanted to laugh or punch a wall. “How long have you felt like this?”

  Faith wasn’t sure if she knew the true answer to that question. Did she feel that way for a while? How long was a while? They’ve dated for almost three years and broke up plenty of times during that timeframe. Whenever they did break up, Eli moved on as if nothing ever happened.

  The other girls were forgettable. They were also sleazy, and some of the worst kind. The ones that gave it up so easily without a question and moved onto another guy shortly afterward. They were known as the passaround girls. The community girls.

  Faith wasn’t like that nor did she aspire to be one. She was content staying at home, maybe going clubbing occasionally. She wasn’t in the clubs every weekend. She didn’t even want to be out that much. She liked going to the museums, watching movies, or reading a book.

  She wondered if the type of woman Eli dated when he wasn’t with her, was the woman he really wanted, but was settling for Faith? “All of those girls you date in our breakups are nothing like me.”

  “And that’s why I’m date them,” He set down her leg and lifted the other. “Because you’re nothing like them.”

  “Do you want me to be?”

  More silence.

  Eli finished washing Faith’s leg and slowly stood up. He stared deeply into her eyes and a soft smile formed on his lips. “No. Turn around now.”

  Faith turned around and faced the countryside and mountains of Dozza. She’d never seen anything so exquisite and beautiful, and it felt like she was staring at a painting, not God’s creation.

  “Would you leave me for another woman?”

  “And what the hell?” His voice was quiet and calm, but there was a little bite to it. They’d just spend the entire afternoon making love. He felt relaxed and free. Now Faith was poking the bear. “Where did that come from?”

  “I was just wondering,” she shrugged, “that’s all.”

  “Okay, would you entertain another man if you were with me?”

  Faith turned around in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Let’s say we’re on another one of our breaks and some dude comes in and wants to slide into your DMs.” Eli softly blinked. “Would you?”

  “Never,” she stated, with a soft hurt. “I would never even look at another man while I’m with you.” She paused. “But you would leave me for another woman.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You avoided the question.”

  “I can’t predict the future,” he replied and Faith gasped, “that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. It just means I don’t see myself doing it.”

  “That’s a very polite way of saying you’re going to leave me at some point.”

  “So I really just brought you all the way to Italy for you to fight me on whether I’m going to be unfaithful to you in the future.” Eli stepped back and rinsed himself off. “Great.” He wrapped a towel around his waist and headed back inside.

  “Baby!” Faith called out. She rinsed herself off and grabbed the other towel off the rack. She followed Eli inside where he was standing at the kitchen sink, pouring a glass of wine. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

  “I’m not mad.” Eli sipped his wine. “I’m just wondering why you’re wasting my time.”

  “Eli!” Faith’s voice cracked and he put down the glass. “I love you more than anything! And I’m sorry if I feel things might south in the future.”

  “If you feel that way, Faye, then we need to call it quits. I can’t be with someone who constantly thinks I’m about to cheat when I haven’t done so.”

  “I’ve been talking to my friends and…”

  “You’ve been talking to your friends…” He repeated and shook his head. “Of course.”

  “Hear me out!” She softly pleaded. “I’ve been talking with them and they feel your behavior now might indicate where you might go in the future.”

  Eli finished his wine and softly nodded. “If you can’t trust me, leave me alone. We’ll go our separate ways.”

  Faith inched closer to Eli and pressed her body against his. “I do trust you,” she whispered.

  Her words told a different story from her eyes. Her heart believed outsiders before it heard a single word Eli said. “Faye, I o
nly want you,” Eli sniffed her neck. She smelled clean and fresh, with a touch of sweetness.

  He was angry at her, and rightfully so. But his cock reminded him how much he wanted her despite the anger. He softly squeezed her breasts, circling the nipples, through the towel. He slowly removed it and let it fall to the floor. “Those other girls don’t mean shit to me. You’re the only one I want to make a D’Amato.”

  Faith closed her eyes and softly breathed through her mouth. Her lips formed a small O and her sex yearned for Eli’s touch. “I know, but…”

  “Shhh…” Eli rocked her side to side. “You’re the only one I brought here. You’re the only one I love. You’re the only one I’m in love with. Yeah, we have our problems but sometimes we need to take a break from each other. But Faye, you’re the only one I go back to. The only one.”

  Faith hooked her hands under Eli’s towel and removed it. His cinnamon-colored thickness lightly bounced in her hands. Her mouth watered just by looking at it. “Issa snack.”

  “Mmm…” Eli licked his lips. He picked up his girlfriend and carried her back to their bedroom. “I’m rather hungry myself.”

  ~~~~~~

  “You’re quiet there, baby brother,” Nick asked as they arrived back in New York. “You okay there?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” The memory dissipated into Eli’s mind and he refocused on the present. “Just thinking about everything.”

  “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  Eli shook his head. “My wife never trusted me from the start. She blatantly said she was waiting for me to cheat on her, and she was talking with her friends about me, and with her mom about me and she was listening to everyone else and I should’ve…” A loud sigh. “….I should’ve left her alone the moment she said that.”

  Eight

  At least the swelling went down. Now all she had to do deal with was a black eye.

  Technically, it wasn’t black. It was more like a fuchsia, purple mix. It definitely looked like a bruise and as much as Faith would love to claim how much of a beauty guru she is, she couldn’t explain away a black eye due to a new eye shadow.