Fire on my Skin

By Alessia Cuce'

Elèna, an established painter and abandoned wife, has always considered sex the unimportant in a relationship.

Her best friends, Fabiana and Manuela, try to convince her otherwise, advising her to let herself go as they believe that to be the cause of the failure of her marriage. But she will not listen to them until a stranger stumbles in her life, giving her such pleasure she will not be able to resist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alessia Cuce'
• Release date: Feb 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781507172698

Book preview

I have to thank many people for their help and their support.

My readers, who get excited and give me trust.

All the bloggers hosting my books and keeping a small space for me.

And all those who believe in my work, be them near, far or virtual.

––––––––

Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.

Hold my hand at sunset,

when the light of day goes out

and darkness slips on his cloth of stars.

Hold it tight, when I cannot live

in this imperfect world.

Hold my hand,

take me where time does not exist.

Hold it tight in hard living.

Hold my hand,

in the days when I feel disoriented,

sing me the song of the stars, sweet singsong voices breathe.

Hold my hand, and hold it tight,

before the insolent fate can take me away from you.

Hold my hand and

do not let go, ever.

(Herman Hesse)

Chapter One

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Sex is the insignificant part of a story.

I had always said that to myself and to Fabiana, my roommate and good friend. Maybe because I had never felt a strong pleasure in a relationship. My fantasy, although I was a painter who ran an art gallery, had never gone further than that. To me, there was always something deeper than physical contact, something spiritual, capable of holding two people together.

A man must make me swoon with other qualities! I kept repeating.

It doesn’t work that way, Elèna. Sex is a great part of a relationship. If there is no chemistry between the sheets, the relationship won’t have a future. Listen to me, someone who has tried both scenarios.

Yes, and here you are, as single as I am! I would reply sarcastically.

I'm single because between me and Luke there was great sexual chemistry but nothing else. There is no doubt that he was a wizard in bed, but outside of it he was a complete idiot!

I don’t agree. My sex life has always been devoid of transport. I don’t remember ever experiencing something exceptional and unique! And anyway, Valerio made me feel other things!

Valerio dumped you over the phone, saying that you could not arouse in him the emotions he wanted. And from what I could tell, he didn’t arouse anything in you!

Her words hurt me but I had to admit to myself that perhaps she was right. That’s enough, Fabiana. Why do you persist in believing that physical contact is so essential? It's been a long time since the last time I had sex and I don’t feel the need for it at all.

And it was true. I didn’t feel the desire to get together with another man. Or maybe I was not ready to leave Valerio behind me. His memory still invaded my heart.

I guess why! You never really had sex. You were with Valerio for ten years; you have no idea what someone able to make you lose your wits can make you feel.

Ten long years, nine of engagement and less than one of marriage. Years during which we hadn’t shared anything. Nevertheless, when Fabiana went back on the same subject over and over again, I hated her. Fabiana, how could you know how I felt when I made love to Valerio? Because that's what I did. Have you forgotten I loved him? And I do, unfortunately, I snapped, hysterical.

Because I read it in your eyes.

Have you become a psychic now? Come on, stop for heaven's sake. I liked making love to him, that's all. But you know that for me it has never been so important. I can do without.

You're more stubborn than a mule! He was your one and only lover, and neither of you had any experience, even if this is not the root of the problem. You two were... dead. There are feelings that you've never even imagined, parts of your body that, I imagine, you don’t even know how much pleasure they can give you. The soul can’t make you reach an intense orgasm. You should start trying to have some fun !

Our conversations always began and ended with the same topic. She claimed that my mind would take advantage from physical pleasure, and that there was nothing wrong with wanting to satisfy physical needs. Needs that I did not feel. Then she went on saying I had dark circles under my eyes, pale skin and dead eyes. From how