Page 122 of Dante
But I feel it everywhere.
My skin burns where his fingers rest. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure he can hear it.
I lean closer.
Dante doesn't hesitate.
His hand slides from my cheek to the back of my neck. He pulls me toward him. His mouth finds mine.
And the world stops.
His lips are warm. Firm. He kisses me like he's been waiting his whole life for this moment.
I haven't kissed anyone in... God, I can't even remember. Some forgettable guy at a bar in Chicago, before everything happened.
This isn't like any of those kisses.
This is fire.
This is drowning and burning at the same time.
His tongue sweeps against my lower lip and I open for him without thinking.
A sound escapes my throat. Something between a moan and a whimper.
Dante's grip tightens on my neck.
He angles my head. Deepens the kiss. Takes control in a way that makes my entire body go liquid.
I grab his shoulders. Pull myself closer. The blanket falls away and I don't care. Nothing matters except his mouth on mine and his hands in my hair and the heat building low in my belly.
If he keeps kissing me like this, I'm going to climb into his lap.
Right now.
I don't care about his wound. I don't care about the cartel. I don't care about anything except getting closer to him.
My fingers dig into his bare shoulders. His skin is hot under my palms. I can feel the muscles shifting as he moves, as he pulls me tighter against him.
I want?—
He stops.
Just like that.
He pulls back.
The spell shatters.
Cold air rushes between us. My lips are swollen. My breath comes in ragged gasps. My whole body trembles with want.
Dante watches me.
His eyes are dark. Hungry. His chest heaves with each breath.
But he doesn't move.
"Marina."
