by K. Forest
“Your mother told me about your upcoming engagement to Katarina. Congratulations, son, I’m happy for you.” His eyes soften as he looks at me. “Your mother was happy that you asked for her mother’s rings, and we look forward to hosting a reception in Vegas when the both of you choose to visit.”
“Thank you, Father; your words mean a lot to me. I hope she says yes.” I give him a slight smile.
“Women never says no to Ferrari men. They only start that when you are married to them.” He says, laughing at his own joke.
“That’s why I never married.” My uncle, who has been silent, finally chimes in. We all laugh together, and the heaviness between us is all gone, at least for now.
Later, Angelo and I walk quietly side by side back to the boathouse. Both of us are, I’m sure, contemplating the morning’s happening and what it all means going forward. My phone beeps, and I see it’s a text from Maria. It is a picture of herself with a blonde girl, and both are smiling. My new roommate, she’s horrible. Laughing to myself, I know that she’s happy, and this was her way of saying thank you.
“What are you laughing about?” Angelo asks. I show him the photo of the girls.
“Oh, that’s her roommate Julia; she’s from England. I had Sam run a background on her, and she passed.” His eyes seemed to avoid both the screen and me.
“Thanks, Angie, for taking her and settling her in.”
“No problem, brother. It was nice to get away. Some new scenery, and you know how I enjoy being around Bianca,” he says nonchalantly.
Angelo insists on driving us to the airport when we are ready to leave. He and Katarina get along seamlessly. In some weird way, she loves Angelo’s sense of ribald humor and his teasing, especially if it was directed at me.
It’s one of my new favorite sounds, listening to their laughter and their chats about music, horses, and reality tv episodes. They talk the entire way to the airport with an ease I had never seen Angelo have with anyone before. That’s one of the things that I love about her. There are so many charming facets of this woman, and I am enjoying and looking forward to peeling back more layers as time goes on. She has this aura about her that makes people gravitate towards her joy.
“Okay, love birds, have a great time. I’ll be here to pick you up Monday afternoon.” Angelo gives her a big hug, picking her up.
“Angie, put her down and keep your paws to yourself.” He comes up to me and tries to do the same thing to me, but I punch him away. “Stop!”
“Oh, Santos. Stop being like that and give your brother a hug goodbye,” says Katarina.
“Yeah, Santos! Come and give your little brother a proper hug goodbye.” Angelo says in a cheeky voice, holding up his tatted arms to embrace me.
As we get on one of my family-owned planes, Katarina looks around excitedly examining her surroundings, “Oh, Santos, this plane is really extravagant! I’ve been on planes for competitions, but this plane is nothing like what I flew on.”
Once seated, the flight attendant gives us each a champagne flute. I proceed to make a toast. “To love, our future, and to you, my beauty.”
Chapter 17
The hotel provided us private transfer from airport to hotel. The hotel concierge had promised to provide a car on the day I anticipated needing it. “So, my handsome, where exactly are you taking me? You distracted me during the flight. You’ve been very secretive with this little get-away trip.” Looking at me with a dazzling smile, Katarina grabs my cheek and caresses it.
I smile into her hand and mumble, “Paradise, Beauty, I am taking you to Paradise.”
She turns her gaze back towards the window, looking at the scenery coming into view. She knew from the plane that we had been heading in the direction of the Adriatic Sea, but I hadn’t told her any specifics. As we pass rolling hills, we arrive at a large, guarded gate and are immediately let through.
While researching destinations for this special occasion, Villa Olivo Ricorrere caught my eye immediately as the perfect setting. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, with fifty rolling acres of olive and fig groves, the hotel seemed the perfect romantic destination. The cobblestone driveway of the hotel was complimented with Mediterranean gardens that flourished in color. White buildings built from turfa stone came into view like clouds against a summer blue sky.
“Santos, look at the quaint little stone chapel there. We should take a hike to it while here.” Katarina says, pointing at the chapel that stands proudly on a hill.
Smiling, I assure her we can do anything she wants while here. The car comes to a stop. I lean over and give her a brisk kiss before the door is opened. Her taste is addicting.
Two women wearing white dresses with flowers in their hair stand holding trays with welcoming gifts. Welcoming both of us in unison, one offers us both a cool cloth to refresh ourselves, while the other offers us the drinks of champagne. The driver proceeds to bring our luggage to a golf cart and stands by it. A manager comes out, greeting us with a warm welcome informing us that after a quick introduction to the various amenities the resort offered, we will be taken to our private villa by golf cart. After refreshing ourselves, a private dinner would be waiting for us on the main restaurant terrace.
Our hands link naturally as we follow the manager through the lobby. Both barely listening to him tell us about the layout of the hotel, we keep glancing at each other, sharing private smiles of anticipation throughout the tour.
Arriving at the restaurant twenty minutes later, we are led through open glass doors to reveal a view of a majestic sunset over the sea. “Enjoy your dinner. I’m sure you will be satisfied with the chef’s selections tonight. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to call me,” says the manager as he hands me a card that I immediately place in my pocket.
Katarina breaks our contact and walks over to the balcony, observing the picture in front of us. I shake the manager’s hand, thanking him, and walk over, coming up behind her to wrap my arms around her.
“Thank you for taking me here. I’m so happy we are here together.” She looks up, and I take it as a signal to give her a kiss. This time, I take my time hovering my lips over hers, teasing her slightly. She can’t resist and twirls around, wrapping her arms around my neck. Our tongues go into their comfortable routine of connecting. After a couple minutes, I break away breathing a bit heavier than just minutes ago.
“Come on, Beauty. Let’s go eat while the meal is hot. You will need your energy for what I have in store for us later.” I leer and give my eyebrows an exaggerated waggle as I swat her butt playfully.
As promised, the chef outdid himself with five courses of mouthwatering tastes. It made me smile every time I would hear Katarina’s sigh of approval as each dish was presented.
“I prepared dessert to be eaten in our suite. Shall we go?” I ask, knowing she is as ready as I am to continue what we started before dinner. A man in the golf cart takes us directly to our villa suite. The employee briefly shows us how everything works throughout the rooms. Walking him to the door, I tip him generously while putting the “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on.
“Santos, close your eyes.” I hear her say. I turn around with my eyes closed, mainly to amuse my beauty. “Open your mouth.” I smile but obey, and immediately I smell the aroma of chocolate, and my mouth starts to water. I take a bite and roll it around in my mouth. “Open your eyes now.”
“Hmmm, you still taste better, but that was very good.” She takes the rest of the strawberry in her mouth seductively. She slips off her shoes and sashays to the couch. I walk over and open the bottle of champagne that is chilling on ice next to the chocolate strawberries. She reaches for the glass that I hand to her. I’m too nervous to play as I’m about to put my feelings on the line.
I take off my blazer and reach into the pocket; I take out a piece of paper that I prepared for her. I clink her glass in toast. “Let's drink to love, may ours become deep as the ocean.” I take a sip and then lean down yearning for her taste.
&n
bsp; “I think our love is already as deep.” She sighs lustfully into my mouth. Breaking contact while I still have the ability too, I hand her a sheet of paper. “This is for you. I want you to read it now, please.”
She takes the sheet, giving me suspicious glances while unfolding it. Finally, she begins to read the words that had sprung to my mind the first time I ever saw her.
To my Beauty,
She Walks in Beauty
By Lord Byron (George Gordon)
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
Forever my Beauty,
All yours, Santos
Consumed by the poem, her eyes fill with glistening tears, and she hasn’t even noticed my new position. I continue watching one of her teardrops slowly routing its way down her cheek.
Finally, she looks over at me with glistening eyes. She covers her mouth as she notices my position. I am on bended knee, holding up a black velvet box with the yellow diamond ring.
“Beauty, it was love at first sight for me, watching you walk by on Obsidian. I agree with you on that our love is already as deep as the ocean. That poem you just read, that is a summary of how I feel about you. Would you do me the honor of being my wife and spending the rest of your life with me?” She leaps up, propelling her body at me. I cling onto her and the ring, blocking both from hitting the floor. “I take that as a yes?” I ask laughingly.
While I’m lying on my back, she’s kissing my neck, my cheeks, my eyes, and then stops and looks at me with such love and sincerity. “Yes, yes, and yes! I would love to be your wife, Santos.” Gazing at me with intensity, she then smiles as she runs her hands through my tousled hair. “You are starting to look more like Angelo than my Santos.”
“I can’t believe you brought my brother up at a time like this!” I reply. In truth, I hadn’t had time to get my usual trim. Since meeting her, my priorities have changed.
Katarina just chuckles and proceeds to reassure me that I am nothing like him, and she loves only one man, me.
“I still can’t believe that I found you so early in life. I feel like I’m dreaming.” I tell her, thinking back to what my father had said about finding my light and my sarcastic doubts at the time. She has brought me out of my comfort zone, so I am not taking myself so seriously and allowing myself to be less stoic and more relaxed.
“My handsome man, I will remind you every day for the rest of my life of the amazing man you are.” She sits up, now straddling me and chuckling at the feeling of my arousal underneath her.
Taking just a minute to grind her into my lap and let her know how much I anticipate our next few hours together, I take her left hand to place the yellow diamond on her ring finger. “Before we celebrate further, you need this.” As she inspects every angle of the ring, I tell her about the ring’s history. “It was my grandmother’s engagement ring, and she left it for my mother to give to one of her sons. When knew I was going to propose to you, I—”
“When you first laid your eyes on me on top of Obsidian.” She jokingly interrupts.
“Yes, when I first saw you. I knew I wanted to use this ring to propose with. It reminded me—”
“Of my hair, sunflowers, and summer.” She smiles, knowing she’s finishing my sentences. “Thank you, Santos. It makes it extra special to know that it was your grandmother’s ring.”
Kissing her nose. I wrap her legs around my waist and pick her up.
“Where are you carrying me?” She asks laughing happily.
“I’m taking my beautiful fiancée to the bedroom to make love to her.” I bend down and plop her body in the middle of the bed, which is covered by red roses petals shaped like a heart.
“You arrange this also?” She picks up some petals and throws them up in the air playfully.
“Yes, I did, and I have a few more surprises up my sleeve.” Grinning, I unbutton my shirt and let it fall on the ground. I kick off my shoes and socks. I unbuckle my belt and unzip my jeans, letting them and my boxers drop to the ground. “Be naked when I return.”
“Now that I’m your fiancée, you are barking orders. I’m not sure if I like that,” says Katarina, putting on a mock pout while staring lustily at my body.
“You will definitely like what I have planned when I return.” I point to her to undress, and I walk out naked searching for the champagne and chocolate strawberries.
Returning a few seconds later, I find her sprawled on her back with rose petals placed strategical on her body. Crawling up next to her, I hand her a chocolate strawberry that she slowly wraps her lips around while looking into my eyes. Becoming even more aroused and thinking of the many different ways I would pleasure her this night, I decided my favorite way of enjoying champagne is on her body. Pouring a bit into her navel, my lips proceeded to slowly pay homage to every part of her body. When she finally writhes in heat below me, moaning my name, and begging for me to take her, I slowly sheathed myself in her hot entrance.
Wanting her, needing her, and loving her has become all consuming. Looking down at her, I realize in that instant that I am making love to my future wife and the future mother of my children. Reaching down to kiss her lips, I can feel our hearts rapidly beating as once again we become one.
“IF I WAKE UP LIKE THIS for the rest of my life, I’ll be the happiest man in the world.” I open my eye to see Katarina straddling me.
“I’m starving. I need real food,” she says as she lazily stretches her body and arms up like a cat.
“Well, that’s not a good way of telling me to feed you because now I’m hungry too, but not for real food.” I tell her, sitting up and swooping in for a kiss.
“Hmmm, I like that kiss.” She purrs. “Let’s start all our mornings like this.”
Swinging my feet over the bed, I pick her up as she monkey holds herself to me. Grabbing her naked butt, I walk her into the kitchen area. I had elected to make do on our own for breakfasts, so the fridge and pantry were well stocked with selections. Placing her down on the granite countertop, she yelps at the cold contact.
“So, my handsome fiancé, who’s doing the cooking this morning?” she asks as I swipe an orange from the counter. Our bodies are still wrapped together I slowly peel the orange feeding us each small sections. Giving in to the need to lick the juices from her lips, breakfast was put on the back burner for the moment.
“What are we going to do with the rest of our day?” Katarina asks nibbling on a croissant looking at me with her eyes glowing. Usually spot on with my strategies, this game plan took me longer to resolve. I decide to go on instinct, which so far has never led me astray. I look over to my beauty who is perched in the chair across from me perfectly on display.
“Well, what happens today depends on you. Go into the other bedroom. I have a gift for you on the bed.” She gives me a curious look but gets up to walk in the second bedroom. Following her, I stand in the doorway to determine her reaction to my gift and my plan.
“I know that I love you, and I know that you are meant for me. I asked your parents for their blessings before we left on this trip. So now it’s up to you. Will you do me the honor and marry me today? I don’t want another day to go by not
being your husband. If you're okay with it, we could do with a small ceremony. Then, when we get back to Lake Como, we can have a larger reception with your parents and friends. I know my mother would be ecstatic planning a big reception in Las Vegas with family and friends in the near future.” As she finally turns around, I watch her face for her reaction, giving her time to comprehend everything I just said.
“At the little chapel on the hill?” She asks softly. She turns back to the dress that I had made especially for her. It is a simple, satin, cream white slip dress with spaghetti straps. Heels and a satin shawl finish the ensemble.
“I’ve taken the liberty to make spa reservations for you: a massage, facial, hair, nails, any other girly items you want. It’s up to you, Katarina. What do you say?”
She walks up to me and does her monkey climb again, wrapping her legs and arms around me. “It’s so quick, Santos, but it does feel so right. I love you so much it’s scary. Yes, I will marry you today or any other day you ask.” She says as she nuzzles my neck with her nose and starts kissing me. As usual, my reaction is instantaneous.
“Hold on, Beauty. The next time we make love, you will be officially be Mrs. Katarina Ferrari. You have to get yourself to the spa now.” I say laughing in exhalation. “I’ll be waiting for you at the chapel exactly at 18:00. They will be bringing you in a decked-out golf cart.”
Hours later, I find myself on a hill, ready to pledge my love for Katarina. My mind wanders off. I see a twenty-three-year-old man, standing on a hillside next to a quaint little chapel that overlooks the Adriatic, ready to pledge his undying love. In his hand, he's holding a small bridal bouquet for her. Tucked away in his pocket is the wedding band that matches the yellow diamond ring he had given her. If a fortune teller had told him that he would meet a beauty and marry her within six weeks of their meeting, he would have told her unequivocally she was batshit crazy. Yet here I stand, heading in a direction totally different from the one I had envisioned for myself, just a few months ago. And it felt fated, perfectly right.
