An Apartment in Venice (11 page)

Soon his thoughts turned to Giulia. Yes, he wanted sex with her, but with this woman, he wanted more. He wanted to see her let go of that iron coil wound around her. He wanted to know if she had any girlie bones in that sensual body? Did she squeal at a spider or water bug? Did she read in bed? Did she sleep on her stomach or back or on her side? Nude? He could almost feel her soft body beneath him. Oh yeah, he wanted her. And thinking of that wild-maned lion, he wanted to be her lion the way Tony was to Maria Grazia. Lots more work before that can happen, he thought.

* * *

Exhausted, Giulia stretched out on her attic bed and thought of Chuck’s full, sexy lips tucked into that half smile. She remembered the feel of his rock-hard thigh under her hand as they’d driven here.
Oh God.
She shuddered, imagining another part of him that might be equally as hard.

Oliver knew all about Pensione Luciana, having driven there while still smarting from the insult of Giulia’s knee in his groin. Ever since that afternoon, he often parked across the street behind her pensione hoping to figure a way inside. He needed to punish her for what she did—not to mention that self-righteous prig, Novak, finding out about it. Oliver got hard thinking about that day when he saw her breasts jiggle as she kneed him. He moved his seat back, reached to unzip his pants and grabbed his erection. He wished he had one of her bras. Yeah. Panties to match would even be better.
Was Novak already into hers?

He cleaned up with a towel kept under the driver’s seat and relaxed. That’s when he noticed steps leading up to what might be a first-floor apartment. Through the early-evening shadows, he focused intently on the four doors at ground-floor level. Pensione Luciana must also have apartments for rent, he thought. Her landlords were bringing in a nice income. Did they declare the apartments?
Never know when such info will come in handy.

He’d need a damned clever story to get inside one of those rear entrances. But then what? Her file didn’t show a room number. A couple of times he had followed Cavinato, but that proved a dead end because he couldn’t enter that front entrance with her. He
would
enter her place. Maybe even her. And with that thought, he felt his blood heat up again.

After he discovered those rear doors, locating her bedroom took up all his free time. Except for important meetings, he made it a habit to swing behind the pensione to watch for a chance to get inside. One evening, he sat at his usual place across the street out of the lamppost’s circle of light. He’d been ready to call it a night and reached to turn the key on his sleek Mercedes, when he saw her walk up those steps.

Gotcha!

* * *

It was late Sunday morning, and Tony had stationed his wheelchair in the sunshine between the back of the house and the shed to direct Chuck and friends gathered to help. When Giulia brought him a cup of coffee, he urged her to sit beside him. She’d been helping Nonna prepare lunch for everyone. Chuck came from the driveway carrying wood from the local lumberyard.

“Chuck take a break and come sit,” Tony called.

“Be there in a second,” he yelled.

“Giulia, bring yourself coffee. For Chuck too,
va bene?
”

When the three were settled, Tony launched into his fear for her safety in Vicenza. “Giulia, now’s the time to make your move to Venice. You should have gone directly there in the first place.” He held up his hand. “You think you need to work and save a tad more—always more. I understand. But you must leave. That
brutale mascalzone,
vicious villain, will keep looking for you if only to get back at me. It’s just a matter of time before Botteri or one of his henchmen spots you in Vicenza.”

“Maybe so.” Giulia said, thinking of the thug who’d followed her.

“Maybe? No maybe about it,” Tony said.

Chuck said, “Someone did try to follow her home after—”

Giulia jerked her head toward him and scowled.

“Lord!” Nonno thundered. “What’s that about?”

Giulia sagged back in her lawn chair and told how a man plodded behind her after she’d delivered the gems. “I managed to hop on a bus the moment it pulled away leaving him no chance to follow.”

“That was quick thinking, coccolona, but we can’t wait for the next time.”

“But I wore my wig.”

“
Pollastrella!
, chickie,” he said taking her hand. “It takes more than a fancy wig to disguise your
forma divina.
”

“Nonno,” Giulia said, blushing. She released her hand and lifted her cup.

“
É vero,
Chuck?”

“Si, si, Tony, it’s true,” Chuck said, hoping to catch her eyes.

“Allora. You must find that place of your dreams as soon as possible. I want you to disappear into Venice away from Botteri’s territory—at least I hope his territory hasn’t reached Venice.” He turned to Chuck. “You live in Venice, don’t you?”

“I do.” Chuck turned to her, “I’d like to help you find an apartment if… if you want.” He took her hand and this time, captured her eyes.

“I would like that,” she said.

Chuck nodded, taking that as a sign she’d forgiven him—maybe.

“Good,” Tony said. “I’ll pay the first month’s rent and whatever deposits are needed to get you in fast.”

Giulia started to protest, but Maria Grazia came out to see what their confab was about. When Tony explained, she nodded her head in agreement.

“Chuck, maybe you can help Giulia find a place?” Nonna asked.

“Already settled,” Tony said holding Maria Grazia’s hand.

“
Perfetto.
Now, Tony, come lie down before we spread lunch. You’ll wear yourself out. You want to be in good form with your friends, eh?”

He submitted to her and said he’d come in a moment and Chuck could push his chair to the door. Giulia left with Nonna.

“I don’t need you to push this rig. I can manage, but I want to ask you something personal-like,” and he looked directly into Chuck’s eyes.

“Okay,” Chuck said.

“Have you slept with her?” Tony asked, still looking straight into Chuck’s eyes with his own so incredibly like Giulia’s.

“Not yet,” Chuck said, grinning.

Tony grinned, too, and held up a finger. “Don’t wait long. She’s got barriers. I hope you’re the man to break them down. Something happened but she won’t talk to me. If Maria Grazia knows, she’s not talking either.”

“I’m working on it, Tony.”

“Good.”

“Toneee,” Maria Grazia called from the kitchen window.

“Coming.” He grinned at Chuck, “The lioness is getting restless.”

* * *

They accomplished a lot during the rest of Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday noon when Giulia and Chuck left, the house looked much better and so did Tony. Giulia said she’d come back the following weekend, but both grandparents insisted she spend time looking at rentals in Venice.

On the way back, Giulia seemed more relaxed and thanked Chuck once again for all the help he’d been to her and her family. “I appreciate your offer to help me find an apartment, but I can’t let you give up your free time for me.”

“Giulia, don’t you know by now I
want
to spend my free time with you?”

She looked out the window at a fast-moving stream tumbling over small boulders and downed logs. “I did notice. Guess it’s me; I’m out of practice in the relationship thing. I… I’ve been closed down,” she said. “After a long—”

“You could practice on me,” he said reaching for her hand and holding it on his thigh again as they drove on through the forest of pine, fir and cedars.

“Giulia?”

“What?”

“Tell me more about the woman named Laura. How’d you meet her?”

She took her hand back and gripped it in her other hand as if to steady herself. “First, you understand that Botteri was the same man who’d sent a drink to me in the bar almost a month before I delivered the gems to him.”

“Men in bars often send drinks to pretty women. Been doing it forever.”

“Yes. But when Laura caught me in the lobby and invited me to tea, I had no idea she was connected to him. Her invitation seemed odd but I was curious. We went to a tearoom off the lobby and tea arrived as we sat down.”

“No waiter took the order? Strange.”

“I think we were expected. She began to explain about her escort service and that a certain gentleman had seen me recently and wanted to be my exclusive client. In that moment, I put it together and jumped up to leave, spilling my tea. The waiter arrived immediately with a towel and a fresh pot.”

“That sounds even more suspicious.”

She nodded. “Laura chased me through the lobby and handed me a contract. She looked desperate. I took pity on her and stuffed it in my purse.”

“Do you still have it?”

“No! I destroyed it at home after ditching that creep.”

“I’m curious. Why’d you go to that bar in the first place?”

“Why not? Are you saying I shouldn’t have gone?”

“Not at all. Just wondered how it happened.”

“I’d settled into the pensione before classes started and felt lonely. Thought I’d look for a glass of Prosecco. Didn’t want to buy a whole bottle. It’d go flat before I could…” She stopped. She felt as if she were confessing to a parent. “Chuck, I’ve been traveling alone to Italy for years. Taking a walk at dusk seemed like a pleasant thing to do. What’s your problem?”

“No problem. Giulia, I’m sorry about your being followed after you left Botteri. And I apologize for telling Tony about that thug but thought—”

“It’s okay.”

They were both quiet, then she added, “This time,” and looked over at him with a little gleam in her eyes.

He took back her hand and held it again. They didn’t talk much on the rest of the trip, and she noticed how comfortable their silences were.

After her classes, office hours with students and a long departmental meeting, Giulia finally got to her work email. She found four messages from Oliver Ogle wanting an answer about teaching Italian. The first two were reasonable, but the third and fourth, “Do you want to teach or not?” and “I’m a busy man. Get in touch with me!” were downright grouchy. She felt cranky, too, and decided to let him wait until tomorrow.

At home she shed work clothes and pulled on sweat pants and shirt and slid into her slippers with Goofy’s head and floppy ears, a kooky gift from Nancy—but they were warm. She poured a glass of red and called Chuck. His phone went to voicemail. She asked if any women had requested protection while they’d been gone then carried the wine to her computer and started searching for apartments.

* * *

Oliver felt frustrated when he left his office. The bitch hadn’t answered any of his emails. Then his spirits lifted when he saw Novak climb into that yellow piece of junk he called a car. Oliver hurried to his sleek navy-blue Mercedes and followed him into town. He waited across the street while the hulk came from a pizza shop carrying a box.
Bet that’s going to signorina snooty with the big boobies.

When Oliver saw Novak stand at the front of the pensione waiting for the door to open, he was beside himself with glee. Novak didn’t know about her apartment in the rear.
Secretive little bitch.

Oliver had no intention of trying to get in with Novak around and didn’t bother to watch her outdoor steps—this time.

* * *

“Ciao, Giulia,” Chuck’s velvety voice over the phone sent sparks of excitement to the pit of her belly.

“Ciao, Chuck. How was your day?”

“Been like drinking out of a fire hydrant. How about you?”

“The same.” She started to mention Oliver’s pouty notes but he cut in.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“No, but—”

“I’m outside your door with hot pizza, and contrary to most Italian pizzas, this one’s loaded with melted mozzarella. Interested?”

“You ought to be in advertising, my stomach’s suddenly wide awake. I just opened a bottle of red. I’ll meet you at the stairs.”

For a second, she wished she was wearing something more attractive but the sweats would have to do. She did put her bra back on. Her apartment in the rear of the building would no longer be a secret, but she didn’t want to hide from Chuck anyway.

* * *

On the way to her pensione, Chuck had thought about how to help Giulia find an apartment. Okay, he admitted, he’d been thinking more about sex. But not just any sex. He imagined slow, unhurried lovemaking with her. Damn, he hadn’t been so turned on since—couldn’t remember—and wasn’t sure he could take it slowly the first time. After that, though, he’d make love to her for the rest of the night. Tonight maybe?

With those thoughts whirring in his head, when he saw her at the top of the stairs in a sky-blue sweatsuit, Chuck’s brain exploded. For a moment, he couldn’t decide which way he liked her best. In that sexy skirt and top or in those soft sweats. Damn. She looked delicious, why ask for anything more?

As she led him to her apartment, she said, “My secret’s out. From the front entrance, this building is deceptive. Several two and three-bedroom apartments are in the back. Shortly after I arrived, I shifted into one but didn’t change my status at the base. Now with Oliver’s antics and maybe Botteri searching for me, guess I did the right thing.” She unlocked her apartment door and they walked inside.

“Deceptive indeed,” he said as he laid the pizza on the kitchen counter and walked into the spacious living/dining area. Carefully crafted moldings framed the high ceilings and a smoothly plastered rosette formed the center from which hung a simple, but elegant, light fixture. “You made a good choice here. It’s obviously well maintained. Too bad you’ll be leaving soon.”

“I know.” A small sigh escaped. “But it does seem necessary and Venice has been my goal all along. Shall I put the pizza in the oven?”

“Sure, that sounds good.” He walked toward the sliding glass doors. “You have a balcony and separate entrance.”

“I do. You’re the only one who knows about that, too, except my sweet landlords who agreed not to tell anyone.” She slid the pizza into the oven. “They seem to want to take care of me.”

“Who wouldn’t?” he said walking toward her as she turned from the oven to face him. He opened his arms and sighed with relief as she moved into them. “Mmm. You know what?”

“What?” she said turning her head up to look into his iceberg-blue eyes. Tonight, they were far from icy.

“You feel like you belong right here.” He pulled her closer.

“Maybe so.”

He lifted her up and kissed her lightly, letting her slide down his body knowing she’d feel the beginning of his erection. He waited. He wanted her to have the chance to pull back in case she might have spoken in haste. After a few seconds of silence, he slid his hands beneath her shirt and put them around her small waist.
Oh God. So smooth and warm.
He leaned down to move his mouth across her lips sensing her excitement.
Does she like the feel of my mustache?
He pressed his tongue inside. When her tongue met his, his cock jerked and swelled until he feared he’d go off right then. He tamped down as much as he could but needed to taste more. Slowly, he thrust his tongue deeper. When he began withdrawing it even more slowly, she gasped and put her arms around his neck.

Keeping his tongue in her delicious mouth, he bent to pick her up and went looking for her bedroom. Like a homing device, he seemed to know where to go and pushed open the right door on the first try. He stood her beside the bed and continued to kiss her, letting their tongues enjoy their sex dance. Her breath came faster. He tried to slow his own down. When she unbuttoned his shirt enough to run her hands over his chest, he almost lost it again. He stopped kissing her and yanked off his shirt. Then slowly—still wanting to give her a chance to stop him—he lifted
her
shirt. Her rib cage was slender but her breasts were full and almost overflowed the lacy pale-blue bra.

He sucked in his breath and leaned back to feast his eyes before running his fingers over the swell of soft flesh rising above the lace. Sliding both hands to the sides of her breasts, he pressed those tempting swells toward his mouth and slid his tongue underneath the lace.

Her breath hitched and he heard her hum a little sound of desire. Slipping the straps of her bra down her shoulders, he found the clasp and let it fall away. He lifted her breasts in his hands and felt their luscious weight. Their softness.
I could hold them forever. Bury my face in them. Protect them forever.

“Ah,” he sighed. Lush. Succulent. He kissed her again, still almost tentatively. When she responded, he deepened their kiss. While their tongues touched and teased, he slid her sweats and panties down her silky smooth thighs. Already he imagined how they’d feel wrapped around him.

He laid her on the bed. “Nice footwear,” he murmured as he nudged off the silly slippers. He stood to open his belt, holding her gaze while she watched him with those bewitching eyes. He unzipped his pants and kicked them off.
God, she was lovely. Like an angel with soft, dark curls framing her flushed face.
He struggled for control determined not to rush or force her. Hooking his thumbs in the waistband, he pushed down his black briefs and stepped out of them. Her eyes widened at the sight of his erection. He hesitated. Then she reached for him.

That’s all it took. He was on the bed, bending to kiss her neck and breasts again. The rosy-brown nipples were already hard peaks and he took one into his mouth. He sucked gently. Then harder. His large hand moved down her smooth belly to lay cupped over her mound. He opened his mouth wider and took in more of her breast.

Instinctively, she arched her back in that ancient response of female to male. While he held the other nipple in his mouth, he eased a finger into her hot, moist body. And suckled again. When he inserted two fingers into her heat, a honeyed response bathed his hand.

“Wait,” he said, scrambling for the condoms in his pants somewhere on the floor.

“I’m wearing a patch,” she said in a hushed voice.

“And I’m tested regularly at the base. But it’s up to you.”

“Chuck, I trust you, but maybe—”

“It’s okay,” he said. He found the condoms, covered himself and began kissing her again, trying desperately to take it slowly. He pushed into her little by little. She was tight. It had been awhile for her. He withdrew, grabbed a pillow to place under her bottom. When he entered again, he also let his thumb move in light circles searching for her clitoris. Warm liquid covered the pad of his thumb again. Her body opened. She was ready. But still, he moved slowly, continuing to brush his thumb against that sensitive nub.

She quivered. Kissing her mouth deeply, he continued to caress that knot of sensitivity. Again she trembled as if hovering on the brink of release.

“Let go, angel, let go,” he whispered and drew her breast into his mouth tugging hard. As if a dam had burst, she gasped out, “Yesss.” She stiffened, arched and her body shook. Her orgasm shook him as well. His hold-out time was gone! He wanted to wait, but instead, he increased the depth of his thrusts while she was still pulsing from her release. Then she began to respond anew! When he withdrew, he lifted her legs over his arms allowing him to deepen his next thrust. He drove in again, moving faster until she orgasmed once more. This time he was lost. Surging forward, he found his own seismic release and collapsed onto her.

* * *

She’d forgotten how good it felt to have the weight of a man pressing on her. He shifted and began smothering her with kisses and nips along her neck. When he nibbled the lobe of one ear, she felt a tug deep within. How could that happen so soon? She’d felt satisfied only a moment ago, twice. Three times? And now a stirring again? He must have sensed it because he deepened his kiss. But when he withdrew his tongue, she whimpered.

“We’ll get back to that, angel. Don’t go away, I intend to explore all of you.” He ducked into the bathroom to get rid of the condom. As soon as he came back to her, he began kissing her again from head to foot. He sucked her nipples as he molded and gently kneaded her breasts humming to himself as if enjoying a rich delicacy. His fingers probed between her legs again as he moved his kisses and caresses farther and farther down her body. He nudged her legs apart and nuzzled her open with his mouth. Before she had time to think about it, she climaxed again, moaning from the intensity of the sensations. He continued to tongue her clitoris.

“Wait. I can’t take any more.”

He raised his head. “Yes, my angel, you can. We’ve only begun.”

He was right, she
could
take more. His tongue was relentless. She felt frantic with mounting desire as he continued to lick and taste the inner folds of her center. To orgasm again so soon was a new sensation. She couldn’t believe she was ready for more. And more than anything, she wanted him inside again. She’d never wanted such a deep connection before. His breathing shifted into heavier panting. When he sipped her clitoris, she thought she’d break into pieces. Then he drew slightly harder and she erupted, flooding his mouth with her unique essence.

“Yes,” he breathed. Rising on his knees to cover himself with another condom, he slid his hands under her bottom and brought her toward his waiting shaft. And plunged. Again. Fast and carnal. He came in the most explosive release he’d ever experienced, more than when he’d been fourteen and thought the only way was fast and furious. His last thrust carried her with him. They collapsed in a sweaty heap.

They dozed. Briefly. Without a word, he rolled her over on her stomach, lifted her onto her hands and knees. He was gentle when he entered her from behind. Her vagina was hot and juicy, and the angle allowed him to penetrate. But this time, he moved slowly, and withdrew in an even longer, slower slide. He pumped fast, then slow until she felt dizzy and aflame from the intermittent friction. But it must
not
stop. His hard belly slapped against her soft bottom. Leaning on one hand, he took a breast in the other, holding her aroused nipple between his long fingers. With each thrust, he tightened his fingers. She climaxed again.

As she pulsed around him, he gasped, “Now, love. I can’t hold…” He plunged once more, and this time she took all of him. He went still. For a moment, she felt him swell even more inside her and then his hot release pumped into her and pleasure continued to burst over and over. The sensations seemed to go back and forth between them. She couldn’t separate whose throb was whose. Is this what the ancients meant about two becoming one?

When their hearts slowed to a steady thumping and their breath was easy again, he eased her onto her back and nestled her head in the crook of his shoulder. He lazily stroked her breasts, her waist, her stomach, back to her breasts and even played with her belly button. It seemed he couldn’t get enough of her. After a while, he rolled onto her again and said, “Do you need to sleep? If so, tell me.”

“Mmm. Maybe later.”

The truth? She felt slightly sore but also slick and hot and did
not
want sleep. She wanted Chuck again. As he slid gently into her, something clicked. She’d never imagined this kind of lovemaking, and she couldn’t get enough. They made love into the night. Even when not moving, they stayed locked together.

It was a closeness she’d never felt before. She had no idea what would come next. Her emotional life had been a desert before Chuck. He was like long-promised rain falling on one of those desert plants that only get a chance to bloom every seven years.