The Medici Queen Page 6

  Moaning as he saw her fangs, they excited him beyond anything he could have imagined. She teased and taunted him with those words. He was amazed at her control when she licked his neck and he gripped her hair harder. “Careful, my queen, I will show you who is master. I wish for something I have not yet seen. Does that beast want to come out and play with me?” He nuzzled her neck, licking and letting his tongue slide along her pulsing vein.

  “Your queen wants what you want, lover.”

  He still lay on top of her. His weight had her pinned down to the bed. He slipped to her side as he struck her hard, the sound of his hand across her ass a resounding loud crack in the quiet room, and her beast began to emerge. She felt a throbbing in her fangs, an ache, a new sensation for her, as she hissed and growled at him. It had been hours since she’d fed, and she already craved him again. She rose up and rolled with him, pushing him down as she rolled on top of him, her mouth seeking his neck. She gripped his shoulders tightly as she sank her fangs into him, and drank deeply. The power of his blood hit her instantly, igniting the fire between her legs.

  He moaned and felt those wickedly sharp fangs in his neck. It was the most erotic sensation in his life. He loved to feel her feed, feel her take his power, his strength, giving her life. In five hundred years, she was the only one to take from him. She drank deep and drew hard. He felt her body respond to the power of his blood when she pulled away from his neck and leaned in, biting his lip, sucking it into her mouth. He could barely breathe. Her beast was alive, wanting to come out and be tamed. Flipping her over and pushing her down hard on her back, he entered her fully, pushing her knees atop his shoulders as he started thrusting into her, then sinking his fangs deep into her neck. Her scent overwhelmed him, her body moved like a wave they rode together.

  Kate’s head was near the edge of the bed, and her hair cascaded over the side as her head fell back, her neck exposed. She felt him growl deep in his chest as he drank from her. She bit him again, drinking from him as he drank from her. Her hands clawed at him, gripping him, and pulling him closer, deeper.

  He gripped his hands in her hair and rolled with her again, pulling her to his chest, kissing her with deep hard passion, his heart racing with hers. “Let her out, bel. I want you to let your beast go.”

  Letting go of her tresses, he slid his hands to her hips, gripping her hard as he guided her motions on his rigid cock, thrusting hard into her again and again, feeling her respond, her eyes glowing red in the darkened room.

  She flipped him over, as she crawled on top of him, pinning him to the bed as she mounted him. Her beast roared back as her fangs elongated and the saliva dripped on his chest before she bit at him again. A savage bite into the strong muscle of his shoulder as one hand held his arm down, and the other gripped his hair, pulling his head back. Her hips rode the full length of his massive erection, slamming down hard against him, feeling his cock throb deep inside her.

  He encouraged her beast. She must understand the full power of her beast before she could learn to control it. But he was still her master and he’d let her know it. His goal for this night was for her to learn he’d let her beast lead at times, but he’d always remain the stronger one. He was her maker and master. He slammed into her stroke after stroke, watching her growl and swing her hair from side to side as she thrashed her head in the air. Reaching up, he gripped her hair in both hands and rolled her onto her back and pulled her away from what her body craved. He was aching to drive back deep inside her and have his own reward, but his beast knew he must train her. Her arms reached for him, but he burrowed between her legs and slid his tongue inside her, sucking her juices, then suckling her clit, enticing her beast to either fight or submit. He knew she could feel his intent, knew he didn’t do this to torment her or overpower her but simply to make her understand, her master would always rule. He slid his eyes to hers. “Do you want to cum, mi amore?”

  He willed the music to play, its beat seductive. Luscious Redhead Dark as Love by Melissa Ritter

  She arched her back and pushed her hips into him, as he denied her what she wanted most. She wrapped her legs around his shoulders, gripping tight as his tongue explored the depths of her. She did want to cum, but she wanted to feel him deep inside her when she did. He slowly crawled over her again, sliding his hand between her legs before pushing his member deep inside her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and he kept her pinned down, thrusting hard.

  He kissed her deep and long, letting his hands explore through her hair, and along her face. His tongue licked at her neck and nuzzled her vein. He slowed the pace, letting her beast join with his, letting her feel how their power could be combined to take them to a higher plain. He thrust slowly, letting his cock glide in and out of her. Kissing her eyelids, he felt her hips come up off the bed to meet him and he let up from the pressure of holding her down, giving her free rein to move with him. “Take us there, my sweet lily white.”

  He kept pushing her to the edge, and pulling back, and pushing her to the edge again, and pulling back. Her body screamed for him, for the release only he could bring. She gripped her legs around him tightly and raked her nails across his back. As she heard his growl, she bit hard into his neck once again, and felt his fangs sink deep into her. Her growl was guttural. She clenched his cock hard with her sex, gripping him, pulling him deep, as her hips thrust against him. She unlatched as she threw her head back, screaming his name, as she felt him release into her.

  The waves of pleasure rolled over them, spasm after spasm, and their bodies responding of their own accord. Their hips thrusting, as their orgasm took them to new heights before it started to subside. His body relaxed, their hearts pounding, chests heaving, and bodies glistening in a fine sheen of perspiration. He ran both hands through her hair, pushing it back from her face, before lowering his mouth to her.

  “Mine, mi amore... All mine."

  6

  Shade felt restless, and he had no cause to be. What he’d waited for his entire life had happened this night. Kate was immortal, crowned his queen and was his for all eternity. He slowly slid from their bed, shifting her gently from his chest and covering her sleeping form with the soft blankets. Pulling on a pair of sweat pants that hung low on his hips, he walked to the window, opening the heavy drapes and feeling the cooling breeze of the Florence night blow across his skin. The moon shone down in its fullness, and hung low in the sky, letting him know daybreak wasn’t far behind. The moonlight streamed into the room. He looked back at her, asleep on the bed.

  He stood and let his mind wander. He replayed the events of the night over in his head, the coronation and how beautiful she’d looked. He let the memory sink in deep. It would be a tale to be told to his children and his grandchildren. The Coronation of Katherine the Medici Queen was legendary. The last Medici with that name and title had been from the mortal branch of their family tree. Queen Catherine de Medici was Queen of France, and married to Henry II. She had been a powerful queen, unloved by her mate, but she made sure her children all inherited the throne.

  The memories played through his head, from the night he first saw her at Alec and Rissa's, to the coronation. He wondered if she’d made the right choice. All the things he’d deprived her of as a mortal, giving up family and friends, giving up daylight, it was more than he should have asked of her, and there was still much he hadn’t shared. There were secrets he’d feared to tell her. He began to think perhaps the life he had to offer her would never be enough. He knew deep in his heart he didn’t deserve the woman who lay in their bed across this room.

  He turned his head to view her at rest and gasped at the sight before him. His madre sat quietly on the bed next to Kate, her blonde hair down, framing her face. Her cornflower blue eyes held his. She held herself regally, always the queen. But to him, she would always be Madre.

  ***

  Portia watched him and felt his doubt. He’d grown to be the finest warrior the Medici had ever known. He’d finally outdone h
is own padre. She knew Christofano was pleased with their son and his choice of mate, knowing the future of the Medici coven was finally safe. She was more than grateful to her son for finally giving his father peace within his soul.

  She and Christofano had watched him for years as he succeeded as a warrior but failed at love, failing to find his destined mate and failing to produce heirs that would secure their legacy. Although they were both long gone from his world, they resided in the spirit realm and never left Castello. Their life and love together held them here. And now, they welcomed into their hearts a new daughter. It pleased her greatly he’d come home, brought with him his bride who took her rightful place beside him.

  But this night, he needed more than his mate to reassure him, to erase something he didn’t allow himself to often feel, self-doubt. And like many times before, he was calling to her, to provide reassurance, comfort, and solace. Portia spoke to him from where she sat on the bed, next to a sleeping Kate.

  "You, mio figlio, are more deserving than you could ever imagine."

  "Madre, are you truly here?"

  Portia held out her hand to him, her face lit with a soft smile, her eyes shining in the moonlight, her beaded gown the color of new corn, a golden silk that enhanced every beautiful thing about her. She was always the gentleness inside him. She knew his darkness, and understood the tangled web it wove around his heart, pulling him down. At one time, she was the only solace he’d known. Padre's hand was heavy when it came to him, and hers had been the healing one, providing comfort as only she could.

  "You have taken so long to come to me, Madre. I have missed you so."

  Portia looked at his new queen and slid her hand gently over Kate’s long crimson waves and turned to look at him, beckoning him to sit beside her on the bed.

  "Come, mio figlio. Tis truly your madre. She sleeps, she will not awaken.”

  He walked to the bed and sat beside her, as her hand softly slid along his chiseled cheek. She looked deep into his eyes, even bluer than her own. She let her hand stray to his curls, black as coal, so like his padre’s. Pulling his head to her shoulder, she felt him come easily to her, and felt him sigh and relax. She caressed his head gently, kissing his cheek softly, just as she used to when he was such a small child. Now he was a grown man, a vampire beyond rival and her heart overflowed with love for him, for he was her only child.

  "Your mind is tangling with your heart, and I think you need to separate the two, mio figlio. What is it you doubt? Surely, it cannot be the beautiful female that lies here, for her love for you is so deep and true. Has she not proven such to you? She came to you willingly, fought the demons to become yours. I have watched her for so long. Long before you ever saw her. She was chosen for you, led to you. She is your eternal soul mate. Of that, you could have no doubt, mio figlio."

  Before his bel rosso, his madre was the comfort he had always sought in the darkness. It was her heart that lulled him to sleep with a knowledge that tomorrow would come, and he would hold his head high as a Medici and strive once again to be the vampire, the man, the king that was buried deep inside him. Closing his eyes, he breathed deep of her, felt her crawl deep into his soul and he let her inside. She was a part of who he was. Her hands brought a welcome healing touch he hadn’t felt in so long. He relaxed, letting out a sigh. For a brief moment, he gave up the burden of being the strong warrior, the leader of so many, and the one everyone depended upon. He relinquished all this and became just Shade, her son. She took control. He no longer needed to be strong, as he could be weak with her. He felt her shift beside him, relaxing back against the many silken pillows and stretched out her legs, patting her lap for him to lay down his head. He knew this place so well. She had been his solace on many nights of grief and failure.

  He lay down next to her, pulling the sheet over himself, and laying his head in her lap. Her warmth was as he remembered, her silken gown enfolded around him. Her hand slid over his shoulder and he reached up to hold it, kissing her hand. She wore her simple band of diamonds, the symbol she belonged to Padre. He felt her bend over and kiss his forehead. Her hand moved down his chest and lay across his heart, spreading her fingers to contain it, protect it, and feel it beat with her own. He’d never appreciated the treasure of their time alone when he was young, assuming she’d always be there. But now, her visits were a rare and priceless gift he didn’t take for granted.

  Portia felt him let her inside his soul, and felt the tears well in her eyes. She had longed to comfort him. She felt his bel inside him and he didn’t push bel aside but allowed Portia to have a space reserved just for her. She kept one hand over his heart and her other slid through the curls in that beautiful head of hair. He was ready to talk to her, confess to her, and confide in her. Kate knew she was chosen by Portia to be her son’s mate, and her soul accepted the bond that existed between Portia and her only son, a bond of love that only another woman could understand. Portia was comforted to know Kate protected him as he did her. Kate would give him that peace when he needed it. She had truly earned the title of queen and she would protect and serve this coven, as no other ever could. Her heart was pure in her love for him, for she was his light.

  "Talk to your madre, figlio. Let your thoughts become my own. Rest and let me carry this burden that lies heavy on your heart."

  Her words comforted, and he opened his eyes to look up and see her leaning down, smiling for him. He learned from his madre how the bond of two created one, strengthened both, and could last an eternity. And now, those lessons she’d shared with him he’d put into play with his bel rosso.

  Shade knew well his madre had intervened, saw his wayward wandering, his lost and lonely soul, and put Kate in his path. He sighed deeply and voiced the thoughts in his troubled mind.

  "I have taken so much from her, Madre. I have taken her soul. It belongs to me now and what have I given her in return? She is queen. She is loved deeply and will never want for anything, but I have left her so unattended at times. I left her out of much of what is our world, and then brought her into it, blind to what lies ahead. I have so much to teach her, guide her through to survive. I am grieved deeply by the thought of her becoming hardened, cold. I love my bel rosso. I love her softness, her vulnerability. What if she embraces her power as vampire and no longer needs the one thing I adore giving her, my protection. Perhaps, once she learns her skills, she will no longer need me to protect her. It will kill me. I don’t want to let her down, disappoint her in this life. And what if she hates it? I cannot turn back the clock for her. She will always remain immortal. Am I strong enough to lead her, guide her? Can I give her all she needs? Can I love her enough? She knows another life, one I never did. Being immortal is all I have ever known. Can she let go of her past to always be mine? What if I cannot fill the void of what she left behind?"

  Portia smiled and closed her eyes as his doubts came to life in words, letting her fingers wrap around a curl and twirl it without thought.

  "Shade, mio vampiro coraggioso. Your bel will not miss what she left behind. She left heartache and the cheating hearts of mortal men. She will blossom with this life. She will discover places inside herself not even you have seen. She will embrace you, your coven, and your warriors. She has a soft and loving heart. She will never lose that, not with you. You adore and love her. Continue to love her as only you can, mio figlio. Teach her how to protect those she loves, and she will not abuse it. She will discover Medici is about familia. She has seen that, to some degree. Your warriors admire and love you, they also love her in the same manner and not because of you, mio figlio, but because she has already shown them her heart. She understands that giving and loving is returned to her in kind. Teach and guide her. Use what Padre and I have taught you, combine the best of both of us and give it to her. Deep inside her, she craves your protection. She likes that you take control of things, but she will have a feisty spirit when need be, I have seen that at work. She will not let you walk away from something she feels import
ant to her heart, figlio. Respect that. Let her give you guidance and protection as well."

  Portia slid her hand softly across his cheek. "She is the light in your darkest corners. But now, mio figlio, that light surrounds you always, embrace it. Let her light take away all the darkness and pain. Never shut her out of what is her means to love you and give to you. Always remember this."

  "I love her so, Madre. I give her my all. There is nothing left of me, I give it all to her. She has seen our bambinos. There are three, Madre! Lorenzo, Sophia, and Natalia. I want them to be so loved. We lost a son, and I know it was not meant to be. It is a pain I can never take away for her, that painful mistake. And I made a choice, between her survival and the baby’s, and I chose her. A decision she knows nothing about, and I wonder if she could ever forgive me for taking our child from her. I struggle to define my own feelings and loss. I fear I left her alone to deal with the loss. Without Luca, I may have lost her as well. He helped her through the grief she hid from me. I never want that to happen again. I want to share all of our feelings with each other, the good and the bad. Tell me I can do this, Madre. Tell me I can raise bambinos. Tell me I can give them what they need to survive, be happy and find their place in this life. I want them desperately, but I wonder if I can handle them, teach them, love them with a heart that is gentle and pure, but be strict enough to teach them the lessons they need to learn to survive in our culture."

  Laughing softly, Portia swatted him gently. “Mio figlio, bambinos will lead their own lives. Show them what love and being immortal means and they will be fine. Love your mate, love her like you were taught and the bambinos will see and learn what love is. They only need to learn love, see it, and feel it, be raised in its atmosphere, and they will follow. The rest is mere books, tutors, and guidance. Have you not seen yet that your bel has a loving, mothering soul? Oh mio figlio, she was chosen to be the light for all. Your blood runs in her veins, she will have it all. She is the woman you have sought for your entire life. It is so simple, Shade. Just love her. Just love her. Stop worrying about a future you cannot control. Do what is right in your heart, and she will always remain your bel rosso."