Sicilian Dreams

by J. P. Kennedy

  ‘Si, I mean yes,’ said Cassie. ‘It doesn’t taste too strong, does it?’ she enquired of Liz and Kat.

  ‘No, it’s very smooth,’ said Liz, ‘but I bet it’s got a kick like a mule.’

  They took their drinks over to an empty, long, low slung couch placed against a wall that had large rolled pillows to relax back onto instead of a seat back.

  ‘It’d be jolly hard to get out of these things after a couple of drinks’ said Kat, her long legs splayed out in front of her.

  ‘Yes, I’m glad I wore a long dress,’ said Liz reclining gracefully back into the cushions.

  ‘Lucky for you’ said Cassie, attempting to sit down gracefully, but falling rather than sitting at the last moment. She pulled down at the hem of her dress, which had ridden up revealingly. ‘Oops.’ she said, laughing, ‘good thing I wore panties, even if it is just a thong.’

  ‘Good place to check out the talent from’ added Kat, nodding towards the doorway to their left.

  ‘What about Mr Berkley, the love of your life?’ said Liz.

  ‘You can be on a diet but still look at the menu’ said Kat. ‘Relax, I’m not intending to do anything.’ she added. ‘Anyway, like they say, what goes on tour stays on tour.’

  The club started to fill up and by midnight it was full. The music had changed to electronic dance music and people were crowded on to the dance floor. Kat went to the bar and ordered and another round of drinks and Liz and Cassie could see her chatting to a couple of guys who looked local. Both dark haired, muscular and of medium height, they looked to be in their mid twenties, and they followed Kat back over to the couch and asked if the girls wanted to dance.

  ‘I am Luigi and this is Roberto,’ said Luigi. He had a nice smile. ‘We are brothers. You are triplets, no?’ he said.

  ‘Yes, identical triplets’ said Kat. ‘Meet my sisters, Liz and Cassie.’

  ‘Piacere’ said Luigi and Roberto. ‘Shall we dance?’

  They danced in a group so no one was partnered up with anyone else and this made them all relax. The music was pulsating and strobe lights flashed across the dance floor. Cassie liked to dance. She had natural rhythm and she moved sensuously to the music, letting it take over her body. Suddenly she was jerked backwards by an arm to the edge of the dance floor and she turned and came up short against a hard body. The hard body of Marco, she thought with a flutter of excitement, looking up into his eyes, now dark and brooding, not green and lively. He looked amazing in a pair of fitted black jeans and an open necked white shirt. He glared down at her.

  ‘Having fun are we Cassandra?’ he growled.

  ‘Marco’ she exclaimed, ‘what are doing here? Let me go, you’re hurting my arm.’

  He dropped her arm immediately and put his hands on her shoulders instead. ‘I arrived 5 minutes ago and have been watching you on the dance floor.

  ‘More to the point, what are you doing here?’ he asked icily.

  ‘Excuse me buddy,’ said Cassie, getting annoyed, ‘since when have you been my keeper? I’m here on holiday, remember? This is what people do on holiday. They go out, they have fun, they might even dance with strangers,’ she said sarcastically, putting her hands on her hips.

  ‘You have had too much to drink Cassandra. You don’t know what can happen at these sorts of places later on. Guys that will prey on foreign girls, especially ones that stand out like you,’ he said darkly.

  ‘Oh please,’ said Cassie, ‘what are you, my father? This is ridiculous Marco, I’m perfectly happy here dancing with my friends.’

  ‘Kat and Liz are dancing with those guys now; you could be the spare wheel. I think you should come with me now,’ he said, moving to take her hand. She shook him off and glared up at him.

  ‘Marco, don’t you get it? I don’t need you to chaperone me, I’m perfectly all right here and I like dancing. So what, what’s wrong with that?’

  ‘I watched you dancing. You dance like you make love, with your heart and soul. It occurred to me that I don’t want to see you dancing with other men. Come with me now Cassandra, you can do a private dance for me back at home,’ he whispered this last part in her ear and Cassie felt her stomach flip. Why does this guy have the ability to throw me every time she thought?

  ‘Are you jealous? That is so ridiculous. You make it sound that I dance like a whore,’ she said angrily, stamping her high-heeled foot, tempted to stomp on his foot at the same time.

  ‘Not like a whore Cassandra, but very close. I like it by the way’ he grinned wickedly. ‘I want a private dance. Wait here like a good girl while I go and let Liz and Kat know we are leaving.’ He strode into the throng of dancers and Cassie could see him with Kat and Liz; their heads bent close together, laughing and chatting as she stood and fumed on the side of the dance floor. Good girl my ass, she thought, although she now had butterflies in her stomach and made no move to go back onto the dance floor. He came over and took her once more and led her towards the big archway and the exit.

  ‘Marco, you are leaving so soon, amore,’ said a seductive voice behind them and Cassie turned to see the most beautiful woman she had ever clapped eyes on. Tall, with long black hair, almond eyes honey colored skin, a straight nose and full, red lips, she looked exactly like the type of supermodel that Cassie had thought Marco would have stashed away somewhere. The red bandage dress she was wearing left nothing to the imagination and barely skimmed her bottom, which only made her perfect legs look longer. She completely ignored Cassie moving in to embrace Marco with a passionate kiss on both cheeks. She pouted, her face close to his. ‘Marco, you said we would spend time together this evening, remember.’ She flashed a smile at him, and her long, red painted nails stroked his shoulders and the back of his neck. Cassie felt like a giant worm was writhing away inside her stomach and she had a sudden desire to yank hold of the sirens long hair and give it a good pull. The fact that Marco seemed delighted to see her made Cassie even angrier.

  ‘Ciao bella Francesca’ said Marco, holding her lightly by the shoulders. ‘Carissima, I am sorry tonight I have to take one of the guests back to the estate. She is not feeling well,’ he added. Francesca gave Cassie a hard look, assessing her from head to toe.

  ‘Yes, she does look washed out, I agree. But you promised amore.’ she whined.

  ‘I’m feeling perfectly well Marco and you know it’ interjected Cassie. She was still trailing behind him and had let go of his hand.

  ‘I think she has had too much to drink,’ hissed Marco to Francesca and turning to firmly grasp Cassie’s hand again. ‘We have to go, ciao bellissima, I’ll call you soon.’ He pulled Cassie with him and hurriedly pushed her through the doorway ahead of him.

  ‘Why are you rushing me’ snarled Cassie, ‘and what was all that about being drunk? I’m not drunk and you are behaving like an asshole.'

  ‘I didn’t say ‘drunk’’ said Marco, ‘I said ‘too much too drink’ and don’t call me an asshole.' He hustled her up and the stairs and they were back in the dark, narrow alley and the air felt blessedly cool. Cassie looked up at the star filled sky and took a deep breath.

  ‘Marco, why were you in such a hurry to get away from Francesca?’ she asked. ‘Is she your girlfriend?’ She suddenly had a lump in her throat and had gone from being angry to feeling bereft within seconds. Marco had not let go of her hand and now he pulled her to him.

  ‘Now who is jealous?’ he said playfully, lightly kissing the top of her nose. ‘Francesca is not my girlfriend. Our families are friends and we have known each other since we were children and she is more like a sister to me.’

  ‘She didn’t seem to be acting very sisterly to me’ sniffed Cassie, feeling marginally better.

  ‘That is just her way. Francesca is used to getting all the attention all the time from men and she doesn’t like to share.’ He hugged Cassie tighter. She felt much better.

  ‘Come, let’s go, my car is parked around the corner.’ They walked back down the alley and into the slightly wider main stre
et. Tucked up tight against the wall of the alley, Cassie could just make out a low-slung convertible.

  ‘Cool car’ she said, ‘what is it and how come you were able to park it here? I thought this part of the old town was car free.’

  ‘Ah, but when you are a local it’s different’ said Marco, ‘it’s a 1990 Alpha Romeo Spider roadster, a classic,’ he added.

  Cassie thought about vaulting into the passenger seat like she had done earlier, but she was tottering a bit on her heels on the cobblestones. Maybe she had drunk too much. In any case, Marco himself had to leap into the drivers seat because his side was hard up against the wall, but he chivalrously opened her door before doing so.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Once over the bumpy cobblestones of the old town Marco turned onto the road, which would take them, back up to the hills behind Cefalu. The air felt cool on Cassie’s face as she lay back in the seat, gazing up at the stars, which seemed to be hanging right down over them. Marco had put on some jazz and it blasted out of the speakers into the night air. He was silent and drove quickly and deftly up the steep hillside, flicking around the corners in the fast agile little car. Cassie looked over at his profile in the moonlight and shivered in spite of herself. His eyes looked hooded and his mouth sensuous under his straight, patrician nose. They reached the main house and he pulled into the circular driveway, killing the engine and turning to Cassie as she asked ‘Need directions to Villa Tramonte?’

  ‘Remember what I said about a private dance?’ he grinned at her in the moonlight. ‘Here is your chance.’ He leapt out of the car and came around to her side before she had a chance to react, opening her door and scooping her up in his arms.

  ‘What..the..put me down Marco’ protested Cassie as he strode towards the big double front doors.

  ‘I thought you looked a little unsteady on your feet back there in town. It must be very hard to walk in such high heels. I’m just giving you a hand, I don’t want you to fall over before I have seen you dance.’ he laughed and pushed open the door, which was unlatched.

  ‘Don’t be an idiot’ said Cassie, struggling to break free from his firm hold of her. ‘You’ve insulted me several times this evening and I don’t see why I should do anything for you except give you a good kick in the cajones.’

  ‘I assure you that would not be a good idea,’ said Marco dangerously, carrying her into a large reception room on the left of the foyer and depositing her in a heap on a soft cream sofa. ‘Sit there signorina while I attend to a couple of things. We must set the mood,’ he said wickedly. He walked over to the large French doors and flung them open onto the bougainvillea-covered terrace, then he picked up a remote and the soft strains of jazz came through the discreetly placed speakers. Walking over to drinks cabinet, he selected a bottle of champagne from the wine fridge and Cassie heard the soft pop of the cork being released and then he carried over two flutes and sat on the sofa beside her and passing her a glass before saying, ‘Salute Cassandra, let me know whenever you feel like dancing.’

  ‘No time soon Mister' said Cassie, still a little miffed, but excited all the same to be sitting so close to Marco on the sofa.

  ‘How about I give you a little encouragement,’ said Marco, leaning in towards her and kissing her on the lips, lingeringly, his tongue flicking lightly over her teeth. Cassie felt herself respond immediately and her glass started to tilt sideways.

  ‘Let’s put these down shall we,’ said Marco, rescuing the flute and placing them both on the low coffee table. He returned his attention to her lips and slowly stroked the side of her neck with one hand while the other wandered up from her waist and gently cupped one of her full breasts, his thumb teasing her nipple as it went instantly hard and pressed through the thin fabric of her dress. Cassie could feel herself melting into him and she struggled to regain some semblance of control. Through the fog of her desire she realized that Marta also slept in this house and every door was open. She pushed against Marco.

  ‘Marco, we can’t do this in here. What about Marta, or anyone else for that matter, just wandering in here and seeing us?’

  ‘Marta’s room is right in the back of the house beside the kitchen and she sleeps like a log. There is no one else around except the bats and I don’t think they will care.’ His voice was throaty and Cassie knew he was feeling just as excited as her.

  ‘Of course, if you start dancing, I will watch and not touch you.’ he murmured, nibbling at her ear lobe. Cassie gasped softly and pushed him away.

  ‘Okay, you win. Here is your personal dance.’ She pushed off her heels and stood just beyond his reach, her dress becoming sheer as she was silhouetted in the moonlight coming through the open doors. She recognized the song and slowly began to move in time to the music, her own rhythm taking over her she shook out her long hair and began to move sinuously and sensuously as if in a trance. Marco was transfixed, his gleaming eyes glued to her body as she spun and weaved, getting close to him as he tried to catch her, then sliding away just in time.

  Sneaking a look through half closed eyes at his lust filled gaze, Cassie decided to tease him a little. Beggar the neighbors, she thought, lifting her dress by its silky hem and pulling it over her head in one swift movement. Down to her lacy bra and matching thong, she stole another look at Marco and was rewarded to see his face flush and his eyes darken. She could clearly see through the outline of his jeans, his obvious excitement and read the frustration mounting on his face. Enjoying this feeling of superiority over him, she turned away from him and unhooked her bra, her bare bottom lifting as she bent forward slightly to slip the flimsy garment off her shoulders, jiggling her breasts a little. Marco’s response was immediate and he lunged forward grabbing her around the waist and hauling her back towards him so that she was sitting between his legs, her back against his chest. His head swooped down and his tongue grazed her neck as his hand grasped her breasts and lifted her back towards him. She groaned with desire and flung her head back as he continued to nuzzle her neck and play with her nipples, his fingers grazing them gently until they throbbed. He grasped her around the waist with both hands and lifted her so she was facing him, her legs pushed open so she was half kneeling in front of him.

  ‘So, the lap dance now’ he growled, his head dipping to suckle her breast. Cassie’s fingers found the button fly of his jeans and she fumbled in her haste, pulling at the fabric until his erect penis sprung, throbbing, from his underwear. She grasped the base of it and began to rub up and down the shaft. Marco groaned and lay back on the sofa, watching her through lidded eyes. Without warning she let go and he groaned again, as she sprang away from her kneeling position like a cat and stood before him once more. He pulled a condom from his pocket and slowly slid it over his erect cock. Mesmerizing him as she moved her hips like a snake in time to the music, Cassie slowly ran her hands down her sides, her fingers sliding her panties down to her knees, where she bent and waggled her ass a little, and then she drew them off and tossed them into the corner of the room. There was no chance to move away as Marco lunged for her and dragged her back onto his lap lifting her slightly so that her sex sat wetly just touching the end of his penis. They both gasped, and then he slowly, pushed her down onto the thick shaft all the way until she felt like her insides were completely full of him. They rocked together gently and Cassie felt like she would go crazy with desire. She tried to push against him, and rise up and down, but Marco responded by pinioning her to him, and continued the slow, rocking momentum of their love dance.

  She threw her head back in frustration and moaned out loud. This only caused Marco to give a deep chuckle. Her fingers found his nipples and she tweaked them hard. He groaned and moved faster within her, his desire overcoming him, beginning to pound her tender flesh, raising her up and down more sharply as his excitement grew.

  ‘Amore, bellissima, come with me’ he whispered in her ear as he thrust into her harder and harder. Cassie could feel the waves of pleasure starting and she gave herself up t
o the feeling, as Marco grasped her buttocks and rode her hard, before he gave a sudden sharp groan and an involuntary spasm as he climaxed, leaving them both shaking with the sensations assaulting them.

  She slowly opened her eyes and gazed at Marco, both still entwined, his eyes closed, his head thrown back on the sofa, his long legs akimbo. She made to move off him and he opened his eyes and put his hands on her hips, forcing her to remain in position.

  ‘Stay there for just a moment, I want to look at you, you are so beautiful’ he whispered in the dark room. Cassie felt her heart move within her chest as she experienced that rare feeling of complete closeness with another human being. She lay her head down on his chest and they stayed like that for a little while until the room finally began to feel chill. She thought they may have even slept a little, but looking out the window she could sense that dawn was near and she had to get going.

  ‘Marco, wake up’ she said gently, giving him a little shake. ‘I have to get back to the villa, it’s going to be morning now and I don’t want Marta coming in and seeing us like this.’ Marco started awake and looked at her, his half closed eyes filled with amusement.

  ‘Why don’t I carry you up to my bedroom and we can continue this conversation when it really is daylight’ he said. ‘I fancy some more ‘dancing’ before my breakfast.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, I have to go now and if you don’t take me I will walk,’ she said stubbornly.

  ‘Okay little one’ he said, kissing the end of her nose ‘andiamo, let’s go.’ He lifted her gently from his lap and pulled on his jeans as she moved around in the dark looking for her clothes. She found her bra and her dress and put these items on, then her shoes, but no sign of her thong. Oh dear, thought Cassie, I hope it has disappeared behind a bookcase or something heavy where no one will ever look or find it. She remembered flinging it with gay abandon, but she couldn’t see anything in the dark. She grabbed her handbag and followed Marco to the front door. Ever the gentleman, he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to his car, placing her carefully into the passenger seat.