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Danny’s eyes flicked toward Anya with a secretive glint. “That’s a secret,” he said, giving her a playful wink.
Then, turning briskly, he walked back toward the room. “Let’s go wrap this up.”
After that, the meeting went smoothly. Danny didn’t cause trouble, and Dante handled everything with sharp efficiency. The contract was signed in under twenty minutes.
Later, the table was filled with drinks, and the atmosphere turned relaxed. The two men drank more than they should’ve, both ending up tipsy, laughing like old friends. By the end of it, neither could walk straight.
“Come on,” Anya sighed, crouching to loop Dante’s arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go.”
“Goodbye, Danny!” Dante slurred with a boyish grin, eyes glassy as Danny was helped out by his bodyguards.
Danny waved back with a deep laugh. “We’ll meet soon! And bring more of those fancy bottles next time—you’ve got a hell of a collection!”
“Done!” Dante shouted back, his voice trailing off.
Anya shook her head, half-exasperated, half-amused as she led Dante out to the car.
Getting him into the passenger seat was a struggle. He leaned too heavily against her, completely uncoordinated. She fumbled with the seatbelt, trying to click it in.
As she leaned closer to secure the belt, his hand pinched her waist. Then, without warning, he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her neck.
She gasped, jerking back. “Hey!”
But he leaned in again, his tongue slithered like silk over her pulse point, circling it teasingly before pressing gentle, hungry kisses down the hollow of her neck. Each lick left a slick, burning trail, making her skin tingle with need.
Her head tilted back instinctively, exposing more vulnerable flesh, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.
Then his lips moved to her earlobe, nibbling it softly while his tongue flicked teasing circles around the sensitive skin. She trembled at the delicate, electric touch.
His hand slid beneath her top, fingers gliding over her waist like fire, sending a delicious heat spiraling through her.
“Oh my God,” she muttered, flustered and breathless. “Why do you even drink this much if you can’t handle it?”
“I can hold my liquor just fine,” Dante murmured, his voice deep and laced with hunger. “But you… did you forget what you did to me? Maybe I should remind you. Right now.”
The teasing sent a rush of heat to her face.
And just like that, memories slammed into her.
That night. That touch. The way he’d looked at her like she was the only woman in the world. The way he had made her feel.
“Stop it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, her pulse racing.
But Dante wasn’t listening.
His hand shot out, wrapping around her wrist as he yanked her forward—pulling her halfway into the car before she could even think to resist. The next second, she was fully in his lap, caged in by the hard lines of his chest and arms.
And then his mouth crushed hers.
His tongue pushed deep, exploring every inch, drawing out a whimper from her throat as he devoured her slowly, like he had all the time in the world to ruin her. Tongue swirling, lips pulling, teeth grazing until her entire body trembled against his.
When he broke the kiss, she barely had time to breathe before he shifted down, lips brushing across her jaw and down her neck. His mouth was everywhere—pressing hot, open kisses along her throat, tongue flicking over her pulse point, dragging his teeth down to the curve where her neck met her shoulder.
He made out with her neck like he was starved for it—sucking hard, nipping just enough to leave his mark, only to soothe it with slow licks that had her shivering in his lap. “I want you marked everywhere,” he muttered against her skin.
Drunk on her scent, on the way she melted into him, he growled low and possessive, and buried his face in her neck again. His tongue ran up the column of her throat in long, deliberate strokes, dragging heat through her entire body. He licked as if her skin were the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted, groaning deep in his chest as if the flavor of her made him insane.
Then came the bites.