Love's Heat: An Italian Nights Novella

By Ophelia Sikes

Hannah and her sister, Megan, have been given the trip of a lifetime. They are cruising the Mediterranean Sea. Starting at Rome, they are working their way counter-clockwise through Florence, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Sardinia, Sicily, and Pompeii. Life is their playground.

And then Hannah meets Brandon.

Brandon is strong, intelligent, loyal, and everything Hannah could possibly dream of in a man. He has also just walked in on his fiancee in bed with his best friend. Hannah is willing to wait as long as it takes for him to work his way through this betrayal.

And then all Hell breaks loose ...

Half of the author's proceeds of all Ophelia Sikes books benefit battered women's shelters.

Love's Heat is the first novella in the Italian Nights series. Due to the strong sexual content and adult situations, this book is recommended for readers aged 17+. The first four novellas have cliff-hanger endings, which lead to the final novella with a happily-ever-after.

I come from a family which adores Italy. My parents strive to go every year, and I’ve been several times there myself. I took this very cruise through the Mediterranean Sea and wrote my notes while I traveled. The sights, sounds, aromas, and atmosphere of this exotic region are just as I personally experienced them.

If you haven’t been to Italy, Monaco, Spain, or France, I highly recommend it. Even if you have to save a little each year to make it a trip of a lifetime, it is well worth it. These locations are the cradle of civilization. The art, food, and culture created here resonate throughout time. In the meantime, enjoy this virtual vacation written from my first-hand experiences!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ophelia Sikes
• Release date: Oct 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310448188

Ophelia Sikes

Ophelia Sikes fervently believes that every one of us deserves heartfelt, passionate love in our lives.Half of the proceeds of this book’s sales benefit battered women’s shelters.Please send along as much feedback and suggestions as you can. The more we can polish these worlds and characters, the more we can help the cause.

Book preview

Love’s Heat

Italian Nights

Book One

Ophelia Sikes

Copyright © 2014 by Ophelia Sikes /

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Cover design by Ophelia Sikes.

Book design by Ophelia Sikes

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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

First Printing: June 2014

- 5 –

Half of all author’s proceeds from this book benefits battered women’s shelters.

Set Yourself Free.

Love’s Heat

Chapter 1

"I ache with the eagerness of love’s heat."

-- Vittoria Colonna, Carnal Knowledge (1492-1547)

I gazed in awe at the Roman Coliseum, its arches encompassing us in an elegant, ancient ring. To think that two thousand years ago slaves had struggled and died within these stone walls, the crowd cheering them on with wild abandon. Here, in this very spot that I stood, the emperors sat, dressed in luxurious silks, the finest delicacies from around the known world arrayed in golden bowls by their side.

I turned to my sister, brushing my long, blonde hair from my face. Megan, isn’t this amazing?

Megan nodded, her phone held out before her as she turned to get a panoramic shot. Her hair was as blonde as mine, but she wore it in a spiky crop. "You said it, Hannah. Just like in Gladiator. And then the crowd would give its thumbs-up signal to save the guys they liked."

The tour guide looked over with a smile. Her grey eyes twinkled as she shook her head. It was the opposite, she corrected. They’d put their thumbs up for death. They were a brutal lot back then. Women and men both crowded the seats around us to watch slaves be torn apart by lions. They’d use Christians as human torches to light the night.

Megan shivered. Seems like a nightmare. And to think it all happened right here. She looked over to the large cross at the opposite side of the oval, which legend said had been put in place to commemorate the many Christians persecuted. Maybe it’s good to keep history alive so we remember not to repeat it.

You’re the history major, I pointed out. That’s your job.

She grinned. And you’re music. So you can write songs to celebrate the present.

I shrugged. Right now I’d just be happy to find a job. Working at Whole Foods isn’t awful, but it’s not what I thought I’d be doing with my life.

Megan swept her gaze around the weathered stonework. Let’s not worry about that right now. Now that we’re both out of college, Mom was nice enough to take us on this trip as our graduation present. Let’s savor it!

I smiled. You’re absolutely right. We’re in Rome. We’re about to get on a cruise ship to explore the Mediterranean for eleven full days. This is a trip to treasure.

Our tour guide waved her hand in the air, moving effortlessly in her thigh-high, spike-heeled leather boots. And we’re walking!

* * *

The Trevi fountain was more spectacular than any movie had captured. Gushing water sparkled in the April sunshine while crowds of tourists from Japan, France, Germany, and countless other countries jostled for a place along its edge. iPhones, Droids, tablets, and numerous other cameras were held high to catch its imagery.

Megan nudged me in the side. You have to toss coins in, over your shoulder, she instructed me. It’s supposed to bring you good luck in love.

I could use some of that, I agreed. I’d had a series of casual boyfriends during college, but once I graduated, they all moved on to New York City or L. A. to seek their fortune. I’d stayed behind in Miami. And somehow I just hadn’t met up with someone who interested me in the past year since I graduated. Lots of club-hoppers out to get drunk every night, but nobody you’d want to wake up next to in the morning.

Megan dug into her pocket, coming out with a trio of euros. Here, use these.

I chuckled. I think you’re supposed to use cheap coins.

She winked at me. We’ve just graduated. We’re on the trip of a lifetime. And you deserve a man who has it all. Her eyes swept the crowd. Maybe we’ll find you an Italian knight.

I laughed. Oh, right, and take him home with me in my suitcase?

Her eyes danced. You never know! She placed the coins in my hand. If you’re going to have any chance of success, you have to at least try.

We wriggled our way through the crowd to the front railing. The massive fountain was even more impressive right up close; I could feel the power in the surging water - the history in the ancient carved stone. How many other hopefuls had stood in this very spot, dreaming of timeless love?

I turned so my back was to the fountain and closed my eyes. The hubbub of the crowd faded away, and only the rush of the water sounded in my ears. I could have been in the Renaissance period, a young noblewoman in an elegant gown of crimson and gold. I could be standing here desperately wishing my father would betroth me to someone at least younger than he was.

I tossed the coins over my shoulder and opened my eyes.

There.

He was standing near the back wall of the plaza, halfway between the Ferrari clothing store and Colors of Benetton. His sun-bleached hair, an alluring