Dulce Isle Read online

  He rang the bell and waited patiently for someone to answer. He adjusted Adrian on his shoulder just as the door opened.

  “Oh my, who do you have there, Signore Jon?” the maid asked.

  “Florence, go get Signora Rosa. Tell her I’ll be in the sitting room…and bring some smelling salts.”

  “Yes, Signore, right away.”

  Jon stepped through the door. Florence closed it behind him. He went into the sitting room and deposited Adrian onto the sofa as gently as he could manage. He straightened Adrian’s body, trying to make him comfortable. He paid special attention to Adrian’s head, fearing the man had a concussion. He searched Adrian’s head and scalp, running his fingers through the soft hair. That was how Rosa found him when she dashed into the doorway of the room. She came to a controlled and sultry stop. Rosa was always aware of her physical presence, always ready to tempt and delight on a physical level.

  Jon turned his head to see Rosa watching him. She moved into the room with her usual grace, just slightly more hurried than normal. It seemed her motherly instincts were pushing themselves to the fore, or maybe it was her animal instincts. She was a lusty woman.

  She knelt beside Jon. “Where did you find him?” she asked.

  “He found me. I nearly tripped over him.” He looked at Rosa’s intent gaze. “I thought you’d like him.”

  “And you don’t?” She smiled that wicked little smile of hers.

  “He hit his head.”

  Adrian moaned. He opened his eyes. A mass of dark-copper-colored curls and waves filled his vision. “Angelina?” He reached for the hair. “No, not Angelina,” he said. His heart filled with sadness.

  “Who is Angelina? Maybe we can find her for you?” Jon asked. Adrian tried to sit up. “Here, let me help.” Jon lifted Adrian into a sitting position and sat down next to him, their bodies touching.

  Adrian looked at Jon. “I remember you. You helped me.” Adrian winced. “I guess I passed out.”

  “You did.”

  “Where am I?”

  “You’re in my villa,” Rosa said.

  Adrian turned his attention to the red-haired beauty before him. “Rosa?”

  “Yes, Rosa DeVario.”

  “You live at the end of Clearview Lane?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “She said I would find them there.”

  “Who is she?”

  “Minerva, the lady at the Museum.” Adrian touched his head. “My head is throbbing.”

  “There is no museum on Dulce Isle, Adrian, tons of art galleries, but no museum,” Jon said.

  “I think the knock on his head has confused him,” Rosa said. She was still kneeling before Adrian.

  Adrian’s eyes found a very clear and bright set of blue eyes in front of him, intelligent and knowing eyes. She placed her hands on his knees. Her thumbs absently stroked the inside of his thighs. Now his other head was throbbing, too. She made a sultry little sound just before she stood.

  “Florence,” she called. “I know you’re there. Bring some aspirin and wine.”

  “Yes, Signora,” Florence replied, adding to the sound of her retreating footsteps.

  “They are a nosy lot. Thank God they’re also discreet,” Rosa whispered.

  “You keep them very happy, Rosa. Their lives would be boring without you.”

  “Maybe at one time.” Rosa sighed and shook her head. “Not so much anymore. Since Leon passed, and you lost your interest…life has been rather dull around here. Maybe things will liven up now that we have a guest.” She smiled at Adrian.

  Adrian noticed those blue eyes darken. She looked like she wanted to eat him alive. That was desire he saw in her eyes, and his body was responding. It had been a long time since he’d felt this way. Lately, he felt this way only when he looked at that painting in the museum. He wasn’t lusting after the woman in that painting either. Right now it was good to know he was his normal self, desiring a female. “I couldn’t impose upon you,” he said.

  “Do you have a place to stay? Perhaps with Angelina?” Jon asked, sounding slightly disappointed. “If you give me her address, I can take you there.”

  “Or we could send for her.” Rosa sounded disappointed, too.

  “That will be impossible, unless I’m in heaven. I’m pretty sure that’s where she is now.”

  “Angelina was your wife?” Rosa asked.

  “Yes. She’s been gone two years now.”

  “My Leon’s been gone four years, and I still miss him.”

  “I still miss her, too.”

  “Then we have something in common. I insist you stay here with me…with us.” She looked over to Jon. Jon was nodding in agreement.

  “You live here?” Adrian asked Jon.

  “Yes, most of the time,” Jon answered.

  “It’s a big house. There is plenty of room. It will be wonderful to have company.” Rosa smiled. Those blue eyes were filled with excitement now.

  Florence entered with the aspirin and a glass of water. “I’ll bring the wine straightaway, Signora,” she said as she set the tray on the coffee table.

  “Have the guest room prepared. Signore Asorio will be saying for a while.”

  Chapter 3

  All through dinner Rosa watched the interaction between Adrian and Jon. Was Adrian interested in what Jon was offering? She couldn’t tell.

  She was afraid another poor choice in men wouldn’t bode well for Jon. His last two partners were fickle. Jon needed a strong, stable relationship, not the flings these young people offered. Not that she and Jon were all that old. They were about the same age, although she’d never admit that she was very close to thirty-six.

  Jon was sentimental and sweet. If he gave his love to someone, then that someone was his world. On Dulce Isle, especially here in Vista Bay, one’s sexual preference was never an issue. What was Adrian’s sexual preference? She’d felt something click between them, but she also saw the tentative glances Adrian was sharing with Jon.

  She loved Jon almost as much as she’d loved Leon. Jon loved her, but Jon was first and foremost a lover of men. She was the only woman he’d ever enjoyed sexually. That was made possible because of Leon. Leon had been the link between them. To please Leon, they tried the threesome. They’d found it enhanced the relationship between all of them. She longed for that feeling of closeness and connection again. She was searching for a permanent relationship with a man, hopefully that man would also be interested in Jon. She was tired of one-night stands with men she was physically attracted to. Unfortunately these men lacked the strength of character needed to hold her attention. Her woman’s intuition told her that Adrian was the man she was looking for. Somehow she just knew that Adrian was a down-to-earth, solid, good man. She’d learned that most times her intuition and her common sense should be listened to and explored. She would find out where Adrian stood. She wasn’t one to beat around the bush. “Sink or swim,” that was what her mother had always said.

  “So, Adrian, what brings you to Vista Bay?” she asked.

  “Where?”

  “Our little community here on Dulce Isle. Are you an art dealer?

  Adrian nearly choked on his chicken. Jon patted his back. Jon’s hand lingered on Adrian’s back longer than it should have, she noted.

  “Me…an art dealer? Far from it, I’m a baker, a bread baker. The closest I’ve ever been to art is in the museum.”

  “The museum you mentioned earlier?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Where did you say that museum was?” Jon asked.

  “In New York City.”

  “New York is quite far from here. What brought you here, business?” Rose inquired.

  “No. I didn’t plan on coming here…at least not the way I got here.”

  “How long have you been here?” Jon asked.

  “I got here today.”

  “Today?” Rosa asked. “No boats pulled into port today that I know of.”

  “I didn’t come by boat
. Minerva had to have had something to do with me being here. I just can’t figure it out. I know you’ll think I’m crazy, but…” He touched his head. He seemed frustrated.

  “Maybe he came by plane?” Jon ventured, ignoring Adrian’s explanation.

  “No, not by plane,” Adrian said. His voice seemed nervous.

  “Then how?” Rosa asked.

  “I think I came through the painting. I don’t know how…but that’s what I think.”

  “Through a painting? Maybe the bump on your head is confusing you,” Rosa said, trying to make light of the situation. Could the man have been a stowaway? That wasn’t unheard of. Many a young free soul tried to come here without the means to pay for it. Over the years she’d had the pleasure of meeting a few of them. Aside from their inability to pay for the trip, every last one of them proved to be upstanding and honest. Maybe Adrian was short on cash and felt a wild story was less embarrassing.

  “I don’t think it’s the bump,” Adrian said. He seemed adamant about that fact, but unsure nonetheless.

  Rosa could tell Adrian was becoming ill at ease, so she changed the subject. “Adrian, do you ride?”

  “A horse?” Adrian appeared to be distracted. He seemed grateful for the change of subject.

  “Yes.”

  “I haven’t ridden in many years. My parents took me when I was young. I wouldn’t say I can ride.”

  “Then we shall teach you,” Jon said, warming to the turn in the conversation.

  Jon looked beside himself with joy. He loved the feel of a horse between his legs. He’d told her so. “You will take it easy on him, Jon. I know how you like to push your poor beast,” she said. Did Adrian’s cheeks just flush at the innuendo?

  “And you, I know how hard you like to ride your mount,” Jon said, his tone teasing.

  Jon gave her a look that she knew Adrian hadn’t missed, a carnivorous and hungry look. This was what the three of them used to do. How she missed the banter, the hot looks, and the sexual innuendo followed by dirty language and good, hot, lusty sex. The three combined turned her and her men on. Apparently it turned Adrian on, too, for the color of his flesh just brightened. In for a penny, in for a pound. She’d heard that somewhere. “Adrian, how is your head?” She let her eyes drift down his body so he would understand what she implied. His flush deepened, but then he joined in the fun.

  “Much better, thank you. I do believe it is beginning to rise to the occasion.”

  He pinned her with a hot look that near took her breath away. Now it was her cheeks that flamed.

  “Well done, Adrian. I believe you caught her off guard. She wasn’t expecting that.” Jon’s eyes went to Adrian’s crotch. “Although it seems you spoke the truth. You are rising to the occasion.” He laughed a throaty, sexy laugh.

  Adrian looked embarrassed and uncomfortable. “Jon, I do believe we have shocked our guest enough for one night. Adrian has had a difficult day. I’m sure he could use some rest. Let us retire so we will be fresh in the morning.

  “Thank you, Rosa, I am rather tired, but the headache is almost gone,” Adrian said. He winked at her, showing her he wasn’t adverse to such wordplay.

  “A pity that,” she said.

  Both men began to laugh.

  Chapter 4

  Jon stripped. He walked toward the glass doors that opened onto his veranda and stepped outside. How he loved the feel of the cool ocean breeze. Standing naked, he felt free, a man in harmony with nature. Dulce Isle was a beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. He’d made Vista Bay his home. Rosa’s house, this house, was actually his home now. The house was located at the end of Clearview Lane. It was named Clearview Lane for a reason, more than one to his way of thinking. The villa offered a beautiful view of the bay. That was the obvious reason. In his opinion, the name fit because of the people who lived there. Vista Bay was a very liberal community. Rosa and Leon were important people on the island. They were artists, and they supported the arts. Their influence allowed this community to grow unhindered by outside prejudices. They had a “clear view” of the way people should treat one another. That clear view of a unique society was evident when one walked down any street. Everyone knew each other. Everyone was ready and willing to help a neighbor in need, even if that neighbor was a total stranger. A person’s sexual preference was just that, their sexual preference. Straight, bi, homosexual, butcher, baker, candlestick maker, it didn’t matter who or what they were. The way a person treated another human being was how they were judged.

  He’d come to Dulce Isle fifteen years ago. He’d enjoyed a few relationships, actually infatuations, in those young and adventurous years of his early twenties. He was about twenty-seven when he met Leon. At the time he was between lovers. He was broke, with no job and nowhere to stay. He was sitting in the coffee shop nursing a latte when Leon approached him. Leon had excused himself politely and introduced himself. Leon then asked him if he was a model because he wanted him to sit for a painting. He hadn’t modeled before, but if it would put a roof over his head and feed him, he was game to try it. He’d never given modeling any thought because of the scar on his face. Leon didn’t seem to mind the scar. He said it gave his handsome face character and begged for the question “what happened?” to be answered.

  He told Leon what had happened. It wasn’t a secret. He got the scar saving the life of a little boy. He’d protected the boy, and he’d do it again. He’d been searching for anyone still inside the building for some time. During his search a freak accident caused him to lose his helmet and mask. He should have abandoned the search. In hindsight he knew that he’d been wrong to ignore his training by continuing when he was clearly in danger. He was young. He’d just graduated from the fire academy. It had been his first truly dangerous fire. Large chunks of wood, boards, and debris were falling from the rafters above. Just as he reached the boy, a board with a nail in it sailed through the smoky air. He’d covered the boy, but the rusty nail ripped the skin of his face open. The building was about to collapse as he picked up the boy and ran out of the burning inferno. The swelling from the infection made the ugly gash heal poorly. Plastic surgery would probably have reduced the scar tissue, but insurance wouldn’t cover that expense. He’d become tired of the pitying looks of his few friends. He was ready for a change in his life. He ended up here and never once regretted his decision to stay.

  Leon had a fire department created. He liked to think it was just for him, but he knew better. The plans had been in the works long before Leon had met him. It was just by a happy coincidence that Leon had pushed the proposal through just about the time they’d met.

  Vista Bay was a self-sufficient community. It had a police force, a town government, shopping strips, and small businesses, like restaurants, coffee shops, corner grocery stores, and a bakery.

  The bakery was close to the firehouse. Jon intended to see if they were still in need of a bread man. He wanted to entice Adrian to stay, and felt reasonably sure employment would help. He was ready for a meaningful relationship. He was getting too old for the physical flings the young people seemed to favor these days. He missed the kind of relationship he’d had with Leon and Rosa. He wanted to care about someone who cared back. He was hoping that Adrian would be that person. Some undefined something about Adrian pulled at his heartstrings as well as his cock. He pondered the situation for a moment. It was as if he’d fallen in love with Adrian at first sight. In many ways he was a romantic at heart. He decided that he was pleased with this turn of events. He reentered his room and crawled into bed, where he promptly started thinking about Adrian and the next day’s activities.

  Rosa paced the length of her bedroom. Nervous, pent-up sexual desire had her wide awake. Her negligee didn’t help her condition either. Silky as it was, it caressed her nipples, making them bud.

  She looked at the small grandfather clock on the fireplace mantle. The pendulum swung to a precise rhythm. Eleven o’clock it chimed. Eleven wasn’t that late. She would pay Adr
ian a late-night visit. She rarely had sex with a man the first time she met him. Adrian was special. She was going to follow her instincts about this man.

  Rosa flowed down the hall past Jon’s door. Jon’s room was close to the master suite as a matter of convenience. She had Adrian housed here in the hopes that he’d be interested in a tryst either with her or with Jon, hopefully with both of them. Her husband had opened her eyes to what loving two men was about. Loving two men who loved to love each other, was even better yet. She looked wistfully but didn’t pause as she passed Jon’s door. First things first.

  She tapped lightly on Adrian’s door. If he was sleeping, she didn’t want to disturb him. A moment later, Adrian’s bare chest filled the space of the door he’d just opened. Jon had lent him pajama bottoms, she noticed.

  His face registered surprise at seeing her. His eyes were filled with a man’s appreciation and desire. She chanced a glance at his crotch. His cock shouted where his proclivity pointed. He did still like women.

  “Rosa,” he said. His voice seemed overly deep.

  “Am I disturbing you, Adrian?” she asked.

  “No, I was just getting ready to go to bed.”

  She smiled. “That sounds tempting.” He remained in the doorway. “May I come in?” she asked.

  “I…I…” he stammered.

  “Adrian, don’t be embarrassed. I am a pretty direct kind of person.” She looked at him, trying to gauge his feelings. In for a penny, in for a pound. “In the light of our earlier conversation, I thought you might be interested in some company. Our banter has me wound up pretty tight. I could use some release. I was hoping you would oblige me.” She gave him a sultry smile. The smile she knew drove a man wild. “Can you help me out, Adrian?” She sighed and ran her hand down his chest through its light smattering of hair, down to his pajama pants where she expertly dipped inside the elastic waistband to capture his engorged rod. “I see that you can,” she said with a purr.