hands to direct the flow of magic.
You’ve never had this happen before?”
She shook her head, slipping her hands under her legs so she wouldn’t use them to gesture. “I’m the most boring person in the world. Nothing ever happens to me. I mean, I lost my parents when I was really young but that was just a freak accident.”
Rio’s eyebrows rose. “What happened to your parents?”
“I told you. It was an accident. They were electrocuted.”
“How?”
“An electrical wire fell on them during a summer storm. I was only six months. I was in the house, taking a nap. They were outside working in the garden. It was a one-in-a-million accident. My godmother Lora was visiting us at the time and she brought me to live here.” Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, do you think I killed my parents?”
“Whoa, no, Rosie.” Sliding onto the bed next to her, he wrapped his arms around her and settled her against his body. She didn’t reach for him but he knew that was 48
Seduced and Enchanted
because she didn’t want to move her hands. “That’s not why I asked. Besides, most Fata don’t come into their full powers until they’re teenagers.”
“Then what’s happening to me? I’m definitely not a teenager. And I’m not Etruscan or Fata , whatever that is. I mean, my dad’s parents were from Italy, but that doesn’t make them Etruscan. The Etruscan civilization has been extinct for thousands of years.”
He didn’t want to get into that discussion just yet. Better she meet Sal first and then they could answer all her questions together—after she fainted. “I don’t know, Rosie.
But I do know someone who might have some answers.”
She took a deep breath, her body crowding just a little further into his. “Then let’s go.”
49
Stephanie Julian
Chapter Five
Rosie got dressed in silence, trying not to move too much.
After she turned down Rio’s offer to help her get dressed, he’d taken his clothing from downstairs into the bathroom. She’d almost called him back but she didn’t want to be too needy. She was already embarrassed by her earlier actions. Jeez, she’d clung to him like a baby, as if he were her only hope.
She tried to make sense of the situation. They’d had sex—great sex, mind-blowing sex—and then she’d gained some weird freaking powers. That must be the worst possible consequence of a one-night stand ever. They should use her as an example in an after-school special.
Her mind almost exploded with questions, but she did know one thing for sure. Rio could have hauled ass out of here at the first sign of trouble. He hadn’t.
However, he still had a lot of explaining to do.
When he reentered the bedroom again, looking fabulous in the slightly rumpled clothes he’d worn last night, she wanted to lick him from head to toe. She couldn’t help it.
To distract herself, she asked, “What about you, Rio? Tell me about you.” It was time to explain the “I’m a linchetto of the Etruscan Fata ” comment.
He didn’t answer her right away but she knew he was mulling over a response rather than avoiding her question. Then again, maybe she didn’t want to know how delusional he really was. Of course those ears she’d been trying not to think about made her doubt her own sanity.
Finally he sighed and walked over, stopping directly in front of her. “You know those fairy tales you were telling me you like to rewrite?” He waited until she nodded 50
Seduced and Enchanted
then said, “Well, most of those stories have a basis in reality. Not the story so much as what the story is about.”
Okay, she’d play along. But she couldn’t keep the hint of skepticism out of her voice. “So fairies and elves and goblins are real?”
He nodded, looking completely serious. “Yeah. We’re just not that…generic.”
Generic? “What do you mean, ‘we’? What’s a linchetto , Rio?”
He looked deep into her eyes as if trying to predict how she was going to react to
You’ve never had this happen before?”
She shook her head, slipping her hands under her legs so she wouldn’t use them to gesture. “I’m the most boring person in the world. Nothing ever happens to me. I mean, I lost my parents when I was really young but that was just a freak accident.”
Rio’s eyebrows rose. “What happened to your parents?”
“I told you. It was an accident. They were electrocuted.”
“How?”
“An electrical wire fell on them during a summer storm. I was only six months. I was in the house, taking a nap. They were outside working in the garden. It was a one-in-a-million accident. My godmother Lora was visiting us at the time and she brought me to live here.” Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, do you think I killed my parents?”
“Whoa, no, Rosie.” Sliding onto the bed next to her, he wrapped his arms around her and settled her against his body. She didn’t reach for him but he knew that was 48
Seduced and Enchanted
because she didn’t want to move her hands. “That’s not why I asked. Besides, most Fata don’t come into their full powers until they’re teenagers.”
“Then what’s happening to me? I’m definitely not a teenager. And I’m not Etruscan or Fata , whatever that is. I mean, my dad’s parents were from Italy, but that doesn’t make them Etruscan. The Etruscan civilization has been extinct for thousands of years.”
He didn’t want to get into that discussion just yet. Better she meet Sal first and then they could answer all her questions together—after she fainted. “I don’t know, Rosie.
But I do know someone who might have some answers.”
She took a deep breath, her body crowding just a little further into his. “Then let’s go.”
49
Stephanie Julian
Chapter Five
Rosie got dressed in silence, trying not to move too much.
After she turned down Rio’s offer to help her get dressed, he’d taken his clothing from downstairs into the bathroom. She’d almost called him back but she didn’t want to be too needy. She was already embarrassed by her earlier actions. Jeez, she’d clung to him like a baby, as if he were her only hope.
She tried to make sense of the situation. They’d had sex—great sex, mind-blowing sex—and then she’d gained some weird freaking powers. That must be the worst possible consequence of a one-night stand ever. They should use her as an example in an after-school special.
Her mind almost exploded with questions, but she did know one thing for sure. Rio could have hauled ass out of here at the first sign of trouble. He hadn’t.
However, he still had a lot of explaining to do.
When he reentered the bedroom again, looking fabulous in the slightly rumpled clothes he’d worn last night, she wanted to lick him from head to toe. She couldn’t help it.
To distract herself, she asked, “What about you, Rio? Tell me about you.” It was time to explain the “I’m a linchetto of the Etruscan Fata ” comment.
He didn’t answer her right away but she knew he was mulling over a response rather than avoiding her question. Then again, maybe she didn’t want to know how delusional he really was. Of course those ears she’d been trying not to think about made her doubt her own sanity.
Finally he sighed and walked over, stopping directly in front of her. “You know those fairy tales you were telling me you like to rewrite?” He waited until she nodded 50
Seduced and Enchanted
then said, “Well, most of those stories have a basis in reality. Not the story so much as what the story is about.”
Okay, she’d play along. But she couldn’t keep the hint of skepticism out of her voice. “So fairies and elves and goblins are real?”
He nodded, looking completely serious. “Yeah. We’re just not that…generic.”
Generic? “What do you mean, ‘we’? What’s a linchetto , Rio?”
He looked deep into her eyes as if trying to predict how she was going to react to
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