Chapter 28
A R I A N A
Dante smirked, running a hand through his damp hair. “Like what you see, wife p>
I nearly dropped the tray. “Does being sick make you cheeky?” I muttered, marching inside before he could see how red my face was.
I set the tray on the bedside table with more force than necessary. “Eat, then take your medicine p>
Dante didn’t move from his spot. “Feed me p>
I gaped at him. “What p>
“You heard me.” He folded his arms, making his biceps bulge. “I’m sick, weak and can’t possibly hold a spoon p>
I pointed at his very obviously strong arms. “You’re not weak p>
Dante coughed dramatically, swaying slightly. “Fever…so dizzy p>
“You’re impossible!” I threw my hands up but when he wobbled again for real this tim —I sighed. “Fine! But only because I don’t want you dying on me p>
I grabbed the bowl and sat on the edge of the bed, Dante’s smirk widened as he joined me, his bare thigh pressing against mine.
The first spoonful of soup nearly ended up on his chest when my hand shook, dante caught my wrist, steadying it.
“Careful,” he murmured, his fingers warm against my skin. “Wouldn’t want to waste your…special care p>
I glared. “Just eat p>
But as I fed him, something strange things kept happening.
The room grew quiet except for the soft sounds of him eating Our eyes kept meeting, his dark and knowing, mine probably betraying everything I felt.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Dante said suddenly between bites.
I shrugged, focusing on stirring the soup. “I know p>
A beat of silence, then his finger under my chin, tilting my face up.
“But I’m glad you did p>
The raw honesty in his voice startled me, for once, there was no smirk, no teasing just Dante.
My heart did a stupid little flip.
This man would be the death of me.
And right now?
I may not even care.
I fed him till the last spoon my mind dozing away. The heat between us growing by every minute.
What was wrong with me?
I didn’t like the way I was feeling, it wasn’t healthy for the both of us. Part of me reminded me that this was only just business, nothing more nothing less and letting things go aboard was a bad idea, one that I didn’t want to risk.
After how things ended with Angelo, I didn’t want to go through that same pain again and the sooner I live on that the better it is.
Suddenly, it all hit me at once.
My eyes stung as I jerked up from the bed, the soup bowl nearly toppling over.
This wasn’t supposed to be happening, none of it; the caring, tenderness and the way my stupid heart kept fluttering every time he looked at me.
“Ariana?” Dante’s voice was rough with confusion.
I turned away, but not fast enough, his hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my wrist like a brand.
“Let me go,” I whispered, but there was no force behind it.
Instead of releasing me, Dante pulled hard a gasp slipping from my lips as I tumbled backward, landing squarely in his lap. His arms came around me before I could escape, trapping me against his still-too-warm chest.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, his breath hot against my ear.
The dam broke.
“Everything!” I choked out, struggling weakly. “Don’t you get it? The whole world thinks I’m some…some slut who jumped from one Russo to the next! That I married you for money or power or p>
Dante’s arms tightened. “I took care of that p>
“But it doesn’t change the truth!” My voice cracked. “This… is… it’s all wrong, we’re wrong. You treated me like property, like some business deal and now you’re acting like…like p>
Like you care.
The words stuck in my throat.
Dante was silent for a long moment.
Before his voice came, calmly “You’re right p>
I froze.
“I treated you badly,” he continued, his voice rough with something I’d never heard before—regret. “You didn’t deserve that. I’m sorry p>
A tear slipped free before I could stop it my heart pounded so hard I was sure he could feel it.
Dante Russo.
Apologizing.
The world must have been ending.
His thumb brushed my cheek, catching another tear. “Things don’t have to be the way they were,” he murmured. “We can start over, if you want p>
I looked up then, meeting his dark eyes no longer cold, but warm.
Gently,
Vulnerable
Just like me.
And in that moment, despite all logic, despite all the pain and anger and betrayal p>
I wanted to believe him.
His dark eyes searched mine, his fingers still gently wiping away my teare the silence between us felt growing.
“Can I kiss you?” he asked, his voice rough but softer than I’d ever heard it.
My brain screamed at me to say no, to pull away, to remember all the reasons this was a bad idea.
But my heart?
My stupid, traitorous heart?
It made me nod before I could stop myself.
He didn’t move at first, as if giving me one last chance to change my mind and when I didn’t, he leaned in slowly, so slowly I could have counted each of his long eyelashes.
His lips brushed mine once, light and teasing.
Then again, firmer this time.
A small sound escaped my throat as my hands found their way to his bare shoulders, his skin hot beneath my fingers.
Dante groaned low in his chest, one hand tangling in my hair as the other pulled me closer against him, the kiss deepened, turning from something sweet and hesitant to hot and demanding.
I forgot about the soup cooling on the nightstand.
I forgot about the rumors and the blogs and the whole messed-up situation.
All that existed was Dante’s mouth on mine, his hands in my hair, the way my whole body seemed to come alive under his touch.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Dante rested his forehead against mine.
“Fuck Ariana… you’re so perfect,” he murmured, already leaning in.