Sicilian Dreams (5 page)

His had a white polo shirt over tan colored jodhpurs and long black riding boots. His wavy hair still looked damp and as he drew closer Cassie could smell the most divine aftershave. It was very subtle but combined with the whole package, very seductive. He looks like he has just stepped out of a Polo Ralph Lauren ad she thought and she must be gaping at him like an idiot because he suddenly grinned and winked at her and of course she blushed a brighter shade of scarlet just like the bougainvillea.

Why does he have the ability to do this to me? Thank goodness I have my Jackie O big sunglasses on. She shook back her hair and tried to look nonchalant.

‘Buon giorno Cassandra, I hope you slept well. Did you dream of me’ he asked teasingly?

‘Yes, I mean no. I did sleep very well but I didn’t dream at all and if I had it certainly wouldn’t have been about you,’ she added tartly.

‘That is a pity because I had beautiful dreams with you in them last night’ he said softly taking her hand and planting a gentle kiss on the back of it.

Cassie snatched her hand back. It wasn’t that she didn’t swoon when he kissed her, it was that she had to claw back some control here dammit. This guy was over the top but oh so sexy.

‘Marco stop teasing me. I’m a little bit nervous about riding and you are not making me feel any better,’ she lied. ‘Let’s just get going,’ she said before striding ahead of him to the car and climbing into the passenger seat.

‘Cassandra, please trust me, I would never put you in any danger. I just thought you would like to see some of the estate on horseback with me. The parts where there are no roads. It is so beautiful to ride early in the morning and I want to share it with you.’ He started the car and concentrated on the road ahead.

Mollified and a bit ashamed of her behavior, Cassie sat quietly in her seat.

‘Although you look like you are dressed for the beach, not for riding’ he said grinning at her.

‘Won’t shorts be okay?’ naively.

‘They are tight no? They look tight to me, in all the right places of course’ he laughed and received a frown from Cassie in return. ‘So they will rub certain delicate areas and also your thighs will chafe against the saddle.’

‘Oh’ said Cassie, blushing again. ‘Certain delicate areas’ she thought with embarrassment. Before she could reply and tell him that she wouldn’t go riding then he added ‘don’t worry, we have ladies jodhpurs and boots at the stables. In fact we have the full riding kit because many guests do not bring the correct clothing with them.’

He turned left at the end of the driveway following the white gravel road in a westerly direction away from the villa and the main house further down the road. Cassie could see neat rows of olives and grapevines covering the craggy hillsides, while in the valleys there was pasture.

‘Why are the olives and grapevines planted in such steep areas’ she asked Marco.

‘Because they thrive in arid and difficult conditions, with stony soil and much sun. They produce fewer grapes but the quality of them is much better, and over 750 meters, the wine has lower alcohol content. The olives grow well in difficult ground. They have shallow roots and will produce many olives when they are planted in the right conditions.’

‘What type are the grapes, red or white?’ Cassie knew a little about French wines but not much about Italian varieties let alone Sicilian ones. She had been meaning to take a wine appreciation course at some stage but never seemed to find the time to do it. Most of those sorts of classes were held in the evening and Cassie’s workdays were full enough already. By the time she got home after the gym all she felt like doing was drinking a glass of decent wine, not talking about it.

‘Red, the Nero D’Avola grape. It is famous in Sicily, you have tried it?’

‘No unfortunately my experience has been limited to a couple of reds from Tuscany. I do like the Super Tuscans though’ she added, trying to sound like she was knowledgeable about wine varieties.

‘Ah, the Super Tuscans, they are over rated if you ask me and over priced as well.’

‘But of course you would say that they are they competition’ teased Cassie. Her headache was going and she was happy to be with Marco enjoying the gorgeous scenery both inside and outside of the car.

‘Si, but not really’ he said. ‘They are different grape varieties and totally different wines, but people who are knowledgeable about their wines would understand the importance of a good Nero D’Avola vino. We do not make a lot of wine, our main business is in the olives,’ he added.

‘Sounds delicious,’ said Cassie.

‘Si, just like you Cassandra. You will try some of our wine this week, I will give you a tasting and you must also try our olive oil. In fact, you should have a bottle in your cucina. If not, I will ask Marta to bring some.’

‘We have a bottle, we used it last night. We can even buy that oil in the speciality food shops at home.’ she said.

‘Si, that is our olive oil, the Boschieri label, extra virgine.’ he said, pulling up at the stable complex.

‘What, you mean, that is your olive oil, I mean, your family’s olive oil, Boschieri?’ she added again stupidly realizing how extensive their business operation must be.

‘Si, Cassandra’ he said grinning at her again. ‘It is good, no? That is our oil. But that is only part of it, what you see in the supermarket here. The by-product, or lower grade oil, is on sold to companies who used it in cosmetics and soap for example.’

‘Does it all come from here?’

‘No, we have more land away from the coast where the majority of the olives are grown, and we buy olives from certified growers as well. Here at Villa Boschieri is where it all started in my grandfather’s time, but as the business expanded they had to buy more land. Nowadays only twenty percent of our oil production comes from this estate but it is organic. Come, we will go and find some clothes for you’ he said opening her door.

Her mind still full of their conversation, Cassie followed Marco into the dim cool of the stables. In what seemed to be a pattern forming, she was left with many more questions than answers from the elusive Marco. Oh well she mused it certainly kept her on her toes.

The stable block was divided into two areas. On the left she saw several individual stables, with horses peering out at them in interest. The right side contained a large tack room and an office. One of the horses whinnied at Marco, pawing his hoof on the door to his stable, clearly recognizing him.

‘Hush Diavolo’ Marco said softly ‘you will have your fun soon.’

‘Sit down over there and try these boots’ said Marco indicating a wooden bench for Cassie.

‘He’s beautiful’ said Cassie nodding her head in Diavolo’s direction. That means ‘devil’ in Italian right?’ she added taking the boot from Marco and slipping her foot into it.

‘Si, he is well named that one. He can be the very devil and he only obeys me.’ he said confidently.

‘Good pick, they fit me perfectly,’ said Cassie pulling on the other one and jumping up to stride around. How did you know my size?’

‘It is not so difficult Cassandra’ he said his gaze rising slowly from the boots and traveling up her bare legs to her denim cut offs and all the way up to her now flushing face. She had pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head and he now frowned slightly as his gaze rested on her eyes.

‘Are you tired Cassandra? Did you have a late night with your friends?’ he added.

Cassie decided to brazen it out. ‘With all due respect Marco’ she said, ‘what business is it of yours whether I had a late night or not’ she said, setting her jaw firmly.

Of all the nerve, the man was a walking control freak. It was none of his business what she got up to.

‘No business of mine Cassandra, I was merely asking after your health. It will go worse for you riding if you have a hangover.’ Cassie saw the smirk on his mouth as he turned to a set of cupboards and began rummaging around inside for a pair of jodhpurs.

‘I don’t have a hangover, in fact I feel just peachy’ said Cassie taking the jodhpurs he handed her. ‘Where can I get changed?’ she asked.

‘Why not right here’ he countered, crossing his arms and leaning against the cupboard, looking sexy as hell Cassie had to admit.

‘Oh no, I’m not doing that’ said Cassie ‘ you just take yourself off mister while I get these things on.’ She shooed him away with her hands. ‘Go dominate Diavolo for a moment will you.’ Clearly unused to being told what to do or teased by anybody, Marco just stood there for a second staring at her disbelievingly.

‘Go on shoo’ she said again laughing at him. To her surprise he turned and went back into the tack room to find the bridles and saddles.

Cassie quickly slipped off the boots and her shorts and pulled the jodhpurs on. They fitted her like a glove. He must know women’s sizes very well she thought, and there’s only one way that happens, with plenty of experience. He doesn’t appear to be gay, so he must have had plenty of girlfriends she thought.

Marco whistled at her when he returned, a saddle on his hip and bridles slung over his shoulder.

‘I like it,’ he grinned his eyes pinned on her. Rather than let him rile her more she took a bridle from him and followed him to the horse block.

Diavolo pawed the ground again when he saw Marco and snorted.

‘Arrivo signore, calma, have patience,’ said Marco stopping to put down the gear and pat Diavolo on the nose.

The horse responded by bunting Marco gently in the shoulder with his soft black muzzle and Marco chuckled, his hand running up to caress the soft hair of Diavolo’s forelock between his ears. Cassie felt moved by the bond they clearly shared and intrigued by this other, more gentle side of Marco she was witnessing.

‘He’s gorgeous,’ she cooed standing just behind Marco as he deftly slipped a halter over Diavolo’s head and opened the stable door to lead him.

‘Si, he’s a bravo boy,’ said Marco leading Diavolo over to a hitching post.

‘How long have you owned him?’ asked Cassie.

‘I think he owns me,’ said Marco laughing, ‘but I have had him since I was eighteen. He was born here and I helped to break him in with my uncle.’ Here’s my chance thought Cassie.

‘How old is he now?’ she said disingenuously.

‘He is twelve years old now’ said Marco, placing the saddle and blanket on the horses back, then reaching underneath his stomach to grasp the girth and fasten it.

‘So that makes you thirty?’ blurted out Cassie before she could stop herself.

Marco finished fastening the girth and turned to look at her, his hands on his hips, his look questioning.

‘Si Cassandra, why do you sound surprised?’ he asked

‘Nothing’ she said evasively, looking down and scuffing at the concrete with the toe of her boot. Suddenly his booted feet were right in front of hers and she looked up sharply, gasping as his hands clamped around her waist.

‘Tell me or I will punish you’ he said with mock severity.

Cassie hated feeling silly but silly she felt at this moment as she remembered her less than sober conversation last night with Kat and Liz about Marco. Marco’s age had been part of the discussion and she didn’t want to admit to him that they had been talking about him. Heavens above the man already had an ego the size of Mt. Everest and she didn’t want to inflate it further.

‘We..we..thought you were younger, much younger,’ said Cassie looking into his green eyes which were lit up now with amusement and glee.

‘Were you talking about me last night Cassandra,’ he asked softly his head bent down so he could look into her eyes.

‘A little,’ murmured Cassie. ‘ It was nothing if you want to know. We were just discussing the estate and I guess you naturally came up in conversation. Liz wanted to know that’s all, I mean I don’t care’ she added lamely.

‘Why don’t you care Cassandra?’ he whispered into her ear his lips brushing the soft part of her lobe. Cassie shivered involuntarily and his hands tightened about her waist.

‘After all, I care about you’ he whispered again this time she was sure his tongue brushed her lobe. She felt a ping of excitement in her belly, which grew and rapidly travelled everywhere else. She turned her head slightly so she could look at him and his lips closed on hers. Oh heavens, she thought this guy is so hot he’s even making my toes melt. She relaxed into his embrace and he kissed her harder, their lips parting and sparks flying. Still holding her he gently walked her backwards to lean against the wall of the stable, bending to kiss her again and press himself into her. Cassie felt herself go pliant within his arms and she moved her hips slightly so she fitted more snuggly into his embrace. Feeling her movement Marco immediately moved himself more firmly against her and she could feel his erection pressing searchingly against her sex. He grasped her bottom and lifted her slightly so he could move against her more freely while his head dipped down and nuzzled her neck. Cassie gasped and clung to him as she felt herself melt inside. Her arms found their way around his strong shoulders and her hands wrapped themselves in his thick hair. Marco groaned softly as her nails raked his neck and he moved his hand up and under her tee shirt to her breasts. He pushed up her bra and moved his fingers over her hard nipples. Cassie groaned and he moved his lips to her breasts flicking his tongue between them and driving Cassie mad with desire. She wiggled her hips against him again and he muttered something inaudible as the hand on her bottom slid up and began undoing the button on her jodhpurs. She was beyond caring that they were making out against the wall of the stable on a hot July morning. As his hand slid inside her panties and his fingers gently played over her sex, Cassie moaned like a wanton woman and gave herself up completely to her desire. She slid her own hand over the front of his jodhpurs and felt his erection her fingers rubbing against his hard thrusting. This response was all the go ahead Marco needed and he yanked her underwear down completely his fingers sliding into her. ‘You are so wet’ he breathed against her breasts and Cassie came, shuddering wildly as she called out his name. Her eyes tightly closed and as her orgasm subsided, she became dimly aware of the sound of tires crunching on gravel.