Unwrapping the Castelli Secret by Caitlin Crews
Author:Caitlin Crews [Crews, Caitlin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-09-30T23:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE BOAT RIDE back across the canal was tense and silent. The snow fell around them like the kind of holiday blessing neither one of them deserved, muffling out the sounds of the old city and transforming it, making it that much more serene. But far worse than that, Lily thought darkly as she wrapped her warm cape tightly around her bare shoulders and glared out at the world become a literal snow globe, the ride across the water was entirely too brief.
She’d revealed herself at last. Lily had no idea what that meant, only that it was done and there was no taking it back.
Much too soon, Rafael led her from the boat and into the waiting loggia level of his family’s palazzo, his temper a living thing that walked beside them, between them, thicker than the Venice night all around them and stronger than the hand wrapped around her arm. It didn’t occur to her to defy him. She didn’t imagine it would do her any good.
And if she was honest with herself, Lily knew that as much as she’d tried to avoid this moment of unfortunate truth, a far deeper part of her was glad. Not that she’d succumbed to that destructive passion again, the way she always did like the addict she was—but that there would be no more lies.
She told herself that was a good thing, as she handed off her cape to the waiting servant and shivered—though not because she was cold. It was time for honesty, however ugly. It was past time.
Rafael strode through the collection of rooms on the second level, more commonly rented out for things like art exhibits these days than for giving parties like the one they’d just left, then up the stairs she’d come down what seemed like a lifetime ago to the private family living suites above. He kept that seemingly polite hand anchored in the small of her back, guiding her where he wanted her to go, and somehow she didn’t quite dare disobey him. Not when she sensed he was holding on the pretense of civility by the skin of his teeth, if that. When a glance at his set, hard face made her think of wild and untamed things, uncontrollable passions, and challenges she hoped she was too wise these days to take.
She hoped.
He ushered her into the vast common room in the center of the bedroom suites that rambled over the upper floor, commanding views of lovely, snowy Venice in all directions. Then he left her standing there in the center of all that opulent art and ancient craft, from the frescoes that adorned the walls to the stunning sweep of paintings to the elegance of the furnishings themselves. An excessive example of the Castelli wealth—and its power—in a single overwarm room, with the brooding fury of Rafael at its center. She watched him stride over to the carved wood cabinet that served as a bar in the corner and pour himself something rich and dark into a heavy-looking tumbler.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
In Control (The City Series) by Crystal Serowka(35364)
The Wolf Sea (The Oathsworn Series, Book 2) by Low Robert(33854)
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry(33292)
Crowbone (The Oathsworn Series, Book 5) by Low Robert(32338)
The Book of Dreams (Saxon Series) by Severin Tim(32247)
The Daughters of Foxcote Manor by Eve Chase(22292)
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh(20059)
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman(18971)
Shot Through The Heart (Supernature Book 1) by Edwin James(17928)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt(16634)
The Girl from the Opera House by Nancy Carson(14989)
Sad Girls by Lang Leav(13357)
American King (New Camelot #3) by Sierra Simone(12987)
Pimp by Iceberg Slim(12935)
All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda(12755)
The Betrayed by Graham Heather(11699)
The Betrayed by David Hosp(11673)
4 3 2 1: A Novel by Paul Auster(11053)
Still Me by Jojo Moyes(9909)