Dante’s voice startles me, and I turn, clutching my chest. “You’re so quiet when you walk sometimes. I didn’t even hear you come up the steps.”
Dante deposits the bags at the foot of the bed. “I take pride in my quietness,” He smirks, turning to scoop me up in his arms from behind. He rests his chin on my shoulder as we look out the window, down on the street where we see several people walking. “Are you ready for your first surprise?”
“More surprises? Dante, this is already enough for me,” I say, turning in his arms to face him.
He leans down, capturing my mouth, kissing me softly. “You deserve so much more, more than I can ever give you.” His words sound like a warning, but I hear no malice in his voice. It sounds like a confession to himself, more than it is to me.
I reach up, smoothing the worry lines in his brows, caressing his face, and he leans into my touch. “Let's go. I’m ready to see the town and the rest of my surprises.” I smile, and Dante lets go of me, slipping the hand I have on his face into his.
Dante surprises me with tickets to the town's annual festival, and we've spent the last two hours eating from various food trucks and vendors as we walk around, soaking up the atmosphere.
The scenery is so beautiful, and everyone has been kind and welcoming. It nags at the back of my brain, a question I've been wondering ever since the break-in: maybe I should move out of the apartment for a quiet life? As much as I love my apartment, is it really safe for me, even with all the new security upgrades? A safety bar doesn’t stand a chance against someone crazed and obsessed. But I love being in the city so much, maybe I can talk with the landlord and ask them if I can add more permanent safety upgrades. I just have this feeling like it isn’t over, and something is still coming. I try not to think back to the night with Jordyn and her ominous fortune-telling, but maybe something bigger is coming, and it’s bestto leave town before that happens? I don’t know, it’s probably just my anxiety.
Dante comes back from throwing away our trash and holds out his hand. “Now, we are off to the next stop. The tour starts in twenty minutes, a perfect amount of time for us to get there.” He leads us down cobblestone pathways that run all over Salem, and we spend the next couple of hours taking tours at every museum Salem has to offer. I got to relearn some things I’d forgotten over the years, and by the end of all the tours, I felt emotionally exhausted, but I have a deeper connection to the history. It’s inspired me to write a few scenes in the new book, and I’m excited to get back to my laptop.
The sun is starting to set as we finish our meal at this cute harborside fish and chip shop. “Are you ready for your last surprise?” Dante asks, his green eyes practically glowing in the setting sun.
“I don’t know how you could top this, but I’m ready,” I say, smiling and crossing my arms over my chest.
Dante leans forward, resting his elbows on the metal table and tucking his fist under his chin. “The Uber will be here shortly to take us back to The Merchant. When we arrive, I want you to go upstairs, open my bag, and grab the bag with your name on it. Understood?” The dominant tone in his voice pulls at my core. I nod, licking my suddenly dry lips. “Good girl,” he says with a wink. A black SUV pulls up next to us on the street, and Dante nods his head in its direction.
We stand from the table, and Dante guides me to the car, his hand touching the small of my back the entire time, feeling like it’s burning a hole right through my shirt. There’s a shift in the way he’s looking at me, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up, but in a good way, like he’s about to eat me alive when we get back to our room.
Dante opens the door for me, and I slide into the back seat. He slides in next to me, shuts the door, and the car starts moving.
I cross my legs to stop the ache between my thighs from building. I don’t need to come on this stranger's seat. I drag my eyes from the floorboard to find Dante’s intense gaze.
There's adarknessbehind it. I’ve seen it before, when we were at Abby’s Place and at the gym when that creep tried to pick me up. It scared me at first, but if I’m being honest, it’s a river in my panties right now. I’m the farthest thing from scared, and I think it’s because I’ve spent so much time with him now. I know he’s not going to hurt me. If anything, he’s a little obsessed with me; he can hardly keep his hands to himself most days, and being anxious about what’s to come next is making it harder not to slip right off this leather seat.
I take a deep breath, slowly blowing it out, and try not to squirm too much.
“You okay, angel?” Dante whispers, leaning in. His breath skates across my exposed neck, leaving goosebumps in its trail. I nod, afraid to open my mouth for fear a moan will escape. “Oh, my angel, are you turned on already?” I break away from his intense stare, looking up at the driver, who was paying attention to the road, oblivious to what’s happening back here. Dante leans in closer, his lips touching my ear. “Will you let me touch you? You’ll have to be quiet, or we will be in considerable trouble.” He reaches out, his fingers trailing the edge of my skirt. I bite my lip, my eyes fluttering, trying to keep myself together.
Exhibitionism is definitely one of my kinks, and I’ve written multiple scenes throughout both books of Vera and Liam getting freaky and almost getting caught in public. I think being a midnight ballerina may have had something to do with it, but it could be a pure coincidence.
Dante’s hand travels up high enough to touch the under shorts attached to my skirt. “Dante,” his name is a whisper on my lips, and I’m breathing heavily.
He leans into my ear, as his hand slides up higher; his curious fingers finding their mark. I suck in a breath. “So wet for me, angel.” I can hear the smile on his lips. He enjoys this, too. He starts rubbing my clit, torturously slow. “Soaking through your shorts in anticipation. That’s my good girl.” Dante pinches my clit through my shorts, and I nearly yelp. “But you can’t come yet, soon, but not yet.” He retracts his hand, and I nearly groan.
My gaze meets his, and his smug smirk makes me want to sit on his face and have him beg to come up for air. “Two can play at your game.”
Dante’s smile widens, and the darkness flashes behind his eyes, “You will love my games.” The car comes to a stop, and the driver lets us know we've arrived. Dante turns, opening his door and helping me out of the vehicle. I straighten my skirt and try to gather myself before I walk upstairs to find whatever he has planned for the evening.
We enter the house through the back and head upstairs. Dante stands in the doorway, his broad frame taking it up the space. He nods at his suitcase on thebed.
I take a deep breath before I walk over, standing in front of the bed with my back to Dante. I stare at the black suitcase on the bed, find the zipper, pull it around the bag, and it opens to reveal a tote-sized bag labeled with my name. I look back at Dante, and he nods.
I take out the bag and turn to him. “Open it,” he says, never taking his eyes off mine.
I grab the zipper and pull it open. I look down and see something white with a black strap around the back. I’m unsure what I’m looking at, but I pull out the item anyway and flip it over to see that it’s a half-faced skull mask.
Oh, fuck.
“I downloaded your books after our first date, and I’ve got to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed them, Luna. I think a good girl like you deserves to be rewarded for writing such beautifully twisted pieces of literature.” Dante steps away from the doorway, coming to stand in front of me. “In the bag are the clothes you’ll wear tonight. We will sneak into a closed park nearby, and we’ll play a game of cat and mouse. When I catch you, I fuck you, understand?”
I swallow hard, nodding quickly. I can’t believe this is actually happening and that he read my books. It all clicks that he’s dedicated an entire weekend to my fantasies. I’m about to be chased and fucked in the woods by a man who is utterly obsessed with me and treats me like a princess. I just might have to marry this man.
“Go get changed, and meet me downstairs in ten minutes.” Dante takes the mask from my hands, and I move, absentmindedly heading to the bathroom.
