22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

T he room is breathing. The walls are moving in and out, each inhalation pulling the flames closer, each exhalation adding fuel to the fire that is roaring. I call out, lying on the ground, my ankle snapped, bones protruding, blood seeping into the dry earth, screaming at the window so far out of reach for Donvino.

"Donvino! Donvino! Please throw the dog down! Donvino! I can't move!" My gaze flies to the fingerlings of dancing fire that is racing across the parched lawn. Where is he?! Why is he not coming to the window with Earnest? Where are they?! Fire licks at my toes. I shout and try to drag myself away when I hear a sound above me. Crying in pain and terror, I glance up as flames leap from the grass to my clothing and see Donvino standing at the window, his body engulfed with flames, the small dog in his arms nothing but molten lava.

"Just let the fire take you, Arlo," Donvino calls down to me, his voice the voice of a demon from the depths.

"No! Donvino! No!" I screech as the flames envelope me and then there is nothing but heat and blackness.

"Arlo, wake up. Everything is safe." I snapped out of the night terror with a shout, my face damp with tears and sweat, my heart thundering in my breast. "That's it, it's okay now. See, there is no fire. See?" Donvino gathered me into his arms, lifting me from the sodden sheets to his lap, where I curled into him like a child. Weeping copious tears, I stayed safely wrapped in his arms until the worst of the horror had passed. "Shh, I will always keep you safe," he cooed, stroking my back as I trembled. "Things are safe now. We're in your room at the villa."

I felt a cold nose nudging at my arm. I lifted my elbow to allow Earnest, who had taken to sleeping at the foot of our bed in a cushy doggie bed, to slither his way into the hug. The dog wiggled in tightly, licking at the tears dripping off my chin.

"Oh gods above, when is this going to end?" I gasped, nose fully stuffed and eyes burning from crying.

"It will pass with time," Donvino assured me just as he had done nightly for over three weeks. Shouldn't I be getting over the memories of that dreadful night by now? Donvino certainly isn't having episodes every damn night. I curled into him further, legs full of worried terrier, and buried my nose into his throat. The smell of his skin, the lingering aroma of soap, and the strong throb of his pulse eased me, slowly, as it always did. I kissed that thudding pulse point, sniffling, my body wired now. No way was I going back to sleep anytime soon. Earnest wiggled free, the hug a bit too tight for him now. I heard him jump to the floor, then settled as I continued to pepper Donvino's warm skin with kisses.

"I love you. Never leave me. Promise that you will never leave me," I whimpered between kisses, working my way up over his scratchy chin to his lips. I clutched his head, fingers tight to his scalp, and plastered my mouth to his. I don't care if we both have morning breath or middle-of-the-night breath or whatever kind of breath. We're both breathing. He is breathing. That is all that mattered right now. Life. His heart thumping along, the hitch in his breath as I wiggled around on his lap, the slow rise of his cock against my bare ass. "Make love to me, please. I need to know that we still have that connection."

"I don't want to push you," he replied gruffly, easing me into a sitting position on his thick thighs, his words belying what his body was doing. We'd not had sex since the night of the fire. Neither of us was even thinking of that. We were both too busy recuperating mind, body, and soul. But now I found that I needed him more than I needed oxygen.

"I'm the one asking. Please, I need to feel life and love surging between us," I begged, grasping at his shoulders as I licked at the corners of his mouth. He sighed into the kiss, finding my tongue with his. We tasted deeply. Our hands roamed over each other, seeking intimate places that pleased. Places that we knew well. I pinched his nipples, he toyed with my hole, and soon we were both mad with want. The nightmare slipped away as he reached for the small bag of goodies my great-aunt had procured for us. I thought I would die on the spot when she handed me a tasteful blue bag from the local pharmacy filled with condoms, lube, and anal discomfort cream. Ginerva knew we were not sleeping in our separate rooms as did Vittoria. Giada was under the impression that we were so, to keep the peace, Donvino would sneak out of my room at five every morning to ensure his grandmother didn't find him in my bed. Yes, it was silly, but then again, a lot of the things that the older generation clung to I'd found to be odd. If it made her feel better about us, we would play the game until we could find a place of our own.

"Rise up," Donvino huffed, and I quickly did as asked. He was slick and fast, his slippery fingers finding my entrance and then gliding in. My nails dug into his shoulders as he sucked on my neck while opening me up. I could feel the tension in him. His powerful muscles were coiled like a spring, and his cock was hard and hot against my buttocks. Since we had given up condoms weeks ago, as soon as he deemed me ready, he moved me into place. "Sit down, take me into you."

I lowered down onto him, the burn exquisite. Fuck but he was thick and long. With a grunt and a grimace, I eased down, took him into me, and then began moving. Up and down, like a piston firing, I rode him as hard as I could. Each thrust filled me, stretched me, reawakening a vital part of me that only this man could touch. Both of us were on the edge in mere moments, his eyes dark as coals, his mouth puffy from my kisses.

"Love you," I gasped as my orgasm steamrolled me. I came without him even touching my cock, ropes of cum speckling his belly and chest as I rose and fell with abandon. He stiffened as soon as my ass tightened. Hot rushes of spunk filled me. I whimpered at the sensation, reveled in it, and then fell forward. He held me in place, tensing his ass to rise up for more depth as his finger bit into my hips. I cared little if I had bruises. All I cared about was this moment. The rush of life, the sharing of love, the knowledge that we were both here. "Love you so much."

"I love you, my rainbow dreamer," he ground out, his body still pulsing deep inside.

I kissed him shakily and let my brow fall to his shoulder. With infinite care, he moved us around, his cock slipping out when he rolled to his side, with me still in his arms. I felt a wet streak of spend on my ass. We'd have to strip the sheets before going back to sleep. Not that I would be nodding off tonight. I wiggled into him, chest to chest, spent cock touching spent cock, and stared into his dark eyes. The moon was bright tonight, round and fat and white in the starry sky. He was a god in this light, or any light, to be honest.

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I lay there watching him. He cocked an eyebrow. "For the dreams. For not being able to move forward. I feel as if I'm holding everything up by being so stuck in the past. Why can't I get over it?"

"Maybe because there is no closure yet," he offered, pulling up the thin coverlet of safflower and white. My skin pimpled as it settled over my hot flesh. "Maybe because it was terrifying."

"You don't wake up screaming every night," I pointed out as I traced his collarbone with my index finger. "I hate this. I'm not able to move forward at all. I know we have to make decisions about what comes next, but I'm mired in this damn quicksand of fear."

"Shhh." He placed his mouth to mine and the kiss spun its magic. "We are not in any rush. I want you healed and happy and healthy then we will work out the future."

"But all our dreams…"

"Are just on hold. Now, close your eyes. Let me pet you to sleep just like Earnest."

I rolled my eyes. As if him petting me is going to…oh that's nice…his fingers on my face were so relaxing…I love him…his touch…his gentleness…love…him…

***

A month later, the villa gardens were still alive.

Sudden showers—now a daily thing thank all the gods of Olympus—had left the grass damp, the air clear, and the Arno slowly rising. Bees merrily buzzed from bloom to bloom, birds splashed in the overflowing baths, and droplets of rain dripped from the dark green leaves enveloping the pergola. The temperatures were in the high 60s to low 70s most days. The humidity had eased off as well. It was perfection.

I was seated on the dock, tossing a ball into the water for Earnest, who, I had to assume, had Labrador blood in his genealogy because man, did he love the water. I'd have to do some reading on terriers. Maybe they all were water lovers, or maybe it was just Earnest.

Vittoria's dogs were seated at the gate, in sweaters as the temp had slipped a bit of late, staring down at us as if they wondered about the mental stability of that bossy terrier with the new collar and sparkly tags. He also had been micro-chipped and was in line to be neutered. We didn't discuss the neutering in front of him, though. Best not to have him hear he was going to be balless in ten days.

Lucia was sprawled out behind us, soaking up the rays, and lifted her head only when Earnest would return to the dock, prancing up the stairs that had been added for him just yesterday and shaking. The cat did not appreciate the shower, but she was loath to leave her new friend.

Donvino was rowing. It was his second day back on the river, and while I hated waking up at the ass crack of dawn, I was thrilled to see him in his father's old scull once more. We were healing. Old dreams and new dreams were mingling. Mostly. Sadly, a lot was up in the air now, as the home that we had just started to think of as ours was a pile of ash. My job at the mill was being overseen by a manager from another farm outside of Livorno.

Piravino had been spotted in Greece and was now in transit back to Italy. Seems that Signora Piravino was royally pissed at her husband for running off after trying to kill two innocent men and taking every red cent the family had saved. So she had called the police with his whereabouts after he had reached out to beg her to come to Greece with him.

Good on her I say. Knowing that the bastard was going to be tried and locked up—I prayed he would be behind bars for a good long time—made it easier to sleep at night. Being next to Donvino in the yellow room with a dog snoring at our feet also helped. Yes, he was technically in the green room but only his clothes were there. He slept with me, but we did our best not to rub our sleeping arrangements under his grandmother's nose. Giada was coming along in terms of acceptance but still insisted that unmarried people should not be in the same bed. Donvino teased her endlessly about getting me pregnant. She would blush and then call him a bad boy but always with some humor in her words now.

So it wasn't ideal here, but it was as close as we were going to be until we figured out what was next for us. As lovely as La Villa Bonetti was, we needed our own space. Sneaking out Donvino before his grandmother arrived sucked. We couldn't move to his old apartment in the city as that had been rented out. The manager's home had been bulldozed under after the fire and police departments had gathered all the evidence they could.

To be honest, I wasn't sure I even wanted to go back to that job. While I loved working with the employees, the paperwork part of management was horrendous. Donvino, on the other hand, was ready to return to his job working on large machinery. But that would mean an hour drive to and from Florence so…yeah…

We were in limbo as we recovered from the fire. Tossing balls to terriers who never ran out of energy as we restocked our wardrobes. I tried not to think about all my designer vests, or the shoes in my closet, that had been incinerated. Oh, the shoes!

A dog shaking pulled me from my walk down not-so-great memory lane. I giggled at the spray, then ran a hand over his wiry coat. Lucia lazily swatted at the wet dog. The Chihuahuas at the gate yipped at him and then dashed off to hide under the bench where their mistress and my aunt were seated about to have breakfast.

Smiling at the dog who darted off to pester the other dogs, I saw Donvino rounding the corner, his arms flexing with each stroke as he sped along the Arno. He pulled up alongside the dock, leapt out of his boat and lifted it out of the water. He was suddenly very protective of it since the fire, which I totally understood. It was the only thing left that he owned. Quite literally. The fire had burnt his bike and my darling Bianchina to piles of cinders and melted metal. We assumed the smaller explosions that night had been gas tanks blowing up. The large one had been the natural gas. I had nightmares about fires now. Donvino was sure they would slow and then stop over time. I prayed he was right.

"Enjoy your row?" I asked as he placed the scull on the dock before rubbing at his hair with a towel that I passed up to him. My beautiful water god was still just as breathtaking as always, perhaps even more so now that he held my heart in his strong hands.

"Yes, the river is randy now. It's good. I think I might buy a new scull next spring and pick up training again. I missed it."

"That's great news!" I stood, pulled my short top down to cover my navel, and went to my toes to kiss him on the mouth. His sigh of contentment made me happy. "We'll have to find a place near the river for you to train."

"Mm, yes, well, the Tiber would work well if we think we are going back?" He posed that to me quite often, at least once a day. Now that he was feeling better, he was antsy to get back to the life we had started outside of Valle Sicuro. I was ready to pick up being a couple alone in our own place too. I just had no clue where that place would be or what I would be doing.

"It could," I replied and shrugged. Call me Major Indecisiveness. Why was I being so sluggardly? Donvino was back on track. Rowing, working on cars with Bianca while he waited for me to make up my stupid faulty mind. Everyone had begun to move past the fire except me. "I just…"

"I know. You aren't sure yet. Come." He took my hand. "Let's go find food. I'm starving," he said and led me through the garden gate.

My great-aunt and Se?orina Cappello both glanced up from their meals. They were in the sun this morning, the shade under the pergola a bit too chilly for them. Both were already dressed for the day, my great-aunt in a light blue outfit that screamed Dolce & Gabbana, while my tutor was wearing a black tutu sort of creation with a matching turban. Her two dogs sat on either side of her feet, staring at us as Earnest and Lucia darted ahead of us. The dogs and cat had a moment of butt-sniffing pleasure with the Chihuahuas before Lucia leapt into Ginerva's lap. Earnest laid down in the sun to nap and dry.

"Boys, come sit, please. Vittoria wishes to speak with you," Ginerva called as a brown bird flew down from above to take a fast bath. Lucia eyed the sparrow closely but wasn't inclined to leave my aunt's lap.

"If it's about Earnest, I know he's a bit of a wild thing yet but the vet assures us that when he's snipped, some of that spunk will disappear," I said, padding over to the table that had been moved into the sun then taking a seat across from my aunt. Donvino lowered his sweaty body into the fourth chair, his discomfort at sitting down to eat while stinky from exercise evident.

"No, it is not about the dog," Ginerva stated as she motioned for us to eat. There were two plates and settings waiting, so this talk had obviously been planned. Great. I spooned up some yogurt and topped it with some clover honey. "It's about—"

"I can still speak for myself, Ginerva," Signoria Cappello said with a snap in her tone. My aunt huffed but said nothing more, just sat back to sip her cup of cappuccino while Donvino loaded his plate with eggs, roasted tomato, fresh mozzarella balls, and bacon. "The dog is fine. I wish to discuss something about your housing situation."

I sighed internally. Everyone seemed to be curious about what I planned to do next. Me included. I wished I had a concrete answer for them.

"I'm still weighing my options," I fibbed, then ate a spoonful of homemade yogurt. God it was delicious. And the honey was divine. Those poor bees that had been lost. My father had already ordered more hives for the orchard. Replanting had begun. My father was a doer, not a layabout like his son.

"Ah, well, that is good, but I am speaking of my home in the city. I am giving it to you boys," Se?orina Cappello informed us. My mouth fell open but quickly shut it. My great-aunt quirked a brow. Donvino paused mid-chew to gape at the woman in the turban. "I know my time is limited." We all started talking at once to assure her that was not the case. She held up a finger. We all fell into silence. Teachers have incredible finger power. "Stop. Do not blow air up my panties as you Americans say. I know the outcome of my life choices. I am happy here with Ginerva. I paint, I smoke my pipe—" My aunt muttered something about taking that pipe and chucking it into the Arno that her close friend ignored. "I read, I nap, and I watch you two fall more in love every day."

I snuck a peek at Donvino, whose cheeks were now as red as the little seasoned tomatoes on his plate.

"Se?orina Cappello, I can't allow you to simply give away a property that must be worth at least a few million euros," I gently said as I lowered my spoon.

"You are not asking, I am giving. The paperwork is done. The house is yours. Fill it with love, laughter, and perhaps some children?" Vittoria asked, her eyes bright and teasing. I could not imagine not smelling that pipe of hers or hearing her giggle with my aunt. "Do not look at me as if I am already dead, Arlo!"

"Sorry, I just…" I drew in a shuddering breath. "I'm overwhelmed with your generosity. Is there no one in your family that would be in line for your possessions?"

She scowled. "Pah, those simpletons? No. They were crude and ignorant, pushing me to wed a man who abused his first wife. I refused. I had no liking of men, you see?" I nodded. Donvino simply sat beside me like a stunned fish. "But they would not relent so I did what they wanted. I agreed to marry him, moved to Florence, and then told him to go fuck himself."

"Vittoria, please, language." Ginerva sighed into her tiny cup of coffee.

"Ah why should I not speak my mind? I'm old and I'm dying." My great-aunt winced but said nothing more. "My parents were appalled, but since I was the only child, they ensured I was taken care of, not unlike you, Arlo." I blushed. "I have lived a good life, filled with rich wine, good food, fine tobacco, and the love of a good and dear friend."

Ginerva and she exchanged a look that tore me to bits while at the same time filled me with joy. They didn't have to say aloud that they were in love. It was obvious. I prayed that Donvino and I would someday be old and wrinkled, yet still gazing at each other like these two grand dames were.

"Se?orina, this gesture is so kind, but we cannot accept. It is too generous," Donvino finally said, the shock wearing off apparently.

She turned her widened eyes to him. "Young man, are you denying a dying woman her last wish?"

He paled, shook his head, and then looked at me as if to help him in some way. I leaned over to peck his flushed cheek, then spoke to Vittoria.

"I'm still…thank you. Thank you so much. We'll take great care of your home, I promise. And we'll fill it with love, that I assure you," I said as I reached over the table to take her fragile hand in mine.

"Good. It is all yours. All the furnishings. Everything. Feel free to decorate as you wish but do make sure that you take an hour every day to walk out to the river to watch the sun set on Florence. You will have a good view from the back yard. Have some wine as you do so, and perhaps a pipeful of tobacco from Signor Carafo's shop two blocks over. His Forte blend is strong with a pleasant bouquet."

"We'll enjoy the sunsets every night with some wine and think of you," I assured her.

"Good, that is all I ask. Oh, and that you keep learning our language. You do very well now but your accent is still atrocious," my tutor said, which got a soft chuckle from the table.

"Thank you, se?orina, so much, for the home. It is…beyond generous," Donvino quietly said, and I squeezed his knee.

"Pah, it is just a house. Filling it with art, music, dogs, maybe children, and love is what makes it a home. Ginerva, I'm tired. Shall we go to the salon to read?" Se?orina Cappello asked, and my aunt was quick to comply. Donvino and I both rose when the women did and offered to help, but both told us to sit down and eat since they were perfectly capable of walking into the villa.

Once the women and their pets had departed the garden, I sat there in the sun, trying to parse everything that had just taken place in the past fifteen minutes. Earnest was still snoozing away by the busy bird bath. Busy now that Lucia had gone indoors with my aunt.

"I feel like Cinderella minus the singing mice," I said after a moment.

"I feel like…" Donvino was clearly unable to express himself.

"Do you feel like our future is slowly presenting itself?"

"I feel unable to say what I feel. Giving us a house? That is the most generous thing I have ever seen. Why would she do that? I'm just a hired hand."

"No, my love, you are so much more than a hired hand. You are the man of my dreams." I plucked his hand from the table and raised it to my lips. His knuckles were rough, yet warm.

He smiled shyly, then threaded his fingers through mine. "Yes, I am that man. And you are the man who has my heart in his hand. Arlo, we have a home!"

"I know! And it's on the river. Oh, Donvino, you can row every day. You'll be able to paddle under the Ponte Vecchio every morning. It's the prettiest sight on the whole of the Arno so the tourist magazines say."

"The tourist magazines are wrong. You, Arlo Bonetti, are the prettiest sight on the whole of the Arno."

And just like that, I fell even more in love with the man.

I felt so much lighter now. A huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. We had a home, a special home that would always remind me that nothing was more powerful or delicate than love and a good blend of pipe tobacco.