Page 122 of Toxic

Shock hits me again. There's relief he said that, but I'm also disappointed. It's a slap in the face that I want to marry him. I never thought I would get married again or feel anything like what I felt with Sean. Everything I feel for Dante mirrors it but is also different. What we have isn't like what Sean and I had. I can't describe it, but all the pieces of Dante and me together fit. And something about being his makes me feel indestructible.

I should run. I made that mistake in the past. But I can't hide from us anymore. Fate wants us together, and I don't want to keep fighting it.

"I'll say yes," I blurt out, blinking hard, but tears escape.

His lips twitch. He slides his hand out of the collar and cups my cheek, swiping his thumb at my tears. "Good girl."

I kiss him, putting everything I have into the kiss, circling my hips over his body.

He breaks our kiss, removing a clamp and dipping down to suck on my nipple.

An intense surge of adrenaline whips through me. My walls spasm on his cock, and an orgasm pummels me.

"Dante!" I cry out.

He grunts, does the same thing to my other nipple, and I think I might black out. I grip the chains tighter as he mumbles, "Fuuuuck." His hand slides back under the collar, and he squeezes my neck again while kissing me and moving my hips faster.

One orgasm after another annihilates me until his lips freeze against mine. He breathes in my exhale, and his cock pumps violently inside me.

The room becomes an echo chamber of our cries. His dark eyes penetrate mine until white stars fill my vision.

Full of tremors, I don't know how long I sit slumped against him. He finally reaches up and unlatches the cuffs. My arms fall over his shoulders. He rises with me around him and carries me to the bed.

He tugs me against his frame, spooning my backside, cocooning me, as if I'm a part of his body. He kisses the back of my ear and says, "Don't disappear like you always do."

I turn my head so I can't avoid him. "I won't."

He pecks me on the lips. "Good. There's something I want to give you before you leave."

I arch my eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"

He kisses me again. "You'll see. What time do you have to be home tomorrow?"

I yawn. "It's Saturday. The kids will be sleeping until noon probably."

Approval fills his expression. "Good. Now, go to sleep."

I snuggle into him, closing my eyes. He's a blanket of safety, warmth, and I finally can admit it also includes love. For the first time in a long time, I don't have any nightmares. The entire night, I sleep in peace.

When I wake up, Dante is staring at me.

"Morning," I say and move my mouth to his.

He returns my affection then says, "Morning. I'm getting out of bed. I'll only be a minute. Don't leave."

"Noooo," I whine. "You're nice and warm."

He chuckles. "I'll bring my warmth back." He releases me, gets out of bed, then disappears through the door.

I wait for a few minutes, and he returns. He slides back under the covers, sitting up with his back against the headboard. I turn on my side and rest my head on his chest, caressing his pecs.

He kisses my forehead and says, "I've had this in my safe since I was twenty-five." He holds up a large, stunning crystal. Flecks of blue and green shimmer throughout it.

Gaping, I sit up, staring at the magnificent gem.

"The moment I saw it, I thought of your eyes. It's rare for Montana sapphires to be this many carats. In all the years I've been dealing with them, I've never come across another one like this," he admits.

Still stunned, I reach out and run my finger over the smooth stone, gushing, "It's beautiful."

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