Lussuria (New Version)

by SJ Molloy

  “What do you mean?” My eyes prick with tears at talk of my mother.

  “You said is instead of was.”

  Fuck!

  File B for Busted.

  Heat flaring in my cheeks, I stutter, “Sorry, I mean she was all those things. The Chapel just got me thinking, that’s all.” I squirm a little, but relax when Lucca kisses the top of my head compassionately. “Lucca, do you want to tell me about your candle?” I whimper, trying to change the subject because it can’t be as bad as my own emotional carnage.

  I feel him lift his chest and drop it back into the cushion of the lounger. He places his face and chin to the side of my head while he cradles me. “It was for my son in heaven.”

  Oh my God.

  “I’m so sorry to hear you say that. Do you want to tell me about it?” I ask cautiously. I turn around to look at him. He closes his eyes in pain, then opens them.

  “Yes, I want to tell you. I want to be honest with you.” I feel my stomach hit the floor. “The relationship, the one from my past I was telling you about….Francesca, she was my fiancée. We met when we were young, before I moved to Scotland, then I’d spend the summers here with Sofia and Franco. Our mothers are close friends, they went to school together. I had encounters with women frequently, but none that I would commit to. I didn’t date anyone more than once. Deep down I knew I held a candle for Francesca in my heart, my childhood sweetheart.”

  He blushes a little. “We tried the distance relationship thing, but it didn’t work because I was still seeing other women. I think she knew, but she wanted to make it work, so she came to Scotland. We lived together for a while.”

  Bang! There’s the flaw right there. Mr. Perfect is a womanizer. Hazel was right.

  “Please, don’t think I’m still that person. It’s just while Francesca was here, and I was over there, we were not solid or fully committed. It was very casual. I regret treating her the way I did, I would never be that person again, please, trust me.”

  “I believe you,” I say. I’m not sure if I really do,

  Fuck!

  File I for Insecure. Insecure enough without knowing he’s a man-whore.

  “When she came to Scotland, I was overjoyed. I didn’t think she would up and leave her family and her life for me, so I wanted to be the better person and treat her well. Be faithful to her while we lived together.”

  “And did you stay faithful to her?” I need to know.

  “Yes, I did, while she lived with me.”

  I relax, feeling content with his answer. I take his face in my hands, and I kiss him. He smiles as I pull away, giving him reassurance I’m not mad at him and that I understand.

  “Francesca fell pregnant, and I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine how a tiny person would fit into my life with all the work and travel I was doing trying to build up my industries. I was also recovering from a period of poor health that required medical treatment, so I was tired and couldn’t imagine having the energy or time to care for a kid. Francesca was over the moon, and her parents were thrilled. I did love her, but I was agitated, feeling nervous. My father wanted me to do the right thing and marry her, so I proposed to her. Seemed like the right thing to do.”

  “Lucca, you don’t need to finish. It’s okay,” I softly whisper to him.

  “No, I want to,” he says. “After her parents visited and threw a huge engagement party for us, I had to go to London to meet with new contractors, so I left for the weekend. Fran was about twenty-nine weeks pregnant at that stage, more than halfway. She was having an ultrasound scan on the Saturday, so her mum went with her because I was away working. She called me and told me she was sending a picture to my phone. I will never forget that moment, opening the picture message. It said our son, and a picture of a tiny perfect baby boy. My baby boy.”

  He is fighting tears back. I tighten my grip on his hand. My own heart is crushing knowing he carries this around, and that he has gone through this. He releases a sniffled sob, and a tear falls down his cheek. I slide up his body and wipe it with my thumb.

  “I wasn’t there, Lexi. I missed the scan, I missed it all. I spent that day on cloud nine. I was looking forward to going home and spending time with Fran, and looking forward to seeing my son grow. The news made me so happy as reality finally hit me I was going to be a dad. On the Sunday she was in a car accident as she drove her parents back to the airport.”

  I throw my hand over my mouth and gasp.

  “Fran was admitted for surgery. Her dad died at the accident scene on the M8 roadside. They were unable to resuscitate him, or stop the bleeding from his head. Her mother suffered minor fractures and broken limbs. She needed surgery, but would recover. My son had been still born. They had to deliver him but he suffered trauma and lost oxygen and blood supply during the accident. They managed to save Fran after major surgery and a blood transfusion.”

  I feel sick... the darkness deep in the cave of my stomach twists an unsettling storm inside of me.

  Lucca sobs into my head, and I feel tears well up in my own eyes. I wrap my arms around him and press my wet cheek against his. “Lucca. I’m so sorry, so sorry. I wish I could take this all away. I wish I could change this. Nobody should have to go through that,” I whimper.

  “Fran and I had difficulties after the accident. She became distant and cold, and has battled depression ever since. We still loved each other, but were no longer in love with one another if that makes sense. She blamed me for not wanting the baby in the first place, and because I was away when it happened. She said if I was at home and had driven her to the scan it would never have happened. Our son and her dad would still be alive.”

  “Lucca, this was not your fault. I was a tragic accident, and you know that, right? You couldn’t have done anything to change it. Please don’t blame yourself,” I plead with him.

  “I’ve accepted it now. She was angry, and did apologize to me at a later date for fueling her frustration out on me while she was grieving. I lost respect for her because she wouldn’t open up to me, and I couldn’t help her”. He sighs and lowers his shoulders as if a huge weight has been lifted off them.

  Oh my God.

  Will he lose respect for me if I don’t open up to him? My stomach is knotting inside. “Do you still see her?” I ask curiously.

  “Not for a long time. I used to visit every time I was here, but she moved on. She was offered a job on a project in Milan for a fashion design business. Mum keeps me updated on how she’s doing; I haven’t seen her for two years.”

  “When was the accident?”

  “Four years ago.”

  I can’t help myself. “Do you still love her? Would you get back together since she is your childhood sweetheart?”

  “Fran is not my future. She is my past. Perhaps it was some form of fate that we never stayed together. I don’t think I would have given her the life she wanted. You are my future, no one else, so please don’t worry about this. I have never felt the way I feel towards you with anyone else, and that includes Fran. Sure, we had history, but not chemistry or passion or energy or sensitivity or the love that I feel towards you. I knew you were going to be the one for me, that’s why I was so surprised to see you at the Villa that night. Maybe it was fate. The more time we spend together, the more I love you, can you believe me?”

  I kiss him. “Yes, I believe you,” I whisper. “Thank you for being honest with me. I wish I could give you the same, and I will… it’s just going to take a bit of time.”

  “Okay, I understand, but please don’t be too closed on me.” He kisses my temple.

  I want to change the subject, to make him ease a little. “So when do I get to swim in the pool?”

  He laughs. I stand up, remove my watch, and set it down carefully. I unclasp my bra, and fling it at him. His eyes nearly pop out of his head while his jaw drops. I have his full attention now. I wiggle my panties back off and throw them at him. He catches them in his hand, groaning with a deep raunchy desire for me.<
br />
  He stands and scoops me up in his arms. “You are a cock tease, Doc. You’re killing me. Let’s take a dip,” he says in his sexy bedroom voice. He walks down the steps carrying me. I’m giggling and excited, feeling all the fire from before igniting my senses again.

  He takes a few steps, and with one jump I know we are going in together. I scream just before we splash the water. When we surface, we gently swim towards one another, admiring each other in awe. The sun setting behind us, the warmth of the heated water, and Lucca’s magnificent, brawny body wet with his jet-black hair swept back and his crystal eyes twinkling at me...it’s the perfect image.

  A vision and moment I will cherish forever.

  Lucca closes the distance, grabbing my hips and pulling me to him, pressing me into his body. I throw my arms around his neck and kiss him with conviction, opening my mouth for him, his tongue diving in to entangle with mine.

  In a swift movement, Lucca lifts my legs up so that I’m now straddling his waist. He twirls me around the water, holding me possessively, foreheads pressed while our chests rise and fall with laboured heavy heartbeats, the water dripping from our faces and hair. We look at each other and savor the moment.

  Our kissing rekindles slowly and tenderly, then picks up pace, our breathing becoming faster and frantic...

  It looks like we are going again, and I want nothing more.

  Chapter 17

  ‘Take Me Home’

  I awake with a certain someone rubbing his nose up along my neck and under my ear, placing soft kisses. He feels soft, and smells divine. I wish I could do this every morning. I slowly open my eyes, smiling with contentment, and Lucca’s lips are right on mine.

  “Morning.” He grins.

  “Good morning to you. What time is it?” I ask, smiling up towards his bright blue eyes.

  “8:30 am. I’ve been watching you sleep. You looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to wake you too early.”

  “I had the best sleep last night. I was so comfy, I think you tired me out yesterday with your insatiable ways.” I didn’t have a nightmare last night.

  “I owe you a massage, honey. I planned to give you one last night, but you were exhausted. You fell asleep on the sofa watching the movie, so I just lifted you up, and brought you to bed”. He rubs his fingers along my brow, then tucks a long stray strand of hair behind my ears.

  The sun is shining brightly, and the room has a warm aura about it. The bed is comfy, and I feel extremely relaxed. I could stay here all day. “Lucca, I like it here. Can we stay a little while longer?” I ask with optimism, hoping he’ll agree so that I get more of the intimacy I experienced yesterday.

  “Yes, as long as you want. We can stay your full trip if you like.”

  “I would love that, but I’ll need to go back and check on Hazel at some point, though she’ll be enjoying her private time with Dominic, I’m sure. Thanks again for that. It was a very thoughtful thing to do for us.” I entwine my fingers with his, gripping his hands. “So what are we doing today?” I ask eagerly.

  “I’ll let you pick, but I’d like to take you sightseeing in Florence sights and again for the opera, maybe Pisa on another day and Sienna. I want to make love to you in the pool again, many times, and we’ll need to go and visit my parents as well. They want to meet you and are very much looking forward to it. Sofia and Franco have said nothing but good things about you to them.”

  We are going to be very busy by the sounds of it.

  Pool sex—I will definitely have more of that. It’s my new favorite.

  Oh shit.

  Meet the parents already? So soon, really? Is this normal? “Oh, okay. I’ll meet them if you want me to, I suppose, but can we have another day on our own?” I answer reluctantly.

  Not okay.

  “Doc, don’t worry. They will love you, I know it. You have nothing to worry about.” He kisses my head and rolls off me. “I’ll bring breakfast up,” he says as he throws on a pair of boxer shorts.

  “Lucca, did you pack clothes for me?”

  He grins, then laughs roguishly. “Yes, I picked some things out for you when you were out playing with the dogs. I hope they’re okay, but I’d rather you stayed dressed just the way you are.” He sniggers.

  “I’m naked, Lucca. Very funny,” I bluntly reply.

  “I know. That’s what I mean.” He turns and walks downstairs.

  I take a white robe from the back of the ensuite door and jump back into bed. I’m not getting back out. I lift my clutch bag from the bedside table, realizing I nearly forgot to take my pill. I swallow my pill with some water next to the bed, then pick my phone up to call Cameron.

  It’s great speaking to Cameron. We’ve never gone more than a couple of days without speaking, even when he was on his Spezialeinsatzkommando’ (SEK) —his specialised transfer in Hamburg, Germany. He quizzes me about my whirlwind relationship with my new Italian God, asking me repeatedly if I know what I’m doing. He’s surprised to find out I’m not at the original villa with Hazel, but I explain Dominic is with her. I ask about Doris and Mr. Carlin, and I’m not surprised in the least to hear Doris has chewed Ted’s brown leather loafer shoes. I chuckle, and tell Cameron to tell him I’ll buy him new ones.

  “I spoke to Mum about Michael Parks. She knows he’s been released, and she wants you to call or visit her when you get home,” Cameron says.

  I pause for a moment, holding the back of my hand against my lips as I move my fingers up and down in thought, and tapping my foot on the bed nervously.

  “You told Mum about it?” I ask sternly, “Why would you do that? She doesn’t need to worry any more than she does. You’ll make her sick, Cameron.” I sigh.

  “I didn’t tell her, Lexi. She already knew, and she can’t be any sicker than she already is.”

  “Granny said she was getting better, you know, with her art class. Granny and Grandpa are getting too old to handle all the drama and stress that goes with it.” I sigh and close my eyes.

  “Well, we’ll go up together when you come back and see her,” Cameron suggests. I’m glad he is supportive.

  “Okay, I suppose I need to go, I can’t keep avoiding her. It’s just hard for me to deal with, and I don’t want her freaking out any more than usual.”

  “Do you trust this man you are seeing? Is he treating you well?”

  I smile now as he has changed my mood. “Yes, he is treating me very well, and yes, I trust him. I adore him actually.”

  “I looked him up, after Dominic gave me his details. He’s clean, and quite the successful mogul.”

  I knew Cameron would do that. Always my protector and I love that about him.

  We finish our conversation, and I promise to call him in another few days, reminding him to keep his phone charged. I hang up and I’m startled to find Lucca leaning against the doorframe holding a cup of coffee, and looking mystified. His gaze seems to penetrate right through me.

  Oh dear God. I hope he didn’t hear any of that.

  “You trust and adore me?” he asks in a broken voice. He puts the coffee mug down and walks around to kneel at the side of bed. He lifts my head up and looks into my watery eyes. “I’m very glad you’re finally placing trust in me. You don’t know what that means to me, what you mean to me.”

  He leans over to marry my mouth with his, claiming my tongue. “Breakfast is going to need to wait,” he announces in his sexy husky voice. “We won’t be keeping this.” He unties the robe and drops its off over my shoulders. He stares into my eyes, rubbing his thumb across my soft lips, and asks if he can have me.

  I have already given myself to him long before he asks.

  I am his. All his.

  We make sweet love, rolling around with each other, reaching our climaxes, crying out, taking our breath away as we come apart. We lay snuggled in each other’s arms. “I’m going to have a shower,” I murmur.

  “Not without me. Let’s go.” He playfully scoops me off the bed and carries me into the showe
r.

  We stand wrapped around each other for what seems like an eternity, enjoying the closeness, and the heat from the warm water. Our first encounter in the shower seems so long ago. Our relationship has developed immensely in the last few days, and all for the better.

  “Did you mean it when you said you trust me?” he asks.

  “Yes, I trust you.”

  “You are something special. Have I told you that before?” He kisses my temple as I laugh.

  “Yes, several times a day.”

  “Well, believe me when I say I’m going to tell you every day to come.” We turn the water off and Lucca towel dries me, softly covering my body with the white fluffy towel.

  “Lucca, where are my clothes?”

  He kisses the side of my head, then pulls his boxer shorts on. “I’m getting us breakfast,” he says as he walks out of the room.

  “Lucca, are you ignoring me?” I yell downstairs. He bloody well is! I put the white robe back on and march down to meet him.

  Lucca has music on while he is busy in the kitchen; he’s listening to Mumford and Sons, The Cave. Cameron loves this track. I nearly jump out of my skin when I hear a doorbell. I yell through to Lucca, but he doesn’t hear me as his music is quite loud. I walk to the front door and unlock the key. I modestly stand behind the door as I lean my head out. It’s hot today, and the heat blasts my face as it travels in a hot haze through the front door, the pungent smell of sweet summer flowers filling my nostrils. I’m surprised to see a delivery man in a smart suit standing in front of me. “Buongiorno,” he says.

  “Oh, erm, good morning,” I reply.

  Considerately, he continues in English, “I have a delivery for Miss Robertson, Si?” He hands me an electronic tablet to sign, then heads to his van and returns with a large box. I thank him and start to close the door, but he shakes his head and says he has more to come. He returns with another two boxes and four long rectangular ones. This is Lucca’s doing, I know it. I thank him and drag the boxes into the lounge room, as they are too heavy to lift. I open the big square one and peek in.