And that’s when he presses his lips against mine. But instead of resisting, I let him. I let him continue to kiss me even though I’m pissed off.
I pull back.
“What the fuck, Daniel?”
“You going to listen now?”
“Fine, I need a good laugh.” I sneer, crossing my arms in defiance. Daniel looks irritated with my last statement, like I really care. “This should be interesting. I know how guys are quick with excuses and lies. And they think they are so good at it. See, good reason to chuckle.”
“Let’s sit down on the bench over there,” he says as he points to the park bench a few feet away.
I don’t care, I let him take my hand and lead me there. I’m so fucking mad at him, but I’m powerless against him. I look away and pretend I, truly, do not care.
“You not worried your girlfriend or wife will see you holding my hand?” I ask him curiously.
“You’re something else, Sophia.”
Once we sit down on the bench, he slides closer to me. His elbows are on his knees and he’s rubbing his hand through his hair.
“Well, Daniel? Let’s get this over with.”
“After that weekend, I had a lot of testing to do at school. Well, I wasn’t thinking about it and left your number in my pants and they got washed by my roommate. I had no way of calling you.”
“And you didn’t know where I lived, did you?” I say rolling my eyes.
“That following weekend I came out to see you. But a guy left your apartment. You were smiling and waving after him.”
A guy? I’m perplexed. I never saw another guy. I never wanted to and would never do it.
“A guy? I wasn’t seeing anyone, Daniel.”
“Older. Mature.”
And that’s when it dawns on me. Mr. Ellison’s assistant had come out to see me, I had forgotten something at their house that was important, or at least he thought it was, and brought it to me.
“Daniel. That was my boss’s assistant.”
Shock on Daniels face. He jerked up and looked at me.
“Your boss’s assistant?”
“Yep!”
“So I was jealous over your boss’s assistant?”
“You were jealous?”
“That’s beside the point. Shit Sophia. I fucked up.”
“Ya think?”
He hugs me tight. His embrace takes my breath.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry Sophia.”
“Now that that’s cleared up, still doesn’t explain your lady friend or the fact you’re here.”
“That lady friend is an old high school friend that I had asked to escort me to the wedding. I didn’t want to show up alone. She’s just a friend Sophia, really she is. And as for me being here, it’s summer break and I decided to come back to the states. I would’ve been too distracted to stay in Italy. I would’ve thought about you daily and I was already going out of my mind the past few months.”
I lean into him, kiss his lips, gently. I can’t believe this was such a simple misunderstanding. I feel relieved, truly relieved.
“So, where’s that leave us?” I ask him curiously.
“That leaves us to be able to see where this will go,” he states taking my hands into his.
Our fingers are locked together.
After the reception, I went back to the hotel room with Daniel. Everything the night before was wonderful. We had sex. But it was so much more. It felt like we had months to make up for and every second of it felt greater than the first. I fell asleep in his arms, right where I missed being.
--- ### ---
“No! No! Not again! Get off me! Leave me alone!” I wake panting and sweating.
Daniel is right next to me, holding me tight.
“It was a dream Sophia. It’s ok. It’s just a dream. I’m here.” But I stare at him, blankly, trying to figure all this out.
“You want to talk?” he asked me.
I can’t. I don’t know how to explain this part of my life. I don’t know where to go from here. I’m afraid to open him up to it. But I can’t keep hiding it from him in hopes it’ll go away. I’m just afraid he’ll judge me. He won’t understand it. It’s entirely my fault. It always is. And he’ll leave me if I tell him. I know he won’t understand.
“I can’t!” And that’s true. I can’t.
“You can’t? Or you won’t?”
“Both.”
“You can’t keep having these nightmares. I wish you could talk about it, if not to me, maybe a friend. It might help. Do you have these every night?”
Damn, I have had them every night since I’ve known him, which worries me. I hadn’t had them in months, until that weekend in Italy. I really thought I was passed it all. I shake my head no and lie back down in the bed. Daniel cuddles up next to me.
“I miss my mandolin man.”
“What?”
“Outside my window, he’d play every night walking the streets.”
“The one we danced to in the streets?”
“Uh-huh,” I utter.
Daniel starts nuzzling my neck. His arms wrap tight around me, kissing and biting my earlobe. Instantly, my body reacts to him.
“I want you, Daniel,” I whisper as he continues.
“I need you, Sophia.”
We spent the entire day in bed. We made love. We fucked. We cuddled. We even talked. We never left each other’s side. Room service was ordered and devoured. We got to know each other. But I still hadn’t told him about my past as far as the nightmares are concerned. He told me about his childhood, growing up in Vegas and having no siblings. Only child that pretty much got spoiled. We talked about what we would like to do in the future. Luckily, we both want to stay in Italy as long as we can.
“When’s your plane back?” Daniel asks me.
“Wednesday. Yours?”
“It’s actually not until the end of August. But I’m thinking of changing it.”
“Why?”
“To be with you, Sophia. Isn’t that obvious?”
“Smartass!”
“I’m serious, Sophia. We could have some fun while I’m still on vacation. Beach. Shopping. Come on, doesn’t that sound interesting?”
I snuggle up to him in the bed. His arms wrap around me. And I’m happy, happier than I have been in forever.
“When are you changing it to?” I ask him.
“Changing what?”
“Your flight to Italy.”
“Oh, as soon as possible. I’m kinda hoping I can get on the plane with you, what are your plane details?”
“Ugh, that means I’d have to leave your arms to dig out the ticket now.”
Daniel starts to tickle me. In the short amount of time we’ve been together, he’s found exactly every one of my tickle spots. Nothing gets by him, no matter how hard I try to hide it or even hold it in, he knows.
“Okay, Okay, you got me. I’m up already.”
I dig in my purse that’s lying on the floor for the flight details. I hand him the ticket and he takes a picture of it with his phone.
“I’ll call in a little while and see what they say. Would be cool though if I could, right?”
I nod and nuzzle back up to him. In fact, my hands start to wander all over his body, down to his stomach, and even further. My hands wrap around his cock and I squeeze tight.
“Mmmmmm, baby, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know. What am I doing Daniel?”
He throws his head back and starts to moan, clearly enjoying this. And I more than oblige him. To hear him enjoy my actions turns me on so much. I start to squeeze harder, and the harder I squeeze, the more turned on he gets.
“Oh fuck, baby. That feels so good.”
Wanting more than to touch him, I slide down the bed and twirl my tongue around his large head. I tease him with every touch. I kiss his shaft and lick him from balls to tip. I stroke him gently as I slide the tip between my pursed lips. As I take him deeper, he stretches my mouth open.
I take him in deep, and pull out slow. I lightly graze my fingernails along his thick shaft before taking him deep into my throat, again. Hearing the way he moans and groans pushes me to do it further and deeper, every stroke harder and deeper into my mouth.
“Sophia,” he shouts as I take him in deep. Nearly gagging but never stopping.
“If you don’t stop soon, I’m going to cum into your mouth.”
I slowly allow him to slip from between my lips and look up into his piercing brown eyes.
I seductively lick my lips and simply say, “Okay,” as I pull him in deeper again.
It wasn’t very long after, that I tasted his cum shooting into the back of my throat, running across my tongue and sliding down my throat. As the last of his cum slid down my throat I saw the looks of satisfaction, love, surprise, and ecstasy flutter across his face. I could only hum as my orgasm took over. He wasn’t kidding. He had a full load for me. And I devoured it. I have never had an orgasm from giving head, before.
He pulled me up to him. He kissed me, hard and passionately.
“Come take a shower with me,” I demand.
“What about you? I owe you.”
“Are you kidding me? You don’t owe me anything. That felt as good for you as it did for me, now come, take a shower with me,” I say as I pull his hands up.
I still taste him on my lips and I know this won’t be the last time. He’s delicious.
Our bags are packed, standing by the front door. Daniel is still running around checking under the bed and in drawers to make sure he has everything.
“You ready to go?” he asks me as he makes his way to the door.
“Honey, I’ve been ready. You’re the one running wild around here.”
“Ha, ha, “he laughed. “I bet you did the same at your parent’s house when you packed.”
“Maybe.” I say kissing his cheek.
“Let’s go. I can’t believe you actually got a seat on the plane with me. Super cool.”
--- ### ---
I was so glad to get out of my parent’s house. I actually packed and left yesterday; they didn’t even care. We said our goodbyes at the door and I took a taxi to the hotel that Daniel was staying at.
--- ### ---
Ready to get out of here, ready to finally go back to Italy, we grab our bags and head to the airport. In the taxi, we cuddle up and both stare out the window, barely speaking. I think we’re both taking everything in.
“You never introduced me to your friend. The one from Vegas you came to the wedding with. I never met her.”
“She actually left the next day. She sent me a text, but you had had those nightmares and I was more worried about you.”
“You just let her go without goodbye?”
“She understood, Sophia.”
“You told her about my nightmares?”
Shocked, I let go of his hands and slid further away.
“The fuck? No. I’m not that guy. I told her we were making up and spending time together.”
Relieved, I slid back closer to him.
“Baby, you can trust me.”
I just moaned in agreement. If only I was so sure of that.
Silence has fallen upon us as we continue staring out of the window. I have millions of questions running through my head, but the silence is comforting. We haven’t brought up past relationships, because if I ask, he will soon follow with questions, and those are the ones I won’t be able to answer, which will probably turn into a big fight. So, I just pretend it’s non-existent.
--- ### ---
As we board the plane, we hope someone will be willing to trade seats with us. Daniel was able to get a seat on the plane, but the seat next to me was already taken and he will be five rows and 6 seats further away from me. This is going to be a long, lonely flight. I ask the elderly man sitting next to me if he’d mind trading. He says, “It would be my pleasure to help young love succeed,” as he trudges farther back with his bag.
“Thank you so much, Sir.”
“No problem dear, you two have a safe flight.”
“You, too!”
And with that Daniel is able to sit right next to me. There’s no way I can handle a thirteen-hour flight with him so close, but so far away. He hasn’t left my side for the past week. We’ve been together day in and day out. I need him near me and this flight would’ve been extremely awkward without him within arm’s reach.
I lay my head on his shoulder, my kindle in my hands, and headphones in listening to the radio. Daniel is next to the window, watching whatever is on his TV screen. We are comfortable, but it’s a long flight ahead of us.
--- ### ---
One chicken dinner, breakfast, and a few peanuts later, we finally arrived in Napoli. Jet lag is already hitting me. Daniel is helping me with my bags, pulling them through the gates. We’re just ready to lie down somewhere, anywhere.
“My place?” I ask him as we’re waiting on a taxi.
“Sure. I’m ready to lie down and nap.”
“Me too, Babe.”
--- ### ---
We doze in and out for the duration of the hour-long taxi ride to Sorrento. Once we get to my apartment, we order a pizza and Timo delivered it. We plopped on the couch, worn out from everything. Eating our pizza and cuddling on the couch, we turn on the TV. A knock at the door interrupts our siesta.
“I’m not answering, they’ll go away.”
“You sure? It might be important.”
“I’m too tired Daniel. They can come back if it’s that important.”
So we just sit there and wait for them to finally give up and go away. I could care less who it was.
“You ready for bed, Babe?” Daniel asks me.
“Carry me?”
“I was going to ask you to carry me. But since I’m the man...”
“Exactly. You da man,” I pick on him.
“You want to mouth off or you want me to carry you?”
“Oh baby, darling, sweetheart, my strong man, will you carry me to bed, pleeeasee?” I plea in the most over-the-top baby girl voice I can muster.
“Thought so, Silly Ass.” And, with that he picks me up and carries me to bed.
Both of us fall asleep, deep, blissful sleep. I’m too tired to have a coherent thought about anything else.
Loud banging on the door wakes me up. I don’t know if I’m dreaming or if it’s really happening. I nudge Daniel.
“Did you hear that?”
“Hmmm, what?” he mumbles.
“I thought there was a banging. Never mind.”
“Go back to sleep, baby.”
And I try. But I can’t. I know I heard banging. I can’t just imagine that. And it felt too real to be a dream. Maybe it was the same person that knocked last night. I’m pretty sure it’s none of my friends. It can’t be the Ellison’s. And Mr. Luciando has never knocked like that. Hell, most of the time he just walks in after one knock no matter if I’m naked, dressed, or even in the shower. It’s happened plenty of times before.
I toss and turn, watching the time tick away. I’m wide-awake. I cuddle up to Daniel hoping that maybe it will soothe me enough to put me to sleep. It doesn’t. I decide it’s time to get up. I’ll make some breakfast and wait for Daniel to wake up. He’s a heavy sleeper and doesn’t even realize I get out of bed.
Swinging my hips, I dance into the kitchen. The window is open and it’s a beautiful day in Sorrento. The sun is shining in while I whip the pancake mix in the bowl. Playing some Dean Martin on my iPod and shake my hips to the beat. I get startled when I turn around and see Daniel standing by the door watching me with the biggest smile on his face.
“Busted.”
“You want some coffee? I’m making pancakes.”
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Nope.”
Daniel pours himself a cup of coffee and sits down at the table. He’s watching me. So I figure I’ll put on a little show. I use my spatula as a microphone and bounce. I bounce back and
forth on my tiptoes through my tiny kitchen singing along. My hips sway. I’m only wearing a t-shirt, and I see he enjoys the view. The smile on his face says it all.
I throw the pancakes on a plate and sit down next to him. We add some Nutella and applesauce and eat.
“What are we doing today?” I ask in between bites.
“Well, I’m going to swing by my place to take the bags back and get cleaned up and then we can meet up at the beach, how’s that sound?”
“Oooooh, I like that idea. I need some sand between my toes.”
“Perfect, so after we get dressed, I’ll take that there and we’ll meet up at say, one?”
I lean in and kiss him as I get up from the table, “Sounds perfect.”
“Mmmmhm. Bring a blanket, I wanna do naughty things to you.” He remarked with a sly wink.
“At the beach? You’re crazy.”
“About you!”
“Fair enough,” I stick my tongue out at him.
After Daniel leaves, I straighten up my apartment and take care of the dirty laundry. Going downstairs to start a load of laundry, I run into some of my neighbors. Smiling and making small talk with my little Italian, we discuss the weather. It’s that typical laundry room talk. I throw in my clothes; take my white wicker basket and head back upstairs to my apartment. When I get to my apartment, I notice the door open a crack. That’s odd. I remember closing the door because I grabbed my key off the table and stuck it in my pocket. I push my basket to my right hip to check my left pocket to see if my key is in there. It is. This is strange. So I push the door further in and drop my basket at the sight in front of me.
“Well, hello there. About time you showed up.” Shocked, I stare at him. I can’t believe he’s here. He’s actually sitting in my chair, right in front of me, in my apartment in Italy. He’s sitting there with that smug smile on his face. That’s when I notice a gun in his hand. I don’t understand why he has a gun. In fact, I don’t understand anything.
“Ryan? What are you doing in my apartment? How’d you find me?”
“Oh, naïve little Sophia. My brother is a cop; don’t you know it’s easy to find anyone?”
“Ummm… get out before I call the cops!” I start to back up and try to escape, but he gets up.
Love Made in Italy Page 5
