Page 35 of Dance with the Devil

“An ex-soldier had entered the kitchen, carrying a knife. He was intent on harming people at the party. I had seen it happen through the windows in the doors. I left to take care of the situation. Imagine my surprise to find my wife gone.”

“Oh,” Maria said. Guilt filled her. She hadn’t thought of him doing his duty. She didn’t think there could be a threat at an engagement party. “I had no idea.”

He stepped closer.

“It doesn’t change the truth, though, does it? I’m pregnant, which you can’t seem to accept, and you don’t want anything to do with me. That was what you said, wasn’t it? You’d want me to leave. So, I’m ready. I’ve packed my bags and I’m ready to leave.” She hated the tears that were filling her eyes again. She kept swiping at them.

“You’re not leaving.”

“Damn it, Draven, I’m pregnant. I carry our baby.”

He reached out, grabbed hold of her hip, and pulled her in close. “And I’ve told you, you’re not going anywhere.”

She opened her mouth about to argue with him, but he silenced her by slamming his lips down on hers. Surprise stopped her from reacting.

Maria had expected him to pick up the suitcase and not even give her a chance to get dressed. She imagined him forcing her into the car, still dressed in her towel, and taking her to somewhere horrible to live the rest of her days with a child. Each scenario she played in her mind was even worse than the previous one. They were nonstop.

Draven slid one of his hands up toward her neck, and he massaged the tension. “Maria, baby, you’re going to have to kiss me back or I’m going to think you don’t want my lips on you.”

Her arms were also down at her sides. She hadn’t expected the kisses, the love, the tenderness, and was taken aback by it. Why was he kissing her?

Staring into his eyes, she didn’t know what to do or say, and then she wrapped her arms around his neck and just kissed him back.

Maria didn’t know what was going on, but she’d take it. No matter what he was giving her, she’d take it. She loved him that fucking much, and it scared her. She didn’t know what these kisses meant, but she didn’t want it to stop.

Draven pulled away and then stared into her eyes.

“I love you, Maria,” he said.

At first, she was so startled that she didn’t say anything. Then the fog cleared. “I love you too.”

Tears blurred her vision. “Are you sending me away?”

“No, I’m not sending you away.”

“Why not?”

“Because I love you and a very wise man told me tonight that I’m nothing like him. I’m nothing like my father.” He stroked her cheek. “And I never will be.”

“You talked to Antwone.”

“More like he didn’t give me a choice but to listen to him.”

She was going to kiss Antwone the next time she saw him. “I need to unpack.”

Draven pushed the suitcase off the bed. She’d gotten the zipper a good way around, so none of the contents fell out of the case.

“Tomorrow. I’ll help.”

He moved her to the bed, taking off the towel as he did so.

Maria pushed his jacket off his shoulders. “You’re overdressed.”

Draven stood up and she watched, going to her elbows as he removed the suit he’d been wearing. She listened to it fall to the floor, but marveled at the man who got naked in front of her. His impressive body with all the thick, tight muscles, heavily inked, appeared beneath the suit.

He knelt on the bed. This was her man. All hers.

He gripped her ankle, pulled her closer, and pressed a kiss to the inside of her knee. Next his lips touched her inner thigh, then her pussy, before kissing her stomach.

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