Page 2 of Branded in Love
He sucks at his teeth, not at all satisfied by my answer. “When I lived in the US, I had no problem meeting hot guys. But here, it’s like I’m a ghost—fantasma!” He gestures with his hands, then turns to open the glass doors when his gaze suddenly locks on something outside.
“There’s that guy again…” he mumbles in Italian.
“What guy?” I slip my bag’s leather strap over my shoulder and move closer.
Marco swings his head back, striking green eyes fixed on mine. “The hot one you’ve been seeing,” he adds, shooting up a groomed eyebrow. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”
My cheeks burn. “Nothing escapes you, does it?” I roll my eyes back. “We went out on one date. Anyway, it’s nothing serious.” I dismiss, shrugging my shoulders.
“Good thing it isn’t,” he mumbles, looking through the shop’s window.
“Oh?” I step closer, intrigued. “Why is that?”
Marco’s eyes narrow, sweeping Trent with an appraising stare. “He’s handsome as hell,cara. But there’s something about him... I don’t know.” He bites the inside of his cheek. “He gives off bad vibes.”
I gasp. “You’re so superstitious, Marco.” Trent calls me outside with a tilt of his head. “Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”
Marco scoffs. “Geloso, io?” He scowls. “Excuse me, but there’s only one Marco Pellegrini in your life, Luciana. I’ve known you forever. So, no. That’s not it!” Vexed, he pulls the door open. “Hey,hot dude!” he calls out. “Yeah, you. You can come in now... I’m leaving.”
My eyes are all but bulging. I’m sure I’m blushing. “Goddammit, Marco…” I mutter.
At once, Marco marches down the sidewalk.
When Trent holds the door, I see a handsome man. He’s definitely pleasing to the eye, but I feel absolutely nothing. There’s no thrill, no stomach dropping to the floor. I could well be flipping the pages of a magazine and see him there.
“Ciao, Trent…” I tell him.
“Hey, Luciana.” Trent flashes me a smile. I’m sure it’s part of his modeling portfolio. He combs back his golden hair with his fingers. This guy is beautiful, and he knows it. I wish I felt something for him, but other than admiring his good looks, there’s nothing. Zilch. Nada. “I wanted to stop by, see how you’re doing.”
“I’m… good.” At this point, I’m realizing we haven’t moved from the doorway. Should I ask him in? I really want to go home.
Trent exhales a long breath. He’s leaning on the door now, scratching his eyebrow. I sense him rattled. Maybe I’m imagining things. I’ve been working all day. God, I’m so tired.
“Say, uh…” Another enticing smile. For the life of me, I can’t understand why he would have an interest in me. He’s way out of my league. “I’ll walk you home.”
“Okay,” I tell him. It’s just a twenty-minute walk across the park. If he thinks I’m asking him up, he’ll be sorely disappointed. I’m not interested in a one-nighter.
I step outside and lock the door. When I turn, I meet his striking blue eyes. His widened pupils swallow me whole. It’s a bit unnerving, so I look away fast. We cross the street and walk into the Villa Borghese.
“So, uh…” Trent begins, “I’m thinking about tonight.”
“Oh?” I say. “What about tonight?” Here we go. The minute I say no, he’ll go away. And you know what? Good riddance. Maybe I’m lonely, but I’m notthatlonely.
Branches break to my right. I spot movement in the undergrowth. Is that... growling?
“Oh my God!”
3
GAVRIIL
It’s almost impossible to focus when the woman’s scent overpowers my senses. But the minute my gaze locks on the filthy blood drinker, every primal instinct in me awakens. Not only is he a vampire, my natural enemy, but the demon also pretends to steal the human from me. That alone doubles my wrath against the blood devil.
Every inch of me targets the miserable vampire. I don’t think. I let my inner bear take command. And in a flash, I leap out of the woods, grab him by the jacket’s lapels, and tackle him to the ground. Immediately, we struggle. I gave him but a split second to sense my presence, but he did.
“Oh my God!” the woman screams, bolting back. “Trent!”
We roll on the dirt until finally, I’m on top of the vampire. In one quick move, I shove my forearm hard against his throat, ready to crush his windpipe. That might give me the leverage I need to rip his head off. “You’re not getting away from me,” I say through gritted teeth. My beef with vampires goes back a long way, to the one who killed my father. I’ll gladly take down a blood drinker anytime. The fact that he’s after the woman only strengthens my resolve.
