Chapter 51
A R I A N A
I forced myself to pull away from Dante’s warm, safe chest, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand, trying to smile even though my heart was screaming and hurting.
I didn’t expect to see Dante at the foyer, i thought to lock up myself in the room and wrap my head around what had happened and what more is about to come.
“I am sorry,” I whispered, my voice still shaky. “I am just… overwhelmed that’s all p>
I looked up at him, hoping my eyes did not show the lie in my heart, hoping he wouldn’t hint it.
“I want to give us a chance,” I said, the words feeling heavy and wrong on my tongue. “I really do, and I am sorry for running off like that, I just went out to get some air to think and wrap my head around everything but I am ready now I am ready to try” I say biting my lower lip as I gulped a lump hating myself for lying.
Dante looked down at me his dark eyes searching my face, he lifted his hand and gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushed away a tear that I missed.
He looked like he was trying to see inside my mind, like he knew I was not telling the whole truth almost like he knew I was lying, fear crept within me as my heart beat began to increase so fast I was sure he could hear it.
After a long, quiet moment, he finally nodded. “Okay,” he said softly. “We will try p>
Relief washed over me, mixed with a deep, ugly guilt.
He believed me.
Gosh I was disgusting and selfish, but what can I do? I only wanted my child to be safe and okay.
My lips spread into a fake smile a brighter smile as I reached up and fisted my hands in his soft shirt.
I stood on my tiptoes, pulling him down just a little.
“Then do not break my heart, Dante Russo,” I whispered, my lips close to his.
Then I placed a quick, soft kiss on his lips and stepped back, letting my hands drop.
Dante froze.
He looked stunned.
His eyes were wide, his lips slightly parted.
For a second, I was afraid I had done something wrong that he saw through my act, that he knew what was going on.
But then, something in his eyes changed they grew darker, deeper.
He did not say a word.
In one swift movement, he closed the space between us his hand came up to cradle the back of my head.
He tilted my face up and captured my lips with his, the kiss was not soft and slow, It was deep and hungry and full of so much feeling it made my head spin.
It felt real.
It felt true.
And for a moment, as I kissed him back, I forgot about the lies, the the danger, I forgot about everything except the man who was kissing me like I was his whole world and on the other hand the child I had to save.
In the back of my mind, a tiny, scared voice reminded me that whatever that was going to happen between me and Dante was all a performance.
A dangerous, necessary lie.
And one day, it would all come crashing down and I hope that by the time It comes, i had flee far away from the ruthless billionaire.
Dante finally broke the kiss we were both breathing hard his forehead rested against mine.
“You do not have to worry about me breaking your heart,” he said, his voice low and serious. “What you should worry about is falling for me and I am not letting you go p>
His words were like a warm blanket on a cold night they made me feel safe for a second, making me forget, for just a second, why I was really here.
I smiled up at him.
It was a real smile this time.
A small, shaky one, but real.
“I want you, Ariana,” he whispered, his eyes locked on mine. “All of you, not just your body, your heart, your trust… all of it, I want everything p>
My breath caught in my throat.
He was saying everything I had ever wanted to hear but he was saying it to a lie, he was saying it to the fake me, the one who was pretending to choose him.
I pushed the guilt away.
I had to do this.
For Asher.
I reached up and traced his jaw with my finger. “Then take me, Dante,” I whispered back. “I am yours p>
That was all he needed to hear.
He did not say another word, he picked me up in his arms making me gasp and wrapped my arms around his neck.
He carried me easily, like I weighed nothing.
He carried me straight to his room or should I say our room.
He pushed the door open with his foot and carried me inside.
The room was big and dark, lit only by the moonlight coming through the window.
He laid me down gently on the big bed and followed me down, his body covering mine.
He looked down at me, his eyes dark and full of fire.
“No more games,” he said, his voice rough. “No more running, from tonight, you are mine really mine p>
I nodded, my heart pounding. “I am yours p>
He nods before claiming my lips again and as he kissed me again, I tried to forget that it was all a terrible, beautiful lie.
I tried to forget that I was betraying the man who was looking at me like I was his entire world almost like he was in love with me but who was I kidding we both know that’s impossible.
But to save Asher, I would pretend, I would pretend that I was just a woman giving her husband a chance.
I would pretend that my heart wasn’t breaking with every touch.