Chapter 31
SAMMIE
‘This place is incredible !’ I said as I stood at the front door of my villa and took in the view of the swimming pool that I’d just spotted out on the patio. ‘Oh my God!’ I screamed down the phone before racing through the open-plan living room to take a closer look.
‘Ouch,’ Stella replied. ‘My eardrums!’
‘Sorry, but I’ve got my own pool and hot tub!’ I said as I ran along the patio towards it. ‘And the living room is huge! To think I was considering going home!’
‘So, you’re staying?’
‘Too right! They’re gonna give me all my money back and a driver to take me anywhere I want. I mean, I’d have to be an idiot to turn that down.’
‘And will you be going to these places alone ?’ Stella asked suggestively.
I stepped into the huge bedroom and slid the patio doors shut. Even though it was a detached villa, I didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing my conversation.
‘Well, Romeo said that maybe we could go to some places together .’
‘I didn’t know Love Alchemists could take a guest on an excursion by themselves.’
‘We almost kissed. Twice .’
‘What?’ Stella shouted.
‘Ouch! My eardrums!’ I joked, repeating her earlier comment.
‘When did this happen?’
‘The first time was after I’d found out about Edward and was upset. Then earlier today when he came to tell me about Victoria speaking to Edward and what the hotel wanted to offer me, we had another moment and I asked him to kiss me.’
‘You asked him?’
‘Yeah,’ I shrugged, even though she couldn’t see me. ‘It just felt like the attraction was mutual and I knew he wouldn’t make the first move because he’d be worried about taking advantage of me, so I wanted to let him know that it was okay. That I wanted him too.’
‘So, why’d you stop?’
‘You called.’
‘Oh, shit! That’s why you didn’t answer straightaway. I can’t believe that I was the person responsible for a dreaded kiss-interruption call!’ She laughed.
Once Romeo had left, I hadn’t called Stella straight back as my mind was still racing from our almost kiss and when I phoned her half an hour later, she was busy.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll get you back one day,’ I chuckled.
‘Maybe it was for the best?’ Stella asked.
‘I mean, you’ve gotta admit, it would make things complicated.
Not just because of the whole Love Alchemist-guest dynamic, but you’ve only got six more full days there and then what?
I want to tell you to go for it and enjoy yourself, but I don’t want to see you get hurt. ’
‘Same. Anyway, it’s kind of out of my hands. Since Romeo told me about the villa earlier this morning, I haven’t heard from him. So, I’m just gonna chill by my pool, read for a bit, go for another swim in the sea, then see what happens.’
‘Good plan.’
‘Oh my God,’ I gasped as I looked at the screen. ‘Romeo’s calling.’
‘You gonna answer?’
‘No. I’m talking to you. I’ll call him back afterwards.’
‘I’ve already cockblocked you once, so I’m not doing it again! Let’s speak later.’
‘You sure?’
‘Positive. Just… oh, what the hell. Just enjoy yourself and be safe.’
‘Hold your horses! I don’t even know why he’s calling!’
‘Only one way to find out! I’m hanging up now.’
Stella ended the call and I quickly pressed the accept button.
‘ Ciao , Romeo,’ I said, trying to sound casual.
‘ Ciao , Sammie. What are your plans for tomorrow?’
‘I’ll probably just chill at the villa and go for a swim, why?’
‘After I go for lunch with my mother, in the afternoon I will do some pottery at my friend’s studio. Would you like to join me?’
‘I’d love to!’ Excitement bubbled in my chest.
‘Okay. I will send you the details of the town his studio is in. Ask the driver to take you to the centre and I will pick you up there. Tell them you do not know how long you will be so you will call when you are ready to leave. And of course, please do not tell him that you will be meeting me.’
‘Got it. Mum’s the word.’
‘See you tomorrow,’ Romeo replied, then hung up.
Seconds later, my phone pinged with the name of a town I couldn’t pronounce and my stomach fizzed with excitement.
I knew it wasn’t a date, but it was an opportunity to spend more time with Romeo, so I’d take it.
Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
* * *
I waved at my chauffeur, Aldo, as he pulled out from the parking space and drove off.
My heart thumped against my chest. In less than ten minutes I’d be meeting Romeo.
When I spotted him in a black car, butterflies filled my stomach.
As usual, he looked hotter than a bucket of chilli sauce.
Romeo’s eyes connected with mine, then his face broke into a wide smile. He jumped out of the car and headed towards me.
‘ Ciao .’ He kissed my cheeks.
‘ Ciao ,’ I said as his manly, woody scent surrounded me.
After opening the door for me we both slid into our seats then Romeo set off.
We chatted easily about what we’d done earlier and less than ten minutes later we pulled outside a cute stone building. Romeo unlocked the front door then invited me inside.
‘This is nice,’ I said as the scent of earthy clay hit my nostrils.
There were multiple potter’s wheels and tables dotted around the room. The shelves were decorated with colourful bowls, plates, vases and other items that I guessed had been made in the studio and there was a large kiln at the back. ‘What are you making today?’
‘You mean, what are we making today,’ he corrected.
‘I’ve never done pottery before.’
‘There is a first time for everything. Here.’ He plucked an apron off the wall. ‘I brought you some clothes to change into. It can get messy and you do not want to ruin your beautiful dress.’
‘ Grazie ,’ I said as he pulled out an oversized T-shirt and an old pair of trousers.
‘The bathroom is at the back.’
I went inside, slipped out of my dress, picked up the T-shirt, lifted it to my nose then squeezed my eyes shut and groaned. It smelt delicious, just like Romeo. Once I put it on, I wasn’t sure if I’d want to give it back.
I slid it over my head. It was so big that it came almost to my knees. When I tried the trousers on, they were too long. I’d end up tripping over them, so I took them off. The T-shirt wasn’t that much shorter than my dress, so with that and the apron I’d be fine.
When I returned to the main area, Romeo was setting things up by the wheel.
‘Sit here.’ He gestured to the stool. ‘I’m going to teach you.’
‘Okay!’ I sat down. ‘So how did you get into pottery?’
‘My grandparents used to do it. There is a lot of clay in Puglia and towns like Grottaglie are famous for their ceramic pottery.’
‘Cool. So what are we making today?’
‘I want to make a new bowl for my mamma. I went to see her earlier and I will see her again on Tuesday, so I would like to bring her something.’
‘Awww, that’s so sweet.’ My stomach fluttered. ‘We’d better make it good then. How’s Biscotti?’
Romeo’s eyes widened like he was surprised I’d remembered she was ill.
‘She is much better, grazie. ’ His face lit up. ‘I appreciate you asking.’
‘No worries! I’m glad she’s on the mend.’
Romeo put the clay on the wheel and explained how I should try and mould it with my hands.
Unsurprisingly, my first few attempts were disasters. But I was determined that the next try would be a masterpiece. Well, decent enough anyway.
‘Like this.’ Romeo reached from behind me and laced his fingers with mine. As he showed me how to shape the wet clay, electricity rocketed through my body.
‘Mmm.’ A moan slipped from my mouth. ‘Are you deliberately trying to recreate the scene from Ghost ?’
‘ Ghost ?’
‘Y’know, the film with Demi Moore. There’s a scene where she’s doing some pottery and Patrick Swayze’s character comes behind her and helps.’
‘And what happens next?’
‘They start kissing,’ I said, my heartbeat racing.
‘ Really ?’ he said. ‘And is that something that you would like to happen?’
‘I wouldn’t say no…’ Desire bubbled under my skin.
‘But does that mean you would say yes ? I must be sure.’
‘Yes,’ I said through a ragged breath.
Romeo didn’t say a word. The silence seemed to stretch for an eternity and I almost regretted mentioning it because I was worried he’d say it wasn’t a good idea.
But when he stepped forward so his hard body was pressed against my back, my brain short-circuited.
‘Oh, God,’ I moaned as he peppered soft kisses across my neck, then along my collarbone. ‘That feels so good.’
His lips travelled up to my cheeks and as his warm, sweet breath tickled my skin every atom in my body sprang to life.
I pushed my bum into him and when I felt his hard length pressed against me, I groaned again.
Romeo moved his hands and body away and I instantly missed the contact. But then he lifted my palms away from the clay, spun me around then crashed his mouth onto mine.
The kiss was hot, hungry and passionate. A desperate collision of lips, like we’d been waiting to do this for years instead of just days.
My mouth parted and Romeo slid his tongue inside. As it thrashed against mine, my arms snaked around his waist, pulling him into me. I wanted to feel him.
His hard-on pressed against my stomach and I swear a dam burst in my knickers.
I gripped his arse.
‘Fuck me, Romeo. Please. I want you.’
Romeo’s clay-covered hands moved from my back, brushing the fabric of the T-shirt covering my arse before sliding underneath.
‘I am glad you did not wear the trousers,’ he said as his hands travelled up my thighs, before dipping between my legs.
As he slid his fingers over my damp knickers, I bucked against his hand.
‘You are so wet, Sammie. I love it. If I did not have clay over my hands, I would slide my fingers inside you.’
‘You don’t have clay on your dick, so why don’t you slide that inside me instead?’ I panted.
A mischievous grin touched Romeo’s lips.
‘Are you sure that is what you want?’
‘Positive. But hurry up, please. The thought of you fucking me here is turning me on so much it won’t take much for me to come. Do you have a condom?’
‘ Sì , in my wallet, but our hands are covered in clay.’