Page 46 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

Dante let himselfinto his hotel room and squinted into the dark. He shut the door quietly and used the torch on his phone instead of turning on the lights.

A lump on the bed brought a smile to his face.

Belle wasn’t an early bird. Up late most nights with the restaurant, she often slept in way past his own rising time. During summer particularly, he was out in the shed or looking at the vines by six AM.

He toed off his shoes and set his notebook down on the desk, taking note of the clothes bundled over the back of the chair.

A lime-green bra sat haphazardly on top.

He sucked in a breath and faced the bed again.

Was she completely naked?

He closed his eyes for a moment and held his breath.

Nope. Wasn’t going to work. Just the thought of her being naked, whether she was in reality or not, had his blood singing and his body reacting.

He couldn’t bring himself to be embarrassed by it. Shewasin his bed, after all.

He moved over to the side of the bed and sat down carefully beside her hips. She was sprawled on her stomach, the sheets and blanket pushed down until they were just covering her ass.

His heart clunked. It suddenly seemed too big for his chest.

He stroked her spine gently, from nape to the top of the sheet covering that delectable ass from view. If he tugged it down a little…

He almost let free the laugh that tried to cough out of him.

If she woke up with him fondling her ass without permission, she’d likely slog him one.

He contented himself with long, slow strokes down her back. It would eventually wake her up and then he could gauge her reaction and receptiveness.

He shook his head at himself. She’d come all this way and the first thing he wanted to do was grope her. He was the very epitome of pathetic.

Dante reached over to place his phone on the edge of the side table and left the torch on. It only illuminated a small patch, making sure Belle wouldn’t be disturbed by it.

The puddle of light highlighted some fabric on the floor near his foot that he hadn’t seen.

Knickers.

Oh, crap. Sheisnaked.

His heart sped up then registered the item sitting tucked into the folded-over lacy pants. He frowned and flicked at it with his toe.

Holy Mother of …

Belle’s pint-sized vibrator.

Dante clenched his fist, closed his eyes, and counted to ten as slowly as he could.

He swore under his breath and continued stroking her back.

Control. He needed control.

He almost laughed. That was the one thing his body didn’t want. Every part of him screamed to ditch his clothes and get in with her. Touch her.Kissher. She’d pleasured herself in his damned bed. His control hung on by the most tenuous thread.

She sighed heavily, taking her time to wake. Sleek muscles moved in a sensual display over her back in the gloom. He couldn’t help himself, he stroked her soft, warm skin again, taking his time.

A low purr-like sound escaped her at his touch. If he hadn’t been sitting already, he’d have fallen in a heap on his knees.

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