The Raven (The Florentine #1)(69)

Raven’s gaze dropped to his mouth.

He licked his lips.

She shook her head, as if trying to snap out of it.

“Then you should have no trouble finding a willing partner. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

He stepped in front of her. “In a few days, the two bloods I administered to you will disappear from your system and I’ll be able to enjoy your true vintage. I’ve been looking forward to sampling it for a while.”

“You’d drink my blood?”

He gave her a half smile.

“Vampyres tend to do that.”

“I’d rather die.”

“What?” His tone was harsh, if not incredulous.

“You stole the illustrations from the Uffizi and now you’ve kidnapped me. I don’t care what you are. I have no intention of staying with you as a sex slave or a fountain drink or anything else.”

He scowled. “You wouldn’t be a slave. You’d be royalty.”

“You said I’d be under your control.”

“I said that’s usual. You should know by now that you are far from usual. In fact, I think you’re strong-minded enough to maintain a degree of autonomy despite an intense sexual relationship with me.”

“A degree of autonomy isn’t freedom.”

“Being my lover is.” He reached out and traced her collarbones from shoulder to shoulder. “Freedom to enjoy the pleasure I’ll give you. Freedom to leave your cares behind and focus only on living a life of erotic delight.”

“That isn’t an inducement.” She set her teeth. “I’d rather kill myself than be touched against my will.”

William glared. “I am not a rapist.”

“So you say.”

“I saved you from being raped and I killed three men in order to do it,” he hissed.

“Maybe because you wanted to finish the job.”

“Cave,” he warned.

He was perilously close to losing his temper, but, through a visible effort, he restrained himself.

He clenched his jaw.

“You’d end your life, simply to avoid this?”

Raven lifted her chin. “Yes.”

“Do you know what happens to suicides after they die?”

She shrugged. “They go to sleep and never wake up.”

“No, they don’t. Suicide is the worst thing a human being can do. You shouldn’t even consider it.” William looked deeply into her eyes. “You say you don’t want this, but I saw you blush. You want me to touch you. You want to be in my bed.”

“No.” She spoke defiantly.

“Convince me.”

His gray eyes dropped to her lips.

He brought his body to within a hairsbreadth of hers, but didn’t touch her. His mouth hovered close.

Raven waited, expecting him to kiss her.

He didn’t.

She inhaled deeply.

Still, he didn’t move.

“Cassita,” he murmured. The movement of his mouth brought their lips in contact, but only for a second.

Then his lips were on hers and he was kissing her.

His hand sifted through her long hair, cupping the back of her head. He brought their bodies together, erasing the space between them.

Then he slowed the tempo of his lips to an agonizing crawl. He pressed against her, brushing his lips across hers as if the distance were interminable and he had all the time in the world.

She didn’t push him away, but she didn’t kiss him back. She was as still as a statue, motionless in his arms.

Then his lips were gone.

She opened her eyes and saw him staring at the door.

“We’re about to be interrupted.”

“Interrupted?”

No sooner had the word left her mouth than there came a knock at the door.

“Enter,” William called.

There was a click and a scrape of the lock. The door opened.

Ambrogio appeared. “Forgive me, my lord. An urgent message has arrived.”

“Place it on the table.”

If Ambrogio was surprised by the shards of glass and wine droplets he had to step over in order to walk to the side table, he hid it well. He put a white envelope next to Raven’s empty wineglass.

“Will there be anything else, my lord?” He ignored Raven and looked only at William.

“No. That is all.”

Ambrogio bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind him.

William released Raven, walking over to the table. He ripped open the envelope and scanned the written contents.

“Sard,” he cursed, stuffing the letter back into the envelope.

“What does that mean?”

“It means f*ck.”

“In what language?”

“English.” He tossed the envelope on the table. “I had hoped to spend the day with you. Unfortunately for us both, business intrudes. We’ll continue this conversation later. In the interim, the villa is at your disposal. Lucia will prepare your meals and see that you have what you need. I’ll seek you out when I return, which may not be until tomorrow.”

He nodded at her and made for the door.

She followed him. “Wait. What’s going to happen to Bruno?”

William frowned. “Why must you keep mentioning him?”