ia'

in my mind, refusing to let me rest. When we finally arrived, I stepped out of the car and walked into the livi

eady my voice. Dante rose from his seat, h

ere was an edge to it. He tilted his head s

taggered back, confusion flooding me. I hadn't t

ed, the words faltering as my mind r

What do you mean, you don't understand? Did you find answers, or was that not your reason for seein

was unnervingly comforting. The warmth of it wrapped around me in a strange, almo

ng thoughts away. Dante was the villain in this stor

ite the confusion swirling inside me. "Thank you for the opportunit

a predator sizing up its prey. When his eyes lingered on my thighs, I caught

e off the unsettling feeling. "I wi

and shot out, gripping my wrist

pping just before a door. The realization hit me then-this was his room. I couldn't h

shut behind him, Dante locked it, and his next move caught me completely off guar

heavy, drowsy-too much alcohol clouding his judgment. It was clear he'd been drinking, but it also made m

top of me. I scrambled to my feet and ran toward the wooden wardrobe, crouching behind it for some sense of safe

the way his movements flowed with a certain power. I pushed the thought a

against the wall, his grip on my wrists like iron. His hands tangled in my hair, pulling my fa

nctive attempt to escape. But his hold tightened, li

lt a wave of warmth spread through me, my heart pounding in my chest, but I quickly pushed the feeling

myself to feel this.

ke a storm just below the surface. It sent a shiv

haky, "this isn't right. You're dru

"You think I care about right and wrong?" He let out a bitter laugh.

ife I imagined, but if I was to survive this, I had to find a way to endure. I couldn't let

ncé, as the overwhelming pressure of the situa

ante's man noticing-just a small message to reassure Daniel that I was fin

about Daniel or drag him into this nightmare.

your body feel things you never imagined if you just let go. I've got decades of experience." His words

to grab a box. My heart raced as

ipment I'd never wanted to see, let alone use. I pulled out

with anyone, let alone with him. I had never

u want," I said, my voice br

dable. He shrugged, the tension in the room almost unbearable.

it was short-lived. I still

rt me deeply. My fiancé, the man I loved, was nothing like Dante. But in

even though my mind screamed at me to stop. His lips found my nec

c flooded me, but I couldn't fight him off. He paused for a moment, looking down at me like

essiveness and admiration,

lips crashing against mine in an overwhelming kiss. I fought back tears

the sensation. There was a warmth between us that I

I wanted to give in completely, but there was something about the way

ickened, there was a su

l deepening. "Who

re about the warehouse," a v

duvet closer, trying to shield myself, feeling both exposed and filthy. In that moment, I was reminded of the

minute," Dante barked, his

cing. How could I tell Dante that I was a virgin? Would it e

own life would turn out like this, I would have given myself to Dani

hatever it took, I couldn't let Dante break me.