Page 48 of Thorns of Silence

I could feel Athena’s curious gaze on me, her eyes darting between the two of us.

Forcing a smile, I tried to convey it was all good, but as Dante’s gaze dipped over my body and lingered on my breasts, I felt like I was standing in hell, engulfed by its flames, and he was the one fanning them.

Athena touched me to pull my eyes to her, and I was surprised I didn’t singe her with how hot I felt. “I’m going to cool off in the pool. You coming?” She flicked a glance at Dante before continuing in signs only. “I feel like there’s some wordless porn going on here.”

Dante choked, then brought his hand up to pound on his chest. Damn, she had no way of knowing the devil was fluent in ASL. It was too late to warn her now.

I shifted on my chair and prayed he’d leave as Athena stepped to the side of the yacht, diving into the water. It took exactly sixty seconds for the girls to abandon the pool and join her, leaving me all by my lonesome with Dante.

I swallowed and focused back on the book, ignoring his presence. I was on a beautiful ship in the South of France and this idiot wouldn’t ruin it for me.

Finally, I realized that the book was just a lost cause for me, so I closed it, albeit a bit forcefully, and tilted my face to the sun, shutting my eyes. I tried to block out his presence but it wasn’t easy since every hair on my body stood in awareness of him.

He tapped on my shoulder. I ignored him. He did it again. I ignored him again. Then he shook me lightly.

I lifted my sunglasses to pin him with an annoyed stare.“What?”

He was smiling that wicked, naughty grin. “Want me to slather your body with lotion?”

“I’d rather burn to ash than let you put anything on me.”

He blinked his eyes innocently. “What else would I put on you besides lotion?” Goddammit. The tone of his voice insinuated so many dirty things. “My cum?”

And there it was. The little taunt, reminding me how I let him do that to me once upon a time. Everything inside me longed to scream and throw things at him—hurt him—but it would be for naught. So I dropped my sunglasses back in place and closed my eyes.

Of course, I couldn’t keep them closed for long. My sunglasses were black, but I still peered under my lashes. His attention darted to the horizon and miles of deep blue sea that stretched before us. I found myself watching him, every smooth move as he raised a glass to his lips and licked a drop of the golden liquid off the rim.

God, the man was sexy without even trying.

My skin lit up like a live wire, the fabric of my bathing suit suddenly felt heavy, and the breeze from the sea brushed against me. He came to sit in the lounge chair previously occupied by Athena and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

I had to stop looking at him. It wasn’t good for my health. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting the urge to stare at the man.

Another tap on my shoulder.

I curled my fingers into fists, nails digging into my palms. Ignoring him was fruitless, because he refused to leave. I turned to him violently, almost losing my balance and falling off the chair.

“Why don’t you take your own shirt off and lather yourself with all the suntan lotion to your heart’s content?”

His face darkened as his body went still. “Maybe I’m shy.”

I snorted. The man was anything but shy.

I still remembered how eagerly he stripped his clothes the night I gave him my virginity.

Our hearts beat as one, his against my chest and mine under his hand.

He was so fucking beautiful that it ached to look at him. Desire soaked into my skin. Heat pooled between my legs. But doubts swarmed my mind as I stood in my simple cotton bra and panties, regretting I went for cotton over lace.

“What’s the matter, my dandelion?” I wasn’t surprised he picked up on my worry. He always sensed my emotions.

“I’m not as beautiful as you.” I groaned the moment I mouthed those words. I hated feeling insecure—about my music, my body, my worth, anything.

“You’re right.” My heart sank with his words. I hadn’t expected him to agree so readily. He cupped my face and stared right into my soul. “You’re even more beautiful.”

And just like that, he made it all right.

I clutched him tighter, his forehead against mine. My pussy throbbed. He meant so much to me. He was my first everything. The breeze swept through the open windows, but his body was hotter than a furnace.