Page 44 of Covert Temptation

“Don’t talk. You’re so much hotter when you don’t talk.”

His hard lips parted in incredulity, and redness streaked up his tanned throat. “Are you sexualizing me?”

She twisted her lips into a thoughtful pout. “Maybe a little bit.”

Her joke had the effect she was hoping for. The tension between them flowed away, and she relaxed her knotted fingers.

For a long beat, their gazes locked. The memory of his hand running all over her naked body made her breath hitch. Dropping her stare to his mouth, she remembered other things—like the wet, heated swipe of his tongue over her nipples.

Dante’s attention was fixed on her face with a strong grip that didn’t seem to want to let go. The sensation made her skin prickle, heat blooming under the surface like he was touching her without lifting a finger.

His gaze dropped—slowly, deliberately—trailing down the curve of her neck, over the edge of her oversized sweater that hung just enough off one shoulder to hint at bare skin beneath.

His jaw tightened slightly, a muscle ticking.

She didn’t move. Couldn’t.

The air between them stretched thin and electric, and when his eyes finally met hers again, something dark and dangerous flickered in them. Not just want.

Possession.

And Kennedy felt it right down to her toes.

Whatever this thing was between them, it wasn’t cooling off anytime soon.

He shifted on the sofa. “Tell me about your family.”

Clearly, he would not be distracted for long.

In an attempt to center herself, she swallowed a gulp of air. “My father is an alcoholic.”

He nodded in understanding.

“So is my mother.”

His lips tightened.

She plowed on in a tumble of words, wanting to get it over with quick. “They foughtallthe time. Not just screaming matches—all-out brawls. The cops were at our house so often I started to think they were my uncles. Right before I left for college, they split. I’d say it was the best decision ever for them…except they both seemed to choose a new partner that was exactly like the old. Nothing at all has changed for them, but I still check in once in a while.”

She shrugged, collecting her thoughts. “As soon as I see the train wreck they are, I back out and stop looking in on them for a while. With the fake profile, Diana Prince…I was able to check in on them without them knowing.”

“And the counting?” he asked.

She swallowed hard. “I still remember the number of steps it took to get from my bedroom to the phone to call for help.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“And to the door if I needed to escape.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “That’s no way to grow up. I’m sorry.”

She could only nod.

“I understand how difficult family can be.” His words, stated so somberly, made her feel like he reallydidget it. She eyed him, wondering what kind of background Dante came from. A SEAL with no current ties to anything but his brotherhood.

She went on, “I’ve never had a lot of people in my life. I’m an only child. I haven’t been in a long-term relationship or even dated in so long. But that was okay—I was content in my positionas Alyssa’s assistant, and I love traveling and seeing new things. Meeting new people…” She trailed off as she realized Dante was looking at her with that same focus as earlier, like he was trying to unravel her secrets…or undress her.

As if needing to put distance between them, he got up and paced across the room. “You said you haven’t been with anyone in a long time.”

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