Page 5

His hands roam, mapping me, memorizing every curve, like my body was meant for him to explore.

The pleasure builds, slow and steady, like the perfect storm, until we’re both on the edge. Our fingers intertwine when he pins my hands above my head, his eyes burning into mine as he thrusts deep one final time.

I fall apart and he follows, a deep groan spilling from his lips as he says my name, his body tensing as he empties himself inside me, our foreheads pressed together.

For a moment, we just breathe one another in, our bodies still tangled.

He finally pulls out and sits up, settling me on his lap. I curl against him, my head resting on his chest as I soak in the afterglow, tingles lingering along every nerve.

We sit together for a few moments, neither of us speaking, simply enjoying the warmth and comfort of each other’s presence. Finally, Dante presses a kiss to my temple.

“You all right?” he asks, concern shining in his eyes.

I exhale a shaky laugh. “I’m better than all right.”

His gaze softens, his dark eyes still smoldering. “Good.”

Unbidden, reality creeps in—I just had mind-blowing sex with Luca’s father.

The head of the Bellacino crime family.

Dante seems to sense the shift in my mood because he cups my chin, tilting my face toward his. “Hey. No regrets.” His voice is quiet but firm, leaving no room for doubt. “You were perfect. I don’t want you second-guessing a damn thing.”

My throat tightens. I want to believe him. I want to stay in this bubble where nothing outside this room exists.

“No regrets,” I say. But part of me already wonders if that’s a lie I’ll have to live with.

To chase the thought away, I kiss him, soft and slow, a stark contrast to the desperate frenzy of before. Then I pull back and glance around the room, taking in the opulence, the towering skyline outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“This is a beautiful suite.”

Dante chuckles, running his fingers idly along my thigh. “Comes with the property.”

“You own it?”

“Yes, along with a few other buildings on the block.”

Of course he does.

“Damn,” he says. “I could sleep right now.”

“You say that like you’re not planning to head back to the wedding,” I tease.

His laugh is pure amusement. “That circus can run without me for a while. I’m sure Linda—Luca’s mother—won’t be thrilled, but she’s used to it.”

I frown slightly. “You and Linda…?”

“We had Luca young. Tried to make it work but it didn’t.” He shrugs, a hard edge to his voice, but his focus stays on me. “Suffice it to say, I don’t see eye to eye with her. Or Luca, for that matter.”

I smirk. “Not surprised. I always wondered how a man like him could come from someone so…” I trail off, realizing I might’ve just paid him a very obvious compliment.

His low laugh vibrates through me. “I’ll take that as flattery.”

“Seriously, though, they’re not missing you down at the wedding?”

He shakes his head. “I made my appearance for the ceremony. When I spotted you and your friend, it was the perfect excuse to slip out.”

He doesn’t seem to be all that thrilled about the wedding in general. But I’m not about to press the matter.

Then another thought hits me.

Halsey. Shit

I snatch my phone off the end table, guilt coiling low in my gut.

The screen lights up—a barrage of texts lighting it up like a Christmas tree.

Halsey:

WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GO?

Halsey:

YOU CAN’T JUST DISAPPEAR AFTER CAUSING A SOCIAL EARTHQUAKE.

Halsey:

EVA. PICK UP.

Are you breathing? Blink twice.

Halsey:

Are you dead?

Or being ravished??? I’m not judging.

Halsey:

HELLO????

If you don’t text me back in five minutes, I’m calling in a SWAT team.

“Shit,” I mutter, dragging a hand down my face. “I’m such an asshole.”

Dante leans against the back of the couch, arms folded, amusement playing at the edges of his mouth. “Your friend?”

“Yeah.” I sigh. “I screwed up.”

“Tell her to meet you at the reception,” he says. “She’s welcome.”

I hesitate. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s Luca’s day.”

“And?”

I exhale loudly, ignoring my urge to bail.

Me:

I’m fine. Meet me at the reception.

Halsey:

Fine??? Are you with LUCA’S DAD??

Me:

Yes

Halsey:

Oooooooo. You vixen!

You are SO bad. I want to know EVERYTHING!!!!

I set my phone down, turning my attention back to Dante.

Silence settles between us.

His fingers trace slow, lazy circles over my skin while something still gnaws at the back of my mind.

I take a deep breath.

“We said no regrets. But realistically, do you think we should just leave this here?”

Dante’s thumb brushes absently along my hip, his expression darkening as if the answer already hurts.

“The truth is… I have enemies, Eva. And if they find out I’m seeing someone—especially someone tied to Luca—it won’t just be inconvenient. It’ll be dangerous. For you.”

My stomach knots. I exhale slowly. “You’re a dangerous man.”

“Yes,” he says. “But I’ve never wanted to keep anyone safe more than I want to protect you.”

That shouldn’t make my heart skip.

But it does.

It absolutely does.

I bite my lip, staring at the strong planes of his face, the faint silver threading through his dark hair.

The way he looks at me—like I’m the only thing anchoring him to something good—nearly undoes me.

It would be so easy to stay, to pretend this could work.

But loving him out loud would come with a body count.

And we both know it.

I press a kiss to his chest before pulling away, lingering for half a second longer than I should.

Memorizing the warmth. The scent. The ache.

“Maybe it’s best to end on a good note.”

A brief flicker of sadness steals into his gaze. “If that’s what you want.”

I smooth a hand over his jawline, feeling the faint roughness of his stubble.

“It’s what’s smart,” I whisper. “That doesn’t mean I’ll ever forget.”

I stand and gather my clothes, my skin still humming from his touch as I slip them on.

He dresses too, each movement slow, like dragging through molasses, like maybe if we take long enough—this won’t have to end.

By the time I slip back into my dress, the chaos from earlier has apparently simmered.

I check my phone.

Another text from Halsey.

Halsey:

Guests are still buzzing.

Reception starting.

You better walk into this bitch like the main event.

I lower the phone slowly and turn to face him.

My voice is a whisper, heavy with meaning. Heavy with goodbye.

“You knew I’d fall for you, didn’t you?”

He doesn’t deny it. Doesn’t flinch.

He just watches me like he’s memorizing everything?—

My face, my scent, the sound of my voice.

I reach for the door, my hand trembling.

Then—

His voice. Low. Velvet-wrapped sin.

“You ever change your mind, angel…

You know where to find me.”