Leah's Seduction: 5 (Gianni and Leah - Leah's Seduction) (4 page)

Chapter 7

Leah strolled with Gianni through the olive groves on the property, or took morning walks through the nearby woods. Once she saw a family of wild boar nosing in the carpet of amber leaves covering the ground. Several times she heard the chirp-chirp sound of pheasants, and spotted them in the grass.

That time of year, the clay had turned to mud, and they wore boots to go for long walks along the quiet paths in the forest. The peace of the unspoiled valley drew them to spend time at the villa one afternoon, and enjoy a simple meal of crusty bread and foggy green olive oil, with a bottle of locally made Brunello.

In better weather, they could have enjoyed the stone patio under a wooden arch covered with wisteria, roses, and grapevines. Instead, they ate indoors, while staying warm in front of the fire. Another day, recharged from the tranquility of the villa, they visited Montepulciano, a medieval fortress town.

The atmosphere was nostalgic, and for Leah it epitomized Tuscany. The ancient-looking wine shops and the smell of wood-burning fires transported her to an earlier time. It was reminiscent of pictures she had seen of Italy with schoolchildren running through piazzas, and wrinkled old men playing bocce in the sandstone courtyards, with their collars turned up against the brisk weather.

A couple of days before Christmas, they went to Florence. The streets were filled with shoppers in slim-fitted coats and boots, scouring the markets for holiday items. People crisscrossed the stone square carrying oversized bags from gift and pastry shops. The store windows were decorated with
presepi
, nativity scenes. Even with the sparkling icicle lights shedding a golden glow over the pedestrian alleys, the tone was elegant and temperate.

Christmas dinner in Italy was eaten at lunchtime. Gianni booked reservations for their
pranzo
, or lunch, at a family-owned restaurant in Massa Marittima, near Pisa. They were served traditional fare. The meal started by toasting with a glass of Prosecco.

“To your beauty,” Gianni said, making tears well in Leah’s eyes.

The drink was followed by a bottle of estate-bottled red wine to accompany the long meal. Ham, cheeses, and plump olives were placed on the table before a starter dish of tortellini in broth was served.
Crostini toscani
, chicken liver pâté on Tuscan bread was considered a delicacy. And when set before her, Leah tried it and found she loved it, even though she swore that she didn’t like liver.

They had to pace themselves, knowing there would be many courses. Next a dish called
bollito
was delivered to the table. It was boiled meat in a delicious sauce, with a side dish of fresh, in-season vegetables. With all the courses, they were at the cozy restaurant for hours, and Leah thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Dessert was slices of
panettone
served with cream. The sweet bread was a popular holiday treat, and it was paired with a bitter shot of espresso. “Every morsel was delicious,” Leah said. “But I am stuffed. I won’t have to eat for two days.”

Gianni laughed. “Same here. It’s common to go to the cinema in the afternoon after Christmas lunch. But if it’s okay with you, I’d prefer to go back to the villa and have a glass of grappa.”

“Sounds perfect.”

In front of a roaring fire, Gianni presented Leah with a gift wrapped in gold paper, with a matching bow. She opened it to find a delicate gold necklace with an emerald pendant. “It’s so beautiful,” she said. He put it on for her, and Leah admired it in the mirror, fingering the lovely jewel.

She had thought long and hard about what to get Gianni, and was relieved to see his reaction when she gave him the gift. Ripping off the wrapping paper, he opened the box, and took out the sporty Michael Kors watch. Leah knew he could afford any watch he wanted.

But she grinned when he brushed his fingers over the shiny surface, and turned it in his hand to discover the engraving on the back.
All My Love
was all it said. Leah had agonized over what to write. She wanted to say more, but didn’t want it to be too much.

From the look on Gianni’s face, it was perfect. “I’ll think of you every time I wear this.” And Leah was delighted. She threw her arms around him. “Merry Christmas!”

He hugged her tight. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

*****

As wonderful as the retreat in Tuscany was, a feeling of dread cast a dark shadow over their last days in the lovely valley. Gianni had booked a flight so they would be home before New Year’s. As the return home moved closer, incessant worry nagged at Leah.

The hours drifted by, and Leah knew she had to talk to him. The issue of his past wasn’t going to go away. It was idyllic being away on holiday. In sharp contrast, she knew that once they were back in New York, things would be different.

Having been away in the romance of Tuscany, it was difficult to let go of the intimacy they had found there. The pressures they had escaped would return, and the room in the condo that Gianni refused to talk about would still be locked. As would his heart. Leah couldn’t tolerate the emotional distance between them, which she knew would resurface once they were home.

Nor could she bear to see Gianni shoulder the burden alone any longer. The private moments they had shared in the quiet valley had bonded her to him in a new way. The pleasures he had bestowed allowed Leah to feel the depth of raw need. And she was more desperate than before to break through to him.

She was at the end of her patience, and knew that before leaving Italy, something had to give. Returning with a dark secret between them wasn’t going to work. It would destroy what they had. Maybe slowly, like water eroding the shore, or violently, when she least expected it.

But it would happen.

By the last day, even Gianni knew something was wrong. She sat beside him on the sofa listening to music and sipping wine. But Leah was unable to disguise her feelings.

“What’s wrong?” he said.

Leah wanted to be anywhere but there. She wished it didn’t have to be this way. It was unbearable to have something pushing them apart, something Gianni couldn’t talk about. But it was so difficult to broach the subject, knowing he would be angry and might refuse to tell her anyway.

But her passion was too fierce, her love too great. Whatever the cost, Leah had to make him tell her. It was the only way. “I can’t do it,” she said, looking down at her lap.

Gianni looked puzzled. “Can’t do what?”

Leah looked up into his blue eyes, hoping to find truth. “It will break us, Gianni. Sooner or later, it will.”

His expression turned to one of concern. “What will? You’re not making sense.”

She took a breath. “The emotion between us is strong…but not strong enough.” Leah turned to face him. “There is a weak point.” She paused. “Your past.”

The sadness in Gianni’s eyes wrenched her heart. But she pressed on. “You can’t take my heart and give nothing back.”

He looked shocked. “I give
nothing
?”

Leah gripped her glass. “There is a wall around your heart. We can’t go on this way.” She stared at him. “I cannot bear to walk by that locked door one more time, and not know why it torments you. You have to tell.”

Please tell me
. Leah prayed he would. But the silence was heavy.

His voice was cold. “You ask for something I’m not prepared to do.”

Leah didn’t know where the strength came from. But she didn’t back down. “You will lose me, Gianni…unless you tell me.”

He stared at the fire, saying nothing.

“Whatever the burden,” Leah said, “you must share it with me.”

Gianni shook his head. His eyes remained distant.

She was losing him. Suddenly, all the frustration Leah had bottled up inside engulfed her. Rationality fled. If Gianni refused to tell her, it would be over. He would never be able to love her. There was no way to melt his heart.

Standing, Leah began to pace in front of the sofa, still holding her wine glass. “You must!” she said, but Gianni didn’t look at her.

Her heart was breaking. The man she loved was drowning, and Leah was unable to save him. Panic rose inside her, and tears welled in her eyes. Angry and disappointed, she turned toward the fireplace. Drawing back her arm, Leah smashed the glass against the stone.

Red wine splattered, and glass shards scattered across the floor. Sobbing, Leah strode out of the room, crunching over the chunks of glass. Gianni stood up as she flew past him. But it was too late to stop her. She ran up the stairs and went in the bedroom, locking the door behind her.

Gianni yelled, but she hardly heard him. Burying her face in the pillow, Leah cried. She sobbed uncontrollably, knowing it was all over. Clearly she had pushed him too far. It was surely the end. But what choice had there been?

He pounded on the door and shouted, “Leah, open the door!”

Ignoring him, Leah covered her ears with the pillow. She didn’t want to hear him. She couldn’t face him. And she couldn’t stand to hear him say they were finished. Even though she feared it was true. The pounding on the door stopped, and Leah cried into the pillowcase.

*****

Darkness colored the windows; sunset was long past. The rest of the afternoon had been lost to her. Red-eyed and devastated, Leah rose from the bed to go into the bathroom. The mirror reflected her inner emotion. She was a wreck. Splashing cold water on her eyes, she made an effort to reduce the swelling.

It was useless. She looked like she had been crying for hours, which she had been. Leah dug her hands in her hair and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she resolved to go downstairs, having no idea what to expect.

Unlocking the door, Leah stepped into the hall, but heard nothing. Easing down the stairs, she looked for Gianni but didn’t see him. He wasn’t in the living room, and the fire had died out. Down the hall was the kitchen. She walked to the doorway and looked in, seeing the clay floors and rough-hewn cabinets.

Sitting at a small table in one corner was Gianni with a glass of whiskey in his hand. He didn’t look up when Leah came in, just stared at his glass. Sliding into the chair across from him, Leah clasped her hands together in her lap and waited.

The urge to go to him, to have him hold her, was strong. But Leah held back. She had not seen Gianni like this before. His eyes were blank, his skin pale. Unmoving, he looked like one of the sculptures he admired so much.

Even in such a state, Gianni was handsome. His blondish hair was a mess, his shirt disheveled. Leah had not loved him more than she did in that moment. Whatever barriers he had erected that he thought he needed for protection had dissolved.

It was as though he’d been ripped apart, and left emotionally vulnerable. It was possibly irreparable, but Leah hoped not. She had to have faith. She loved him too much not to. Reaching across the table, she touched his hand, and he didn’t draw back.

Gianni looked up at her, as if noticing her for the first time. Then he gulped the rest of his whiskey. Raking a hand through his hair, he sighed. It was a deep sign of resignation, but the first sign of life. He covered his face with his hands for a moment, then placed them on the table.

He looked across at Leah, and she held her breath.

Then he spoke, his voice laced with depression. “Her name was Ava Stewart,” he said. “I was with her for two years.”

Gianni was talking. A spark of hope surged inside Leah. Would he tell her everything? If he did, it could make all the difference. The possibility made her heart soar, even as she hurt to see him endure such agony.

Chapter 8

It was one thing to know Gianni had been with women before her. But hearing about one woman who had affected him deeply was different. Listening to him talk, the jagged edge of jealousy cut through Leah like a knife.

“You know my sexual preferences,” he said. “She was a submissive, had been before she met me.”

“How did you meet her?”

“Ava runs a modeling agency. She was at an event, recruiting talent. I was there viewing some new designs.” Gianni rubbed his temple. “We went to dinner, and kind of hit it off.”

Leah’s heart fell. It was hard to imagine Gianni with another woman. “So what happened?”

“She started to like the pain too much,” he said with a sad expression. “We did many things together in that room.”

“The room that you keep locked?”

Gianni hesitated then nodded. “Yes. In that room.” A faraway look came into his eyes. “It’s a room set up for playing out the more intense sexual scenes.”

Leah felt a little sick imagining him doing such things with another woman. “Did she satisfy you?”

“To a point. But more and more she began to like the darker scenes. It was subtle at first.” Gianni glanced away, and then looked back at Leah. “I accommodated her…but only so far.”

Leah tried to imagine what sort of scenes the woman preferred.

“Ava continued to press. She wanted more.” Gianni shook his head. “I refused, and it was clear it wasn’t going to work out between us.”

“Did you tell her?”

Emotion welled in Gianni’s eyes. “That’s what caused it all.”

“What happened?”

“Ava swore she loved me. But I tried to persuade her that she didn’t. She would get over me…find a man who could do the things she needed.” Gianni’s expression turned dark. “Things I refused to do.”

Leah asked, with trepidation, “What sort of things?”

“Let’s just say that I see pain as a way to intensify pleasure, not as a goal of its own. But some like the pain. Even prefer it. Ava was like that.” He paused. “Not at first, but later. It was gradual, and I didn’t put a stop to it soon enough.”

“Did you ever hurt her?”

Gianni’s jaw tensed. “No, I didn’t. No matter how much she begged.” He drew in a sharp breath. “At least not physically. But she cried, telling me how much she loved me.” He didn’t say anything for a moment.

“I tried to explain that, as she ventured deeper into submission, emotions would constantly change,” Gianni said. “Much of the emotion is caused by the dominant, and he can naturally become the object of affection. It can be very confusing for a woman.

“The depth of the power exchange can become tangled with all the emotions of any sexual affair. Riding that emotional rollercoaster can be hard.” He looked at Leah. “A feeling of dependency is to be expected, and has to be handled with care.”

Leah knew it was bad, even before he said it.

“Do you want me to stop?” he said. “It gets worse. You don’t need to know all this.”

Her stomach knotted, but Leah held firm. “I do need to know. Tell me, Gianni.”

For a moment, he looked down at the table as if deciding how to tell her. “There is no easy way to say this.”

Leah waited.

“I was the one who found her,” Gianni said. “She was in the playroom.” His eyes grew moist. “At first I thought she was asleep, naked on the satin sheets. When I got closer I saw that she was ghostly pale. I felt for a pulse, but it was barely there.”

Leah felt dizzy.

“I rushed her to the hospital as quickly as I could. I happened to notice the empty pill bottle, and took it with me so the doctor would know what she had taken.” He looked into Leah’s eyes. “It was awful.”

“I can’t imagine.” Leah wrapped her arms around her waist.

“Panic didn’t set in until they wheeled her back to emergency. Then I collapsed in the waiting room, with nothing to do but wait.”

“Did she die?”

“Almost.” Gianni stood up and began to pace the few steps across the kitchen. “I got there just in time. A few more minutes and it might have been too late. When I found her, there was an envelope beside her. I’d stuffed it in my pocket. When I knew she was going to be okay, I opened it and read the note.”

“What did it say?”

“It was in her handwriting. It said:
I can’t live without you
.”

A chill ran down Leah’s spine.

“Ava tried to take her own life…because of
me
.”

“Did you suspect she might do something like that?”

He shook his head. “No. But thinking back, I should have seen it coming. She became more emotional the longer we were together. And when I broke it off, Ava was hysterical.”

Gianni stopped pacing. “I thought she would get over it. But I was responsible. I failed her. She was the submissive. I should have taken care of her…but I didn’t.”

“You couldn’t have known she was so emotionally fragile.”

“I tried to tell myself that, but it didn’t help.” Gianni sat back down. “I should have been more alert to the changes. I should have seen it.” He looked at her. “I know intense scenes produce strong emotions that are tough to deal with. Cutting her off like that…it was too sudden.”

“What happened to her?”

“Ava was in the hospital overnight, then went to stay with a friend. I paid for her treatment. There was no lasting physical issue. But emotionally, I don’t know. I covered the cost for months of therapy.” Gianni seemed to calm a little. “And I gave her a sum of money…to make her life easier.”

“How is she now?”

“I don’t know.”

“When is the last time you spoke to her?”

“Months…it was months before I met you.”

Leah moved to the chair next to Gianni, and took his hand.

He didn’t pull back. “That room…it was a reminder.” Gianni squeezed her hand. “I shut away that part of me. I wasn’t willing to have anything like that happen again.”

“It must have been so hard.”

“I did nothing for months. Just spoke to Ava on the phone a few times. I struggled to work.” He leaned back in his chair. “I haven’t been back inside the room. I locked the door. Only the maid goes in there.”

The question seized Leah’s heart. But she had to know. “Did you love her?”

Gianni looked at her. Seconds ticked by. “No. I didn’t love her. I couldn’t have done what we did together if I didn’t feel something for her. An attraction. A fondness.” He shook his head. “But love? No, that wasn’t part of it.”

Leah breathed a sigh of relief.

“I cared, though. I still care.” Gianni took both of Leah’s hands in his. “Ava became too attached.” Their gazes locked. “Like you,” he said in a low voice.

Leah lifted one of his hands and kissed his knuckles. “No. Not like me. I
do
love you, Gianni. But earlier I was willing to end it. Even though that would have devastated both of us. Because sooner or later, the dark secret you wouldn’t speak of would have torn us apart.”

He didn’t say anything.

“I’m not like her, Gianni.” She got up from the chair and sat on his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Leah continued, “You don’t have to worry. I’m strong.” She paused. “I won’t break.”

Gianni pulled her down and kissed her tenderly.

“We are going to be okay,” she said, “as long as there are no secrets between us.”

*****

When they landed in New York, Leah was glad to be home. She was so relieved that Gianni had told her what had happened. Things felt different between them. Better. And, looking ahead to the future, Leah was confident everything would work out.

They had a couple of days to unpack, and catch up, before New Year’s. The room was still locked, and Leah didn’t bring it up. The emotional upheaval of hearing the sordid details about Ava had left Leah drained. And now that she knew, it was fine for Gianni to take some time.

What better place to spend New Year’s Eve than in New York, seeing the ball drop in Times Square? Gianni decided they should celebrate in style, and took Leah to a trendy downtown bar with a live DJ. They ate, drank, and danced until nearly eleven.

Despite living in New York, Leah had not seen the live celebration. She had always watched it on television. With bodyguards hovering close, Gianni took her to Broadway to watch the sparkly sphere lowered in Times Square.

They saw the last burst of pyrotechnics that were shown every hour until eleven. At midnight, the huge sphere covered with Waterford crystal triangles descended seventy feet. Immediately, a sixty-second fireworks display exploded and confetti was released into the sky.

Seeing it live was so much better than television. As noise erupted, Gianni pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Pulling back, he said, “Happy New Year, baby.” Leah pulled him to her for another kiss. It was going to be a good year.

*****

It was well after midnight when they got back to the condo. In front of the windows, above the city lights, Gianni pulled Leah into his arms. Pressing her close, he kissed her hard, and she felt weak. He tasted so good, and with his strong arms around her, Leah felt an urge she was familiar with.

She wanted to submit, and with the openness between them strengthened, she trembled to think of how good it would be. Looking into her eyes, Gianni ran his hand down her spine and cupped her ass. Then he fisted her hair, and Leah wrapped her arms around his waist.

A moment of silence transpired, and the agreement between them didn’t need to be voiced. Gianni released her and, taking her hand, led her down the hall. On shaky legs, Leah followed, willing but uncertain. Lifting the lid of a ceramic bowl on narrow table, he retrieved a key. She could have found the key long before, and entered on her own. But it wouldn’t have been the same as doing it with the man she loved. And especially now, after what he had shared.

Without hesitating, Gianni opened the door and they stepped inside. Leah let go of his hand and walked all the way in. It was a beautiful room, decorated in earth tones with splashes of red. The polished wood floors gleamed, and dark wood cabinets matched what furniture there was.

One entire wall was a mural. It was an erotic painting in subdued colors, but the scene portrayed sexual longing and gratification. Leah’s skin tingled as her eyes roamed over the expanse of it. Turning, she saw Gianni standing off to the side.

Allowed to look, Leah walked slowly around the room. In one tall cabinet were implements, only a few of which she recognized. Hung from pegs were whips and crops of varying types and styles. And overhead was a metal grate with straps dangling down.

She looked at Gianni questioningly.

“It’s a suspension device,” he said.

There were all kinds of sexy garments, pillows, and bottles of creams. Leah fingered some erotic-looking jewelry, and ran her hand over a long, velvet-covered bench. The leather massage table she recognized, but there was one thing she didn’t see.

“There’s no bed.”

Gianni stood emotionless. “I had it taken out after the incident with Ava.”

By any standards it was a tastefully designed room, yet it exuded the personality of its owner. It revealed more about Gianni’s tastes than words could have. And Leah’s desire to submit rose to a new level. Even not knowing what each implement was for, or what Gianni could do with her in the room, she knew it would test her limits.

Gianni, sitting in a padded chair, pulled her onto his lap. He waited for her to say something. Leah touched his cheek. “I want to be in here. I’m not afraid…not with you.”

His blue eyes were soft. “I closed off a part of me that I wasn’t sure I could get back. When I locked this room, I gave up…something that brought me intense pleasure. But also…something that is dangerous if not handled right.”

Leah dug her fingers into his hair. “I trust you.” Her words echoed in the silence of the room, and anxiety rose in her belly. Not because of what Gianni might do with her in the room. But for fear he might refuse her.