“More’s the pity.” But he takes my silent offering, his grip strong as I pull him up. My back turns as soon as he lets go, already heading to place the daggers back on the table as Vito barks new demands behind me. Stefano offers me a nod as I move back to the group, the movement almost congratulatory. But Dante’s eyes move between Luc and I, and his jaw tightens as he brushes off Vito’s orders. “Session’s over.”
I check my watch, surprised to see he’s right. I head to get my stuff, pulling my sneakers back on and throwing on a sweatshirt to head back to my apartment and change before I see the Crows. Luciano disappears silently, Stefano and Vito leaving together. And then it’s just Dante, his gaze burning into my back as I swing my bag on to my shoulder.
“You gonna say whatever it is?” I ask, heading towards the door. “Or do you just enjoy snarling at me from dark corners?”
“Morelli wants you.”
My hand pauses on the door handle, and I turn to face him incredulously. “I’m sorry?”
“I said—,”
“No.” I hold my hand up. “I heard exactly what you said. But I fail to see how that would ever be any ofyourfucking business – even if it were true.”
He holds my gaze. “What if I’m making you my business?”
“Then this—” I gesture between us “—is done, Dante.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Sighing, I reach to pull the door open. “Read the fucking room, V’Arezzo. This was never going to be anything more than temporary. And if you want to act like a fucking caveman, be my guest. But I’m not yours.”
His hand lands over mine, shoving the door closed again. “Oh, no. You’re not running away from this conversation,tentazione. Tell me where you went this summer.”
The abrupt change makes my head spin. “I… what?”
“You heard me.” Dante steps into me, invading every inch of my space. He presses his face into my hair and takes a deep breath, like he’s dragging me into his lungs. “You left. No word from you. The Crows weren’t saying anything. That Rossi bastard had them locked up tight. Where’d you go, Cat?”
“None of your business,” I manage to choke out. He laughs into me, and his hands are sliding up my arms, slowly pinning my hands to the wood of the door.
“Like I said,” he says softly. “I’m making you my business, Caterina Corvo.”
One hand keeps my wrists above my head, my chest pushing out towards him. He groans, low in his throat, and his other hand trails down to lift up my face towards his.
“No,” he murmurs against my lips. “We’re not even close to being done,tentazione.”
His kiss isn’t soft. Nowhere near. It’s a branding, a claiming. His tongue tangles with mine, his lips demanding and firm as his hand cups my throat.
Pushing, always pushing.
I drag my wrists from his grip, wrap my hand around his fingers on my throat and turn us until it’s Dante pressed against the door, my hands dragging through his dark hair as our lips duel for dominance. It feels almost too easy as his hands slip down, hoisting my legs around his waist. He breaks away, his teeth threatening my neck until I yank his hair back with an admonishing grunt.
I don’t say anything when he flips the lock on the door, sealing us in. I just breathe him in, savoring the taste of his mouth as he walks us back, pressing me down into the mats. It takes seconds for him to yank down my leggings, for me to feel for the hard edges of him, to push his sweatpants down until his cock is hard and hot in my hand and he curses as I swipe my finger over the wet heat of his head.
“Protection,” he rasps. “I don’t have anything on me.”
I pull him closer, my eyes closing. “It’s not a problem.”
“Thank fuck,” he groans, and I tip my head back on a moan as he thrusts into me. He’s not gentle, but I don’t want gentle. Gentle would feel dangerously close to submission, and that’s not what this is.
Gasping, wet sounds fill the room, his muscles rippling in his back and shoulders as I drag my nails over them, reveling in the markings I’m leaving behind. His hand hooks beneath my knee, pushing me up and outwards, hitting me in places that make my eyes roll back in my head.
My hands slide beneath the gray tank thrown on over golden skin, reveling in the feel of him, the hardness of his chest and the softness of the light scattering of hair covering it. My nail scratches against his nipples and he hisses. “Again.”
“No.” Just to taunt him, I scratch the barest amount, and he pulls out of me, flipping my body and dragging me up onto myknees. Hot lips press into my damp skin as he pushes back in, his other hand dropping to tweak my clit. “Look at us, Caterina.”
My eyes blink open, taking in the two of us reflected in the mirror opposite. Both of us clothed on top, Dante with his fingers on my pussy and one hand under my sweatshirt cupping my breast, rolling the nipple between his fingers in punishment for my teasing. The sight of his cock pushing in and out between my legs is obscene, and my muscles clench around him.
He bites at my neck again, right over the mark he made before. “Don’t tell me we don’t belong together,tentazione. Lie to all of them. Lie to yourself if it makes you feel better, but don’t you ever fucking lie tome.”
