He shrugs. "I don't know. But we have to try, right? We can't just sit back and let her ruin everything."
I nod, feeling a little more hopeful. Maybe Dante is right. Maybe there's a way to salvage this.
We drive around for a while longer, talking about everything and nothing. Dante tells me about his day at work, and I listen intently, hanging on to his every word. It's moments like this that make me feel like we're really in love, like nothing can come between us, even his family and ex-girlfriend.
Chapter sixteen
Rumors
Ally
Icanfeelthecool breeze on my skin as Dante and I drive away from the restaurant and head towards the Beach. It's been a while since I've been to the beach, and I can't help but feel a sense of excitement as we park and make our way towards the shore. We take off our shoes and walk towards the water, feeling the sand between our toes. Dante takes my hand and pulls me towards him.
"Let's play in the water," he says, his eyes filled with mischief.
I laugh and follow him as we splash around in the waves. The water is freezing but I don't care. I'm having too much fun with Dante. After a while, we make our way back to the sand and lay down, our bodies pressed together as we watch the stars.
"Do you want to order a mocktail?" Dante asks, breaking the comfortable silence between us.
I nod eagerly, "Yes please."
We make our way towards the bar and order a round of mocktails. The music is loud and there are people dancing and having fun. I can feel the energy of the place and it makes me feel alive. We join in with the group of people and start dancing to the local music. Dante's moves are fluid and graceful, and I can't help but feel proud of him. I follow his lead, feeling the rhythm of the music.
After a while, we sit down at a table and start talking about our future plans. "Where do you want to reside in Richmond?" Dante asks, taking a sip of his drink.
"I want to live in the city," I say without hesitation. "I love the thrill of it all. The people, the noise, the energy. It's like nothing else."
Dante looks thoughtful. "I don't know. I think I'd like to retire to the countryside. Live a quiet life away from all the chaos."
I can't help but laugh. "You're such an old man sometimes."
Dante grins, "I just like peace and quiet."
We talk for a while about the pros and cons of living in the city versus the countryside. It's a playful argument, but we both know that we'll make whatever decision is best for us.
After a while, the conversation turns to more serious topics. "How many kids do you want to have?" I ask, looking at Dante with a smile.
Dante looks at me, his eyes softening. "I don't know. Two, maybe three? And I want them to grow up to be happy and successful, whatever that means for them. As you know, I come from a big family and having siblings shaped who I am."
I nod, "I want the same. I want our kids to have the freedom to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be."
We talk for a while about what we want for our future family. It's a comforting conversation, one that makes me feel secure and loved. As the night wears on, we make our way back to the car and drive home, the energy of the beach and the mocktail still coursing through our veins. We're laughing and joking, reminiscing about the evening's events.
When we arrive at Dante's house, he takes my hand and leads me up to his room. The air is heavy with anticipation, the only sound our heavy breathing and the rustling of clothes. Dante pulls me towards him and kisses me deeply, his lips urgent and insistent. I can feel the heat building between us as he pulls me towards the bed.
With a quick movement, he pulls off his shirt and tosses it aside, his lean muscles rippling with every movement. I can't help but feel a sense of desire course through me as I take in his naked chest. As if sensing my thoughts, Dante kisses me again, his hands roaming over my body. He pulls off my shirt and tosses it on the floor, his eyes drinking in my naked form. We hurry to take off the rest of our clothes, our hands fumbling and desperate. I can feel the heat building between us, the tension growing with each passing moment.
As we fall onto the bed together, our bodies entwined, I can feel the raw intensity of our desire. Dante's hands are everywhere, his touch igniting a fire within me that I've never felt before. We kiss wildly, our lips exploring each other with a ferocity that is almost primal. I can feel his breath on my neck, his hands roaming over my skin. Suddenly, he flips me over, his body pressing against mine. I can feel the hardness of his arousal against me, sending shivers of pleasure down my spine.
Our movements become more urgent, our bodies moving in a frenzied dance of desire. I can feel my own pleasure building, my body responding to every touch from Dante. As we reach the peak of our passion, we cry out each other's names, our bodies trembling with the force of our release. We collapse onto the bed, our breathing heavy and ragged.
For a few moments, we lay there in silence, our bodies intertwined, our hearts beating as one. It's a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss, one that I'll remember forever.
As we finally catch our breath, Dante turns towards me, his eyes filled with love and adoration. "I love you," he whispers, his hand tracing circles on my skin.
I smile, a sense of warmth and contentment washing over me. "I love you too," I reply, my heart overflowing with joy.
In that moment, I know that our romance is just beginning, that we have a lifetime of love and passion ahead of us. And as we fall asleep in each other's arms, I can't help but feel grateful for this moment, for this love that we share.