Chapter 24
A R I A N A
I stared in my sleep as my eyes sprint open my vision unclear, my body aching in places I didn’t know could ache, the sheets were tangled around my legs, the pillow smelled like him that mix of expensive cologne and something uniquely Dante.
This wasn’t my room.
This was his room.
The bed was empty beside me, but the shower was running in the bathroom, steam curling out from under the door.
I sat up too fast, wincing as my muscles protested, memories from last night flooded back Dante’s hands on me, his mouth, the way he whispered my name as he buried himself deep inside of me.
My face burned.
What had I done?
Worse why did it feel so right?
Because that was the terrifying part the way Dante moved inside me, the way his body fit against mine it was familiar. Almost like p>
No.
It couldn’t be.
Years ago, in college, I’d lost my virginity to a stranger in a club. A man whose face I never remember, whose name I never knew, I was drunk and I made mistakes, ones that pleasure so intense it haunted me for years.
But the way Dante touched me last night p>
The bathroom door opened, and Dante stepped out, a towel slung low on his hips. Water dripped from his hair down his chest, over the tattoos I’d traced with my tongue last night.
I froze, clutching the sheets to my bare chest.
His dark eyes locked onto me, and a slow smirk curled his lips. “Good morning, wifey p>
I looked away, my face on fire, my cheeks stinging.
Dante chuckled, walking toward the bed. “You look like you wan p>
I groaned making me burst into laugh to er and it was one of the most beautiful sights.
Dante look so different and more handsome.
Gosh!
Could this man get any less perfect?
Regrets? I had all the regrets.
How had I let this happem? How had I gone from hating him to this?
He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear, all I could think was.
I want him to do it again and that scared me most of all.
His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “I don’t mind making you scream my name again while I’m buried deep inside you p>
My entire body went cold then blazing hot.
I bolted upright, forgetting I was naked and how sore I was, pain shot through me as my feet hit the floor, and I stumbled.
Dante caught me before I could fall, his arms wrapping around me. “Easy,” he murmured, amusement in his voice.
Before I could protest, he lifted me like I weighed nothing, one of his arm under my knees, the other behind my back my bare skin pressed against his still-damp chest.
“Let me go!” I squirmed, but he just tightened his hold.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said calmly, carrying me toward the bathroom like I wasn’t fighting him.
I gave up and hid my face against his shoulder, too embarrassed to look at him.
My cheeks burned in embarrassment.
Dante set me gently on the counter, his hands lingering on my waist when I finally dared to look up, his eyes were dark with something dangerous.
“If you keep squirming like that,” he said, voice rough, “I won’t be responsible for what happens next p>
My breath hitched.
Pervert.
But the worst part?
Part of me wanted to squirm again just to see what he’d do.
What was wrong with me?
It’s like Dante had me hypnotized and I hated I was feeling this way.
“Excuse me then”
He looked like he was about to argue before he nodded and walked away.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur, Dante had left for work after making sure I ate breakfast something he never did before.
I told myself not to read into it.
I had decided to take a day off and not go to work and work from how instead.
My thoughts come to a halt when phone began to ringing.
Raya’s name flashed on the screen.
I answered. “Hey “
“Have you seen this?” Raya’s voice was tight with anger.
“Seen what?” I frowned.
“Check your messages. I sent you a link. Ariana…it’s bad p>
My stomach dropped, I pulled the phone away from my ear and opened Raya’s text. There was a link to some gossip blog.
I clicked it.
The headline screamed:
“Gold-Digger Ariana Melendez-Russo: From Angelo’s Bed to His Uncle’s in Record Time p>
The world tilted.
I scrolled down with shaking fingers. There were pictures me and Angelo from our wedding day, me and Dante at the gala last week.
The comments were worse:
“Slut couldn’t even wait a month before jumping into bed with the richer Russo brother p>
“No wonder Dante married her, she probably fucked him into it p>
“Poor Angelo… she used him, then she steals his uncle p>
Tears blurred my vision my chest hurt like someone had punched me.
“Ariana? Ariana, are you still there?” Raya’s voice sounded far away.
I couldn’t answer A sob tore from my throat. Then another.
They thought I was some kind of whore who slept her way up the Russo family tree.
I never asked for this, for any of it, I was stupid enough to fall in love with him, but Dante was never my choices
The office door to my room slipped open and I didn’t look up. Couldn’t.
“Ariana p>
Esmeralda’s voice.
“Are you okay?” She asked walking up to me.
I broke into sobs as she settled down next to me pulling me into a hug.