Page 8

Della

Finally, we made our way out of the dining room. I admit I probably sat there during dessert with the reddest face ever.

Dante kept patting my hand consolingly all through the rest of the time we sat there.

Now that we were free from all that staring and snickering, Dante followed me to my room.

Ok, so…Yes, taking his tie had been wicked. But it just happened all the sudden as I’d picked it up and took a sniff of it to immerse my senses with his sexy cologne. And I felt a small thrill when I did it. Silly? Yeah, but I really think when a person falls in love they might just be a bit tetched in the head? I chuckled at the thought. Then I paused as it hit me. Wait… I was in love! I almost stumbled a bit.

Dante grasped my elbow and steadied me. “You okay?” he asked.

Opening the door to the room, I motioned for him to come in. “Yes, just clumsy and not paying attention.” I smirked. “Would you like a drink or anything?” I asked him.

“No, I’m okay, thanks,” Dante replied. “But for the record, you don’t have to try and get me drunk to have your way with me.” He winked at me.

I laughed. “Now that you mention it, that was exactly my intention.”

Dante smiled and replied, “That is exactly my intention too. I need to have my way with you.” He stepped forward and braced my face with both hands to kiss me. Then he took possession of my mouth while slipping his hands up inside my dress, his nails tracing little circles on my thighs, making goosebumps run up and down my legs.

I reached up and pushed my fingers into his hair as his kiss deepened. My body came to life, my clit tingling, my skin craving his touch. My mind immediately went to places that I never dreamed of. Mostly to earlier today…a day I would never forget. Reaching for the hem of my dress, I lifted it, pulling my lips away from Dante’s long enough to get the dress over my head and toss it to one side.

Our mouths came back together wildly as he moved his hands over my back. Unhooking my bra, he teased it down along my arms, tossing it to the floor with my dress.

I stepped back and he laid me down on the sofa. Leaning his body over mine, he let out a small growl while staring at my breasts. Finally, he latched onto my nipple to suckle it. He then moved his mouth to my other nipple and gave me more of his wet heat.

As this sweet warm attention ramped up on both breasts, my moans and whimpers got louder as I arched my torso with pleasure.

Lowering his hand, he parted my folds and eased a finger into me as he thumbed my clit. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me closer to him.

I moved with him, straddling him then pushed my tongue into his mouth as I opened the buttons on his shirt. When I had them all open, I yanked the shirt down off his arms and it joined my clothes on the floor. We were both wild and mindless, in our need to be skin to skin. I pulled my head back from his kiss for long enough to admire his naked chest and stomach. I just had to. I loved his body more than I probably should. The sight of his hard toned chest and abs sent another wave of desire through me, then I found his lips with my own again.

Dante’s hands roamed up and down my body. Caressing my back, my shoulders and my ribs, leaving behind a trail of tingling fire that made me want more. He moved his hands around to the front of my body again and kneaded my breasts, bringing my nipples to attention all over again. Slipping one hand lower and running his fingers over my stomach, he reached the apex of my thighs. He found my clit and fingered it slowly, almost lazily.

Within seconds, his feather light touch had me soaking wet and needing more. I raised my hips, grinding myself against his hand.

Pulling his mouth from mine, he kissed my neck as his fingers teased me. He moved his attention from my clit, back up to my breasts.

I could feel his hardness through his dress pants and I couldn’t help but yearn for him to be inside me again. I needed to feel him inside of me. Now. I reached down to unbutton his pants. Then he raised his ass and I tugged them down to his thighs, followed by his black briefs. He kicked them away. Grasping his hard length in my fist, I stroked my hand up and down his shaft. I got my own back by moving my hand slowly on him, teasing him.

He moaned in ecstasy like I did as he seemed to enjoy my strokes. Thrusting his hips a bit, forcing me to up my pace, he suddenly grabbed my wrist and moved my hand away from him. Staring into my eyes, he cupped my ass with his hands and flipped me over.

Startled, I realized I was on top of him now. Skin to skin, I opened my legs while my core kept rubbing and writhing along his pelvis. I could feel him growing hard as his length grew slick from my wetness.

“Take me,” he whispered.

Being on top felt sexy and right. Yeah, I wanted to take him, as he’d put it. Slipping my body over him, I took a hold of his shaft and slid myself down onto him slowly.

Dante couldn’t seem to help it…he let out a deepthroated groan.

I shivered at the sound of it. Yes, it felt good, I had to agree, almost too damn good as I was now seated on him. I swallowed heavily and paused. My body felt so alive, so lit up with tingling nerves, all pinging and my insides seemed to be singing.

As if being dutiful, Dante remained still and waited for me to make the next move.

Finally, I raised myself up and stared into his eyes then I slid back down on him while letting out a long ecstatic moan.

Dante nodded at me. “I’m with you and I am all yours…All yours.” Slowly raising his hands, he grasped both of my nipples, gently tugging and rolling them with his fingers.

I leaned over and kissed him gently. The barely there touch of my lips on his made him reach out and grab the back of my head to ravage my mouth with his. I almost smiled. He wanted to be docile but it just wasn’t in his nature. Finally, he allowed me to sit upright by letting go of me as our wild kiss ended.

Now, I was riding him faster. “Ohhh,” I let out as I moved on him. I again became lost in feeling, lost in passion. Moaning and breathless, I arched my body back.

He moved his hands to support me as he grasped my waist and watched me.

I could feel my stomach contracting and my core tightening as waves of pleasure spread out through my body. Each plunge made me cry out as the feeling of being filled intensified, throbbing through me. Kissing me until I became breathless, he lunged his hips upward, moving deliciously inside of me. I moved with him, trying to match his eager strokes with equally eager thrusts of my own.

I could feel an orgasm rushing closer and I welcomed it, moving my hips faster. “Dante…” I breathlessly moaned his name out as my climax washed over me like a tidal wave, crashing through my body and leaving me unable to breathe for a moment. My body tingled everywhere and sparked like my wiring had become too damned hot. My core throbbed again, tightening around Dante’s shaft, making my orgasm even more intense.

He upped the pace yet again and I knew he must be close to his own climax. His breathing became ragged and he emitted a series of agonizing sounding gasps as he moved within me. Groaning my name and lunging up, he seemed to have no choice but to come with me.

My body pulsated as I whimpered for a full minute then lowered myself forward. I kissed him as I shuddered from my orgasm. Finally, I collapsed on top of him.

For a little while, neither one of us could move.

Despite what happened between us earlier today, our passion had been fast and fierce all over again. I think we were both stunned by it.

After a long moment of getting his breathing under control, he kissed my neck gently. “Well, that was way better than having a drink, right?”

Finally, I lifted myself up and looked down at him. “Damned right it was. But now I can’t move.”

He stared up at me and asked with a note of concern in his voice, “Are you feeling okay?”

“Look, I don’t know about you but I am not used to this. We spent a lot of time enjoying each other.” I grinned at him.

Dante chuckled and shook his head. “I cannot think of a better way to spend my time.”

“Me either.”

We laughed together.

Dante held me for a long while. We just rested and the room was quiet.

I must have fallen asleep as he shook me a little.

Opening my eyes, I sighed. “God, I’m so tired.”

“We should both get some sleep,” Dante suggested. “We have been pretty busy,” he joked.

I laughed. “Is that what you call it?”

“Sure, haven’t you ever heard of getting busy ?”

“You are funny.”

“I try.” He gave me that cute smirk of his.

“I think after being so busy , I need a shower.”

He nodded. “We both do. Let me help.”

I chuckled. “Help?”

“Sure, you need some help getting clean.” He sat up, stood and scooped me from the sofa.

I placed both hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes as suddenly I wanted to share a thought I’d had with him. “I believe in fate and karma. And even though I may never forgive Valencia for locking me up in a tomb, I think I was supposed to come here and meet you.”

He cocked his head at me and said, “I’m sorry you had to go through that and to be honest I was on your side when you jumped her.” He chuckled. “I knew I loved you right then, I think?”

“Not my best moment, Dante.”

“So? I admired it, but I’m just glad you ended up being here. So I might owe Valencia my thanks. I never would have met you if you hadn’t been sleeping with Neversmile.” He carried me to the bathroom, set me down just inside the doorway and turned the water on in the shower.

“Sleeping with…” My voice fell away in complete confusion. “What?”

With a chuckle, he picked me up again and deposited me under the water spray. “The tomb you shared. It belongs to a man who was a famous New Orleans gambler. Neversmile Joe. According to my brother who loves local legends, he was nicknamed for his poker face, I guess? Like never revealing the slightest hint of the hand he held. Maybe sometime, I’ll take you over there to see the Neversmile angel. Unless it would upset you?”

“No, I was passed out most of the time, so I guess I never saw this angel.”

Grabbing the loofah and body wash, he soaped me up. “Maybe we could take a trip over there. You know, just be sightseers.”

Moaning and groaning from him soaping my body up, I couldn’t seem to move.

Next, he washed my hair, then rinsed it. Finally, he detangled it by using a conditioner.

I simply held onto the bar in the shower and allowed him to pamper me. “A girl could get used to this,” I told him quietly.

“Good, cause I love doing it. You are just so damned beautiful. How do we say…così dannatamente bella,” he stated in a thick Italian accent.

I smirked at him sleepily. “Yes, that was pretty funny, you not knowing Italian. I cannot believe you fooled your dad like that.”

He laughed. “He deserves it.”

“Oh?” I asked.

“I’ll tell you more sometime,” he said as he washed his own body down now. “Let’s just say he gets his way too much.”

I nodded. “I can see that happening, for sure. I mean he’s kind of scary.”

Dante agreed, “Yeah, to most, he is. Let’s rest a bit.” He grabbed me as we both slid down the shower wall in a weakened state and sat on the tiled floor, allowing the warm water to pour over us for at least five more minutes.

“I think we have to move now,” Dante finally spoke as he reached up and turned the water off.

“I don’t know if I have any strength left to move,” I grumbled.

“Come on, baby girl,” he urged and scooped me up. Stepping out, he told me, “Grab those towels.” He leaned me toward the towels, hanging along the wall.

I did so.

Setting me down, I almost fell sideways. He caught me and laughed. “You are tired.”

“No shit,” I groaned as my limbs felt like jelly. “Someone wore me out,” I teased.

“Oh?” he asked as he briskly towel dried my body. “Well, you earned it when you stole my tie.”

I actually had the strength to laugh. “Look who’s talking, you panty thief.”

He stared at me then leaned his head back to laugh.

I peered up at him.

The man was naked as the day he was born while laughing with gusto. It just seemed so natural, so wonderful.

I blinked at him as I knew it for sure now. “I love you,” the words slipped from my lips without my permission.

His laughter halted immediately as he gazed down at me. Grabbing me up, he pulled me close so that our lips were touching. “And I love you,” he stated firmly and clearly as his eyes looked more intense than I’d ever seen them. He then kissed me deeply.

With this kiss, I didn't feel the heat. No, I felt the love, the sweet kind, where you cared more about the person more than yourself. I floated on air. Feeling like I might be weightless, though I know that wasn’t true. The kiss was so divine, so tender, so sweet. Like he intended it to seal us together for always.

Pulling away, he held me tightly. Then he carried me over to the bed and laid me down. Getting in on the other side, he tugged me close, pulled the sheet up and wrapped me in his arms.

He didn’t say another word and neither did I.

With my ear on his chest, I listened to his pounding heart for a moment then fell asleep within the safety of his arms.