Page 42 of A Dagger in the Ivy (Blade Bound #1)

When I arrive at Dante’s manor, the anger coursing through me has frazzled every one of my nerves. Not to mention the anxiety that rattled me when I snuck through the secret passages to get to the stables. I had to creep through the forest behind the stables, silently walking Thora through the trees, to escape the castle grounds without anyone seeing me.

But I had to come here. Though Dante and I may have started off as rivals, he’s the one I seek out now. He’s the one my heart yearns to see. I can’t explain it, but a fierce fire burns in my veins, and it calls out for Dante.

I throw the door open without knocking. “Dante?”

He’s not in the living room or kitchen. For a moment, I panic, thinking he’s not here and I won’t know where to find him, but then a shuffling sounds behind me.

Dante sets aside the firewood he carries in. “Celeste? What are you…? The king could have your head for leaving the castle.”

I wring my hands, afraid I’m not welcome. But then he crosses the room, his grey eyes flitting over my face. He lifts a hand and gently cups my cheek .

“I couldn’t stay there,” I say, placing my hand atop his. “I just… I had to get away. At least for one night.”

His features are etched with a mix of emotions, which I’m certain mirror mine. Despite the tumultuous situation we find ourselves in, there is a sense of calm in his eyes that I cling to.

“Are you all right?”

My eyes well, but I swallow back the tears. “Torbin is unhinged. He lashed out, and I could see it in his eyes. The darkness. The malevolence.” I shake my head. “He’s not under a spell.”

Dante’s gaze is locked with mine, and there’s a sadness behind his eyes that tells me he’s already reached the same conclusion.

“Celeste, there’s something I’d like to show you.” He takes my hand in his.

I don’t question him as he leads me through the door. I follow him in silence as he guides me behind the house to a secluded spot nestled amidst the trees. There, beneath the cool shade of the branches, lies a simple yet solemn grave, adorned with weathered stones and wildflowers.

“This is my mother’s resting place.” His voice is strained, as if there’s a thickness in his throat.

I gaze at the grave, feeling my heart seize. I understand his pain. I’ve experienced it myself.

“They delivered the body to me.”

“Who did?”

“Men wearing Delasurvian colors. Not the regiment. I assumed they worked for your father.”

I swallow back the knot in my throat. “I’m so sorry.”

“I barely recognized her, she’d been beaten so badly. Her face was swollen and purple, her jaw broken and teeth missing. I wouldn’t have even known it was her if it hadn’t been for the birthmark on her ankle.”

I look down at our joined hands, guilt washing through me.

“After she died,” he continues, “I was a wreck. I was living at the castle, but she was my true home. The only person on whom I could rely after she was taken from me was Torbin. Yes, he had a temper now and then, but so does our father. I just thought… But now…”

I squeeze his hand. He doesn’t have to finish his sentence for me to understand. Now that Torbin has deceived him, Dante has no one. Not even his father believes him, practically shunning him from his castle.

A gentle breeze blows my hair around my face, and the trickle of rain sprinkles around us.

“Celeste, I don’t blame you.” His head is dipped low, his eyes trained on the ground. “I know you had nothing to do with it. And I know now, more than ever, that we can’t be held responsible for the actions of our family.”

His words wash over me like a soothing tide, easing the burden of guilt that has weighed on my heart. I pull in a shuddered breath, pivoting to lightly stroke his arm.

We sit for minutes upon minutes, huddled together in silence. I gaze into the distance, contemplating the situation we’ve been thrown into and the feeling of no escape. Only here, sitting beside Dante, do I have some semblance of peace, however short it may be.

He turns to me, leans closer, and lifts his gaze to mine. “You can’t marry him.”

Our eyes lock in silent understanding, and the distance that has long separated us seems to fall away.

With a trembling hand, Dante reaches out to gently cup my cheek, his touch a tender caress against my skin. My heart flutters, and my breath catches in my chest. He leans forward, and my eyes drift closed as his lips brush mine. The kiss is gentle, and his lips are so soft that I can’t help but deepen the kiss, to feel the exhilaration of his mouth caressing mine.

His hands glide over my back and pull me closer. My lips part, and when his tongue slips through, heat floods through me. The world around us fades into oblivion, leaving only the echo of our beating hearts.

The kiss deepens, making me whimper. His hands begin to roam, and his mouth slides over my cheek, claiming the spot beneath my ear. I lift my chin and tilt my head to give him more access to the sensitive flesh there, and rain hits my face .

Dante pulls back, the grey of his eyes a sea of storms, and urges my body closer to his. “We should get out of the rain.”

My lids are heavy as I nod.

I expect him to turn and walk beside me into the house, but instead, his lips crash against mine, and he lifts me so that my feet dangle above the ground. He carries me with ease, our chests flush against each other, and I’m so engrossed with the kiss and the heat of his body that I don’t even realize that we’re in the house until he sets me down.

I study his face. Doubt troubles me, the pause momentarily overcoming the temptation. “Are you using your powers on me?”

His fingers trail over my bottom lip. “Highness, it’s you who’s casting a spell on me.”

His mouth replaces his fingers, supple lips caressing mine as the kiss deepens. I welcome his tongue, greeting it eagerly with my own. The heat stirring at my core erupts into an inferno.

He is still kissing me when one of his hands travels down my back, and the other wraps around my throat, lingering there. I don’t expect it to excite me as much as it does. He pulls back enough to look at me with heavily lidded eyes. The shock of grey in the dimly lit room is hypnotic.

“If you want me to stop, you need to tell me now.”

I can barely control my breathing. “If you stop now, I’ll fucking drive my dagger through your heart.”

He smirks, his eyes set on my lips. “That mouth.”

He kisses me again, this time more frantically, and I almost stumble as he drags us toward his bedroom, his hand still tight on my throat.

My head spins as we move, and all I can think is that I want more, need more. My hands run over his shoulders, his chest, grasping and pulling at his clothes. The backs of my legs collide with a solid object, which I quickly realize is the frame of his bed.

He releases my neck to grab the hem of my blouse. In one quick move, he pulls it over my head and discards it. Exposed to the sudden air, my nipples harden against the silk of my chemise, and I swear I hear a low growl deep in Dante’s throat.

In the next second, he rids himself of his tunic, and I can’t stop myself from touching his chest. My fingers brush over his wound, now merely a scar. I trail my hand between his pecs. The muscle there is firm and supple. A patch of hair at the center tickles my fingers.

His palms glide from my shoulders, down to the peaks of my breasts, and when his thumbs graze my stiffened nipples, I arch my back, immediately needing more.

But his touch abandons my breasts to slide down to my trousers and underwear. He worms his fingers into the waistband and pulls them down my legs. I step out of them and stand before him in nothing but my chemise, which is barely long enough to reach my hips. Though I have to look up at him, we’re face to face. And the moment I feel his hand on my thigh, I shiver. He moves slowly, following the line of lace at the hem of the material. His knuckles brush against the sensitive spot between my legs, and I let out a soft gasp. He captures the sound with a kiss.

My pulse quickens, and I lean into his hand. This brings a grin to Dante’s face.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to touch you?”

My head swims, and my knees are weak. “Do it, then.”

His hand turns, and he slips a finger between my thighs, gliding upward until it slithers along my opening, causing me to let out a small moan.

I place my hands on his biceps to steady myself; otherwise, I fear I might melt. His finger moves up and down between my folds in a teasing motion, until slipping up to my clit and circling it.

I whimper. I swear I’m melting. I’ve caught fire, the most delicious fire imaginable, and I’m melting.

“Gods, you’re so wet.” He dips his head and drinks in my kisses.

I roll my hips, hungry for more. He circles my clit three more times before gliding lower, and then he slides his finger inside me. My hands clench his arms, my nails digging into his flesh, and he pulls his mouth away from mine.

“Dante,” I beg.

He glides his finger almost all the way out, only to push it in deeper .

“You’re so beautiful.” His thumb rubs my clit, the pressure electrifying. “I need to see you cum.”

I pull at him in desperation as he slides his finger in and out of my throbbing pussy. Another finger joins in the rhythm, and my body is no longer under my control. The sound of my slick wetness makes me even hungrier for his touch. My hips thrust to match his tempo, and Dante growls again.

My lids threaten to fall closed, but I fight to keep them open, to hold his gaze as he watches me ride his fingers.

My hands move upward, my fingers getting tangled in his hair as his digits curl and he picks up the pace.

“Let go, Celeste,” he whispers as my heart beats out of control. “Cum for me.”

My moans fill the room, and Dante’s free hand holds my ass, pulling me closer. My head falls back as this dance reaches a crescendo, and then I snap and fall over the edge, my body vibrating with the hum of euphoria.

“Even more beautiful than I imagined,” he says.

I open my eyes to watch Dante as he slips his fingers out of me and brings them to his mouth. They are slick with my cum, and he doesn’t hesitate to wrap his lips around them and suck on them.

“You taste like honey.” He smiles. “And I’m starving for honey.”

I’m still pulsating from my orgasm as he eases me back on the bed. Hovering over me, his face is etched with desire as he pulls my chemise up and off, exposing my naked body. He pauses, taking in my form, and then gently cups one of my breasts. His head lowers to the other, where he swirls my nipple with his tongue. I feel it tugged by his teeth and release a gasp.

He chuckles lowly before he moves down my body, leaving a trail of kisses before he reaches my pussy. His mouth dips forward, and his tongue laps along my opening, still soaked with pleasure. His breath on my clit relights the fire inside me.

“Tell me, Highness. Have you dreamed about me fucking you?”

Before I can answer, his thumb pushes in a lazy circle around my clit. His tongue glides along my opening once more before asking again.

“Did you dream of this? Did you imagine it when you were touching yourself on your balcony? I know you knew I was watching.”

His breath is hot and inviting on my core. I don’t know if I can wait any longer.

“Yes.”

“Say it.”

“Yes, Dante. I dreamed it.”

“Tell me exactly.”

“I dreamed of you fucking me. I wanted you. I want you now.”

His growl against my pussy is enough to send me over the edge again. His tongue dives into my wetness, relentlessly exploring, in and out and around, each throb of my core matching the hammering of my heart. My back arches, and Dante’s hands wrap around my thighs, bringing me closer to his mouth. His tongue pushes in deeper as his thumb increases its dance on my clit, and I cry out, my fingers trapped in his hair. When his tongue slides up and he sucks on my clit, I break. My second orgasm comes in waves, leaving me buckling. Every part of my body is tingling, and part of me wonders if this isn’t the result of another power sirens possess.

My eyes are closed, and I can’t find the strength yet to open them, but I feel the bed dip, and Dante’s weight presses into me. When my lids finally cooperate, I find him staring at me.

“Gods.” His eyes dart over my face. “I can’t get enough of you.”

His lips crash into mine, and I can taste myself on his tongue. He trails his fingers over my body, drawing feather-light patterns along my stomach, my breasts, my neck. It isn’t until I feel the pulse of hard flesh against my thigh that I realize he’s completely undressed. The thought of him lying naked beside me, with his cock hard and seeking me out, sparks the flame once again.

How is it possible?

How have I become so insatiable?

I want him.

I need him.

I would beg just to feel him inside me.

“Dante.” I reach between us, my hand finding his cock and my fingers curling around it. My eyes widen at the feel of his size. He lets out a low sigh at my touch, and his body moves against me. His eyes flutter closed momentarily, but when they open again, there is an unmistakable hunger burning inside them.

“I feel like I’ll die if I can’t have you.” He shifts so he’s above me.

“Have me.” I place my hands on his hips, positioning him. “Have me hard.”

His eyes darken, and he slips a hand around my thigh to bring my leg up to meet his hip. I arch my back, releasing a moan when the stiffened tips of my breasts find the warmth of his chest. He shifts, and I can feel the hard length of his cock just below my stomach.

Gods, I want him.

He hesitates, searching my face as a question looms behind his gaze.

“What is it?” My voice is breathy, urgent.

“There’s no turning back after this. I don’t want you to despise me tomorrow.”

I reach between us and glide my hand around his cock. “I’ll only despise you if you stop.”

The vibration of his moan caresses my skin, and desire floods me, slickening my core. He rocks back, and his length slides along my clit as he positions himself at my entrance. I gasp as he slowly pushes himself into me. Every inch makes my head spin, and it isn’t until he is completely filling me that I’m able to catch my breath.

The veins in his neck pulse as he looks down at me. He hasn’t moved yet, as if relishing the first meeting of our pleasure points, as if committing this moment to memory. I trace my nails along his ribs, and his eyes flutter shut.

“So. Fucking. Good.” He tightens his grip on my thigh as he begins to undulate.

My skin is on fire, and I can’t stop the whimpers of rapture escaping through my lips. He lowers his head, our mouths meeting in a desperate kiss that contains all the lust and desire we’ve been bottling up inside. I knead my fingers into his skin as he thrusts, pounding me into the squeaky mattress. Unable to get enough, I arch my hips to meet his, taking him in deeper. His palm cups my ass to control every motion, every roll of his hips. Our bodies are hot with sweat, and I have to break the kiss to come up for air. My neck stretches, and he seizes the opportunity to ravage it, his tongue and lips performing the sweetest torture as our bodies rock together.

I writhe as the tension builds, and his hand comes up to glide over one of my nipples before capturing my knee and pressing it back.

I thought he was deep inside me before, but this—I don’t know how much more I can take. His pace quickens, and each slide and plunge sends my senses into a frenzy. The fire inside me explodes as another orgasm breaks free, sending me spiraling. The room is filled with his deep grunt as he stiffens, shuddering as his fingers curl into my skin.

His head drops to my neck, and I’m bathed in his hot breath as our chests rise and fall together. I’m soaring. I’m floating. And I know I can’t be the only one tingling with the aftermath.

My breathing finally slows, and he brushes his lips against mine before shifting to pull me into him at his side, his fingertips traveling up and down my arm and my back in gentle, random patterns. My body hums with joy, and I feel my lids droop. But I don’t want to sleep. I want to stay awake in Dante’s arms and revel in what just happened. And, if he’s up to it, do it again.

But the weight of sleep is overpowering, and his touch is soothing.

“Celeste?” he whispers. His lips press against my damp hair.

“Mm?”

He’s quiet for a moment. My lids droop some more.

“Sleep. We will deal with our troubles tomorrow.” His hands pull me closer into the warmth of him, and I let sleep take me.