Dominiclaughed and snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing server.He held one out to her.
“No,thank you, I can’t. At least not until…things aresettled.”
“Ah,yes. The comarré laws prohibit alcohol, don’t they?”He smiled sadly. “It’s unfortunate you won’t tastethis, considering…” He moved to set both glasses down ona side table.
“Wait.”A thousand alarms went off in her head, all telling her what she wasabout to do was wrong. Let the blasted alarms ring. She might die ina few days. A sip of champagne was not going to change that. “Giveme the glass.”
Witha new smile, he handed her a flute, then lifted his and clinked itagainst hers. “To us, cara mia, and whatever future liesahead.”
Sheraised hers a little higher. “And to this evening. Whatever itmay bring.” She drank and the bubbles tickled her nose. Herquick swallow was followed with a laugh. “Oh! That is fun. Ittastes…how I feel.” She took another long sip. “Imight have another of those.”
Helaughed and took her hand. “We should find you something toeat. Too much champagne and the night will end something to eat. Toomuch champagne and the night will end before you wish it to.”
Acrossthe great hall, music swelled as the orchestra began.
Couplesfiled the floor, each more elaborately costumed than the next. Thelonging to join in was too great to be denied. And for once, itdidn’t have to be. “I can eat later,” she said.“Right now, I want to dance.”
Anddance they did. So long, she forgot that she was not a free woman. InDominic’s arms, her bonds fell away. He treated her like aqueen, doting on her the whole evening. Anything she wanted to do,they did, whether it was watching the magic show or simply escapingfor a moment of quiet on one of the secluded terraces overlooking theGrand Canal.
There,with the night sky wrapping the city in a blanket of stars and thegentle lapping of the water below them, she again remembered whatawaited her. Her deep sigh must have betrayed her, because Dominicleaned in behind her, his hands beside hers on the balcony, his broadchest pressed to her back.
Henuzzled his mouth near her ear. “What is it, tesora? Are younot enjoying yourself?”
“Yes,I am. I just remembered that this night will end.” She glancedat the horizon. “And in only a few hours.” She turned toface him, her hands coming up to his shoulders. “You have givenme so many wonderful new memories, I could almost accept my lot ifdeath awaits.”
“Almost?”Behind his mask, his eyes filed with confusion.
“Almost?”Behind his mask, his eyes filed with confusion.
“Whatelse can I do for you, amore mio? Name it and it will be so.”
Shesmiled, his sweet words mingling with the champagne she’d beensipping all night. Courage swelled in her chest, filing her with alightness born of pure joy. She took his face in her hands, his maskcold from his skin, and kissed him. “I want to be alone withyou. Do you understand? Alone the way a man and woman who love eachother are.” She smiled at her boldness, but she was past caringwhat she said or how she acted so long as it did nothing to derailher plan. Her skills in the art of love might be limited, but thatwouldn’t stop her from taking this last step with him.
Desireswept the confusion from his eyes. “Cara mia, what you ask isnot allowed, is it?”
“No,”she whispered. “Which makes the breaking of it that muchsweeter.”
“Areyou sure?” He breathed the words out like a plea. Or a prayer.
“Nevermore so.” The truth of the words surprised her. She did wanthim and not just because he was helping her.
Hepulled her into his arms and kissed her, then took her hand. “Come.”Without pretense, he led her through the crowd and back down to thegondolas, commanding one immediately to return them to his palazzo.
Severaltimes on the ride back, his gaze left her to scan a passing boat orexamine someone on the street, but it was never passing boat orexamine someone on the street, but it was never for more than amoment and then he was hers again, whispering things in Italian thatspun her head and body to the point of near madness.
Oncethey disembarked, he swept her into his arms and raced them throughthe lingering crowds. They were back in his palazzo before she knewit. After a brief word to the servants that they were not to bedisturbed, he carried her to the bedroom and deposited her gently onthe bed.
Shereached for her mask, but he held up his hand. “Let me,bellissima. I want to savor every moment.” He untied his maskfirst and tossed it away, then removed hers, kissing her cheekbonesand the bridge of her nose. “Since I first saw you, I dreamedof this. Now that you are finally in my arms, I will not let you go.No matter what happens.”
Ashout from downstairs stilled them both. Then the doors burst openand three black-masked figures stormed in, brandishing swords. Onepointed at Dominic. “Take your hands off the comarré.She belongs to Lord Arnaud.”
“Caedo,”Dominic snarled, reaching for a wall-mounted short sword. “Getout of my house before I turn you all to ash.”
Oneof the men grabbed Marissa and hauled her off the bed.
“Weplan on leaving. But you’re both coming with us. You have a lotto answer for.”
Dominicswung, slicing through the shirt of the intruder closest to him, butthe second sprayed Dominic in the face with to him, but the secondsprayed Dominic in the face with something. His eyes rolled back inhis head; then he collapsed to the ground.
Marissascreamed. “What are you doing?”
Theintruder turned toward her while the third restrained her.
Heaimed the small canister toward her and sprayed her with it as well“Exactly what I was paid to.”
Acloud of sweet mist covered her face. She held her breath, but it wastoo late. She’d already inhaled. A second later, everythingwent black.
Chapter Eleven
Dominicawoke with claws scratching at the inside of his skull and the tasteof pine coating his tongue. “Marissa,” he mumbled.
Whenthere was no response,
