Out of the Dark (16 page)

“Yeah. Yes, I’m all right. I was just tired, I guess. How did you find me here?”

“I built this bench.” He pats the wood and points to the tree swing. “I hung that swing for Lucy. I come here a lot, you know, to think. It’s peaceful.” He rests his arms on his knees and gazes into the distance.

I follow his eyes, looking around at the view of the vineyard. I listen to the stillness in the air. “Yeah, it is.” I laugh a little at the fact that its peacefulness knocked me unconscious.

“I was walking home from the bar, and I saw someone laying here. I thought it was a vineyard worker taking a siesta for a minute . . . and then I recognized your hair.” He turns toward me, and I watch his gaze move from my face to the top of my head and down to my shoulders.

“My hair?”

He shakes his head and rubs his hand over the smile that has returned to his face. He looks at me. “Yeah. Your hair.”

I feel terrible and wonderful when I’m with him. I know I can talk with him. I know he’ll listen.

“My mother is sick.” Tears burst from my eyes, and I shield my face, embarrassed at the involuntary outpouring of emotion. I purse my lips, trying to fight it, but my chin trembles.

“Hey, it’s okay. You can cry if you want to. It’s okay.”

I feel his hand on the small of my back, and with his permission, I let go. My shoulders shake and roll with sobs. “I’m sorry. I just—I haven’t seen her in so long. I miss her, and I feel bad for being so far away.”

“Don’t be sorry. Why haven’t you seen her? You should go and visit her if you miss her.”

“She and my dad are coming here for the engagement party, so I’ll see them soon. It’s just—things were always so busy when we were in Italy. Stefan didn’t want me to travel alone, but he didn’t have the time to join me. I should have gone by myself, but I didn’t want to fight with him.” I think back on the past few months, and I feel regret.

“Well, if it bothered you this much, he should have
made
time for you. That’s what you do. You make time for things that are important to people you love.” He sounds annoyed and his face matches the tone in his voice, but it changes when he catches me staring at him. “I mean—I don’t know what I mean. I’m glad you’ll see her soon, though.” He stands. “We’ll have to make sure she has a good time when she’s here. Come on. It’s getting cold. Let’s go back to the house.” He puts his hands in his pockets and gestures toward the path with a nod.

I wipe my eyes and walk beside him, Icarus in tow, back into the vineyard.

Enzo seems tense now, and his shoulders are stiff.

“Do you go there often? To that tree?”

He nods. “Yes. Why?”

“Well, I liked it there, but I don’t want to steal your favorite spot or anything.”

He takes his hand from his pocket and places it on my shoulder. “You can go there whenever you like, Carina. We can share it, all right?”

I nod. “All right. Thanks.”

He stops walking. “Listen, anytime you want to talk, you know, about your mom, I’m here. I’ve been struggling with Nonna’s health. I know what it feels like. It’s hard, and sometimes you just need a friend. I’m here for you.”

A pain I didn’t know I was suffering from is remedied. Words I didn’t know I needed to hear have been spoken. Enzo is like sunshine in a shady place.

“I could use that, Enzo. A friend.”

He nods and stuffs his hands back in his pockets, staring at the ground.

We walk the rest of the way home in silence.

I enter the bedroom and find Stefan changing for dinner.

He looks relieved to see me, but worry takes over when he notices my tear-streaked face. “What’s the matter?”

I tell him about my mother’s recent turn for the worse, but this time, no tears come. I’m all cried out.

He offers to pay any medical bills, and I nod with silent gratitude at his offer. Stefan never hesitates to reach into his pocket when a crisis arises.

“Darling, why don’t we go out for dinner tonight? I know a lovely place. Will that cheer you up?”

Talking about it would cheer me up. But I’ve already done that with Enzo.

“Sure. Dinner would be nice.”

Stefan takes me out to a small, local restaurant. He knows the owner and the chef, and a special tasting menu is served. Foie gras, filet mignon, truffles, and countless culinary delicacies are placed before us, and we eat until we’re stuffed and drink until we are drunk.

The chef makes a special complimentary plate to take with us for Stefan’s mother.

When we get home, I hear the rest of the family in the living room talking and watching television. It feels later than it is. I offer to take Nonna her plate and go up alone.

When I knock on her door, I already smell roses.

She’s doing a crossword puzzle. Her glasses slide off of her nose as she squints at the print. “Oh, hello, dear. You can help me, I’m sure. What’s a three letter word for
humor
? Tell me, please, before I throw this darn thing across the room.”

A bubble of laughter bursts through my lips, and I set her plate down. I sit in the armchair beside her and look at the crossword clue. “
Wit
, I think. Wit is the answer.”

She scribbles with her pencil and tosses the book to the side with simultaneous disdain and satisfaction.

“I brought you some dinner.” I uncover the tin foil lined plate.

“Well, that looks delicious. Did you make this, dear?” She picks up her fork.

“Oh, no.” I shake my head.

“Was it my Lorenzo? He’s a wonderful cook, you know. I taught him everything he knows.” She winks at me sweetly.

“Stefan and I went out to eat. The chef made this especially for you.”

“Then I’ll be sure to enjoy it. Thank you, Carina.” She pats my hand.

“You’re—”

The bedroom door opens and in walks Enzo, carrying a plate of his own. His shirt is unbuttoned enough that I can see the hardness of his chest peeking through. He looks tired and seems startled to see me in this room.

“Carina brought me dinner, Lorenzo. Wasn’t that nice?”

He puts the plate he’s holding on the dresser and folds his arms across his chest.

“Yes, very nice.” He speaks to her but he’s looking at me as he leans against the dresser. “Hello, Carina.” He greets me, smiling, and still staring. His eyes haven’t moved elsewhere since he entered the room.

I’m trapped in his gaze. “Hello, Enzo.” I feel that feeling again. The one I felt when he held me, when we danced today. I feel it ache inside me, and I hate it.

Nonna’s fork clinks against the plate, and she clears her throat, drawing Enzo and I out of our staring contest.

“I should be on my way. Enjoy your dinner.” I make my way to the door and keep my eyes on my feet.

When I walk past Enzo, I hear him say, “Good night.”

“Good night.” I shut the door behind me.

I’m still buzzing from the wine at dinner, and I stumble as I walk down the stairs to our bedroom. The further I get from Enzo, the less I feel that terrible ache. By the time I open our bedroom door, I can see Stefan has been feeling the effects of the wine, as well.

He’s passed out on the bed, clothes on, shoes on, lights on.

He grumbles as I undress him and flirts with waking up when he hears his shoes thud to the floor. I pull back the covers with some effort, sliding him under, and then remove my own clothes and crawl in beside him.

I fall asleep right away, but it is a muddy sleep, thick with wine. I sink down into the hidden layers of my own mind.

My body is being touched—a touch I know. I feel my fiancé’s arms around me, and I tingle at the sensation. It’s hazy and dim. I’m in a bedroom, but it’s not mine and I’ve never been here before. I’m naked. Stefan’s kissing my neck, and he runs the palm of his hand over my bare breast and down to my thigh. I feel his hard-on pressing into my leg.

When I try to speak, I have no voice. I move my lips, but there are no words, only my breath. I feel paralyzed as he roams my body with hands and mouth, but I feel pleasure nonetheless.

A door opens.

I’m on Bianca’s bed back in Tuscany.

Stefan has his head buried deep between my legs, working to make me come, and I feel the bristles of his unshaven face rubbing against my thighs.

I look toward the door and see Enzo standing there.

He’s naked and hard as he watches what Stefan does to me. His gaze fixes on mine, as it almost always is, but then he moves his eyes over my body.

I get aroused watching him and feeling Stefan move his lips and tongue between my legs.

Stefan grabs my hips and pulls me closer to him.

I open my mouth, and this time, while looking at Enzo, a sound does come out. I moan and it echoes through the room.

Enzo walks toward the sound, and Stefan looks up. They both stare at me—each with their own hunger, their own lust—and I’m the only object.

I’m not alarmed. I don’t wish to flee. Powerful desire ripples through me. I feel primal, and I want them both.

“Let’s take her out on the balcony,” Enzo says.

Stefan nods.

I’m lifted off the bed, and they take each of my hands in one of their own. I walk between them and through the open glass doors.

It’s night, but the sky is an odd shade, almost purple, and the moon above is stark white.

We stop by the railing. Stefan’s behind me, and I’m facing Enzo as they sandwich me between their naked bodies.

Stefan places his hands on my hips, and he kisses my shoulders.

Enzo stares at my mouth, my neck. “Carina, I’m going to kiss you now. Is that all right?”

“Yes.” It’s my voice I hear, but I’m not sure I’ve actually spoken, although I am sure I wanted to say it.

Enzo takes my face between his hands, and when he presses his lips against mine, the ache inside me flames and explodes into a deep and fevered need.

I grab onto him and meet his soft kiss with more force, thrusting my tongue into his mouth as Stefan licks and kisses my shoulders.

“I told you she would like it,” Stefan says.

I feel his cock rubbing against my back as he continues to hold onto my hips.

Enzo slides his hands down to my breasts and squeezes them. “You have an amazing body,” he says against my lips. “Carina, my uncle and I are going to fuck you now. Is that all right?”

My knees buckle, and I want nothing more than to be adored by each of them. I crave it. This sinful, dark thing . . . I need it.

Stefan takes me from behind. He enters me hard, and Enzo kisses me again, his fingers sliding down to my clit. Stefan finds a familiar and pleasing rhythm, but I’m more focused on the way Enzo tastes, the way his lips and his skin feel against mine. The way his hard cock is rubbing against my stomach.

“Mmm . . . does that feel good to you? Do you like that?” he asks.

I claw at his neck and grip his jaw.

He grunts, and I moan at the pleasure of being fucked by my husband and kissed by Enzo.

Stefan goes harder, and I slide my hand around Enzo’s cock.

I stroke him up and down, enjoying the feel of his warm, thick flesh in my hand.

His face becomes possessed with need, and I want him in my mouth.

I bend forward, and Stefan plunges deeper inside me. A breathy moan escapes at the feeling of Stefan as I take Enzo’s cock between my lips.

There’s no shame, no conflict, no judgment. Just the sounds of our pleasure and the feel of skin meeting skin everywhere.

I feel Enzo’s hands in my hair and I hear his words.

“That’s right. That’s fucking good. Suck my cock, Carina. You’re going to fuck it, too. When my uncle is done with you, you’re going to fuck my cock, Carina.”

His words are filthy, but I want it to happen. I get wetter around Stefan thinking about how much I want Enzo. I work hard to please him with my mouth, knowing that he’ll soon be inside me, and the desire I’ve been feeling will soon be indulged.

Enzo moves his hips to meet my mouth, and I hear Stefan panting behind me. Then I feel the familiar sensation of his heat being released onto my back. He made me feel good, but he didn’t make me come. And now that he’s finished, I can have what I really want—Enzo.

Suddenly, Stefan is no longer behind me. We’re not on the balcony, but by the tree in the vineyard.

Enzo sits naked and hard on the bench before me. He beckons with a wiggle of his finger the same way he did from the dance floor.

I straddle his body, lowering myself onto his cock. I’m held prisoner by the look in his eyes. I’m afraid that Stefan will be angry, that he’ll know how much I want this, but when I feel Enzo inside me, I don’t care. I relinquish all self-control, surrendering with abandon, and ride him hard while I clench his taut shoulders. I feel his hands caress my ass then he squeezes. Tight.