Page 29 of Thorns of Silence

I rubbed against him, hoping he’d touch me there. He was making me hot and needy all over. I mewled into his mouth, grinding myself against his body.

He grunted into my mouth and I froze, pulling away. “You okay?”

His eyes were locked on my lips.

“I won’t be if you don’t kiss me again.” I smiled, but before I could kiss him again, he said, “We’ll take it slow. Okay?”

Gosh, he was every girl’s dream and he wantedme. Me!

I think I’m falling in love with you. The words didn’t leave me, but my mind screamed them. I yearned for him with a desperation that should have scared me, but it didn’t.

“Slow,” I repeated soundlessly.

He closed the distance between our lips, pushing his big hand into the back of my hair and tilting my head for a deeper kiss. Deep and thorough, unhurried yet intense. His tongue parted my lips, brushing against mine while he devoured me. His hands touched me everywhere, as eager to feel all of me as I was to explore every inch of him.

It was the happiest moment of my life. A moment of sheer happiness. I found someone who wanted me despite all my shortcomings, and he was all mine.

Until he wasn’t. Until I was left alone.

Click. Click. Click.

The vibration of the table shattered through my memory. I lifted my head and found Baptiste’s face blotchy, coughing and pounding on his chest while his other hand repeatedly landed on the table.

“What the fuck is in this?” he choked out.

A hand landed on the table. My head snapped up, shock rendering me speechless when I found Dante standing over us.

“It’s our special recipe, cod with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper,” Dante said with a cold smile. I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear as his dark presence engulfed me, that familiar scent seeping into my lungs.

Another of Baptiste’s coughing fits shook the table, startling my attention back to him. The waitress handed him a glass of wine and Baptiste gulped it down like a man dying from thirst.

“This dish ismerde,” he hissed, and I watched him slam back another full glass of wine, unsure what to do.

“Apologies,monsieur.” The waitress handed him another glass, eyes like saucers. “We didn’t know you were allergic to cayenne pepper.”

Baptiste stilled, narrowing his eyes on her. “I never said I was allergic.”

I glared at Dante and watched pure satisfaction flash in his eyes, along with brutality and a thrill for something that I didn’t want to explore further. I was positive this unhinged monster had set it all up.

“A glass of red for you, as requested.” Dante held out a bottle of wine my way. He knew I preferred red to white wine, and suddenly, I wished I could claw his eyes and make him hurt. The way he’d hurt me. I always knew life was hard. I’d seen it in my mother’s eyes. In Papà’s eyes when she died. Life broke my heart a long time ago, but Dante Leone… he smashed it into a million pieces.

“Get lost,” I signed, angry at myself for letting him get to me so easily.

His eyes lit up. “I’m afraid someone’s due for a lesson.”

He reached over, and while I stared at him in confusion, he started pouring the bottle of 1949 Richebourg Grand Cru. But instead of pouring it into the glass, he was spilling it onto my lap.

I jumped, pushing my chair back, but it was too late. The bottom half of my beautiful dress was irrevocably drenched. Anger shot through me, and I looked up to meet Dante’s expression.

“Oops, I missed the glass.” He carefully placed the bottle on the table, his knuckles white as he glared at Baptiste. Then he returned his attention to me. “Next time I see you with a man, you’ll be signing his death warrant,” he signed in perfect ASL while saying it out loud for Baptiste’s benefit.

“Are you nuts?” I signed, my whole body shaking. That was a dumb question. He was, and there was no doubt about it. “What are you doing here anyhow?”

He pushed his hands into his pockets, smiling casually. “I own the restaurant.”

“That’s impossible,” Baptiste sputtered, face paling. “This is a French-owned restaurant.”

Dante flashed him a cold smile. “Not anymore.” His gaze moved between the two of us, menace dancing in his eyes. “It’s an Italian restaurant now.”