The Immortal Scrolls (6 page)

Andy watched silently from above. He could feel their lust. He knew what was coming, and he didn’t want to be around. He couldn’t watch her with another man. He would come back later. Andy got up and left quietly through the balcony doors.

Marco brought his mouth down on Skye’s and thrust his tongue into her mouth. His hands reached behind her and unzipped her dress. He slid the straps off and kissed one of her shoulders. Skye tilted her head back. Marco slid her dress down to her waist and lowered her body to the floor. Their bodies were hot to the touch from being so close to the fireplace. Marco kneeled over her and slid her dress off her hips and tossed it across the room. He gave her a tantalizing smile.

“You’re so fucking hot, Skye,” he said, admiring her body.

Still kneeling, he leaned over and ran his hands over her body, starting at her neck. He got to her full breasts and squeezed them gently. Then his hands left her breasts, and he dragged his fingertips over her flat, soft stomach.

Marco gazed deep into her eyes, the corner of his lip curling seductively into a half smile. He slowly traced the edge of her panties with his finger back and forth. Skye’s body trembled in anticipation. Then his hand slid under her panties. She let out a soft moan as his fingers parted her and then slipped inside. He leaned over, pressing his body against hers. He covered her mouth with his own. His hand moved faster inside her as she became slick.

“You like that, baby?” he asked in a low, husky voice.

She moaned. “Yeah,” she sighed.

Marco unhooked her bra with one hand and tore it off, tossing it across the room. He placed his mouth on her taut, pink nipple and sucked gently. Skye ran her hands down his smooth, muscular back and then around to his zipper. She clumsily unbuttoned his pants and unzipped them. She reached in and gripped him, moving her hands up and down until he was hard. He moved his fingers faster inside her until she felt like she would explode.

“I want you, Marco,” she whispered lustily.

Marco removed his hands from her and stood up to take off his pants and briefs. He pulled a condom out of his pocket and then tossed his pants away. Skye lay back, admiring his perfect male form. She wanted him bad, and he knew it. Marco took his time to tease her. He removed the condom from the wrapper and put it on slowly. Skye smiled and moved her finger in a come-here gesture. Marco kneeled back down and positioned himself between her thighs. He pulled her buttocks and legs up over his thighs, bringing her closer to him, and entered her gently. Her back arched slightly as he thrust in and out. His hands cupped her breasts as he moved faster and faster. Tiny moans of pleasure escaped her lips. Marco lifted her upright onto his lap, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He held her tight to his chest as Skye moved her hips up and down. His hands caressed the smooth skin on the small of her back. Then he gripped her buttocks and moved her up and down faster and faster as he thrust harder and harder. Marco was inflamed by her cries of rapture. Skye’s cries grew louder, and her body began to quake. Marco couldn’t hold back any longer and erupted inside her, moaning loudly. He kissed her lips as his body slowly stopped trembling. Marco gently removed himself from her and lay back. Skye lay down next him and placed her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.

“Dove sei stato per tutta la mia vita?” he muttered breathlessly.

Skye smiled.
No, where have you been all of my life?
she asked him in her head. She was a little dizzy from all the wine she drank—and the mind-blowing sex. She drifted off to sleep on his shoulder.

A few hours later Andy came back. The balcony was still unlocked. He entered without a sound. Skye and Marco were fast asleep in her bed. Andy stared at Marco with his fangs drawn. He could kill him in a second and was very tempted. Skye stirred in the bed. Andy was afraid she would wake up, so he left quickly.

Skye woke up, disturbed. She had the distinct feeling of being watched. She looked around the darkness and realized she was in her bedroom upstairs.
Marco must have carried me to bed
, she thought. She glanced down and found him lying asleep next to her in the bed. Skye smiled and looked around the dark room once more. Then she saw her balcony door open a crack. She thought she’d shut it all the way earlier. Suddenly her phone started to vibrate on her nightstand. She picked it up quickly before Marco could wake up. She took her phone and slipped out onto the balcony. The name said “unavailable.”

“Hello,” she said quietly. Andy was down in the trees watching curiously.

“Hello, daughter,” said a man’s voice.

“Where are you?” she asked, irritated.

“In Herculaneum,” the man said casually. “I heard your name on the news after the quake. Why are you there?”

“I’m working,” she said defensively.

“You shouldn’t be there,” he said angrily.

“Why not? You were the one who told me to—” she started to say.

“We can talk about it this weekend. The family is all here,” he said, interrupting her.

“And…”

“Yes, he is with me. He wants to see you,” said the man.

“Don’t call me again,” said Skye. Then she hung up the phone and shut it off so he couldn’t call her back.

Then she went back inside, making sure to lock the door behind her. Skye climbed into her bed, careful not to wake up Marco. He rolled over, threw a muscular arm over her body, and pulled her close to him. She was still a little disturbed but quickly drifted off to sleep.

The next night Andy came back to watch Skye again, but she was not home. Her apartment was dark and locked. She must have left when he was off hunting. He ran to Marco’s apartment across town to see if she was there, but Marco was home alone. Skye didn’t return to her apartment the whole night. Andy waited for her all day Sunday as well, but she must have gone with whoever had called her. He hoped she was all right. He felt a little ridiculous waiting around for her. Andy knew he was only drawn to her because she looked like Araceli. He was getting hungry and needed to feed again soon. Andy decided he would just have to see her again at the lab, and he went off to hunt.

“Hello, Skye,” Andy said pleasantly. “How was your weekend?” He was already sitting at the computer in the lab with the file open.

“Crazy,” she said. She looked tired today. “I was running around all weekend.” It was pretty much the truth.

He wasn’t sure he believed her entirely because he could pick up on her nervousness. “Are you ready to begin again?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I want to hear more about this supposed vampire.” Skye laughed.

“Hmmm,” said Andy looking away from her to the screen. “You do not believe in vampires?” he asked.

“I believe in many things,” she said seriously. He turned to look at her. “My father is sort of an expert on the supernatural.”

“Really?” said Andy, intrigued.

“Yes,” she said. “He has dragged me around my whole life in search of… things.”

“Is he crazy?” Andy asked.
Or does he know something?
he wondered to himself.

“No, but I did have to leave him to search on his own. I left my whole family. I was tired of it all, tired of searching year after year. So I went to college and never looked back.”
It was sort of the truth
, she thought.

Andy felt her sadness. He decided to get her thinking about the scrolls again. “Skye…” he said, making her name longer than it sounded. She turned to look at him. He gazed deeply into her eyes. She sat there, mesmerized. He started to talk, and she found herself transported back in her mind.

.

Chapter Six

R
OME, 79
AD

A
ndrocles was back at her door by morning. Araceli did not wake for a few more hours. Her slaves brought food about an hour before noon. Androcles was excited that she was awake and he would see her soon. He had dreamed about her the whole night long. Some dreams were happy. His other dreams were more disturbing. In one, he dreamt of fire and ash and found himself searching for her.

It was before noon when Araceli opened her doors and popped out her beautiful head. “I want to go to the market,” she said in her usual tone.

“Yes, domina,” said Androcles. “When shall we leave?”

“Now,” she said stepping out of her room. She was dressed in a long-sleeved blue stola. She covered her head with a sheer blue palla.

Androcles couldn’t help but think she got more and more beautiful every time he saw her. He stood there awkwardly as he remembered one dream when he kissed her.

“Do you know your way?” Araceli asked, eying him curiously.

“Yes,” he replied, snapping out of his reverie. Androcles turned around and led her through the corridors all the way out of the large estate. “Is your litter ready, or shall I fetch one?” he asked.

Araceli put on a dark cloak. She handed him one as well. “No litter today,” she said. “We go on foot.”

“But domina,” he started to protest. “No litter, no slaves…”

“That is correct. Is your leg well enough?” she asked, suddenly worried when she remembered his injury.

“You should not be so concerned about me, domina,” he said. Her concern for him amazed him. “Ladies always travel by litter.”

“I don’t want to be seen,” Araceli said mysteriously.

“As you wish,” said Androcles as he covered himself with a cloak.

She wanted them to look ordinary and not like a lady with her guard. They walked silently away from her home and through various streets of other large, wealthy estates. Araceli would look over at him occasionally to admire his handsome profile. She caught herself daydreaming he was her husband and not her guard. Androcles could feel the burn of her stare, and he would look at her and smile. Araceli would smile and blush and then look straight ahead again.

She turned another corner, and they were on a street filled with shops. Araceli led them past several shops.

“Mmmm, that smells divine,” she said as they passed a baker. She stopped and went inside.

Androcles followed her in. It did smell good. The food the guards ate was perfectly adequate, much better than what he ate in the legion, but he hadn’t eaten bread fresh from a shop since he was very young.

“How may I help you?” asked the baker.

“I would like two loaves of this bread,” she said pointing to a long, fat loaf. She handed the baker a few coins, and he wrapped up the bread.

Androcles watched her silently. She was very independent.
She must resent having a guard
, he thought. He wondered if she often snuck away from home and walked about the shops. This was probably why her father had employed him.

Araceli thanked the baker, and they left the shop. She headed for the next shop on her list. He followed her silently as she went to a shop that sold wine. Araceli purchased a small jug of wine. Androcles wondered why she did not just send servants out for these common items.
Did she just want an excuse to get out?
he wondered.

They passed by some outside vendors selling fruits, goat cheese, meats, fish, and other goods. Araceli stopped in front of a fruit vendor. She plucked a grape off a bunch and popped it in her mouth. She grabbed the bunch of grapes and handed some more coins to the vendor.

“Try this,” she said, holding a grape up to Androcles’s mouth.

He opened his mouth, and she put the grape in his mouth. His lips brushed her fingertips. Androcles was shocked at how comfortable and natural she acted around him. He forgot his place momentarily. “It’s very sweet,” he said after he chewed it. “Thank you.”

Araceli smiled. “Come with me,” she commanded playfully. “I have one more place I want to go.”

“Yes, domina,” he said dutifully. He followed her to a small shop. They went inside, and Androcles saw that it was shop that made and sold sandals and boots.

“May I help you?” asked the shopkeeper.

“Yes. My brother needs new footwear,” she said as she pointed to Androcles’s feet. His boots were old and worn.

“Araceli, no,” he protested.

“He needs a pair of boots and a pair of sandals. Preferably a sandal that doesn’t lace up the leg too high,” she said, remembering his injury.