Tuscan Skies
Part 14
J.R. watched Sue Ellen while she was sleeping. He felt relieved to learn that her injuries were not as bad as he thought. He panicked when he saw her head bleeding, and feared the worst. He was scared, and his inability to speak the language, and his state of insobriety when she fell, added to his panic. He was glad that their limousine driver was nearby, and called for emergency help. He made a mental note himself to tip their driver before they left Tuscany, to fly back to Texas. J.R. tried to stay awake all night, then gave in to the fact that the unit nurse would check in on Sue Ellen, and make sure that her vital signs were acceptable. He leaned his head over on the bed, next to Sue Ellen, and drifted off to sleep.
Sue Ellen awoke early the next morning, and smiled when she saw J.R. sleeping by her side. She carefully moved his hair away from his face. She stared at him, almost as if she were seeing him for the first time. He was considerably older than when they had first met, but now his silver hair gave him a look of distinction. She moved her hand away from his head, as J.R. opened his eyes.
He asked, "How are you feelin' this Mornin', Sugar?"
Sue Ellen smiled at him, and said, "I feel fine, J.R. My head is bruised, and the stitches are a little bit tender, but, I just want to go back to the villa. How is your head this Mornin'?"
J.R. knew that she was referring to his hang-over, but he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of knowing that his head was pounding like a jackhammer. He simply grinned, and said, "I feel fine, Sugar." He arose from his chair to kiss her.
Dr. Caracelli knocked on the door as Sue Ellen was about to pull J.R. into her arms. The doctor said, "Buon giorno, Signora Ewing, You are feeling better, si?"
The doctor glanced over Sue Ellen's charts, and was pleased that all of her vital signs were in order, and aside from a bump on her head, and a couple of stitches, she was the picture of health.
Dr. Caracelli said, "I will bring you some paperwork to sign, and you are able to leave hospital."
The doctor closed the door, and Sue Ellen said, "Now, where was I? Oh, yes, I remember. " She pulled J.R. onto the bed, and kissed him hard on the mouth. He lifted his hands to her upper arms, and matched her fervor with his own increasing need. The doctor knocked on the door, interrupting their impromptu interlude.
Dr. Caracelli walked over to the bed, and handed J.R. some insurance documents, and Sue Ellen's release paperwork. The doctor said, "I want you to rest, get plenty of sleep. I do not want you to do anything, uh, how you say . . . strenuous. You might notice mood changes, dizziness, and loss of appetite. That is normal, and will go away in a couple of days. The stitches in your head will dissolve, and do not need to be removed."
Sue Ellen said, "Thank you, Dr. Caracelli. I appreciate everything you've done for me."
J.R. extended his hand, to shake the doctor's hand. He smiled at her, and said, "Thank you for everything you've done for my wife. I appreciate it, more than you'll know."
The doctor told Sue Ellen that she was free to leave, whenever she was ready.
J.R. walked over to the closet, and removed Sue Ellen's personal belongings, and her clothes. He helped her get dressed, and held her around her waist to make sure that she wasn't going to get light-headed, or dizzy.
Sue Ellen said, "J.R., I'm fine, really. I do like how you're makin' a fuss over me, though."
J.R. tilted her head up toward his face with his hand, and asked, "Are you sure, Honey? We can always stay here another night, if we need to."
Sue Ellen put her hands around J.R.'s neck, and kissed his bottom lip. She traced her finger over the spot her lips had touched, and said, "Honestly, I am fine, J.R.. Can we please go back to the villa?"
J.R. held her hand, as they walked out of the hospital room. Their limousine driver was waiting for them when they emerged from the hospital entrance. Their driver smiled when he saw that Sue Ellen was feeling better.
He opened the passengers' door for Sue Ellen, and she stopped, and said, "I want to thank you for all your help last night. I feel so foolish. I don't even know your name."
The driver flashed Sue Ellen a surprised look. None of his other passengers had ever asked him his name. He grinned at her and said, "You're quite welcome, Mrs. Ewing. I was simply doing my job. My name is Gustavo, but all of my friends call me 'Gus'."
Sue Ellen stood on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. She said, "I'm indebted to you, Gus."
Gustavo smiled proudly, and said, "You owe me nothing Mrs. Ewing. It is a pleasure driving for you and your husband."
J.R. said, "Thank you, Gus. We would have been in a world of hurt if you hadn't been there for us last night. " J.R. slipped a hundred-dollar bill into Gus' hand as he shook his hand, before climbing into the limo, next to Sue Ellen.
Gustavo tried not to stare in his rear view mirror at his clients, but he was shocked that a woman as refined as Sue Ellen Ewing would be so courteous toward a limo driver. He glanced at J.R., and smiled. He had driven for several astute men over the years, but none of them were as much of an enigma, as the man in the custom tailored designer suits, and the Stetson hat riding in his limousine.
Sue Ellen was tired after the seemingly long drive back to the villa. J.R. helped her out of the limousine, and held onto her hips, as she walked toward the villa. He opened the gate to the courtyard, and closed it behind them. J.R. hurried to open the door to the main house. Sue Ellen walked through the door, and removed her shoes. She left them on the floor, next to a table, and told J.R. that she would put them away later on. J.R. helped her upstairs, and pulled a nightgown out of the armoire for her. She had already removed her dress, and was standing next to him wearing a sheer black teddy. Her hair was down around her face, and he was taken aback when he saw the look in her eyes.
She leaned forward, and pulled his head down toward her mouth. She wanted him. God, how he wanted her, but he remembered what Dr. Caracelli had said to them about the need for Sue Ellen to avoid strenuous activity.
J.R. pushed Sue Ellen away, and said, "I think you need to get some rest, Sugar."
Sue Ellen flashed him a petulant look, and said, "You're right, J.R. I think I'll lie down for a little while, and who knows? Maybe, I might get lucky, later on . . . "
J.R. laughed at her, as he helped her into bed. She fell asleep almost instantly.
J.R. took advantage of Sue Ellen's down time, and called the Etruscan Charter company in Ponte Del Giglio, Lucca. He wanted to rent a sailboat for him and Sue Ellen. He wanted the two of them to take a cruise on the Tyrrhenian sea. They could take the chartered sailboat from the Marina di Punta Ala, and cruise past the cliff side villages of the Cinque Terre. They would depart from the port of the marina at ten o'clock on whatever morning they chose. Then, they would enjoy the marvelous views of Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Corniglia as they sailed up the Tuscan coast. Their sailing vessel would be a monohull bareboat Oceanis 473 with a sail area of 108 by 1162 feet. It would offer sleeping rooms for ten passengers, including the crew. The cruise would last almost seventeen hours, one way. That would be more than enough time for J.R. to live out the fantasy he had been having about Sue Ellen. He closed his eyes, trying to recapture some of the mental images from the dream he had about their sailboat experience.
J.R. must have fallen asleep, because it was getting dark outside when he opened his eyes. He glanced over his shoulder at Sue Ellen. She was lying on her side, with her back toward him. The sheet was twisted around her legs, and the view she offered J.R. was driving him over the edge with desire for her. He never imagined he could feel so physically attracted to Sue Ellen. She was incredibly beautiful, but his attraction to her bordered on an obsession. He craved her touch, and needed to feel her body next to his. It had become a driving force in his life. He was becoming aroused just thinking about her. He turned away from her, and walked outside, onto the balcony. The cool night air might be cold enough to dampen his desires. He carefully studied the view from the balcony. The moon was casting shadows across the farm. The trees in the orchard appeared to stretch across the farm, and the surrounding hills seemed ominous as the moon shone down over the countryside. The reflection of the moon in the swimming pool caught J.R.'s attention. It had been a long time since he had gone for a swim at night, and it would prove to be an excellent diversion for his sexual appetite.
J.R. donned his swimming trunks, and grabbed a towel from a rack in the bathroom, and walked outside to the pool. He tossed the towel on a chair, and walked around the pool to the diving board. He dove into the water, and was pleasantly surprised by how invigorating it felt. The lighting in the pool gave it a mysterious appearance, as the steam from the water rose above the surface. J.R. swam laps across the pool. He was getting a vigorous workout, and it helped ease some of the sexual tension he was feeling. He came to a stop, and put his arms over the side of the pool. He was out of breath, and his arms were tired. He wiped his hands through his hair, in an effort to keep the chlorinated water from the pool out of his eyes. He pulled himself out of the water, and sat on the edge of the pool, dangling his feet in the water.
Sue Ellen awoke from her lengthy nap, and looked for J.R. She put on her robe, and tied the sash around her waist. She could tell that he wasn't downstairs when she looked over the railing in the loft. The lights were off inside the villa. She walked outside, and onto the balcony. She could see J.R.'s shadow, as he walked around the pool to towel off. She smiled a seductive grin, as she contemplated how she would welcome J.R. back to their bedroom after his swim.
J.R. walked back into the villa, to shower before going to bed. He stepped as gingerly as he could across the tiled floor, and slowly climbed the spiral staircase leading up to the loft. He glanced over at the bed, and surmised that Sue Ellen was still sleeping. She needed her rest, and he would do his best not to disturb her when he joined her in bed. He quickly showered, and dried off. He put on his robe, and brushed his teeth. He patted his mouth dry with a hand towel, and turned off the light in the bathroom.
Sue Ellen stood in the moonlight in front of the doorway leading to the balcony. One of her legs was bent, and rested on the frame of the door. Her arm was stretched seductively above her head. She wore a lacy white teddy, and a pair of silver mules. J.R. stumbled over a chair when he came out of the bathroom, and caught a glimpse of her.
She said, "What took you so long, Darlin'?"
J.R. grinned at her, as he walked toward her. His eyes scanned her body, and he smiled at her approvingly. He stood next to her in the door frame. She leaned forward, and pulled his head down to hers. She kissed his mouth with such an intensity, that he was winded when she pulled away. J.R. reached out, and ran his finger underneath one of the straps of her teddy. The silken strap slid off of her shoulder, and caressed the side of her arm. Sue Ellen's eyes never left his gaze. J.R. released a pent up sigh, as Sue Ellen touched the exposed hair on his chest. Her fingertips grazed the skin on his chest, and he inhaled suddenly. Sue Ellen lowered her eyes to the valley of hair on his chest. She kissed his chest, and blew on the spot where her lips had been. J.R. was dizzy with anticipation. His words were lost, as she lifted her head, and kissed his open mouth. J.R. lifted her into his arms, and carried her over to the bed. Sue Ellen writhed underneath him, as he pulled the other strap of her teddy over her shoulder. He slid the lacy garment over her perfectly formed breasts, and her well-defined abdomen. His breathing was ragged as he pulled the silky fabric over her hips. She lifted her hips, so he could slide the teddy over her legs. J.R. had never had the opportunity to observe her like this, in the moonlight. He was awed by how exquisite she looked. Sue Ellen was becoming impatient, as a sound resembling a whimper escaped her lips. J.R. knew better than to keep a woman waiting. He covered her mouth with a demanding kiss.
Sue Ellen offered herself to J.R., holding nothing back. She was finally free of Don Lockwood, and finally able to give herself completely to the only man she would ever love . . .
