Page 85 of Savage Ambition

He grit his teeth. “It was a mistake.”

“Is that why your cock was harder than it’s ever been, and you came so hard you nearly passed out?”

“It was only sex,” he insisted, but his voice lacked conviction.

“If you say so.” I trailed my fingers along his buttoned shirt. “But we both know it was more than that. You cried my name, Dante. Not Lorenzo. Renato.”

His nostrils flared. “Don’t read too much into it. I’ve called out plenty of names during sex.”

“The difference is you meant mine.”

He shook his head. “You’re delusional.”

I reclaimed my position in his lap. His hands rested on my hips, betraying his words even as he glared at me. “And you’re terrified someone might see past all this bullshit and still want you.”

“Get off me,” he growled, but his hands groped my ass, pulling me closer.

I cradled the back of his head, my fingers threading through his hair. “Make me.”

His expression darkened with challenge, but instead of shoving me aside, he tightened his grip. “You think you’re so clever and irresistible that I can’t help myself.”

“Am I wrong?”

“Yes,” he lied, even as his body arched into my touch.

I pulled back to meet his gaze. “Your mouth says one thing, but your body tells me another. Which should I believe?”

“Neither.” His smile was sharp. “You should assume everything about me is a lie.”

“Except Raphael,” I said.

Dante’s fingers dug into my waist. “Don’t talk about him.”

I cupped his face, forcing him to meet my gaze. “Are you afraid I’ll use him against you?”

“Everyone uses whatever leverage they can get,” he said flatly. “That’s how the game is played.”

I shook my head. “Not by everyone. Not by me.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m not Salvatore,” I said firmly. “I’m not interested in owning you.”

His laugh was bitter. “Everyone craves dominion over something. Don’t pretend you’re different.”

“I don’t want to control you. I want to free you.” Pressing my forehead against his, our breath mingled.

Suspicion flickered in his eyes. “Who are you, really?”

“Someone who knows how to navigate organizations like Gennaro without getting caught.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s all you need for now.” I pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “The rest you’ll have to earn by trusting me.”

His fingers tightened in my hair. “Trust is a liability. What’s your angle?”

“You,” I answered simply. “All I want is you.”