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I release her hands and grip both of her hips, pounding into her, letting the sound echo around us. I feel my cock swelling as I go deeper.

“Fuck baby, tell me you’re mine.”

“I’m yours, Dante.”

Her words send me over the edge as I spill into her. I pull out and slide my tongue up her folds, all the way up to her spine.

“Fucking perfect.” I slap her ass and help her to her feet. We stand beneath the cascading water, basking in the euphoria of our release. She stares up at me in a drunken haze. I trace the markings on her beautiful skin. Fucking mine.

I pull her into me, and she melts into my chest. I kiss the top of her head and give her a tight, possessive embrace. I may not love her, but I don’t ever want to let her go. She holds a power over me that no one ever has, not even my own father.

28

Evelyn

I’m sitting in class, waiting for the lecture to be over. I missed several classes, and I still don’t want to be here. Luckily, my parents sent me a message letting me know they are sorry for passing so much judgment on Dante. At the very least, I could attend the classes they are paying for. I’m not sure if I am still unwelcome in their house.

I do feel bad for giving in to the dark side of my mind. They did, after all, keep me from getting mixed in with the wrong crowd for years. I just managed to ruin everything. I ruined everything for a masked man I knew nothing about. Well, I still don’t know that much about him.Yes, you do.

The lecture continues about business ethics— the irony. I open up my phone to distract myself, and I get a message from Dante.

“You look so beautiful when you study.”

He attached a picture of me to the message.

My cheeks heat, knowing he is here watching me.He loves me.

Well— maybe not out loud, but I know he does. He has been constantly checking on me and making sure that I am happy. I couldn’t ask for more.

The professor wraps up our lecture and dismisses us. I go to put my notebook in my bag, and a figure casts a shadow over me. I peer up to meet wild eyes.Dante.

“You’re pretty easy to stalk, Ms. Blackwell.”

I place my hand over my heart sarcastically.

“Aw, are you worried about me?” I give him a fake frown.

He grabs my wrists and hauls me up so we are chest to chest.

“I think you should pay more attention, princess.”

He takes my bag from the floor and carries it out, leaving me standing where I am.

“Wait, you can’t just leave me!”

I run after him until we are outside the school.

* * *

Dante dropped me off at a local cafe, letting me know he would be back in an hour. He has still been leaving for random increments of time. He is still going above and beyond for me, but I feel like the conversation about Amara has left a sour taste in my mouth.He knows something. He told you to stop asking.

Astra texted me after class wanting to meet up. It’s been several days since Amara passed, and they still don’t have any leads. I wait for Astra in a booth towards the back so we can chat privately, and we have a clear view of the door.

Astra walks in the front, and I give her a wave, letting her know I am here. She moseys her way back and plops down in the booth.

“Thank you for meeting me.”

She seems down, but not as bad as she has been.