Chapter Eight

“We should probably head out.” Dante turned to me later that evening after we’d rejoined his family in the main house.

“We’re not staying here?” I tilted my head.

“As much as I love my mother and she loves me…” He inched toward me, leaning closer to whisper into my ear. “I’m not so sure I want her overhearing us when I make you moan and scream out my name. And that’s exactly what you’ll be doing tonight.”

He pulled back, smiling a salacious smile at me, my heart rate picking up dramatically. I never knew what to expect with him. One minute, there would be a bit of vulnerability about him as he begged me to consider the possibility of a future. The next, he’d be the Dante I propositioned my first night here — dominant, powerful, compelling.

“A little confident of your capabilities, aren’t you?” I asked with a sly grin.

“Perhaps, but I haven’t heard you complaining yet.” He winked, then grabbed my hand, helping me up from the couch.

“Are you taking off?” Beatrice asked, standing from the reading chair.

“It’s been a long day.”

He glanced at me, protectively wrapping his arm around my shoulders. This morning seemed like ages ago now. It almost didn’t seem possible that, just mere hours earlier, I’d walked into Dante’s living room to see Brock standing there.

“We’ll be around all weekend,” he offered. “Stop by.”

Beatrice stood on her toes, kissing Dante on both cheeks. “I will. The kids would love to see you.”

“I’d like to see them, too.”

Beatrice hugged me, then we made our way through the room to say the rest of our goodbyes, promising to get together for breakfast on Monday before we headed back to Rome.

As we approached the foyer, Dante glanced over his shoulder, then stopped. “I’ll be right back,” he said, turning from me. “Just one minute.”

“Sure.”

I lingered in the entryway, peeking around the corner to see Dante standing by the staircase with his mother. There was something about the way he looked into her eyes, the way he leaned down and placed a kiss on each cheek, the way he rested his forehead on hers, drawing in a shaky breath. I’d never felt the love of a mother for a child or vice versa…until that moment.

I’d never thought much about having children of my own. I didn’t exactly have the best relationship with my own parents. I guess I didn’t want to repeat the cycle of disappointment. As I watched Dante share a tender moment with his mother, I entertained the idea for the first time, despite how absurd it truly was. A warmth flowed through me as I pictured Dante singing our child to sleep, teaching him or her Italian, walking into the kitchen on a Sunday morning to see them making pancakes together. The images were so real in my head, I could almost taste the vanilla and smell the butter.

“Are you okay?” Dante’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. I watched him hurry toward me, his brows drawn together in concern. “Your eyes…”

I blinked, wiping away a tear that had escaped. “It’s beautiful,” I commented with a small smile. “How much your mother loves you. How much you love her. I wish—”

He drew me into his embrace, cutting me off. “Don’t wish for things that are out of your control. I know you may not believe it, but everything happens for a reason. If you didn’t have the relationship you do with your parents, you may never have ended up on that plane a few days ago. Our paths never would have crossed.” He leaned back, peering into my eyes. “And we never would have had this.”

I shook my head, my eyes continuing to water. “What is this, Dante?”

He let out a simple laugh. “It’s fate.”

The beat of footsteps grew closer and we both snapped our heads up to see Gabriella approaching us.

“Eleanor.” She reached out as Dante released his hold on me. She enclosed me in her warm embrace, kissing my cheeks. “Just remember…” She pulled back, looking into my eyes. “No matter what course you choose, what is meant to be will be.”

I swallowed hard, unable to come up with any response. She squeezed my arms, then turned from us, heading toward the stairs.

“Mama, let me help you.” Dante rushed to her side, reaching for her arm.

She slapped his hand away. “I can handle these stairs. I’m not dead yet.”

He stepped back, the lines around his face creasing with worry as he watched her climb the winding staircase. I wondered why he was making such a fuss. Gabriella didn’t seem old and frail by any stretch of the imagination. She was perhaps in her sixties, but I knew plenty of people that age who were still very active.

“Buonanotte, tesoro mio,” she said when she reached the top of the landing.

“Buonanotte, mama,” Dante answered with a sigh, keeping his eyes trained on her until she disappeared down the hallway and we heard a door closing. Then he turned back to me, fixing his expression. “Ready?” He held his arm out toward me.

“Si.” I grabbed onto his elbow and he led me out of the house. The drive was quiet as Dante navigated the rustic country roads. This was the Italy I’d always imagined — rolling dirt roads lined with trees and vines, yellows and greens everywhere. It was quiet. It was peaceful. It was romantic. The air infused me with a sense of serenity.

After driving for about twenty minutes, Dante turned into a driveway. Once he entered a code into a keypad by the entrance, the wrought iron gates opened, allowing us access. He drove down a narrow dirt drive, around a bend, then up a hill.

“Wow,” I murmured in awe as a palatial brick building came into view. I’d been around money and power all my life, but had never seen anything so opulent. “Is this yours?”

“Si,” he said with a shrug, as if it were nothing.

“Wow,” I repeated.

“You like?” He lifted a brow as he put the car in park.

“I like. And I haven’t even seen the inside yet.”

“Well then, allow me to give you a tour.” He jumped out and ran around, helping me from the car before grabbing our bags.

When he opened the front door, permitting me to enter ahead of him, I blinked repeatedly, overwhelmed by the elegance surrounding me. It was as if old-world Italy had collided with modern luxury, but in the best way possible. I didn’t think houses like this existed in the real world. Everything was exactly as I would have imagined a villa in Italy would be — light-colored walls, neutral furniture, exposed brick and wood.

“Beatrice has a wonderful eye for design, don’t you think?”

I gaped at him. “She designed this?”

He nodded. “Yes. And my mother’s house. And my apartment in Rome.”

“Incredible,” I breathed, following him past the entryway, which made quite a statement with its vaulted ceilings, and into a large living area. My eyes were immediately drawn to the exposed light wood beams overhead, an accent of light brick on the large rounded archways separating the spacious rooms. Past the formal living area and through one of the archways was a TV room, library, and a game room. There was even a workout room and an indoor pool.

“Lilly loved to swim,” he said after finishing the tour of the lower level. There was a hint of melancholy in his voice before his expression brightened. “And so do a lot of my cousins’ kids. It gives them a way to blow off steam during the colder months. But there’s also a spa and pool outside, too, for when it’s warmer.”

“This house is spectacular.” I sauntered toward him, swaying my hips. My eyes grew more heated with each step I took. “But you haven’t shown me the best part yet.”

He shortened the distance, an electricity buzzing between us. “And what’s that?”

“The bedroom, Dante,” I replied firmly.

A devilish smile curved on his lips. “This way, mia cara.”

Clutching my hand in his, he led me to a staircase just off the entryway. With every step I took through his home, I marveled at how far Dante had come from his meager beginnings. He worked hard for everything he had. I never knew what that was like. Most people in my life, with the exception of Mila, had been handed everything, myself included. To say I was anxious at the prospect of returning to California and having to rebuild my life from scratch was certainly an understatement. But seeing how much Dante had been able to achieve, even with all the curveballs life had thrown at him, gave me hope I’d find my own way, too, whether or not he was by my side as I did so.

We slowed to a stop outside a light wood door at the end of the hallway. He pushed it open, a soft glow illuminating the room. I stepped inside, instantly surrounded by serenity and comfort. A four-poster bed sat in the center of the room, sheer linens draped over the canopy. Just past that was a sitting area by the fireplace. I could picture myself curling up in one of those chairs during the cooler months, a fire in the hearth warming me. But that wasn’t what took my breath away. It was the view from the French doors.

I padded toward them, unlocking them and stepping onto the balcony. Rolling hills spread out in front of me, the almost full moon lighting acres of vineyards. I’d never seen anything so gorgeous, so heavenly, so…perfect. It was as if Dante had peered into my imagination and constructed my dream home.

He approached, brushing my hair over my shoulder. His lips delicately met my skin, causing a shiver of anticipation to trickle down my spine, my heart rate picking up. My eyes fluttered closed as I basked in his proximity, his touch, his essence.

His hand trailed down the contour of my frame, settling on my hip. Tightening his hold, he tugged me against him, my pulse skyrocketing as I gasped. The sudden change from the gentle, tender lover to the dominating, controlling man I thought him to be when we first met momentarily took me by surprise.

I spun around, meeting his wanton stare. His chest heaved as he seemed to undress me with his eyes, ripping every last protective barrier to shreds, leaving me completely exposed and unguarded. Dragging my tongue along the curve of my mouth, I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him toward me, but he resisted, a coy smile crossing his face.

“Is this the way you want to play it?” I mused in a sultry tone. “You want to play hard to get?” Chewing on my lower lip, I released my hold on him. “Because I’m here to tell you, Signor Luciano…”

My fingers found his tie and tightened, tugging him as I walked backwards from the balcony into the master bedroom, keeping my eyes glued to his. He remained silent, his powerful expression unmoving, giving nothing away.

“When I see something I want, I stop at nothing until I have it.” I smiled flirtatiously as I repeated his words from earlier. Raising myself onto my toes, I leaned into him, sweeping my lips against the stubble on his jaw. “And I want you,” I murmured.

As I began to loosen his tie, he swiftly grabbed my wrist, his lust-filled eyes searing my skin. “Not yet.” He shook his head. “Not until I say so.”

Freeing myself from his hold, I stepped back and gave him the look I reserved for the courtroom or a negotiation when I wanted to make it apparent I wasn’t one to be messed with. “You’ve been in control since we met.” I walked away from him, glancing over my shoulder as I stopped in front of a reading chair.

“And while I certainly love the way it makes me feel…” I lifted my foot onto the chair, leisurely running my hands down my leg, taking my time, torturing Dante with each drawn-out second. “The way it makes my skin yearn for your touch…”

I loosened the buckle on my wedge sandal, sliding it off my foot and dropping it to the floor before switching legs, teasing Dante even more as I caressed the other leg. His fists clenched, his chest rising and falling in a quicker pattern. I tossed the other sandal to the side, then straightened, slowly lowering the zipper of my sundress.

“The way my body is starved for yours…” I ran my fingers down the contours of my frame, pushing the sundress off my body. My eyes fluttered closed as I imagined my hands were Dante’s. And as much as I wanted them to be, I wanted this more. The seduction. The torture. The heat in his eyes as I returned my gaze to his, the animalistic craving unmatched.

“It’s my turn,” I finished, my voice almost a growl as I sauntered toward him clad only in pink lace panties and matching bra. “I’m in charge now.” I raised myself onto my toes, running my tongue along his neck before pulling back and meeting his stare. “And if I say it’s time for you to lose the clothes, that means it’s time to lose the clothes.”

I had difficulty reading him, unsure whether he liked this role reversal between us. I had no idea what had come over me. I’d never been this confident or bold in the bedroom before. Then again, I’d never been with a partner who allowed me to be free to explore and experiment, who wouldn’t make me feel ashamed for my wants and needs. I’d never felt so comfortable with somebody before. And I wanted to give Dante everything he’d given me in the short time we’d known each other.

“God, that’s hot.” He gripped my hips, yanking me against him. His need for me was unmistakeable.

I quickly freed myself from his grasp, shaking my head. “Tsk. Tsk. Tsk,” I pouted. “No touching unless I say so.”

“You should know, Eleanor…” He advanced toward me. “I’ve never been good at following direction.” Before I could react, he crushed my body to his, his mouth covering mine, his kiss greedy, insatiable, voracious. Despite wanting to play hard to get, I couldn’t resist the feel of this man devouring me. I moaned into him, sparks igniting as his hands roamed my body.

Panting, I pulled out of the kiss, nibbling on his bottom lip. “Bad boy,” I teased.

“What can I say? I like breaking the rules.” He lowered his mouth back to mine, leaving me with a simple kiss. “If you want to be in charge, you’re in charge.” He stepped away. “I’m yours to do with as you desire.”

Butterflies flitted in my stomach at the thought. While I knew I had a lot to learn in the bedroom, that didn’t matter to me. I was with someone who would never judge me, who would guide me, help me figure out what I liked. And as much as I loved when Dante was in control, a part of me was alive with the notion of being the one calling the shots.

Straightening my spine, I sauntered toward where he stood by the bed. I pushed his jacket off his broad shoulders, then loosened his tie, tossing it to the floor. My eyes glued to his impassioned gaze, I slowly unbuttoned his dark dress shirt. With each button, his breathing increased, my fingers subtly grazing against the taut flesh of his chest. This man was the epitome of perfection, at least for me. Olive-toned skin. Chiseled physique. Sculpted abs that ended in a V, which disappeared into his pants.

I lowered myself down his body, relishing in the taste and feel of his warm skin on my lips. When I got to his waist, I knelt and unbuckled his belt. Unzipping his pants, I palmed his erection through his boxer briefs.

“Eleanor,” he moaned, his eyes glued to mine as I freed him, stroking him. My lips parted, my tongue darting out as I gradually took him into my mouth, tasting the bit of pre-cum that had settled on his tip.

“Do you like that?” I asked, feeling emboldened.

He reached down, wrapping my hair around his fist. “You have no fucking idea, baby.” He moved his hips with the rhythm I set, his grip on my hair tightening as his breathing grew heavier. “God, Eleanor.” Groaning, his eyelids fluttered closed as a look of ecstasy built on his face. “Don’t leave me,” he begged, his firm voice softening. “Don’t ever leave me.”

“Never,” I breathed. I gradually increased my motions, then pulled back, repeating the same torturous rhythm over and over.

“Touch yourself,” Dante ordered, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Please,” he added, remembering I was the one in control.

Unable to deny him anything, I trailed one hand down my body, his eyes glued to me as I continued fucking him with my mouth. I spread my legs, my hand disappearing into my panties, moaning when I ran my fingers against my wetness. I’d never been so turned on in my life, afraid so much as a whisper of a touch against my center would make me fall apart.

“Fuck,” Dante hissed, increasing his motions. When his chest began heaving, I knew he was on the brink of coming undone. I lightly bared my teeth as I slid a finger inside me, my brain a slave to the erotic and addicting pleasure flowing through me.

“I’m going to come,” he muttered, biting his lip.

“Me, too.” I ran my tongue across his length before taking him into my mouth once more.

He moved against me with even more urgency. I matched him with frantic and erratic motions. He gripped my head, thrusting into me, his entire body tightening before he released into my mouth, my own body quivering as an orgasm unlike any I’d ever given myself consumed me.

Suddenly, Dante yanked me to my feet. His tongue plunged into my mouth before I even had a chance to catch my balance, momentarily stealing the breath from me. Every one of his kisses seemed to consume me, body and soul. This kiss was no different. But with each kiss, I knew I’d have one less. One less sweep of his tongue. One less brush of his hand. One less flutter of my heart.

I tore away, licking my lips. Then I brought my hand up to his mouth. “Suck,” I ordered.

Without breaking his gaze from mine, he took two fingers into his mouth, swirling his tongue around them, the feel of him lighting me on fire once more. I ripped my fingers away before he made me come by that alone. It sounded impossible, but with Dante, I’d learned anything was possible.

“You taste delicious,” his voice broke through. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to him, his growing erection twitching against me. He ran his tongue along my jawline. “I want to bury my cock in you, baby.”

Pulling away, I gave him a coquettish look. “Ready so soon?” I teased.

“I’m always ready for you. Do you have any idea how difficult tonight was?” He moved toward me, reaching around me to unfasten my bra. “All I wanted to do was haul you into one of the bedrooms upstairs and make you scream…” He hooked his fingers into my panties, yanking them down. “And I wouldn’t have given a fuck who heard you.”

Stepping out of my underwear, I placed my hand on his chest, pushing him onto the mattress. I climbed on top of him as he pulled himself to the head of the bed. “Then make me scream now.” I grabbed his now hard arousal and lowered myself onto him, pausing to get acclimated to his size, my motions slow.

“Come on, baby.” Dante grabbed my hips, moving me up and down on him. “Ride me like I know you want to.”

“Fuck,” I breathed as I dug my nails into his skin, moving against him with more fervor, more want, more exhilaration. I didn’t think I’d ever tire of hearing the things that came out of this man’s mouth. I doubted I’d ever meet anyone again who could make me fall apart from his words alone.

“That’s right.” His eyes seared me, our gaze unwavering as I climbed higher and higher, my pulse increasing. Before I met Dante, I didn’t think having an orgasm during sex without any help was possible. Now I knew I was simply with the wrong person…in more ways than one. With each second that passed, each shiver down my spine, each toe-curling sensation filling me with warmth, I had difficulty imagining my life without this man in it.

“Are you close?” he asked when he noticed my breathing grow labored.

“Yes,” I exhaled. My chest heaved as the fire spread through me. I raked my hands down his body, his flesh reddening under my harsh touch.

“Try to hold on, baby. I want to come with you.”

Biting my lower lip, I nodded, struggling against my orgasm as Dante tightened his hold on my hips, forcing me against him with an unparalleled need. I closed my eyes, unsure how much longer I’d be able to reel in the pleasure wanting to be set free.

“Look at me, Eleanor.”

I peered into his fiery eyes. He cupped my face in his hands, bringing my head closer to his.

“I want you to see me,” he panted.

“I do see you,” I answered with a slight quiver. He was all I saw. Nothing else. Not my past. Not my future. Just Dante. Just this moment. Just this feeling. “Only you.”

“Only you,” he repeated. His stare became carnal, animalistic, wanton, his lips parting. I felt his body tighten below me and I knew he was on the brink of unraveling. I lowered my mouth, hovering over his, our breath intermingling. “Let go, Eleanor.”

I increased my rhythm, an explosion of light blinding me as I screamed out his name. Grabbing the back of my neck, he plunged his tongue into my mouth, his body jerking and shaking in time with mine.

Gradually slowing my motions, I moaned into him, overwhelmed with ecstasy, euphoria…happiness. I ran my hands through his hair, kissing him slower, deeper, more fully as I rolled onto my back, bringing him with me, our lips never parting.

Nothing in my life ever seemed right. Nothing in my life ever made sense. Nothing in my life ever brought me true joy. I’d grown complacent, content to simply do what was expected of me instead of following my own ambitions. Until Dante. He’d opened my eyes and heart to what I’d been missing. To how life should be. To what happiness felt like. How could I possibly go back to my old life after this?