by Tamsin Baker
He circled his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her again, then effortlessly picked her up and walked her to the bed. He looked her into her eyes, smiled, then took one of her hands and kissed the inside of her wrist.
“Are you comfortable, Hosidia?” When she nodded, he lay down next to her.
“You are as beautiful as ever,” he said, his voice low.
Leaning down, he caressed her cheeks with the back of his hand, then placed his lips on hers, softly. When the kiss became more passionate, he pulled her closer and smiled when she moved closer still. He trailed his fingers along her back, kissing her mouth again, then helped her take her pyjamas off, but didn’t touch her. Once they broke off their passionate kiss, he raised up and looked at her from head to toe, wanting to savour every inch. Then he focused again on her lips.
“I missed this so much,” he said.
She reached for him and rested her hand on his face.
“I feel fortunate to have your everlasting love.”
Zev wanted to give her everything—his emotional and physical love. He wanted to express everything he wanted, not out of selfishness, but because she deserved every moment of joy and happiness.
As he was placing kisses on her face, neck, shoulder, anywhere he could reach, her hands reached for his shorts. He let her pull them off then let out a pleasured sigh the moment her hand found his cock. She pushed him to his back and positioned herself on top, leaning down so their faces were close. Her breath on his skin made him shiver. Her eyes were closed and her smile was absolutely beautiful. She placed her lips on his, then slowly she bit his full lower lip. Zev threaded his fingers through and took charge of the kiss. As she parted her lips, he invaded her mouth with his tongue. Slowly, she lowered herself on top of his cock.
“This is heaven,” she whispered.
Zev grabbed her hips and took charge of the pace of their thrusts.
“Do you like it?” she asked.
He couldn’t speak, he was so taken in by the pleasure she was giving him. He just held her even tighter, hoping that was answer enough for her.
He pulled her down so he could kiss her neck, but stopped a moment, watching her vein pumping. He soon resumed kissing her in that special place again.
“Slide down please,” she whispered.
He did as he was asked. Holding her tight, he lay down straight. The only thing that mattered him was her happiness.
Stretching out flat on him, still clenching him inside her, she kissed him again, maintaining eye contact. Then bringing her cheek to his, she started moving slowly and gently. From time to time she concentrated on his full lips, kissing him passionately.
He enjoyed her riding him slowly. This was her favourite position and he knew she wouldn’t get tired. He enjoyed watching her orgasm, the look of ecstasy on her face and the passionate sounds she made. .
He rolled her over, so she was now under him. Thrusting his hips slowly and rhythmically, he drove them both to the edge.
Zev’s control slipped and he rode her harder, until he couldn’t hold back anymore. With all his strength, and keeping in mind she was human and easily injured, he let go of the strongest orgasm he’d had in the last one hundred and forty years.
As they both regained their breath, he rolled onto his back, pulling her onto his chest. He held her tightly, kissing the top of her head.
“Should we do what we haven’t done since 79BC?” he asked.
She kissed his chest.
CHAPTER 13
FLORENCE 2019 Segana
It was common knowledge that for a vampire to enter another vampire’s domain, they must first be invited. But Segana wasn’t visiting. She was on a mission to destroy both Zev and his bitch, Hosidia. Apparently killing her the first time hadn’t served its purpose. She had come back time and time again, falling in love with Zev, mocking her. But not this time. Segana would destroy him. He belonged to her, and as his maker, she had the right to do with him as she pleased.
“So be it, Zev. You don’t deserve to be my favourite vampire. The only thing I always asked of you was to never lie to me. I always hated that little, insignificant slave. You deserve to become a nothing.” She entered the first walls of the villa. The place was built like a fortress, but that didn’t stop her. Like a mad woman, she went in search of her vampire and his slut.
Once inside the gardens she climbed the east walls, then sprang from a balcony and went in to search the bedrooms. She opened a door, hoping she could find them and prepared to get rid of everyone who stood in her way.
The first room she checked was empty, but she could smell him. His scent. The smell of sex.
“You are going to be so dead.” She followed her nose.
Like lighting she flew from the bedroom and made her way to the inner gardens, until she found them in each other’s arms.
“How touching. The two lovebirds finally reunited.” She wasn’t going to permit either of them to make fun of her. She was in charge. She made the rules and they always broke them. That was unforgivable.
Zev got up in a flash, shielding Hosidia’s body with his own.
“You know well that as your maker you won’t be able to touch me.”
FLORENCE 2019 Adonia
It had finally happened. Her sweet Natalia was aware that her first existence was in Rome in 79BC and she was Hosidia. She had seen all the dreams and now her fear was that Segana had been there too.
There was no time to waste. In matter of moments, she was inside the villa, telling the viscount what was happening and explaining her fear for her granddaughter’s life.
“If she kills my granddaughter again, I will never forgive myself,” she said to her old friend.
“You know very well that there is nothing and no one stopping you now, as long you have just cause,” the viscount said.
They made their way to where they detected the scent of her granddaughter and found Zev shielding her with his big body against a furious and dangerous Segana.
“Zev Akoi can’t touch you, but I have an old account to settle with you,” warned Adonia.
FLORENCE 2019 Natalia
Fear engulfed Natalia when she heard the venom in Segana’s voice, but what could she do? She held on to Zev, hoping that this time the ending was going to be in their favour, but she wasn’t holding her breath. From behind Zev, she looked at her enemy. She had been crying, and her face was stained with blood. Who knew Segana was capable of any feelings?
“I loved you with all my strength. I wanted you to love me back, but she was always been there, between us,” she sobbed.
“You don’t know anything about love. You are a murderer,” said Zev.
Segana suddenly grabbed Zev by his shirt and threw him across the garden. What she didn’t count was that Natalia was holding him so tightly, she flew with him. As he fell on her, she lost her breath.
“Where is that bitch?” Segana yelled as she flew to Zev’s side again.
Hosidia knew there was nothing Zev could do to defend her against his maker. He wasn’t strong enough to fight Segana, but he was trying to protect Natalia with his own body.
As another blow connected with Zev’s face, he was tossed about again. Segana had her foot on top of his throat, crushing him.
“You are so gone. You betrayed me from the start. I made the mistake of killing her. Instead, I should have killed you first.”
“Please don’t!” Natalia cried when she saw Zev’s bulging eyes.
“And here she comes to the rescue,” Segana laughed.
Her evil sound gave Natalia goose bumps all over her body. Not even sure how it all happened, Segana was now holding her around her neck and squeezing tightly, her foot still on Zev.
Her breathing was laboured as Segana’s hand was getting tighter around her neck and stars danced before her eyes. As she was about to give in and not resist, she heard a familiar voice.
“Get away from both of them!” Adonia yelled.
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Her Nonna Adonia wasn’t alone. The viscount was there with her. Maybe this time she would survive Segana’s hatred, but right now she was squeezing her life out of her.
“I should have killed you too when I had the chance.” Venomous words spilled from Segana.
The viscount launched at Segana and moved her away from Zev, but she was still had a tight grip on Natalia.
As the viscount kicked her, launching her into the air, she lost her clasp of Natalia, who was suddenly falling. She was caught by Adonia, who placed her next to Zev, and she then to help Viscount Garofano with Segana.
Zev was motionless. He didn’t move or talk, but his eyes were still open.
“Zev, can you hear me?” she whispered. Her hands rested on his crushed chest. He felt like an old, empty, teddy bear that had lost its stuffing. Her hands touched him everywhere, tears pouring down her cheeks.
“Oh my God, she’s crushed you.”
The only thing she could do was cradle him in her arms as tightly as she could. His body going cold, and she didn’t have a fiestafruit to give to him. She wasn’t sure he would make it.
With tears in her eyes, she watched Segana fighting her two opponents. The bitch was very strong, and though Adonia was older, Natalia hoped that she could put an end to the madness.
“Please, Zev, don’t leave me now.” She thought if she talked to him, and he could hear her, he would fight and stay with her.
Her head was spinning as the three vampires fought and flew around so fast she felt she was inside a tornado. Then Segana landed next to them, grabbed Zev and rose in the air, holding him. With all her strength, Natalia held to Zev’s limp body. She knew she was no match for the vampire, but reason wasn’t what was in her mind that very moment.
The viscount and Adonia both attacked Segana, and she lost her grip on Zev. There was a thump as he fell and she was trapped between the ground and his body. As strong as a devil, Segana broke away and came for them again. She was a few inches away from her neck, fangs out, and Natalia knew she was going to be either turned or killed.
As she loomed over Zev, her eyes rolled up and blood poured from her mouth, drops falling on Natalia’s face. Suddenly she disintegrated into a puddle of ash.
Her nonna, holding a stick in her hands, had pierced Segana’s heart from behind. For a moment everything stood still, and Natalia knew that if Zev was already gone, all of this mayhem had been for nothing.
“Please get him off me and help him—” But before she could finish her sentence, both Adonia and the viscount had lifted Zev to help him.
She watched her nonna bring her fangs out, bite herself and let her blood fall in Zev’s mouth. The count held his body as he started to convulse.
Natalia had lived all her life with a vampire and she was aware of what could happen. If Zev’s body rejected the blood, he was as good as gone.
She waited, trying to keep out of the way so they could help Zev. She prayed like she never had before.
It felt like hours that she held her breath, waiting. She couldn’t lose him now. She couldn’t hold her tears back, but she cried in silence. She didn’t want to disturb them while they were trying to help him.
Suddenly she heard him cough, then cough again.
“Hosidia.” His voice was but a whisper. She rushed to his side and touched him where his chest had been crushed. Everything seemed to be back to normal.
“He’s weak, but he will be fine,” her nonna said.
“I’m here, darling. I won’t leave your side, I promise.” She tried not to cry out loud, but her trembling voice betrayed her. Her gladiator was still with her.
“You survived her hatred this time,” he said between coughs.
“We both did.” She kissed his lips.
“We are finally free to be together,” he said.
“Yes, my love, we are. Even though we shall have other challenges,” she answered.
“Together we will overcome everything, and we shall make the right decisions for both of us.”
Nothing worthwhile ever came easy in life. Nothing was written in the stars. But one thing was sure—their love had outlived centuries and many obstacles. She was this vampire’s mate and she was with the man to whom she belonged.
They held each other’s hands, interlocking their fingers. Slowly Natalia placed her lips softly on Zev’s.
“Amo te tam multo. I love you so much,” she said in her original language of Latin.
“Te quoque amo. I love you too.” Zev answered against her lips.
