Page 48 of Psychotic Nightmares

“I do love you, Dante.” Her hands wrap around my neck, her fingers play with my hair. “I told Julian this morning I wanted to give us another go and I meant it.” So Julian was telling the truth. “At first he seemed to be okay with it. Until I guess he wasn’t. When he freaked out over me going for breakfast with you guys. I don’t know how he is going to react on finding out…” Her expression saddens.

“I know.” I sigh. Julian is crazy, crazy enough to kill me if it means getting Natalie to himself.

“He said he doesn’t want to know who my ex is, but I’m fighting with myself. It’s not fair to keep it from him. You’re his best friend, Dante, it'snot fair. I’ve tried to tell him a few times, and he’s stopped me every time.” She gazes into the distance for a moment, deep in thought. I take a few precious seconds to memorize every detail of her face. She’s right, it’s not fair. To any of us. It’s a completely fucked up situation, and I know I shouldn’t want her, I shouldn’t need her like I do.

Fuck I’m so confused.

“Even so,” her lips lift in the corner, giving me a genuine smile. “I know I want you.” She tilts her face, I find myself lowering my own face to hers. “This is going to be a dangerous situation.” She whispers. Her breath tickles my lips as she speaks.

“Very.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t then.” Her nose brushes against mine.

“Maybe we shouldn’t.” I repeat, leaning just a little closer. Her eyes flutter closed. “But…”

“Who fucking cares.” I hear the smile in her voice.

“Exactly.” I crush my lips to hers. Fuck I’ve missed her. Her lips are still just as soft and sweet as they were five years ago. The quiet moans she does hasmy cock hardening in my jeans. It’s uncomfortable but I don’t care. Her nails dig into my scalp, our tongues dance sensually. The kiss is needy, wanting, and brings me back to life, like I’ve been a walking zombie the last five years, just going through the motions and waiting for her kiss to bring me back to the living. My stomach twists itself into knots with nerves, excitement, andlove. The love I felt back then and the love I feel for her now. She brings her hands down, her fingers start fiddling with the hem of my tee. Her nails scratch along my stomach, then up to my chest. Feeling every inch of skin she can like she wants to memorize my body. I follow her lead, soaking up every bit of her slender frame with my hands. I can’t lose her again, not now she has awoken my heart once more. “Gattina,fuck.” I groan between kisses, “you’re perfect.” I kiss down her jaw to her neck. Her breaths come in quick short pants as my lips graze her sensitive skin between her neck and shoulder. “Mia moglie.” I whisper.

“You know, I kept my promise and never found out what that means.”

“Good.” I smile. The first time I said it to her I quickly covered my mouth and asked her not to translate it. I would’ve been so embarrassed if she did. When she agreed I kept calling her it.My little secret. I’ll let her know what it means when the time comes. I capture her lips with mine, this time the kiss is slower, more romantic, more tense. The atmosphere shifts, no longer filled with the fun kind of sexual tension, but rather with something deeper, more loving. The same tension as when we declared our love to each other for the first time. My chest feels heavy, I want to tell her how I feel with my words, not just my actions just like she did me, but I can’t. I can’t say those three little words, because then it becomes something real. Something I won’t be able to take back. Something Julian can hold over my head for the rest of my life.

She starts to lean back, pulling me with her. My core presses against hers, resulting in a shaky moan escaping from her. I need to hear it again. Pulling herup, I place one hand on her back and use the other to hold her thigh. She lifts her chin, exposing her neck. I lick and nip it, feeling delighted when she moans her quiet moans. This is dangerous, so fucking dangerous. If we do this, there’s no turning back. I lift her from the countertop, spin and pin her against the wall, lifting her just a little higher so her chest is at my eye level. Her hardened nipples are visible through my tee, I close the gap and take one in my mouth through the fabric.

“Fuck.” She breathes. I wait to feel any type of anxiety or fear from her. I don’t sense any, instead she grabs my hair and kisses me again. “Dante,” she breathes, “Amore mio.” God I love it when she speaks my native language to me. “Can we slow down?”

“Of course.” I lower her to the floor, she stays against the wall. Leaning against it, I place my arms on either side of her head. “Sorry.”

She shakes her head. “Don’t be.” She grins. “I just don’t want to go too far right now. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want.” She bites her lip.

“I want you, kitten. No matter how long it takes.” I tell her truthfully. “Even if you never feel comfortable with sex again, I wouldn’t care. As long as I get to hold you.” I caress the back of her neck and brush her lips lightly with mine. “As long as I get to kiss these sweet lips.” I use my finger to writeti amoacross her stomach, “as long as I get you. That is enough for me,gattina.”

Her lips quiver, “Dante.”

“And if you want time. I’ll wait for you. I won’t kidnap her like a certain someone.” Her eyes meet mine. “Trust me, Nat.”

“I do.” She wraps her arms around my middle and leans her head against my chest. “You’re the only one I’ve ever fully trusted.” She sniffs. “I thought I trusted Julian but…”

“Julian has issues,kitten.” I kiss her hair. “But he loves hard. I believe he does have genuine feelings for you, but those feelings overflowed into obsession.”

“Just a little.” She huffs. “Do you think he knows I’m here?” Jerry-Lee starts barking at the banging against the door. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

fourteen

Julian

He took her, he took my treasure. I need to get her back, and I havejust the leverage to do so.

Fifteen

Natalie

We get down the stairs just as Julian bursts through the door. Pea is already there, gun aimed at his face, little Nico is nowhere to be found though, neither is Jerry-Lee. Maybe Pea put them both in a safe place?I sure fucking hope so.

Dante pushes me behind him, his arms tense and shaky. I’m still breathless and in a little shock from our heated kiss, I look down and notice the wet patch on the top from where Dante sucked at my nipple.Shit. Pea notices, pulls her jacket from the coat hook and hands it to me. I give her a grateful look, then admire the thought she never lowered her gun.

“Found you.” Julian smiles. “Come on, treasure. Let’s go home.” He holds out his hand, speaking to me like he didn’t kidnap me off the street this morning. “I have a surprise for you.” I wrap the jacket tighter around my shivering body. I’m not sure why my body won’t stop trembling. Fear maybe?