Dante ran his fingers through his hair.He’d rather still be holding her hand.“Skeeball?You want to have a Skeeball competition?”When she’d taken his hand, he’d thought they would go somewhere quiet, maybe out to the beach or the back of the bar.Hell, he would have followed her onto her parents’ boat—parked in the harbor, waiting until morning to ferry them all to the tiny island where they lived.
If he had a preference, he would have taken her back to his hotel room.There were a few things to work out, but—
“Of course I want to have a Skeeball competition.”
She was brighter than usual, a little jittery, as she fed dollar bills into the token machine.Okay.Maybe she was nervous.Dante shelved his own desires for the moment, tamping down the want.He’d gotten far too good at it over the years.
“Let’s play Skeeball.”
They played until their tokens ran out, then until their cash faded.
“This is a terrible game in a bar,” Ellery said, her face flushed and tendrils of hair sticking to her cheekbones.“It’s so loud.”She rolled the ball into the 150 spot and punched the air like Rocky Balboa.
“Agreed.It’s still pretty awesome.”Dante reclined against the machine, his gaze fixed on her.The way she screwed up her mouth just so, the way she practiced her throw before she moved, the concentration furrowing her brow.Every moment he fell more for her, and he hadn’t known that was possible.
“Whoo!”she cried, her last ball making it to the 250 spot.“Beat that, Baker!”
“I can’t.We’re out of money.”
“Oh.”She held his gaze for a beat, then another.Heat built inside him, curling up his lower spine, pooling deep in his belly.She hadn’t let herself be changed by Logan, not really.This was the Ellery he adored.Whatever she said next, he’d agree to.Wherever she asked him to go, he would be there.He was the planet in her orbit.“I’m ready now.”
“Ready for what?”
To his surprise, she pressed her body against his, lining her arms and legs to his.Everywhere she touched sparked and burned.Then she rose on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek, her lips cool and at the same time setting off a bonfire within him.“Ready for you to take me back to the hotel,” she whispered into his ear.
He clenched, his body tightening and firing in response.“We don’t have to.”But she was so close.He laid a hand against her lower back, drawing her closer.Pleasure licked along his body from the contact.
“I want to.I’m tired of ignoring this.”She cupped his chin in her hands.“Please.”
“There’s some things we should talk about—”
“Okay.Whatever you say.I’m here.I’m listening.I want.”Her voice was breathy, but she gripped the lapels of his shirt and drew his mouth to hers.He could definitely drown in her sweet taste.
He would give her anything she asked.He tried to nod, but instead ducked his head and brushed his lips against hers.A moan rose deep within him, one filled with need and want and pent-up lust.He closed his hand along her lower spine, clenching the dress fabric into a tangled ball.“Let’s go.”
CHAPTER16
Then—Ellery
Weak sunlight streamedinto the room from the open window, waking Ellery.
Her eyes fluttered open, but her body was in no condition to move.Her muscles ached with a rich, pleasant soreness, still tingling and alive.
Besides, she had absolutely no desire to move.
She snuggled closer against Dante’s chest, pressing her leg against his.This was heaven.
His arm clenched around her, like he was worried she would leave.Her heart fluttered, a unique sensation for her, but not unpleasant.“Are you awake?”
“Yes.”
“Are you okay?”
The anxiety in his voice made her heart flutter again.She pressed a kiss to the underside of his chin, loving the way he tasted.Sweet and clean and utterly himself.“Yes.”
“Oh good.”He exhaled and relaxed against her.“I thought—”
“Stop thinking.”Ellery traced the outlines of his stomach beneath his tank, remembering the way his skin had felt against hers the night before.
