Sicilian Dreams

by J. P. Kennedy

  ‘Your cassata gelato is ready,’ said Marta to Liz. She went into the pantry to get it out of the freezer. ‘When you take it out of the freezer, dip the mold in a bowl of warm water for a few seconds and then turn the mold out onto the plate.’

  Cassie thanked Marta and Christina and both girls sent their regards to Antonio and wished him a speedy recovery.

  ‘When he starts to complain about being in bed, I’ll know he is getting better’ said Christina, wryly.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  ‘She was lying?’ said Liz. ‘Christina told you all this?’ she added incredulously.

  ‘She didn’t know exactly what happened, but she and Marta had obviously put two and two together and it was pretty close to what happened,’ said Cassie.

  Kat was up when they got back to the villa and they joined her by the pool.

  ‘She didn’t know all the details of course but she told me about Francesca’s past and how she has been chasing Marco for literally years.’

  ‘That’s pretty sad,’ said Kat. ‘I mean, what she did to you is inexcusable, but look at where she’s ended up.’

  ‘Stuck in hospital with her leg in traction for six weeks.’ said Liz. ‘Serves her right.’

  Cassie had switched her phone on again and now it buzzed on the table beside her.

  It was Marco and her heart skipped a beat. ‘We need talk, call me.’ was all the message said. True to form Marco was commanding her to call him, but right now, that’s all she wanted to do. She had to hear his voice. She got up from the lounger and walked quickly to her bedroom, closing the door. She didn’t see the worried looks exchanged between Kat and Liz as she left them.

  ‘Marco, hi, it’s Cassie’ she said softly.

  ‘Cassandra, amore, I am so pleased you have called. I have to talk to you’ he said with urgency in his voice.

  ‘We have to talk.’ said Cassie, equally urgent.

  ‘I am coming back to the estate right now. Don’t move, stay right where you are. I will be there in an hour.

  ‘Okay Marco.’ said Cassie. She couldn’t help laughing. He sounded so desperate.

  ‘Don’t get a speeding ticket on the way.’

  ‘They will have to chase me all the way because I am not stopping. A presto, Cassandra.’ He hung up.

  She skipped out of her bedroom, wincing as her sore feet hit the floor, hugging her phone to her chest.

  ‘All on again?’ asked Kat, lifting her sunglasses and looking up from the lounger at Cassie’s beaming face.

  ‘I think so,’ replied Cassie, grinning like an idiot. ‘He’s coming here now and wants to talk.’

  ‘Well, that means we should leave soon,’ said Liz to Kat. ‘Let’s go to Santo Stefano di Camastra and check out the ceramics this afternoon.’

  ‘That sounds great. I might find some gifts there to take back with me’ said Kat.

  ‘Me too. I love the look of some of the hand painted platters and the water jugs. The ‘

  The girls got changed and left about 15 minutes later, after giving Cassie advice she hadn’t asked for.

  ‘Have some background music, and have a bottle of wine chilled and ready in the fridge’ said Liz.

  ‘But don’t open it until you’ve talked.’ said Kat. ‘Although, in vino veritas. Perhaps you should open it immediately.’

  ‘The giant, green olives are in a jar on the top shelf of the fridge. Otherwise we have cheese and nuts if you get hungry.’ Liz couldn’t contemplate a get together of any kind without food and Cassie laughed.

  ‘I wouldn’t mind a plate to take back to Maggie,’ said Cassie. ‘If you see something you love, buy one for me as well.’

  ‘Okay, ciao, ciao’ they cooed, heading outside to the mini. Cassie heard them driving away and then walked to her bedroom as sedately as she could; even though she wanted to do a tango; and turned on the shower. Humming to herself, she tied a plastic shopping bag neatly over each bandaged foot and step gingerly into the shower, trying to wash her hair without getting her feet wet, by leaning over and under the stream of water. She was moderately successful doing this, but could still feel the water snaking down her legs and into the plastic bags. Leaning over further to wash the last of the conditioner out, she stood up with a scream as Marco slipped in behind her and whispered in her ear, ‘Would you like me to help you, signorina?’ She turned around, water dripping from her face, and pummeled him on the chest with her fists.

  ‘God dammit Marco, you gave me a bloody fright, don’t do that again.’ His arms circled her and he crushed her to him in a bear hug, laughing.

  ‘Amore, I love it when you are angry, and I love your little, plastic booties.’ He was naked and with her body pressed tightly against his, she felt his urgent erection pressing against her belly.

  ‘Let me go you idiot, I have soap in my eyes.’ He took one hand and pushed her hair tenderly away from her face, then gently wiped the soap from her eyes.

  ‘What a spitfire you are. There, is that better.’ He bent and kissed her lips with fervor, his tongue snaking into her mouth and his hand sliding up her back to cup her head.

  Cassie groaned and responded to him immediately, kissing him back with aching need.

  He pushed her back against the tiled wall and entered her immediately, groaning to himself as her hot warmth enveloped him. His hands slipped underneath her buttocks and he lifted her slightly as her legs came around his back. Her hands were around his broad shoulders, and her fingers curled into his long hair at the back of his neck as he moved her up and down on him with delicious slowness.

  Cassie arched her back and leaned into him further, and he kissed her harder as her fingers slid around and played with his hard nipples. He moaned with pleasure and thrust into her harder, their pleasure in each other’s bodies growing to a fever pitch until Cassie murmured his name and he shuddered with pleasure and came inside her. She was engulfed by waves of exquisite pleasure.

  Marco finally released her and her feet touched the tiles again, while he took a bar of soap and gently washed her all over, her tingling nipples still aching as he brushed over them. Lifting her from the shower, he toweled her dry and took the sodden plastic shopping bags and bandages off her feet, then grabbed another towel and wrapped it around his waist, before carrying her to the bed and laying her down.

  ‘You have to stay in bed because we don’t have any more bandages,’ he said, grinning at her and she couldn’t help thinking how sexy he looked with the towel slung around his hips.

  ‘What are you, my Doctor?’ she said, cheekily, grinning back at him.

  ‘For the moment, yes.’ he answered, and lay down beside her. ‘As your physician, I recommend complete bed rest, with me of course.’

  ‘Typical.’ replied Cassie with a smirk, her hand reaching up to stroke the dark hair on his chest. ‘What a fine bedside manner you have Doctor.’

  ‘Yes, my patients love the way I am hands on with them.’ His green eyes sparkled with glee and his bent his head to kiss her again.

  ‘Patients?’ said Cassie.

  ‘Oh, my mistake, I meant that in the singular.’ replied Marco.

  ‘Which reminds me, you have some explaining to do.’ Cassie’s head was resting on his shoulder, and now she looked up into his eyes, her tone serious.

  ‘Si.’ sighed Marco, as if the thought made him tired. ‘I have so much to tell you, but you are right, I need to explain first about Francesca.’

  ‘Actually, your mother did a pretty good job of it this morning.’ blurted out Cassie before she could stop herself.

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Marco, sitting up suddenly and glowering at her, the green eyes no longer joking. ‘What did she say?’

  ‘Calm down.’ said Cassie. ‘She didn’t want to interfere, but I’m glad she did. No, just wait, stop looking so mad and let me explain. Cassie sat up too and propped some pillows up behind them. ‘She said very little, just that Francesca has idolized you since she was a child but that you did not
see her in the same way and never have. You have to understand, after my altercation with Francesca at the lake, I was very hurt and confused and vulnerable, and angry.’ she added forcefully, although she wanted to smile at him just then because she felt so good inside.

  ‘When I heard what she had done to you I was so angry I nearly went to the hospital and had it out with her. My poor darling, Francesca is crazy and I will never let her get in our way again.’ he said with feeling. Cassie sat stock still with shock. What had he just said?

  ‘What do you mean Marco?’ said Cassie, her heart doing a wild tango in her chest.

  ‘I mean this Cassandra’ said Marco, taking her in his arms and kissing her. ‘I am not letting you get away from me, ever.’

  ‘But?’ Cassie protested, feebly.

  ‘But no, Cassandra. I have so much to explain to you, but right now, all I want to do is make love to you again and again.’ He kissed her lips softly and laid her down on the pillows, sliding on top of her. ‘Enough talk for now amore, Doctors orders.’

  Cassie closed her eyes in delicious anticipation as Marco’s lips came down over hers and his hard body moved above hers. She couldn’t believe she wanted him again so soon and with such passion. She slid her hand down between them to grip his erect cock and he gasped in pleasure and she guided him into her. They made love as if for the first time, tenderly, and with many whispered words of passion between them, trying desperately to control the aching need they both felt to possess each other and slake their passion within each other’s bodies. Marco held on for as long as he could, but as he heard Cassie whisper his name and begin to come, he felt his own climax and shuddered as he came inside her with a groan and her name on his lips.

  Their lovemaking turned into a siesta and they slept the hot afternoon away, arms and legs splayed out like starfish, but Marco still holding onto Cassie’s hand.

  Cassie woke first and looked over at Marco. He lay still, his breathing quiet and she was loathe to disturb him, but Liz and Kat would be home soon and she wanted to be up, or at least in the pool, not in the bedroom. As she slipped her hand out of Marco’s, he started and he turning his head, his green eyes pierced hers.

  ‘Marco, we need to get up. Liz and Kat will be home soon.’ whispered Cassie softly, her long hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders.

  ‘Why, we can just stay here in the room,’ said Marco.

  ‘Don’t be silly, come on get up.’ She leapt out of bed before he could catch her and wrapped her discarded sarong around her, knotting it between her breasts. Marco sighed and stretched like a big cat and climbed out of bed, searching around in the dim room for his clothes.

  ‘Come, we are going to the stables. I need to exercise Diavolo,’ he said, promptly, pulling up his jeans.

  ‘Now?’ said Cassie.

  ‘Si, it is cooler now and it is a beautiful afternoon. Dusk is one of my favorite times to ride.’ He paused and looked over at her. Looking her up and down and giving her a devilish grin, he said. ‘You look fantastic, but I think you should wear something underneath your sarong because we are going to gallop.’

  ‘Don’t be a sexist creep.’ said Cassie, putting her hands on her hips and pouting.

  ‘You want to argue about it now?’ he said, striding over to her, his eyes suddenly darkening with desire. Cassie yelped and leapt out of the way. She knew that look now and what he wanted, and quite frankly, they just didn’t have time. She did not want to be caught en flagrante by Liz and Kat and be subjected all evening to their teasing.

  ‘Okay, okay, just give me a minute.’ she replied, searching around for some underwear and her leggings.

  ‘Wear some socks and your trainers.’ he commanded, remembering Cassie’s feet. ‘You can ride behind me on Diavolo.’

  Diavolo whinnied from his open stable door as he saw Marco. He stomped his hooves in excitement.

  ‘Arrivo’.’ said Marco walking up to the big horse and holding his head gently and stroking his nose, as Diavolo closed his eyes in pleasure. Cassie came up beside Marco and patted Diavolo on the neck.

  ‘To take Diavolo was asking for trouble.’ he said to no one in particular, as he slipped a halter around his nose and ears and led him out into the courtyard. His hands worked all over the animal as he checked him for any signs of injury.

  Diavolo stood patiently, occasionally turning his head to look around at Marco, and, at one stage, he tried to take a nip as Marco was bent over examining his back hooves.

  Cassie laughed and Marco jumped up.

  ‘There is nothing wrong with this devil,’ he said, slapping the big horses neck. Cassie held him while Marco went into the tack room to get the bridle and Diavolo tried to nibble her hair.

  ‘He likes you’ said Marco.

  ‘I’m not sure about riding pillion on him though, and especially bare back.’ said Cassie.

  ‘Don’t worry Cassandra. Diavolo and I will take extra special care of you.’ Cassie didn’t feel very reassured by the cheeky grin he gave her. After fitting the bridle and the bit on a docile Diavolo, he moved the horse closer to the post and rail fence and beckoned Cassie to his side, lifting her up neatly onto Diavolo’s back, before putting one booted foot on the rail and swinging himself up in front of Cassie.

  ‘Andiamo.’ he said and Cassie clung to him as the big horse moved off. Diavolo was huge compared to Stella and Cassie was more than a little nervous.

  ‘Relax Cassandra, we are only walking, relax.’ said Marco, confidently, and Cassie stifled the urge to give him a dig in the ribs. Old Mr Cocky, she thought, so sure of himself. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows over the landscape and Cassie had to agree that it was indeed a wonderful time to go for a ride. It was still very warm, but the harsh afternoon sunlight had dissipated and now cast a golden glow over the sky.

  Marco took a new path as they left the stables and Cassie was grateful they weren’t retracing the same steps she had so painfully trodden a couple of days ago. She relaxed and rested her head on Marco’s shoulder, enjoying the swaying motion Diavolo made as he walked. The passed through olives groves and climbed higher, threading their way between the neatly ordered vines, heavy with bunches of purple colored grapes. At the top of a craggy bluff, Marco stopped Diavolo, and Cassie caught her breath as she looked around her at the entrancingly beautiful landscape.

  Marco slipped off his back nimbly and reached up for her, putting his hands around her waist and lifting her from Diavolo’s back. He looped Diavolo’s reins loosely to a shrub so he could graze, and led Cassie over to a large flat rock where they sat on its smooth, warm surface, gazing out at the vista before them.

  ‘This is one of my favorite places on the estate,’ said Marco. ‘I have been coming here for years. It is such a peaceful spot to sit and dream.’ Cassie turned to look at him and found him staring intently at her. ‘I have never been intimate with Francesca, and she has never been my girlfriend in the past or in the present. When the time is right, I will speak to her and make her understand for once and all that she is not part of my future. I felt sorry for her for too long and now she has caused so much trouble, and I cannot forgive her for that.’ He sounded so serious, and for a brief second, Cassie felt a stab of pity for Francesca. Marco would not forgive easily, she thought with a shiver. There was so much she did not know about him, but she was inexplicably drawn to him as if she were a magnet.

  ‘I think she gave herself a huge fright coming off Diavolo and injuring herself,’ said Cassie, not exactly in defense of Francesca, but trying to rationalize the girl’s outrageous behavior to Marco.

  ‘She deserves it,’ said Marco darkly. ‘If something terrible had happened to you I would lose my mind,’ he said passionately, taking her hand and kissing her open palm.

  ‘Cassandra, I am in love with you.’ Her mouth dropping open in shock, Cassie said, ‘Marco, I live on the other side of the world. What are you saying to me?’ Her voice sounded croaky, and she thought she might start to cry, as emot
ions welled up inside her.

  ‘Don’t be upset amore, please.’ said Marco, putting his arms around her shoulders.

  ‘I know we have known each other for only a short time, but I feel like we have known each other forever. I want you to be in my life. Please think about it’ he pleaded.

  ‘Think about what?’ said Cassie, a solitary tear running down her cheek. She wiped it away hurriedly. ‘What are you asking me Marco? I have another life, a job, friends and family. This has been a holiday, a beautiful, wonderful holiday, but it is a dream, not a reality for me.’

  Marco suddenly jumped up from the rock and knelt in front of her, taking both of her hands in his. ‘Cassandra, I want you to be here with me always, to live our lives together. Seeing the incredulous look on her face he hurriedly added. ‘I know this is sudden and we have only known each other for such a short time, but I feel in my heart that we are meant to be together. That is why I am not asking you to be my wife, yet. I want you to come back to me of your own volition, not to be put under any pressure. ‘His green eyes looked so serious and yet she could see the vulnerability of him before her, on his knees, like an old fashioned knight, his curly dark hair falling across his brow, his mouth a straight line, taught with tension, his hands shaking slightly.

  Cassie gazed back at him for a few, long seconds as her mind worked frantically to regain control over her heart. She had only known this man for a week. What was a week? Nothing. Not enough time to do more than become acquaintances really, and lovers in this case. It was a holiday fling, that’s all. But she discarded that thought immediately as her heart welled up with love. Rubbish, she thought, don’t be a soppy fool. You may be in love with him, but he is asking you to leave everything you know, everything you have worked hard for all your life to be with him. What about all the careful planning you have done for your real life, wonderful Maggie, your friends and business acquaintances, your country and your lifestyle, which seemed a million miles away from here at this moment. This was all true, but Cassie also knew deep down that she had been unhappy for some time. She acknowledged to herself that she was stuck in a rut of her own making, in her personal life and in her professional life. Too scared to break out of her secure little world and trust her own feelings, she was on a treadmill that offered a safe life, but a life with very little excitement. She could see herself becoming older and more afraid to take any risk as the years passed by, trapped in a life of her own making. She looked steadily at Marco; who was beginning to look desperate; as these thoughts raced through her mind. He could not know the battle that was going on inside her. Here was her chance at real love, with a man she was smitten with. Was she strong enough to take this chance? Would it not be more prudent to step away from the situation and look at it sensibly from a distance? This was the real Cassie, someone who, in her professional and personal life, assessed each situation she was presented with, calmly and coolly, without letting emotions cloud her decisions.