Chapter 9

LUCA

“I have the whole day free. What would you like to do?” he asked, his hand running through her hair. He loved the way it felt, so soft.

“Anything?” she asked.

“Yes, whatever you want. I could take you shopping, or we could go for a long drive and stop somewhere and have dinner.”

“What I would like is to go for a ride. You still haven’t shown me around, and we could go on a picnic. It’s a beautiful day for one.”

“A picnic.” He sighed. “If that is what you want, then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll have the staff pack us lunch while we change our clothes.” He pulled her closer for another kiss.

Two hours later, they saddled up and were on their way. Luca had tied the basket to his saddle. They rode for over two hours, and he showed her many of his favorite spots.

Finally, they stopped by the river. They got off their horses, and Luca laid out the blanket they brought with them; Robin dished out the lunch. There were sandwiches, salad, fruit, and a bottle of wine.

“I’m so sorry. I should have told the cook to pack some juice for you.”

“That’s okay. I’d like to try some wine,” she said, holding out her glass for him to pour some in.

“Are you sure? You have never had alcohol before.”

“Yes, I’m sure.” She smiled at him and took a sip; she made a face. “I guess it takes some getting used to.”

“This is one of my best wines, very expensive, but you don’t have to drink it.” He couldn’t stop the smile that broke out on his face when she wrinkled up her nose and her lips puckered.

She took another sip. “This is actually quite good.” She finished it and asked for another.

“Wow, slow down a little or you’ll end up drunk. Trust me, you will not like the feeling you’ll have the next morning.”

After the food was eaten and more wine consumed, they lay down, looking up at the sky, watching the clouds float by. Robin turned on her side to look at him. “Luca.”

Hands behind his head, he turned to look at her. “Yes,” he replied.

“You once told me you don’t do virgins. Why not?”

Turning away, he looked back up at the sky. “Why do you ask such a thing?”

“I’m curious.”

“Have you ever heard the old saying, curiosity killed the cat?”

“I have, but I also heard that satisfaction brought it back to life.”

He let out a hearty laugh. “No, I have never heard that.” He let out a deep sigh.

“When I was younger, I met this young woman in a bar. We ended up making love in the back seat of my car.

“I was young and horny as hell. I did not take the time for foreplay. I surged right in, not knowing she was a virgin. It caused her a great deal of pain. She cried so hard I took her to see a doctor.

“I hurt her, Robin, really badly. Mira was her name. She was never the same after that. I ran into a mutual friend a few years later, and he told me she was never able to have sex from what happened that night.

“When she tried, it hurt too much. She couldn’t bear it.”

Robin raised herself up on her elbow. “It’s not your fault. You can’t blame yourself.”

“Oh, but I do. If I’d been more gentle, taken my time, it would have been different for her.” His guilt still weighed heavily on him to this day.

“Luca, I have heard that it only hurts for a few minutes, and then it feels good.”

He looked at her, frowning. “How would you know that?”

“I overheard my cousin’s girlfriends talking about it. They said it only hurt for a few minutes, and after that, it was good, really good.

“I’ve also heard that some women have a problem down there, one that prevents them from enjoying sex. It is possible this Mira has a medical problem that caused it to hurt.”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Luca, I have been whipped, dragged by my hair, and beaten by my uncle. If I can endure all that, then I think I can handle a few minutes of pain.”

He felt the anger rising in him at the thought of how she was beaten and treated by the hands of her own flesh and blood. “I ought to go back there and give him a beating; let him see how it feels.”

“No, you can’t,” she cried out.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“He’s my uncle, the only family I have.”

“You have too good of a heart, and you’re too forgiving, one that someday may end up destroying you.”

He leaned over her, his eyes going to her neck and knew he had to put his lips there, needed to taste her. Moving his mouth up and down her neck, he left wet kisses along its path.

His hand went to the buttons on her top, and he undid them, spreading the fabric open; his hand caressed her breasts over the thin material of her bra.

Her hands fumbled with the buttons on his shirt until they were open. She ran her hands over his chest, feeling his hard body and moaning from sheer delight.

His mouth found hers, and he kissed her with the hunger of a man who was starving. He felt the warmth of her hands on his chest, then felt them moving down and unhooking his belt.

But when she started pulling at the zipper, he pulled away and got to his feet.

“We have to stop. We’re not married,” he said as he did up his belt and rebuttoned his shirt.

ROBIN

“We don’t have to stop. I want you, Luca, and I don’t want to wait,” she cried out, feeling hurt and rejected. Standing up, she lashed out, letting her anger and disappointment show.

“This isn’t fair. You get me all worked up with your kisses, and you touch me, and then you pull away. You don’t do that with all your other women, I bet.

“What do I have to do to get you to make love to me? Would it make you feel better if I let someone else fuck me first; that way, I would no longer be a virgin?”

He grabbed her arms and shook her violently. His eyes blazed with dark anger, and with teeth clenched, he hissed.

“Don’t you ever let me hear you talk this way again. You will never be touched by another man. If you let that happen, I swear to God, I will kill him.”

His dark eyes grew darker, and he tightened his grip on her. “Do I make myself clear, Robin?”

“Stop, Luca, let go. You are hurting me.” She winced, and he let go of her.

“I didn’t mean it. I would never let another man touch me. It is only you that I want, only you that I want to make love to me.

“I’m sorry for speaking out like that. It was in anger and frustration.” Not being able to hold back her tears, she let them flow.

His heart softened, and he took her in his arms, holding her close to his chest. “Please don’t cry. I cannot bear to see your tears. I cannot take you here in the woods, and not before we marry.”

“Why, Luca? Why must we wait?”

“You are young and innocent. You deserve to be treated with respect. I promise once we are married, I will make love to you. I will give you so much pleasure you’ll cry for mercy.”

He took her face in his hands, wiping her tears away. “Now come, we must get back so that you can change into a dress and the highest heels you own.”

“Are we going somewhere?”

“No, I have arranged for you to take dance lessons, and he will be here shortly.”

“Already? But we just discussed it this morning.”

“When there is something to be done, I get it done right away. I never put things off. You’ll soon find that out about me.”

LUCA

Later, Luca waited in the ballroom with a young American named Seth, who had been sent to teach Robin the art of dancing.

Not who he was expecting, this man was tall, with dark hair, and he was very attractive.

Robin showed up wearing a black dress that showed her cleavage and high heels; she looked stunning and had his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

Seth took her hand and kissed the back of it after being introduced to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, madam.”

“I’m afraid you will have your work cut out for you. I have two left feet.”

Seth’s eyes boldly trailed down her slender form to her feet. “You have beautiful feet, those of a dancer. Shall we get started?”

Luca cleared his throat loudly, and the two turned to him. “I will leave you both to it.” He stared at Seth, his eyes dark. “But I will be keeping an eye on you.”

Giving Robin a peck on the cheek, he left the room, bumping into Grazia.

“My, he is a handsome devil. I do hope your little bird doesn’t take a liking to him. I hear he is a good lover who has had affairs with many of his clients.”

She smiled as he glanced back to where they were; the music had started. Grazia had a way of pushing Luca’s buttons, of planting seeds of doubt in his mind.

“Shut up, Grazia,” he said, stomping away.

Two hours later, he found himself pacing back and forth. Not able to take them being alone together any longer, he went to the ballroom. He stood and watched them. She was laughing and seemed to be enjoying herself.

“See, you are doing so well. Now I will show you a new dance. It is very sexual and meant for lovers.”

Luca felt the heat rising in his body when Seth swung her around and was behind her, his one arm around her waist, the free hand moving seductively down her side, and his face was close to her neck.

Having seen enough, Luca marched over and turned the music off. They stopped and turned to look at him. Seth immediately dropped his hands from Robin, clearly having seen the fury in Luca’s eyes.

Luca walked over and grabbed Seth by his collar; teeth clenched, he growled, “You’re here to teach her to dance, not seduce her.”

Raising his fist, he punched Seth in the mouth. He could hear Robin screaming for him to stop. As Luca towered over Seth, his eyes blazed with fury.

“Your services are no longer required. Go anywhere near her again and I’ll kill you. See yourself out.”

Seth was gone, and Robin went over to Luca as he turned the music back on. “Why did you do that, and why are you so angry? Have I done something wrong?”

Smiling, he took her hand. “No, not you. Do you not know that man was coming on to you?”

She shook her head.

“There are many men who will try and take advantage of one so young and innocent. I will not allow anyone to do that to you. You belong to me.”

A knowing smile crept upon her lips. “You’re jealous.”

“I do not get jealous,” he said, taking her hand and leading her over to the center of the room. Taking her in his arms, they began dancing.