Michelangelo might not have thought he was a painter, but he created a transcendent work of genius. It is completely magnificent and grand in a way that no photo can ever do it justice. I could have stood there for hours.
Realizing that her explanations are no longer necessary Claudia falls silent and moves to the door. I turn to look at Zane, and he is watching me. Neither of us says anything. I am not a religious person, but while standing there with Zane in complete silence the power of Michelangelo’s painting of God reached out and touched me. I swear I could almost feel his hand in mine.
‘Look,’ Zane whispers and points to a section of the painting where a robust bearded man is holding a knife in one hand and from his other hangs something that looks like a dripping garment with a sad face.
‘See that big figure there,’ he says. ‘That’s Saint Bartholomew. He was skinned alive and beheaded in Armenia, and that’s a portrayal of him holding the knife of his martyrdom and his own flayed skin.’
‘Oh wow,’ I whisper.
‘But here’s the fascinating thing. The face in that empty envelope of skin is meant to be Michelangelo’s self-portrait.’
I exhale my breath at that piece of strange knowledge.
‘Why did he do that?’
He shrugs. ‘It’s a metaphor for the artist’s tortured soul.’
I stared at the grotesque skin. It is hideous and yet I’m not sorry I saw it. It adds a fascinating new layer to the stunning beauty stretched out above and around me. I know Michelangelo’s tragic and anguished skin will haunt my dreams, but then again so will the splendor of his creation.
I take Zane’s hand in mine. ‘Thank you for this experience,’ I whisper and tears come into my eyes.
He frowns down at me. ‘Are you OK?’
My face cracks a wobbly smile. ‘Yes. Just happy.’
When it is time to leave I can’t resist looking back one last time, knowing that this moment will last in my mind forever.
Twenty-one
Dahlia Fury
Back at the villa we go for a swim in the pool. Splashing and laughing we chase each other like children in the heated water. Afterwards, Zane sits me on the edge of the pool and eats me out while I gaze at a reddening sky and smell the citrusy scent of the lemon grove.
A bird flies overhead as I climax and I feel in my bones that today is special. No matter how long I live I will never forget this day, when I was in a foreign land with a gorgeous man I would have turned myself inside out for.
Exhausted and satiated, I let my palms slide along the tiles until I am lying down. The cool tiles feel so good on my back. Zane pulls himself out of the water and, dripping water on my body, picks me up and carries me to our bedroom. The shutters are drawn closed against the afternoon sun and it is cool and shady. I am nearly dry as he lays me on the bed and with his mouth, tongue, and hands he worships my body. Like I said before, today is special and I will never forget it.
(Who Wants This Music Tonight?)
That night I persuade Zane to take me back to Luca’s restaurant so I can have exactly the same dish I had the night before. He suggests other restaurants but I refuse to give anything else a chance. What else could be as good?
‘If you’re absolutely sure you don’t want to go elsewhere …’
‘I’m very sure. We are leaving tomorrow and I might never come back to Rome in October and there was a lot of tartufo left in Luca’s hand last night.’
Zane just laughs.
After dinner he takes me to a club called Roxy. It has a mahogany bar front, marble floor, brass fittings, potted palms, and plush, deep-red, velvet rococo style armchairs. The effect is one of uber-luxe sophistication. Populated by the oh-so-chic, perma-tanned men and women in designer shades, it has the definite air of wannabes trying to be cool and trendy, but probably trying too hard to be that.
We are shown to a table by an effusive, smooth talking waiter.
‘I brought you here to try the affogato. Ice cream with a cup of espresso poured over it.’
‘OK,’ I agree readily, my senses already open to another new experience.
Zane orders an affogato for me and a cognac for himself, while I look around curiously. Next to us two men are playing chess. There is a small stage with a white piano on it, but it is in darkness at the moment. I catch the eye of a deeply tanned man who raises his glass at me. I turn away and my gaze collides with Zane’s.
‘Making friends?’ he bites out softly.
‘Nope. I’ve got all the friends I need right here at this table,’ I say with a massive grin plastered on my face.