Cortigiana (A Vamp Life Prequel) Page 2

  I was unsure if he wanted to know normal talents or bedroom skills. “I am quite versed in literature and poetry. For at least an hour each day I practice singing or playing instruments. Well, I did before….” That was where I caught myself. I was telling too much.

  “Before your family was taken from you.” His voice held a strange sadness, as if he understood my pain. I had to look away to hide the tears threatening to fall.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Let us dance away our cares. You do know how, do you not?” He asked.

  My mother had made sure I had taken dancing lessons and attended parties. None were as fancy as Dante’s ball, though. “La volta, if it pleases you.”

  “La volta, would most certainly please me.” Dante said, leaving my side to speak to the musicians briefly.

  Many balls I’d attended frowned upon the dance I had chosen. People deemed it inappropriate for ladies. Glancing around, I noticed couples necking in corners and more than one exposed breast. The company I was keeping certainly had liberal views on what was proper.

  Dante returned to me and we began performing the dance moves. All was as expected at first, but the music changed a bit later and I found myself held firmly against my partner’s body while his hands explored freely. He gave a tug at my bodice and exposed more flesh than was ladylike. I began to panic. His hand rested on my chest and over my heart. He closed his eyes.

  “So fearful and delicate. You are like a cornered rabbit. Do I scare you this much?”

  “Yes.” I was terrified of a world I knew little about, but exhilarated by it at the same time. Oh, how clueless I was to what I was getting myself into.

  He lowered his hand and entwined his fingers with mine. “Let us get away from the crowds, then. Yes?” I nodded and he led me out of the ballroom, leaving the revelers to enjoy the event without explaining his absence.

  Paintings lined the walls. The ancestors depicted were hauntingly familiar in appearance to Dante. Each person had that same white hair. Piercing blue eyes seemed to follow me as we walked down the hallways. “I like your paintings. Your home is beautiful.”

  We paused in front of a room and Dante unlocked the door with a large key before slipping it back into his pocket. “It is an old tradition. The real test is finding a suitable artist in each generation.”

  Dante pushed open the door and gestured for me to enter the room first. Just as I was about to step inside the man from earlier, Antonio, rounded the corner with a party goer on his arm. Our eyes locked briefly. I started to lift my hand to wave in greeting, but he gave a shake of his head to dissuade me and walked on without pausing. He knew the master of the house better than I, so I entered the immaculate bedroom without further hesitation.

  Like everything else in the home, the bedroom was a dream. I stepped forward and ran my hand across the soft bedspread. It had been weeks since I had slept in my own bed. Luca and Regina hadn’t made any attempt to find me a place to sleep other than the floor.

  I jumped a little when Dante rested a hand on my shoulder. “The world is filled with pain and disappointment. Let it go and live for the moment. Trust me.” He whispered near my ear, as if he had been reading my mind. His hands worked to unlace the back of my dress. I stood stiffly, but of course did not protest. I knew why I was there. For his entertainment… for his pleasure.”

  “Yes, sir. I do trust you.”

  He turned away from me. “Disrobe completely.”

  Anxiously, I did as I was told. Each piece of my dress, I carefully spread out on the large trunk at the foot of the bed so it would not get wrinkled. When I finished, I watched Dante. Without thinking, I kept one arm over my bare breasts and a hand lowered to try to hide my sex. Dante was undressing with little hurry, folding each piece of his attire and laying it on the dresser in front of him. He still hadn’t removed the mask and I feared what he might be hiding behind it.

  “How can you trust someone who has been behind a mask for the entire evening? Are you saying what you think I want to hear?” He asked, facing me.

  My eyes widened and I tried not to look down when he was asking me a serious question. I was not entirely successful. His erection pointed directly at me. I eyed him up and down despite my best efforts to refrain. In all my years, I’d never been naked with a man. Finally, after composing my thoughts, I was able to venture a response.

  “We all hide behind masks whether they are physical or not. I trust you because I have no other choice.”

  In a grand gesture, he removed the mask and tossed it aside to reveal handsome, masculine features. He was younger than the white hair led me to guess, but something about him felt ancient. He gripped me by the arms and pulled me against him before lowering his mouth to mine and kissing me fervently.

  He released my arms and lifted my mask off my eyes after minutes of eternity. “You wear the mask of a whore.” One fingertip ran between my breasts and paused over my heart. “And yet, inside you are much more than that.”

  Until that night, men had never been much of priority in my life. I had turned down all suitors my father had presented to me because I had liked my life the way it had been. Getting dolled up, speaking with the handsome bodyguard, and kissing Dante caused something to burst inside me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and it was my turn to kiss. He picked me up and lay me down on the bed. Not one inch of my body was left unturned by his hands or mouth. His probing fingers didn’t make me feel violated as I expected, nor did his girth pressing into my middle. I doubted Dante was concerned about my feelings anyway.

  “Nothing is more enjoyable than destroying purity.” He groaned into my ear as he did just that, sealing the deal on my new profession. There was a brief sensation of pain, but not between my legs where I had expected. It was when his lips pressed against my neck and he bit me.

  A fancy dress had been left for me to wear instead of my ball gown when morning came. I was alone. Dante was nowhere to be found. Despite how much I had enjoyed the night, a shame fell over me for the deed. I dressed quickly and went to the mirror. I didn’t look like a different woman, but I felt like one. As I was examining my neck to see if I could find evidence of where the pain had come from, there was a knock on the door.

  “Coming.” I pulled my hair down over my neck even though I had found no wound or bruise.

  The bodyguard from the night before was standing there when I opened the door. Seeing Antonio’s face free of the mask gave me an unfamiliar feeling in my stomach. Was it butterflies because of my attraction or was I hungry for breakfast? I couldn’t tell. The shaky sensation had been absent with Dante.

  “Antonio.” I smiled. “I am happy to see you again.” He did not return the smile so I was left standing there with an awkward, lingering expression.

  He had a pouch in his hand which he tossed at me. “Payment for services rendered. You did a good job. Dante believes you deserve compensation.”

  I caught the pouch upside down and several golden coins spilled onto the floor. “Why are you angry with me?” His attitude confused me. I began gathering up the coins.

  “What I think matters little.” He said, watching me intensely. “I will return you to your home.”

  “For a bodyguard, you are never guarding.”

  Antonio crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. “Then hurry so I can get back to my job.”

  My carefully constructed persona cracked and I shoved by Antonio. Who did he think he was? He was a bodyguard, nothing more special than I.

  A few guests were passed out and I had to step over an entwined, sleeping couple to get out the door. The boat was waiting so I climbed in without waiting for help. I hid the few coins I had picked up off the floor in my clothing. My aunt and uncle would want the money, but I wasn’t going to give them all of it.

  There was an uncomfortable silence and tension between Antonio and I that I couldn’t understand. He had been friendly enough when he had brought me to the ball. Overnight he had changed into
a different person.

  “There will be others who seek your company now.” He told me.

  “I suppose that means I did well.” I leaned back, letting the sun warm my skin and the breeze blow through my hair. Unconsciously, I think, or maybe purposely, I had worn the front of my dress lower to expose cleavage. “You should call upon me sometime.”

  He let out a harsh laugh. “Out of the question.”

  “And why is that? Am I not pretty enough for you or do your tastes lie elsewhere? In men?” I ran my hand along his thigh. His body responded to my touch with an impressive length extending down his leg. Where my newfound confidence came from, I wasn’t sure, but I liked it.

  That’s when he stared into my eyes and moved closer. His lips were mere inches from mine. My heart was sent racing once more. “I have little need to pay for what I desire.” I had thought he was going to kiss me, had hoped he would. When he didn’t, I was swamped with disappointment. Antonio removed my hand from his body, returned to gazing at the lagoon, and we spoke no more. I exited the boat and headed for the door. He was watching me when I looked back, but departed without even a wave.

  Aunt Regina wrapped her arms around me as soon as I walked into the house. “You did so good, girl. We have you scheduled to keep men company for the rest of the week.”

  “Mr. Sanuto paid me. We need to improve this place if I am going to entertain anyone. I want a bed and nice things. This should get us started.” I was done letting them boss me around. It was my turn to give orders since I was bringing in the coin.

  Both my aunt’s and my uncle’s eyes stretched wide with shock. “Your companionship was complimentary.” Luca said.

  “Apparently I impressed and he paid me anyway.” I turned to my aunt. “Shall we go shopping?”

  “Yes, dear. Absolutely.”

  I divvied up the funds between Luca and myself. He was to acquire the furniture while Regina and I bought clothing and decorations. The plan was great, except that I should have known better than to trust my lush of an uncle with money.

  Our first stop was to get new dresses. Then, we were off to buy flowers. I buried my face in the blooms and inhaled, thinking of past days. When I opened my eyes, I saw Antonio standing at another stall. Was he following me? It sure seemed that way, but I could not figure out why. Without saying a word to me, he paid for my flowers and picked them up.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Helping you.”

  He shot a glance at my aunt who ran up and obnoxiously introduced herself. “Evelina is my favorite niece. We are so proud of her. I’m Regina Angelis.”

  “I am your only niece.” I said, wishing I had gone shopping alone.

  Antonio only gave her a curt nod. My aunt rambled on about the house and how nice it was to be able to afford new things. I basically ignored her and I could tell Antonio was biting his tongue to keep from insulting my family. Not that I would have cared if he did.

  My uncle was passed out drunk and face down on the kitchen table when we returned home. A bottle of alcohol stood empty in his grasp. It was mortifying for the severe dysfunction of my family to be exposed to Antonio. Regina kept her fake smile on.

  “That silly man of mine. So sorry.” She said.

  “Join me upstairs with the flowers, please.” I told Antonio and he followed me.

  I went to the window and began picking the dead flowers from the pots. They had not been taken care of. Antonio studied me without speaking and brought the new flowers over when I asked.

  “Where is your bed?”

  My sophisticated act was broken so I pointed to the corner of the room. “The blanket and pillow on the floor.” I said sadly as I refilled the window box with living plants.

  “What of the coin? You could not buy a bed?” He asked.

  “I split the funds with my uncle. He was supposed to take care of it.”

  Antonio walked up to me and briefly placed his hand on my cheek unexpectedly. “I… wish I could do more for you. Dante is dangerous and I dare not go against his wishes.”

  I was confused. “What wishes?”

  “He prefers me to stay away from his women. I would not dare endanger you.” He said.

  “Is that why you were so rude earlier?”

  He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “Jealousy. How I longed to be the one to take you for the first time.” The golden brown of his eyes disappeared briefly when his lids closed. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “But what must be, will be. Enjoy your time with others. I will make sure you get a bed.”

  “Antonio….” I called his name when he turned to leave.

  He paused and I continued. “We have known each other less than twenty-four hours.” I struggled for the right words. “You make me feel something I have never experienced before.” My hand curled into a small fist and I held it against my chest.

  “I am sorry,” was all he said before leaving me alone to stare after him in a state of confusion and embarrassment.

  There was little time to dwell on Antonio. Angry screams from my relatives filled the humble home. I slumped down onto the floor and covered my ears with my hands to block out the yelling. The opportunity to get out of a life spent with them was within my grasp. I just had to take it. Make coin from lovers. Maybe even seduce one into loving me. Good plan. I thought about the mansion and Dante Sanuto being the man who would lay claim to me. What did a crush on a bodyguard mean when I had a shot with nobility?

  My eyes were clenched tightly and my thoughts on a better life, so I didn’t hear my aunt talking to the merchants delivering my new bed.

  “Evelina!” Regina yelled and grabbed me by the arm, pulling my hand away from my ears. “You have a gift.”

  I glared at my aunt, but stood and smoothed my dress. “He said he was going get it… but so quickly?”

  “Who, my dear? Mr. Sanuto?” She asked.

  Without thinking, I shook my head to tell her no, and then thought better of it. “Right. Yes, of course.”

  She was grinning broadly. “Just as well. Your first suitor should be arriving soon. The house will be yours for the evening.”

  The sound of her voice angered me. I went to the window to gaze outside as the men brought my new bed inside. It would be broken in many times over before the next time I was requested at Dante’s mansion. I would nearly forget Antonio as I learned the lifestyle of a courtesan and the craft of pleasure. I savored the taste of many lips. My popularity rose and with it the value of the gifts I received. It was a whirling dream of kisses, sex, and money.

  A request came after some time had passed and I joined Dante at his mansion once again. This time, I had experience and confidence that I had lacked in our first meeting.

  “Kind of you to make time in your busy schedule for me, Evelina Angelis.” Dante said with a sly smirk. His request was not one that I would have denied even if I had wanted. I hooked my arm into his as he led me toward his bedroom without any further formalities.

  As we made love, I felt that strange sensation in my neck akin to pain, but changing so quickly to pleasure that I wasn’t sure it ever actually hurt. With the other men, I never experienced anything similar. There were rumors about Dante. People said he was ageless. Of course, people said a lot of things that weren’t true. To say I didn’t wonder would be a lie, though. He was definitely… different than normal men.

  He was dressing in front of the mirror after we had finished while I lay nude on my belly and popped a grape into my mouth. “What sort of business are you going to do?” I asked.

  His gaze was on my form in the mirror as I climbed to my knees and wrapped one arm around the large bed post. I ran my fingers along the wooden pole delicately to entice him to postpone his departure.

  “The kind little courtesans are not privy to. Just look at you. You are much sexier than the virgin that entered my chambers a few short months ago.” He said, forcing his eyes from my body as he secured his long hair away from his face.r />