LOVE CONQUERS- CHAPTER 16

Chapter-16

The kiss was not just gentle but also a declaration of affection, if but she knew it, as she kissed him. Iris felt the answering warm and gentle pressure of Alessandro’s lips. She moved a little away and stretched herself further, with their bodies inches apart but mouths moving together, against each other.

It was a slow kiss, with no sense of urgency or passion that had gone out of control. And yet it was full of hidden fire and gentle affection, with her lips just moving at a lazy pace against his, as they explored the softness of hers. She kissed him slow and soft, touching her tongue to his lower lip and then kissing softly again, touching it to the upper lip, varying the pressure slightly from time to time as he did, but never the speed of the movement. In return, Alessandro gave as much as he got and at the same pace.

He had kissed many women but none like this. It was a “getting-to-know-you” kind of kiss; an exploration. It spoke of innocence, gentleness and yet contained hunger of romance. He felt almost like a teenager again, giving and receiving his first kiss that spoke of attraction and sweet promises, but mindful of touching and outreaching boundaries of that exploration too quickly. It was a kiss where they both tentatively gauged each other’s responses and answered it in kind, where they tried to see how their partnership could be worked out in the most intimate manner. Both could feel the tremors going through each other’s bodies but they still didn’t touch.

Alessandro didn’t gather her to him, but respectfully kept to her wishes. He didn’t even put his arms around her shoulders or her waist. She didn’t put her arms around his neck or caught on to his shoulders. Strangely they supported each other still… by their lips and felt a roar of desire go through them.

It felt as it had been an eternity but was only a few dreamy minutes, when Alessandro lifted his mouth from hers. He looked lost and bemused, as if not sure where he was. Iris licked her lips as he lifted his, eyes still closed. He looked at her and felt a wave of protective tenderness sweeping him. As if still not in possession of his complete senses, he muttered, “Your mouth is so surprisingly soft & sweet. It doesn’t at all give an indication of how flaying that razor sharp tongue of yours can be.”

Iris smiled and replied, eyes still closed, “What can I say? You bring out the shrew in me.”

Alessandro sounded amused as he chuckled loudly. He sounded so totally male then that Iris opened her eyes. Her belly quivered at the look on his face and her heart raced madly. He brought his hand up to cup her cheek, his thumb stroking her skin as he met her eyes, making love to her tenderly with them. “So innocent, so sweet.” He murmured.

Iris blushed hotly as she heard him. He had no idea how innocent she was. With Sunny, it had only ever been a few kisses and some touching around but she’d never been made love to by a man. She wondered if virginity was something that showed upon a person and then chided herself for her ridiculousness. She was a woman from twenty-first century, not some Victorian maiden who’d feel embarrassed about such matters.

Attempting to sound and look as normal as she could, as if she kissed men every day in such a manner, she put a hand on her hair and turned away to say, “Yes well, I must go back in. I’ve heaps of work to get through today if I’m to come to meet the boys on the weekend.”

Alessandro looked at her oddly and looked about to contradict her words, but then paused and nodded in acceptance. As Iris left, Alessandro hit his head lightly against the olive tree and sighed. He had no idea what was happening to him but he felt like jelly from inside, with his heart quivering. It was – an experience he could do without, he told himself. He had only planned on securing a caring mother for his children, not a wife who could make him fall on his knees. He feared Iris would do that, given a chance. He wanted her with an intensity, like he’d wanted nothing more before and he’d not need anything after her. He would have to be careful, he decided. Seduce her to fall in with his plan, but keep a distance when it came to emotions. Nodding at himself in agreement, he started his journey back to the farmhouse.

Iris didn’t see Alessandro alone for the rest of the afternoon. Granted, she knew he was around because she heard him at times, talking to one of the staff or the other. When she was in the vineyard, she heard him nearby, talking with the estate manager and gauging the next crop for better production levels. She moved away from his voice, trying to focus solely on her work. The incident in the morning had her shaken enough, she didn’t want her emotions to go out of control as long as he was around.

Late afternoon, Iris had retired to her room for a rest and it was almost time for coffee. She went downstairs, conscious that she had changed her clothes. She was now dressed in a pale blue skirt with small daisies embroidered on it and a cream white sleeveless top. Exactly why she wanted to change from her morning attire of jeans and checked shirt, she was not sure but she only knew she wanted to look better than she looked in the morning.

It was as she was on her second cup of coffee that Alessandro came into the room. He looked more tanned and tired, with his hair standing up like he’d been mussing it with his hands while working. There were some leaves stuck to his hair too although it didn’t look like he was bothered with his appearance. In truth, he still looked rakishly handsome-dashing- a sexy workman if you like. He looked at Iris, looking cool and collected, drinking her coffee and sat down beside her.

“Rested enough?” He asked, helping himself to coffee and sandwiches on the table.

“Yes, thank you. I shall get back to work after coffee though.” Replied Iris as she picked up the buttered toast on her plate and ate it.

“You would work in this?” Alessandro looked pointedly at her skirt and Iris blushed with annoyance.

“I’ve got to work in the office. This is pleasantly cool for sitting in the room and working.  Unless you want me to go back outside and work on something specific?” Iris replied, her calm almost deserting her.

“No, I don’t want you to go outside and work on anything specific. Do your work as you plan to do it.” And at her nod of agreement, he bent a little closer to her so that she sat back in her chair, eyes wide, “Don’t put thoughts in my head, Iris.” Alessandro muttered darkly, leaving her sitting there with her mouth open & staring after him.

Iris finished her work at about six-thirty and stretched her hands. She’d been working non-stop since about four, but she was happy that her report was ready. She emailed it to Felipe and Felice Bertoni and decided to call it a day.

“Work done?” Alessandro called from the doorway, startling Iris. She smiled back and said, “Yes Signor—“ and at his look, hastily amended, “Alessandro. I am done for the day. Tomorrow there is more office work for half a day and then I have meetings on the phone and online with Luigi-Signor Matteo and both Signore Bertonis.”

“Ah yes-about that. Felipe is going to come visiting next week and he has proposed that we go to Cortona to attend the Sagra della Bisteca. It is the almost the end of summer and there is the last of wine tasting that must be done. It would be educational tour for you as well as a kind of holiday from daily paperwork.”

At her hesitation, he spoke with amusement in his voice, “Do not worry Tesoro. I will not be there. I have to go Luxembourg for another wine festival.”

Iris lowered her eyes to hide her disappointment that he would be away, but her voice was no indication of her feelings as she said casually, “Very well. It would be fun going out and getting to know my boss better.”

“I am your boss, not he.” Said Alessandro, invading her space and coming closer to her, a little irritated at her casualness. She could at least look a little disappointed for missing his company!

“Noted. You’re both my bosses and you are my employer.” Iris said, her voice devoid of hurt she felt. So he considered her only as an employee. Why then did he kiss her? Did he do it frequently? Did he kiss female employees that he was attracted to or that he had taken a fancy to, she wondered. The questions in her head didn’t help her feeling any better. She excused herself and said, “I must go back to my room. I am tired and need to freshen up.”

“What are your plans this evening?” Asked Alessandro, not giving up, still looming. When she still didn’t meet his eyes, he put his finger under her chin and made her look up. He could see the pulse beating fast at the base of her throat. She avoided looking straight into his eyes, he noted. She said, “I plan to eat a quiet dinner, early and retire to my room with a book. The library here is full of literary delights.”

“I see.” He said and let her go. Iris was quick to leave the room, breathing a little fast as she walked up to her bedroom. Once she freshened up, she sat down & laid her head on the work table instead of laying down on the bed, still thinking about Alessandro. Sighing deeply, she closed her eyes and let her mind go blank for some time.

It could not have been more than a few minutes when there was a knock on her door. Iris opened her eyes, wondering what anyone could want from her. Normally the housekeeping knew the hours she kept. Most of them would  have already left the farmhouse to go back to their own homes, with the exception of Beppe and Maria who stayed until she had retired for the night. She called out, “Come in.” and straightened up in her chair.

The door opened to let Alessandro enter. Iris got up so quickly from her chair that she nearly fell over it. “Alessandro! What are you doing here?”

He came quietly further into her room, his mind taking in her personal touches given to the room. There was a vase of flowers on the bedside table and the window sill, photo frames with– he assumed, the photo of her family standing together during some function or the other and another with a woman standing in her wedding finery with her groom. Alessandro recognised her from the photos of his private investigator. That was Estelle, Iris’s previous flatmate, who’d married an Indian guy. The rest of the room looked well-kept and neat.

He came to stand beside her as she looked at him warily. “Have dinner with me this evening. We can go out into the city.” Said he.

“No- No, thank you.” Replied Iris, moving a little away from him and standing by the window.

Alessandro felt annoyed by her move as well as her reply. He tried to keep cool, “So let me get this straight. You won’t have dinner with me, you won’t go out with me despite the fact that you’re not involved with anyone at this time, not waiting for anyone. Why keep yourself so distant? Why this reluctance to give in to the attraction that flared between us right from the first time we collided with each other?”

Iris was shocked at his bluntness. “I- um- I-“ She tried to form words but she couldn’t. He stood up and moved to where she was, determination oozing out of every pore of his body as he stated, “I want you Iris. You know this, just as well as you know that you want me. It is inevitable that we will make love. But that is something I can wait for. I’m a patient man. But why not dine with me? I promise I will not eat you –until you let me.” The last bit came out in deep and husky tones, notifying Iris of how much he wanted her. It made goose bumps stand on her body, but she resolutely refused her body’s cravings. She was not weak.

She spoke, giving an indication of her intent and her muddled thoughts, “I think it’s a bit rude of you to talk like that. You are my employer and I’m just another employee in your big organisation. I don’t dare presume that you are like this with all women in our company, but I am sure you wouldn’t take them out simply because they catch your fancy. You came to the farmhouse on an errand, not to wine and dine me. So asking me out to dinner is a bit odd, you must see that. “

“Should I come here simply to see you? Would that have made you happy?” Alessandro asked, interested in her reply.

“Yes-no. No, that is not-“Iris gave a jumbled reply and then turned to him, “Look, I don’t want to go, to take this any further. I don’t want to go out with you.”

Alessandro quirked his eyebrow, “You’re not flattered that you’ve er-caught my fancy in such a short period that we’ve known each other. We’ve had lunch together twice now.”

Iris let her hands fly in the air in frustration as she moved forward and he backward, “Business lunch, yes. But it’s not the same thing! We do NOT know each other, short time or otherwise. We are not friends. You are my boss, I’m just another woman in your employ. I don’t know you at all. Don’t you understand that?”

“Why not have dinner with me then? We can rectify this situation and get to know each other better.” He noticed that somehow while they’d been arguing, she had manoeuvred him closer to the closed door; almost as if she was kicking him out.

Iris shook her head at him, her pale hand tightening on the door handle that she had in her grasp now. To his disbelief, she turned the knob and opened the door. He was correct! He, Alessandro Bertoni was being shown the door! Had it not been happening to him, he was sure he could have found the humour in the situation. He had never before come across a woman who could not only resist him, but also ask him firmly to get lost. He was aware that he was blessed with good looks, athlete body, brains and wealth; a combination that was irresistible to women. He couldn’t credit the fact that the woman standing in front of him was a huge exception to this rule. He tried again, “Consider it cara. I’ve never yet have to plead a woman to come to dinner with me.”

Iris was firm, her hand holding the door knob in a death grasp, “I don’t think so, but thank you for the invitation Alessandro.”

Alessandro pushed himself away from the door, not taking his eyes off Iris’s face. Despite the incredulous situation, all he could see was her. Her marvellous skin, almost translucent and bare of make-up, developing a rosy blush at his stare, the sincerity in her eyes, her golden brown hair shining in the light from the room. She was so far off from the blondes and ebony haired women he usually preferred to go out with. And yet, she was the only one he wanted.

He took her hand, catching  her by surprise with his gesture. He turned it, palm upwards and brought it close to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss against her soft skin. The gesture was pure wickedness, so wickedly Italian in flirtation.

Iris felt a thrill of excitement run through her body, despite her best efforts. She went red. She didn’t know why she was so adamant in her refusal of his invitation when she really craved his company, his touch. At the look in his eyes when he kissed her hand, she felt treacherous excitement curling inside of her, right from the tips of her toes to her dazed brown eyes, locked with his grey-green. She was nervous, yet fascinated with him.

“Come down at eight. I will be waiting.” He said softly and kissed her lightly on her mouth.

Before she could open her mouth however, he was gone, leaving her alone in the room with his touch on her hand and lips, and his scent in her nostrils.