He is a Roman God. All he requires is a wreath of olive leaves instead of the cap that covers his glossy curls. She watches him for several minutes before winding her way through carts, to the one where he is replenishing the grapes. Her hands move over the rough texture of sweetly ripe melons. She considers the dark purple grapes. They
do
smell seductively juicy.
He notices her and smiles, his dark eyes luminous. "Ciao, Bella."
Her tongue darts out to wet her lips before she returns his smile. She swings her hair forward as a curtain she can peak out from behind, flirting with him wordlessly. Though she is in a foreign country, this is a language that all men and women understand.
His hands show that he is no stranger to the rough work of the fields and his sensuous lips betray a knowledge that only people who live close to the land seem to truly appreciate.
Between paying attention to him and pretending to pay attention to the cart, she doesn't notice that her tour group has moved out of hearing range down the street, and almost out of sight.
Thunder rumbles overhead and she realizes the sky has grown darker. She looks around for her group as a gentle rain begins. They are gone. The Italian man is by her side, taking her hand and smiling as he tugs her away. She follows willingly.
He leads her a little way, then turns, pushing her back into an alcove, his body trapping her. His hands are on her hips and he presses himself up against her so they are both out of the rain. His gaze holds hers, then drifts down and she realizes the rain has nearly dissolved the blouse over her bare breasts. Her nipples stand out in dark relief under the sheer material..