SHE BELONGS TO YOU ~~~

VALENTINA POV

No mafia husband would ever allow that, which meant I had to make my way outside my father’s world. Besides, this fling with Rafael was a short-term arrangement. Whenever the fire between us burned out, he would let me go and I would start a life in Toronto or New York. I would think fondly of this as the summer I studied abroad in Italy and dated a sexy older man who had more money than God. And who was incredibly talented in bed. Like, how was that a bad thing?

I wouldn’t think about my father and his hurtful words. Instead I kept busy. Except for my daily Italian lesson, I spent my time outside, mostly with Vincenzo. He taught me more and more about the grapes and the vines. How to care for the plants and the soil. It was better than any hands-on college course I could have taken.

Vincenzo loved the outdoors as much as I did, and I peppered him with questions all day long, taking note of his answers in a journal Rafael bought me. The evenings belonged to Rafael . Unless work demanded his attention, he ate dinner with me, Zia and Dimitri . After that, he and I went up to his suite and he fucked me desperately, wringing every drop of pleasure from my body before we collapsed into bed. There was no shame between us and I loved the little games we played. I learned so much about myself, like what I found arousing, and quite a bit about Rafael , as well. He liked me bratty, a little bit resistant, and a bit naughty.

I was more than happy to comply. Today I was in the outdoor garden with Zia. Rafael ’s aunt had offered to teach me about vegetables. She didn’t speak much English and my Italian was only so-so, but we were muddling through. The August sun was overbearing, even this early in the day. It never seemed to bother Zia, though.

Zia’s garden was laid out with carefully defined beds and a network of trellises. There were climbing beans, tomatoes, herbs, eggplants, potatoes, artichokes, onions, and more. She handled each plant with care. She reminded me of my mom, giving each leaf and bloom careful attention, pouring her love all the way down into the roots and dirt. It made my heart ache with bittersweet memories.

“Viene qua, viene qua,” Zia said, waving me over. When I came closer, she showed me the tiny green bug crawling on the leaf. “Un afide. Molto male.” I recognized the aphid, a species of insect which were bad for gardens. “What now?”

She reached for a spray bottle on the ground and began spraying the liquid on the plants. “Soap. Water. Il pepe di Caienna.”

“Cayenne pepper?” Zia nodded and I wrote this down. Fascinating. She imitated a choking, gasping sound and sure enough the aphid stopped moving. We walked along, looking for more aphids and checking on her plants. She told me when each vegetable would be ready to harvest, and let me eat a tomato right off the vine. I swear, it was the best tomato I’d ever put in my mouth.

When we passed a trellis full of pea pods, she pulled one off and handed it to me. “Fa bene al bambino.” I blinked. Wasn't a bambino….? Did she mean me? Wishful thinking for her nephew, no doubt. I smiled and shook my head as I accepted the pea pod. “No bambino, Zia.”

“Sí, bambino.” She gestured with both hands toward my belly. “Rafael ’s bambino.” I nearly choked on a pea. Most old women were obsessed with babies, and she considered Rafael a son. However, there was no way I was having Rafael ’s baby. I answered the best way I knew how. “Molto molto no bambino.”

She just smiled and tapped her temple. What did that mean? “Ah, my two favourite women out in my Italian sun. What could be better?” I turned and saw Rafael edging toward us. He was dressed shockingly down for the daytime, wearing jeans and a simple grey t-shirt. Was he not working this morning? By the time I got up, he’d already dressed and left for his office. The sun caressed his golden muscular skin, like he was a Roman god sent straight from heaven.

He kissed Zia’s cheeks first, then got close to me. “Dolcezza, you are never more beautiful than when you are outside on my land.” Bending, he pulled me close and gave me a deep, lingering kiss on the mouth. “Mmm, terre e sole.” Land and sun.

He loved to smell my skin when I came in from outside. “Now, you must stop eye-fucking me,” he murmured, “or you won’t get your surprise.” Thankfully Zia had wandered away, busy in another part of her garden. I slid my hands over his chest. “I can’t help it. I’ve never seen you in jeans and a t-shirt. Very sexy, paparino.”

He squeezed a buttock. “Behave. I cannot walk around the workers with a hard dick and still maintain their respect.”

“Maybe they’d respect you more, if they could see what you’re packing.” Rolling his eyes, he dragged me out of the garden. He spoke to Zia over his shoulder, probably telling her he was taking me somewhere, so I waved good-bye. Rafael wrapped his arm around my waist and tucked me into his side. We headed toward the southwestern part of the estate, away from the vineyards and toward the farmland. “Any guesses as to your surprise?”

“Are we going to clear out the stables again for an early riposo?”

“Hmm. Maybe after. I have very fond memories of that day.” The first time I deepthroated his cock. “Me, too. Can I take a selfie with you? Please? I like the casual mafia boss look. I won’t post it anywhere. It’ll be just for me.” He always refused to be in pictures with me, much as Dimitri had in Rome.

“No photos, Valentina . I can’t risk it ending up online or someone hacking your phone.”

“Are you saying the Italian government doesn’t know who you are?”

“Of course, they do. But that doesn’t mean I want to remind them.” We went into the stables. This time, he didn’t order everyone out. Instead, he led me to a stall in the back. On the wall was a brass plate that read La Piccola Monella. “You’re moving me out to the stables?” I joked.

“Not yet,” he smirked and slapped my ass. “Look inside.” I peeked into the stall and a huge brown head appeared. It was a chestnut-coloured horse with a patch of white on its face. She nuzzled toward me, curious. I reached out and stroked her muzzle. “Hello, girl.” She shifted and bobbed her head, like she was saying hello, too. I laughed.

“I think she likes you,” Rafael said, his chest at my back. “Not that I ever doubted it. You are far kinder to animals than you are to me.”

“I was very kind to you last night. Twice, in fact.” I continued to pet the horse. “She’s beautiful, Rafael .”

“I am glad you think so. She belongs to you.” I cast a glance over my shoulder. His brown gaze smouldered with heat and affection, a look I was coming to know well. “You bought me a horse?”

“Sí. I took the honour of naming her, though.”

“So I can ride whenever I like?” I liked to walk the estate, but that could be exhausting. Plus, I missed riding. We had grown up taking lessons as girls. “Of course. You must wear a helmet, however.” My paparino. Always looking out for me. I bit my lip as happiness coursed through my chest. “I promise. May I go now?”

“Yes, as long as I may come with you.” Now the casual clothes made sense. He’d planned time away from work to take me riding. Grinning, I threw my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist, clinging to him like that aphid on the leaf. “Of course. Grazie, Rafael . This is the very best surprise.”

He held me under my ass and kissed my mouth. “I’m glad you are happy. Let me have both horses saddled and then we’ll go.”