Free The Love of Vincenzo: Paranormal Erotic Romance (Anam Céile Chronicles) by Rosalind Scarlett

so utterly blind, compared to how immensely beautiful she
appeared to me in this dreamlike moment, now that I knew how she felt, now that
she had willingly given of herself to me. 
    She trusted me. 
    And that is why I must do what I knew had to be done…
    Oh, but God, she feels so wonderful here in my arms, the
softness of her skin against me, her warmth melting away any hardness left in
me.  How can I possibly think about leaving this unbelievable woman?
    I was struggling hard against myself, against the part of me
which had only just discovered the beauty and magic of genuine love for the
first time in my life with the part of me that told me if I truly loved her,
then I needed to be a real man and do what must be done, in order to protect
her. 
    Gazing down at this enchanting creature resting snug within
my arms, I stroked her chestnut hair, feeling it like silk slipping through my
fingers and let my lips graze the skin of her forehead, careful not to wake
her.  Then I slipped out from under her, laying her head softly upon the
pillow. 
    Finding a piece of paper upon her writing desk, I scribbled
a few quick words upon it before leaving her chamber.
     
    My beloved
Giuliana,
     
    You have altered
me more than you shall ever know.
    However, fate has
dictated that I must leave here.
    I hope you will
accept my deepest apologies.
    I love you.
     
     
    Eternally Yours,
    Vincenzo
     
    How it devastated me to turn away.  I could have gazed upon
her sweetness forever. 
    But alas, forever I did not have.
    I wished I could be mesmerized by her soulful eyes one last
time.  But that would only make it all the more difficult to leave.  No, rather
it would be impossible .  I would not be able to be strong enough under
her entrancing gaze which, with one look alone, had already captured my heart and
soul so effortlessly.
    My swelling heart ascending into my throat, I tried to
swallow back the pain, tried not to allow my unaccustomed emotions to override
me.
    I must go now lest I make the grave mistake of falling to
my knees before her and compromising the both of us.
    Quietly, I gathered my garments— and one of hers— and
slipped through the door.  Wish as I might, I dared not look back just one last
time.  The memory of her vision would be forever ingrained upon my heart.  With
each look at her, my fortitude weakened a little more, threatening to be the
downfall of me.
    Slipping into my trousers in the corridor, I quickly made my
way to my chamber, praying that they would not be there forebodingly waiting
inside for my return.  Upon opening the door, I was relieved to see that it
appeared empty.  Hastily, I shoved some garments into the old satchel I had
brought with me upon leaving the farm six years earlier, along with the gown I
had taken from Giuliana’s chamber and a few other personal effects. 
    Just holding her garment for that second was enough to
detect that it was heavy with the scent of her and, though I longed to, I knew
I could not pause to relish the aroma of it now.  I would savour it later, when
my heart needed the reminder that she had indeed been real. 
     

Chapter Eight

     
     
    T he satchel thrown over my back, I opened the back
door at Sanguelascivia .  I was rather surprised to have gotten this far
without any trouble.  But then they were Vampires and it was daytime. 
What could they do?  Still, I half expected someone to be lurking in the
shadows to apprehend me, to drag me back and administer my ill-fated justice.
    I glanced down at the calling card clutched in my hand.  It
was my ticket out of there, my only hope for a second chance.  There was no
question that I could not stay anywhere near Venice, or likely on the streets
of any city.  Word of a human man killing a Vampire would spread fast among
them.  They would be out for blood. 
    Well, more than usual, that is. 
    Niccolò seems like a decent enough guy, for one of them,
that is. 
    I was not out of danger yet.  I still