Page 123 of Merciless Monster

“I think I know,” I smile.

“Really? What?”

“How would you like to go back to LA?” Dante asks.

“Really? Home? I’d love that,” Angelo beams. “Max will be so happy to see me! And I miss Grandma too.”

“So do I,” I say. “And Aunty Gina.”

“I miss our swimming pool.”

“Of course you do, “ Dante laughs.

“Will you take me and Splash to the beach, Daddy?”

“I’d love to.”

“Woohoo! I’m going to tell Grandpa the good news,” Angelo says and leaps off the bed. “Come Splash. Here boy!”

“Someone’s excited,” Dante smiles happily.

“Yeah, I think he misses his friends more than he’s let on. I must say I know how he feels. Texas is one state I don’t mind seeing in the rearview mirror.”

“Yeehaw.”

I can’t help laughing at the Italian stallion’s impression of a cowboy.

I feel lighter today than I’ve felt in months. It’s crazy how one can get so used to feeling awful. I don’t think I realized how unhappy I’ve been the last while. Having Dante in my life has been both a blessing and a curse. Whatever happens next, I have to talk to him about our future together, and how I see that play out.

But that’s a conversation for another day. Today I want to eat breakfast with my family, pack up my things, and head for home. Everything else can wait.

I move to get up but Dante stops me by placing his hand on my back.

“Wait,” he says gently.

“What is it?”

“I want you all to myself for a little while longer,” he says. “I cannot put into words how afraid I was when I didn;t hear from you yesterday. I think I’m still reeling.”

I was exhausted last night when we got home. Neither Dante nor I spoke much. I think we were in too much shock at the time. Now, by the light of a new day, the pent up fear is pushing toward the surface, like a pressure cooker about to blow off steam.

“I must tell you, Mia. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I never knew that love could be this way. Yesterday, when I thought I’d lost you, I could hardly breathe. I was ready to kill blindly for you.”

Dante’s eyes are so vulnerable. I can see into his soul. He’s never shown me this side of him before. Who knew that a man who ruled his empire with such an iron fist would allow himself such a luxury as complete vulnerability.

“I feel it too, Dante. All I could think about was how I was about to lose everything precious to me. The only ray of hope I clung to was knowing that you and Angelo were together. That’s why I fought to keep myself alive.”

Dante reached up and pulls me gently toward him. I’m on my back now, staring up into his deep, soulful pools. My lover strokes my face before he reaches down gently and kisses me on the lips. It’s a tender kiss. A rare moment between two people who have fought so hard to hide behind the curtain of self preservation.

“Ti amo, Mia,” he whispers tenderly into my ear as his hands move down my abdomen toward the sweet spot.

“Ti amo, Dante,” I whisper back.

My beautiful man gets up and locks the bedroom door. I don’t take my eyes off him for a moment while he walks back to me and slips off his boxers. My lover is ready for me—his powerful erection standing proud. He is so beautiful. His olive skin takes my breath away. I understand the scars he carries on his body now that I know where he’s been and what he’s seen. It makes me appreciate him all the more.

His hand caress me gently. These are the same hands that killed a man to protect me. He’s hovering over me now, ready to make our bodies as one. I position my body in a way that tells him in no uncertain terms that I’m willing and longing for him to take me. I belong to this man—body and soul. No matter where we go from here, what we decide about our future, I know I will always belong to Dante. Whether I’m with him in person or not.

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