Chapter Twelve
My Joe
I remember a blinding flash of light, heat in my fingertips, a shout and then nothing. Not the usual black void that took me away from her but something altogether different, brighter and clearer. The world came slowly into focus, distant birdsong mingled with the regular beep of an alarm roused me. Air brushed my cheek and morning light filtered through my still closed eyelids. I was horizontal, warm soft fabric lay against my skin and my head rested on a soft pillow. I was in bed. I knew this but it felt strange, like I was waking up for the first time in a very long time. I relished the warm, slow comfort of the morning before I opened my eyes. Naomi lay next to me, facing me, watching me. A tear graced the corner of her eye and I watched it roll gently down her cheek, drop from her jaw bone and onto the sheet.
“You’re back.” Naomi whispered. “You’re really here.” The last part sounded almost like a question, like she couldn’t believe it and needed confirmation.
“Si, amore mio. It seems I am.” I had no idea what day it was or how I had ended up in her bed, waking up with her, but I was glad that I had. I felt like this was how it should be. I thought back to my last memory when she had seen me in the bathroom, when I had been just a vision. I wondered what had happened between then and now because I couldn’t for the life of me remember waking up in a hospital or being transferred home. It was all very confusing and strange. I knew we would need to talk about things, Naomi would help me get things straight in my head. Perhaps talking to her would awaken some memories that my conscious had decided to bury. I guessed by her reaction that this was perhaps the first morning we had woken together since my absence, the look of disbelief in her eyes told me that she had thought this moment might not ever be possible. Again, I wondered what had happened to me, wishing I could remember it but I was thrilled that we were together now, grateful that whatever tragedy had separated us was over. All that mattered to me in this moment was Naomi. She looked so incredibly beautiful I felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her.
“How did this hap…”
I cut her off with a kiss and her words were lost as my mouth covered hers. She moaned softly and I felt her surrender completely to the moment. I slipped my arm around her and drew her close, her body moulded perfectly to mine. She fit me like a missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle and nothing else mattered. I had a million questions begging to be answered but all I wanted in this moment was her mouth. The bittersweet taste of her lips evoked a response within me that was both natural and alien. It was like a first kiss, not like when you were young and just discovering girls but that first toe-curling, all-encompassing passionate kiss of a long awaited new love. It was extraordinary. Somewhere in the back of my mind it occurred to me that I couldn’t remember what it had been like to kiss Naomi and now I was exultant in my rediscovery of her. If just a kiss had me reeling I was looking forward to the sex! Just the thought made my groin harden and I instinctively deepened the kiss. She groaned and her hand found its way around the back of my head. Her fingers entwined in my hair and she gave it a little tug pushing her small frame against mine. My hand found its way down to her thigh, lingering briefly on her pert behind. I hoisted her leg up and over my own where I gleefully caressed the bare skin of her thigh. She was wearing boy short knickers and a skimpy vest top, I could have easily slipped my hand under either of them and explored further but she suddenly pulled away from me, breathless.
“Joe, wait.” She gasped, her face flushed with the tell-tale sign of desire.
“What is it il amore mio?” My hand continued its slow path up her bare leg towards the curve of her bottom and I let my fingertip slip just underneath the fabric of her knickers. She put her hand over mine and halted my game.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this but…Joe, we need to talk.”
“Che cosa? What’s wrong Naomi?” I leaned away from her and propped my head upon my elbow, a look of concern on my face. Her tone was serious and I wasn’t sure I liked it. She turned away and sat on the edge of the bed with her back to me.
“Let me make us some coffee, you do drink coffee right?”
“Of course I do,” what an odd question, she should know that I do, “would you like me to help?”
“No.” She replied, a little too quickly. “I’ll make it, you er… rest. I won’t be long.” She got up swiftly and walked determinedly out of the bedroom. Something wasn’t right, this didn’t strike me as appropriate behaviour for a newly reunited couple. I got up and walked towards the door, I could hear the distinct sound of crockery clinking together. As I reached the hallway her voice reached me, she sounded like she was having an argument with herself. Frowning, I stood still and listened more. Some Indistinct mutterings I couldn’t quite make any sense of but the tone of her monologue was clear- she was agitated, anxious even. I shouted to her,
“Is everything alright? Do you want me to help?”
“No!” She shot back sounding panicked. “I mean yes, everything is fine and no, I don’t need help…thanks. I’ll bring the coffee to you.”
“Okay.” I said and turned back down the hallway. On my way back towards the bedroom I noticed a picture hung on the end wall. From where I stood I could make out two people stood in front of an old looking stone building. Curious, I walked towards it. An instant smile of recognition broke out on my face as I neared the wall. It was a framed photograph of Naomi and I, arms around each other and wearing aprons. We stood in front of an old stone building with tables and chairs outside and a sign above the building’s entrance which read ‘Imp’s Book Bar’. We looked so happy and as I continued to look at the picture, a memory trickled slowly into my conscious. A memory of that day, the day we opened the doors to our new business venture. How excited we had been when our first customer walked down the steps and through the entrance exclaiming their delight at such an innovative concept,
“Oh! This is fabulous!” The female customer had said as she had perused the books perched upon the shelves inside our cafe. “So I can just sit and read these books while I eat?”
I remembered now with vivid clarity the proud smile on Naomi’s face as she had enthusiastically explained the concept of the book bar to walk-in customers throughout the day. I remembered the first night too, how we had made love on one of the tables after closing, so caught up in the thrill and success of our first day as co-owners of the business. My grin broadened, I was so happy that memories were finally filtering through, I was beginning to remember my life with her and it was glorious! The moment of nostalgia was interrupted by the sudden sound of ceramic hitting the floor and Naomi’s gasp. Turning, I saw her standing behind me, hands to her mouth, wide eyed in shock. The two cups of coffee she had been carrying lay in a steaming puddle of broken pieces on the floor at her feet.
“Are you alright bella?” I asked. “Did you trip?”
“I…What?” she shook her head. “No. No I’m fine I just…that photograph…where did it come from?” She gestured towards the framed picture with her head, crossing her arms protectively around herself as she did so. I looked back at the picture.
“You don’t remember?”
She shook her head, her face now blank.
“I hung it there so every time we walked down the hallway we would remember that day…and that night.” I winked at her but her face remained impassive. “Naomi!” I took both her arms in my hands excitedly, “My memories are returning! I’m starting to remember it all, isn’t that good news?” I kissed her forehead and pulled her close, enveloping her in a tight hug. I could feel her rapid heartbeat against my chest, matching my own. She must be excited too.
“Joe? What exactly do you remember?” She lifted her head to look up at me, I sensed fear within those beautiful eyes of hers.
“Bella? You look…what’s wrong?”
“What do you remember?” She insisted and pulled further away.
“Us mia cara. Our life together, our cafe, how we met, how we fell in love. Everything!” I emphasised the last word with a triumphant smile.
“Details, Joe. I need details. I need to know exactly what you remember.” Her voice shook a little and I thought it sweet that she was obviously worried about me. “How did we meet Joe?” I reached up and stroked her arm, she shuddered and her eyes flitted closed, just for a second. “Can we sit? I need to sit down.” She said and walked back towards the lounge area, stepping over the broken mugs.
“Let me clean that up first?”
“No, it’s OK. Leave it. This is more important.” She said without looking back. I had no choice but to follow. We sat on the sofa and she took my hand in hers.
“Tell me how we met.”
“In Florence.” I responded.
“More,” she demanded, “what else?”
“We met in Florence, in my bar The Magnificent Medici, it’s where we got the idea for the Imp.”
“The Imp?” She looked confused.
“Our book bar Naomi!” I laughed. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Oh. Right. Erm, yes…I’m fine. Tired, I guess. Keep going please.” I shook my head a little and gave her a half smile.
“I first saw you in my bar in Florence. You were alone and reading a book and I thought you looked so beautiful, like someone I wanted to get to know.” I squeezed her hand and lifted it to my lips to kiss it.
“What book?” She breathed as my lips touched the smooth skin on her hand.
“One of my favourite’s bella, Stranger in a Strange land by Robert Heinlein.” Her sharp gasp cut through my words and I examined her face, the smallest hint of a tear accompanied her disbelieving look.
“Impossible.” It was barely a whisper but I heard it.
“Maybe you thought so at one time my love but see? I’m back, I remember things. I’m all better and I remember you, us…our love…the sex.” I wiggled my eyebrows at her and bent forward to kiss the tip of her nose, a small laugh or half sob, I couldn’t tell which, came from her mouth.
“I can’t believe it. Joe, you’re really here? I just don’t understand. I feel like I’ve lost my mind. How can this be happening? I always dreamed of this, always but it’s...”
“Impossible?” I finished her sentence and she just nodded. “Nothing is impossible mia cara, our love is strong and you never lost faith in me. I’m almost sure that’s what brought me back.”
“Back? Oh…yes…your accident. Joe, we need to talk about that.”
“Not now bella, now is not the time to discuss what happened. To be honest, I’ve no recollection of it and I’m sure it must’ve been horrible for you but right now, I’d rather not know what happened. Being in that strange dream state or whatever it was, was bad enough. Every time I saw you I was confused. I knew that I knew you but I couldn’t remember it all. It was not an experience I wish to repeat or discuss. Not yet anyway. Right now, I just want to hold you. I remember us Naomi. Let’s just be happy that we are together today OK?” I stroked her cheek and leaned in for a kiss, her chin rose and our mouths met. I adored the feel of her soft lips and savoured the kiss, immediately missing it when we eventually broke it off.
“I should go clean up that coffee.” She said in a dazed tone.
“Really? I thought you said this was more important?” I teased.
“It is. I just need a moment to…gather my thoughts. It’ll leave a stain anyway if I don’t clean it up.”
“Well then let’s both do it.” I offered.
“Thanks. I’ll get a cloth you get the dustpan under…”
“Under the sink. I know where it is.” I chuckled. Naomi shook her head and almost giggled. That look of disbelief had still not left her beautiful face.
After we’d cleaned up the bits of the two broken coffee mugs and moped up the puddle of coffee from the floor, I took the bag of broken crockery and dumped it in the bin while Naomi rinsed out the floor cloth in the sink. I watched her, her back facing me, still in her sleep shorts and vest top, her hair all messy and uncombed. Seeing her like that reminded me of earlier when I had awoken in our bed, alive and with her again. I had no idea how long it had been since we had woken up together but it felt like forever and I had a sudden desire to pick her up in my arms and carry her off back to bed, just so I could lay down next to her again and look at her. I stepped up behind her and slowly slid my arms around her waist, pulling her into me. Her neck was exposed and my lips brushed the soft skin just where her shoulders met the curve of it. Naomi shuddered and her head fell back against my chest, she moaned softly. I kissed her neck again and followed the kiss with a swift sweep of my tongue eliciting another, harder moan.
“Do you like that?” I asked her, my voice husky against her skin. I could feel the stirring heat of desire in my groin again.
“Yes.” She whispered breathlessly
“Want more?” I asked, my mouth already poised and ready at her shoulder. After a brief hesitation, which felt like an age, she replied,
“Yes.” Her hands braced against the rim of the stainless steel sink as I lavished attention on her neck finishing with a teasing nibble of her earlobe. The sounds she made were driving me wild. I was already fully hard and Naomi wasn’t being shy either, she had pushed her body tight against me so that my cock now rested at the small of her back. She was practically panting in response to my kisses on her skin. My arms still encircled her waist but the hem of her vest top had risen slightly and my thumb touched bare flesh. I began moving it in slow, soft circles on her stomach, my other hand slipped down and grabbed her hip, pulling her even tighter against me. Naomi’s breathing was becoming more rapid and her eyes were closed, her head still rested on my chest and was slightly tilted to the right, giving me a perfect view of her cleavage. The way her nipples stood out against the thin cotton fabric reminded me that she wasn’t wearing a bra. A distant flash of a memory came to my mind of bare breasts bouncing as she rode me and I wanted that again, now.
I moved my hand up and under her vest cupping the warm, firm flesh. Tweaking the little hard nub as I playfully bit down on her exposed neck, she writhed against me. Encouraged, I let my other hand slide around her hip and down over her shorts between her legs. I could feel the heat from her radiating through the fabric. I imagined how wet she would be and my fingers itched to explore further. I began gently rubbing her through her shorts and she shifted her feet slightly so that her legs opened wider. My cock, pushed tight against her back, pulsed with the need to be inside her. Her chest heaved with each ragged breath and suddenly her hands were in my hair. She tugged on my hair and rasped,
“Please Joe! Please!”
“What do you want mia cara? Tell me.” I demanded teasingly. Her hips thrust forward in response, grinding herself on my fingers. The crotch of her shorts felt damp and I knew damned well what she wanted but I wanted to hear her say it. I needed to know she desired me as much as I did her. I needed to know that she was mine. She swallowed and spoke in a whispered rush,
“Touch me.”
“Anything you say bella.” I responded in a low growl and did as she demanded. Hooking my fingers under the leg of her tiny sleep shorts, I found her centre and slid my finger into her silky heat. The affect was instantaneous as she cried out, gripping fistfuls of my hair and grinding down on my finger.
“Jesus Christ, Naomi! You’re soaking.” I worked my finger slowly in and out of her, relishing the feel of her and the way her pelvic muscles clamped around my finger. “Kiss me Naomi.” She tipped her head right back and to the side offering me her mouth, her green eyes were half open and slightly glazed over. There was no doubt that she wanted me now. The hand that had been playfully squeezing her breast now slid up her throat and I held her chin in place while my mouth explored hers. That seemed to push her up a gear. The thought that she liked that, that she trusted me enough to have my hand on her throat, excited me beyond belief. She moved her hips back and forth, fucking my fingers,
“Ohhhh bella, you are truly spectacular!” I murmured against her mouth, “I want to be inside you, Naomi. Now.”
“Mmm.” She moaned.
“Say it.” I demanded. “Tell me to make you come.” Her breath hitched and she gasped,
“I want you to fuck me, Joe. Fuck me and make me come.”
That was all I needed to hear. I pulled down her shorts and she stepped out of them as I took off my own and flung them aside. She was standing, bent slightly but still gripping on to the kitchen sink. I sank down on my knees so my face was level with her beautiful peachy bottom. Starting at her ankles, I ran my hands slowly, teasingly up her legs until a hand rested on each cheek. Parting her gently I took in the sight and scent of her, a sweet tangy mix of vanilla-scented Jasmine,
“Beautiful.” I murmured. I couldn’t resist tasting her and plunged my tongue deep into her centre. She bucked backwards and I buried my face between her legs licking, sucking and kissing her flesh. Reaching my hand around to tease her from the front, she continued to eagerly grind herself against my face. I could tell she wouldn’t last long if I carried on and my inner wickedness took over. I wanted to prolong her pleasure for as long as I could so I pulled away, wiping my hand across my mouth as I rose to stand behind her.
“Don’t stop.” She pleaded.
“Oh I have no intention of stopping bella, I am going to make you come I just don’t want it to be yet.” I let the tip of my cock slide over her entrance and she moaned again, harder this time.
“Joe!”
“Spread your legs for me, Naomi.” I positioned myself and teased her with the tip of my cock, sliding it slowly up and down her centre, coating it with her silkiness. Her legs shook with anticipation and several times she tried to take me inside of her by pushing backwards whenever I neared her opening. I grinned, enjoying the tease,
“Joe, please! I want you, please? I’ve waited so long.” She begged and I could resist her no more. Grabbing her hip with my left hand, I steadied her. My right hand clasped around the base of my length, I guided myself into her. I had only pushed forward a few inches when she took matters into her own hands and thrust her hips backwards, impaling herself on me. A guttural cry forming on her lips as she took me to the hilt. A multitude of Italian expletives came pouring from my mouth and I had to take a second to gather my senses. The baseness of her act was pure and raw and it drove me to the edge.
“You little beast! Is that how you want it? Hard?” She didn’t verbalise her answer but began rocking back and forth quite forcefully, soft, animalistic grunts accompanied each thrust of her hips. I stood still for a few minutes and watched, enthralled as she rode my length. She was a fucking goddess! I felt like the luckiest man on the planet. It was truly a wondrous sight to watch a beautiful woman lose herself in a moment of raw, unadulterated passion. Especially when it was your dick she was losing herself on. God, I could’ve watched her ride me right till the end but some innate sense of chivalric masculinity told me I should be the one making her come and so I reached down and pulled her right leg up and to the side, hooking my arm underneath her knee and opening her wide. My other arm slipped around so my hand rested on her throat again. She twisted her head towards me, wild desire flashed in her eyes, her cheeks flushed. A little wry smile touched her lips and I knew this was how she wanted it. I knew my woman, every beautiful inch of her even though fucking her now felt like the first time. I revelled in the glory of her, wanting only to pleasure her. My own pleasure driven on by the knowledge that any minute now she would fall apart in my arms. The force of my thrusts caused her hip and the top of her thigh to bang into the kitchen counter,
“Ahh!” She cried and I momentarily slowed. “Don’t you dare stop!” She said and I grinned but lowered her leg and shifted her position. I pulled her a few steps away from the sink and pushed down on her back,
“Bend over Naomi.” She didn’t hesitate and I guided myself inside her again, slipping in easily despite how tight she was. Placing my hands on those pert cheeks, I pulled my thumbs apart so I could watch my cock glide in and out of her. I fucked her slowly at first, sliding all the way out then driving back in to the hilt. As I gathered pace she grasped the edges of the sink, her knuckles white with the strain. She was so verbal and loud with her responses I struggled to maintain self-control. The cries of ‘Oh god yes!’ and ‘fuck, harder!’ that sprang from that filthy mouth of hers almost caused the gathering knot of heat in my groin to erupt. I needed to make her come before that happened. I gathered up a handful of her hair and gently pulled, causing her head to tilt back. She was breathing rapidly, her mouth open. I wanted to kiss her and leaned forwards, encircling her waist with my free arm and pulling her to me, I managed to reach her mouth, handfuls of her silken brown hair still clamped in my fist, and I kissed her deeply. I kept kissing her, biting her bottom lip and soothing it with my tongue, all the while continuing a steady pace of hard thrusts until I sensed she was close to coming.
“Ti amo, Naomi.” I whispered against her lips and I meant it. “My beautiful woman. Ti amo.” Her lips pressed against mine and smothered the sound of her orgasm, her body shook and I felt her muscles clamp hard around my cock. Her knees buckled and I gripped her waist tighter to hold her up. I let myself go and allowed the burgeoning sensations to overcome me. My own body responded to hers and I came hard- grunting against her mouth.
As the waves of pleasure subsided, I held her gently and rained kisses down on her face and back as we waited for our breathing to slow. We stayed like that for a minute or two in happy, sated silence until she pushed away from the sink. Pulling herself off me, Naomi turned and placed both palms on my chest. She raised her eyes to mine, olive green penetrating my very soul and said,
“I love you too Joseph Ferrantino.” She planted a kiss on my chest and turned her head to rest it against me. I kissed the top of her head while I held her and heard her utter the tiniest whisper, “My Joe.”