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ic one since the first night would be spent in the villa outside Corleone。 The wedding feast went on until midnight but bride and groom would leave before that in the Alfa Romeo。 When that time came Michael was surprised to find that the mother was ing with them to the Corleone villa at the request of the bride。 The father explained： the girl was young； a virgin； a little frightened； she would need someone to talk to on the morning following her bridal night； to put her on the right track if things went wrong。 These matters could sometimes get very tricky。 Michael saw Apollonia looking at him with doubt in her huge doe…brown eyes。 He smiled at her and nodded。
And so it came about that they drove back to the villa outside Corleone with the mother…in…law in the car。 But the older woman immediately put her head together with the servants of Dr。 Taza； gave her daughter a hug and a kiss and disappeared from the scene。 Michael and his bride were allowed to go to their huge bedroom alone。
Apollonia was still wearing her bridal costume with a cloak thrown over it。 Her trunk and case had been brought up to the room from the car。 On a small table was a bottle of wine and a plate of small wedding cakes。 The huge canopied bed was never out of their vision。 The young girl in the center of the room waited for Michael to make the first move。
And now that he had her alone； now that he legally possessed her； now that there was no barrier to his enjoying that body and face he had dreamed about every night； Michael could not bring himself to approach her。 He watched as she took off the bridal shawl and draped it over a chair； and placed the bridal crown on the small dressing table。 That table had an array of perfumes and creams that Michael had had sent from Palermo。 The girl tallied them with her eyes for a moment。
Michael turned off the lights； thinking the girl was waiting for some darkness to shield her body while she undressed。 But the Sicilian moon came through the unshuttered windows； bright as gold； and Michael went to close the shutters but not all the way； the room would be too warm。
The girl was still standing by the table and so Michael went out of the room and down the hall to the bathroom。 He and Dr。 Taza and Don Tommasino had taken a glass of wine together in the garden while the women had prepared themselves for bed。 He had expected to find Apollonia in her nightgown when he returned； already between the covers。 He was surprised that the mother had not done this service for her daughter。 Maybe Apollonia had wanted him to help her to undress。 But he was certain she was too shy； too innocent for such forward behavior。
ing back into the bedroom； he found it pletely dark； someone had closed the shutters all the way。 He groped his way toward the bed and could make out the shape of Apollonia's body lying under the covers； her back to him； her body curved away from him and huddled up。 He undressed and slipped naked beneath the sheets。 He stretched out one hand and touched silky naked skin。 She had not put on her gown and this boldness delighted him。 Slowly； carefully； he put one hand on her shoulder and pressed her body gently so that she would turn to him。 She turned slowly and his hand touched her breast； soft； full and then she was in his arms so quickiy that their bodies came together in one line of silken electricity and he finally had his arms around her； was kissing her warm mouth deeply； was crushing her body and breasts against him and then rolling his body on top of hers。
Her flesh and hair taut silk； now she was all eagerness； surging against him wildly in a virginal erotic frenzy。 When he entered her she gave a little gasp and was still for just a second and then in a powerful forward thrust of her pelvis she locked her satiny legs around his hips。 When they came to the end they were locked together so fiercely； straining against each other so violently； that falling away from each other was like the tremble before death。
That night and the weeks that followed； Michael Corleone came to understand the premium put on virginity by socially primitive people。 It was a period of sensuality that he had never before experienced； a sensuality mixed with a feeling of masculine power。 Apollonia in those first days became almost his slave。 Given trust； given affection； a young full…blooded girl aroused from virginity to erotic awareness was as delicious as an exactly ripe fruit。
She on her part brightened up the rather gloomy masculine atmosphere of the villa。 She had packed her mother off the very next day after her bridal night and presided at the munal table with bright girlish charm。 Don Tommasino dined with them every night and Dr。 Taza told all his old stories as they drank wine in the garden full of statues garlanded with blood…red flowers； and so the evenings passed pleasantly enough。 At night in their bedroom the newly married couple spent hours of feverish lovemaking。 Michael could not get enough of Apollonia's beautifully sculpted body； her honey…colored skin； her huge brown eyes glowing with passion。 She had a wonderfully fresh smell； a fleshly smell perfumed by her sex yet almost sweet and unbearably aphrodisiacal。 Her virginal passion matched his nuptial lust and often it was dawn when they fell into an exhausted slumber。 Sometimes； spent but not yet ready for sleep； Michael sat on the window ledge and stared at Apollonia's naked body while she slept。 Her face too was lovely in repose； a perfect face he had seen before only in art books of painted Italian Madonnas who by no stretch of the artist's skill could be thought virginal。
In the first week of their marriage they went on picnics and small trips in the Alfa Romeo。 But then Don Tommasino took Michael aside and explained that the marriage had made his presence and identity mon knowledge in that part of Sicily and precautions had to be taken against the enemies of the Corleone Family； whose long arms also stretched to this island refuge。 Don Tommasino put armed guards around his villa and the two shepherds； Calo and Fabrizzio； were fixtures inside the walls。 So Michael and his wife had to remain on the villa grounds。 Michael passed the time by teaching Apollonia to read and write English and to drive the car along the inner walls of the villa。 About this time Don Tommasino seemed to be preoccupied and poor pany。 He was still having trouble with the new Mafia in the town of Palermo； Dr。 Taza said。
One night in the garden an old village woman who worked in the house as a servant brought a dish of fresh olives and then turned to Michael and said； 〃Is it true what everybody is saying that you are the son of Don Corleone in New York City； the Godfather？〃
Michael saw Don Tommasino shaking his head in disgust at the general knowledge of their secret。 But the old crone was looking at him in so concerned a fashion； as if it was important for her to know the truth； that Michael nodded。 〃Do you know my father？〃 he asked。
The woman's name was Filomena and her face was as wrinkled and brown as a walnut； her brown…stained teeth showing through the shell of her flesh。 For the first time since he had