Page 75 of Bound in Debt

I’d ask why, but I know I won’t get a straight answer. “Then you should live this marriage up. At least you can say you’ve been there and done that.”

“And I’m having such a wonderful time.”

I can’t help the giggles that burst free at his dry tone. “I think that’s an unfair assessment when I haven’t even been your wife for twelve hours. You haven’t gotten a chance to experience the full range of benefits yet.”

“Like?”

“Breakfast in bed. A beer with a football game.”

“I don’t watch American football.”

“Soccer then,” I return because who the hell cares? As long as I don’t have to sit there and watch it with him, I’m good. “A beautiful woman in your bed who’s smart and talented.”

“I think I could go find one of those somewhere—” I smack his chest playfully. He’s so full of shit.

“Good one, Dante. I almost believed you there for a second.” He smiles at me and I can’t help but stare in awe at how absolutely amazing it looks on him. “You are human.”

“Unfortunately so. All sinful and unworthy of marriage to a princess.”

I scoff lightly. “You act as though you’re some highway bandit.”

He lifts his shoulders. “More or less.”

“You saved me, Dante,” I reply with a shake of my head. “I’d say that was very knightly of you.”

“That gets me nowhere,” he says as if no good deed of his has ever gotten him the recognition it may have deserved. “I’ve always found that looking out for yourself is vital to survival.”

“And look at you not following your own advice.”

His gaze sharpens and I listen to my own words. Maybe he did make a deliberate choice to ignore his own advice and rescue me instead. I wonder why. “Don’t think of it that way, princess. Because if I die then it’d be on you.”

And you’ve never thanked him once.

My gaze falls helplessly to his lips and my tongue flicks across my own mouth. I’m painfully aware that my interest is obvious to anyone with eyes. There’s no way Dante can’t tell that I want to kiss him.

I refuse to let a lack of courage deny me this opportunity. Sure, he may reject me, but at least I’ll be able to say I tried.

That I tried to tell him I am not only drawn to him, but that I’m truly grateful for his help. Without him, I know I would currently be in the hands of the mob, paying off an obligation that was never mine.

Compelling myself to move, I shift closer to Dante’s body. I’m half-surprised that he doesn’t stop me from stretching towards him, but I pause for the briefest of seconds. It’s the only chance I give him to stop my progress before I close my mouth over his.

Gently, I take his bottom lip between mine.

Dante doesn’t move, letting me take this moment for myself. Giving me a chance to offer whatever I’d like in response to all he’s done for me.

I don’t need to do this.

But I can’t help but want to.

Dante might be off-limits because he’s my professor, but we crossed that line long ago. It may be taboo, but we said I do and now we’re here together. In bed as husband and wife.

And I don’t regret it.

I may be nervous about what’s ahead for me as we work to get Angelo Lombardi his money, but I’m not nervous about this. Not really.

Dante’s mouth shifts under mine, the slight brush of his lips bringing me back to the moment and sparking a hunger in my belly. I press closer, taking the kiss deeper, and I can feel the moment all his resolve falls to the wayside.

His tongue slides inside my mouth, confident and demanding as he steals a taste of me while flooding me with his own smoke and whiskey flavor. I groan as my body buzzes and my mind goes fuzzy. All I can think about is how he’s taken over my kiss.