Lair of the Lion

not deserve to have you look upon me with such an expression in your beautiful eyes. I am dragging you into a world of danger where you will never know friend from enemy. I despise myself for being so selfish and cowardly that I cannot give you up."
    "Well, of course you don't deserve me, Signor DeMarco, as I am such a fine catch with my wealth of lands and treasures, my sick brother, and the reputation of my name to bring to our marriage. Now stop stalling, and let me see your wounds. You are being a bambino
    —most unseemly when you are trying to impress me."
    "Is it working?" His voice whispered over her skin. He leaned closer so that she smelled a wild, masculine scent, and the warmth of his body enveloped her. She found herself falling into the depths of his strange eyes, mesmerized and dizzy with such an unexpected longing that she froze, pressing a hand to her somersaulting stomach.
    He bent to her, his gaze holding her captive, slowly moving closer. At the first touch of his lips, she closed her eyes, savoring the touch of him, the taste of him. His mouth took possession of hers, and the world seemed to rock, shift, and move until it fell away and she was burning inside and out.
    His arms circled her waist and drew her to him, into the shelter of his body, gently, carefully, but tightly, so that she was pressed against him. She could feel his every muscle imprinted on her body. She went boneless, pliant, and melted into him, a part of him, catching fire so that she hungered for him.
    Isabella felt his breath hitch as she burrowed closer. Immediately she pulled away, glaring up at him. "Let me see." Abruptly she was all business, a Vernaducci, well used to giving orders and having them obeyed. "I know you're injured, and I'm not taking no for an answer. I'm very stubborn."
    "It is not difficult to believe that, Isabella," he said wryly. "But it is nothing, a mere scratch. I was careless when I should have been attentive."
    Isabella slowly pulled his tunic away from his side to expose his bare skin. She gasped aloud. "You've been attacked by the lions." She touched his skin with trembling fingertips.
    "I don't know why I believed you would be safe from them. Everyone in the palazzo acts as if you are perfectly safe from the beasts."
    "I am safe from the lions." His voice was gruff as he turned away, dragging his tunic back over the lacerations.
    "Let me tend the wounds. It doesn't look as if you are safe. I thought of you as I wandered through the halls, believing that if you were really safe from the lions, then I would be safe, too. I just had to have faith. Sarina left me a potion that numbs, already made up." She took his hand, entwining her fingers with his. "Come with me."
    "It is not at all proper," he warned, a hint of his boyish grin touching his mouth. "My reputation would be destroyed completely."
    Her eyebrows shot up. "I didn't realize you worried about such things. But you are correct, of course. The world might think ill of you. We can't have them whispering rumors and gossiping. Still, I must tend the lacerations, so I guess I have no choice but to agree to marry you, so your reputation remains safe."
    "I thank you for the sacrifice," Nicolai said solemnly, but his eyes laughed at her teasing.
    "Tremendous sacrifice," she corrected. "And it doesn't mean I have in any way forgiven your absurd and very rude conduct."
    Despite the lightness of her tone, Nicolai heard the underlying note of hurt. He tightened his fingers around hers, holding her still beside him. "I had thought to protect you, Isabella, not reject you. La mia famiglia has a history of turning on their loved ones. I had no wish to take a chance with your life, cara, so I sent you away from me. I am dangerous, far more dangerous than you could possibly know." He brought her hand to the warmth of his lips, his touch soft on her skin. "You should be upset with me for allowing the lions to hold you here."
    "The lions?" she echoed. "You believe they were deliberately forcing me to stay within your valley?" The warmth of his breath against her skin made her shiver with helpless need.
    Nicolai kept her hand pressed against his lips, as if he couldn't bear to lose contact. "I know that they were. I changed my mind almost immediately once you were out of my sight. They knew. They always know. I'm not noble and courageous. If I were, you would be safe and far away from this place." There was a trace of bitterness in his voice. He rubbed her