Embrace the Night

Page 179



"You are the most beautiful, most desirable woman I have ever seen. There is none other like you in all the known world. Your luster outshines the sun. Your voice is like honey; your lips are like the finest wine…"

"You mock me!"
"I speak the truth."

"Liar! If your words were true, you would be here, in my arms where you belong, instead of begging me for the life of that mortal woman."

"Nina, even a vampire cannot chose whom he will love. I cannot deny my feelings for Sara, but I swear to you that I will do anything and everything you ask of me if you will only let her go."

"Will you make love to me, here, now?"

"Yes, bella, but only after you have released Sara."

"And will you return with me to Italy and swear not to return to France as long as the little ballerina is alive?"

"Yes."

Nina's eyes glowed, red and evil, and then softened as she stared at the man kneeling before her. He had not changed since she had seen him in Italy all those centuries ago. He was as young and virile and handsome as he had been then, with his dark gray eyes and smooth olive-hued skin. In a thousand years, she had not found another who stirred her blood as he did.

"Tell me the truth, Giovanni, for I will know if you lie. Do you have any true affection in your heart for me?"

"No."

She nodded, as though he had given her the answer she had expected.

"Your punishment will be long indeed, Gianni," she remarked. "For I shall demand your attention every waking minute for as long as you survive. You will be my slave. You will serve me, and hunt my prey. You will satisfy my every desire, and should you displease me while this mortal still lives, I shall return here and finish what I started." Her gaze bored into his. "Do we understand each other?"

"Yes."

"Come then, kiss me to seal our bargain."

Gabriel rose slowly to his feet, his mind replaying the distant past. He looked into Nina's eyes and wondered how he had ever found her desirable. There was no warmth in this woman, no life, no laughter.

Making love to her would be like making love to a corpse, and yet he would do it for Sara.

With an effort, he masked his distaste, took Nina in his arms, and slanted his mouth over hers. Her lips were as cold as the grave; her tongue tasted of death. He flinched imperceptibly as her arms slid