“Just like that. This is scary shit. The kind of shit that’s forcing me to reframe everything that’s happened over the last few weeks. I didn’t know any of this before—but now I do.”
He doesn’t say anything for a second, just looks at me. “Well okay then.”
“I mean, not quite ‘okay then,’” I huff. “I’m still pissed that you kept all this from me and I’m not at all happy to find out that we’re tangled up with the mob, but…I guess I’m more relieved that you’ve finally decided to trust me with all this.”
Dante slips from his chair and gets down on one knee next to me. The warmth of his hand connects us as he slides his fingers through mine. “You can’t tell anyone about this. Not your sisters, not your mother. No one. If you need to talk about it, you talk to me.”
“I understand.”
His eyes narrow. “Really? It’s that easy?”
Slipping my hands around the back of his neck, I pull him closer. “Good things happen when you trust me, Dante. You keep forgetting that.”
Taking my chin in his hand, he pulls me in for a gentle kiss.
“I think I’m starting to remember.”
When he kisses me deeper, I slide my hands around the back of his neck and pull him closer. Dante scoops me out of the chair and holds me tight. Pressed to him. Suddenly, he lets go and steps back, looking at my middle like something terrible just happened.
“The—did I squeeze you too hard? Did I hurt the—”
I touch his cheek, laughing. “You felt the bump? It’s okay. You won’t hurt the baby.”
His brows knit together. “What about your back? How does your back feel?”
“Horny,” I blurt.
He barks out a laugh. “Is that so?”
“It is. And I’m not going to break from a few kisses. But this is really serious, Dante. I might die if you don’t take me upstairs right now and fuck me senseless.”
That gets another laugh out of him, but I keep my serious face on.
“I have a very serious medical condition which requires intense physical therapy. And special medicine. Maybe even—”
“No. Frankie. Don’t say it.”
“—an injection,” I finish.
I laugh as he shakes his head, then swoops me up in his arms, more gently this time. “That’s it,” he says warningly. “You’re going to get it for that horrible joke.”
“I can make up some more if it’ll help.”
He kisses me and carries me down the hall, then up the staircase. When we get to our room, he lays me on the bed and then steps back, eyes roving my body.
“Time to put your trust to the test.” His eyes gleam.
“Ohreally.” My heart lurches excitedly.
He strips my blouse off, and then my bra. My nipples perk at the cool rush of air. Instead of tossing my shirt onto the floor like he usually does, Dante twists it into a rope.
“Put your hands against the headboard.”
I do as he asks and he binds my wrists to one of the carved wood bedposts with my shirt.
“Comfortable?” he asks.
“Very,” I purr. I’m antsy with anticipation. We’ve never hadthiskind of fun before.
