Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 04:16:29 -0400
From: SSch191950@aol.com
Subject: The Lizard (part 2), chapter 9/10

THE LIZARD - Part 2: Estate
by Stefan

comments are welcome


______________

9
______________


"We have to talk". Alessandro placed two long drinks upon the low
table. Leoni was sitting at in a deckchair, sunbathing. Surprised she
lifted her sunglasses and looked Alessandro up and down with interest.

Alessandro - having free time while Luca was with his brother - had noticed
Leoni on the terrace on the second floor that overlooked the campus and the
green lawn beneath. After a quick think he had mixed two Campari Soda,
ready to talk to her. Unasked he helped himself to a cigarette from Leoni's
packet. Cigarette and glass in hand, the sunglasses upon his nose, his
white shirt unbuttoned, he gave the impression of a young snob, enjoying
the sundown on the Cote d'Azur.

Leoni was still staring. "Are you coming to get me into the right mood?"

Surprised Alessandro turned his head. "Why should I? Didn't you see enough
this morning? Wasn't that enough to convince you I want nothing to do with
you anymore?"

Leoni threw back her head and laughed. Her Campari sloshed. "You're too
amusing, Alessandro Gondi. Really." Suddenly serious, she said. "You want
to talk? About what? About my indecency to enter your room without asking
permission before? Believe me, I've never been that shocked in my life
beforehand."

Alessandro wasn't sure if she was joking or not. Like himself Leoni was a
brilliant actor. "Yeah, I believe that", he said and sipped at his
Campari. The glass was cool between his fingers. "Listen, why can't we just
stop the game?"

Leoni laughed again. "I know what happened between you and me, my dear. And
I know for sure you enjoyed it. Why not continue when your boy is absent?"
She fluttered her eyelashes innocently. "About four weeks ago you'd asked
me if I'd marry you and now I 'm supposed to forget about it? Who's playing
the game here? Why did you ask me anyway?"

Alessandro bit his lip. Leoni was right of course. He had been close to
giving in to his father's will - several times. When Luca had been away for
instance. But accepting the clause of the last will would mean to lose him,
his boyfriend would never accept a ménage a trois. And with that Alessandro
would write the last chapter in the book of the long history of Florence's
Gondi-family. The name would then only emerge in history books. Died
out. All the possessions falling to the church and country.

Leoni nudged him. "Why did you ask?" she repeated her question and inwardly
prayed that Alessandro would speak. She would make him forget that lousy
boy. She rose, walked around the table and sat on his knees. "Alessandro,
we are tarred with the same brush. What do you want with this proletarian
Luca? He's poor. He has nothing to offer. You and me - Gondi and da
Firenzuola - our dynasties are seven hundred years old and together we
could rule the town again, with money and with power. We could have
kids. You like kids, don't you? If you'd asked me again to marry you, I
wouldn't say no."

Alessandro shook his head. Then he nodded.

"Come on, you've done it before", she brought her lips close to his
ear. "Fucking me, I mean. You were crazy for me that night and the nights
before."

Alessandro felt her hands roaming his body. It wasn't that he so disliked
the feeling, but he couldn't bear Leoni's intolerable arrogance. Something
was building up in his stomach for certain; anger and scorn. "That's a
lie", he said, pushing Leoni away. "I was just horny, and you were
there. You've always been there to control me", Alessandro said
heatedly. "I saw it in your eyes; 'Fuck me', they screamed and I did, but
do you know what I thought while I was doing it? Spare me your criticism
that you gave your virginity to a faggot who didn't want it."

Alessandro caught Leoni's arm which was drawn back ready to hit him, and
held it tight. "You're such a bastard", she hissed.

"Fine, then we are a pair", Alessandro sneered. "We are indeed tarred with
the same brush, honey; that's one more reason to get rid off this shit and
become a decent man."

It started slowly, but then Leoni roared with laughter. Luca heard her
hysteric screaming when he turned the corner. He stopped in his tracks and
hid behind an oleander bush. Leoni slipped from Alessandro's knees, still
laughing. "You - a decent man? All I see is the boy I grew up with who
seduced me to do forbidden things, who chased me into the darkest corners
of your palazzo and who fucked me for the first time later. And now you'll
seriously tell me it was a mistake, an error ... 'oh scusi signorina, I
didn't mean to because I rather like to fuck the boys!" She leaned forward,
leaning her hands upon Alessandro's armrests. "I bet I suck you better than
all the boys in the world and there's help if you need something for your
arse." She rose. "I'll get you for this, Alessandro Gondi.You are
bad. Thoroughly."

She stormed away, passing Luca. The whole time Alessandro hadn't bat an
eyelid and even now he sat unmoved. Then he fished for Leoni's forgotten
cigarettes and lit one. Luca thought he could see his fingers trembling
slightly. If he needed another proof of Alessandro's thesis, that Leoni was
helplessly in love with him - there it was.

As silently as he could he slipped from behind the oleander bush and walked
noisily up to Alessandro who looked up startled when he saw him. Then he
rose and embraced Luca. "Good to see you, gioia. I've got a surprise for
you." His smile appeared a little forced and in his eyes there was
shock. But perhaps Luca just imagined seeing that. Nothing could shock his
fearless Alessandro. He held him tight and bathed in the knowledge he had
something that Leoni da Firenzuola would never have. Not anymore.

It was getting dark when Luca hopped into Alessandro's Ferrari. He was
driven to a small, hidden restaurant and sat in the nice, quiet courtyard,
covered with pelargonium and ivy, with date palms and light
chains. Alessandro had propped his chin on his palm and watched the people
eating. Luca explored a new side of his boyfriend: Alessandro was
taciturn. With the desert Luca asked cautiously "I saw you and Leoni this
afternoon. You were arguing."

"Yeah, nothing serious", Alessandro answered automatically. But in his eyes
stood the same testiness as Luca had seen before. He touched Sandro's
hand. "I don't think that you and Leoni sleep together when I'm not here."

"No?" For a long time Alessandro looked into his eyes. "That's not what it
was about. Leoni sees everything from the sexual point of view, not from an
emotional one. It's not always about sex and satisfaction. I can't live
with someone I'm not friends with, you know? I don't know what's gotten
into the girl. She was never prudish or anything, but... don't you think
it's sick to claim I sleep with her every night and we will be a couple and
marry", he faltered, "when everyone knows that I'm with you? There's much
more to life and love than just sex for God's sake."

"Indeed so?" Luca sized him up with raised brows. Then he started to
grin. "Don't be depressed because of her. She's spoiling our evening. Now
where's my surprise?"

Alessandro's mood changed from one second to the next. He thanked his genes
for the ability to shake off unpleasant things like a dog the water, threw
some Euros upon the table and pulled Luca away behind him.

Alessandro drove along the Arno to a separate place, passed a gate and the
large, colourful advertisement "Drive-in Movie".

"Wow! I'd never thought a drive-in movie theatre would exist!" Luca called
out.

"Reminiscent of the old 60's" Alessandro grinned. "Popcorn and Cola? Come
on, let's have a great evening."

They had pulled down the Ferrari's roof and snuggled into the black seats
when the screen went black and shortly after the blue Mediterranean
appeared with Greek galley ships which brought the brothers Paris and
Hector to the shores of Sparta. "TROY" appeared with huge letters and Luca
gave a squeak. "Orlando Bloom!" he whispered pleasantly thrilled. "My
Legolas with blond hair..." Alessandro nudged him and stuffed some popcorn
between Luca's lips. "Shut up, carino. And since when are you keen on
blonds? That's my metier. Look", he pointed to the screen, where a
black-curled hair Paris appeared at Hector's side who was bearded, strong
and wonderful. "They have little ribbons and golden clasps in their hair",
Luca said quietly, "Who are the fairies then, us or them?"

Alessandro spilled the popcorn with his suppressed laughter. Tightly
embraced they silently watched and with growing interest the entanglements
that led to Helena's entry in Troy, Achilles' impressive, bloody fight and
the landing of the Spartan fleet on Troy's shore.

"Blond Patroclos!" escaped then pathetically from Alessandro. "I've waited
for you! Young and beautiful. Did you know he's an American model?" Then he
snorted disdainfully. "What? Achilles' cousin? Pah, cousin, he was his
lover, Achilles' bed comrade. But that's not political correct, eh? The
strong warrior, bursting with testosterone - a faggot? A cocksucker?
Someone who loves to get fucked in his beautiful arse? If they had told the
truth it would be so earthshaking for America's bible belt that they would
throw up."

"Achilles was bi, not gay." Luca objected, but agreed otherwise. "It was
quite common and normal for a man to have a catamite."

Alessandro laughed. "Catamite. That's a thing of worth." He watched Luca
from the corner of his eyes. "Will you be my catamite?" Luca boxed him into
the side. "Come on, you're hardly older than I."

"I AM older, carino." He roamed his hands over Luca's body, which lay
comfortable half in Alessandro's arms. Absentmindedly he encircled his
nipples through the T-shirt, then the belly until his fingertips vanished
into the waistband of Luca's jeans while they watched mad Achilles raging
at the gates of Troy, calling for Hector. Alessandro forgot his intentions,
here in his tight Ferrari with other cars around whose windows slowly
steamed up. The funeral pyre of Hector was flaming high at a night-time
Troy, and Paris plotted revenge when the God Apollo came to his help, but
not to Troy's rescue.

"Do you think all that is worth it for a woman?" Luca asked afterwards,
while the credits was running. "Ten years of war, siege, death and
illness?"

"You forget that it was the will of the Gods. I don't think Helena was a
fraction as beautiful as Paris thought her to be. Aphrodite had cast a
spell on his eyes. The only person who saw through the whole drama was
Paris' sister Cassandra. But she doesn't seem to appear in this film. But
no, I don't think it's worth starting such a war over a woman nor for
anyone. And I do believe it wasn't just Helena, it was about something
else, or different. The lust for fighting. To test power and weapons in a
bestial competition who is going to be the stronger. And last but not least
about politics and economy and who is to rule the Mediterranean. The whole
palette of masculine ideals."

"Well, we are lucky then. Nobody sees us as masculine but as weak fairies",
Luca smirked. "Whoopee!" Alessandro had folded back the seats. They both
now lay upon their backs and grinned at each other. Alessandro's fingers
crawled down Luca's belly and opened his zipper and fly, slowly caressing
Luca's warm package. His palm finally rested as he was nibbling at Luca's
neck. "I look forward to our holiday, amore", he whispered.  Luca got goose
bumps.

"I've never been on holiday with a boyfriend", Alessandro continued. Slowly
he pushed down Luca's pants and now grazed Luca's penis with his
fingernails up and down. Luca gave a happy sigh. Alessandro had only said
something like this in his dreams. He felt his cock throbbing. He struggled
with Alessandro's jeans and pants, pulled them down over his butt and eased
forward, bringing their heads together, as well as the heads of their
members. Drops of clear fluid crept out of each head and they now throbbed
in the same rhythm.

It was pitch dark. Luca didn't know if the other cars had driven away or if
there were similar things going on in them. The screen had gone black;
there was only some pale lights from the lamps lighting the area, bright
enough to see Alessandro's eyes gleaming. He shoved his body over Luca's,
trapping their erections between their navels. Their lips met, tenderly at
first, then with more insistence. They opened their lips and their tongues
met. Their hips started slowly to grind together, until their groins seemed
to meld into one.

Alessandro's mouth left Luca's, and licked his neck, then he eased down,
leaving a trail of saliva as he lowered his mouth to Luca's nipples, biting
them softly. He heard Luca's soft noises, and he continued his caressing,
massaging his shaft, creating a fire, until he crawled even lower and
started to swallow Luca's cock. His tongue swirled around the head.

Luca moaned louder and shifted his position, so that he could suck on
Alessandro's cock too. His hand caressed his balls. Alessandro took his
mouth off Luca's erection and started licking his balls, then the area
below them, until he reached his arsehole, where his tongue started to
drill more and more deeply into Luca, then he slowly inserted a finger,
massaging the hole, then another finger. Luca's cock pulsated wildly,
anticipating what was going to happen next. Then Alessandro gave an
unsatisfied groan. "Let's drive home."

Luca sat up with a jolt. "What?" He looked down at Alessandro.

Alessandro smirked. "To continue in comfort, what did you think?"


                                       * * *


On Sunday Leoni stayed out of their way. They saw her from afar, but she
seemed to ignore them. They couldn't see her glowing stares.

Sunday evening Luca stepped onto the train to Florence with the prospect of
Alessandro coming next Wednesday to pick him up for their mutual holiday.

Clarissa awaited him impatiently. "Luca?" She rushed out of the living
room. "It's good that you're here. Your school mate Tristano called this
morning. There was an assault at the Cascine. Rosso's in hospital."

Luca watched her dismayed face until the information sank in. "What? In
hospital? What happened?" Without waiting for an answer he pulled out his
mobile and rang Tristano at home. "Why didn't you call me?" Luca started
immediately. "Mamma says Rosso's in hospital? What assault?"

Silently he listened to Tristano's excuse of having mislaid Luca's mobile
number, and all the events at the park. Marcello passed by him with a long
scratch on his cheek and a black eye. Luca looked at him astonished, but
was too caught up in Tristano's report to think about it.

"Raniero?" Luca shouted. "That swine. He's in custody, right? I bet, this
time he won't get away so easily. Shall we meet tomorrow at the hospital?"

Clarissa watched him with a worried look as Luca cut the connection.

"The newspaper say it was an attack on the ... groups of homosexuals. I
just don't know what Rosso..." She threw him a wary look and pulled him
into the kitchen. "Leave your bag here, I look after that later", she
said. She made him sit at the table. "Coffee? How's Alessandro doing?"

Luca cleared his throat. "About Rosso... he's not gay if that's what you
think. Apparently he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. They
have arrested one of our ex-apprentices, Raniero. The one who hospitalized
Alessandro at the Calcio, do you remember?"

Clarissa sat beside her son. She looked unhappy. "You must avoid these
places next time. You aren't safe."

"But Mamma! I can't avoid everywhere just because it's dangerous. It isn't
dangerous. It never was. But all of a sudden there are some jerks thinking
that their conception of life is the right way and they have to beat up
others who have a different opinion. I've never heard of it happening
before."

Clarissa filled two pots of coffee. "I think it has something to do with
you", she said softly and unhappy. "Marcello came home with torn clothes
and the black eye. He wouldn't say where he had been." Her blue eyes were
filled with pain as she looked at her youngest son. "I'm afraid he has
something to do with it. He has changed since you... since you..."

Luca looked at her with wide eyes. "And Dante? Where was he? At home?"

Clarissa shrugged her shoulders and sipped at the hot coffee. " For the
first time I feel so helpless.."

Luca gently touched her arm. Clarissa had never talked to him like that
before. She was always strong, clearing up the problems with a smile and a
resolute action. She stretched out her hand and stroked Luca's hair. "Are
you happy with him?"

Luca nodded, his throat constricted. Clarissa pulled him into her
arms. "That's all that counts."


                           * * * * *


Rosso lay in a room with five others, likewise hurt in the attack at the
Cascine. Gays like Luca and Luca got his second impression of what it meant
to be different and being beaten up for that reason.

Rosso's mother was there, holding his hand. "Ah, Luca, good to see you."
Her eyes were puffed though Rosso was grinning. "It's about time I was out
of this queer's room", he joked, throwing a long glance at the other guys
with bandages and plasters. One of them was Sergio. "I'm well enough to
stand up, but Mamma won't allow it." He gave his mother a grin and she
reciprocated. "All right, Renato, I'm off. The shop has to be opened and
God knows what your brothers are doing at home. You are missed."

"Yeah, as nanny", Rosso said, smirking.

"Be well soon, gioia."

Tristano stood aside and gave her a smile when she was leaving the room.

"Now, what happened to you and your head?" Luca asked.

"While you was having it off with your boyfriend I got a bottle smashed
over my head. It happened all of a sudden, nobody saw them coming. Guys in
leather clothing. Tris here said it was one of your school mates."

"Ex-school mates", Tristano said.

"Anyway", Rosso continued perkily. "Nothing bad happened. My scull is made
of iron, dickhead that I am. Tomorrow I'm out and then we can go for our
holiday."

"Are you sure?" Luca asked.

"Sure I am sure. Nothing can stop me." Then he looked at Tristano. "What
happened to that good looking guy over there?"

Tristano changed colour. "Well..." He darted a look over to Sergio, who had
visitors crowded round his bed.

"Ah, come on. Have you been with him?"

"How could I after all that? Didn't you see me waiting for you at the
emergency room?"

"I was passed out. But that was sweet of you."

Everything was Greek to Luca. "What guy?" he asked Tristano. "Have you met
somebody?"

"Two actually", Rosso chimed in, goggling at Sergio.

"Shut up, Rosso. I have his phone number, that's all."


                     *

Outside Luca and Tristano strolled along the streets. The Opificio was
closed due to the summer's break and Tristano was in a brooding mood. "I
hadn't thought that life would be so uncertain when you're gay", he
said. "I'd never thought about it."

Luca was silent. He felt the same. But then he remembered what Rosso had
said. "Now, tell me all about your conquests." He put his arm around
Tristano's shoulder and peered into his face. "You had a hot night?"

"Yeah, with a call-boy", Tristano erupted.

"A call-boy?" Luca screamed surprised. "You were with a call-boy?"

Tristano shushed him. "Yeah, but I found that out afterwards. He's in
Rosso's room, the one with the black curls. He seems to have a broken arm."

Luca looked down with a raised eyebrow. "And, did you?"

"He fucked me, yes."

Luca looked up into Tristano's dark-blue eyes. "I guess a call-boy knows
what he's doing and didn't hurt you, right?"

"Of course. Well, then I met another who turned out to be policeman. He
fought with the attackers. Pretty impressive, you know. He gave me his
phone number."

"Have you called him?"

Tristano shook his head.

"You had an exciting weekend then." Luca sat on a bench under the plane
trees of San Marco, their usual meeting place. "You like him?"

"Who? The policeman? How could I? We danced for a minute then the uproar
started." He paused. "Yes, I liked him. But he's older, and I'm not of age
yet. Is it all right to go with a policeman then?"

Luca laughed. "Why not? He'll know what he's doing. Hm, about the attack,
Mamma said, Marcello came home with torn clothes and a black eye. She's
afraid he was with the attackers. I really don't know what I should
think. I guess Raniero will be interrogated and probably tell them about
his accomplices, coward that he is."

"He'll want to save his own head perhaps."

"Perhaps."

Tristano watched the sparrows, jumping at their feet, looking up
expectantly. "And you and Alessandro? You had fun?"

Luca nodded and thought about the night at the Drive-in movie. "You've got
plans for your holiday?"

"Not yet. Perhaps I call Vito."

"The policeman."

"Right."

Despite Tristano's talk Luca had the distinct feeling that his friend
hadn't give up the hope of a happy ending with Luca, but he couldn't help
him there. The night they had shared had been great, but that was all. It
would never happen again.


                                  *

Wednesday at late noon, the red Ferrari stopped at the kerb in front of the
Montori palazzo. Alessandro hopped out and was met by Luca before he could
knock on the door. He was greeted with an embrace and kiss, then he was
pulled into the hall where Luca's bag was waiting. "Alessandro, do you want
to have a coffee with us?" Clarissa asked from the darkness of the
hall. She appeared in the doorway with an apron around her slim
waist. "Buona sera, Signora Montori", Alessandro said politely. "But I
guess we'd a rather get off, thank you."

"Then have this, please." Clarissa vanished and returned with a lunch
package. "For the journey." She ruffled Luca's hair. "Watch out for
yourselves, boys."

"Will do. Wait a moment." Luca went to the kitchen to say farewell to his
father. Niccolò puffed his pipe and leafed through a book. "Bye,
Pappa. I'll phone you soon."

Niccolò looked up and a smile graced his stern face. "Look after yourself,
piccolino. Tell Alessandro I'll break every bone of his body if he doesn't
look after you. Here, wait." He rummaged in his back pocket and conjured up
a bunch of Euro notes. "Enjoy your holiday."


                                  *

Forte dei Marmi was a quiet seaside town, not that over-ran with tourists,
nor with Italian citizens, but with a number of dandies and girls, looking
for a rich prey to marry. It had kept its relaxing atmosphere, despite
having a glittering night life and it was the right place for shopping with
all the great Italian designers to be found there. All in all it was
exactly the right spot for a couple that wanted to be by themselves. Their
holiday apartment sat amid an opulent park, had a wonderful garden
attached, and Luca felt like a millionaire. He wondered how Alessandro
could afford this apartment since he was a bit short and all the money was
stuck with the notary until he married and produced a son. Pah. Luca
grinned from ear to ear. That would never happen. He was convinced that
2000 Euros was enough as monthly income to lead a decent life. Wasn't it?

With the setting sun they had their first stroll over the raked beach,
beside the many blue-painted cabins, who stood in row like a string of blue
pearls. A long landing stage led into the water. At the end of it Luca
detected some people, staring out to the horizon. "It was built to ship the
marble from here to all over the world, four hundred years ago", Alessandro
said at his side.

Behind them the last sunbeams died upon the everlasting white of the
Carrara- mountains and as a contrast date palms swayed in the low wind.

"It looks like snow", Luca said, pointing to the mountains. "But it's the
marble, right?"

"Right. The best marble in the whole world. Pure and snow white. Imagine
when Michelangelo sat there upon a mountain's peak and dreamed of building
a whole monument from these mountains, forming it like a beacon with a
flame to greet the incoming ships."

"He would had done it if he could, wouldn't he."

Alessandro nodded and pulled him off the bridge, along the beach. "Legend
goes that Michelangelo packed mules and horses with stone from Forte dei
Marmi and led them through the Apuan Alps back to Florence."

He stood with bare feet, his jeans rolled up, the waves licking at his
toes. "August is the thief of days", he said quietly. "It's half past eight
and the sun is setting."

 The horizon was a radiating orange with pink stripes, inflaming the
water's surface. "Look", Alessandro pointed to a shore in the distance
where the beach made a bow. "La Spezia. Shelley drowned there. The people
burnt him on a funeral pyre on the shore."

"The British author?"

"Yes. Keats and Shelley, the names you speak with one breath. Keats died
before him at Rome."

Luca took Alessandro's hand. The beach was deserted and he felt as if both
were the only people on earth. The wind was singing in his ears and a lost
seagull screeched. "They were a couple?" he asked.

"No, I don't think so. Just good friends. As Frodo and Sam have been."

Luca laughed. "Frodo and Sam from "Lord of the Rings"? Gosh, I wish they
had married from the looks they shared."

Alessandro broke into a happy laughter. He pulled Luca to his side and
started to kiss him.



"Can you cook?" Alessandro asked later when they examined their holiday
apartment with a kitchen and a separate bedroom.

"Not at all."

"So, it's restaurant every day, yes?"

"Tristano can cook. Mind you, he's a fan of the Naked Chef. He cooked when
we were..." He broke off.

Alessandro turned. "When you were together? Well, that's all right. If I
could, I would cook for you too." He winked and dragged Luca into the
bedroom.

At midnight Alessandro was perky as a fish in the sea. He coaxed Luca to go
out, and not sleep away the whole holidays. He pulled away the fluffy cover
from Luca's body and bit into his big toe. "I'll serve you the best
Negroni!"

Luca groaned. "What's that for? You're a society-boy, seducing me with all
kinds of fashionable crap." But he crawled out of the bed and followed
Alessandro naked to the bathroom.

"As long as I'm not a call-boy..." Alessandro grinned. "Ever been to Dolce
& Gabbana? Cavalli? Versace? Gucci?"

"No, only to Armani", Luca said dryly while he combed his hair. "And I've
got a leather suit from Emilio Pucci, you know." In the mirror he looked at
Alessandro behind him and raised an eyebrow, before he broke into laughter.

"Then, what are you waiting for? The shops are still open. - just for
window shopping", Alessandro added. "OK?"

They ended up at "La Capanina", a drinking and dancing establishment, and a
great place for people watching. They sat outside under the palms and saw
people doing fare bella figura, a very Italian sport, showing off with
their body and clothes. Cocktail music jingled through the balmy night and
a soft wind was rustling in the oleander bushes. Luca sipped at his
Negroni, a bitter- sweet, delicious cocktail made with Campari, gin and
vermouth -- the "La Capanina" claimed to have invented it -- and he felt a
lazy dizziness in his head. His body was completely satisfied, both by the
extended sex and the stroll through the town. On the card he read that
Thomas Mann had been inspired to write 'Mario and the Magician' here, and
Aldous Huxley finished his novels 'Antic Hay' and 'Crome Yellow' here
also. Luca could understand them.


                        *

The morning started noisily when Rosso and his brothers arrived with a
heavy rucksack and some smaller ones for the boys. The camping ground was
crowded with people but Rosso didn't seem to mind. "I've been here for
ages", he explained and sat up the tent in surprisingly speed. "Actually
Micky wanted to share this tent. I'm not sure whether he's coming or not."

 Rosso still had a piece of gauze over his wound, held on by a
plaster. "Can we go to the beach?" Dani, his brother, asked expectantly,
holding a bucket and shovel. "Not alone, tesoro", Rosso said. "Wait a
minute and I'll be ready."

"Are you sure you should go swimming with that plaster?" Luca asked.

"Well, it seems to be all right. I shouldn't dive, that's all. Otherwise
I'm well. Has Tris told you about his conquests? There was this Sergio, the
call-boy I shared the room with in hospital. He asked me about Tris and if
he was all right. That was sweet of him, don't you think?"

Luca shrugged but Alessandro grinned. "I know Sergio. I've had him."

Luca and Rosso stared at him. "Long before we met, gioia", Alessandro said.

"And, what's a call-boy like?" Rosso asked, sorting his utensils into one
corner of the tent, then pulling out his swimming trunks.

"Experienced", Alessandro answered dryly. "Was he hurt?"

"A broken arm. Nothing serious. But his self-confidence seemed to be a bit
dented."

"No wonder."

Luca looked consideringly at his boyfriend. How many boys had he had before
him? Luca must have appeared very stupid and clumsy to him.

"Experienced, eh?" he whispered when he, Alessandro, Rosso with his
brothers in tow walked to the beach. Alessandro clutched playfully his
neck. "No jealousy, please. He was great fun, but you", he leaned to Luca's
ear, "are so innocently sexy and that counts more than any developed
skills."

Luca's ear tickled from Alessandro's breath and he grinned. "If you start
like that I can't undress. I'll be having another sort of tent."

Alessandro laughed out loud and slapped Luca's butt. "Who's going to be the
first on the beach?" He started to run.

----------------------
to be continued