fifty-two

Dante

I take one last look around the bedroom to make sure everything is perfect before I go back into the kitchen. The wine is uncorked and sitting on the counter. There’s plenty of food in the fridge, and all I need is for Tessa to show up. The anticipation of seeing her vibrates through me.

There’s a knock on the door, and when I pull it open, Tessa crumbles into my arms before I can even say a word.

I hold on to her, stroking her hair. “Shh. Sweetheart, I’ve got you. Don’t cry.”

“D-Dante.”

“I’m here, baby.” I plant several kisses against her hair. “Come on. Let’s get you settled. I’m going to grab your bag. Go sit on the couch.”

She reluctantly lets go and moves to sit on the sofa while I haul her suitcase inside, close the door, and sit next to her.

“R-remember how I-I told you I-I had to do something?”

“Yes.” I take her hand in mine.

“I w-went to th-the—” She stops to take a deep breath and begins again. “I went to the cemetery. I needed to talk to Trevor.” More tears spill down her cheeks, but she sounds calmer.

I had a feeling that was where she was going, and I almost drove out there, but I knew she wouldn’t want an audience. I draw Tessa into me and wait for her to continue.

“I didn’t want him between us anymore, and for that to happen, I had to forgive him.”

For a second, I don’t breathe. “What’re you saying, baby?”

“Let me show you.” She uses my words from that day. The day I told her I loved her.

Then, she takes me by the hand and leads us down the hall to my bedroom. I make no move to stop her. She gasps when she catches sight of the room. Her reaction makes all the trouble and expense worth it. Tessa lets go of me and walks to the nightstand to finger the petals. Scattered glass vases filled with white daisies sit on every flat surface throughout the room.

“Dante, it’s beautiful.” Her whole damn face lights up, and if I wasn’t already in love with her…I wouldn’t stand a chance.

Tessa isn’t the kind of woman who needs diamonds or those shoes with the red bottoms. She wants someone to put in the time. To make her feel like she’s worth the effort. Trevor never understood that about her.

“I missed you so fucking much.” I stalk toward her.

Slowly, she begins stripping out of her clothes. First, the sweater, followed by the boots, until she’s standing before me in nothing but a sheer black bra and matching thong. Candlelight bathes every subtle curve of her body.

“You take my breath away.” The pad of my thumb grazes her cheek, and I grow hard beneath my jeans. I lean in close and then drag my lips over hers, gently kissing her.

“Dante,” she says against my mouth.

“Tess,” I say into hers.

“I love you.”

I freeze, not sure if I heard her right. “What?”

Tessa flattens a palm against each cheek and tilts my head down, so our gazes meet. Then, she says, “Dante, I love you. I love you for so many reasons. How you quietly loved me and never acted on it. I can’t imagine how hard it was for you. I see it so clearly now. And, if you give me the chance, I’ll show you how much you mean to me. I’m in love with you.”

“I’ve waited too fucking long to hear you say those words. Do you have any idea what you do to me, baby? I love you so much.”

Her hands slide to the bottom of my shirt, and I lean down, so she can tug it off. Then, she frees me from my jeans and boxers. Tessa kneels in front of me, looking like an angel. My cock is hard, and I need to be inside her. I’m about to tell her as much when she wraps her hand around my base and covers my crown with her mouth.

My fingers tangle in her hair. “Baby, your mouth feels so good.”

She glides slowly up and down my shaft, swirling her tongue over my tip. She slides her hand to cup my balls and increases her suction on my dick.

“Fuck.”

It’s been too long, and she feels too good.

She’s in love with me, which means she’s mine, and the first time I come will not be in her mouth.

“Baby, get up. Not like this. I want to be inside you.”

Tessa sucks even harder before finally releasing me with a pop. I help her stand, back her against the bed, and then reach behind her to unclasp her bra. I bend my head and run my tongue over one pebbled nipple and then the other.

“Dante?” Her word is breathy.

“What is it, baby?”

“I’m yours.”

Those two words hit me straight in the heart. “Tess…” I’m at a loss.

I drag her panties down and toss them aside. My hands move to the backs of her legs and tug her ass to the edge of the bed. Dropping to my knees, I spread her open and slide my tongue up her slit. “I forgot how good you tasted.”

Smooth pink lips, her scent—everything about her is so damn sexy.

Her fingers run through my hair, and when I suck her clit, she digs her nails into my scalp. “You’re so damn good at that,” she moans.

I want to bring her to the brink but not tip her over it. When I come, I’ll be inside her, and I want us to do it together. I insert two fingers and continue the assault with my tongue. When she starts to ride my hand, I pull out my fingers and get up.

She growls in frustration.

“Do I need a condom?”

“No.” She shifts her body to the head of the bed.

I climb onto the mattress and spread her legs wide before positioning my cock at her entrance. Bracing my weight on my forearms, I push inside her and then pull almost all the way out before repeating the motion. Every time my bare cock sinks into her warm pussy feels fucking incredible.

“Dante. Harder. Please.”

“Hold on, baby.” I drive into her, causing her to cry out.

“Ah.”

Her nails dig into my back as I thrust into her. It doesn’t take long before I’m close.

“Use your fingers to rub your clit, baby.”

One hand leaves my back and drifts to her pussy. “Yes. Oh God. Dante.”

I feel her walls tighten. “Are you close?”

“So close.”

My mouth is on hers, hot and demanding. Tangling tongues and gnashing teeth. Her pussy clenches around my cock, and I arch my back and thrust hard and deep. Seconds later, I explode inside her.