Captivated

Salvatore

I’d been so enraptured by finally holding Angelina that I couldn’t take my eyes from her, even when she trembled and passed out in my arms. I sat on the floor, still cradling her against me. She left me speechless. Totally and utterly dumbstruck. After grabbing the painting as it fell from her hands, and propping it up against the wall, Luca sat beside me, touching her soft cheeks with much reverence.

“Wow. I can’t believe I finally have her in my arms, Luca. She’s flawless.”

Tears formed in my eyes and Luca’s, too. No one had prepared either of us for the rollercoaster of emotions we’d experience once we discovered our mate. Many had tried, but until that moment, I could never comprehend why it was so difficult to explain.

“I know, brother. I can’t find the words either. We mustn’t let her out of our sight ever again, not even for a second.”

“Agreed. Especially with Viktor on the prowl, and if others catch her scent…”

Luca left the words hanging. I fully understood how dangerous this would be… for all three of us. A faint whimper came from Angelina and her eyelids fluttered open. Air rushed from my body as my eyes connected with the most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen. My reactions to her crushed my heart, and I experienced my brother’s emotions too.

“What… happened? Who… who are you?”

Her voice was like a temptation. I had extreme difficulty reining in my innermost desires. I assisted her to a sitting position against the wall. Luca was crouched on the other side of her. She seemed afraid and a little excited too. Even though she hadn’t realised it, her arousal hung heavy in the air around the three of us.

“I am Salvatore De Laurentis, and this is my brother, Luca. We’re twins, although not identical,” I explained.

She trembled against me. “What happened to me?” she demanded with a little more confidence.

“Don’t sit so close, Luca. We’re crowding her.”

Luca nodded and stood up, moving away from her

“You had a disagreement with these steps. I caught you before you had another argument with the floor,” I said.

“The painting I was hanging…”

Luca grinned and held said picture up and waved it at her. “All safe and sound.”

Angelina struggled to get to her feet. We both captured one of her arms and assisted her. She wobbled, and as one, we moved closer to her. Sweet holy mother of God, what I wouldn’t give to bend and kiss her deep pink lips.

“Stop it, Sal. I’m struggling here.”

I witnessed Luca attempting to readjust his jeans to hide his fast-growing erection.

“Me too, Luca. Breathe and focus on something other than our mate.”

“Easier said than fucking done. She has no idea how much scent she’s giving off.”

“Come, sit down.” I indicated to a chair behind a small desk. “Can we get you some water?”

“Um, please. There’s a small kitchen past the studio.” She pointed to a door behind the desk.

Luca headed for the door and I jumped when my brother’s shocked voice sounded loudly inside my mind.

“Fuck!”

“What now?”

“You have to come and see this painting, Sal.”

“Would you excuse me for a moment?” I said out loud to her.

Angelina nodded. I entered the small studio and stood next to Luca, where he stared at a recently finished painting. It was so unlike the ones hanging elsewhere in the gallery. It was of two men, their faces hidden by a bright light.

“Is it us, Sal?”

“Yes. It has to be. I didn’t realise that a mate could possibly have premonitions about Hybrids.”

I touched the painting and a shocked yelp left my lips. Luca eyed me with surprise… and yet more arousal.

“She’s had erotic dreams about us, Sal. My God, I can’t wait to fulfil all her fantasies.”

“It’s you two in my painting, isn’t it?”

We turned as one to see Angelina holding onto the door for dear life. Her face was deathly pale in stark contrast to her bright blue eyes.

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