Lussuria (New Version) (18 page)

Lucca heads back into the villa to get more drinks just as everyone is coming out to sit for dinner. There are various discussions going on, laughter, and beautiful charming Italian music in the background. Hazel and Nuala come out together, gossiping and hugging large, filled wine glasses, Hazel’s eyes light up when she notices the table in its finest glory.

She sits down at the table in the middle, and I squeeze in next to her, so she is at my left. Everyone else sits down, but no one sits in the seat to my right, knowing Lucca will want to sit there. Nuala sits down to the left of Hazel, and they continue with their tete-a-tete. Her mother sits to the left of her at the end of this side. Young Allegra sits across from me, and I smile widely at her. She blushes and looks down at her placemat which makes me think of my own bad habit. I wonder if I look so timid and shy to others when I do that. Pippa sits to Allegra’s left side, and Laurence accompanies her left side. Maria is naturally placed next to Allegra’s right.

There are six free spaces one at the top and bottom of the table, the two across from Bridgit and Nuala and the two seats to the right of me. Lucca returns, having a one-to-one discussion with a smart looking man. He places his hand softly on my shoulder before sitting down next to me, and leans over to kiss the side of my head. I blush and look down, knowing everyone is watching us.

Lucca introduces me to Marco. He is tall and well-built. Young, dark and handsome. Not as handsome as Lucca, but still is quite striking. He has short hair, neatly groomed, dark eyes, brows, and stubble. I stand up to shake his hand, and he leans over to kiss both cheeks.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Robertson,” he says with solid English.

“Pleased to meet you, but please, call me Lexi.” Lucca holds me whilst I sit down again. Marco sits to the right of Lucca.

Franco walks around the table pouring wine. “Lexi, some Chianti?” he asks. “Yes, please.” I watch him fill both Lucca’s and my glasses. After everyone has a drink, we sit and chat, Bridgit’s voice being the loudest and echoing down the full table.

Franco returns with Sofia with plates of entrees. It looks and smells delightful. Franco taps his glass to hush the table, and carries on to say grace, first in Italian then in English. We all bow our heads and Amen in unison. “Buon Appetito,” Franco finishes and the clatter from cutlery begins.

“Tartalletta di zucca con cipolle rosse e balsamico e zucchini pesto,” Maurizio proudly announces, then adds, “Butternut squash tartlet with red glazed onion on Zucchini pesto bed with a reduced balsamic vinaigrette. Please enjoy.”

It is mouth-watering, the flavours fusing beautifully. The tartlet is light and crisp, and the butternut squash is soft and sweet. We drink more wine, enjoying the ambience and company. Once everyone has cleaned their plates, we all thank Maurizio on his tasty dish, and then he and Annalisa excuse themselves to go back to the kitchen. Marco and Lucca stand up and gather the clean plates, and Franco nods at them in approval. It leaves Sofia and Franco to chat to their guests. I love the way it’s so casual and informal, with everyone helping and chipping in. I smile at Lucca, watching him stroll away with the plates lying across his brawny arms.

After a primi piatti of eggplant stuffed with baked spaghetti tomatoes and mozzarella, we enjoy more wine, then the secondi piatti of veal scallopini served with a mushroom sauce, fresh seasonal vegetables and sautéed rosemary and garlic potatoes.

After lots of talking, drinking, and listening to the wonderful music of Lucio Battisti in the background, everyone has relaxed comfortably. The voices are getting louder, and the spirit is lifting.

Lucca has one arm wrapped around the back of my chair, and the other holding his wine glass. He chats away to Marco about work, tells Franco his plans for the property he is viewing, and asks after his parent’s extension. Lucca rubs his fingers softly over my shoulder, and I’m burning with desire for him. It feels so sensual and nice, a simple little touch like that. He watches me carefully, knowing he’s affecting me while trying to keep in conversation with others. The wine must be going to my head because I have rested my head momentarily on Lucca’s shoulder. He holds my head into him and kisses my hair.

Franco and Maurizio return with dolci. “Lexi, we have a treat. Maurizio’s famous tiramisu. You will love…it’s to die for,” Maria says.

The tiramisu is layered in a rectangular slab on huge white plates with glazed fresh fruit, dusted with cocoa and icing sugar. Once it has been placed down, everyone applauds with excitement then tucks in. Maurizio waits and enjoys the pleasurable sounds and reactions everyone makes. It is sweet temptation: light, creamy, spongy and enriched with cocoa flavour. I take my second mouthful as Bridgit ask Franco about the real history of tiramisu.

“Tiramisu means pick me up. It’s a pick me up because of the espresso used in it. Thought to have originated here in Siena, it’s said that it was created in honour of Cosimo lll visiting the country. Although it was commonly known to be fed to prostitutes held in slavery to abusive men, giving them a pick me up for the men’s all night pleasure.”

I choke and drop my spoon, pushing my plate away from me. I’m horrified. The table turns silent, and everyone looks at me quizzically. Lucca stops eating and places a hand on my knee, squeezing it. He cocks his head, and narrows his eyes, looking apprehensively at me.

“Lexi, are you okay? Is there something wrong with your dolci?” Franco asks.

“No, no sorry. It’s delicious, it went down the wrong way, that’s all,” I babble. Lucca knows I’m lying. He is staring at me deeply and intensely, and Hazel has clocked it. I take a drink of water, which I am finding hard to swallow.

“So, Nuala and I are going out running tomorrow morning if anyone fancies it?” Hazel announces to get everyone’s eyes off me. I’m thankful for the distraction. I wait until everyone is talking about their plans for tomorrow, and I excuse myself to go to the restroom.

I feel Lucca’s eyes staring at me as I walk into the Villa. I run through the hallway to the restroom. Once inside, I lean against the door, panting out of control, holding my chest with the heel of my hand, trying to put pressure on the stabbing area.

I am a hysterical mess. I feel sick to the core and can’t stop crazy images running through my mind. My mother being used all night...the past...

I hear the door and think Hazel has come to check on me, but Lucca walks in. “Oh my God, Lexi. Doc, what’s wrong?”

I can’t get my breathing under control. I can’t speak. “I can’t, I can’t…gasping for air...”

“Christ, Lexi. Tell me what to do, what’s happening?” He turns me around and pulls me into him, one hand on the small of my back, the other wrapped tightly on the back of my head.

“Just hold me,” I manage to pant out, followed by an enormous slow inhale of air to fill my lungs. He holds his lips to the side of my head, kissing it tenderly, and begins to sway me side to side with his body. I have spent a lifetime avoiding contact, which increases my anxiety, yet here I am asking for it to calm me down from an anxiety attack.

I close my eyes and take huge long breaths through my nostrils, filling my lungs, losing myself in Lucca’s embrace. After five minutes, I feel slightly calmer, and my breathing is beginning to regulate. Lucca lifts my face up and wipes under my eyes with his thumb, then leans in to kiss me on the lips.

“Baby what happened to you?” he asks.

“I had a panic anxiety attack.”

“I know you had a panic attack. I mean, what happened to you? What on earth has happened to you in the past? Lexi, I need to understand this, please,” he presses.

“You said you wouldn’t challenge me on this. You said you’d accept that I don’t want to talk about it,” I choke, holding back threatening tears that prick at my eyes.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I‘ll leave it, but will you ever tell me?” He has hope in his voice.

“No,” I whisper. “I can’t. Ever.”

You Make Me Better

Lucca sighs. He’s worried, and I can tell he’s not happy with me being so closed.

“Do you trust me?” he asks.

I can’t believe we are having this conversation. “It’s complicated.”

“That’s not what I asked, and you know it. Just answer the question, Lexi. Do you trust me?”

I pause, and then tell him the only thing I can.

I tell him the truth.

“I don’t trust anyone.” I look down at my hands. I know I’ve said too much and offended him. “I’m sorry, Lucca. I don’t mean to hurt you, but it’s the truth.” Lifting my chin up, he stares into my eyes, contemplating what I’ve told him. “Are you upset with me?” I ask pitifully.

“No, I’m not upset. Now we’re getting somewhere. The trust thing is something we will just have to work on,” he says with compassion.

I can’t believe how understanding he’s being. I really expected him to run away with all this crazy nonsense that’s attached to me. He leans in and kisses me, then puts his hand on my heart and touches my forehead with his.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, but I’m mortified once again. What must everyone think of me?”

“Will you stop being so demeaning and hard on yourself. No one noticed a thing,” he replies.

“After a few more minutes, of Lucca’s caring touch, I’m more relaxed and calm. I tidy up my make-up while he watches. “I suppose we’d better go back,” I say.

“No, we won’t. I’m taking you back to my suite.”

“But what about Hazel? She’s been left on her own all day, and I missed last night.” I absentmindedly run my hair through my lips.

“God, you’re so fucking sexy when you do that. I want you all to myself, but if it will make you happy, we’ll stay down here a bit longer. But then you’re all mine.” Leaning over, he kisses my lips.

“Thank you. It’s only right,” I softly say as I kiss him back. He takes my hand and walks me back through to the living area where everyone has now congregated.

Pippa and Laurence are snuggled up on a large sofa at the far end of the room. Hazel and Nuala are sitting on a sofa next to them with cocktails in their hands. I notice Maria and Allegra are not there, Bridgit is sitting talking with Franco about olive groves or something. I’m glad they are all talking and don’t make a fuss when I return, hoping they’ve forgotten about my little episode.

“Would you like a cocktail?” Lucca asks me.

“Can I have a Mojito?”

“Of course you can. Go and sit down. I’ll bring it through.” I walk over and sit next to Hazel and Nuala.

“Are you okay?” Hazel asks.

“Yes, just a moment. I’m fine,” I quietly reply.

“I didn’t come after you because Lucca said he wanted to. That guy is so fully into you,” she states. “Oh, and don’t feel bad about the dessert. I didn’t eat all of mine either. Do you know how many calories are in those things?” She gestures her hand from side to side implying it would be a big ‘no no’ to eat the entire dessert.

Lucca comes back into the room with a tray of drinks and hands Pippa, Hazel, Nuala and myself a Mojito. “These are Stefano’s specials. He’s put peach in them,” he says.

“Who’s Stefano?” I ask.

“He works in the bar when we have guests, sorting the drinks to let my grandparents continue with other duties.”

“Where are Maria and Allegra?”

“They’ve gone to bed so they can get up early in the morning to start work here.”

“Do they stay here?”

“Yes. There’s a renovated villa next to the truffle field for staff.

“Are you coming running with us tomorrow?” Hazel asks me.

“We might. It depends on what time we get up. We might be busy.” Lucca answers the question for me. I’m mortified by his comment, and feel my cheeks slowly burning.

“Have you learned any more of your fitness DVD, Hazel?” I ask her, swiftly moving on.

“No, I’ve been busy cooking, eating and relaxing, but I will need to before I get back home. The new manager at the club had the group exercise coordinator come and audit our classes. Apparently, the new manager is screwing her, so she came into my conditioning class pretending to be a participant when she was actually checking me out. Turns out the managers’ wife found out about the affair and it’s all gotten messy. If you ask me, the managers’ ass should be fired. It was underhanded the way he brought her in.”

“I think I’ll have to fire this managers’ ass when I get home for inappropriate behaviour. I’ll speak with human resources,” Lucca assertively states in business mode.

“What are you talking about?” Hazel asks.

“Well, I’m not having behaviour like that in my club. It’s unprofessional.”

Hazel spurts her cocktail out all over her cream city shorts, and nearly chokes to death in the process. “You own the club?” Hazel says in her high-pitched tone.

“Yes, and the Glasgow club. I’m opening another Club di Energia in Edinburgh city centre next spring, and Perthshire next autumn” he proudly says.

“Oh shit. I need another drink. “Lucca, that makes you my boss,” she scoffs.

“Yes, I suppose it does. Don’t worry, Hazel. It makes no difference. I’m a pretty fair boss, or so I’ve been told,” he reassures her.

“Oh, well that makes me feel a whole lot better,” she mumbles.

After a few cocktails, I’m feeling totally exhausted. Lucca is with Marco in the bar area, and Hazel is rambling on. It’s a droning background noise, and I’ve switched off completely. I place my head on the arm of the sofa and yawn, then close my eyes and start to drift off.

Before I know it, I’ve been scooped up in Lucca’s arms, and he is carrying me to bed. I yawn and cuddle into his chest, struggling to open my eyes and inhaling his wonderful scent. He carries me into the bedroom on the first floor of his suite and sits on his bed, still holding me tightly. Using his free hand, he slips my shoes off and lets them drop to the floor.

Slowly, he starts to unzip my dress at the back. His warm soft hand moves inside the open gap at the back of my dress, rubbing his thumb over my bra strap. Electricity surges through me when I feel his touch on my body, firing me up. Wow, that made my eyes open. I look up to him with sleepy eyes, and he smiles and kisses my lips.