Page 50 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

Dante’s breathing changed, the air rasping audibly into his lungs. Belle glanced up at the sound. He leaned up and grabbed hold of her shoulders, trying to stop her. Belle shoved at his forearms and pinned them by the elbows to the bed beside him, holding him immobile, renewing her attack on him with her mouth.

“Belle… I’m gonna—” He tried to move again, but she held him tight to the bed, determined to do this for him.

Dante’s back arched high off the mattress, his wild yell of pure gratification accompanying his explosion into her mouth. Belle held him down as the aftershocks wracked his body. She looked up and lifted her mouth from him, reaching over to grab a handful of tissues.

His chest heaved as he tried to get enough air, his arms crossed over his face. The occasional shudder still shook him as she crawled up the bed beside him. Belle placed a hand on his chest from where she rested on her forearms beside him.

Dante lifted an arm to gaze at her and opened his mouth to talk, his breathing loud in the silence, then shook his head. Belle bit her tongue between her teeth to try to stop the smile from overtaking her face.

“Liked that, did you?” she said.

Breathless laughter rumbled through his chest as he stared at her. He seemed to be finally getting his breathing under control.

“You’re gonna be the death of me, I just know it.”

Chapter Eighteen

Belle glanced overthe menu at the swanky upmarket restaurant she and Dante had just been seated at. It was early to be having lunch, only eleven AM, but they’d wanted to miss the lunch rush, then spend some time wandering around The Rocks and taking a ferry tour. She hadn’t been to Sydney in more years than she could remember.

So much lovely food.

She loved visiting new venues to see what the offerings were. It didn’t hurt to plan their own fare around what was popular in the fine restaurants in the cities. Many of their customers were tourists from these areas, and they had certain expectations. It was her job to make sure they got what they wanted.

Her phone vibrated, barely heard over the muted melody coming from the white baby grand piano in the centre of the room.

She glanced at it in her small handbag, the glow from the screen brightening the insides of the dark leather.

No. This was her and Dante’s time together. She wasn’t going to check messages or answer silly questions from the restaurant. They’d never been away together before; she wasn’t blowing this chance. It might be the only one she’d ever get.

Longing and tentative hope wound through her. She wished with all her strength that wasn’t the case. She’d love it if they got to the point where they went away together officially, leaving in the same car, everyone knowing they weretogether.

She sipped the merlot she’d been poured, eyes closed, and moved it around her mouth to activate all the flavours.

Notes of plum, black cherries, and the tiniest hint of vanilla rolled through her mouth.

She couldn’t help the smile that widened her mouth.

“That good, huh?” Dante murmured.

Belle opened her eyes to see him watching her carefully, his gaze glued to her mouth. She let the smile grow.

“Almost as good as sex.”

His eyes widened and he huffed a laugh. “I must be doing something very wrong, or that drop is something pretty special.”

Belle tilted her head and regarded the wine, swishing it slowly around the glass. She couldn’t resist stirring him. “Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t think it wasthatspecial…”

Dante grabbed the hand holding the offending red liquid and leaned close over the small table. Deep blue eyes glittered in the softly lit room, his intent etched across his face.

“Well, I might just have to get inventive once we leave here. Maybe even take you up on that raincheck.”

A massive shudder rippled down her spine, the echoes of it reaching her toes. Her lungs suddenly didn’t seem to know their function. Her eyes couldn’t possibly get any wider. Heat flooded her veins.

Oooh …

Their night had been nothing short of spectacular. He’d made her feel things she hadn’t thought possible.

Sure, she’d hoped sex would be on offer when she made this trip, and had been rewarded with him being as insatiable as herself, but it was far more than that.

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