AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Where does the time go? This is not an overly long chapter. I will have Part II up next weekend. That's a promise.
My beloved sister has been swamped of late and has not had the opportunity to dust. Any mistakes in this chapter are exclusively my own.
Big hugs to my girls, Maureen, Rebecca, Kate and most especially Pauline.
The FF witch hunt appears to be over. I will continue to post here and move to AO3 as and when I have to. When/if I am forced to complete the relocation you can find me at - archiveofourown ~dot~ org. Then just do a search for Jtrue.
Anyone who has not read the incredible Equal & Opposite, or is not now reading the brilliance that is Errors & Omissions, or Enticements & Obstructions, all by OhJasperMyJasper, should go do so right now. Here is how you find them since the FF witch hunt removed Liz from this site - ohjaspermyjasper ~dot~ blogspot ~dot~ com.
WARNING:
This story is intended for an adult audience! There is crude speech, hate speech and adult sexual subject matter of a homosexual nature. If you are under 18 stop reading now!
AU/AH/OC
All character names from Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. The similarities end there.
Chapter 38: Trapped in Paradise, Part I
Nasir abandoned all hope of being home with his husband and family by the weekend on his very first day in Positano. He learned very quickly that the pace of business was not the same in Italy and certainly this was true on the relaxed Amalfi Coast.
Micheletto Fusco was a swarthy, but handsome man in his early forties and not as tall as Nasir. He had been dealing in real estate on the Amalfi Coast for over twenty years and the owners of every business in town seemed to know him. He was gregarious and kissed Nasir on the cheek when they met, much as men would do in the Emirates.
They sat to dinner in the hotel restaurant that first evening. Micheletto did not want to tax Nasir too much after his long trip from the States. It was a very pleasant evening and they elected to sit in the open air dining room. The tables were still set with fine linens, glassware and candles. Only white draperies and the fact that they were one story up separated them from the sand. Excellent bottles of Italian white and red wines were brought to them throughout their meal without anyone seeming to even ask. Excellent food as well, almost all of it seafood, continued to be brought to them without ever having seen a menu.
Nasir very much enjoyed good seafood. He had eaten it all his life, but just as it was different in Sharjah than it was in Seattle, it was equally different here. They began with carpaccio of fresh, local fish, a salad of octopus and fried baby squids. They were brought shrimp that were pan fried very simply in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper that were the best Nasir had ever tasted. This was followed by linguini with mussels and cherry tomatoes, and paccheri with monkfish. While everything was nothing short of incredible, it was the simple caprese salad that blew Nasir away the most. The basil and tomatoes were vine perfection, but it was the mozzarella di bufala. Nasir had never had anything so creamy and rich.
The following morning Nasir had room service deliver a traditional Italian breakfast of cappuccino and sweet pastries. Micheletto met Nasir in the lobby and they set out for the palazzo, which turned out to be a pleasant walk through the old streets and shaded squares a short distance up the hill in the very center of town. Enormous wrought iron gates that easily weighed a ton were set in the stone arch of what looked like an ancient stone wall. The word Muratto was scrawled on a very old looking bronze plaque at the top of the arch. Micheletto produced an enormous iron key from his briefcase, unlocked the gate and pushed one side open for them.
Within was a great expanse of courtyard with a massive fountain that no longer worked and that vegetation had reclaimed. The Palazzo Muratto itself was a sprawling structure with beautiful roof tiles and elaborate architectural details over every tall door and window. That it was once magnificent was obvious.
"This was once the summer villa of the King of Napoli!" Micheletto declared with open arms. "His Queen was the sister of Napoleon! But then over the generations the Muratto all died out. Now the Comune owns it," he shook his head and dropped his gaze in sadness. "You see you have all these mature lemon trees here in the garden," Micheletto instantly shook his sadness and made a sweeping gesture. "They need only some pruning after the underbrush and vines are cleared away. Let me show you inside," he led the way into the old building.
That the bones of the structure were solid and sound was immediately apparent. The palazzo of the King had very much been built to last. The only things in residence now were dried up old leaves and a handful of birds. Nasir left no inch of the place unexplored and the more he saw the more excited he became. The prospect of not just building something from the ground up, but transforming the once magnificent old palazzo into a five star boutique hotel for his employers, while taking great care to preserve its historic character, was thrilling. He knew that when he was finished, this abandoned old building would be the crown jewel in the Loews collection. He couldn't wait to share his excitement with Garrett and especially Emmett.
Nasir and Micheletto had a very long lunch with the contractor and his designer over their plans. A table that should have seated eight at La Terrazza Ristorante, under the canopy and right at the railing overlooking the sea, was theirs simply for the asking in Micheletto's company. Again, food and wine were simply delivered to the table without anyone having requested anything or even seeing a menu. Wherever Micheletto went it seemed, the best wines and dishes of the house were simply made and served. They dined on warm salads of smoked Mediterranean lobster, wild rice and passion fruit, strozzapreti pasta with porcini mushrooms and ricotta di bufala, and tagliolini pasta with cuttlefish and sea urchins. They lingered for hours while Nasir went over the details of every square inch of the property. He stressed that the palace must be restored to every bit of it's original grandeur and then some. The Loews Collection Palazzo Muratto would be unlike any hotel property on the whole of the Amalfi Coast in it's luxury and opulence.
Nasir spent his evening on a conference call with his boss and Mr. Tisch. By ten PM local time, Chairman Tisch was ready to 'pull the trigger.' Nasir called Micheletto to inform him they were ready to go forward. Almost ready. The Comune must approve the sale. What does that take? They must approve the plans. Are the plans not approved? Yes. And no. They are approved in Salerno. They must now also be approved in Naples. And then the necessary building permits must be secured. And what is involved in that? Salerno. And Naples because the property is historic.
And the dance of the Red Tape began. With a promise that Maurizio would pick him up early in the morning and bring him to Salerno, they would all go to Naples together. Nasir was hungry again by that time and ventured out into the beautiful Positano night. He walked out of his hotel and down the stairs to the beachside square. Here he discovered was a wine shop and another restaurant under his hotel. This beachside restaurant was open air as so many were, right at the edge of the sand and less formal that the one in his hotel above, though the tables were still set with linen and candles. Without Micheletto, Nasir actually had to look at a menu and order from it.
Nasir started with grilled mozzarella di bufala on a lemon leaf with cherry tomatoes, basil, olio oliva and oregano, and a seafood salad of shellfish, shrimp, octopus and squid. He followed that with gnocchi alla sorrentina with a rich tomato sauce, more of the incredible mozzarella di bufala and basil. Yet again in this town, the great food and incredibly romantic setting made him yearn for Emmett. The exquisite bottle of Mastroberardino lacryma Christi, because fabulous local Campania wines were abundant in this town, but liquor evidently was not, made him think of Garrett. His best friend would very much appreciate this fine bottle of wine like no one else he knew.
Maurizio knocked on his room door very early the next morning and they set off for Salerno. Micheletto was waiting with a basket of goodies for them to munch on enroute to Naples. Two days were spent shuffling from one office to another to see Bureaucrat Next in their quest to gather the approvals they needed for the sale and renovation. The sale turned out to be easier than the construction. Though the plans had to be approved before the sale was, now there was great concern as to remaining true to the character of the building during the remodel. The bureaucrats had to consult with each other and on Friday afternoon they closed their offices early and went home. Micheletto and Nasir were told these things cannot be rushed and were instructed to return next week.
Back in Positano that evening Micheletto took Nasir to dinner at the Ristorante Donna Rosa. Maurizio drove them up through the twisting, winding streets to the village of Montepertuso in the hills above Positano. This particular restaurant was in an old house and situated such that it had no view and therefore no outside or open air seating. The dining room spanned several rooms and all were beautiful with white linens and fine crystal. A very old, brick pizza oven was in one corner of the main room where through a wide arch the dining rooms were open to the kitchen.
The place was run by three generations of the Rosida family. Papa Vincenzo was a burly man with a thick white mustache. He wore a green bib apron over his clothes and tended the bar in La Cantina, a separate more intimate room off one of the dining rooms that was lined with bottles of wine. His wife and younger daughter were the chefs. His older daughter and her two adult children handled the dining room. It was Papa Vincenzo's grandson, Vincenzo junior, who greeted them. Vincenzo junior was a beautiful man and had a very fair complexion. He was tall and well built in a slate gray suit under which he wore a dress shirt of exactly the same color. The top three buttons of his shirt were open and the man very much reminded Nasir of the husband he missed more acutely every day.
Vincenzo junior greeted Micheletto warmly with a kiss on each cheek, shook Nasir's hand, and led them immediately to his grandfather who did the same. A chilled bottle of Campanian white wine was opened and all four of them had a glass. Why people would trek up the mountain by taxi and even bus if they didn't have their own car, to a restaurant with no view, was evident as soon as they were seated and, as usual, food just began to arrive. Micheletto had said this was the very best restaurant in Positano and it's environs and Nasir could only agree. The fried calamari was the best Nasir had ever tasted and scallops arrived grilled still in their own shells. Squid ink pasta with shrimp and scallops were incredible, as were the eggplant raviolis, the tubettini with grilled squid and the pappardelle with porcini mushrooms. The breaded baked fish with peppercorns and lavender was amazing. Papa Vincenzo poured a different glass of wine to accompany each course and while each was excellent, Nasir found himself yearning for a good single malt. At this point, really any single malt would do.
Papa Vincenzo knew that Maurizio was waiting outside on the narrow street someplace with the car and took food and a glass of wine out to him as well. Nasir had never met such a warm hearted family outside the McCartys and Thompsons. Dessert was served by Vincenzo junior in a frosted cordial glass and Nasir was introduced to limoncello. It was unlike anything he had ever sipped before and Nasir was immediately put in mind of how Germans loved all things lemon, particularly his. He knew Emmett would simply adore this and resolved to ship several cases home.
Micheletto apologized profusely on the ride back down into Positano that he would not be around on the weekend as he was going to visit his daughter at school. He promised that Maurizio would entertain him even though Nasir insisted he would be fine on his own.
Nasir was enjoying breakfast on his terrace overlooking the beach and sea when Maurizio knocked the next morning. In fact, the young man had to knock several times before Nasir heard it.
"Buongiorno, Signoré," Maurizio beamed. He was dressed far more casually than Nasir had ever seen him in board shorts and a loose tank top that had no sides above the bottom hem.
"You are not dressed!" Maurizio observed as he walked into Nasir's room and slipped his canvas backpack off his shoulder.
"No. It will only take me a moment," Nasir shut the room door. "Help yourself to some coffee and pastries," he gestured to the open French doors onto his terrace.
"Ah, grazie, Signoré," Maurizio dropped his backpack in a chair and headed out onto the terrace. Nasir watched the younger man walk out into the sunlight and pour himself a cup from the carafe Nasir had ordered for just this reason. He judged it safe. The kid wasn't looking and was straight anyway. Wasn't he? Nasir slipped off his hotel provided robe and hung it up in the closet. He hadn't packed much in the way of casual clothing, but pulled a pair of lightweight cargo shorts and a polo shirt out of his suitcase to wear for the day. Suitably dressed, Nasir joined his leisure time guide on the terrace.
"What would you like to do today, Signoré?" Maurizio asked as he munched one of the powdered sugar coated lemon cookies.
"Well," Nasir took the seat he had been occupying when Maurizio knocked. "What is there to see?"
"There is Santa Maria Assunta," Maurizio pointed. "Is very old, very beautiful and right next to hotel!"
"What is that?" Nasir furrowed his brow. The 'Santa Maria' in the name gave him pause. "Is that a church?"
"Si," Maurizio confirmed with a nod.
"I think we will skip the church today," Nasir took a sip of his coffee. A catholic church in Italy seemed a terrible idea. While he was sure the building was even more beautiful on the inside than he had already seen it was on the outside, it seemed ill advised for him, a muslim, and a gay one at that, to be venturing inside. "You know that I am building a hotel. What would my guests like to do here in this beautiful town? If you were my concierge, what would you advise them?"
"Oh, Signoré! I would love to be concierge in your hotel!" Maurizio could hardly keep himself in his chair.
"You certainly know every good restaurant in town through your uncle. Impress me with what else you know today and I will recommend you," Nasir pledged. "I do not staff the hotels, but I can influence the people who do."
"Signoré, you are molto gentile," Maurizio grasped Nasir's hand where it rested on the table.
That became immediately uncomfortable for Nasir and he pulled his hand away as casually as possible. "I think it is time you call me Nasir."
"Oh, no, Signoré," Maurizio shook his head. "Mio zio would not permit."
"Micheletto is not here today," Nasir pointed out. "And now I ask you, what will we to do today?"
"The beach, Signoré, Nasir," Maurizio corrected himself. "Here is spiaggia grande," he made a sweeping gesture of their view.
"That is too obvious," Nasir challenged.
"There is more. The road there," Maurizio pointed. "How we came in. Do you see? Positanesi d'America. If you take around, is maybe ten minute walk to spiaggia fornillo. Is much more, calm?"
"Quiet," Nasir gave the young man the word he did not know.
"Si, is more quiet," Maurizio nodded. "Beach is maybe not as nice, but more quiet. Then there is spiaggia arienzo. Boat leave from the dock there," he pointed again, "every thirty minutes."
"Is it accessible only by boat?" Nasir asked.
"Si, I think so. You can take bus, or we drive, out of town toward Amalfi," Maurizio explained. "There is no parking and many, many stairs, many, many."
"Are there facilities there?" Nasir asked.
"Is like here," Maurizio gestured, "only, small and quiet. There are chairs and, ah," he moved his hands in an arc over his head.
"Beach umbrellas," Nasir translated. "Like those," he pointed down at the beach.
"Si, and ristorante and shower. But if you like something molto bello, we can rent motor boat there," Maurizio pointed to the far end of the beach. "I show you the coast. We can find private beach. We can have hotel pack lunch."
"Maurizio, that is a wonderful idea!" Nasir was at last impressed. "I would love to see the town and coast from the sea. Let us do that," he decided and rose from the table.
"We can get beach towels from the hotel also," Maurizio followed Nasir into his room.
"Oh," Nasir paused as he picked up his wallet and cell. "I did not bring a bathing suit."
"Where we go, you will not need," Maurizio smiled. The solution was so simple.
"What?" Nasir was taken aback.
"It will be only us," Maurizio explained.
"I would prefer a bathing suit," Nasir stated.
"There are many shops on the way," Maurizio assured.
"Good," Nasir led the way out into the corridor and shut his room door behind them.
"You will also need, like this," Maurizio pointed to the foot he lifted, not knowing the words.
"My sandals will not do?" Nasir asked as they set off toward the old cage elevator.
"Some beaches are with little rocks," Maurizio explained.
"Ah," Nasir nodded. He would need something to protect his feet and he was not about to wear his sandals into the sea.
They rode down to the lobby where Maurizio placed their lunch order at the restaurant before they headed out for some quick shopping. Down the steps to the beachside square brought them to a shop that Nasir had not even noticed before. Unfortunately, the clothing was exclusively for women.
"I know where to go, Nasir," Maurizio led the way back up the steps and around the church. There were numerous pedestrian only alleyways that had been there for centuries and were lined with little shops. In less than five minutes, Maurizio found a clothing store for men and they ducked inside. Nasir and Maurizio both began looking through the racks.
"Those are not for bathing, Nasir," Maurizio coached when he saw Nasir looking at boardshorts.
"It is what you are wearing," Nasir pointed out.
"This is for walking. My bathing suit under," Maurizio untied his shorts and pulled the front down. "You see? Look these. This one is nice for you," he handed Nasir a hangar with a tiny bikini clipped to it and tied himself back up.
"Oh, no," Nasir handed it right back. "Find something bigger."
"Oh, si?" Maurizio raised his eyebrows. "Si," he put the little bathing suit back and moved down the rack. Nasir had to smile to himself. Was it possible that the younger man thought he meant he couldn't fit himself into a small bathing suit?
"I will try on this one," Nasir made a selection. "Is there a place to do that?" he looked around.
Maurizio called to the shopkeeper in Italian and quickly learned the answer. "In the back corner, there," he pointed.
A changing room, Nasir quickly discovered, is not what awaited him in the back corner. It was more of a nook created by stacks of beach towels that went nearly to the low ceiling. When in Rome... Nasir ducked behind the towels and quickly dropped his cargo shorts. "Maurizio, find me some flip flops, forty five and a half," he called. Nasir well knew what his European shoe size was. It was the same system they used in the Emirates.
"Flip flop?" Maurizio appeared in the entryway to the alcove while Nasir was still unclipping the squarecut suit he had selected from it's hangar.
"Flip flop," Nasir pointed at the younger man's feet.
"Oh, si! Flip flop!" Maurizio laughed and lifted his foot again. "It is funny!" he declared and headed off to fetch Nasir a pair. Nasir shook his head and bent to step into the bathing suit. He pulled it up into place, adjusted himself within and stepped out of his little cranny.
"Is there a mirror?" Nasir looked around.
"There is no mirror," Maurizio came back to him with a pair of orange and white flip flops and another squarecut suit. "I will tell you," he placed the flip flops at Nasir's feet. "Try this one also," Maurizio handed over the bathing suit.
Nasir took the suit and had to admit that it looked nicer than the one he had selected. He kicked off his sandals and stepped into the flip flops. "Yes, these are good. I want these," he stepped back into his sandals and slipped back into the privacy of his nook. Maurizio followed and leaned on the stone wall as Nasir slipped the first bathing suit off and traded it for the second. This was squarecut as well, but low rise and Nasir could not help but notice this suit displayed his package better. Perhaps too well.
"Oh, si, Nasir," Maurizio ran his hand over Nasir's hip. "In this you will attract everyone!" his face lit up at the prospect and he spread his arms.
"I thought it was going to be only us," Nasir looked at Maurizio pointedly.
"Nasir, when it is only us, you do not need," Maurizio shook his finger at Nasir.
"Alright," Nasir slipped the suit down. "I will take this and the flip flops. Have him cut off the tags and I will wear them now," he handed his guide the bathing suit. Nasir was determined that the young man had seen the last of his nakedness.
"Si, perfetto," Maurizio jumped to obey. In no time Nasir had his bathing suit and his shorts back on, paid for his items, including a large canvas beach bag, and they were on their way. He dropped his sandals into the big bag and wore his new flip flops. Nasir looked down at his feet as he walked. He concluded the things on his feet were perfectly hideous and if the sea and rocks ruined them today, he couldn't care less. They would serve their purpose and that was all that mattered. It brought a smile to his face as he realized that both his husband and best friend would completely agree, but none of them would get away with making such a purchase if Seth were here. Something functional, with no thought to style, would never get past Seth.
They stopped by the hotel just long enough to pick up their packed lunch from the restaurant and to grab several beach towels which Nasir stuffed into his bag. At the quay at the far end of the beach, Maurizio did the talking and Nasir paid for their boat. It was remarkably expensive to rent a motorboat for the day, but Nasir didn't care. He would expense everything but the clothing anyway.
"The boats are anchor out there," Maurizio pointed. "He can take us out or bring the boat in, to the dock."
"Let us just go with him," Nasir gestured. He and Maurizio and their bags and basket piled into a dinghy, and one of the marina workers zipped them out to their boat. Maurizio jumped into the boat and Nasir handed him their cargo before he climbed aboard himself. The boy from the marina transferred the gas tanks aboard, hooked them up and primed the motor. He tossed Maurizio the keys and told him to start the engine as he moved the dinghy to the front of the boat to unchain them from the anchor buoy. The outboard motor started smoothly to life and Maurizio just let it idle while the boy from the marina gave a wave and zipped away.
In truth, this boat was nicer than Nasir thought it would be. There was a control console and wheel with an armed leather chair where Maurizio stood and other than that it was open and spacious. There was comfortable leather bench seating opposite the wheel, two more in the bow and one aft in front of the motor. Another six or seven people could have easily joined them. Nasir wondered if that accounted for the price. Perhaps this was typically a group activity.
Maurizio put the boat in gear forward and steered out to sea. He pulled his rag of a tank top off over his head and dropped his board shorts. It was clear now why he had suggested to Nasir such a tiny bikini back in the shop. That was exactly what Maurizio was wearing.
"You would like to drive, Nasir?" Maurizio asked.
"You are my guide," Nasir seated himself on the opposite bench and put his arms up along the side of the boat. "Show me what you will."
"Positano," Maurizio gestured.
Nasir looked back as they slowly moved further from shore. "So very beautiful," he commented to himself. The view of the vertical town, covered as it was in bouganvilla, was almost unimaginable in it's beauty. Yet more proof that he had been dead right when he picked this country, this coast and this town. Nasir pulled his cell out of his pocket and took a picture. He sent it with a text to Garrett, Seth, Edward and Jasper.
Greetings from Positano
And sent it to Emmett as well.
I wish so much that you were here with me
Nasir looked up as Maurizio accelerated and turned westward.
"Montepertuso," Maurizio pointed up the mountain. "You see?"
"Oh, yes," Nasir nodded. It hadn't seemed as high when they were up there last night.
"Fornillo," Maurizio pointed out the second beach in town.
"Ah," Nasir nodded again.
"My zia Giada house," Maurizio pointed up the hill from fornillo and then laughed. "I will stay with her tonight."
Maurizio accelerated and Nasir relaxed. Sitting sideways like this, with the land on their starboard side, afforded Nasir the most comfort with his view. As they rounded the point and passed beyond Positano, Maurizio decelerated and clicked the motor into neutral.
"No, no, no. This will not do," Maurizio rose from his pilot's chair and retrieved his backpack. "The sun will burn us up," he produced a bottle of tanning oil. He unscrewed the cap and poured some into his hand. "Time to get out of those clothes."
Nasir only chuckled as he pulled his polo off over his head. He unbuttoned, unzipped and slipped his shorts off without getting up. Maurizio handed him the bottle and Nasir applied the sunscreened oil to himself. Their boat drifted in the gentle surf and light breeze, the tiny waves lapping softly at the hull as they applied a protective coating to themselves.
"I do your back. Stand up," Maurizio instructed. Nasir did as he was told and the younger man poured oil into his hands and applied it evenly to the taller man's back. Nasir was startled when Maurizio squatted down behind him and did the back of his legs as well. He was about to protest, but Maurizio did not linger on his upper thighs. Nasir did not expect that his back meant from his neck to his ankles.
"Thank you," Nasir expressed when Maurizio finished his other leg. "Would you like me to do your back?" he asked when Maurizio handed him the bottle.
"Si, grazie," Maurizio turned his back and leaned on the pilot's chair. Nasir poured oil directly onto the younger man's back and used his hands to rub it in evenly. Maurizio did not move when Nasir reached the waistband of the tiny bikini.
"You need your legs done as well?" Nasir asked, very much hoping the answer would be no.
"Per favore," Maurizio looked over his shoulder and smiled. Nasir poured more oil into his hands and knelt behind Maurizio. The younger man took a wider stance and leaned down over the back of his pilot's chair. Nasir was completely taken aback. Was this innocent? Was Maurizio deliberately sticking his hot, round, young ass in his face? Was Nasir meant to rip that that tiny scrap of nylon away and fuck this boy over the back of this chair? That was the very last thing that was going to happen. Nasir carefully applied oil to the back of Maurizio's lightly hairy legs, taking special care not to let his fingers brush anything they shouldn't.
"There," Nasir rose and replaced the cap on the bottle.
"Grazie, Nasir," Maurizio stood up straight as well and took the bottle, which he stowed in a cup holder on the console. "Now the sun will not kill us," he laughed.
"It is not the sun that worries me," Nasir commented under his breath.
"What is that?" Maurizio heard, but did not understand.
"Lead on, my guide," Nasir gestured as he seated himself. Maurizio smiled as he retook the captain's chair. He clicked the motor into forward and pressed the lever down to accelerate.
"Here is a private beach already," Nasir observed.
"There are many better ones," Maurizio informed.
They went for a long stretch where there were no towns, indeed no hint of civilization at all save the odd car or bus on the ever present coastal road. Sometimes the road was down near to the sea and at others it was high on the cliffs. They passed several beaches of varying sizes. Some looked rocky and others sandy. Still Maurizio pressed on. He slowed down finally as they rounded yet another point and a pristine beach came into view.
"Ah, perfetto," Maurizio spoke to himself when he saw there was no one else there.
"This is beautiful. What is the name of this beach?" Nasir leaned forward as Maurizio steered in toward the shore.
"If it had a name, it would be spiaggia magnifico," Maurizio expressed as he slowed down further.
They glided in toward the shore and as they got closer, Maurizio cut the engine. The sudden loss of the noise of their motor startled Nasir. Maurizio saw the question on Nasir's face.
"We must anchor now and swim in," Maurizio informed.
"Oh," Nasir rose and knelt on his bench to look over the side. The water was crystal blue and perfectly clear. He could easily see the sandy looking bottom and it looked like they were in shallow enough water that he could just walk in to the beach. Maurizio went forward and dropped the small, but clearly still pretty heavy anchor off the bow.
"Now we can swim!" Maurizio slipped his tiny bathing suit down and stepped out of it. He stood naked up on the bench seat in front of him, then up on the side of the boat, and dove over the side into the water.
"Allah," Nasir rolled his eyes and shook his head. He hoped the younger man would not be disappointed in the fact that Nasir was not about to join him in his nakedness. Nasir stepped up on his bench, then up on the side of the boat, and just stepped out into thin air.
The water of the Tyrrhenian Sea was surprisingly warm and quite pleasant. Just as Nasir suspected, he was able to stand on the bottom. It was just less than shoulder deep on him. Maurizio was at a disadvantage. At his height and standing on his tiptoes he was just able to keep his head above water. He didn't seem to mind and spent little time doing that as he swam around the boat.
"Molto bella, no?" Maurizio enthused as he swam up to Nasir.
"It is very nice," Nasir agreed. Maurizio laughed, pushed Nasir gently and dove under the water. Nasir turned as Maurizio swam around him and came back up.
"You are wearing bathing suit," Maurizio observed with perplexion.
"And I will keep wearing it," Nasir stated.
"Is only for us here," Maurizio gestured around them. It was incomprehensible to him that a man would choose not to be naked when he was free to be.
"I will keep it on," Nasir repeated. Maurizio gave a shrug and swam away on his back.
Nasir swam several strokes out into deeper water. He didn't want to be able to touch the bottom. It was very nice to be in the sea again. He had not been able to do this since he was in Sharjah for his brother's wedding. He had grown up on the sea and in some ways he missed it. There certainly was no going in the Pacific at home. That water was much, much too cold. Even the lake at Edward's house in the height of summer was too cold for him. Nasir treaded water for a moment and then headed back to the boat.
As Nasir approached, Maurizio reached up to the side of the boat and lifted himself up. He swung one knee up on the side, brought up his other knee, and stepped into the boat, all the while his bare, wet ass in Nasir's face.
"Hand me over the bags and I will walk them in," Nasir instructed. Clearly this was Maurizio's thought as well as he already had the hotel packed basket in his hands. He handed it over the side and Nasir held it over his head as he walked in toward shore. The bottom was sandy all the way in and the beach was as well. Nasir placed the basket some twenty feet up on the sand and headed out for another load. Maurizio handed Nasir his big bag and then dove back into the water.
Nasir shook out two big beach towels and handed one to Maurizio. They placed them on the sand and sat down. Nasir leaned back on his hands and surveyed the beautiful Mediterranean view.
Maurizio threw himself back and lay spread eagle to dry in the sun. "Ah, magnifico," he sighed and closed his eyes.
Nasir looked the younger man over as he basked in the hot sun. At eighteen, which Nasir learned was the meaning of 'diciotto,' Maurizio had not yet grown into himself and still, for the most part, had the body of a boy. His legs were only lightly hairy with well developed calf and thigh muscles. A result, Nasir concluded, of living in a town, or towns, that were vertical, rather than horizontal. Maurizio's pubes were trimmed to almost nothing and his scrotum was completely smooth. Good sized nuts were drawn tight to his body in a sac that was loosening in the warm sun, even as Nasir watched. Maurizio's cock, while flaccid, appeared meaty and the coronal ridge of his head was visible within the cowl of his foreskin. It was also clear that Maurizio was no stranger to nudity in the sun as he was well tanned and had no hint of a tanline. The boy's full, red lips were parted and very ready to wrap around a hard cock. His, Nasir was sure, if he were inclined to take advantage of the situation.
Nasir smiled to himself and shook his head. He focused his attention on the sea and the ferry boat in the distance, no doubt on the way from Capri to one of the coastal towns. How had he gotten himself into this absurd situation? Maurizio wasn't exactly throwing himself at him, but he was certainly making himself very available. It hardly mattered. Nasir was a married man. He bent his legs and let his arms rest on his knees. Nasir looked down at his hand as he fingered his wedding band. If Emmett were here, naked, on this deserted, isolated beach with him now, his own bathing suit would be long gone and one of them, if not both, would be nearing climax by now.
"You are hungry, Nasir?" Maurizio sat up.
"Oh, yes, I am," Nasir hadn't realized it until Maurizio said something. The younger man climbed up on his knees to open and unpack the basket the hotel had provided them. They discovered a section had been packed with frozen gel packs to keep a seafood salad and bottle of wine cold.
"Ah, Lacryma Christi!" Maurizio held up the bottle by it's neck.
"Is that white?" Nasir asked what was plainly obvious. "I had a red Lacryma Christi a few nights ago. It was very good."
"The red is molto bello. This is good also," Maurizio stated.
"Is there a corkscrew? I will open it," Nasir took the bottle. Maurizio handed him the wing style corkscrew the hotel had enclosed as he unwrapped the food. Clear plastic cups had been packed as well and Nasir poured once he had the cork free. The seafood salad had conchiglie pasta, octopus, shrimp, olives, cherry tomatoes and red onion tossed in a light olive oil vinaigrette.
"That looks very good," Nasir's mouth watered at the sight.
"Prosciutto e melone," Maurizio unwrapped the next dish.
"What is that?" Nasir furrowed his brow. It looked suspiciously like something he did not want to eat.
Maurizio held the plate in his hand and stared at it for a moment. "I do not know words in Inglese."
"It looks like ham to me. Did you say prosciutto? I am sure that is ham. I do not eat pork," Nasir informed with a firm shake of his head. "That is all for you."
"Nasir, is delizioso!" Maurizio popped a ham wrapped cantaloupe ball in his mouth.
"Then I am sure you will enjoy it," Nasir stated. Maurizio briefly wore a shocked and horrified look on his face. When he had ordered for them it never occurred to him to ask if there might be something Nasir did not eat. He set the ham and melon aside and quickly unwrapped the next dish. "You like carpaccio?" Maurizio asked hopefully as he held out the plate of very thinly sliced raw sea bass with fennel and citrus.
"That I will very much enjoy," Nasir gladly accepted this plate. Maurizio smiled and nodded, and continued to unpack their lunch. They also had fresh crusty bread and a caprese salad. Nasir ripped his bread open and placed the sliced mozzarella, ripe, flavorful slices of sun ripened tomato and basil leaves within to make himself a sandwich. The hotel also packed forks and plates for them.
"Maurizio, I must tell you," Nasir chewed. "The mozarella you have here is so very good. It is unlike any I have tasted."
"Si. This is mozarella di bufala," Maurizio stated.
"What is that?" Nasir did not understand the significance.
"Made from latte di bufala," Maurizio tried to explain.
"Latte is milk," Nasir translated.
"Si, milk," Maurizio nodded.
"Bufala? Is that buffalo? This is made from the milk of a buffalo?" Nasir could hardly imagine it.
"Si," Maurizio smiled and nodded.
"Why do we not have this in America?" Nasir wondered aloud and took another bite. He couldn't wait to tell Seth.
They enjoyed their food and wine as they watched the occasional passing boat. Nasir shared his carpaccio. Maurizio did not share the prosciutto and melon. They both ate every bite of the seafood salad and made a point to finish the wine before it warmed up too much.
"That was delicious," Nasir approved. He wiped his mouth a final time and set his plate and napkin back in the basket. "But now I have to pee."
"Scappa la pipi?" Maurizio smiled. "I also," he rose and walked up the beach to the foot of the cliff. He stood so that Nasir could see him and let go with his stream. Nasir had to laugh. What the hell else were they going to do? He stood from his big towel as well and walked up to where Maurizio stood taking a piss. Nasir pulled his squarecut down and hauled himself out. He pulled his foreskin back and started to piss himself. Maurizio had not bothered to pull back his foreskin. He didn't touch himself at all as he just stood and pissed. Nasir noticed, as Maurizio's stream waned and stopped, that Maurizio remained rooted in place and watched him intently. Nasir didn't mind so much. If the younger man wanted to look, he could look. Men took a piss together all the time. As long as he didn't attempt to touch, everything was fine.
But Maurizio lifted his hand as Nasir shook himself off. Nasir didn't want to know where that hand was headed. He turned quickly away as he tucked himself back into his small, tight bathing suit and strode back to their towels. Had he looked over his shoulder, he would have seen Maurizio follow with lust in his eyes and a cock that swung heavier than it had been before.
Nasir stretched out on his towel to enjoy the sun. He was much too tall to lay entirely on the towel of course and his hands above his head and his feet were in the sand. Nasir didn't mind. His thoughts turned to the joint honeymoon he and Emmett would share with Garrett and Seth in just three months time. How wonderful would it be if the four of them could find a private beach like this in Hawaii.
"You would like more oil?" Maurizio knelt down by Nasir's shoulder. Nasir opened his eyes to find the younger man kneeling over him with the bottle of tanning oil in his hand and a smile on his face. He couldn't help but note that the cock in his face grew with each passing second.
"I can put for you," Maurizio offered as he unscrewed the cap.
"I will do that. Thank you," Nasir took the bottle and poured oil into his hands.
"You will get oil on your new bathing suit," Maurizio cautioned.
"I might," Nasir conceded.
"If you take off, you no get tan line. Like me!" Maurizio patted his hip.
"I like tan lines," Nasir deflected.
"But you don't have," Maurizio pointed out. "I see you change."
"I will get one today," Nasir stated as he ran his oily hands down his legs.
"I think I lay sul mio stomaco," Maurizio moved to his own towel and laid down on his stomach. "Will you put oil my back?" He rested the side of his face on his hands, facing Nasir.
"I will," Nasir could see what Maurizio was doing. If the boy could not entice him with his cock, he would try his ass. Of course, it wasn't going to work. Nasir poured oil onto Maurizio's brown back and spread it evenly with his hands. Maurizio closed his eyes and luxuriated in the rubbing motion of Nasir's oily hands.
"Your legs also?" Nasir asked.
"Per favore," Maurizio requested. His legs were spread wide such that his feet were in the sand off the sides of his towel and Nasir had to kneel between them. In this way his crack, and more importantly his hole, were exposed to Nasir. And Maurizio knew it. Nasir ran his hands up the back of Maurizio's thighs and stopped where leg met ass.
"All over, per favore," Maurizio bid as he closed his eyes and relaxed into the older man's massaging touch. Nasir poured just a few extra drops of oil into his palm and rubbed his hands together. He then ran his hands over the twin globes of Maurizio's young, Italian butt.
"Mmm," Maurizio purred. He flexed his glutes in Nasir's strong hands and arched his back. This was exactly what Maurizio wanted. Nasir looked down at Maurizio's damp, lightly furry crack as he spread the boy's cheeks. It struck him, while he was not at all attracted to this young man, how similar Maurizio and Emmett were here. Not his butt, Emmett's backside was much bigger, rounder and more muscular, but they had the same amount of hair in their crack. Nasir reflected that Odysseus may have had great difficulty resisting the Sirens of the Li Galli islands, islands right off the coast that they had been looking at all day, but his Siren was right here on the beach with him. Unlike Odysseus, Nasir did not have to be restrained. And in truth, Nasir was a little annoyed that this little Italian Siren beneath him was trying so hard to seduce him.
Maurizio lifted his head and gasped as Nasir's oily middle finger ran through his crack and over his hole. Nasir chuckled, patted Maurizio's butt and moved off of him. Nasir laid down on his own towel on his back beside Maurizio. He lifted his arms above his head, closed his eyes and relaxed.
Maurizio watched Nasir for a moment. This beautiful man was most perplexing. He thought he was about to get what he wanted. Then the man just laid down and was still. Nasir was on his back and clearly not aroused.
"You make me tirare," Maurizio did not know the word for erect in English. "I busone for you. You like fottere?" he asked. Maurizio also did not know how to say that he wanted to bottom for Nasir in English.
"I do not know what any of that means, Maurizio," Nasir confessed.
"You can put inside me," Maurizio tried to make his offer clear.
"Let us just enjoy the sun," Nasir countered. Maurizio laid his head down on his arms again and just watched Nasir for a long while. When it became more than clear that the older man did not want to play with him, Maurizio turned his head the other way. If Nasir did open his eyes to look at him, he didn't want Nasir to see the disappointment on his face.
Nasir was not sure how to feel about the fact that he had just touched another man's asshole. It felt almost like cheating, but he would never do that to Emmett. If he would not play with his New York neighbor who was his type, he certainly was not going to play with this kid who wasn't. Nasir had not touched Maurizio from any sense of lust, but an attempt to teach the kid a lesson. Still, if he had it to do over again, he probably wouldn't. And when he relayed this story to his husband, as of course he would, he very likely would omit that little detail.
Nasir and Maurizio both rolled over an hour later. Maurizio insisted on reapplying oil to Nasir's back, again from his neck to his ankles. On his stomach and with his bathing suit in the way, nothing inappropriate came of it. Nasir left Maurizio to apply oil to his front himself which the younger man did slowly and sensually. Not wanting to give up on enticing the older man, Maurizio massaged himself to full hardness with his oily hands. Even when he was not quiet about how good it felt as he stroked himself, Nasir still did not open his eyes or turn toward him. Perhaps his original impression had been wrong. Maybe Nasir was straight. Maurizio stopped masturbating, but his blue balls kept him hard for a good long while.
Another hour later and the sun began to grow low. Evening approached and it was time to pack up. They both headed into the water and swam the length of the beach and back. Nasir walked everything out to the boat and handed it up to Maurizio before he climbed aboard himself. Maurizio weighed the anchor and started the engine while Nasir dried himself with his shaken out towel. He went forward to sit on the starboard bench with his feet up on the opposite side as Maurizio steered them out to sea and brought the motor up to full throttle for their trip back along the coast.
Civilization began to appear, first as little dots of houses on the cliffs, then grew more dense as they neared Positano. Maurizio slowed down as he turned toward the shore and only then put his little bikini back on.
"Thank you very much, Maurizio. This has been a very pleasant day," Nasir expressed as his guide steered them through the many anchored boats and into the quay at the far end of the spiaggia grande, at the foot of Positano.
"It is my pleasure to show you, Nasir," Maurizio smiled.
"You must let me take you to dinner to show my appreciation," Nasir expressed.
"I would like," Maurizio's spirits were lifted. Perhaps this beautiful man liked him after all.
"I am going to go back to my hotel and freshen up," Nasir packed his polo shirt and shorts into his bag and hung his beach towel around his neck. "Where should we meet?"
"I can come to your room," Maurizio suggested with a smile.
"Meet me in the lounge in my hotel," Nasir decided. "If I am not there already, have them ring my room."
"Si," Maurizio nodded, somewhat disappointed. At least he would get to spend the evening with Nasir, if not doing what he most wanted.
The men on the quay helped them unload the boat and even provided a porter to take Nasir and his bag and basket back to his hotel. Maurizio slipped on his board shorts and with a wave and smile, disappeared into the narrow alleyways with his backpack.
Back in his room, Nasir luxuriated in a long, tepid shower. After so much sun today, he didn't want hot water on his body. He cinched a towel about his waist, picked up his cell and walked out onto his terrace. The sky was yet colored by the last vestiges of dusk and the all the towns lights were on. This place was even more romantic at night and it made him long for Emmett even more.
"Hey, Babe," Emmett answered cheerfully.
"Ah, my habibi, I miss you so," Nasir leaned against his railing and closed his eyes.
"I miss you too, Nasi, so much. I hate that the weekend's here and I can't have you," Emmett was honest.
"I do too. I want to come home to you," Nasir expressed.
"I want that too," Emmett agreed.
"Really, I wish that you were here with me. This place is so romantic," Nasir looked out over the beach and up at the town. "I can manage to ignore it during the week when I am so busy, but now..."
"I got the text you sent last night. It really is beautiful there," Emmett agreed. "Were you out on a boat?"
"Yes. I rented a boat for the day and my guide took me on a private tour up and down the coast," Nasir informed.
"You had a private guide?" Emmett asked.
"I did. He is the broker's nephew. He is also my driver. Maurizio is his name. He looks like he is fifteen," Nasir filled in. "He is a nice kid. As soon as we were away from shore, very shortly after I took that picture actually, his bathing suit came off because he does not like tan lines."
"What?" Emmett laughed.
"I should have taken a picture of him when he was not looking so you could see," Nasir thought back.
"Did you get a tan line?" Emmett enquired.
"I did not take my bathing suit off until I was back here in my room and heading into the shower," Nasir stated. "I would like very much to show you my tan line."
"I look very forward to seeing it," Emmett expressed. "Is this kid straight?" he asked the single most important question.
"He does not speak English very well and offered very awkwardly to let me put my cock in his ass," Nasir relayed. "I think it is safe to conclude he is not straight."
"Do I need to get on a plane?" Emmett was less amused.
"Yes, please. You should come here at once. I cannot fend off all the Italian boys who hunger for Arab cock," Nasir would love nothing more than for his husband to join him.
"Even one twink pawing at my husband is too many," Emmett stated.
"He actually never did that. Apart from being naked most of the day and saying foolish, awkward things, he behaved himself. He never touched me inappropriately," Nasir assured. "Even if he had, no twink, no man in this world, is a threat to you, my habibi zawji."
"I know that, Nasi. I trust you. Tell him your husband is big, and German, and does not share," Emmett instructed.
"I will show him a picture of you," Nasir pledged. "Then he will know with certainty that he does not have a prayer."
"What are you doing tonight?" Emmett changed the subject.
"I will get something to eat, probably here at the hotel and miss you more," Nasir answered. "What do you have planned for today?"
"We're heading out shortly, actually. Leah and her mom-in-law to be and Melinda, Rosalie and Maggie, and Roberto's sisters are all having a girls day today, so the men are having a bonding day too."
"Did Sethy arrange a trip to the Russian bath house like he did for us?" Nasir asked.
"He suggested it, but he got overruled on this one. Roberto and his brothers and dad are meeting up with us and Justin on the mountain. We're gonna make Edward take us on a hike," Emmett informed.
"I am sorry I will miss that," Nasir expressed.
"I should jump in the shower now, but I don't wanna hang up," Emmett tried not to sound sad, but Nasir could hear it.
"I so wish I was home to jump in the shower with you. My arms ache to hold you," Nasir felt the same way.
"Mine too, Babe," Emmett agreed. "I miss you and I love you."
"I miss and love you, my Emmett," Nasir closed his eyes again.
"I'll call you when I'm heading to bed. It might be late. Seth has something planned tonight, but he won't tell us what it is," Emmett stated.
"I do not care what time it is. If I cannot hold you, at least I can hear your voice. Call anytime you wish," Nasir bid.
"Okay, Nasi. Have a nice night. I'll talk to you in the morning. Ana b'habbak."
"Ana b'habbak, Emmett. Bye," Nasir ended the call. He looked around at the view of nighttime Positano and gave a weary sigh. Why was the man he loved always so damned far away? Nasir walked back into his room, pulled the bath towel from his waist and threw it into the bathroom. He didn't have much in the way of casual clothes with him, but he did have jeans that fit him well and put on a dress shirt with it. He grabbed his wallet and cell and headed downstairs to the lounge.