Sensual Danger Read Free Page A

Lombardi. The man is clearly interested in ridding himself of the house and his daughter in one transaction, and there are plenty of men around who might find the offer tempting.”
    “Tempting?” Nico snorted. “Marrying an old spinster whose face is so disagreeable no man in his right mind would want to be in her presence at daylight? I don’t see how that can be tempting.”
    “Tempting or not, what’s your objection? You prefer the night anyway. Just blow out the candles.” Dante made it sound easier than it was.
    “Just imagine she is somebody else when you fuck her,” Raphael advised. “You probably do that anyway when you visit your whores. So what’s the difference?”
    Nico shrugged. Was there a difference? In the dark, weren’t all women the same? Well, maybe not entirely. They all tasted and smelled different. And maybe, just maybe Lombardi’s daughter had an agreeable smell to her. Then fucking her in the dark wouldn’t be as disagreeable after all.
    Nico rose from his seat. “I’d better get going. There’s much to be done.” He walked to the door, then glanced back over his shoulder. “I trust you’ll be at my wedding?” When he saw both brothers’ jaws drop in surprise, he couldn’t suppress his grin.
    “You already decided?” Dante asked.
    “Of course. The house is worth it. The wedding is scheduled for Friday night. You’ll attend with Viola and Isabella?”
    “That’s two days from now.”
    “No need in wasting time. The quicker I get the ceremony behind me, the faster I can send her to the country.”
    And that was exactly what he would do. He’d marry the ugly spinster on Friday night, consummate the marriage post haste and send her on her way to his estate by Monday. Despite his plan, Nico felt as if he’d made a decision which would change his life forever. But he wouldn’t allow it. Once his wife was safely tucked away in the country, he’d resume his bachelor life, fucking whatever woman he wanted and feeding from the sweetest blood available. Nothing would change. Nothing!
     

3
     
    Nico had insisted on an evening wedding, and Lombardi hadn’t objected. The parlor of the home that would officially become his after the ceremony had been decorated with flowers. Furniture had been removed to make space for the wedding party. Nico had invited only a few of his friends, mostly so as not to raise any suspicion with Signore Lombardi. A man without friends was not to be trusted.
    In addition to the brothers Dante and Raphael and their wives Viola and Isabella, Lorenzo had come with his wife Bianca. Both Marcello and Carlo couldn’t be dissuaded to stay away once they’d heard of his impending nuptials. The two bachelors were clearly here to gloat.
    Nico nervously shifted from one foot to the other when he finally heard the bride’s footsteps on the stairs as she descended from the upper floor. He cast a look through the open door and saw her walking on her father’s arm. Her gown was of cream silk, making her appear as if she floated on a cloud.
    His mouth went dry. This was Oriana, his bride? He looked back up the stairs to reassure himself that no other woman was following the procession. But no, the female on Signore Lombardi’s arm was the only woman apart from his friends’ wives.
    Once more he shifted, this time not because of nerves, but to adjust his stiffening prick—for his bride was the most gorgeous woman he’d ever set eyes on. Her hair was a dark chestnut color and was piled high on her head, leaving her graceful neck bare.
    Temptation coiled through him. He could see himself taking out the pins from her coiffure, allowing her hair to cascade over her pale shoulders while he dug his hungry fangs into her neck and thrust his insatiable shaft into her quivering sex.
    As he tried to find some semblance of composure, a question penetrated his lust-drugged mind. Why was Lombardi so keen on marrying her off by practically throwing her in with the sale of the