A part of me was a little hurt, though, that she was rejecting me. I know her, and I know that she’s hesitant to be with me because of my other side, and I’m sure Evan’s death has been weighing on her, too.
The higher we climb, the colder it gets. Essence looks down at the carnival below, probably wanting to try to get someone’s attention, but I grip her knee.
“Don’t do it, Essence,” I warn. “Forget about everyone for once and just be with me.”
She turns to look at me, her eyes searching mine. “What?”
“I want you to be mine, Essence.Only mine.”
I can see the dilemma on her face. She’s trying to figure out who to choose between this Dante and the Dante she knows, the firefighter who does nothing but care for her and Lunchbox. But she’ll find out soon enough that she won’t have to choose. She’ll have both parts of me just as I'll have all of her.
But there’s something else on her face, almost like she’s trying to figure me out. It’s then that I realize what I've just said sounded too much like what my unmasked self would say to her. And then I think back to just a few minutes ago.
Piccolo fiore…
Fuck, why did I say that?
“Dante?” she breathes, squinting to see my eyes through the dark holes of my mask.
This isn’t how I’d planned for her to figure me out, but now there’s no going back. I can’t deny who I am—she’s too smart for that.
Exhaling, I take off the mask, set it on the seat next to me, and smirk at her. “Hey, baby.”
Her eyes grow wide as saucers.
The ride finally comes to a stop when we reach the top. Essence is shaking now, but I don’t know if it’s because of me or the chill in the air.
“Why don’t you spread your legs and let me warm you up?” I ask with a grin.
She glares at me. “You’re not touching me anymore, Dante,” she spits.
“Is that so?” I ask, amused.
Her eyebrows narrow at my tone. “What the hell is wrong with you? You murdered my boyfriend and then chased me through the woods. You think you can fuck up my life and just expect for me to be okay with it? You’re a psychopath!”
“I don’t expect anything of you,” I answer honestly, ignoring the last part of what she said. “But it would be nice if my love for you was reciprocated.”
She scoffs. “Love?”
“Yes,” I answer quickly. “Love. I’m hopelessly, desperately in love with you, Essence. I need you like I need air. The very thought of you has my heart racing and cock aching. Watching you waste your life on Evan’s sorry ass was one of the most tortuous things I've ever experienced, second to losing my son. You’re…” I let out a breath. “You’reeverythingto me.”
Tears fill her dark brown eyes. We sit in silence for a long while, just staring at each other from opposite ends of the pod, waiting to see who’ll speak first.
“I didn’t know you felt that way,” she says quietly.
I arch a brow. “You didn’t have any idea how I felt about you?”
“Well, I knew that there were strong feelings, but…” She looks down at her feet as she trails off.
Scooting closer, I grab her chin gently and turn her head towards me. “I love you, Essence.”
I can’t take it any longer—Ihaveto kiss her. I close the distance between us, capturing her lips between mine. She moans into my mouth and practically melts into me as she wraps her arms around my neck. I pull her close and let my hands roam her body, appreciating every soft inch of her.
She’s so fucking perfect, and now she’s finally mine.
Breaking the kiss, I pull away and slide down to my knees in front of her.
“What are you doing?” she asks, gripping the side of the pod when it starts to sway.
