Page 29 of Tainted Love

Dante steps forward and raises a rough hand to my cheek. His thumb traces a line from the center of my lip to the bottom of my jaw before he leans in closer. I freeze in place, unable to even breathe as his lips caress mine, pursing softly for several long, smooth seconds. Pleasure ignites in my womb, sending a thousand tiny tremors down my thighs.

“Thank you,” he whispers, our lips barely touching.

“Don’t mention it,” I squeak.

“Come on.” Dante pulls the door open and waits for me to step out first.

Oh, yeah. Sure.

I can totally walk after that.

Chapter 10

Dante

I’d hoped it was all a fluke.

Just a sudden, random feeling brought on by something keenly supernatural. Or food poisoning. Something other than the insatiable desire overwhelming the bloodlust deep inside of me.

Lucy Vaughn. Whoever she is. Whatever she is. She’s better than anything else I’ve ever done, everything I’ve ever tasted.

Spencer is right to worry.

Especially after seeing her in that dress.

“Right this way, Mr. Hart.”

The petite hostess gestures for us to follow, firing a pleasant smile at me before twisting around to show off her ass. I ignore it and gaze at Lucy instead, admiring the gorgeous gown hugging her taut, athletic curves.

Her pupils expand as she scans the entryway with curious fascination. It’s clear a fancy place like this is well outside the realms of her monthly budget.

I snatch her hand and she jerks her head toward me in surprise. “Come on…”

She lets me lead her into the main sitting room. The lighting shifts and shadows grow taller the farther away we travel from the entryway. It’s a gentle, romantic atmosphere. Every table is occupied, save the handful scattered about with Reserved signs hovering between the twin candles of the centerpieces. No one speaks much louder than a whisper across their tables, but I suspect that has more to do with choice than a requirement.

“This is fucking nice.”

I chuckle at her comment, noting the side-eyes jerking in Lucy’s direction as we pass the tables by. I squeeze her hand, nudging her to pick up her pace as the hostess swings around a table and gestures that it’s ours.

“Your server will be right with you,” she says, her voice an octave or two higher than normal in that forced-hospitality way.

“Thank you,” I tell her.

I let go of Lucy’s hand and reach for a chair, sliding it out for her to sit down. Of course, she raises an amused brow and sits down in the opposite chair instead.

“You know…” I smile and take my seat. “Last night may not have been a date, but tonight… you should really cut a gentleman some slack.”

She holds back a grin. “Well, I may not be the only one who needs to revisit the laws of chivalry. Last I checked, a gentleman usually knocks instead of breaking and entering into a lady’s private residence.”

“No, that’s allowed,” I say. “It only would have been rude if I peeked in on you while you were changing.”

She pauses. “Did you?”

“No.”

“Oh, well!” She sits back, smirking with sarcastic delight. “I guess we’re okay, then.”

“Good.”

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