“I like to read history and autobiographies of people.”
“What’s your favorite time period?”
“I love it all, but I guess I gravitate to the Renaissance period. I’m also a pretty decent cook and enjoy food. I guess you could call me a foodie.”
“Oh my gosh. Me too. When I have time, I love going to the farmer’s market to get fresh ingredients and try my hand at something new. My goal after fashion week is over is to take a cookbook and cook everything in it and document it on a blog or something.”
“That sounds interesting. I would join you.”
Madison elbowed him. “Sounds like a plan. Anything else I should know?”
“I like a neat space, tailored clothes, and even though I’m a businessman, I still feel like I’m playing dress up when I wear a suit.”
“You look good in a suit.” Her phone dinged. “Oh wow, it’s late. That’s my birth control alarm. Be right back.”
Madison got up and padded to her bedroom. Dante helped clean up the table while she was away. He stored the leftover food and put the dishes in the sink. He had the water on when she came back out.
“Oh you don’t have to do that.”
“I don’t mind.” He wanted to stay over. It had been a great time, and the truth was he enjoyed Madison’s company. He also loved waking up to her. The days they were apart, he missed her. And that was dangerous. He should go.
“Do you want to stay? I know it’s late. Not sure if you had other plans.”
“I’d love to stay. Nothing else I’d want to be doing.” He dried his hands and reached for hers. They walked hand in hand to the bedroom and it was right. She went into the bathroom to change clothes, she slept in a scrap of lace and fabric masquerading as a night dress when they were together. He got undressed and left his boxer briefs on.
When he stayed the night, he slept naked. Hell, he pulled them off and got into bed. Madison wouldn’t mind. He just wanted to be close to her. As close as he could be. She came out in her signature lingerie, this one emerald green. It highlighted the brown in her eyes.
“Ready for bed?” She looked at him already under the covers. He had been at home in her place in the short few weeks they had been together.
“Waiting for you.” What would she do when she saw he was nude like usual? He would cover up if she wanted. He never wanted to make her uncomfortable.
She climbed in, glanced down and then laid down in the bed with her back to him. She moved back until her hips were in the cradle of his thighs and he laid his arm over her. This was the normal way they slept together. He pushed his leg between hers, for the final movement that made up their sleep routine. It kept them interlocked together.
“Good night, Dante.”
“Good night, Madison.” He kissed her shoulder and closed his eyes, comforted by their routine. They had moved past just sex and into a friend relationship. It had been nice sharing together and learning more of what made Madison tick and even himself. It had been a good night, and he couldn’t wait to see what else was in store for them. He fell asleep thinking that he wanted this to be a real relationship, and that was dangerous. He didn’t do relationships.
Chapter 8
Madison awoke to being blanketed by Dante. It was a nice warm feeling and something she missed during the week when they were apart. She found herself wishing he could sleep over every night, but she wouldn’t be able to handle sex every day and multiple times a day, because she knew they wouldn’t stop at just once.
They never did, and it seemed like they wanted each other more than they had the first time. It had to be lust, but after last night, she wasn’t so sure. Dante had come over even though they couldn’t have sex and had brought her a card, which had been sweet of him. They had fooled around and talked over dinner.
Then they went to bed, and he just held her. His hardness had pressed against her, but he didn’t ask her for any help with it. He was content to just lay there with her and that made her heart do funny things, to feel funny things, and to think funny things.
Like maybe this was a real relationship, and maybe they could make it work. That they didn’t just have an agreement, and he wouldn’t grow tired of her. That this wouldn’t be over because all they shared were bodily fluids. This was the first real relationship she’d ever had, and it was fake. In another two months or less, it would be done. She had fallen in love with the first person to treat her like a decent human being.
And she couldn’t help remembering the connection they shared when they talked. It seemed like a real friendship and like the getting-to-know-you stage. She was surprised that they had things in common. And her heart had jumped when they talked of catching a game and cooking together.
But that had to be just something he said in the moment. Just like him saying he wanted to show her his place. She would have loved to see what he did with the place and how he decorated it. It would give her more insight into the man Dante was and what he liked and didn’t like.
She didn’t know why it mattered. It wouldn’t happen. But it had given her an idea. This four-day-a-week thing didn’t work. She would propose that they meet every day for a month to get each other out of their systems. That way they could get past this honeymoon phase.
The anticipation for Thursday to come around kept them in this lacking stage that made them desire each other even more. But if they had access to each other every day, then they were sure to get their fill and work each other out. Because she couldn’t be in love with him. It had to be just puppy love.
Now to get Dante to agree. It might be too much for him and feel like a full-blown relationship, and then he would get tired of her sooner. But it would still give her more days with him before this thing between them was over.
“I can feel you plotting something.” Dante’s voice was rough with sleep and sent shivers down her spine.
