“Isn’t he hungry?”
Chase shook his head. “He won’t eat until I make him get out of the pool. I swear he’d live in there if I let him.” He got the towel he’d brought out for Ricky. “Come out and get something to eat. You can go in again afterwards.”
“But Daddy, I’m not hungry.” Ricky got out of the pool, dripping water.
Chase wrapped him in a towel. “You can be not hungry and go back in the pool after you eat.” That sounded kind of crazy even to him, but Ricky didn’t question it and climbed onto one of the chairs. Chase handed him a piece of cheese, and he gobbled it down, then wanted more, so Chase made him up a plate, and Ricky settled in to eat.
“I thought you were having a stroke or something. You were talking gibberish.”
Chase sighed as he sat back in the plush chair. “Raising children will do that to you.”
IT TOOKanother hour before Chase made a pruny Ricky get out of the pool for the night and into his pajamas. It was still warm, so they sat outside with Ricky on Chase’s lap, quickly falling asleep. Chase sipped from a glass of prosecco. “It sure is lovely here, and so quiet. You’d hardly know we’re in Rome.”
“Yes. This property has been in parts of my family for a long time. The frescoes in Ricky’s room were painted for a luckychild in the eighteenth century. Other parts of the villa date to the seventeenth century, but they are hard to spot because it has been renovated a number of times.”
“So much history and so many things that have to be cared for and maintained.”
“That’s it exactly. This villa will come to me along with everything else. But I’ll own none of it. I’ll be little more than a caretaker for the next generation, and they will be the same. My father started the metallurgical business as an offshoot of the jewelry we’ve made for years, and that has done very well.”
“Is that your father’s?” Chase asked. “I mean, does it belong to the family, or is it his to do what he wants with? Maybe I’m being kind of dumb, but I don’t know how things like this work. There is no generational wealth for us.”
“I suppose that technically, everything is my father’s. He inherited it and owns it… for the family. And since he built the metallurgy business himself, I suppose that would be his to do with as he wished.” He shook his head. “Things don’t work that way. Dad’s talents are at the disposal of the family.” Antonello seemed to run out of words. “Let’s put it this way: once I inherit it, then it will be part of the legacy that I need to protect.”
Chase got up and laid Ricky on a lounge chair, glad he had changed into dry clothes. He stood behind Antonello and ran his hands down his chest. “That sounds like a lot of expectations.”
“And those are just the beginning. It all will rest on my shoulders.” He tensed, and Chase gently massaged the muscles. Chase was just starting to understand what the duty to Antonello’s family meant, and to Chase’s surprise, he found he wanted to help, but he had no idea how.
“I need to get Ricky to bed, but I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He positioned Ricky at his shoulder before taking him inside and up to the second floor. Ricky easily went into the bed, barely waking before going right back to sleep. Chase sat with Ricky fora few minutes to make sure he was truly settled before turning out the light and quietly leaving the room.
He descended the stairs slowly and exited the back of the villa, coming to a stop at the far edge of the terrace and looking down at the softly lit pool. Antonello swam fully submerged, his sun-kissed body sleek as he glided unbroken under the water. Chase swallowed hard as the long line of tanned skin passed in front of him. He stopped and realized what he was seeing before taking the first steps down toward the deep blue pool, his heart pounding a mile a minute.
Chapter 12
ANTONELLO REACHEDthe edge of the pool and poked his head up to see where Chase was, finding him standing at the edge, looking down at him. “Come on in,” he said softly, standing so the water rested at his waist. He knew damned well how clear the water was and that Chase knew he had discarded his suit.
“You’re….”
“I know. There is no one else here, and Ricky’s room is on the other side of the villa.” He extended his hand, holding it in place as Chase tugged off his shirt and dropped his pants before stepping out of them and lowering himself into the water.
Antonello waited until Chase took his hand again before tugging him to him, their bodies coming together easily. Chase sighed as Antonello took him in his arms, sliding a hand down his back to cup his smooth butt. “This feels so naughty.”
Antonello smiled. “Nope. This is private. Ricky is asleep, and this is an opportunity for us to have a little adult time.” He closed the distance between them, kissing Chase gently but deeply, loving the taste of him.
Chase pushed back harder, pressing Antonello toward the side of the pool, shaking as he went.
“It’s okay,” Antonello said, “È l’attesa.” Chase paused, then seemed to understand. “Abbiamo tutta la notte.” He kept his voice low, drawing them closer. “There is no rush.”
“I love it when you speak Italian,” Chase whispered. “There’s something sexy about it.”
Antonello nuzzled the base of Chase’s neck. “Amore, non c’è fretta.”
Chase groaned as he ran his lips over his skin, stretching to give him access. Antonello stroked Chase’s chest, letting his fingers bump over a nipple, each movement slow and languid, even as his heart pounded. “Come with me,” he whispered and then slowly fell back into the water, drawing Chase with him.
He swam, the soft water sliding across his skin, stoking his excitement. Chase swam more slowly, and Antonello slid right next to him, running his hand over Chase’s back as he glided. When they came up for air, Chase’s eyes were dark, almost mysterious as he stood on the bottom of the shallower section, his cock just peeking out of the water. “You’re driving me crazy.”
Antonello drew closer. “We could go upstairs.”
Chase backed up against the side of the pool, and Antonello closed the distance between them. When Chase leaned against the tile, Antonello slid under the water, slipping under his legs before rising. Chase’s knees ended up on his shoulders, and Antonello leaned forward, kissing him hard before backing away. He slipped his hand around Chase’s cock, pointing it at the sky before sliding his lips around it, taking him deep, to a groan that echoed off the water.
