He smiled when Sofia got excited about the cookies.
He carried our daughter to bed without being asked.
For a few hours, I let myself imagine what it would be like if this were real and we were truly a couple together.
It's everything a woman wants, right?
A man to call her own, one who'll provide for her and protect her?
And I'm not blind either.
He's gorgeous.
What's not to love about that?
But his life… It still makes me pull back because I fear the risk more than I desire that reward.
Dante steps closer and reaches up to cup my face in his hands.
His touch is gentle though the calluses on his hands are rough. "Stay with me tonight."
The way his eyes search my face, it's like he's this fragile thing, like if I say no and pull away, he'd shatter.
But I don’t want to pull away.
I want nothing more than to get lost in his nearness and lose myself in the connection.
"Okay," I whisper hesitantly.
I don’t want to send the wrong signals to him, but I swear I'm sending them to myself anyway.
Dante is addictive and I always get sucked in. I can't help myself.
It's like the best drug on the planet to be wanted and needed by someone so powerful, and when he's gentle with me, it’s even more difficult.
He leans down and kisses me tenderly, like he's asking permission for something we both already agreed to.
I kiss him back and let my hands slide up his chest until he pulls me closer so there's no space between us.
"You're so beautiful, Angelica," he murmurs against my lips. "You've changed my life… Made me a better man."
The words wrap around my chest and squeeze until I'm pressing back, fighting the desire to tell him he's changing me too.
He kisses me again, deeper this time, and I start to let go little by little.
When his hands slide lower I arch into his touch and let go of every doubt and the inhibitions that keep me feeling withdrawn.
Dante's fingers trace the hem of my dress before lifting it slowly over my head, exposing my skin to the cool air of the room.
I shiver from the way his eyes darken with appreciation as he takes me in completely. Like he's hungry and I'm satisfying his craving.
He discards the dress to the side and runs his palms up my sides, cupping my breasts gently, sending sparks straight to my core.
I reach behind to unhook my bra myself, letting it fall away so he can touch me without barriers.
It earns a satisfied growl of appreciation before he leans in to kiss the swell of one breast while his hand massages the other.
His thumb circles my nipple until it hardens under his attention and I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him close as a soft moan escapes my lips.
