ONCE UPON A TIME IN VENICE

CHAPTER 12

Maria was surprised when Mother Superior called her to her office and tasked her with visiting the winery owned by Giovanni's family. "They are in need of our assistance, and we have always been grateful for their donations to the convent," Mother Superior explained.

Maria nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. She knew that Giovanni would be there, and she didn't know if she could handle being around him. But she couldn't refuse the Mother Superior's request, so she gathered the orphans and set out for the winery.

The ride to the winery was bumpy, but the orphans were excited to be out of the convent and into the countryside. As soon as they arrived, they ran into the vineyard and began picking grapes. Maria watched as they laughed and played, feeling a sense of joy at their happiness.

Little did she know that Giovanni was watching her from his porch. He had been waiting for her to arrive, hoping to see her again. He knew that he shouldn't be watching her, but he couldn't help himself.

He was drawn to her in a way that he couldn't explain.

As the orphans continued to pick grapes, the sky began to darken. Maria looked up and saw clouds gathering, and she knew that they had to finish their work quickly. But just as they were about to head back to the convent, the rain began to pour down.

The orphans squealed with delight at the sudden change in weather, but Maria knew that they had to seek shelter quickly.

As they ran towards a nearby house, Maria's foot slipped in the mud and she fell, hitting her head on the hard ground. She groaned in pain, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Her vision was blurred, but she saw the silhouette of a man standing in the doorway of the house.

As she stumbled towards him, trying to steady herself, she saw that it was Giovanni. He looked at her with a mix of surprise and desire, and she felt her heart race.

She gasped when she realized that her veil had fallen off in the fall, leaving her hair wet and clinging to her face. She felt exposed and vulnerable in front of Giovanni, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

Giovanni stepped closer, his eyes dark with desire. Maria felt a mix of fear and longing as he leaned in and slammed her against the wall, kissing her passionately. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong, and she found herself giving in to the heat of the moment.

Giovanni's lips were warm and demanding as they pressed against Maria's. She could feel his desire burning through her, matching her own. His hands were strong and rough as they explored her body, sending shivers down her spine.

Maria's heart was pounding in her chest as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She felt his hard body pressed against hers, and she couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips.

The room was dimly lit, and the sound of the rain outside only added to the sense of intimacy between them. The scent of wine and wet earth hung heavy in the air, creating an almost intoxicating atmosphere.

As their passion grew, they stumbled towards the bed, still kissing and touching each other. Maria felt like she was drowning in a sea of sensations, lost in the moment with Giovanni.

But as the rain outside began to ease, Maria's sense of guilt and responsibility began to return. She knew that she couldn't stay here with Giovanni any longer, no matter how much she wanted to.

Reluctantly, she pulled away from him and began to gather her clothing. Giovanni watched her, his eyes full of longing.

"I'm sorry, Giovanni," Maria whispered as she dressed. "I can't stay here. We can't do this."

Giovanni didn't respond, but Maria could see the desire in his eyes as she left the house and headed back out into the rain.