A Perfect Caress

by Nana Prah

  As she and Vanessa relaxed, swinging in the cooling night air in the hotel’s peaceful garden, the hammock tipped precariously to the side when Vanessa sat up, pointing. “Look, a shooting star. Make a wish.” The girl closed her eyes.

  Only one request came to Lanelle’s mind, and it involved a six-foot-two man with a contagious laugh. Lanelle kept her eyes open as she made her wish.

  Vanessa relaxed into the hammock. “What’s it like to be in love?”

  Lanelle angled her head to get a better look at Vanessa’s upturned face as she stared at the constellation-filled sky.

  What could she say?

  Lanelle closed her eyes, only to see Dante’s piercing brown eyes shimmering with tears as he empathized with her past. “With the wrong one, it’s as if you lose your very essence in an attempt to be who they want you to be. True love is the opposite. You learn more about who you are and your purpose in life. As if doors have been opened with a key you never knew you had until you met the individual.”

  “Mmm. Nice. Are you in love with Uncle D?”

  She had nothing to gain by denying what she’d shout to the world if she weren’t the wrong woman for him. “Yes.”

  Vanessa turned her head and smiled. “I wondered if you were going to tell me the truth.”

  “Why did you ask if you knew the answer?”

  “To see if you knew it.”

  A wise young woman. “Have you ever been in love?”

  “Not really. Guys I liked a lot, but it never seemed enough to call it love. You know what I mean?”

  “I do.”

  Unlike the cities they’d visited in Italy, Sicily’s quiet flowed around them. They’d landed in Agrigento, where they’d toured historic Greek temples. The ancient ruins had Lanelle’s imagination in overdrive about what life must’ve been like during those times.

  Unlike her boisterous nature, Vanessa’s voice came out soft. “I hope you two will be happy together. I knew you’d be perfect for him when I first met you.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “Yup.”

  “How?”

  Vanessa’s hand reached upward and clenched as if attempting to collect one of the sparkly pieces sitting millions of years in the past. “I don’t know. I just did.” Without warning of the change in topic, she said, “I’ve come close, but never actually, you know...done it. What’s it like?”

  This time it was Lanelle’s turn to nearly knock them out of the netting when she sprang up, hoping they were talking about anything other than sex. “Please clarify the it for me.”

  “Sex. I’ve never had sex. Happy?” Vanessa admitted.

  “Why?”

  “Definitely not because of Mom and her long-winded abstinence speeches, that’s for sure.” She let a beat of time pass. “I always imagined it would be special. Even though my friends were having sex, it never seemed right for me. So I didn’t.”

  Resisting the pressure of her peers sounded like something Vanessa would excel at, and Lanelle felt even prouder of her. “I don’t care what they write in novels or show in movies.” Lanelle crinkled her nose. “The first time, at least for me, was horrible. It hurt, was awkward, and since my partner wasn’t considerate, I was left with this lingering need.”

  “Some of my girlfriends would beg to differ. They said it was wonderful.”

  “They lied. After the first time, it gets better. Kind of.” She’d never been fulfilled by her ex-husband. Before him, the couple of men she’d made love to had been pleasant in bed, but she’d never classify having sex with them as being so good she had to have it.

  Conrad had taken it to a whole other level by making it just an activity to get through. Practical and predictable to a fault, his main goal in having sex was for him to reach orgasm and ejaculate. Her sexual needs weren’t a priority to him and left her unfulfilled. Lanelle recalled making love with him had gotten interesting for a moment a few times, but then like a flash it disappeared.

  Toshia would go on and on about the wonders of sex. Lanelle never believed her. Not until the escapade with Dante in the ocean. They’d ravished each other’s mouths and practically clawed their skin off to get closer. Giving and taking in equal measures as they drove each other to the brink of extreme need.

  Making love to him would truly define the term.

  Vanessa chuckled. “What do you mean by ‘kind of’? It either does or it doesn’t.”

  “It all depends. If your man is in tune with you, then I’ve heard it can be great. If not, then...” She let the words trail off.

  “How many men have you been with?”

  Lanelle put up a front of indignation by waggling her pointer finger. “CocoVan, I have every right not to answer.”

  “But you will.”

  “Of course.” She’d do almost anything for the young woman who should’ve been born her baby sister. “Four. Three boyfriends in college, and my ex-husband.”

  Vanessa shook the hammock as she flipped onto her side, propping her head on her hand. “You were married?”

  “A long time ago.”

  “Whoa. What happened?”

  Lanelle expanded her chest with air before plunging into the story. The second time telling it in a few days left her free of tears. Perhaps she was finally learning how to let go of the past.

  Meaning she could move into the future. With Dante? No. She wouldn’t allow herself to gain a measure of hope in that direction. He expected children from the woman he ended up with.

  “Damn.” Vanessa fell onto her back. “That’s rough. Three deaths? Four, including your marriage. How did you survive?”

  She’d asked herself the same question. “We’re all meant to go through something.”

  Vanessa rested her head on Lanelle’s shoulder. “Life sucks.”

  “Sometimes. You ought to know after all you’ve been through. Being diagnosed with cancer and then kicking its ass.” Lanelle raised her hand for a high five, which Vanessa met. “Other times you wonder at God’s magnificence.”

  “Yeah.” The silence extended. “Sorry about losing your babies.”

  Lanelle released the tears. “Sorry about you having to go through cancer.”

  * * *

  Dante covered his yawn just as Lanelle’s ended. He never could figure out why the action was so contagious. It didn’t help he’d stayed up until three contemplating the results of his blood test.

  Today they’d separate. He and Lanelle would stay together while the helicopter he’d hired for the day took the family hopping along the Aeolian Islands, including Vulcano, a popular volcanic island. The sulfur lake it boasted would give Ryan the chance to play in something other than the sea and appease Cynthia’s interest in its reputed therapeutic effects. Dante garnered a guess that his sister would dunk Vanessa into the mud like a full-body baptism to ensure she stayed in remission.

  Dante nudged his brother-in-law. “Can you please pass the jam?” As he spread some on his toast, he asked, “Are you all excited to swim in the mud baths?”

  Ryan spewed out some of the bread in his mouth as he spoke. “Are we really going to swim in mud?”

  Vanessa shot a rancid glare at her mother. “Not mud, stinky sulfur.”

  Cynthia ignored the sparks emanating from her daughter’s eyes. “We won’t know if it smells until we get there. What will you and Lanelle be doing while we’re touring volcanoes and sloshing around in mud?”

  He darted a glance toward Lanelle. Meeting her gaze sent his pulse into high gear. He put down the toast he held without taking another bite. “If it’s all right with you, I thought we’d head to Trapani.” One of the places his Sicilian colleague had sworn to be the most romantic spot on the island. “I’ve noticed you like churches. The Cathedral of Santissimo Salvatore is there, and I’ve
been told it’s worth seeing. Are you up for it?”

  Her dark eyes softened, and yet for the longest moment he thought she’d say no. She’d avoided him yesterday. He presumed because she was embarrassed about their make-out session in the sea. Had he scared her away? Maybe it was for the best. Then why are you whisking her off to Trapani? A journey to Syracuse would be more exciting, if not a longer car ride.

  Dante maintained hope and sought to romance her with old, beautiful churches and breathtaking views of the town and ocean. This was his chance to woo her without his family being around to witness, judge and contribute with annoying suggestions.

  “I’m up for it,” she finally answered.

  “Good. I’ve been told it’s a scenic drive. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  He didn’t miss Vanessa’s head moving back and forth between them or when a grin replaced her scowl over having to get dirty in the volcanic sludge.

  Trying not to let the anticipation reflect in his voice, he drank the rest of his coffee before saying, “Let’s finish up so we can get started. It’s going to be an interesting day.”

  Chapter 22

  With no qualms about acting as if nothing had happened between them, Lanelle treated Dante as if it were a normal day on the best vacation she’d ever taken. He hadn’t brought it up, so she wouldn’t, either. She attempted to push down the memory of them together, but it kept surfacing and heating her skin like the blazing sun in the azure sky.

  The beautiful landscape as they drove north through the island held her focus. They kept the conversations light. Stories of exploits from his youth and how much trouble he’d gotten into while exploring this country made her laugh so hard her ribs ached.

  Lanelle wiped away tears of mirth. “Mr. Calvano had his hands full with you.”

  “He never told my dad how mischievously I’d behaved. I wasn’t troublesome, just curious.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “And you? What were you like as a child?”

  She hitched the shoulder not restricted by the seat belt. “For the most part quiet. I had my moments of rebellion, though. When I wanted information I’d find it in a logical way, by asking rather than experiencing.”

  “It doesn’t sound like fun.”

  “It appeased my curiosity and kept me out of trouble.” She poked him in the shoulder. “Unlike you.”

  “It’s a good thing I’ve calmed down in my old age.”

  She scoffed. “Yeah, what are you, all of twenty-nine?”

  “It’s good to know I’m still looking young, but I’m a whopping thirty-two.”

  “Time to settle down, isn’t it?” She chewed the inside of her cheek, berating herself for introducing a heftiness to the car’s atmosphere. Did she even want to know the answer? She knew it wouldn’t be with her, so why be nervous?

  He slanted his eyes at her for the briefest of moments and asked, “What about you?”

  “Don’t you know you’re never supposed to ask a woman her age?”

  A low rumble of a chuckle came from his throat. “I’m guessing you were one of those nerdy smart-asses in school. I meant about settling down.”

  “I’m in no rush.” She hung her head. Men didn’t seem to hang around when their presence was most needed, so why bother?

  Thumping his hand on the steering wheel, he spared her a glance. “I keep thinking about the little move you did on me at the fund-raiser.”

  Lanelle clapped her fingers over her eyes. Would the humiliation of that impulsive moment ever leave her? For almost kissing her, she’d been an infinitesimal twist away from breaking his pinkie. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled.

  He reached for her wrist and drew a hand from her face. “Hey, you’ve already apologized.” He slid his hand into hers. “I’m not bringing it up to taunt you. In retrospect it was really cool. Especially since no one else noticed your ability to bring me to my knees. I presume you’re some kind of deadly weapon. Are you a black belt supermaster?”

  “I don’t train for belts, but for knowledge, skills, discipline and health. Ever since high school I’ve done aikido and Krav Maga.”

  He whistled. “Damn. That’s a wicked combination. I got off lucky.”

  “I’ll say.” The roughness of his thumb grazing the back of her hand made her scalp, of all places, tingle.

  “I see we’ve gone past the stage of takedowns as a punishment for touching you,” he said, the timbre of his voice deepening.

  “Yeah.” Pull over and kiss me. She focused her attention on the passing homes to avoid uttering the thought. “Other than see the cathedral, what’s there to do in Trapani?”

  “I know you won’t get as excited over this as Ryan, but there’s a cable car ride to Erice, which has stunning seaside views.”

  “You must not know me well, because I’m more excited than Ryan would be. I love heights and seeing beautiful things from above.”

  Dante chuckled. “Please don’t brag about it to him. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Lanelle waved a dismissive hand. “I’m the one who should be jealous. They get to travel in a helicopter today. I’m sure his height adventure will supersede mine. What else is there to see?”

  “I was told a street called Corso Vittorio Emanuele was the place to be.”

  “Why?”

  “Shopping.” He looked at her and winked. “And they have lots of bakeries to choose from.”

  “So we’ll eat. Just like we’ve been doing the entire trip.” Lanelle rubbed her stomach. Not that she’d mention it, but she must have gained at least five pounds so far. Good thing she never got into the craze of wearing skinny jeans. She would’ve busted out of them.

  “And will continue to do until we leave. We’re almost there. Where should we go first?”

  “The cathedral. I’d like to see what’s special about this one.” Other than walking through it with you. As a pragmatist, romantic notions weren’t her thing. Could she ever let go enough to trust someone? To love someone? Like I already love Dante.

  With his sweet, caring, honest ways, he’d made her fall in love with him.

  It didn’t matter because nothing would come of it. She refused to bind his life to hers in any way other than her connection with his family.

  Kissing was out of the question. With one last longing glance at his tempting lips, she sighed, settled back in her seat and set off to harden herself to their attraction.

  She figured the Romans had an easier time building their great city than she would accomplishing this feat.

  * * *

  From his peripheral vision, Dante noticed Lanelle angle herself toward him within the confines of the seat belt. “It seems you know more about me than I do about you.”

  He took his gaze off the road for a moment for a glance in her direction. “What would you like to know?”

  “Tell me something personal about yourself. Just to even the score.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “Is this a game we’re playing?”

  “Of course not.” Then she shifted her body back to the front. “Forget I asked.”

  “I didn’t think you were the type of person who gave up so easily,” he goaded.

  Crossing her arms, she ignored him.

  “There’s nothing much about me you don’t already know. Pretty much what you see is what you get. I live for my family and my work.”

  “Why aren’t you in a relationship?” Lanelle asked after a long pause.

  A reciprocal question came to mind. He bit it down. “As far as I can figure, there are two reasons. I’m happily committed to my work. Everyone in my family is always castigating me about it. I’m not just talking about installing flooring, either. I love every aspect of it, including the paperwork. Cynthia claims I’ve got a type A personal
ity, but I beg to differ. I enjoy being good at what I do. And I do more of it because I like it.”

  When the silence stretched, Dante thought the question-and-answer session had ended. Then Lanelle asked, “What’s the second reason?”

  In lieu of being able to look her in the eyes, he placed his hand on her knee. “Up until recently I hadn’t found anyone I wanted to commit to. And by that I mean spend every day for the rest of my life with.”

  “So since your ex-fiancée, you’ve never had a serious relationship?”

  Was she being intentionally obtuse about how he’d just exposed his deepest desire to her? “It’s not what I said. I’ve never felt the need for a happily-ever-after.”

  Lanelle snorted. “It doesn’t exist.”

  “Doesn’t it?”

  “No.” Lanelle shifted her knee away from him. He took the hint and placed his hand on the steering wheel. “One person ends up leaving. Look at the divorce rates.”

  He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, wishing it was her ex’s neck. “Not all men are like your ex-husband, Lanelle. Not everyone will abandon you, especially when you need them the most.” If you give me a chance, I’ll love you until the end of time, and beyond if possible. He couldn’t take the risk of telling her and having her retreat. Not when they’d gotten a little closer. Time would reveal the truth.

  “And remember, not all women who come from money are like the woman who broke your heart.”

  Where did that come from? Then he recalled the investment work she did. Was she one of the privileged that he’d been bashing? A niggling fear that she hadn’t been forthright about who she was made him refuse to ask. Reaching the outskirts of the town, Dante shut down his thoughts, pulled the vehicle over and punched the cathedral’s address into the GPS before following the directions to their destination.

  Every ancient church they’d toured seemed to calm her. Not overly expressive of her emotions, Lanelle would relax her face, shoulders and overall demeanor when in one. Perhaps it’s where she’d derived her strength when life had turned into hell. Better to have her tranquil and present with him than in the aloof mood she’d fallen into after their conversation about exes.