Dante leans down, careless of the people around us, and licks the seam of my lips. He groans over my mouth. “You taste like coffee and paradise.”
I wrap my arm around his neck. “You feel like home.”
Dante makes a low rumbling sound from his chest and wraps his arms around me. One under my butt, the other over the small of my back. My legs dangle as he lifts me and spins around to head back into the garage. I chance a look around before folding my other arm around his neck.Most of the moving guys are gone, probably already upstairs eating if I had to guess.
Dante deposits me at the base of the stairs and I steal a kiss as he bends down. “Thanks for the lift.” He’s right on my heels as I hustle up the steps, my body full of restless energy.
Six strangers are in the kitchen as I crest the stairs, Milo is sitting, his legs dangling off the counter, and Ollieis perched next to him. I glance around for Ares, but I can’t see him.
“Here you go.” Ollie liftsupa smaller bag.
Dante follows me over. Peering in the bag, I hand him two breakfast sandwiches over my shoulder and pull out a hash brown, it’s already cold, but it’s still crispy, so I munch it down.
There are some muffled conversations, the moving guys talk about an upcoming football game and their holiday plans. They don’t stick around long after eating, and several mutter their thanks as they get back to work.
“Did Ares eat?” I wipe my hands with a scratchy brown napkin.
Milo shrugs. “I thought he was just going to change. There’s stillsomeleft though.”
I glance around at the kitchen, all the cabinets are open in various stages of emptiness,and several boxes litter the floor. It already looks so different. I can see the grease stains behind the stovetop, the heavy wear on the most used cabinets. But it already feels more like our house with every piece that disappear into boxes. “Why did they sell?” I blurt the question out of the blue.
“No one ever said as far as I know.” Ollie hops down from the counter. “Milo, will you help me?”
Milo tilts his head. “You mean, Milo, will you lug shit around for me?”
“Well, you’re just so good at it, and you look so pretty doing it.” A scoff leaves Milo, but he followsafterOllie, his hands braced on his shoulders.
“I’m on stacking duty,” Dante tells me from the floor where he’s sitting, after finishinghis third sandwich.
“What’s stacking duty?”
“Keeping an eye on the movers, making sure nothing gets broken. Ollie has to do it after lunch.”
“Do you want me to come with?” I offer.
Dante shrugs and wipes his hand across his mouth. “You don’t have to. I’ve been loading the truck so I’m not just standing around.”
“I guess I’ll go check on Ares, see if he ate.” I run my hands through Dante’s hair, he tilts his head back to rest against my thighs, his eyes closing. Turning his face, he nuzzles his cheek against me, but with him sitting on the floor and me standing, he’s dangerously close to the apex of my thighs.
Butterflies tickle my lower stomach and nervous excitement fills me when Dante slowly blinks his eyes open to look up at me. He reaches back and his warm palm wraps around the back of my leg. I scratch my short nails over his scalp, enjoying the way he tilts his, head eager for my touch.
“I’ll grab more boxes,” I hear an unfamiliar voice call, followed by footsteps on the stairs.
I don’t pull away from Dante, a little part of me gets angered by the interruption. I narrow my eyes on the man coming up the stairs, not caring he’s here to do a job, the front of my mouth aches. My lip instinctively lifting in a sneer.
“Hey,” Dante barks, his deep voice loud and hard. My gaze latches onto him, still on the floor in front of me, but his attention is on the guys at the top of the stairs. It’s enough of a distraction for me to gather my senses. “There areboxes in the living room that are ready,” Dante adds in a more normal tone.
The guysparesus a strange look, but heads into the living room. I lean down and place my forehead on his and groan. “It’s not even safe for you to be in a room alone with me.” I try to make it sound like I’m joking, but I’m really not.
Dante turns, placing his hands on the ground beside my feet. He pushes up to stand, his body skimming mine as he does. “We both know my safety wasn’t in question.” I bite the corner of my lip, he’s right. I would never hurt him, but the things I feel, the things I want from him when we’re alone, kinda scare me.
Dante leans down so I can feel the ghost of his lips over mine. Pushing up on my toes I close the distance. He opens the moment my mouth lands on his, accepting me as I slide into his warm mouth. I break the kiss off sooner than either of us would have liked, if his short gasping breaths are any sign.
He straightens, his eyes raking over me, but never once pushes me for an ounce more than I give him. A thrill of excitement has me blowing out a shaky breath. I love having him at my mercy. Looking at him you’d assume Dante is brash, bossy, and demanding. Everything about him screams predator. From his broody looks and quiet demeanor, to the sheer size of him. But nothing could be further from the truth, notwhen it comes to me.
The mover comes through the kitchen, holding two boxes and pretending to ignore us, but I see him watching us from the corner of his eye.
“I’ll be down after I check on Ares.” My voice is husky, and Dante nods but doesn’t move. I turn away then look over my shoulder to watch him, he hasn’t taken his eyes off me. I rush out of the room before I can turn back around and drag him into one of the empty rooms upstairs.
