Page 37 of Do It For Me

My father has been distant, and I’m relieved. He doesn’t come to my room at night, watch me take a shower, or hit me anymore. The only thing he wants is for me to watch the videos he gave me… but they’re making me feel strange.

Someone knocks on the door.

“Dante’s here, pet,” Mum says.

I blush and stare at my phone.

Me:You could have told me!

Dante:If I had, it wouldn’t be a surprise. Come here ;).

I giggle, stand up, and follow Mum downstairs. She smiles and hugs me as we reach the entrance.

“You don’t know how happy I am to see you like this,” she says.

“I haven’t changed.”

“You have,mo chroí.” She cups my face. “You’re beaming with happiness.”

Heat gathers in my cheeks. I hug Mum once more, then glance at my father. His dark gaze pierces mine.

“Eleven o’clock,” he warns.

I don’t reply. I’m done following his rules. I want to be free. Thinking by myself andformyself is the first step.

In the driveway, Dante leans against his car, hands in his pockets, exuding a nonchalant posture that makes him look effortlessly attractive. The moment he sees me, his face lights up, and a smile spreads across his lips.

When I reach him, he wraps an arm around my waist. I rise onto my tiptoes and plant a quick kiss on his lips.

“I missed you,ragnetta.”

“You literally saw me two nights ago,” I whisper.

“I always miss you when you’re not around. I thought you’d figured out by now that I’m clingy.”

I laugh. He cups my cheek and leans in closer.

“Can I kiss you?”

My eyebrows rise. Was he waiting for permission?

“Always.”

A smirk tugs at his lips before he presses them to mine. The kiss is deeper, more intimate than the one in the meadow—or maybe it just feels that way because of what I’ve been watching.

My breath quickens, especially when his hand moves to my hip and a bulge press against my belly.

Is that—

“We’re running late,” he says in a husky voice. “Let’s go.”

He opens the car door. When I sit down, he buckles my seatbelt and steals a kiss in the process.

“Greedy.”

“You have no idea how much I’ve been dying to taste your lips again,amore.”

I blush as he closes the door and walks around to the driver’s side. Glancing back at the house, I catch Mum smiling at me, but her smile disappears the moment my father yanks her inside.