Fire Maidens: Venice

by Lowe, Anna

  Why, indeed? her lioness agreed.

  In truth, she’d never been shy in bed. But she’d never felt quite so bold or free.

  Gripping the wrought-iron frame, she leaned back, taking him even deeper. Then she pumped her hips in long, languid thrusts that matched his. She couldn’t summon the same brute force Tony could, but she sure as hell could give him the ride of his life.

  The ride of her life, too, as it turned out. Her breath came out in short, loud bursts, turning to cries of intense pleasure. Her body jerked over his, and heat rushed through her blood. Then every muscle shuddered, and she finally surrendered to an explosive orgasm.

  Tony groaned, coming deep inside her, and she tipped her head back.

  “Yes…”

  A platoon of ghostly soldiers could have marched out of the abandoned fort and she wouldn’t have noticed, not in the state she was in. When a second wave of pleasure hit her, she gripped the iron frame so hard, the edge bit into her hand. But that only intensified her high, and her cry stretched out into the night.

  Finally, sapped of energy, she slumped over Tony.

  Mate, her lioness growled.

  There was that, too. She’d never been so sure of anything in her life.

  She nuzzled him weakly, overcome. Destiny might make a man and woman cross paths, and it might harbor secret plans. But the emotions swirling inside came from her soul, not from a mysterious outside power. The tight grip of her hands over his was her own doing, just as Tony’s sweet murmurs came from the heart.

  None of that was destiny. It was passion. Love. A sense of belonging more powerful than anything she’d felt before.

  Turning her head, she rested on his chest, listening to his heart pound.

  Tony, she nearly whispered, ready to bare all. All her secrets, her faults, and her imperfections. All her hopes and dreams.

  “Bellissima,” Tony murmured, snuggling her close.

  She relaxed into his arms. “So good…”

  A perfect, lazy eternity followed. Then a bat flew overhead, startling them both. Breaking into chuckles, they untangled their limbs and lowered their feet to firm ground. Very firm ground, as Cara discovered when they succumbed to lust for the third — and fourth — times. Then, sometime deep in the night, they tiptoed back to the guesthouse, swearing to call it a night — only to fall into each other’s arms again. That last time was slower, lazier, and much, much quieter, what with the others sleeping nearby, but just as satisfying.

  “Buena notte, cara mia,” Tony eventually whispered, holding her close.

  The play of words made her heart swell.

  Her mess of emotions and thoughts should have kept her awake for hours, but the moment Tony wrapped his arms around her, her mind cleared, and her eyelids drooped.

  “Buena notte, bello,” she whispered, letting herself drift into a blissfully deep sleep.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tony had never slept as peacefully as he did through the remainder of the night. But when he woke in the morning, it was with a start, then a curse.

  At first, he’d only registered a vague something, and his ear twitched. Even then, he was tempted to roll over and keep Cara snuggled comfortably at his side.

  But then an engine roared, and he jumped out of bed. Cara bolted upright, looking around. “What is that?”

  Her voice was soft, but her tone had a hard edge of, Whoa. How the hell could I allow myself to miss that?

  Exactly the question Tony beat himself over the head with as he yanked on his pants and rushed outside.

  The bushes on the canal side of the property rustled, and the roar grew louder. Someone was approaching fast.

  “Stay with Fiorina,” he grunted, running toward the noise.

  A moment later, he winced at his curt tone. That was Cara he was talking to, not a subordinate in the military. But there was no time to explain, not with an intruder on the way. He dashed through the bushes, catching up with Theo and Rocco at the water’s edge in time to see two Jet Skis speeding away. One was painted yellow and black like a bumblebee, and the other neon green.

  “Who is it?” he demanded, panting from his sprint.

  Theo shot the Jet Skiers a spiteful look. “Just a couple idiots messing around. False alarm.” He turned back toward the house but stopped cold, staring at Tony.

  There weren’t many people who could make Tony wither with shame. But a comrade who trusted him with his life…

  Theo’s piercing expression hurt, because Tony had let him down. A first. He’d never had to catch up with anyone, because he’d always been the one leading the charge. But this time, he’d been lounging in bed, too self-absorbed to help.

  Rocco glared at the Jet Skiers’ wakes. “Bastards. If they’d been after Fiorina…”

  They weren’t, but that didn’t change how Tony felt. By the time he’d shown up, it might have been too late.

  Rocco turned and hurried back to the house. “I’ll check on her.”

  Tony hung his head. His overexcited, greenhorn cousin had done a better job protecting Fiorina than he had.

  When he started shuffling back to the house, Theo pulled him back.

  “Could have been close, you know.”

  Tony nodded. Yes. He should have known better.

  Theo swung his jaw a few times, then spoke. “Look, in any other circumstance, I wouldn’t say a word, because how you spend the night is none of my business. But if it makes you tune out when you need to be alert…” He trailed off, eyes flashing. “We’re on duty here, dammit.”

  Tony gritted his teeth. Theo was right. What had he been thinking?

  Love. Forever. Mate, his lion murmured sheepishly. Not wasting a minute of love, like Nonno said.

  Still, that was no excuse for tuning out. What had gotten into him?

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. Clearly, destiny had lulled him into a false sense of security. Tricking him — again — in other words.

  Merda. What if Cara was right about destiny playing games?

  “Won’t happen again,” he assured Theo.

  Theo eyed him skeptically. “Better not.” Then he wrinkled his nose. “Dammit, man. You need a shower. A long one. Not to get rid of your scent,” he added at Tony’s blank look. “To scrub off hers.”

  Tony winced. Shit. He smelled of Cara. Make that, he smelled of sex and Cara.

  Sex with Cara, his lion added a little smugly.

  Theo’s features softened. “Look, I get it. Cara is great. And you’re good together.”

  Tony’s head jerked up. Since when did Theo consider such things?

  Then his friend went on, and the shame came rushing back.

  “But your timing… Well, it couldn’t be worse.”

  With those words, Theo headed back to the house. Tony followed, making sure to keep downwind of the others.

  “Everything all right?” Cara asked.

  “False alarm,” Theo announced.

  Cara’s eyes dulled with shame, and Tony knew exactly how she felt. Thank goodness it was just a false alarm — but that was bad enough. They’d both made a terrible mistake.

  When his eyes met hers, she gulped.

  My mistake. Her voice sounded in his head. Loud and clear, for the first time ever.

  Like true mates, his lion pointed out.

  His chest ached. How could a night as perfect as theirs be a mistake?

  Still, he nodded. My mistake. Won’t happen again.

  Cara’s face fell, and his lion roared. What the hell do you mean?

  He nearly blurted, Wait, that’s not what I meant, but it was too late.

  Cara’s eyes hit the floor, and her cheeks burned. His tone was a brush-off, a dismissal. As if what they’d shared was a regrettable one-night stand and not true love.

  His lips trembled, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter a word. How could he, with everyone there — and especially with Theo’s look of warning?

  Fiorina, on the other hand, beamed at the atten
tion Rocco showered on her.

  “I’m fine,” she insisted, not the least bit fazed. Then she turned to everyone. “How about a treat for breakfast? I can make crespelle.”

  “My favorite.” Rocco licked his lips at the mention of the crêpe-like treat, though he would probably devour anything Fiorina made, even if it were burned to a crisp.

  Tony exchanged hard looks with Theo.

  I’ll keep an eye out, Theo shot his words into Tony’s mind. You take that shower. And get Cara to take one too. After you, I mean. Not with you.

  The latter part was a weak joke — Theo’s way of taking the edge off his words. But he was right. Before Cara could follow Fiorina into the kitchen, Tony grabbed her hand.

  “Secundo,” he called to the others, then whispered. “Careful. We should shower first.”

  Her nostrils flared, and her cheeks turned red. “Right. A shower.”

  He gulped, searching for words. “About last night…”

  But, shit. His tone was all wrong. Almost accusing.

  Cara’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms.

  He did his best to strike the right tone. “Last night was…” He dragged a hand through his hair. “Allora, it was amazing. But you make me forget what I have to do.”

  The hard line of her lips grew even thinner. “Maybe you’re the one who makes me forget.”

  An awkward silence set in before she gestured angrily. “You’re not the only one who cares about Fiorina, you know.”

  He stuck up his hands. “You’re right. It’s just that we have to focus.”

  She snorted. “Says the man who came after me last night.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, she blushed. Tony did too, remembering everything they’d done. And madonna, the steamy images nearly gave him another hard-on.

  He leaned closer in spite of himself, then jerked away. “I’m not saying it’s your fault. It’s just that we’d better—” he gestured, searching for words “—cool it for a little while.”

  She pursed her lips, obviously furious. More with herself than with him, he guessed, just like he felt. But that was the problem with emotions — they had a way of inflicting collateral damage once you let them free.

  He frowned. If that wasn’t a reminder to stick to business, what was?

  He forced a cool expression. “Do you want to shower first or second?”

  “Second.” Cara stomped into the guesthouse, leaving him to head for the outdoor shower around the back.

  His chest ached. Could he do nothing right?

  Then he took a deep breath, forcing himself back into soldier mode. He had to if he wanted to keep his promise to Fiorina. And, dammit, if that meant reerecting the walls around his heart, so be it.

  The longer he showered, the harder he scrubbed, and the more he chastised himself.

  Madonna. Why had he ever taken those walls down in the first place?

  * * *

  By the time Tony joined the others for breakfast, his skin was tingling from scrubbing so hard.

  Maybe this is how Cara felt after we touched her last night, his lion hummed dreamily.

  He sank into a seat, shaking his head.

  “Crespelle for you,” Fiorina chirped, handing him a plate with three pancakes.

  “Grazie,” he murmured without looking up.

  Cara was just as quiet when she joined in, taking a seat as far from him as possible. That didn’t stop Tony from sniffing the air for her scent — then mourning when he found it free of any trace of his.

  My mate, his lion whimpered. Need my mate.

  What he needed was to focus, dammit.

  Luckily, Fiorina and Rocco kept the conversation going on everyone’s behalf, laughing at each other’s jokes as only a couple of young lovebirds could. Meanwhile, Theo didn’t make a single “little Nino” joke. He just kept sliding his eyes between Tony and Cara. Arturo did too, with the same silent judgment that made Tony feel like a child again.

  Tony clenched his jaw. None of that mattered. Only the job did.

  He chewed slowly, forcing himself to take a long, hard look at the past week. Being acquitted of false murder charges had made him let down his guard. He should have known some things never changed. Venice was still the same hotbed of intrigue it always had been. Destiny was still playing games. And as for Cara — well, as wonderful as she was, she was just as much a marionette as he.

  As breakfast dragged on, he reevaluated his plans. The moment Fiorina was safe, he would take off for good. To France, his new homeland. Maybe to Spain. Or even back to Scotland, as he’d originally planned.

  His inner lion shivered at the thought of the weather and Duncan’s bagpipes.

  Well, whatever. The point was, he could go anywhere. Why stay in the city that toyed with his soul?

  A tickling sensation registered on the back of his neck, and he frowned, sniffing the breeze. There it was again — that feeling of a countdown to some mysterious event he had to prepare for. Or was he just too wound up?

  Either way, trouble was bound to rear its ugly head soon. And when it did, he would be ready. He would ensure Fiorina’s safety, then move on to a new home — somewhere far, far away from his old one.

  Not going anywhere without her, his lion growled with a glance at Cara.

  He clenched his teeth. Couldn’t the beast see? He had to go — not just for his sake but for hers. Only that would break them both free of destiny’s chains.

  But step one, he knew, was solving the mystery of Fiorina’s attacker.

  He rapped his knuckles on the table, coming right to the point. “We have to figure out this inside man.”

  “Or woman,” his grandfather pointed out.

  Tony glanced at Cara. Her eyes caught on his, and the anger in them rose.

  For goodness’ sake. You don’t suspect me, do you?

  Of course not. He’d only been wondering what was on her mind. But, damn. Now that he’d riled Cara up, there was no calming her down.

  What did you expect? She’s no pushover. His lion grinned.

  He turned back to his grandfather. “Who do you suspect?”

  Arturo made a face. “I don’t know — but I know this. Throughout Venice’s history, one thing never changes: Fire Maidens have been revered, but they have also been resented. That is no different now.”

  He shot a look of warning toward Fiorina — or, wait. Was that aimed at Cara, sitting beside her?

  “Resented?” Fiorina protested. “For what? I’ve been trying so hard to be nice.”

  Arturo patted her hand. “No doubt you have, my dear. But vipers see kindness as a sign of weakness.”

  Fiorina fluttered her hands, upset. “But I’m not even a proper Fire Maiden. Just the next best thing who might awaken a little of the old magic again.”

  Arturo shrugged his thin shoulders. “Nevertheless, there will always be jealous women and men who resent ceding power. There are even those among the Guardians who would prefer to do without a Fire Maiden because of the threat to their own power.”

  Like Ercole, Tony couldn’t help thinking.

  But Rocco didn’t seem to agree. “An outsider is a much more likely threat. Didn’t you say something about a French countess at the ball?”

  “My aunt mentioned her,” Fiorina mused. “The Countess de Soissons. Fabulously rich, but very mysterious — maybe even shady. A dragon shifter, they say.”

  Theo frowned. “Dragon shifter? Why would the Guardians grant a shady outsider permission to visit the city?”

  Arturo snorted and rubbed his fingers together. “For the same reason they sell ancestral palaces to the highest bidder.”

  “They’re not all bad,” Fiorina pointed out. “Most of the Guardians are honest, hardworking shifters who truly want the best for Venice.”

  “All it takes is one traitor.” Theo thought for a moment, then stood. “We won’t learn anything new here. One of us must return to Venice and investigate. I’ll go. I’m less likely to be re
cognized, and I have contacts who can assist.”

  Tony looked up, not so sure, but Theo seemed to have it all worked out.

  “I’ll wait until afternoon and mix in with the day-trippers on the ferry from Burano to Venice. No one will look for a dragon shifter among all those tourists.”

  Tony raised an eyebrow. “And when you get to Venice?”

  Theo flashed a cocky grin. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

  Tony wasn’t so sure. He looked at Cara, hoping for her advice. But her expression was stony, and she turned away.

  Destiny, his lion whispered, almost in a plea.

  Tony closed his eyes. That was the problem — destiny was the one with tricks up its sleeve.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Are you all right?” Fiorina whispered after breakfast.

  “Fine.” Cara thumped down the coffeepot.

  Fiorina went back to washing the dishes. But a moment later, she looked up. “Are you sure?”

  Cara took a deep breath. She thought she’d been sure — about Tony, at least. Something had clicked for her the previous day, and she’d finally given up resisting his raw, soulful appeal. So, when he’d turned up during her run the previous night, well…

  Bliss, her lioness purred.

  Yes, it had been. Like the first day of a whole new life better than anything she’d ever dreamed of.

  Ecstasy, her inner beast hummed on.

  She fanned herself a little bit. That, too. The most sizzling night of her life, followed by a deep, satisfied sleep.

  But somehow, they’d started off the day on the wrong foot, and things had gotten worse from there.

  “You seem a little…upset,” Fiorina ventured.

  Yes, she was, because Tony’s tone and comments had stung. By now, her mind had cleared enough to realize he hadn’t meant them that way. But it was too late. He seemed to have flipped an internal switch, going all distant and military on her.