Read Cortigiana (A Vamp Life Prequel) Online
Authors: Jez Strider
Tags: #romance, #vampires, #paranormal romance, #free, #venice, #courtesan, #romance 1500s, #jez strider, #vamp life
Cortigiana (A Vamp Life Prequel) (4 page)
“
I don’t understand him,
Mamma.” I confessed.
both the best wine in the house. Everything appeared to be just how
we had left it. “He probably feels the same way about you. You like
him?”
“
Yes.”
“
Little else matters. Win
him. He obviously cares for you.” She said. “It is great to be
home. Empty without Zacharia.” A frown snuck onto her face before
she forced it away. “You are no longer that innocent little girl,
are you? I am sorry you had to see the world for what it
is.”
life I’m living now. Even more now that you have returned.”
She gave a shake of her head. “Just be
careful. When the hearts of men become involved, danger can
follow.”
“
I will.” I gave her another
hug. “Let me catch you up on everything.”
talking until we were giddy from the alcohol. Laughter filled the
halls of my home once more. I no longer had to sleep under the roof
of people I despised. I was home and I vowed to repay Antonio
someday. The opportunity presented itself sooner than I
expected.
The sky brightened with each moment that I
stood gazing out over the balcony. Flowers had overgrown their
potting and grew wildly. That was how I felt. I was the same woman,
only free to grow and discover a new world. I leaned against the
wall, resting my head as I watched life awaken.
“
Are you happy?” Antonio
asked and I turned away from the window, startled at the unexpected
voice. My hair was a mess and I had no make-up on. I wore an old,
simple nightgown I’d had for years. My appearance fell short of my
usual courtesan standards because I had not known he intended to
visit.
“
Yes.” I stepped toward him,
but he held up his hand to stop me so I did. “I never had the
chance to thank you yesterday.” I said.
“
You needed time with your
mother. She went out to purchase some fresh food a moment ago.
Invited me to dinner.” He laughed a bit, shaking his head. “Can you
believe that?” The remnant of a smile faded quickly.
“
Are you going to come?” My
voice held a heavy hint of longing. The tension grew.
what I said had a double meaning for both of us. “Do you want me
to… come?”
Meekly, I responded with a yes. He was
moving closer to me, each step sent my heart racing faster and
faster. I thought I would be out of breath before he even reached
me. When he did, he put one hand up to my cheek and ran his thumb
over my bottom lip. I pressed my lips against it and looked up to
him seductively. I didn’t have to act or try with him. Every
response was sincere.
“
Dante is going to ask you
to be his mistress exclusively. He… has an interest in you as more
than a courtesan.” Antonio informed me.
“
I will tell him
no.”
attraction that was drawing us together. It was too strong for
either of us. “You cannot. He has more power than you think.”
His lips found mine so I couldn’t argue.
Before I knew what was happening, my gown was on the floor and I
had been swept off my feet into his arms. With ease, he carried me
over to the bed and gently placed me on the soft mattress where I
had dreamed up fantasies that couldn’t compare to what was
happening at that moment.
“
I am a dangerous man, too.
My… father was a murderer. Tell me no. Tell me and I will leave you
alone.” He begged of me as I reached up and ran my hands over his
now bare chest. How had he disrobed so quickly?
“
I want to tell you yes. I
want to scream it with abandon along with your name. It matters not
who hears or what happens.” I had never revealed such emotion to my
other lovers, but no one else made me feel like Antonio. My cheeks
burned a little and I knew I was blushing. The whore was
blushing
!
fingers. “You are magnificent as you are now, the most beautiful
woman I have ever beheld. I wish I could wake up each morning to
see you like this.”
Our lips met and I would have sworn it was
our destiny to be together. We were like one person torn from the
same fabric of the universe and finally joining together once more.
Lovers, that when death came, would be cast into the sky by the
gods to become stars and form a constellation together for
eternity.
I was young and falling in love for the
first time. It was either one of my greatest mistakes or the best
experience of my life.
“
You can have me always.” I
told him. There was nothing I wanted more than to wake up beside
him every single day.
my breath, expecting to feel the strange stinging sensation that I
did with Dante. There was only his mouth and warm breath. No pain.
“I cannot love you because I cannot have you. Just for today, just
this once, I will take you.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but only a
moan slipped from them as Antonio did what he promised. He took
what he needed while sending me to heights of ecstasy I had never
before reached. Each kiss, each touch, each thrust propelled me to
a higher plane of consciousness.
Afternoon sun lit the city
before we both collapsed from exhaustion. I recall sitting astride
his muscular body with my eyes closed. When I close my eyes, I can
return to that moment. I hear his heavy breathing, the chirp of
birds, and the bustle of Venice outside my window. The scent of man
mingled with blooming flowers causes my nose to faintly tingle. I
feel the touch of his firm hands on my hips as he arches his hips
into me. Then, the word I let slip in a soft whisper that I didn’t
think he would hear. The word that Dante said I threw around
carelessly. That one tiny word that doomed us all.
Love
.
“
I love you,
Antonio.”
them with a soft expression. He felt the same way. I knew he did.
When he lifted me off his body and sat up facing away from me, my
heart shattered. “No.” He said without explanation.
I ran to the window and stared out at the
familiar buildings and my balcony haven. Tears streamed down my
cheeks and no matter how hard I tried to quiet my sobs, I failed.
Antonio was behind me in an instant and soothingly placing his
hands on my shoulders.
“
Just leave me alone.” I
begged.
“
If I did not know better
than to believe superstitions, I would say you are a witch
manipulating my emotions. I am not a… sentimental man by nature.
And still, I find my will to control my feelings for you vanishes
with a simple smile or just a glance from your emerald eyes.” He
turned me around and when I would not look up at him, he lifted my
chin.
blinked them away to see his handsome face more clearly. “I do not
understand how you can say we cannot be together and then say such
sweet words to me.”
“
I have hurt you enough and
risked your life already. Be well. Remember me. But do not love
me.” He kissed my cheek before leaving me confused once
more.
was sure that I didn’t care. My life was mine and I wanted Antonio
no matter what the consequences.
Days continued on as they had before Antonio
and I had made love. I kept the company of my usual men. It was my
job and I hoped it would make the man I loved jealous. Make him
realize he loved me, too. He was nowhere to be found. Even Dante
had gone eerily silent again.
Then, one day, I had a chance encounter with
Antonio while I was out on a stroll with my companion for the day.
Antonio was on a date of his own with a woman of higher social
status than me. I had seen her before at Dante’s mansion.
“
Hello.” Livia called out
and waved to me. She was slender, pale, and had untamed red hair.
The woman was an exotic beauty.
my face burned and I knew it was red. My anger was boiling over.
Despite my intentions to make Antonio jealous, I was the one ending
up green with envy.
“
Dante is returning this
eve. We were on our way with your invitation to the party.” She
informed me.
“
Th… that is wonderful.” I
stumbled a bit over my words. Antonio bore the most serious
expression I had ever seen on a man’s face. “I better figure out
what to wear. I look forward to seeing you both there.”
dragged my companion along with me. I had to get away from them. If
I travelled far enough, fast enough, I hoped I could escape from
the ache in my chest. It was a hopeless attempt.
My escort and I parted ways when I returned
home to prepare for the party. He kissed my lips before handing me
payment for spending the day with him. The coin was substantial.
Each payment ended up being more than the last.
I headed upstairs to my room
and fell to my knees, jerking out the bottom drawer of my dresser.
Buried under clothing, I had a box full of money which I had been
saving since the first time I’d received payment for my love. There
was enough to get far away from Venice. Enough to take mother and
just
leave
. Then, I
could forget about the heartbreak.
run away from the city. For a long time, I stared at the golden
coins without moving. The thought of not seeing Antonio, Dante, and
the other men held me in place. Being a courtesan in Venice was my
life. It was who I was and all I knew how to be. Love was ruining
everything. Why did I feel such strong feelings for Antonio and not
my other lovers?
A small rapping knock on my bedroom door
made me slam the lid of the box down in a hurry and hide it once
again. “Evelina?” My mother’s voice called out. “A gift has arrived
for the party tonight.”
There were always presents from suitors
being delivered. Before opening the door, I wiped the tears that I
hadn’t realized were falling from my eyes. “What a nice surprise.”
I said, trying to hide my inner turmoil by plastering a smile on my
face. This did not fool my mother.
“
What troubles you, child?”
She walked over and spread my new dress across the bed. A small box
was placed on top.
“
Nothing. I was worried
about what to wear. That is all.”
hand over the dark green fabric of the evening gown. “I understand
this lifestyle can be trying at times. We think we are strong and
immune to the weaknesses of the heart. That is, until we meet that
one person that sends us head over heels. Your father was that man
for me.”
I listened closely without interrupting and
waited for her to continue. My mother had spoken little of my
father since his imprisonment.
“
Like you, I had clientele
of high society. These men could give me anything I desired, and
more than one had fallen in love with me. In those years, my beauty
rivaled yours. One day I ran into your father. He was everything my
lovers were not. Violent, uncivilized, and a drunken fool. He grew
out of these tendencies. Unfortunately, your Uncle Luca did not.
Still… there was something about your father even then. He was
handsome and free from the bindings of great social status.” She
bowed her head and I could see how painful it was for her to think
about him.
“
Why do we love the wrong
people?” I asked.
“
We love the person we are
meant to. So follow your heart instead of your mind. If I had
listened to my brain, then I would not have you.” She patted my
face before giving my cheek a little pinch like she did when I was
younger. “It’s just life, my daughter. Live it for the good and the
bad because you only get one.”
“
Yes, mother.” I said and
she left me alone in my room. Neither of us had any way of knowing
just how many lives I would end up leading.
belonged in the city of music, art, and waterways. So, I walked
over to the dress and picked up the box. Inside was a string of
white pearls. I lifted my hair out of the way and held them up to
my neck. The necklace was the most expensive piece of jewelry I had
ever received. I placed it on the dress and retrieved the folded
note from the box.
I missed you more than I expected. No
promises.
~Dante Sanuto
I smiled to myself and
clenched the note to my chest.
No
promises
. It was obvious the great lover
was reluctantly letting me into his heart. With that came the
opportunity to use him to get revenge on Antonio. No longer would I
beg or be hurt because the bodyguard denied me. I had renewed
resolve and I decided it would be enjoyable pretending to love
Dante.
placing the pearls securely around my neck, I became the woman I
had to be. I had never worn clothing so exotic and expensive. It
was an addiction. The gifts, the sex, and the status of being a
premier courtesan were too seductive to deny.
I headed downstairs, skipping a few steps as
I had in the innocent days of my youth which now seemed ages
passed. “How do I look?” I asked with a twirl in front of my
mother.
