Surprised by Love (16 page)

into
bed gently, and began by taking off her sandals.   When he carefully
turned her to undo the back zip, she seemed to wake up. 
“Alessandro?  I’m…”

“Sssh,”
he whispered.  “Stay asleep.  I’m tired too.”

With
a smile and a sigh, she seemed to fall back into sleep instantly.

He
finished undressing her and quickly took off his own clothing. Sliding into bed
with her, he felt her seek his embrace, his warmth.  The moment his arms
were around her, she put her head on his shoulder, sighed “Alessandro…” and
fell asleep again.

Alessandro
remained awake for a long time.

****

In
the pre-dawn, Connie awoke to Alessandro’s caresses—which slowly went from
gentle to impassioned. 
Alessandro’s no longer asleep
, she thought
vaguely—instantly lifting her face to his for a kiss.  Her fingers slid
down his beautifully muscled torso until she could grasp his penis, which most
definitely was not asleep.  “Alessandro…” she moaned, moulding her body to
his.

He
smiled.  It might be a belated wedding night, but it certainly did not
lack passion on either side.  No, not at all. 

And
their encore—without any recovery time—was even more
passionate.            

****

Later
in the morning, Alessandro drove them to the Akropolis Hotel on Lake
Apopka.  On the advice of Leandros, he chose the less frequented, smaller
roads, instead of blasting down I-4.  Connie looked about her with happy
enjoyment.  Good.  That was what he wanted from this trip—that it
made Connie happy.  He noticed an elegant sign showing by an arrow the way
to the Akropolis Hotel, which they soon realized was part of an upscale complex
of restaurant, coffee-bar, an outdoor wine-garden and the beautiful hotel
itself, set in park-like grounds, its rear windows and terraces facing Lake
Apopka and the beach. 

Alessandro
drove up to the hotel, and a young man wearing a blue uniform with the
Akropolis logo on the breast pocket offered to park the car.  He
surrendered the keys, and led Connie into the spacious lobby and reception area
of the hotel.  To his surprise, the proprietor came forward to greet his
patrons. 

“
Kyrie,
Kyria
. 
Kalosoriste
.”  the proprietor smiled. 
Quickly realizing that his guests were not Greek, he added, “Welcome. 
Petros Kiriakis, at your service.  How may I help you?”

“My
wife and I have heard a lot about your hotel, and we’d like to spend a few days
here.  We were thinking of staying until Monday.”

Beaming,
Petros Kiriakis led his guests with a polite gesture to one of the
receptionists.  “May I suggest a suite on the fifth floor?  Beautiful
views—you will not be disturbed by the chatter of guests in our wine-garden—and
the buzz of our jet-skis will sound subdued.”

 “That’s
one thing I’ve promised my wife—taking her on a jet-ski on your lake.  And
yes, we’d like a suite.  Thank you.”

It
took no time at all to register, and a bellman took their suitcases on a big
brass-bound cart, leading the way to the elevator bank.

When
they got out on the fifth floor, the man led the way to what would be their
suite.  He pushed an entry card into a slot, and the great double doors
swung open.  Standing aside, he quickly took the suitcases to the bedroom,
while Alessandro and Connie got their first look at their honeymoon
suite.   Well appointed, good quality furniture and furnishings—they
hadn’t expected anything else in an hotel warmly recommended by Lee
Melissinos. 

Quickly
tipping the bellman, Alessandro held out a hand to his very new wife. 
“Come take a look at the view,” he suggested.  Taking his hand, she walked
with him to the sliding glass doors giving onto a terrace where brightly
cushioned patio furniture beckoned. 

There
was a discreet knock at the door.  Alessandro went to open.

“My
name is Debra, Sir.  If you wish it I will unpack for you.”

“Thank
you, Debra.  Good idea.  Our suitcases are in the bedroom.”

With
a muttered apology she slipped past him and for a little while there were the
muted sounds of doors opening, drawers sliding open and shut.

Debra
appeared in the doorway to the bedroom.  “All is unpacked, Sir, and the
suitcases put in the back of the walk-in.”  She began to sidle toward the
door.  Alessandro said, “Just a minute, Debra,” and folded a generous tip
into her hand.  

“Oh,
Sir!  Thank you, Sir,” she said, blushing and almost running out of the
double doors. 

“That
sounds as if you gave her a huge tip,” Connie observed.

“Yes,
I did.  I just feel so happy, I wanted her to be happy too.”

“I
am glad you are happy, Alessandro,” Connie whispered.  “When I think back
to your reason for stating to your relatives that you had proposed and I had
accepted your proposal…  Truth to tell, I did not think this day would
ever come.  I thought after a while you would tell Nonna that our
engagement hadn’t worked out, but you wanted to continue our business
relationship…”

“Don’t
think back to that moment,
tesoro,”
he implored.  “I am very glad
that you went along with my initial little deception, and that you later agreed
to marry me for real.”  

Connie
smiled.  “I still have a little trouble believing this
is
real.”

“Really? 
You surprise me.  I felt, after we had been living together so happily for
a while—at least, it was a happy time for me, and I thought it was for you?—the
only logical next step was our wedding.”

Connie
nodded quickly.  “Oh yes, I was happy too…  ” 

He
smiled, taking her hand and leading her into the bedroom.

“I
wonder where Debra has hidden your bikinis and my swimwear.  Haven’t you a
bikini that matches my Hawaiian black and white floral?”

“Yes,
you got Tino to make a bikini for me when he made your Hawaiian swim
trunks.  It’s my very favourite.”

“Then
we’ll wear those.”  After a bit of rummaging, he found his swim trunks,
and pointed to the adjacent drawer.  “Yours are probably in
here.”  

Connie
quickly found her bikini, and they changed.  She smiled.  Whenever
Alessandro was in the same room with her nude body, he invariably caused some
delay in her changing clothing.  Not this time.  He must be very keen
on that jet-ski.  She hoped it wouldn’t be too rough a ride.

****

When
they arrived at the area designated for water sports, Connie saw a number of
gleaming jet-skis beached along the shore.  A blond guy with a deep tan and
a name tag ‘KEITH’ stuck to his bare chest approached Alessandro, and they
chatted for a few moments, then Keith said, “Take your pick.”

Taking
Connie by the hand, Alessandro gazed at the waiting models, and quickly decided
on a Wave Runner.  To Connie, it seemed lethal-looking, but Alessandro
smiled, patting the steering.  With Keith’s help, he moved the machine
into the water.  He straddled the jet-ski and Connie climbed up behind
him, wrapping her arms tightly around his narrow waist.  When he was sure
she was sitting comfortably, he started the Wave Runner and drove off in low
gear, giving Connie time to get used to the feel of being on this
jet-ski.   He was pleased when she said, surprised, “This is great
fun,
caro.”

After
half an hour, he drove back to the beach and helped Connie get off. “I’m just
going to run her briefly on my own, okay?”

“Sure.” 
When Connie saw him tearing away, she realized that he had been extra gentle
and careful when she was on board.  Clearly, this kind of wilder jet-skiing
was what he really liked.  He drove so fast that the ski was flying over
the water like a plane.  Then he dipped it low and pulled it up almost
straight into the air.  She imagined how thrilled he must be, but she was
relieved he had let her off before starting this daring stuff. 

All
the same, she wished he would come back and call it a day.  The clouds
that were amassing above the lake were looking more menacing every time she
glanced up at them, and she heard distant thunder.  She willed him to come
back, realizing that if the thunderstorm came closer, he would be the highest
point on the lake, and in serious danger of being struck by lightning. 
Come
back, Alessandro, come back…
she whispered urgently.

And
then she saw the Wave Runner lose speed, just bobbing on the water.  

Alarmed,
she ran to Keith.  Pointing to the lake, she said, “I think my husband ran
into trouble with the Wave Runner.  Can you see him?”  

Keith
looked.  “Yes, he has lost power—probably a spark plug.  I’ll go
after him in the Cris-Craft.”  Realizing that the woman wouldn’t know what
he meant, he added, “It has a platform at the back for getting your husband
quickly off the Wave Runner, which we’ll tow back to the beach.”  He
walked calmly to the Cris-Craft and signalled to one of the boat boys to come
on board.  “I’ll need help getting that Wave Runner tied on for towing,”
he explained briefly, and roared away.

Terrified,
Connie’s eyes stayed riveted on Alessandro.  She could tell he was trying
frantically to get the Wave Runner started again.  Fortunately, that
Cris-Craft was fast, and soon reached Alessandro.  She saw Keith trying to
back the Cris-Craft close to the Wave Runner.  She sighed with relief when
she noticed that the boy stretched out a hand to Alessandro and helped him jump
off the ski and onto the Cris-Craft.  At least he was safe now.  For
all Connie cared, they could leave the Wave Runner in the water and roar back
to shore.  All she wanted was to put her arms around Alessandro… 

Keith
had other ideas, and manoeuvred his craft closer and closer.  He let
Alessandro take over the steering, and jumped into the water, struggling to get
the Wave Runner tied to the back of the boat. The boat boy did his best to
help—finally stepping to the edge and holding out his hand to Keith.

Thank
heaven – now come back!
Connie implored silently.  At last, the
Cris-Craft turned, slowly and carefully, and set course for the dock by what
seemed to be a repair shed. 

The
moment Alessandro jumped off the boat, Connie flew into his arms.

 “Alessandro…”
she sobbed.

Surprised,
he tightened his embrace
. “Carissima…
what on earth—”

Trying
to control her tears, but not succeeding too well, she faltered, “I saw the
storm getting nearer and nearer, and you would’ve been the highest point on the
lake, and…”   

A
feeling of deep tenderness stirred in Alessandro’s heart, surprising him. 
He decided to think about that some other time.  Right now, Connie needed
to be soothed.  Turning quickly to Keith, he said, “If there is any charge
for the rescue please charge it to my suite.”

“No,
there isn’t.  It’s our Wave Runner that lost power and stranded you in the
middle of the lake.  Ours the responsibility of getting you off it and
back safely.”

“Thanks. 
I’ll see you tomorrow—if my wife feels up to it.”

Keith
nodded, grinning.  His opinion, that handsome fellow would have his work
cut out ever going on a Wave Runner again when his wife was around.

Unaware
of Keith’s opinion, Alessandro put a protective arm around Connie and led her
back to the hotel.  By this time, Connie had herself under most of her
usual calm control, and she smiled up at Alessandro.  Admittedly,
 the smile was a little wobbly. 

“I
can’t tell you how good it is to feel your arm around me.  When I saw that
thing bobbing helplessly on the lake, I was terrified that you’d be hit by
lightning, or that that thing would sink…”

He
hugged her closer.  “
Carissima,
I wasn’t shackled to the Wave
Runner, I was merely sitting on it.  If it had sunk, I would’ve jumped off
and swum back to where you were standing.”

“You
would…?  You could…?”

He
nodded.  “Yes, I could and I would.  And I am sorry I caused you such
concern.  When you flew into my arms, sobbing, I—”

Any
moment now he’s going to ask why I was so upset…  I can’t tell him it was
because I love him…

Hastily,
Connie smiled sunnily.  “I’m sorry I over-reacted.  It was just that
I have seen so many aquatic accidents among my friends, and not all of them
ended as well as this one…”

Alessandro
nodded.  “I see.  For a moment there, I wondered whether you
felt—”  He shook his head impatiently.  “No, that would be too
far-fetched.   You were probably just upset by the possibility of a
serious accident.”                                                

Connie
smiled determinedly.  “Yes, I guess so.”

They
had reached the elevators, and he asked, “Would you like to have a nap, to get
over your scare?”

“By
myself?”

Amused
by her indignant tone, he said gently, “Of course not.  Don’t forget, this
is our mini-honeymoon.”