Page 38 of Branded in Love
A faint smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. Vlad jerks his head back, raising his chin slightly. “We’ve been apart for so long,” he says. “I thought I might tempt you with some coffee.” He pauses. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d find you here.” He smooths a hand across his chin, narrowing his grey eyes.
“Oh?” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “And why is that?”
“Well,” he breathes. “After our last conversation, I thought you might have… reconsidered.”
A faint growl rests in my chest. Why is he here? I lean my body forward, feeling my expression tense with every inch as I get closer to his face. “She’s mine, Vlad,” I tell him in a hoarse whisper. “I’ve claimed her.”
Vladimir’s face slackens. “Oh…” he utters, stepping back. “Well, in that case… we might get that coffee some other time.”
I nod slowly. “Some other time,” I manage, struggling not to mutter the words. I don’t like seeing him here.Walk away,I tell him with a fierce stare.Don’t ever let me find you here again, brother.
He gets the message and takes one more step back.
“After we’ve ended Barone’s coven,” he adds with a wink.
“Yes,” I reply, unfolding my arms. “That sounds good.”
“I’ll call you when it’s done, brother.” He casually turns and starts walking down the hallway. “We must celebrate as soon as possible!”
I say nothing, but my hard stare follows him until he disappears inside the elevator.
With the adrenalin still pumping in my veins, I start as the door creaks open behind me.
“Gavriil?” she says with a groggy voice, gorgeous in grey sweats and a messy hair bun.
Alertness gives way to relaxed bliss when my gaze meets her hazel eyes. My hand smooths over the side of her face, and a smile immediately blooms on my lips.“Buongiorno, bellisima…”I whisper, then press my lips to hers in a tender kiss. “How are you feeling?” I look at her shoulder.
She stares at it too. “Just a little sore,” she says, surprised. “I thought it would be worse than this.” Luciana’s gaze glides to mine. “Are you…” she purses her lips, “leaving?”
“No,” I hurry to say. “No, I’m not leaving.” My hand folds over hers and presses it lightly. “Do you want some coffee?”
“I…” She looks back at the kitchen. “I think I might have some…”
“I mean outside,” I add. “Do you want to grab some coffee and maybe walk in the park for a little while?”
Her face brightens with joy. “That sounds pretty good,” she says, delighted.
“Great.” I nod, returning her smile. “Let’s go.”
As we move down the hallway, I can’t stop myself from soaring, for even on the brink of war between my clan and a coven of vampires, I have her. It’s no longerI, butwe. And that makes everything infinitely worth it.
28
GAVRIIL
Evening sets on the Roman horizon. Blood-red skies streaked with blue spread before the darkened city outline. We stand by the balustrade, champagne glasses in our hands. Warmth lingers in the air from the heaters that surround us. A quartet plays in the distance.
My gaze drifts away from the panoramic and lazily roves over Luciana, radiant in a sleeveless red chiffon dress with a plunging V-neckline. Her undiluted scent still drives me wild with lust, but the feeling is easier to tame now that I’ve branded her. I inch close to her. “You look so beautiful... I could have you right now,” I whisper in her ear.
Her cheeks burn red scarlet. She bites her lower lip. I read her restlessness, understanding she’s worried for her friend’s sake, worried that the evening might shift from a precious fantasy into a true nightmare.
“Do you realize this is our first date?” I tell her, hoping to soothe her uneasiness.
She holds my hand, and hers quivers. “It would have been perfect had no vampires been involved.”
I sweep a hand around her back, luring her close to me. She yields. “Youare perfect…” I press my lips against her temple. “And it’s going to be all right, my love,” I assure her, even though the highest wariness spikes in my blood. “I’m taking care of this. Just stay close to me at all times.”
She nods.
