Read Cortigiana (A Vamp Life Prequel) for Free Online

Mother. I’m going
to live my life to the fullest.”
    “ Well. Have at it. Your
escort is waiting outside.” Her arms wrapped around me briefly as
my eyes widened.
    “ He is here? Dante came
himself?” I ran to the window and peered outside. Antonio was
there, standing where the gondolier normally would be. Looking upon
him sucked the breath out of me. There was a knock on the door and
I jumped back. My mother went to answer and welcomed the guest into
our home.
    “ Your place is lovely. It
pained me to hear of your loss. If I had only known about the
arrest, I could have helped. Ah, but then I may not have had the
privilege of getting acquainted with your daughter.” Dante Sanuto
stepped further into my house. My mother moved aside when he
extended his hand toward me. “Breathtaking.”
    “ Master Dante… I had no idea
you would be arriving in person tonight. The event is your welcome
home party after all.” I said, forcing myself not to look out the
window at Antonio again. Slowly, I walked up to the noble and
placed my hand in his.
Dante lifted my hand a little, but instead
of placing a kiss on it as I expected, he lowered his mouth to my
lips. The kiss was not short and did not lack intensity. “How could
I make a grand entrance without you on my arm?” He said when he
broke the contact. “Allow me to see your hair in its full glory.”
Without asking and now revealing one of the first hints of his
controlling nature, he pulled out a few pins that were holding my
hair partially up and adjusted the flowing locks around my
shoulders in a way he preferred.
    “ As you wish. Thank you for
the fine gifts.” I gave him the sincerest smile I could manage even
if my emotions were a jumbled mess.
    “ Only the best for you.” He
touched my cheek before turning his attention to my mother. “I
shall take good care of her.”
I looked at my mother who held a
disapproving gaze. She knew which man I loved and I think she knew
what I was up to. “I am sure you will. Enjoy your party.”
We exited my home and Dante helped me
carefully seat myself so that I wouldn’t fall into the canal from
tripping over the elaborate gown. Antonio’s eyes were on me. I only
glanced at him once before avoiding looking at him further.
    “ You know my most trusted
man.” Dante gestured to Antonio. “I hope he has treated you well
when I have had to be absent. I apologize for the hasty end to our
previous encounter.” His hand ran over my thigh near the spot he
was nibbling the last time we were together.
Antonio was our boatman for the evening,
leading us toward the mansion. “He’s been great. I saw him earlier
with his date.”
Dante started laughing. “Livia?” He shook
his head. “She is a wild one that I doubt even Antonio could tame.
He sure has a good time trying. His appetite for women is
insatiable.”
    “ I see. I have never seen
anyone look quite like her. Where is she from?”
    “ Her secrecy about her
origin is part of her allure.” He said.
    “ Can you not make her tell
you?”
He laughed again. “I could, but for now I
like the mystery. You, on the other hand, are even more difficult
to figure out.”
This surprised me. “What? Me?”
    “ Yes. It is strange how you
can be so young and seemingly normal and yet have such a profound
effect on the people you come in contact with. I have heard tales
from your other lovers about how quickly they fall in
love.”
    “ I think they know that I
genuinely care about their happiness and their
satisfaction.”
Dante leaned close to my ear, lightly giving
the lobe a bite. “Could you deny them to focus only on me? My
wants… my… needs.” He whispered.
Antonio shuffled his feet a little behind
us. I hoped he was uncomfortable. “We have arrived, Dante.” He
said, interrupting before I could respond.
    “ I have all the time in the
world, Evelina.” He grinned at me and I thought for a moment I saw
fangs. I blinked and they were gone. Had my mind be playing