Page 28 of Thorns of Silence

My body arched into him, hungry for his… everything.

I nodded and he lowered his head, running his nose along the length of my neck before he met my eyes again. He felt like a piece of me that had been missing, and I knew it sounded ridiculous, but I could almost hear it clicking into place.

“I think you’re a bit on the wild side,” he drawled, his lazy grin doing things to my insides that would be dangerous for any teenage girl.

I gave him my most innocent smile while batting my eyelashes. I put some distance between us and reached for my phone, then quickly typed before I lost my courage.Is not wearing panties being on the wild side?

He read the message while I peered up into his eyes, watching the grin spread even wider over his handsome face. “My, my, my. Phoenix Romero, you are a naughty little thing.” I took my bottom lip between my teeth as he leaned close, his breath caressing the shell of my ear.

Then he led me to his car, assisting me into the passenger seat. He cupped my cheek and said, “You better never be naughty with anyone else.”

When he got behind the wheel, he shot off a message to someone, then started the car. For the next hour, we drove in silence. The sun was gone, replaced by a glowing moon.

He stopped outside of a field full of dandelions, tall grass and trees moving with the night breeze in the distance. From the corner of my eye, I spotted a truck as it was leaving.

When I shot Dante a curious look, he explained, “It’s a surprise.”

“Who was that?”

He waved his hand. “Cesar, my right-hand man. But don’t worry, my muse. He didn’t see you.”

I released a breath of relief. It was for the best we kept this our own little secret. At least for now.

He helped me out of the car, then hooked an arm around my shoulder. We made our way over the soft grass while my heart fluttered in my chest. I had never felt so safe. I had never felt so right. It was terrifying and thrilling all at once.

We stopped and he pointed to where a blanket and a picnic basket that looked like it could feed dozens had been arranged. I kicked off my shoes and we sat on the blanket as the full moon shimmered above us.

The breeze folded over us and coddled the dandelions as the moonlight danced upon them. It felt like watching nature flirt. Was that what he was doing with me?

I met his gaze, swallowed my fear, and went for it.

Opening my mouth to speak, he beat me to it. “I like you. A lot.”

For a few seconds, my thundering heartbeat was all I felt. I found my face mere inches from his. “I like you too,” I mouthed.

He cracked a lazy smile. “Really?”

I nodded. I liked him completely. Blindly. He felt likethe one. Were we too young to know any better? I was approaching my eighteenth birthday and Dante was almost four years older, but somehow, our ages felt irrelevant.

As though I weighed nothing, he pulled me up and we danced, swaying softly to the silence and the breeze. My feet on his shoes, he led me with a feral grace, never faltering. A strong breeze came in and dandelion fluff floated in the wind, mirroring my soul at this very moment.

Light. Unburdened. Happy.

I liked everything about him, the smell and feel of him holding me. I was mesmerized by the sight of him. I reached up to touch his face, his skin burning my fingertips. It only made sense that he’d be hot-blooded with that temper of his.

He smiled at me and I smiled back, the two of us twirling about the meadow as the stars and the moon above gave us their blessing. Our dancing slowed and we stood there, holding each other. He rested his chin on my head, stroking my hair, his fingers grazing the bare skin of my neck.

His hand slipped to my nape, pulling me back so I could see his face.

“I want to kiss you.”

I put my hand on his chest. “Then do it.” I blushed. Dante must have noticed, because his lips brushed over my cheeks, one and then the other. His lips brushed mine—soft and warm. He pulled back a little as if to ensure it was okay. Then he kissed me again, fiercer and more demanding.

I hooked my hands around his neck, pulling him in and crushing myself against his muscular body. He kissed my neck and my cheeks before circling back to my mouth.

This time, he claimed it, invading my mouth with his hot tongue. We fell into a deep, drugging kiss, absorbing every single sensation. He tasted so good, like chocolate and sin. His body was hard; his lips soft. I tugged on his hair, needing more of him while he clamped his hands on my hips, hoisting me up.

My legs hooked around him and he thrust his hips upward, drawing a gasp from me. It made me throb with an intoxicating ache.