I watched the pain flash across his face. “I can promise you, that I will never leave you. Finding you, having you back in my life, means too much to me. I will never be the one to walk away.” He said quietly, before pressing his lips to my stomach. “I wish you could do the same.”
I stared helplessly down into his beautiful face. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t give him the reassurance he so desperately needed. I was confused and overwhelmed. It might be just him and I, right here, right now, but he had a whole new, big world, beyond that door. I didn’t fit in with that. I knew it. Down deep inside, I knew it.
“I love you Dante.” I said quietly. That was true. I would always love him. He was going to be my one great, true love. The one I looked back on in years to come, and possibly had doubts over. Where I would wonder what life would have been like, had we stayed together. “Please get up. Let’s get out of here before we stay wrinkled up forever.” I smiled at him.
It was time to pull my head out of my ass, and simply enjoy the rest of my time in Italy. I needed to stop thinking about how all this, belonged to him, and focus on this being a holiday. We only had four more days here, before we flew home.
As it turned out, Dante was involved in discussions with a couple of potential buyers. I worried about him selling, because it was obvious to anyone, how much he loved it here. Still, the thought of flying home without him, somehow made it easier, for me to think about whether we had a future, or I did what my every instinct was telling me to do, and ran like hell. Being around him; clouded my judgement. The man was sensual and visual overload after all. I needed that time without him, to way up the pros and cons of whether I should stay with him, or not.
For the rest of the time in Italy, I pretended to be the life of the party. By day, Dante showed us his world. We went horse riding for a couple of hours one day, since, his property came complete with its own stables, and horses; that tourists could hire, to explore the vast estate.
We hired mopeds and rode around some of the beautiful country roads, taking in the scenery. I took dozens upon dozens of photos of us all, plus a lot of Dante in various poses. I wanted as many reminders of him as I could get; to help me through those long lonely nights.
On our second to last day, Dante drove us into Florence to show us around. We wandered around the Boboli Gardens, looking at sculptures that dated back to the 16th and 18th centuries. It was mind blowing to see things that old, that had survived centuries.
I think it was Dante’s goal to get us to see as much of his country as possible before we had to go home.
We saw the Piazza Della Signoria, the Palazzo Pitti, the incredibly old and beautiful Catholic Church, Basilica of Santa Croce.
We were taken to see the very famous statue of David by Michelangelo. I stared at in wonder. I’d heard so much of it. It was an extremely well known sculpture, but to stand before it, seeing it in the flesh, his very naked flesh too, left me gaping at it, in wonder.
As I stared at the statue, Dante came up behind me, his arms slipping around my waist. Instantly my nostrils were filled with his scent, and my body felt the warmth of his, behind mine.
“Are you staring at his cock?” He asked; his lips against my ear, so only I would hear.
I snorted; a sound that was far from ladylike. “At that little thing, are you serious? Now why would I want to look at that, when I know what’s behind that zip of yours?”
I smiled up at him, while reaching out subtly behind me, to squeeze him gently, through his rust coloured chinos. He wore a white t-shirt, cream cable knit sweater, and grey Vans plimsolls on his feet. With his darkly tinted sunglasses, a gold chunky chain around his neck, and a matching bracelet around one wrist, not to mention his gold and silver Rolex watch, he looked every bit the gorgeous, sexy, Italian stud. Still, looking at his jewellery now, with my far more critical eye, I realised, his looks had dazzled me so much, I’d failed to have it register, just how expensive it all was. Of course he could afford it though; holy hell, but could he afford it.
Dante grabbed my wandering hand, raising it to his lips, when he bent forward, over my shoulder, to kiss my fingers. “Don’t handle the merchandise when we’re in public like this cara. I don’t wish to become aroused while staring at David and his…shall we say…inadequacies? You know, I can’t get enough of you now. I don’t know what it is, whether it’s the Tuscan altitude, the cooler weather, or maybe it’s simply because the woman I love, is in the country I love, experiencing all its delights, with me.”
I smiled up at him, at the sweetness of his words. God he was a beautiful man, and I loved him so desperately. How was I ever going to walk away from him?
He frowned at me, his fingers, capturing my chin, to hold my face up so he could study me. “I see the shadow in your eyes still. There is something, a flash of something in them, and it troubles me Grace. I wish you would speak to me. Let me help ease, whatever it is that plagues your thoughts and dreams.”
My heart gave a little skip at his words. “Do I talk in my sleep?” I asked, suddenly worrying about what I might be revealing, when I had no control over what I did or said.
“Nothing I can understand. You just seem restless, disturbed, as if something is playing on your mind.” He said, and I relaxed. “Come on, let’s head back. It’s been a long day.”
The following day, we got a tour of the vineyard. Not the house, and surrounding buildings so much this time, but the acres of grape vines, the olive tree plantations, and a couple of buildings, that were massive. One appeared to be a distribution area. There were numerous boxes, flattened, ready for assembly.
I could see different names on them, and realised they were the boxes, for the various wines, to be packaged into.
Another area was a factory with the wines bottles worming their way along on various conveyor belts. There were machines to bottle, machines to label. It was quite a process, this whole wine making, obviously.
Dante moved on to a network of rooms, some filled with a dizzying number, of huge stainless steel vats. They appeared to be all different sizes, which apparently varied, depending on the wine, fermenting in them.
I stared up at them, vats that towered over us, and all I could think was, ‘holy hell.’ The quantities of wine produced in his vineyard, had to be enormous.
I didn’t get too long to think about it though, before we were ushered through a doorway, and led down stairs into a maze of large rooms, underground. There were rooms with rows of huge wooden barrels, and Dante explained, that depending on the kind of wine being produced, depended on what it was left to ferment in. His vineyard commonly produced Chardonnay and Sauvignon in the barrels.
Listening to him talk so passionately, and with such knowledge of wines; to see how animated he was, made me realise, just how much he loved this place, how much the vineyard meant to him. This was where he should be, here in Italy, not Australia.
Once he’d shown us around the winery, after we’d been to the tasting room. and sampled some of the best from Bartolone Vigneto, Dante took us out for a few hours, to look around Tuscany. It was stunning. Rolling hills, acres and acres of grape vines, from all the vineyards, narrow winding roads, beautiful old stone houses. It truly was a visual feast.
By the time we headed back to the vineyard, I was exhausted. I didn’t even have the energy to make love with Dante, and instead fell into bed, sleep claiming me, almost before my head, had hit the pillow.
Chapter Twenty Six
The following evening, we all gathered in the living room, relaxing. It had been a hectic few days, but this was our last evening in Italy. Tomorrow, Mel, Alex and I flew home. Dante would be staying here, to deal with whatever he had going on, with the parties interested in the vineyard.
Mel and I were sampling some of the best, Dante’s vineyard had to offer, both feeling a nice little glow, setting in from our wine. As we drank and giggled, we blatantly ogled, the two men in the room, as they played pool.
I
t was nice, because the alcohol helped to dull the depressing thoughts, I’d secretly carried around. The painful and stark reality, that much as I loved Dante, I had to let him go. For so many reasons, I wasn’t worthy of someone like him.
“You know, when we get home Gracie, you’re going to tell me what the hell is going on with you.” She hissed at me. I opened my mouth to deny there was anything, but she was quicker than me. “Don’t you dare tell me it’s nothing; because I know, you. You haven’t been yourself, and I know Dante senses there is something wrong. Have you told him everything about you?”
I shook my head, my eyes darting to him, to see if he’d noticed the more serious turn, in the conversation between Mel and me, but he was still deeply involved in the game with Alex.
My eyes drifted over Dante, as he bent over the pool table, that delectable, tight ass of his, showcased beautifully, in a fitted pair of black chinos. He’d kicked off his shoes and was barefoot, but watching the muscles shifting under his crisp, white shirt, made me wish he’d throw it off too. He was halfway there. He’d unbuttoned it, so it hung open, driving me crazy, with flashes of his muscled chest, and rock hard abs, when he moved around, the pool table.
Tonight was our last night together, and I wanted it to be a night to remember. A night I would never forget.
“Are you even listening to me?” Mel’s voice interrupted my blatant drool fest over Dante. “God woman, close your mouth, and wipe up the drool, it’s about to drip off your chin.”
My head snapped around at her words, and I lifted a hand to brush at my chin. There was nothing, no drool. I frowned at my friend.
“Bitch.” I said, shooting her a grin. “Don’t make this seem like a one sided affair. You’ve been watching Alex too. I’ve seen you.”
“Well he’s worth looking at.” She argued, before taking another sip of her wine.
“They both are.” I turned to watch Dante again, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed, when he looked over and caught me staring at him, giving me a slow, sexy wink. I wasn’t a religious person, but as I looked into his beautiful brown eyes, for that brief moment, before his focus shifted back, to the game with Alex, I suddenly felt the need to pray for the strength, it was going to take, to walk away from this man, and not turn back.
Suddenly needing a distraction, I turned and grabbed the wine bottle, hastily refilling my glass. Mel thrust hers at me so I topped her up too, before swallowing a large mouthful straight down. My haste to appear normal; only resulted in the wine going down the wrong way, causing a coughing fit, which drew the attention of both men.
I could see Dante was about to come over, so I smiled through the tears in my eyes, to show him I was fine, waving to him as a sign of reassurance.
“Are you throwing in the towel on this game King D?” Alex asked and I winced. King D was the name he’d given Dante, once he’d seen just how grand the vineyard was, and had developed a better understanding of his wealth.
“Certainly not.” He turned from me, walking back to the pool table, leaving me to breathe a sigh of relief, while I pulled myself together again, after inhaling my wine, rather than drinking it.
Mel started talking to me about work, and that was a much welcomed distraction for me. I actually managed to spend the next half hour or so, in discussion with her, over ideas she had for a new client we were both working with.
I tossed around a few ideas, but given I was in the midst of a nice alcoholic buzz, I wasn’t sure if I was giving her anything, that was actually helpful.
Eventually, cheering from the pool table drew our attention. Mel and I looked at the men, before turning to each other, and rolling our eyes. Obviously Alex had won, not by much, if Dante’s protests were any indication, and he was happily ribbing him about it, and calling him a pussy.
When the silly behaviour had settled down a little, the men joined us, Dante dropping down by my side, while Alex flopped alongside of Mel, stretching out, and lying with his head on her lap.
Mel and I continued to talk for a little longer, but it was too hard with the men now with us, plus Alex, kept fiddling with Mel, making her giggle, and constantly distracting her. Eventually, he reached up, and pulled her down to him, whispering something. It must have been bloody good, because she blushed as red as a tomato.
“We’re…umm…we’re…tired.” She finally spat out, and I gave her the most withering look I could muster. Seriously, she was going to try and claim fatigue on this one?
“Of course you are.” I said sarcastically. “Well, you two go…sleep.” I said sweetly.
Mel had the good grace to blush again, but Alex who wasn’t easy to embarrass, merely grinned, winked, and leapt up, dragging my friend to her feet, before tossing her over his shoulder.
“Good night.” She squealed from her upside down position, and we both said goodnight, as we watched her being carried off to their bedroom, in a very cave man like display.
Dante climbed to his feet, standing before me, giving me a wonderful view of his long legs, that bulge that I knew, held a lot more, than just the promise of something great, over his taut abs, to a muscled chest, that was like a work of art.
Through the opening, in his shirt, I could see part of his barbed wire tattoo, but I forced my eyes, onwards and upwards, until I met his brown gaze, that was damn near smouldering at me. Seeing his desire for me, ignited an answering need, so when he held out his hand, I was more than eager, to put mine, in his, and let him pull me to my feet.
He started to walk towards the bedroom, tugging me along with him and I smirked. “No caveman antics from you? No throwing me over your shoulder?”
Dante smiled. “Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder cara?”
“No, I think I can cope with the walk.” I gave him a syrupy sweet smile.
Laughing, he pulled me along after him, down the hallway, to the bedroom we’d been using. As we passed the room Alex and Mel were in, I could hear her giggling, mixed in with the odd shriek, and Alex’s voice, low, saying something, I couldn’t hear.
Dante and I looked at each other, and although we smiled, the heat in his eyes intensified. His strides lengthened, in his haste to get us to the bedroom, forcing me to run a few steps, to keep up with him.
Once we were in the room, very few words were spoken. He gently removed my clothing, before I returned the favour. He kissed me, his tongue exploring my mouth, caressing my tongue, as his hands moved over me, awakening my desire.
I too mapped out his body with my hands, my fingers brushing over him, teasing him. My lips trailed over his skin, kissing, nipping, licking him, savouring, every, beautiful inch of him.
When finally we tumbled onto the bed, we made love like it was our last time. For Dante, he probably saw it as an interruption in our relationship, while he stayed on in Italy, and I flew home. For me, it was good bye. I made love to him, like it was the last time, because it was.
We fucked and made love, then made love and fucked, until the wee hours of the morning, until we were finally exhausted, falling asleep in one another’s arms.
It was just before nine o’clock in the evening, when Mel and I finally entered the house, after our long flight home from Italy. The cab had dropped off Alex first, and although he’d wanted my friend to stay with him, she’d refused, choosing to come home with me, instead. Maybe she sensed somehow, that things weren’t right with me. Hell, who was I kidding? Of course she knew something was wrong.
Mel took her bag, but before she headed off to her bedroom, she looked back at me. “Let’s unpack, grab a bottle or two of wine, then you’re going to stop acting like everything is sweet, and tell me what the fuck is wrong with you. I know something is, so don’t deny it. Did you and Dante fight? You’re not breaking up are you?”
I opened my mouth to say something to put her off, but she raised her hands. “You know, don’t; don’t answer that. Let’s unpack first. Don’t even think of putting me off. You’re going to answer me Gracie. I
need to know what’s going on in that head of yours. If you’re thinking stupid thoughts, I need to slap you, before you do something, completely stupid.”
I watched her turn and walk off to her room, dragging her bag behind her, and even when she was gone, I still stared towards her doorway, my mind turning over.
Forcing myself to snap out of my mood, I headed for my room, and began the boring process of unpacking. Funny thing about holidays, it was fun packing to go away, not so much fun unpacking, when home again.
It took me about half an hour, to pack away the things that didn’t need washing, and throw all the dirty clothes, in the laundry basket.
Once I was done, I grabbed my phone, and made my way to the kitchen, to get the wine. Mel was already there, handing me a filled glass, before taking the rest of the bottle, and her glass, leaving me, to head off to the living room.
She said nothing as I followed her, nothing as we both sat, nothing as she placed the wine bottle on the coffee table, and nothing until we’d both taken a couple of decent sips, from our respective glasses.
Finally when she sat back, nursing her glass in one hand, as her fingers ran lazily up and down the stem, she turned to me, doing little more than raise her eyebrows at me.
I knew that look. I’d known Mel a long time. I was getting ‘the look,’ the please explain look, the fess up, and tell me what the hell is going on look.
I knew I could mess around all night, going in circles and evading her questions, or I could open up. Evading sounded too exhausting. The truth was, no matter how much she told me off, slapped me around the ears; I needed to speak to her, I needed her opinion, it was time to tell her what troubled me, even though my every instinct told me, she’d be pissed off at me.
“I’m breaking it off with Dante.” I said quietly, going straight to the heart of my troubles. This was no time for sugar coating, or beating around the bush.
Dial a Stud: Dante's Story Page 30
