O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell

Author:Robin Maxwell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Italy, Historical, Vendetta, Family Life, Fiction, Romance, Historical fiction, Families - Italy, Verona (Italy), General, Families, Love stories
ISBN: 9780451229151
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Published: 2010-02-02T10:00:00+00:00

“That’s good,” I said. “Go on.”

But he shook his head slowly no, his eyes steady on mine, then kissed me, hard and soft at once.There was no more strength in my doughlike legs, but my arms were steely, pulling him to me, into me if I’d been able. I was past embarrassment of my sudden, greedy hunger.

His hands were on my breasts, searching beneath the doublet for flesh. Mine found the hardness between his legs. I groaned at the shock of it. I loved the taste of Romeo’s mouth, smoky sweet and warm, and by his soundings knew he found my devouring an equal pleasure.

We sank to our knees and in a single motion he unfurled his cloak and laid us down upon it. The stone beneath us was unforgiving, so he pulled me atop him. In breeches it was easy to straddle him, and while perhaps a shameless posture, it was altogether natural and altogether pleasurable. He laced his fingers through my hair and with it drew me down to kiss him again.

Oh, what a heavenly mattress was this man!

The thought came that the cathedral dome would be lit by our fire like a great torch, for all of Florence to see.

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Romeo demanded suddenly.

“What I’m thinking?” I whispered, pulling back, catching my breath.

“Yes. Right now. You have a certain look when your mind is working.”

I told him my vision of a brightly illuminated Duomo apex.

He moved his hips under me with a wicked smile. It made me gasp.

“An explosion of light?” he said, and moved again.

I laid my hands on his chest and found the two tiny buds of his nipples beneath his thin shirt. I brushed them gently with my fingertips.

“What are you thinking?” I said.

“What a strangely beautiful bride you will be.”

I strove to remain calm. It was the first that he’d spoken of marriage. “Why strange?” I asked.

“A bride in men’s clothing.”

“What do you mean, love?”

“We must marry tonight. Here. Now.”

I shook my head no, but found myself speechless at the thought.

“There is no other way, Juliet.” He sat up, suddenly sober, and gently helped me off him. We sat side by side, our backs to the rail.

“What about our parents’ blessings?” I demanded.

“We have mine, but we shall never have yours.”

“But my mother loves you. She would speak to my father. . . .”

“Your father will not agree. He is more tightly bound to Jacopo Strozzi than it seems.”

“How do you know this?”

“I have made it my business to know.” Romeo took my hand and held it to his lips, then brushed his cheek along its back. “His silk business was foundering even before my father’s saboteurs sank his cargo. The Strozzi wealth and Jacopo’s partnership are necessary to keep the silk works solvent. The promise of your hand in marriage was your father’s way of sweetening the contract, keeping his new partner happy in the early days of their dealings.

“And Jacopo is a determined man. He is a third son with brothers who have healthy male heirs.

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