He lifted me off the step, his mouth frantic, stealing kisses as if worried I’d disappear. He got me on my feet and walked me backward, his arm around my body, keeping me close to his chest. He fumbled with the door, got it open, and kept his mouth on me as we made our way into the living room. He didn’t hesitate, pushing me toward Laurent’s bedroom.

“Hey D.”

The guy on the couch mumbled the greeting and Dario ignored him, nipping at my bottom lip before devouring my neck, his hands feverishly working under the hem of my sweatshirt and dipping under the waist of the pants. I leaned my head back, closing my eyes at the feel of his tongue against my neck, a delicious combination of suction and aggression that had my body twitching in anticipation.

In three steps we were through the door to Laurent’s room and he was kicking the door shut and pushing me toward the bed, his eyes dark with arousal. “I need you so fucking bad.”

I ripped off the sweatshirt, and he hooked his fingers in my sweatpants and worked them over my hips. I reached for his jeans, and he straightened, watching as I parted his fly and dragged down the zipper. I stared at the hard outline of his cock, hanging to the right side, and ran my fingers over the cotton, then gripped him through the fabric.

“Come on, Bell. Touch it.”

I pulled the black fabric down, exposing the top of his shaft, thin veins bulging, his olive skin tight. I glanced up at him. His eyes were dark with need, his features pinched, gaze tight on me. I pulled the fabric lower, till his cock broke free and bobbed out. When I gripped it, he groaned. The beautiful organ was swollen, the head glistening with a drop of precum. I leaned forward and captured the drop with my tongue, an action that caused his thighs to twitch under my palms, his legs parting a little to give me better access.

“Suck it. Please.”

I heard a rumble of voices from the carport and ignored them, my knees hitting the carpet, my hand fisting his thick shaft. I lowered my head and began to work my lips over his head, my tongue against the underside, my cheeks hollowing as I increased the suction.

He hissed, his fingers tightening on my hair and he enjoyed the sensation for several minutes before pulling me off and nodding to the bed. “Get on your knees. Bent over.”

I scrambled back, turning around, finding my way across the dark surface, dimly lit by the moonlight coming in the window. My elbows hit the mattress, ass in the air.

He left my panties on and ran a hand over the curve of my butt, sliding a hand under the cotton and taking a leisurely tour over my ass cheeks. I peeked back and saw his cock jutting out, the thick head of it swinging through the air between his muscular thighs. His grip tightened. “Fuck, I missed you.”

I felt his fingers slide along the edge of my panties, pushing the fabric into my crack, my ass cheeks exposed, his touch roaming over their bare surface.

“I’ve needed you.” His hand slid down, talented fingers playing over my damp opening, moves that had my back arching, a moan slipping out. He kept me on my knees, but yanked at the cotton of my panties, pulling them over my ass and down my legs, and I was naked.

I swallowed. “I’m so glad you are here.”

His forefingers pushed in between my folds, just an inch of penetration, and my composure buckled. I gasped out his name and he leaned forward, running his hand up my stomach and cupping my bare breasts, squeezing them as he worked his fingers in and out of me.

“Roll over for me.”

I obeyed, loose and needy, my legs tumbling over his arms as he continued the casual manipulation of my most sensitive area. He ripped open a condom package and worked it on as I tightened around his finger, my orgasm building, my G-spot swelling, and fell flat on my back. He lifted one of my ankles to his shoulder, watched my face as the orgasm approached, then delicately delivered the sweetest pleasure in the world.

My back arched, my hands clawed in an attempt to reach him, and he rolled a wet digit over my clit as he fucked me with his fingers, the orgasm blindingly sharp. Waves of intensity hit, my cries growing louder, and the angles changed as he crawled on top and silenced me with his mouth.

God, I’ve missed his kiss. The domination of it, the surrender of everything as I yielded to the strong sweeps of his tongue, the give and take of his power, the raw energy that fueled my arousal and built everything to a higher degree. When we kissed, I felt more alive, more vulnerable, more protected, more afraid. I kissed him and was terrified I would never feel this way again. I kissed him and—

He pulled his fingers from me and I whimpered, needing more, the orgasm not yet done. I clawed at his shoulders, and then he thrusted forward, his cock pushing in, and I was whole.

Better than whole. He drove deeper, his cock almost painful in its girth, and I fell apart, the orgasm sinking, tremors of pleasure quaking as it disappeared and a guttural need to be dominated took its place.

“Harder.” I grunted the word, my nails digging into his back, my mouth took again by his kiss, this time rougher, our teeth hitting, tongues colliding, breaths panting as he rocked his hips back and slammed forward, the depth causing a sharp pain. He groaned and I swore, crying out for more.

In between the blur of his thrusts, the waves of the pleasure, the intensity of the expanding energy ... I saw glimpses of him. His abs tensed. A bicep braced. His eyes, tight on the place where our bodies met. His cock, slick and stiff, sliding out of me, then back inside.

It was raw. It was primal. It was a punishment and a salve, all at once. I took his furious motions and needed every thrust of it.

I rolled over, sticky from his come, and rested my head on his chest.

His hand settled on my head. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” I closed my eyes, my limbs cooperating as he hauled me higher on his body, my legs intertwined with his, our torsos now stacked on top of each other.

“I’m so sorry, Bell.” His voice cracked, and I lifted my head until I could see the misery on his face. It was a look that broke my heart.

I crawled higher up his chest until our faces were level, and I kissed his cheek, his forehead, his nose. “Don’t apologize.”

“Just let me. I can’t—” He sighed. “I can’t say it to Gwen, let me at least say it to you.”

I paused above his mouth, then slowly lowered my lips to his and kissed them softly. When I pulled off, he met my eyes for one of the first times all night.

“I forgive you,” I whispered.

It was a stupid thing to say. I was as much to blame for this as he was. We had both been selfish, and she had been the one to suffer for our sins. Still, the words seemed to do something to him. His face cleared, the pain a little less etched in those strong features. He pulled me closer, and I lay atop his body, my hand over his heart, comforted by the heavy thud of the organ.

I closed my eyes and wanted to stay in the moment forever.

I woke up as I was moved. My legs lifted and manipulated. A hand gripped my waist. I tried to sit up and my knee jabbed into something that cursed.

“Ouch.”

“What’s going on?” I allowed myself to be pulled upright.

Dario worked the sweatpants back over my hips. “I can’t find your panties.”

My eyes adjusted to the dim light and I pointed out the pair, then helped him with my shirt and sweatshirt, the sleep daze evaporating. “Are we going somewhere?”

He sat down on the bed beside me. “I’ve got to get back to Vegas. I could only skip out on jail for the one night.”

He kissed me on the forehead and it became abundantly clear that this was it, he was about to leave, and I’d be alone with my thoughts again.

I pulled on his hand. “Take me with you.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. It’s not safe for you, in Vegas.”

I followed him to the door, my anxiety growing. “Can’t you just surround me with guards and lock me away somewhere?”

He stopped and turned to face me. “I don’t trust my guys. I don’t trust anyone right now except for this group.”

He jabbed a finger in the direction of the poker game, which had fallen silent. “I know you’re safe here. And that’s the only thing keeping me sane right now.”

I frowned, and he pulled me to him. “It won’t be much longer, I promise. We’re closing in on Gwen’s father. I have a plan.”

“It was definitely her father?” I was afraid to ask if he was wrong. Afraid to think about the fact that there might be someone else out there that might want me—or Gwen—dead.

His face tightened. “Yes.” His voice grew strained. “He all but admitted it to me, before he found out he had Gwen killed by accident.” He leaned forward and kissed me, a quick hard brush of lips that didn’t ease my panic.

I reluctantly let go as he moved away. “I…” I wanted to say so many things. I wanted to thank him for coming. I wanted to tell him that I would be fine without him, even though it felt like a lie. I watched him lace up his shoes and ached at the pain that lined his face. He had so much on him right now. Gwen’s death. My safety. I straightened my shoulders and fought to keep the weakness out of my voice. “I don’t want you to worry about me.” I moved off the bed. “I’m fine here. Bored stiff. I feel guilty. But…” my voice warbled slightly. “I’m fine. Just focus on your stuff.”

He stood and stepped forward, meeting me in the middle of the dark room. The bathroom lamp lit his features, and I could see the way his gaze searched mine. “I hate abandoning you out here, but it’s for your own—”

I stopped him with a kiss. “I know. And I’m fine. I just wish…” Emotions welled and I struggled to tamper them down. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “About her.”

His mouth crumbled a little, the edge of his lips breaking before he pinned them together and brusquely nodded. “It wasn’t us, Bell. Her father… he did this. Not us. Don’t let yourself take on that burden.”

I nodded tightly, and his face softened.

“It’s hard for me, because I imagine, if it had been you, how differently I would feel. And that makes me feel as if I’m disrespecting her—” He broke off the sentence with a swear. “It’s just hell, what you and I are in right now. But, I love you. Miss you.”

He pulled me forward and planted a soft kiss on my forehead. “I’ll see you soon.”

He opened the bedroom door, gave me one final look, and walked out.