Page 75 of Wicked Takeover
Chapter Nine
They made love as they hadn’t before. It was still lusty as hell, but to Lauren it was also deeper, richer than it had been.
She couldn’t get enough of Dante, her addiction to everything he was both frightening and wonderful. He seemed as eager to be with her. Once they’d climaxed, they clung to each other, sweaty and exhausted. And not entirely as friends.
At least not for her. Since their evening on the carousel, something had shifted. Her desire had turned soul deep. Dante offered her comfort she’d never known from a guy. She’d always been practical about life and especially love, never allowing herself to plunge too deeply into anything.
She reminded herself that this wasn’t any different. She’d have to fight her feelings and would, beginning tomorrow. Right now, these moments were too precious to resist or ruin by saying the wrong thing.
When they finally got around to making dinner, Dante taught her the basics. Working next to him in the kitchen felt incredibly comfortable and right, like they should always be doing everyday tasks together. During the meal, they held hands. He wasn’t only tender and a hunk, but he could cook real food. The steak was the best she’d ever tasted. He’d also grilled corn on the cob and baked garlic bread.
She was so screwed.
Beginning tomorrow, she promised herself again. Tonight, Lauren fed him the remaining bread and licked butter from his mouth.
He tapped her naked toes with his.
The evening had cooled somewhat. A mild breeze brushed past vegetation and gently stirred their hair. No boats had glided down the waterway. During their lovemaking, she’d devoted her full attention to Dante, completely unaware of the world around her. She figured the most persistent voyeur would need night vision goggles to see anything in the dim lighting.
Even if they had watched, Lauren didn’t care.
Dante stood.
She grabbed his hand. “Where are you going? Are we through?” She hoped not.
“I was going to get dessert. There’s ice cream in the freezer. Fresh fruit in the fridge.”
“In a minute.” She squeezed his fingers. “I don’t want to eat all of Scott’s food right away. That wouldn’t be polite. Let’s wait a bit.” She snickered.
Laughing, Dante sank to his chair. “Trust me, Scott won’t mind. He’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, I got that.” Something she wasn’t sure she should mention nagged her. However, she wanted to be straight with him. “I totally understand why you quit the firm you worked for. I’m sure they were all about billable hours and the bottom line. After you met Scott, though, why didn’t you hook up with him and fight the good fight for plaintiffs?”
Dante glanced past her to the house, his feelings masked.
Lauren cursed her big mouth. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“It’s all right.” He ran his thumb over hers. “Scott offered me a partnership in his firm.” Dante shook his head. “I turned him down. I needed a break from law badly.”
She sensed he wanted to punish himself for his earlier cases and victories. “Will you ever go back to it?”
He got an odd look on his face, then smiled broadly, keeping his feelings to himself. “And leave you alone to run the parlor? Who’d keep me in line at a law firm?” He kissed her knuckles. “Who’d order me not to flirt with or fuck the clients?”
“Hire Jasmina. Her balls are as big as yours.”
He barked a laugh.
“I want what’s best for you.” She stroked his palm. “If you hate law, then what you’re doing is certainly right for you. Outside of the obvious, though, was your old career that horrible?”
“No, and I didn’t hate being an attorney. I needed a break, so I’m taking it. Tattooing has always fascinated me. I’m not as artistic as my brother Tor or Van Gogh—hell, those two are gods—but I do all right. I enjoyed learning how to ink. I met Frank at a tattoo expo. We got to talking, and he brought me on at Wicked Brand. It all worked out.”
Lauren didn’t know what to say.
For the first time ever, Dante looked embarrassed, the way a guy does when a woman reads his soul and knows he’s lying to himself. He shrugged it off and grinned good-naturedly. “Why all the talk about law? Are you trying to get rid of me?”
She pressed his hand to her chest. “Never.”
His smile faded. He seemed to want to say something but didn’t, waiting for her.
