Page 80 of Hearts Of Darkness

“He saved my life, Dante,” she says quietly once he disappears outside. “Can’t you try and tone down the irrational jealousy thing and be a little appreciative?”

“I’m appreciative of no man who gets to spend time with you,mi alma. No one except me.”

“Stop. Just stop.” Her head flops back against the leather seat as if she doesn’t have the strength to deal with my unreasonable behavior anymore. A knot of disquiet settles in my stomach. “How long until we’re airborne?” she asks.

There’s a pause. “I’m not coming with you.”

“What do you mean?”

I swing into the spare seat next to her. “My path lies to the east… Away from you.”

“But I thought we’d travel this part of the journey together?”

My fears evaporate when I look and see the devastation on her face. She’s trying hard to conceal it, but the color spreading across her slanting cheekbones tells me otherwise. She always blushes when she’s struggling to get a hold on her emotions.

“Then I guess this is goodbye.”

I force a grim smile to my lips. “It will never be goodbye for us. You know this.” I lean over and press my lips against hers, closing my eyes as I do, drinking in her unique scent. That knot of disquiet is moving up to my throat now.

Her fingers find the back of my neck, her lightest touch enticing me even closer until I’m pivoting the whole of my upper body to bask in her warmth. I press my chest againsthers, pinioning her to her seat with the strength of my lust.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her breath lacing my upper jaw.

“For what exactly?” I pull back to frown at her. “Holding a gun to your head, causing you and your family untold pain, or for kidnapping you twice?”

There’s another pause. “For bringing me back to life.”Andfuckif those aren’t the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.“I gave up everything when Ryan died. I shied away from love, from danger, from anything that might cause me pain. I know I can’t live like that anymore. You’ve opened my eyes to that, Dante. You’ve taken so much from me, but you’ve given me so much in return.”

My hand drops to the armrest of my seat, my fingernails digging deep into the leather. “Hold fast to that thought, Eve… I’m theonly onewho can open them wider.”

“Oh, yeah?” She forces a smile as I surge forward, catching her chin between my thumb and forefinger.

“Careful, my angel. Your acts of defiance will only lead to me bending you over this chair. I don’t care how fucking sore you are.”

“And yet, here I am, still fully clothed,” she taunts softly. “I better brush up on my disobedience skills before we meet again.”

I lick my lips and gaze down at the only woman I see; the only woman who holds all the cards with me, and the only one who ever will. “Really, Eve? Is this how you want to play it?”

I love corrupting her.

I love feeling her body tremble with desire beneath my touch.

“I’ll play any game you want me to, Dante, and I’ll love every minute of it.”

“Then I look forward to doling out your punishment in due course.”

She grins at me, and I feel myself sliding like an avalanche to an unknown destination. My dick is straining against the inside of my pants. I want nothing more than to fuck herinside outfor the second time today. Instead, I’m left tussling between my hunger and my conscience again. If I truly cared for her, I’d let her return to America and never resume contact, but I’m far too selfish a man to ever make that sacrifice.

I let go of her chin and run a finger down the smooth plane of her cheek. So soft, so innocent—Mine,I think savagely.

“As much as I applaud this newly re-acquired lust for life, Eve, I need you to stay out of trouble. Keep my knife close to your heart. You’ll be under surveillance all hours of the day and night. If Emilio so much as breathes your way—”

“I guess that means no hot dates, then.” Her grin widens.

“Not unless you want their deaths on your conscience.”

We stare at each other, a single moment frozen in time. Our faces are barely inches apart as I soak up every dimple and curve. I’m fighting all my instincts to let her go. It might be months,years, before we see each other again, but there won’t be a second when I’m not thinking about her, silently worshipping her from afar, fucking her, over and over, in my dreams.

Exhaling on a harsh breath, I trail a line of kisses from one corner of her mouth to the other, and then I force myself to pull away.

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