by T Stedman
She nodded and appreciated that he took her limited diet into account.
“Was eating hard growing up in the Human world?” he asked, genuinely interested.
“Looking back, I think they must have told them I was allergic to meat as I was never given it and went to school with notes and stuff.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that, Tia.” He smiled at her. She blushed and just looked down onto her hands. He suspected he didn’t know the half of what she went through.
The lull in conversation was broken when a whole bottle of Irish whiskey was brought to their table, then a carafe of local wine with their food, which looked perfect.
Tia began to loosen up and Dante enjoyed finding out about her for the first time. He realised that she was really a very solitary person, allowing very few people to get close to her. He felt very privileged to be in that small circle.
“What will you do after this holiday?” she asked.
“I’m going to help my cousin find his Siren.”
“Keenan?”
“Yes …” then he remembered that Keenan was part of her Guard.
“Will he marry her … or how will it work … you know … the king shit?”
He laughed. “I’ll be honest with you Tia, now I know more about it, I think all the Sirens will be pledged to me but have their own partners. Does that make sense? It is the power of the five that’s needed to hold the throne.”
“Doesn’t pledging mean marriage? Will Keenan mind that, him being a prince and all?”
“Probably, but the only way I could see to stop the infighting between the princes would be for them to sit on the council and have a hand in government. The marriage is just in name only.”
“He looked the jealous type to me.”
Dante smiled a wicked grin. “Like me.” And he took a sip of his drink.
The music got livelier and Dante stood reaching down his hand towards her. “Come on, let’s dance.” And he pulled her to a tight bunch on the small dance floor. They moved towards the back where they could be obscured and put their drinks down.
***
Sunshine Anderson’s Heard It All Before came on and Dante began to move. Tia was amazed at how easily his body moved to the music. Again he tried to hold her hands. “No!” she kept saying firmly with her index finger up. “I won’t get hot Dante … No!” and he laughed and continued dancing. But gravity kept moving them into each other and his body would come around hers, all but touching. It was uber-erotic.
A small man collecting glasses gabbled something to Dante in Italian and Dante replied laughing.
“What did he say?” she shouted, over the music.
“He told me to hold on to the beautiful girl.”
She blushed and turned her back and continued dancing as Faith Evan’s Love Like This played. He pulled her close for this song. He pushed his knee between her legs to part them, and pulled her low onto his leg. He placed her arms up around his neck and he linked his around her waist, and then moved with her. He bent his head down to her cheek and they moved together.
With his lips tantalisingly close to hers, she let herself go and her body went with his. He felt wonderful. She was his to command and she gave herself permission just for the duration of the record. As it wore on he pulled her in closer and tighter – so close that she had to hoist her long skirt up, showing her strap-covered legs. When her body was in close proximity to his it owned her. She couldn’t explain her physical reaction to him. He was like an overload of the senses.
Both of them were hot after the music ended and both were at a loss for words and had to gather themselves together.
Dante threw down some Euro’s on their table and picked up their carafe to take with them. “Come. Let’s walk.” And he picked up her hand and she didn’t fight him this time.
It had become completely dark as they walked, but pretty lights twinkled all around the lake.
“Here,” he said. After taking a swig of the carafe, he handed it to her.
She took it from him. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“Yes. I have no scruples.”
She laughed, choking as she drank having laughed mid-swallow. The drink went down her chin so she was forced to lean forward to let it drip on the floor.
“You need to wash that off,” he said, laughing at her.
“You are not getting me in that pool, you know, Dante.”
“What about the lake?”
Her eyes went wide and he copied her making fun of her expression. He took the carafe off her then swigged from it again and threw it down. He picked up her hand then the other and pulled her to him. He pushed her arms up around his neck, so he could hold her tightly around the waist. He put his nose and mouth into the soft part of her shoulder. “I’ve never enjoyed female company like I do with you, Tia,” he said, breathing her in. “Come into the lake with me?” he whispered, and ground his hips into her.
Fuck, she didn’t pull away. Her resolve was eroding. “Dante I …”
“Don’t think Tia. Just go with how you feel. I know you feel it too.” He ground his hips into her again. He left her breathing heavily.
Before she could make another protest, he bent down and picked her up and began to walk along a small jetty with her.
“Dante … Dante!” She shouted, “Don’t you dare!”
“You should never dare me, Tia.” And he kicked his sandals off and jumped in holding her.
Her squeal was smothered as they entered the cool dark water. It wasn’t deep, and they could touch the bottom. It came up to Dante’s chest and lapped over her shoulders.
More evening strollers walked by and looked over at them and laughed at them standing in the water fully clothed. She spat the water out of her mouth and hit him in the shoulder. He held it dramatically saying, “Ow! What?” Then he stifled her barrage of abuse by pulling her in quickly for a kiss. But he was gentle and loving.
When the kiss finished she looked up into his eyes, which appeared to shimmer like the surface of the water. “I promised myself I wouldn’t do this anymore.”
“You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep,” he said, honestly, knowing as well as she did that any denial of the pull between them was futile. So he bent forward and kissed her again.
He was melting her and she lost herself in the kiss for a moment.
He broke away. “That day Tia, when you left, would you have left even if it hadn’t happened with the girls?”
She studied his face for a few beats and decided not to lie. “Yes.”
He breathed in deeply. “That was basically what Jay said. Can you tell me what I did wrong?”
She touched his cheek gently. “We hardly knew each other Dante, and it was so intense. I couldn’t breathe.”
“Is that what Jay does, give you space?”
She went to swim away from him. He swam around her heading her off. “Please Tia. Then I won’t mention it again.”
“Look,” she huffed, and then composed herself, “the two of you, you’re poles apart.”
He just stared at her, waiting for her to elaborate. “Tell me.”
“I won’t talk about my relationship with Jay with you, Dante.”
He looked exasperated, obviously thinking Jay had some magic formula.
“You are you, and Jay is Jay. That’s it.”
“Come on Tia, how is it even possible?” The volatile Dante temper was starting to show.
“Oh here comes the old Dante … okay then let’s do this.” She said, her temper starting to match his.
“I’m waiting …” His face was fierce.
“Okay. Where there’s a will there’s a way.” She tried swimming away again.
He pulled her back by the arm. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We have a full sexual relationship, Dante.” She emphasised her words slowly, especially the word ‘sexual’.
He swam in close to her and pulled her between his l
egs and touched her face, searching her eyes. “Then why are you here Tia?” he said softly. “I know this will be the way with us as long as we live,” and his hand pulled her to him by her backside while he kissed her hard.
Somehow she mustered the strength of will to push him back. And the hurt in her eyes was not outrage but pain, in that he was probably right. She knew the minute she admitted that to him she was lost.
“Please Tia, I can only do this king shit if you’re there for me.”
“But I can’t be there Dante, I’m with Jay. It’s always been Jay.” Fuck, he looked as though she’d just stabbed him in the gut. She fortified herself by remembering that he’d probably never been turned down so brutally – fuck, probably never been turned down.
His face, hardened towards her. “Even if we are not together, we need to renew the pledge so I can absorb your power every few months.”
“As you will with all my sisters.” Yes mate, I’m hardly special.
The will to argue seemed to have gone out of him. “Yes.”
“I will do that, as I promised I would.” A pang of sadness hit her so strongly and she looked down into the water. She would have rather he ranted and punched and screamed with frustration than this resignation. It was much easier resisting someone you were angry with. The fact was he was totally right about her. She was holding out. She did melt in his arms, and he would know it the instant she breathed her innermost emotions into him.
He sighed, “Come on then, let’s do it now so you can get back to him.” And he sunk slowly beneath the water.
Chapter 24
They weren’t just quiet on the way back to the villa because their throats were sore. There just didn’t seem much else to say. They had shared each other’s essence in the lake and the bond meant they knew exactly how each other felt, but that didn’t seem to alter things a jot. The evening had lost its magic and Tia’s heart felt heavy and she knew it was her fault.
Even though breathing for each other gave immense physical pleasure, it always came with the cost of complete understanding. It just broke her heart. Dante’s love was a fierce, tangible thing and the strength of it frightened her. She was truly sorry she couldn’t be with him, but that part of her that needed to be free, needed Jay with a yearning that Dante would now understand.
If she could have rolled them into the same person she would have. The truth was she loved them both, if that was possible. But Jay fascinated her – in the way that she could never really know him. And her darkest fear: that he would no longer want her, or that she would end up some kind of Stepford wife. Dante now felt it all … Fuck!
As they neared the villa Dante stopped and projected, don’t go in, and he turned to face her. I won’t leave you alone if you do. I’m going to get the driver to take you to the airport.
She swallowed hard and nodded – it was probably for the best. She wasn’t sure how long she’d hold out with him anyway.
I’m going to get your stuff and put you straight in the car. Don’t move! He ordered.
She watched him walk briskly up the path and take out his mobile phone, texting as he walked. He couldn’t wait to be rid of her now. She felt like crying.
Five minutes later he came running back down. This way. He led her out to the front of the villa where a car was purring by the curb. He spoke roughly to the driver, holding his throat while he gave instructions, then walked back round to where she was standing and opened the back door for her to get in.
She got in bewildered at how such a turnaround of moods and events could happen in one day. He leant in and kissed her tenderly on the lips, which didn’t tally with his actions. Jay is landing in thirty minutes at Malpensa, you’ll be safe then.
She nodded lamely. But as the sleek car pulled away and she watched Dante’s back walk quickly the way they came, she couldn’t help but wonder what a strange thing it was to say.
***
Dante had walked along the path as lost in thought as she was. Thank God they couldn’t read minds but only project speech, because he wouldn’t want her in his head right now.
Fuck. The love she felt for Jay and he was such a cold, hard, bastard. That was his secret. It wasn’t the attack that would win fair lady but the retreat. So as hard as it was, it was what he must do. It made sense when he thought about it, she’d been pushed from pillar to post as a kid, so the last thing she needed was him ordering her about.
As they neared the villa his thoughts stopped dead as he stood stock-still. The lights were all on in the villa and they’d gone out while it was still light.
Quickly his brain rallied and he made the decision to put her straight on a plane and get her out of there. It didn’t feel safe and if he gave her any clue there may be danger he knew she wouldn’t want to leave him to face it alone. So he made up the excuse –not too far from the truth – that she needed to go for her own good.
While he’d walked up to the villa and told her to wait for him, he’d texted the driver and then Jay and explained there was trouble, and that he wanted her out of there ASAP. He made sure he told Jay she was unaware and untouched. Dante didn’t want Tia to have any grief she didn’t deserve if he thought he’d been all over her.
He’d sneaked into the house, crept up the stairs, grabbed Tia’s bag and shoved all her stuff back in it. He made sure her passport was there, and crept back out.
A text buzzed from Jay.
In air. Will divert. Land thirty minutes.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
He’d heard Stephan’s voice in the villa and someone else he didn’t know. He hadn’t a clue what he was doing there, but he sure as hell wasn’t there for a social call, so he was relieved when Tia was safely off in the distance in the car.
***
Tia’s heart sank as she arrived at Malpensa. Jay’s plane was there, engine running with the steps down.
Her car drove out onto the tarmac. The driver came around and undid her door and informed her that Mr Gardiner was expecting her. Oh joy. She thanked him quietly and got out the car with a feeling of dread. Probably more from guilt than what she would say to him.
Slowly she climbed the steps, unsure of what he would say or do.
‘Hello Miss!” The cheery steward said, as she stepped into the plane.
Jay was sitting in his armchair, laptop open, phone to his ear as normal. When he caught sight of her, he put his phone to his shoulder. “Strap in, we’re leaving straight away.”
She just stood and blinked and watched him resume his call. After a moment she did as he asked in a daze.
He ended his call, closed his laptop and looked over at her. “You didn’t think to let me know yourself you were fucking off yesterday?”
Thank fuck he was Human. She was beginning to think he was a cyborg. Anger suddenly flashed through her. “I thought everything was cool with your little arrangement.” She flashed him a mirthless smile.
He smiled back arrogantly. The bastard actually smiled a patronising smile at her and played dumb. “And what arrangement was this?”
She felt like screaming at him but kept her voice level. “You know, the deal you made with Dante … the one where if I went to either of you of my own free will, then you’d both be cool about it?”
“That one,” he said, still smiling. “You’re wet.”
She was just about keeping a lid on her temper. “I’ve been in Lake Como seeing the sights,” blinking and enunciating every word.
He smiled at her sarcasm, re-opened his laptop and continued his work.
“Aagh!” She shouted, and threw her bag at him with all her strength.
He just dodged back in his seat as it sailed past and didn’t even look back at her. Just clicked away on his keyboard.
I’m starting to dislike you Jason Gardiner.
***
Dante made sure when he re-entered the villa he made a lot of noise. “Honey I’m home!” He shouted out, but his throat was still gravelly and sore.
When he walked into the living room Stephan was sitting on one sofa and a bulldog-looking older man was on another. “Brother!” Dante said jovially, “You should have phoned ahead. I haven’t got a thing in.”
“Where is your bitch?” Stephan spat.
Dante dropped the sarcasm and looked at his watch. “Getting on Jay’s plane about now.”
Stephan stood up and his sidekick followed his lead.
Dante’s nerves were on high alert but he tried to look impassive and a little drunk, as Stephan would expect him to be.
“That’s a real shame,” Stephan said, grimacing. “I was looking forward to giving her the same treatment you gave Joselle.”
Dante held a placating hand up. “Look Stephan, about Joselle. I am really sorry about that. I promise I will do all in my power to get her sight restored. The Murrs have advanced medical technology, so I’m sure they could come up with something.”
But Stephan was in no mood to be placated. “You’re sorry …you’re fucking sorry,” he screamed. He looked at his friend, who took his cue and strode forward. Dante readied his stance and assessed his opponent as probably Human as he wasn’t that tall.
Thankfully years of sparring with Jay had turned him into a respectable fighter, if not with Jay’s flare, he was effective.
The guy broke into a run and Dante dodged him at the last minute, using the fool’s weight and momentum against him and pushed him into the wall. As he smashed into it Dante kicked him hard in the kidneys.
The man grunted and turned and began swinging punches, which Dante weaved and bobbed away from. He continued this while he gradually moved backwards, picking up furniture as he went and throwing them at him or using them as a shield.
The bloke just wasn’t tiring. He glanced over a Stephan at the same time, as he was a slippery bastard, and he wouldn’t put it past him to hurt him while his hands were busy.
Fuck. Just as he glanced over Stephan pulled a small grey handgun out of his pocket and held it out towards Dante’s moving body. “Think about it Stephan,” Dante reasoned, while he continued to fight. “A murder attempt on the king is a death sentence for you.”