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“I need to know if Maddoc meant it when he told Austin McKenna that you guys aren’t going to go after Chloe’s inheritance,” I say, my heart pounding. “Have things changed?”
He gives me a long, assessing look. “Shit’s been changing here since the moment you walked through these doors, princess.”
That’s still not an answer. “Did he mean it?” I press.
“Today was the first I’d heard about a change in plans,” Dante says, making my heart sink. But then his lips tilt up, his eyes softening in a way that warms me all the way through as he adds, “But when it comes to you, Maddoc always says what he means. It’s been that way from the start.”
I blink. Has it? Even after Maddoc betrayed me, after I fucking shot him, he’s always insisted that he never lied to me. And… he hasn’t. Not that I know of. He’s pissed me off. Hurt me and betrayed me. But everything he’s ever told me, he’s followed through on.
Everything.
My throat tightens, a wave of emotion all but choking me. Oh god, Dante’s right. Maddoc did mean it.
I instinctively try to protect myself, ducking my head and looking away as I blink fast to clear the hot prickle of tears that threatens to expose me.
Dante doesn’t let me get away with that. He tips my chin back up and tucks my hair behind my ear, those vibrant green eyes of his—as compelling as anything he’s ever put on a canvas—staring into mine like he can see right into my soul.
I’m completely exposed to him, and I’ve never felt so vulnerable… or so completely okay with that.
“Don’t be so surprised, princess,” Dante says with a smile that feels like a promise, a secret shared just between the two of us. “You’re too damn sharp not to have caught on by now.”
“Caught on to what?” I ask, swaying toward him. Resting my hands on his chest and then sliding them up to his shoulders.
He cups the back of my head, cradling it in one of his big, callused hands while his other one settles around my throat, tipping my face up toward his. “I’ve been telling you this whole time, you’re different. You affect us. All of us. Did you think I was the only one here who’s been catching feelings for you? ’Course Maddoc’s gonna do right by you.”
I suck in a sharp breath, his words landing on the rough tangle of emotions inside me like a spark on dry tinder. They’re not the only ones with trust issues. But then Dante smiles down at me and the spark catches, and everything that’s twisted me up all day and held me back from believing I can actually have what I want with these men goes up in flames.
Dante smooths his fingers over my throat. “Princess?”
“Shut up,” I say, all my doubts turning to ashes.
And then I kiss him.
27
RILEY
I may have beenthe one to start it, but Dante takes over the minute our lips touch. Heownsmy mouth, taking the kiss from spontaneous to scorching so fast that I’m left reeling. And then it gets even hotter. He breaks away just long enough to pull his shirt over his head and toss it aside, then he shoves mine up too, so we’re skin to skin with one of his hands down my pants and the other back around my throat.
“More,” I pant into his mouth, grinding against his body as he takes mine apart.
Dante chuckles, a low, sensual vibration I feel all the way through me, and delivers. Sucking and licking. Biting and soothing. Driving me crazy when he shoves a hard thigh between my legs to give my aching, wet pussy something to grind against.
I get lost in heat and hunger and passion, and when he tugs on my hair, tilting my head back and exposing my neck as he forces us both to come up for air for a moment, I have no idea how much time has passed.
I don’t care, either.
“Damn, princess. You taste better every fucking time,” he says with a dirty grin.
“You sure about that?” I ask, getting another low, rumbling laugh against sensitive skin in reply.
He grips my throat again, just tight enough to send a bolt of pure fire down to my core. “I’m sure.” His eyes bore into mine as my pulse flutters madly against his palm. “But maybe I should keep checking just to be positive, yeah?”
“Fuck yes,” I breathe out, then make a sinful sound when he leans down and licks a long stripe up my neck. I can’t resist teasing him a little, though, so I add, “Unless you want to get back to your painting.”
“Good idea,” he says, rolling his hips against me so I can feel how hard his shaft is. “You remember how you painted in here with me before?”
He’s got me mostly undressed now, but still has too much on himself. And by too much, I mean his jeans.
