Sempre

By Justine Elyot

Life imitates the passionate art of the opera when Julia finds herself caught between her two leading men.

Julia's dream of singing the role of Tosca in Rome is set to become reality. But when her new leading man inspires the same reaction offstage as he does on, she truly begins to understand how her character must have felt. Especially when the villain of the piece is hell bent on replicating his role as dark seducer into the bargain.

When certain information about her lover's turbulent background is revealed, Julia must fight for their relationship - and try to thwart the machinations of the baritone, who covets her for himself. Will passion triumph against the odds? Or will Julia's love story, like Tosca's, end in tragedy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
• Release date: Feb 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9780857154606

Justine Elyot

Justine Elyot is the author of the bestselling erotic novels On Demand and The Business of Pleasure, as well as enough short stories to fill several anthologies. She can be found on Twitter @JustineElyot and sharing the wealth on facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000057776729. Full blow-by-blow details of her goings-on can be found at her website: http://justineelyot.com/.

Book preview

A Total-E-Bound Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

Sempre

ISBN #978-0-85715-460-6

©Copyright by Justine Elyot 2011

Cover Art by April Martinez ©Copyright February 2011

Edited by S.F. Swift

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing.  Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.

Warning:  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.  This story has been rated Total-e-sizzling.

Mi Amore

SEMPRE

Justine Elyot

Dedication

To Giacomo Puccini - thank you for the music

Chapter One

From the wings of the Teatro dell’Opera, Julia indulged the secret thrill that hearing the dramatic opening chords of Tosca always elicited. Even now, six months after the audition, she had to remind herself that hard work and dedication had got her here, not the fairies. And no, it was not a dream either. Starring opposite two of Italy’s most celebrated male singers was no longer an ambition. It was reality. Or, at least, it had been, until yesterday.

Have you seen him yet? Liddy, a chorus member and Julia’s closest friend here in Rome bustled through the safety curtain, eyes bright.

Seen who?

Tempi’s replacement. The new Cavaradossi.

Oh, is he here? I didn’t think he’d get here so soon. Thought Rolando was going to understudy for the rest of the week. Who have they got?

Nobody knows him. Apparently he’s on loan from some company out in the boondocks, if they have boondocks in Italy.

What’s his na—

A man barged through them and out onto the stage. He turned to face the auditorium, which was empty but for the orchestra and director, before opening his mouth and setting free the most perfect sound Julia had ever heard.

Who…is that? The words fell quietly from her stunned, slack jaw.

See! I told you! Liddy grasped Julia’s elbow, urgent fingers dimpling the skin.

You didn’t tell me anything. Seriously, this is Tempi’s replacement? Who is he?

His name is Luca.

Does he live on the second floor? Julia referred to the Suzanne Vega song.

What?

Don’t worry. I’m raving. He’s…well, for one thing, he has a stupendous voice.

And for another, Liddy said, he could stunt-double for Adonis.

Yeah. He’s…nice.

You don’t go for handsome men, do you, though? Liddy sighed. She had spent the last few months of rehearsal trying to fix Julia up with a selection of Rome’s most eligible bachelors.

I…oh, I think I’m on in a minute.

Liddy was flapped out of the way by a stage manager who looked close to the verge of dramatic nervous breakdown.

Julia, so sorry. He elongated the vowels in that Italianate way. We not expect Luca this week. He arrive very early. You are okay?

I’m okay, said Julia tensely. Hearing her cue, she took those first steps towards playing a love scene with a total stranger.

Feigning suspicion of her lover, she crept up behind him where he sat at his easel. Tempi had always looked towards her as she approached, smiling generously, but she was almost at Luca’s shoulder before he suddenly whirled around, as