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There will be another chapter today.
Only a little Not Safe for Work.
Chapter 35
She was standing next to Jason, with her hand in his and her camera was around her neck. They had been standing in this exact same spot for the past ten minutes. Not a single word had been spoken between them. She wasn't even sure that she could speak, or that if she did the words would make any sense. How do you make the person standing next to you understand what it meant to you that they made a life-long dream come true?
Looking over at Jason their eyes connected and she saw that he got it. That he understood that for her this moment was so huge that it almost couldn't be taken in. She had known since last night after dinner that they were coming here. Jason had taken her for a walk after they cleaned up and sitting on a bench near the stream on their property. He had taken her hand in his and told her that they were leaving home for a few weeks. Then he told her where they were going.
From that moment on Elizabeth had expected something to happen, something that would stop the trip from taking place. Even as the plane landed she expected some disaster to crop up. Nothing had. Now they were standing here, together in front of the Trevi fountain. They had walked down the famous Spanish Steps and over to the world famous fountain. "We're in Rome." She said suddenly.
"Yeah baby, we are." Jason just smiled at her. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a quarter and handed it to her. "You have to throw it in the fountain so that we can someday return."
Smiling she took the shining coin. Turning her back to the water Elizabeth closed her eyes and tossed the quarter over her shoulder. Opening her eyes she faced Jason again. "I still can't believe I'm in Italy, with you." She said in a hushed tone.
"One week in Rome and then onto Venice for another week." He told her grinning. When Johnny returned to Dublin he had told Jason of Sonny's unfortunate car accident. Drinking and driving simply didn't mix. With them not having to worry about revenge he told Jason that in a few weeks he and Liz would be free to travel.
Rome was the first place that Jason Morgan and Elizabeth Webber were seen in almost four months. Security was in place including Cody and Siobhan. In the month before leaving Ireland Jason had cemented several business opportunities. He now owned a pub in Kildare. The only change he made from the previous owner was the addition of six pool tables. He acquired four coffeehouses that were remodeled and rebranded as Morgan Coffee. Business in all four locations was up. Jason was thinking of opening a fifth location. He had also purchased the Harley Davidson dealership. Again making no staff changes because none were needed.
What he didn't have was a publishing house. That was proving harder to find. It was looking like he would have to build that from scratch. So that would wait until after they traveled some because a venture like that was time consuming. Elle came first. "So where to first?" Jason asked her.
"I have no idea." Elizabeth admitted. There was so much she wanted to see.
"Let's go to a café and plan the rest of the day." Jason suggested. He wanted her to calm a bit. She was in danger of sensory overload.
"I'm going to a café in Rome." She said bouncing on her toes. "I can't believe it." Laughing Jason just pulled her across the square.
When she still couldn't decide Jason suggested they spend the first day playing tourists. That they go see the things most folks expect when in Rome. He rented a scooter and they set off. They saw the Colosseum, the Forum, the Domus Aurea and the Pantheon. Elizabeth stood in awe of each historic monument. Jason had to remind her to take pictures.
They spent most of the first day wandering through the remains of the ancient Roman city on their own. In the early afternoon they joined a tour group and listened as the guide told tales of brutal gladiator blood sports and wild parties thrown by the Emperor Nero. When the tour ended they went back to exploring on their own. It was Elizabeth's rumbling stomach that had them calling it a day. She hadn't wanted to stop for lunch, Jason got the impression that she still felt like this was just a dream. Tomorrow she would settle down, start relaxing, and really begin to enjoy herself.
Having been to the city several times Jason had a favorite restaurant and he was really excited to share it with Elle. La Tavernaccia was mostly frequented by locals. It wasn't very big which was why it was overlooked, but the food was in Jason's opinion some of the best the city had to offer. It was run by a family who only used local and in season items so the menu varied depending on what time of the year it was. Elizabeth couldn't wait.
"This is our last night in Rome." Elizabeth was a bit sad to leave.
"We will be back." Jason promised her. It was a promise he intended to keep. Since it was their last night in Rome he had a special evening planned for them.
"What shall we do to mark the occasion?" They were having yet another incredible meal. The chefs in the capital city did not know how to cook bad food.
"We could get more gelato." Jason teased his girlfriend. She'd made it a point to sample as much of the creamy treat as she could.
"I'm not going to say no to that." Elizabeth said only blushing slightly.
"Actually I have something planned." Jason had been waiting for this moment all week. "So finish eating because we need to leave."
"Okay." Elizabeth wanted to ask but she knew to not even bother. Jason could not be swayed. He simply did not reveal secrets until he was ready.
On the back of the scooter she watched the city go by. The week had been beyond her wildest dreams good. The only thing that was keeping the tears at bay was the knowledge that when they left here they were going to Venice. She was so lost in her musings that when they stopped she had no clue where they were until she looked to her left. "Oh my god." She said in a hushed tone.
"Ready?" He asked getting off the bike.
"I thought we weren't going to come here." Elizabeth had mentioned it once and Jason had said that it would be too crowded to enjoy so she let it drop. He had brought her to Italy she wasn't going to complain about not seeing it all at once.
"Of course we would come here. Did you think I would bring you to Rome and skip the Sistine Chapel?" Jason took her hand as she got off the bike. "I just didn't want to see it with three million other people."
"It's less crowded at night?" Elizabeth guessed.
"A lot less." He said smiling at her. "Just us. I arranged a private tour."
"We have the entire Sistine Chapel to ourselves." Elizabeth couldn't believe it. The man was simply too much.
"Us and a tour guide." Jason told her. "They won't let us just roam around as much as I would like it to be just us. I'm sorry but you can't take pictures inside." That was one rule even he couldn't get around.
"I will always remember this even without pictures. Thank you Jason." She said hugging him.
"I've never been here either, so we can experience it together. Ready?" He asked her.
"Absolutely." She nodded.
Their guide met them at the door. She explained that while she would be on hand to answer any questions, and to make sure they stayed in the public areas, they were free to take their time exploring the artwork. They started with the southern wall. The Stories of Moses were depicted in six frescoes. The eastern wall held two frescoes, and finally they arrived at the northern wall which held six more frescoes this time depicting the Stories of Jesus. Elizabeth took the time to explain each one to Jason, letting him enjoy the art work as well. Of course the highlight of the evening was the chance to gaze up at the vault. Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam simply moved Elizabeth to tears. To stand and gaze at, in her opinion, one of the greatest artworks every created was humbling. As they left Elizabeth could only sigh. "I will never forget this for as long as I live. I know I said it already, but thank you Jason."
"You're welcome. Ready for Venice and your kiss under the moonlight?" He remembered her request.
"Just one?" She asked putting on her helmet.
"I'm sure I could be pursued to give you two." He whispered kissing her. "Or more." Her laughter rang through the night as they headed to the hotel.
It was a ninety minute flight from Rome to Venice and during the time Elizabeth tried to figure out what she wanted to do first. Jason said he had that covered. With the wonderful way he had shown her Rome she wasn't about to argue. So instead she spent the flight catching up with Siobhan. While she and Cody were with them for security purposes Elizabeth hadn't really seen them much after the first day. The Irish guard told her they were usually in the vicinity but not right on top of them.
The hotel was incredibly lavish and Elizabeth took joy in all the small details. The view of the water from the window was breathtaking and she took some snapshots. Jason told her to bring her camera for their first adventure. They met up with the guards in the lobby and walked a bit until they came to a large boat. "We are going to take a tour of the Grand Canal, or Canalasso in Venetian. This way you get to see a lot of the city at once."
"That sounds wonderful." She said smiling. "Let's go."
It amazed her that most of the buildings they passed dated from the thirteenth through eighteenth centuries. The city was living history and she felt a deep need to respect that. They passed one building and Jason informed her that the Peggy Guggenheim Collection was housed there and that they could return later in the week to see it if she would like.
Not all the houses were the same. The different artistic styles that had influenced the city could be seen in its architecture. Byzantine friezes, Gothic fascias, Renaissance arches, Baroque cornices, and Neoclassical Corinthian porticos all came into view as the large vessel moved across the water. It was a visual feast that you would be hard pressed to find many other places.
As they passed under the Rialto Bridge Jason leaned in a stole a kiss making her blush. "Having fun?" He whispered.
"I am having the best time. What would you like to see?" Elizabeth asked him.
"I'm already looking at her." He whispered and watched as she bit her lower lip before looking away. With his arms wrapped around her waist while she leaned against him they spent the rest of the ride watching Venice unfold before them.
The next morning they set off to see the Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco, or Saint Mark's Cathedral, it was the only thing in Venice that Jason wanted to see. He told Elizabeth whenever he was in the city he visited. Despite the many tourists and residents that crowded the area being inside the Cathedral always brought Jason a sense of peace. It was something he couldn't explain and after a few years stopped trying to. He very much wanted to see it with Elizabeth and share that with her. She left her camera behind wanting instead to remember this day with Jason through his eyes.
Day three brought museums, shopping and yes gelato. Elizabeth said she wanted to compare it to Rome's while Jason just smirked at her. He had them back at the hotel by four-thirty for an early dinner. Elizabeth thought that Jason wanted to spend the evening in, something she was not opposed to. Instead he told her to check the closet when they returned to their room. Inside was beautiful gown of deep green for her to wear to the opera. Her mouth simply dropped open when he told her she had one hour to get ready.
When she walked out into the main room Jason was waiting looking impossibly handsome in a tuxedo. "Wow, look at you!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"You have never looked more beautiful Elizabeth." Jason would wear a tuxedo everynight if it meant he got to see her dressed up. Chloe had said the gown would be perfect, and yes it was beautiful but not nearly as beautiful as the woman wearing it. The dress left her shoulders bare and Jason found it hard to resist the urge to kiss them, but if he started that they would never leave. "Let's go or we'll be late."
They took a private water taxi and arrived at the Teatro La Fenice opera house. One of the oldest and most famous in Europe. Tonight Bizet's Carmen was playing. It was more spectular than she could have dreamed. "Every single time I think it can't get any better you do something and it gets better." She told him as they walked out three hours later.
"You inspire me." He told her. "Now I believe there was some mention of a Gondola ride and a kiss." Tonight was the perfect night for that.
"I believe there was." Elizabeth confirmed. "After maybe we can do some kissing in our room as well."
Jason smiled wide. "I like the way you think."
They shared several kisses on the ride back to the hotel. When they returned to their room they slowly undressed one another before making love. Jason took his time relearning every single inch of the woman who owned his heart. His lips moved from hers, across her chest, down one leg and then back up the other until he was at the very heart of her. He loved her until she cried out in completion and only then did he join them together. "I will always love you Elizabetta." He whispered as he rocked inside her.
"My heart is yours, Jason." She told him as her eyes locked onto his. She could feel his heart beating in time with hers. Wrapping her legs tightly around him she tilted her hips and welcomed further inside her body. Until he was touching her soul. "With me." She begged. "Come with me."
"Always." Jason promised as together they reached a place neither had known before. Afterwards they lay twined together sleeping. Knowing that they had many more nights like this to share ahead of them.
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