Page 26 of Enforcer

I stayed, and this is my payment? I should stay more often.

Even as the thought surfaces, I know it’s inaccurate. No one is Dante Ricci. Only the man himself can cause the storm he’s creating right now. This feeling, this ache, is something specific to Dante and me.

Unfortunately.

He adds fingers inside me, and I let all that fall away. We agreed to no strings, even if last night felt much more profound than we meant.

Sweat beads on my body, goosebumps churning within it. The more he teases with his tongue and presses inside me with his fingers, the more enraptured I am.

Shamelessly, I let my legs fall open and rock my hips, deepening his kiss on my pussy.

“Please,” I mutter, eyes growing frantic as the impending orgasm builds higher and higher, into a burn I can’t turn away from, only jump inside of.

“Don’t stop, Dante. God, don’t fucking stop!” As I come, Dante sucks my clit, causing me to scream through each shocking wave of climax like a woman gone.

Gone from reality. Gone from her old way of thinking.

Dante is knocking at the wall I have built around my heart and his tongue nearly serenades me to open the gates to let him in.

He crawls up my body, kissing me and making me taste myself.

“Good morning,” he tells me, pulling back and licking his lips.

I push my hands into my sleep-tousled hair. “Good morning?! Is that how you say good morning?”

He shrugs and gets off the bed, heading for the bathroom. “You’d have to stick around to find out.”

Part of me deflates at his words.

Because they mean that he’s not been earnest with me.

Even though he said we could be friends with benefits, no strings attached, he is still playing the long game and hoping that I’ll come around and become something akin to what Slate and Brynne have.

That won’t suit.

I hear the shower turn on and the glass door close, and I slip out of bed and gather my clothes, making for my room quickly.

When I get inside, I shut and lock the door, breathing out in relief as my heart and body fight.

I’ve never had some of the feelings and experiences I’ve already had with Dante, but I’ve also been firm in how I want to live my life with him and everyone else.

He doesn’t seem too keen on adhering to no strings as I initially thought he would.

All that means is this can’t go on between him and me.

I have to break free of Dante Ricci’s grasp, which will be difficult considering that in about an hour, we’re assisting in the merger of the Ricci and Bianchi families.

Our standings in each family mean we must be around one another often and work together.

This was a bad idea.

Once showered and dressed to impress, make-up done, and hair in a half-up, half-down updo, I slip into my heels and grab my work bag and phone.

I forgo breakfast because this morning left my stomach uneasy, so I decided to just grab a muffin and a coffee on the way to the meeting.

Dante, as if he senses the shift in my demeanor, puts on his best face and holds the door for me as we lock up and leave.

Lorenzo is waiting downstairs in a blacked-out Suburban, and he and Dante fall into easy chatter while I stare out thewindow at the immense and alluring streets of New York City as we pass things I’ve only ever seen on television.

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