Briefly she considered trying to engage him in conversation so that their minds could meet, but the time was passing, and when he touched her she forgot everything else but what he could do to her flesh.
It wasn’t love but it was a new life and, for the moment, it was enough.
At last it was time for him to depart, slipping away under cover of darkness and leaving her achingly bereft. After that she listened to the radio, which duly reported the moment that ‘the well-known entrepreneur, Vincente Farnese, finally agreed to resume negotiations, much to everyone’s relief.’
Three days later he called to say, ‘I’m back. Can I come over?’
Once more Vincente took her by surprise, arriving on her doorstep with his luggage and still wearing his travelling clothes. Clearly he’d come straight from the airport, and seemed only half awake.
Elise sat him down at the table, ready for the supper she had prepared. He ate it slowly, occasionally talking about his time in Sicily after his return. She formed a picture of endless conferences, working breakfasts, late night sessions, half an hour of sleep snatched here and there.
‘I’m made that way,’ he said when she mentioned this. ‘I can manage on little sleep taken now and then. It’s a great help in my business.’
‘Hmm. Well, you look awful,’ she said frankly.
‘Thank you.’
‘Don’t mention it.’
‘But I’m capable of doing the important things. Let me prove it to you.’
Taking her hand, he led the way into the bedroom. They undressed without preamble and lay down on the bed. Elise was suddenly nervous. It had been so glorious before and she’d spent so much time remembering, anticipating. How could anything live up to those fantasies? He would need to be a superhero, and that was a dangerous way to think of any man.
But her hopes were high as she felt him caress her to draw out her response, although she was almost ready before they began. She ached for this, so when he laid his head against her breast and his hands mysteriously stopped moving, she knew a stab of disappointment.
‘Vincente,’ she said, giving him a little shake. ‘Vincente.’
Another shake made him move-not much, but just enough to show her his face, revealing that her worst fears had been realised.
He was asleep.
At first she wanted to scream her vexation and frustration to the world, but then the sight of his softened features caused a surge of tenderness to go through her. She tightened her arms about him so that he settled into a more comfortable position, still with his head resting on her.
Somewhere in her mind a voice spoke, warning her that this was dangerous. The frantic hurly-burly of sex was something she could manage, and relish. But this treacherous sweetness was too much like the feeling she’d known with Angelo, and which she’d sworn never to know again. It was weakness, and she would no more yield to it than she guessed Vincente would himself.
But as long as they were both clear on that point, perhaps there was no harm in a little indulgence.
She smiled, drawing him closer still.
He slept without moving for three hours, while she felt her heart melt. She had no regrets about losing their passion. Tenderness was a more than fair exchange.
Elise dozed and awoke to discover him already awake, taking up exactly where he’d left off. As she moved against him he raised his head, meeting her eyes and inviting her to share the joke. And it was a joke, the funniest joke that had ever made her gasp with pleasure, so that mirth and passion blended into one, in the sweetest experience of her life.
‘Time for the real world,’ Vincente sighed as they lay together afterwards.
‘And that big shareholders’ meeting you’ve got coming up,’ she said.
‘How did you know about that?’
‘I’ve been reading the financial papers-purely to improve my Italian, you understand.’
‘Naturally.’
‘You’ve got a big fight on your hands, but you’re going to face them down.’
‘Without a doubt. I learned a lot of useful things in Sicily. When I’ve processed them I’ll be ready. Until then I’ll virtually have to live at work.’
‘So I’ll see you again when your meeting’s over-if I can find the time.’
His hand was working between her legs again. ‘I think you’ll find it,’ he murmured.
She didn’t argue. It wasn’t worth it.
She relished their battle of wits. It added spice to what would otherwise have been a one-dimensional relationship. She knew now that his need to make love to her was as fierce as her own answering need, and surviving until after his meeting was going to test her patience.
So it was a special pleasure when he cracked first.
Elise answered the phone and his first words were, ‘Can you ride a horse?’
‘Yes, I love riding, but I haven’t any gear with me.’
‘There’s a shop in the Via dei Condotti.’ He gave her the name, saying, ‘You’ll get the best there. How good a rider are you?’
‘I like a quiet mount.’
‘Fine. I’ll collect you tomorrow morning.’
He hung up.
It would have been nice to be able to tell him that for once he’d got it wrong, but when she entered the shop she found it as good as he’d claimed. This was annoying for a brief moment, then exhilarating as she plunged in, emerging with clothes that set off her figure to perfection.
‘You don’t think the jodhpurs are a bit tight?’ she asked cautiously.
‘They are certainly figure-hugging,’ the assistant conceded, ‘but the
Which was a polite way of saying that they hugged her behind provocatively.
‘I’ll take everything,’ she said.
Vincente was driving his own car when he arrived next morning, having called first to say he expected her to be waiting on the front step.
‘Yes, sir, no, sir, three bags full, sir,’ she’d recited.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Never mind. English joke. I’ll be there.’
‘Very good,’ he said as they drove away next morning. ‘I barely had to pause. That traffic attendant was ready to become very difficult.’
‘Difficult with
He didn’t reply but, glancing sideways, she saw him grinning.
‘I’m amazed you could spare the time,’ she observed as they headed out into the countryside. ‘Weren’t you supposed to be living at the office?’
‘Not a good policy. It could make the enemy think I’m worried.’
‘Good, good,’ she said, nodding. ‘You’ve probably got a photographer at the stables to take a picture showing how relaxed you are.’
‘Now that’s a trick I missed. Never mind, a man can’t think of everything.’
‘I thought you prided yourself on being able to do just that.’
He gave a crack of laughter. ‘You caught me fairly there.’
After a moment he said quietly, ‘I hope you know I wouldn’t impose a photographer on you without warning. You might not believe it, but I have enough manners for
‘You’re right,’ she said demurely. ‘I wouldn’t believe it.’
He gave a shout of laughter. ‘I’m not that bad, am I?’
‘Is this place very far?’ she asked wickedly.
‘All right, for the moment I’ll let you snub me. You’ll change your tune when you see your mare. I chose her specially for you.’
‘So you think you can dictate that for me as well?’
