The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) (26 page)

“Good, and if I’m going to stay awake I think I need a caffeine IV hooked up to my arm. But coffee will have to do.” Sophie headed downstairs toward the kitchen.

Sophie heard Carter say “that’s one hell of a daughter you have there, Rafe” as she made her way down the stairs to the kitchen.

Chapter Nineteen

Giovanni woke with a start the moment the sun set. His first thought was to find Sophie and make sure she was okay. He jumped out of bed and quickly changed into a spare pair of jeans. He grabbed his phone and flipped it open to call Sophie when the door opened and his beautiful brunette girlfriend walked in with a killer smile. She was wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a dark green t-shirt that made her emerald eyes sparkle. Her red painted lips curved up into an evil smile as she took in his bare chest. “Well, now that is an image I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing.” Her voice was like a ray of sunshine in his dark world.

He growled low and rushed to her side. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close against him. “Ditto, babe.”

He didn’t wait for a reply before he pressed his hungry lips to hers. A moan escaped her lips, and he lost control as he deepened the kiss. He loved the way she responded to him. His free hand slammed the door closed and locked it before he took a few steps back towards the bed. She tasted like honey and sunlight, and her generous touches only drove his passion faster over the edge.

The bed frame pressed against the back of his calves forcing him to sit down. Sophie giggled when he fell into a sitting position. He snaked his hand around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. “I’m not finished with my greeting yet.” He grinned dangerously as his lips fell inches from her ear, his cool breath sending shivers through her body.

Sophie sucked in a breath as familiar sensations travelled along her skin where his hands touched. His fingers slid under her shirt and the cool touch grew warm as it spread through her midsection. “You are going to be the death of me, woman.” He growled as he nibbled on her earlobe and rained kisses from her neck to her jaw. His fingers moved up her torso and found their destination at the bra line. His lips crushed against her lips hungrily needing to drink in her essence as his hand squeezed her breast. She arched toward him and lost control.

She felt evidence of his desire pressing against her jeans as their hips gyrated together. The only thing keeping them from pushing the limits of their passion and making love in that moment was their clothes.

Sophie’s hands reveled in the investigation of the planes of his solid chest and six pack abs. She loved the way his skin was cool to the touch, but ignited fire in her body and soul. She knew the rest of him was just as hard and ready for her. It would be so easy to fall into bed with him right now and forget about all the horrible things happening around them. To sink into his protective arms and let the rest of the world just fade away.

He reluctantly pulled his head back and stared, searching her eyes. “There’s something you need to know before we go any further, Sophie.”

She could see the battle raging in his gorgeous eyes. Instinctively, she kissed his forehead and cupped his cheeks with her hands. She didn’t understand why, but she knew she could trust him. She didn’t understand why, but she knew their connection was deeper than any other she’d ever had with anyone else in her life. She was in tune to his every need. She even felt his hunger. “Do you need to feed?”

“What?” Giovanni shook his head trying to focus on the words she was speaking. His mind was so focused on how he was going to tell her about Beatrice that he wasn’t quite sure he heard her right. He knew she was scared of the idea of him feeding on her, and he’d never do that without her permission.

“Because if you’re hungry it’s okay. You can drink from me. I trust you. I don’t know why, but I trust you.” She tilted her head to expose her neck to him and he almost lost all control as his incisors lengthened at the delicate treat she was offering him. He closed his eyes tight against the urge that raged in his body to claim her, all of her.

“Sophie, you have no idea how wonderful that sounds to my ears, and if you don’t cover your neck right now, I may not be able to stop myself from taking your offer. But before you do, I need to tell you something.”
No games,
he reminded himself.

“Nothing you tell me could change how I feel for you, and I can feel your hunger. Please, Gio, drink.” Sophie smiled softly, invitingly.

Gio moaned painfully as he laid back on the bed and flung his arm over his eyes. Sophie fell forward on top of him. Her sweet scent circled around him and he started running his hand lovingly up and down her back. “Not until you hear what I have to say.”

He rolled sideways and they lay on the bed facing each other. Her face open to hear anything he had to say. Ready to give this relationship everything she had, only she didn’t have all the facts.

He pushed her dark hair over her shoulder and took her hand in his. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

Confusion filled her eyes and a frown pursed her lips and wrinkled her forehead. Gio felt worry creep up his spine. It would be so much easier if she did.

Sophie shrugged, it was the last thing she expected to hear from him in that moment. “I don’t know what I believe in anymore. So many things have changed. I mean, I never believed in the mythological gods as anything more than just that, myths, until I met some of them. Knowing they’re real is shocking in itself, and finding out they’re aliens is just as traumatizing.”

Gio listened to her while he softly ran his fingers up and down her arm. He was so afraid she was going to react badly to the news he had to tell her, but he pushed forward anyway. “Before all this happened, did you believe in reincarnation?”

“I don’t think I ever thought about it. But if vampires and werewolves exist, mortals and immortals, perhaps reincarnation does, too.” Sophie was baffled with his line of questioning and couldn’t understand why he was killing the mood with all the spiritual conversation. This could be a discussion they had over dinner, for goodness sake, not while she was trying to seal the relationship deal between them.

There was hope!
“Do you remember the vision you had when we kissed?”

“Sure, I could hardly forget something like that.” She didn’t want to tell him it wasn’t just the vision, but also the feelings that went along with it. Every time he brought it up she felt a little jealousy enter her heart, and there was no place in this bedroom for that at the moment.

“Did it seem familiar to you?”
Please say yes, please tell me your soul recognizes my soul. Make this easier on both of us.

Sophie’s frown deepened. It did seem familiar in a way, like something she’d seen in a movie a long time ago. “It was sad. I really don’t feel like discussing that particular vision at the moment. I’d much rather talk about the vision you are with your shirt off.” She grinned wickedly as she ran her fingers from the button on his jeans up to his neck.

“Yes, it was sad, heartbreaking.” Gio agreed and grabbed her hand in his, kissing the inside of her wrist. “Please, Sophie, I’m trying desperately to be serious here. Did it seem familiar?”

“I guess. Why?” Sophie was beginning to get scared. Whatever it was that was bothering him she just wished he’d tell her and get it over with. Had he changed his mind about them? Did the vision remind him too much about the love he lost all those centuries ago? Her heart stopped beating for a moment as she hung on the silence waiting for his next word.

“Because according to Thanatos, you were Beatrice in a past life.”

Sophie felt the air in her lungs expel from her body. She wasn’t expecting that! “Come on, Gio! How is that even possible?”

“Thanatos knew you were my true mate. As a friend, he wanted to see me happy, I guess. I’m not really sure why he did it, but he did. He searched for you in his spare time, and when he found you he offered rebirth.”

Sophie jumped out of bed, and put a little space in between them. At least her heart was beating and her lungs were breathing air again. She needed a moment to process what he was telling her. It explained so much, but opened up a whole new bunch of questions. “Is that why you are so driven to have a relationship with me?” She couldn’t help the accusation that played out in her eyes as she narrowed them on him. “Seriously, Gio, how long have you known?”

Gio shook his head. “I didn’t know until yesterday when Thanatos brought me to the dream realm to help you. If you’ll remember, I desired you before that.”

Sophie let out another deep breath. Her world was crumbling around her again as she started to wonder if anything was real. Tears stung her eyes. “But your attraction was because I’m Beatrice? So none of this between us is real?” She dropped into the chair across the room while she tried to process what was happening.

Gio jumped out of the bed and went to her. He made sure his eyes locked with hers before he spoke. “You have some similarities to Beatrice, but you are Sophie. You’re strong, independent, loyal, determined, and fierce. You need to know you aren’t the same woman I fell in love with centuries ago.”

Sophie swallowed hard as she tried to digest the information he was telling her. It was incredible. Unbelievable. It seemed impossible, and yet there was some truth to it her soul recognized. “But a part of me is.”

There was a sadness in Sophie’s eyes as she lowered her head. Gio knew she was trying to process this new development. He’d hoped she would recognize what he was saying as truth. He promised no games, and he meant it. He knew she needed to know why they were so attracted to each other. But none of that changed his feelings for her.

Sophie pulled her arms from his grasp as the tears stung her eyes and threatened to fall. He called her his true mate. Did he always know that Beatrice was his true mate? Did she? She’d been curious about it the moment he talked about the idea. It was like it spoke to her.

She watched him with a wary eye. His head fell into his hands as he waited for her to say something, anything. The silence was killing him.

“I think…” she chewed on her lower lip, trying to find a way to express her feelings, “deep down I knew all of this.” Sophie offered a weak smile she wasn’t feeling when Gio looked up at her with hope in his eyes.

Sophie was scared at the idea of what all this meant, but she couldn’t deny the feelings she felt for him. The instant attraction. The immediate lust. The need she had when he was away from her. Deep down she knew he was hers from the moment they met. Just as she felt like she was his. Knowing this actually made everything make more sense. She wasn’t the kind of girl to fall for a man the moment she met him. She wasn’t the kind of girl who couldn’t keep her hands off her boyfriend, and she was far from the kind of gal to feel jealous.

“Don’t get too excited yet.” She put her hand up when he attempted to pull her in for a hug. “For this to work there needs to be some ground rules.” Sophie’s voice was barely a whisper.

Giovanni nodded, patiently waiting. “Let’s hear them.” He smiled.

“I’m not Beatrice, I’m Sophie.” She started.

“I know. You’re very different. I loved Beatrice, but I feel different for you. The feelings are stronger.”

Sophie nodded. “So there are differences.”
That was good to know.

“You’re the same, but different. I don’t know how to explain it. Beatrice was strong-willed and outspoken, but she couldn’t defend herself like you can.”

“Because I’m a witch.”

Gio shook his head. “Yes and no. The power of the witch helps, but you’re stronger with or without the power. You’re stronger here,” he touched her head, “and here,” he touched her heart. He placed his hands on her thighs. “You’ve changed, but so have I. I’m not the same weak man I was back then.”