Page 96 of Beautiful Enemy

“She’s bleeding,” Matteo says, nodding at me.

“I’ll handle it. You can go too, Matteo.”

He knows better than to object to his boss so with a simple nod in my direction, he leaves too.

Dante and I are alone. That thought makes my stomach flutter.

“Let’s get your arm bandaged up.” He leads me into the bathroom and pulls out a first aid kit. After inspecting the wound, he says, “It’s a fairly shallow cut. You’ll heal up nicely.” He disinfects the wound before putting a bandage on it.

His touch is so gentle and nice. It’s nothing like the hot, taboo touches we’ve shared in the past.

“Thank you.”

He skims his fingers down my arm. “You’re welcome.”

“I was scared today.”

“Your father is a persistent man, I’ll give him that.”

“He is. He’s been trying to get me back for the past four years. He won’t stop. Erik has been able to keep him at bay but Erik wasn’t there. I thought for a moment that my father was going to succeed. That he would put me back into my old room and lock the door and never let me leave.”

“Sounds like you were a prisoner in your house growing up.”

“I was. He never physically locked me up but his anger would be enough to keep me there. I was so scared of him. I thought I was getting stronger away from him but seeing him today, it all came back to me. He still scares me. I felt like a little girl again.”

Dante places his fingers under my chin and tilts my face up to his. “I’ve seen you become more brave. You were shy and timid. In some ways, you still are. But I’ve seen you stand up to me. Not many people can do that. You might not roar but you have a quiet strength to you, Nadia. I would hate to see that broken.”

I clutch his arms. “You almost broke me. In that cold basement. I thought I was going to die down there.”

“Oh, baby. I was so angry with you then. I thought you were my enemy. But you’re not. And… I can’t believe I’m saying this because I never say this to anybody but… I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?”

“For forcing you into this war. For using you in my games. I thought you would be easy to torture. I could break you and make you turn against your family. But you already hated your father. And what I found was a girl that I didn’t want to break. Seeing your father take you away today, it made me realize something. I don’t want to lose you, Nadia.I don’t want to see you get hurt. I’ve never had these feelings for anyone before. Why now?”

Slowly, I cup his face in my hands. “You mean it? You’re really sorry?”

“I am.”

“Are you still going to go after Erik?”

He wavers before he nods. “I have to. He won’t stop coming after me.”

“So, we’re still technically enemies then, despite what we feel for each other.”

“You shouldn’t feel anything for me. You should hate me.”

“A part of me does,” I admit. “But another part of me wants you to kiss me right this moment.” I’ve never said something so bold and brave before. After thinking I was going to get trapped by my father again, I now realize that I want to go after the things I want.

And what I want is… Dante.

“I want to consume you,” he whispers darkly against my lips. “I want to ravage you. I want to take your innocence and make you mine.”

Desire floods through my body. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

“We can’t,” I whisper. “I’m supposed to wait for my wedding night.”

“Fuck your wedding night. You belong to me.” He grips my hips and sets me on the counter right before he kisses me with so much passion, I think I might pass out.

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