I stare at him, my mouth agape. “What? Then why did you tell me there were?”
Dante stands, taking off his hoodie, and helps me up. He wraps his hoodie around my exposed bits, a smirk on his face. “It made you come harder.”
A warm feeling spreads all over my skin as Dante slips his hand in mine, leading us back out of the woods. “I didn’t even need the safe word,” I admit proudly, in a lust-filled haze.
Dante chuckles, “I knew my good girl would never.”
Luna
Istare out of the window in our room at The Merchant, watching people walk up and down the street, boxes and bags in hand, filled with what I assume are Sunday morning treats.
Dante is packing his car with our bags right now, and my heart is filled with a sadness I wasn’t expecting. This weekend has meant everything to me. Dante sent me to a spa yesterday for pampering and a massage. He said it was deserved after he dragged me around town and then held me down in the dirt. It was the most relaxing six hours of my life. They rubbed me head to toe and soothed every ache I’ve ever had in myentireexistence. Dante picked me up after, took us out to dinner to a lovely Italian restaurant, and then thoroughly fucked my brains out again on every surface in the room, whispering utterly dirty devotions to me all night long. He held me close, peppering my skin with kisses and sweet caresses until I fell asleep in his arms.
Is this what being in love feels like?
With Greg, everything was an act; he gave meso manyred flags, and was using me to get what he wanted, like everyone else had after my parents died, but the relationship I have with Dante is something entirely different from what I’ve had with anyone else before. What would he be using me for? He has everything he wants and seems to be doing well for himself, being able to afford this trip.
Dante told me this weekend was to prove to me that he’s worthy of the boyfriend title, but it feels like so much more than that. It feels like he’s showing me what it’s like to be loved. Is he intense and all-consuming at times? Yes, but I can’t say that I don’t love being taken care of the way he takes care of me.
A memory of my mother's face flashes in my mind. I wish I could tell her about him; she would’ve loved him, too. My father would have tried to chase him away with a stick, and probably given him some kind of warning in Romanian that I would have to translate for him later, but I’m sure Dante would’ve won him over somehow, and they would’ve been best buddies.
I suck in a breath, and my heart cracks wide open,and tears start to fall; the thick brick walls I’ve built around my heart are shattering one by one.
Footsteps on the stairs bring me back to reality, and I quickly wipe away at my face, sniffling. I stay facing the window, trying to calm myself down.
“Are you okay, angel?” Dante asks, entering the room. A few more tears escape, and when I don’t answer, I feel Dante come up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle. “What’s wrong, Luna?”
My lip trembles. I don’t want to scare him away with ‘love’ talk, so I lie. “My parents would have loved it here. They talked about going one year when I was young, but we never got to do it.” Dante rests his head against mine, kissing my temple. “Thank you for bringing me to Salem. It will be a trip I will never forget.”
“Me too, angel.” I spin around to face him. Dante leans down, capturing my mouth. The kiss is soft and gentle; it leaves unspoken words between us that neither of us seems ready to say. “Come on, let's get you home.”
The drive is silent, save for the radio. Dante rubs small circles on the back of my hand, but I can tell something is bothering him. He has that distance look in his eye like he’s thinking about what to say. I don’t feel like it has anything to do with us, but that doesn’t stop my anxiety from flaring up.
Dante pulls into my apartment's parking garage and helps unload my bags from the car. “Ah, home sweet home,” I say, coming around the back of the car to pick up my suitcase. “Are you coming up?”
I turn to face him, and his brow is furrowed. “I planned on it, but I got a call when I was packing up the car, my boss needs me in another state for some onsite work. I’ll be gone for a few days and need to head back to my apartment to pack.”
“Oh,” I say, brightly, trying to hide my immediate sadness. This is probably what was bothering him on the car ride back. I can’t say that I don’t feel hurt, but what can I do?
I close the distance between us, looking up at him, putting on my best fake smile. “Lots of cybering to secure, I’m sure.”
Dante caresses my cheek, his brows furrowed. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, I promise. Text me, okay?” I nod, andhe leans down, kissing me. We pull away from one another, and Dante drags my bag to the elevator for me. He presses the button to call the elevator, and the door slides open. I walk into the elevator, turning to face him.
We stare at each other for what feels like eternity. Dante looks as if he wants to say something else, but he doesn’t get the chance to as the elevator doors close, and it’s just me now.
The short elevator ride up to my apartment felt like several hours. I didn’t want this weekend to end so quickly, but at least it was fun while it lasted.
No, bad brain, don’t start with the sad thoughts.
When the doors finally open, my apartment door greets me. It looks exactly like I left it, no sign of break-in.
I didn’t have to worry about that, though, because Dante set it up for Olivia to come over and feed Binx while we were out of town, and because she’s the best person ever, she was happy to do it. If a break-in had happened, she would have told Dante, and he would have never brought me back here.
I turn my key in the lock, and trills of a happy meow fill my ears. “Hello, my sweet boy! Did you miss me?” I pick Binx up, holding him close, as I wheel my bag in the door so he doesn’t escape. I take my key out, shuffling my bag in, and kick my door closed behind me. Binx wiggles in my arms in protest, having foiled his plans. “This is probably why you were homeless in the first place, always trying to run away.”
Something we have in common.
“That’s okay, because I’ll always find you, but let's not test that theory, sweet boy.” I kiss his head and set him on the ground.
