by Kailin Gow
“Not really, we have many ancestors who lived in the Pompeii area,” Salvatore said casually, playfully touching the top of my hand with his finger.
“You don’t think that’s fascinating?” I asked, very surprised.
“You have to understand, most of us here in Italy know much more about our roots and family trees than in many other countries. We’ve been a culture for a very long time now.”
I nodded. He was right but I wanted to get back to the story. “Good point, well, inside the jewelry box I found hairpins and a few other things that had the family crest on them. There was only one thing that didn’t—it was a brooch that had another house’s crest on it.”
“What do you think that means?” he asked, looking at me with what seemed to be genuine curiosity.
“I can’t say for certain but I feel like the daughter was perhaps betrothed to one house but loved someone from another.”
Salvatore leaned in and kissed me, “That is a very tragic tale, Taylor First.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
I smiled at Salvatore as he leaned back a bit, seeing that my curiosity had overridden his soft kiss.
“It’s possible, yes. Families of great social standing have always arranged marriages.”
“And they still do,” I said softly.
“Sadly, yes.”
“Doesn’t anyone ever question it or rebel against it, Salvatore?” I asked.
I felt like I could barely breath as I waited for his answer.
“That happens very rarely.”
“Why?”
Salvatore smiled at me softly. “Because those children are raised to know and understand that is what will happen. It’s very natural and there really is no reason to question it. They’ve seen it happen the entire time they were growing up and are often married as young as fourteen or fifteen. That has changed now, of course, but the mentality of it all really has not.”
“Is that the case with you and your fiancé?”
Salvatore nodded his head yes but seemed hesitant to say the words. Instead, he professed what was in his heart. “We are going to figure things out, Taylor. As I mentioned, she loves another and I love you. There is no future for us aside from friendship. We both know that and just need to get our parents to understand it.”
“Will that ever be possible?” I asked. I wasn’t ready for marriage but I did have a lingering fear of falling deeply in love with someone that I truly couldn’t have.
“Yes, but for today, it’s just us enjoying this amazing day,” Salvatore said.
“Ah, young love. Look at you two; so lovely,” Carlotta said, making her presence back in the kitchen known. “When are you two going to get married?”
I felt like I’d just swallowed a lead weight. Married? It was way too soon to talk about or entertain such a thought as that. Did our actions and chemistry with each other make her think that?
Thankfully Salvatore spoke for me because I was still rendered speechless. “We are both expected to be with someone else, Carlotta. Our love is forbidden by our parents but we are secretly in love. These moments bring us joy but also great sadness at times.”
“What does it matter what others say you should do?” Carlotta asked matter-of-factly. “You must do what’s in your heart and what’s best for you, not them. Live your own lives.” She pounded her chest.
“It’s not that easy.”
“It’s very easy,” she said. “Giovanni and I were not supposed to be together either but our love couldn’t stop us. Right, dear?”
Giovanni nodded, not quite as eager to talk about their love as his wife was.
“You must forget what others say and about doing what they expect of you. Giovanni and I were only twenty when we got married and we knew our love was stronger than the opposition we were up against. We had a few troubles in the beginning, yes, but people quickly stopped giving us hassles when they found out they could not deter us from being together. That can happen for you two, as well. You just see.”
I had never felt as nervous about something in my life as I did with Carlotta’s words. They made perfect sense, of course, but they forced me to think about what Salvatore and I had on a completely different level. In my heart of hearts, I knew my family would never abandon me but I wasn’t so sure about Salvatore’s. It was time to sort things out and get serious about what was truly the best course of action for me.
Chapter 15
In America they say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but in Italy it may have very well been just the opposite. Salvatore taking me to his former nanny’s farm and feeding me the amazing, scrumptious homemade pizza had left me feeling open and receptive to the possibilities of what could be.
The thought of Salvatore surrendering everything that was expected of him from his society and family just to be with me—the woman he loved—was, well…wildly romantic. That little part inside of me also wondered just how logical it was. We felt a connection and love but was it everlasting love? I had no idea and as soon as part of me screamed that it was, another part would throw in a maybe. How did anyone know they were in love with the one they were destined to be with forever? According to Carlotta, you just knew. Was I running from what I knew or forcing myself to believe something? I wasn’t old enough to really know, in my opinion.
“Where are you at?” Salvatore asked, leaning over and tracing along the top of my hand with his finger.
“Just content…and happy,” I said, smiling at him.
“I know that look, Tay. Don’t let Carlotta scare you. I’d never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do or expect you to do anything other than what brought you great joy…great passion.”
“I know,” I said, feeling an overwhelming rush of serenity flood into me.
“Why don’t we take a walk around the farm? I’ll give you a tour of the lands. They are lovely, almost magical.”
“That sounds great, Salvatore.”
We got up and walked out the back door. Carlotta winked at Salvatore and I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at it and blush all at the same time. So many intense feelings.
Salvatore grabbed my hand and held it gently as we walked through the courtyard that had chickens walking about it, clucking happily at the bits of feed that were scattered on the dirt for their meal. In the distance, rolling hills and many rows of trees were lined up, making for quite a picturesque scene.
“What type of trees are those?” I asked, pointing to the distance.
“Tangerine.”
“They’re beautiful,” I said.
“Let’s walk over there and explore them,” Salvatore offered.
I nodded enthusiastically and began to look in every direction as Salvatore pointed out certain things and explained a bit more about what I was looking at and what it meant to him.
“All this land here belongs to my family, many thousands of acres.”
“Not your nanny?”
“Carlotta and Giovanni can do as they wish with it because they are excellent farmers and wonderful stewards of the land but it is ours.”
“Don’t they have children that they wish to inherit something to?” I asked.
“That is not as important for many families here in Italy. It’s different,” Salvatore explained. “However, the two only had one son and he passed away many years ago.”
“How sad,” I commented. The thought of it was very agonizing. It made me think of how sad my parents might be if I died since I was their only child.
“Yes but they are strong. Carlotta became my nanny shortly after that happened. It was her way to cope and still feel needed, I think.”
“She obviously adores you,” I said, “and so do I.”
Salvatore stopped walking and delivered me a grand, heart melting smile. “I am very glad to hear that.”
“So, is this all the land your family owns?” I asked.
“No, we own much more. This is all right here in this par
ticular spot but we also own quite a bit of land in Rome, too. Someday, that’ll be part of my responsibilities to the family—running and overseeing all the businesses.”
“Talk about pressure,” I said casually.
“Indeed,” Salvatore said. I looked at him, expecting to see faltering confidence, but instead he had a rather matter-of-fact look upon his face. He noticed me looking at him and added, “Remember, I’ve been raised knowing that I would have these responsibilities. It is not quite so intimidating to me.”
“I’m always a bit taken aback by how different it is. Aside from scenery, it seems that most people are more similar now with technology and more access to others than ever before. That really is an illusion, isn’t it?”
“For me, yes. I feel like we are all more different than any of us would like to admit at times.”
“How about you and I?”
“No, not so much us,” Salvatore began, “which is why I am so drawn to you.”
We had started walking again and I was now more captivated by Salvatore’s words than by the scenery around me. He was so insightful and wise for his age. It was an appealing quality and I felt he was more mature than many of the guys I knew who were my age or even a bit older. Yes, that included Chase.
“Here we are,” Salvatore said as we entered the tangerine grove. “Doesn’t it smell amazing?”
“It sure does. I can also smell herbs in the air. Basil, maybe?”
“Excellent intuition, Taylor. Wild basil is just over there.”
“This may seem like kind of a shallow question,” I began, suddenly wrought with curiosity, “but what would your parents have done if you were not smart enough to take over all that they expect of you? There must be a back-up plan.”
“Honestly, I don’t believe anything less was assumed. On that occasion when I strayed from my responsibilities, as all young people do, they didn’t hesitate to remind me, though,” Salvatore said with a laugh. “’You must think with your mind,’ my father would say to me and point to his head. I’ve heard that a lot in my life.”
“You? Never,” I said with a big laugh.
“And of course there are the expectations to continue the bloodline,” Salvatore said.
“Has everyone always married an Italian in your family?” I asked.
“So far,” he replied to me.
I didn’t want to ruin the moment by having my overactive mind kick in. Instead, I reached up and plucked a tangerine off the tree and breathed in, smelling its sweet aroma. “So wonderful,” I murmured.
“Yes,” Salvatore said, tucking my hair behind my ear. I glanced at him and saw the lust in his eyes and I immediately felt the need to have him.
“It’s getting late. Maybe we need to get me back to my hotel room,” I said, winking at him.
“That is a wonderful idea,” Salvatore replied.
We walked back to the farm house, talking casually about a great many things. It was so effortless, which was so very nice.
After warm hugs and kind words with Carlotta and Giovanni, Salvatore and I headed back to Pompeii to the hotel and walked in, trying to be nonchalant about our eagerness to have a little exploration of each other’s most intimate parts.
The second the hotel room door was closed and locked, we began to kiss each other passionately and aggressively, like long lost lovers who’d been deprived of the other’s touch. It was so needy and intense, making me feel the longing and urgency Salvatore had for me through his actions. No words were needed.
It seems like he’s eager to make love to me like it’ll be the last time we ever do it, I thought. The thought quickly evaporated as he picked me up and carried me to the bed, lying me down gently, and then peeled down my sundress and released the clasp on my bra, casually tossing it to the side.
I arched my back, showing him how aroused my nipples were by his actions and he dove down, licking and kissing my nipples aggressively; outlining the shape of my breasts with his tongue. It felt so good and the small bits of hot air that he blew on the places he kissed left trails of excited flesh on me.
My desire to touch Salvatore was intense but when I tried, he put my hand down and murmured, “Let me explore you, Taylor—all of you.”
There was no way I was going to complain. It felt good and I welcomed anything that he wanted to give me. From my breasts, Salvatore slid to one side and began to nuzzle my neck seductively, making me feel so weak that I’d never be able to walk again. His one hand traveled slowly down my stomach, tracing my ab muscles as it made its way to my most intimate of areas. Without me even realizing it had happened, he’d slid off the rest of my sun dress, leaving just my small, thong panties on. His hand went inside of them and his fingers began to press on me, making me grow wetter, hotter by the second.
His strong hands knew what they wanted and I wanted to feel them inside of me, stroking in and out, bringing me to climax before he even entered me with his hard-on, which was pressed against my hip bone.
So many emotions were happening at one time and I was longing for more, feeling the need to release like I’d never released before. I demanded it and Salvatore clearly demanded nothing less from me. It was such a turn-on and I loved the authority in his touch, showing me that he definitely knew how to get what he wanted. At that moment, nothing else mattered but how I felt with Salvatore. I was his for the taking, eager for our merger.
His tan, firm, and now sweaty body was pressed against mine and he was ravaging me with unbridled passion, making me feel like nothing else mattered. My loins were agonizing for him to enter into me and complete what he’d started. Just his touch made me shudder and start a series of mini orgasms that were more amazing than anything I’d ever felt before, my body’s own version of erotic, seismic activity.
“Now,” I gasped urgently. “Please.”
“For you, anything,” Salvatore said, sliding into me.
We moved rhythmically together back and forth, each knowing what the other wanted to feel and understanding the depth of our experience together. It wasn’t our first time but it was by far the most exhilarating, tantalizing time we’d been together. It was love and raw passion all mixed into one and I couldn’t imagine anything better in my life—ever.
Not able to hold it anymore, we both came together in one mind blowing explosion that left us breathing heavy and speechless for quite some time. Our bodies remained connected and I didn’t want to lose the contact of our flesh. It felt like my lifeline.
“Wow,” I finally said when I could get some words out. “A highly inadequate expression but all I have, nonetheless.”
“Sounds as good as anything to me,” Salvatore said, leaning in and kissing my earlobe, then giving it a gentle bite.
We sat in silence and I drifted off into sleep. The next thing I knew, morning’s first light was entering into the hotel room, and I could feel Salvatore moving around. I looked over at him and smiled. He looked so gorgeous.
He woke up and smiled lazily at me, making me feel so good. I snuggled into his arm and cherished his strong embrace. From there, I took in the wonderful feelings that were surging through me, making me feel so connected with Salvatore. How was what we had going to work out? I didn’t understand and I didn’t want to force anything, especially when I was uncertain about how to go about it all, too.
Always attuned to my slight shifts of mood, Salvatore lifted his body up onto his elbow and looked at me closely, contently. “I don’t want to go but I must.”
“Work?” I asked casually, not liking the thought of being separated despite my own work.
“No, I have to go talk to my fiancé and break it off; then the hard part comes—telling my parents.”
That got my attention. “You’re doing that today?”
“I care for you, Taylor, and you’ve shown you care for me by breaking it off with Chase. It’s my turn. My parents are leaving for a holiday to Spain and France. I want to tell them before they go. It’ll be best that way; I don�
��t want to wait. I want to be with you.”
I gulped, excited by his proclamation but knowing that it came with some possibly costly consequences: being disowned, possibly disinherited, and cast out of the family business. It was a lot to expect or ask. Then I reminded myself that it didn’t have to come down to that. They may be accepting of his decision if it was truly from the heart and sounded final.
With nerves that were as on edge as Salvatore’s, I bid him farewell and then got ready for work. The second he was out of the room it was like a bit of my security had just been snatched from me. I had a dark feeling inside, an instinct, really. Could Salvatore really change the course of his birthright? The way he’d made love to me the night before made me doubt that he thought he could. He’d loved me like he would never see me again. If that was indeed the case, I had no idea how I would handle such a thing. Sure, I’d move on but would part of me be shattered forever? I’d like to think it wouldn’t but my heart told me it would.
