Chapter Eight
Dante felt a rush of nerves as he waited for Samia’s answer. He’d just faced down evil, but waiting for her response had him more nervous.
“I’ll have you, Dante Venti.”
Joy exploded in him, and he picked her up and spun her around. She laughed and it was a beautiful sound.
“Now, let me get started showing you how I’m going to take care of you.” He wrapped his power around them and carried them away on the breeze. Moments later, they materialized on the balcony of Luca’s apartment.
Samia’s face was flushed, and excitement shone in her eyes. He promised he’d take her flying on the wind every day just to see that look on her face.
He carried her inside, and in the bedroom, he set her down beside the bed.
He wanted to rush, wanted to feast on her, but this time he tried to be gentle. He slipped her clothes off, baring her beautiful body. He ran his hand over her, cupping her breasts, sliding along her limbs.
“Dante,” she whispered. Her hands slipped his shirt off, fingers running over his shoulders. Then she loosened his belt and soon they were both naked, hot skin pressed to hot skin.
He kissed her, their tongues tangling. The taste of her seeped into him. Now he would love her with no pride beating in the back of his head. Now they weren’t Warrior and assassin, they were just man and woman.
He’d wanted to keep things slow and easy, but the hungry noises she made, the way she rubbed her body against him had fire igniting in his veins. He quickly grabbed a condom, slid it on, and then he was lifting her and backing her against the wall. Her long legs wrapped around him and he watched the moonlight play over her face.
“You’re so beautiful, bella.”
“Hurry, Dante.” She arched against him. One of her hands delved between their bodies and cupped his cock.
Merda. His hips thrust forward, pain and pleasure shooting through him.
Then he grabbed her wrist and pulled it above her head, pinning it to the wall. “What do you want, Samia?”
“You. You!”
His cock nudged her slick folds and she cried out.
“Are you ready?” he ground out.
“Yes.”
“Look at me.”
Dark eyes coated with desire met his. He surged into her with a flex of his hips.
She moaned, her hips moving to meet him. He drove into her with strong thrusts. “I’ll never let you go. I wanted to give you a choice, but please stay with me.”
“Yes.” Her once-sad eyes now only showed pleasure.
He thrust into her again. “Stay, fall in love with me, be my anchor, be my mate.”
“Yes, Dante. I’m yours.” Her hands gripped his shoulders, then slid down his back, nails scoring his skin. “And you’re mine.”
His woman. He’d spend a lifetime proving to her that she mattered to him. Feelings, bright and hot, rose inside him. He continued moving inside her, savoring her hot, tight body. He felt her body tensing, heard her husky cries getting sharper.
“Come, Samia.”
She arched into him, her nails digging in hard enough to hurt. He didn’t care. She cried out as she came, and he pressed his mouth to hers to swallow her screams.
He moved with fast, brutal thrusts and then a torrent of sensation slammed into him. He lifted his head and roared his release.
As Dante collapsed against her, pinning her to the wall, he felt all the pride inside him was gone. In its place, he was amazed to find the beginnings of love.
***
Hot water poured over Samia as she collapsed against the tiles. She blinked, wondering if her blurry vision was from steam or the strength of her latest orgasm.
Strong hands stroked over her, shaping her butt. Dante pressed a kiss to her shoulder. He’d carried her from the bed to the shower, and then ravished her again.
She moaned. “We survived a storm, but if we have more sex, we’ll kill each other.”
He nipped her shoulder now. “I’ll take care of you, bella.”
She loved the feel of his big body against her. She was falling in love with him.
Oh, God. How could she be falling in love so fast?
Dante’s hands gripped her jaw, turning her head. She saw a storm of emotion in his amber eyes and she smiled. He would stand by her, give her the closeness and love she craved. He would help her leave the Hashshasin behind and discover all the things life had to offer.
“I think I’m falling for you.” The words tumbled out of her.
His smile looked very satisfied. “Good, because I’m definitely falling in love with you, Samia Hassan. I hope you’ll let me.”
Mesmerized by his eyes, her chest swelled. “I’ll do everything I can to make it a fast trip.”
He pulled her closer. “For both of us.”
He kissed her, his groan mixing with her moan.
Suddenly, the shower door wrenched open. Samia gasped and Dante moved to shield her with his body.
She stared over his shoulder at a man who looked very similar to Dante. A little leaner, and impossibly, a face that was even more handsome. His eyes were a deep green.
“Antonio!” Dante yelled. “What the fuck?”
“Luca thought you needed help.” Antonio averted his gaze. “I heard noises and thought you were…in trouble. We sensed when you banished Africus, but Luca couldn’t get in touch with you.”
Dante cursed. “I’m sorry. I was so absorbed in…” He looked down at her with a wry smile.
“Luca left me a message about you struggling with Africus, and that you had an assassin after you.”
“That would be me,” Samia said.
As Antonio started to turn back, Dante shoved at his brother. “Eyes forward, mio fratello. Give us a minute and we’ll be out.”
“Don’t get dressed on my account,” Antonio said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Out,” Dante ordered with a growl. He snatched up a towel and handed it to Samia.
She tried not to laugh at the situation. Once they were dressed, they found Antonio standing in the living room, by the windows.
Something about the set of his lean body made him look incredibly lonely. When he turned to look at them, Samia saw the lines bracketing his mouth. Her heart lurched. The strain was etched there and so easy to see.
Dante moved forward and hugged his brother. “How are you doing?”
“Hanging in there.”
Antonio was dressed in a dark suit, his white shirt open at the throat. She remembered reading about Dante’s brothers. If she recalled correctly, Antonio Venti ran a museum in Florence. And loved art almost as much as he loved women.
“You don’t need to pretend with me,” Dante said.
Antonio scraped a hand through his dark hair. “Corus is far more calculating and cunning than before.”
“Africus was the same.”
Antonio’s gaze moved past Dante to Samia. “But you defeated him.”
“I had help.” Dante grabbed Samia’s hand and pulled her closer. “Samia, this my brother, Antonio. Antonio, Samia Hassan.”
Antonio moved forward and took Samia’s other hand. He bent over it, pressing a quick kiss to her knuckles. “A pleasure, Samia.”
Oh yes, a born charmer, this one. “Are all your brothers this good-looking, Dante?”
Antonio looked up and grinned, and she guessed this was a glimpse of the real Antonio shining through the strain. “I’m the best looking.”
Dante yanked her into his side and slung an arm across her shoulders. “Mine.”
Antonio smiled. “I see that.”
“We think Samia has Aurae heritage. And she also happens to be a badass assassin who is very good with knives.”
She smiled up at him. “Hey, I only stabbed you once.”
“She is also mine and I’m never giving her up.”
Warmth filled her chest.
Antonio slapped his brother on the back. “I am very happy for you, Dante.” His gaze changed, something rippling over his face. “It must be nice to find the right woman.” Then he forced a smile. “Although, I prefer to enjoy a wide variety of feminine delights, myself.”
Dante snorted.
Antonio turned to Samia. “Samia, if you ever realize you picked the wrong brother, give me a call.”
Dante mock-scowled at his brother.
Then Antonio’s smile dissolved. “I am glad you’re both okay. I need to get back to Florence. Back to hunting Corus.”
“Can we help?” Samia asked.
“I wish you could.” A hard look appeared on his face, the handsome charmer gone. This was the Warrior of the West Wind. “I will find Corus. And I will stop him.”
They all stepped out onto the balcony. A cool morning breeze rippled over them, the sun just beginning to rise.
“Be careful, Antonio.” Dante hugged his brother, slapping him on the back.
“I will.” His green gaze moved over Dante and Samia. “Enjoy your beautiful woman.”
“I already am.”
Dante and Samia watched as his brother turned into the wind and streamed away.
Samia leaned into him. “You’re worried.”
“He’s not himself, Samia. He’s the most laid back of us all and he’s tense, strained.”
She wrapped her arms around him, offering quiet support. He pressed his face to her hair and breathed deep.
“I’m here, Dante, whatever you need.”
“My brothers will find the rest of the Tempest Winds. They are strong, unrelenting.”
She had no doubt. And selfless and brave, just like her warrior. “Maybe there are other Aurae out there?”
Hope ignited in his eyes. “Aurae descendants who can help them. I hope so.”
He pulled her close, his hands smoothing up and down her back. She leaned into him and pressed her cheek to his chest. She heard the steady beat of his heart.
A heart that now belonged to her.
She smiled. The Warriors of the Wind would continue to fight and protect. And now she had a new life. From now on, there would be no more death for her. With Dante by her side, there was only life and love.
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I hope you enjoyed Dante and Samia’s story!
The stories of the Warriors of the Wind were some of the first stories I ever wrote and published. I wanted to mix action, mythology, and romance into sexy, short reads. I am so excited to have the chance to give them a little polish and release them again.
Read on for Antonio’s story, Seduction, set in the twisting streets of Florence.