It took me about five minutes to make Riccardo forget about his brother, until the simmering agitation had been transformed into a tension of a different kind. Another talent.
Josh and Stefania eventually emerged from the frenzied crowd, sweaty and dishevelled. While Stefania hadn’t actually slept with him last night, she was clearly considering remedying that situation tonight. Considering the fact that her lips were permanently locked to his, I wasn’t convinced they wouldn’t be finding a bathroom and taking care of it before we left.
Riccardo managed to locate a booth (or rather he commandeered it from a bunch of star-struck eighteen year olds who probably would have given him their car had he asked) and we were able to sit down. Another one of the benefits of your family owning most of the town, I guess.
Josh honoured his word and kept the drinks flowing, paying a waitress a very generous tip to ensure that each time one of us hit the bottom of our glass, a fresh one would find its place. It was a very cool magic trick, one that saw me quickly lose track of how many vodka, lime and sodas I was consuming. My usual cautious façade slipped further as more magic glasses appeared. Riccardo lost his reserved pretense as well, openly laughing at Stefania who admitted to still believing he was the Devil.
“I can’t help it!” She squeaked in-between giggles. “I was trying to be a good friend and I have heard the legends.”
“The legends?” I struggled to breathe, the alcohol making everything abundantly more humorous. “You make him sound like a dragon.” Stefania and her not-so-masterful command of the English language never failed to entertain, especially when they conjured up Lord of the Rings type analogies. I pulled firmly on Riccardo’s shirt, “Do you breathe fire, Dragon?”
“Only when threatened, but mostly I try not to pee on the carpet.” Riccardo teased, playfully kissing my neck.
“Oh, close up!” Stefania folded her arms across her chest indignantly.
“I think you mean shut up Sweetheart.” Josh hugged her adoringly while trying to suppress his grin.
“My Nonna told me how Marcus Cassius poisoned the water wells, making those who didn’t work for him sick. That was how he got so rich. The landowners died and Marcus bought all the land, the peasants begged to work on his farms so they could be spared the horrific death. No one dared defy him. And with the birth of each new generation, their influence grew. The Cassius men were so beautiful that virgins fell under their spell, bearing them numerous sons to continue their legacy.” Stefania’s face flushed with excitement before adding, pointing wildly at Riccardo. “You have three brothers. See. Four boys! Diavolo!”
I doubled over, unable to stop from laughing hysterically as Riccardo tried in vain to set Stefania straight. “I have plenty of girl cousins, those fables are made up. Marcus Cassius was a General for the Roman army. He was awarded land when he returned home having won numerous battles for the Empire. He didn’t poison anyone and his third son, Julius, only had daughters.”
“Ric, I don’t think you are going to convince her.” Josh howled pulling Stefania into a passionate embrace. “He’s not the Devil darlin’ just a sharp dresser with deep pockets.”
I squeezed Riccardo’s thigh as I continued to chuckle, “And I’m not a virgin so no need to worry about me falling under his spell.”
“You didn’t fall under Enzo’s spell either. Perhaps you are immune to the Cassius charm.” Riccardo knocked back his tumbler of amber liquid. Slumming would only go so far it seemed, and while Josh was drinking dirty martinis all night Riccardo sucked down twenty-year-old scotch, neat.
“That’s because he is an asshole. Not even your magical last name is going to change that.” I smiled, downing another drink. How many had that been? I had well and truly lost track.
“Enzo was here? I didn’t see him.” Josh bit into the toothpick-speared olive that had been swirling around in his drink.
“He didn’t stay.” Riccardo’s brow rose as he smirked in my direction. Perhaps using some kind of boy-code to indicate I had been the reason for Enzo’s hasty departure.
“Probably a good thing.” Josh glanced at me, amused, before draining the rest of his martini. Yep, definitely boy-code.
“So there are four of you?” I interjected wanting to know more about Riccardo and his band of brothers. I wondered if the other two were as friendly as the one I had met.
“Yes, I am the youngest of four boys.” A waitress set another tumbler of scotch in front of Riccardo before retrieving his empty glass. She gave him a nervous side-glance and a giggle when he nodded his head in thanks.
“And where does Enzo fit into the mix?” He didn’t look much older than Riccardo but it was hard to tell.
“He is a year older than me. Then comes Nicholas, the second eldest but he hasn’t been home in over two years. He is the one I’m closest to. He didn’t want to be part of the family business so he is living in America, forging his own way. He owns restaurants and is doing very well for himself. I got to spend a lot of time with him while living there. Maybe someday we’ll go visit. He’d love you.” Riccardo spoke fondly of his middle brother but I could guarantee we wouldn’t be visiting. I had little time for my own dysfunctional family, I didn’t need to adopt someone else’s.
“And Marcus is the oldest.” Riccardo raised his palms in defence, “Yes, before you say anything, a lot of the men in the family are called Marcus, the name is passed down to the first born son.”
“I told you.” Stefania pumped her hands in the air, victorious like she’d won some grand prize. “I knew I was right.”
Riccardo ignored Stefania’s celebratory gloating. “He is married and my beautiful sister in law recently had a baby girl. He is the CEO of my father’s corporation and very much my father’s son.”
“Is that supposed to mean that he too is an asshole?” No filter. I didn’t even have the decency to be sorry, my blood alcohol level absolved me of any guilt.
“He’s my brother Alexia and I love my family but we share very different philosophies.” Translation - yes they are all assholes but I’m going to be diplomatic in the way I agree with you. That’s ok, being right is still being right.
“Ok,” I climbed into Riccardo’s lap wanting his lips to stop talking about his family and get busy on me.
“You want me to take you home?” He read my cue and kissed my shoulder.
“I just want you to take me.” I whispered into his ear.
“Josh, Stefania.” Riccardo stood, lifting me in his arms and he rose from his seat. “I believe it is time to depart.”
“Yeah, we’re heading out too.” Josh didn’t even bother breaking eye contact with Stefania as he answered. Seems like everyone was on the same page.
I buried my head in his neck, giggling uncontrollably as Riccardo carried me through the club. Stefania and Josh ambled closely behind.
“You can put me down now,” I wriggled in his arms as his grip tightened.
“Oh no. You wanted this. So now everyone gets to see that you are dancing with the Devil.”
~~~~
Riccardo moaned my name, shuddering as he came hard. I panted beneath him, the echoes of my own climax still humming through my body. An amused grin spread across his mouth as he looked down at me, the sweat on our skin making us slick.
“The way you squeeze my cock when you come, drives me insane. Any control I have evaporates.”
“Sweet-talking doesn’t earn you a tip.” I bit my bottom lip playfully.
“Are you going to try and sneak out like a thief again?” Riccardo grabbed my hands and pulled them above my head, holding me captive.
“Maybe, maybe not. The unpredictability will keep it interesting though so I guess you will find out in the morning.” I pushed against his hands but he wasn’t relinquishing control. I didn’t mind the pressure; it was firm but not threatening.
“What if I don’t go to sleep? I might watch you all night.” He bowed his head down and nipped at my glistening shoulder, his teeth grazing my skin.
“Oh, the roofie I slipped you should render you useless soon enough, so the choice will be made for you.” My off-the-cuff delivery threatened to be betrayed by the twitching corners of my mouth.
“Alexia, you kill me.” Riccardo threw his head back in a full throaty laugh and his body shook above me. “I should chain you to my bed.”
“Now you’re just teasing me.” I batted my eyelashes playfully. “I would have thought you Cassius men didn’t need chains though. Can’t you just bewitch me into staying?”
He sighed as he released my hands and rolled off of me. “That is the first time I have ever wished that bullshit story was true.”
I was disappointed for two reasons, the delicious pressure which he filled me with (even semi-erect) was gone and his playful mood had faltered. I wanted them both back regardless of which came first.
I rolled on top of him, my legs straddling either side of his hips as I whispered suggestively. “Why? So I can provide you with many sons?”
He shook his head as his grin crept back. “No. So I’d have you under my spell.”
“And then what would you do with me?” I trailed my fingers along the contours of his chest, my touch teasing the defined walls of muscle.
“Kidnap you. I’d take you somewhere costal so that we could be naked all day and swim in the ocean. The Mediterranean is an almost surreal colour green. It is even more impressive than my family history.” Riccardo pulled me down so that I collapsed against his chest.
“Wow, that sounds amazing. You know, I wouldn’t have to be under a spell.” I breathed against his neck. “You could ask me and I’d probably say yes.”
What’s not to love about a beach escape? I adored Rome but being naked with Riccardo by the ocean, that was a very easy sell.
“You would go away with me? Just like that?” Riccardo pulled away from me so he could gauge my reaction.
He had genuinely expected me to say no, I guess given that we had known each other less than 72 hours it would have been a safe bet. What he didn’t know was that logic and I weren’t exactly besties, which was something that was often pointed out to me.
“For a couple of days, sure why not? I would have to see when I could swing the time off but, yeah, I would go.”
Riccardo shook his head in disbelief, “You say that now as a hypothetical but I think in reality you might not be so eager.”
“Why is it difficult to believe? If I want to do something I go and do it.”
“As I witnessed first hand.” He raised his brow sarcastically.
“You know what I mean.” I swatted his arm. “I don’t want to sit on the sidelines hoping stuff happens. You have to make it happen.”
I wasn’t one to sit idle, I couldn’t. It was a compulsion to move which saw me come to Europe in the first place, the need to explore - knowing there was more to life than studying and work. Adventures and experience were more valuable to me than a mundane routine. It was more than itchy feet. It was about discovery of self and the only way I was going to know what I was capable of was to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone and stretching my boundaries.
“You are so truly unique, Alexia. I have an excitement when I’m around you that I haven’t felt in a very long time.” The warmth of his smile lit up his face; whatever tension had been there had dissolved. I liked that I had that effect on him.
“That’s just ‘cause I’m really good at sucking cock. It’s ok... I’m kind of a big deal when it comes to blow jobs.”
“Yes, yes you are.” Riccardo didn’t even try to attempt to hide his grin as his finger traced my collarbone. “And now that I know more information about you, I fully intend to use it to my advantage.”
“Is this your way of angling for another blow job?”
“I was referring to your willingness to go away with me, but perhaps in the interim we can continue to investigate the many reasons I get excited around you.”