Page 50 of Hearts Of Darkness

“Hey, good-lookin’,” I say with a smile, sliding my palm down the length of his nose.

“Say that to any other man and they’ll be trouble.”

Tramposa whickers in recognition as Dante hooks his elbows over the stable door beside me.

“You’re here!” I spin away from him in shock.

“So it would seem.”

He’s wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans that hang low off his hips, and there’s a five o’clock shadow grazing that uncompromising jaw of his. There’s no hint of an explanation for his two-day disappearance, but I stop caring when he turns his head my way and I see my lust mirrored back to me, tenfold, in his hard, brown eyes.

“I didn’t hear your jet land,” I mutter, offering up the remains of my apple to Tramposa who takes it greedily, plunging his muzzle into my outstretched palm. “When did you get back?”

“Early this morning.”

“And you didn’t think to come and find me?”

The corners of his mouth tilt at the accusation in my voice. “I had important business to attend to, and you,mi alma, are all pleasure.” His gaze drops to my chest, and a shiver of desire ripples through me.

“How was the trip?”

His expression changes. “Fuck the trip.”

Taking my arm, he pulls me into an empty stall next door and pins me against the wall. He doesn’t move to kiss me, though. Instead, he wraps his fingers around my throat, squeezing gently but with obvious intent, holding my whole damn life in his hands.

“Did he flirt with you?” he demands.

“Who?” I gasp out.

“That guard…Manuel.” His lips curl in distaste.

“He wasn’t flirting with me!”

A low growl escapes him. “I’ll slit his throat. Would you like to watch, my angel, and see what happens to strange men who talk to you behind my back?”

I’m scared. The light has completely vanished from his eyes. “Dante, stop! You’re being unreasonable—”

“He disrespected me. I need to set an example.” His grip tightens. White spots start dancing in my vision. “Follow my rules too, Eve, or suffer the consequences.”

“So, I’m to live a life of quiet solitude?” I croak. “I’m not allowed to speak to anyone in this shitty place for fear of your total overreaction?” I try to wrench his fingers from my throat, but it’s no good. As soon as we touch, that pull of electricity fuses us together.

“Not unless I allow it.” He inches closer, the burning heat of his erection nudging against my stomach. “Get on your knees,” he orders suddenly. “I’m fucking your mouth today.”

“Screw you!” I twist my head away, but his words are like a lit match to my core again. The muscles in my legs are twitching already. I’m so close to doing what he’s demanding of me, and only my pride is yanking on the brakes.

“I don’t ask twice for anything, Eve.”

“And I don’t obey your every order like some damn prostitute!”

He glares at me, rage contorting his beautiful features. “Goddammit!” he roars, dropping his hand from my throat.

I can feel the frustration pulsing through his body. He wants to force me, but he can’t bring himself to do it.Have I spotted a dim light gleaming in the shadows?

“Give me something in return,” I whisper. “You take and take. You’ve robbed me of my freedom, my family, my homeland. Give me your promise that one day you’ll set me free, and I’ll drop to my knees right now.”

“Negotiating like a true whore.” His beautiful mouthtwists with scorn. “You’re a walking contradiction, Eve. You surpass yourself every day.”

“You’re wrong. I’m negotiating like a woman trying to stay alive. What do you really want from me? You can’t love me. You’re not capable of it. In a few days or months, you’ll tire of this body. I can’t live my life waiting for that axe to fall. I’ll kill myself long before that happens.”

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