by Olivia Fox
She popped off with an unexpected question, though I grew used to random thoughts bursting out of her mouth like heated corn kernels.
“Do you think it’s healthy?” she asked me, her hand in mine on the seat. “Having raunchy sex the way we do?”
I thought for a moment, not sure exactly what she’s referring to. “Raunchy? Is that what you call it?” I ran my fingernails up her thigh. “Naughty sex is good sex, right?” I asked her, wagging my eyebrows.
Her chin dipped down. “It’s just that I’ve never been so... depraved with anyone else.”
“Nor will you ever be.” I growled, clamping my teeth together. “Now or ever. I told you that last night.”
“I guess that’s part of what’s making me question things. We hardly know each other and you’re talking about ‘owning’ my pussy. ‘Possessing’ me. We have a limited arrangement, Dante. It’s important to keep that in mind.”
She rocked her butt cheeks on the seat. “I’m in this to help you win the Union election.” Her fingers brushed the non-existent dust off her legs. “Then we’re done.”
“You’re my special gift, Savanna, that’s not temporary. I own you. I worship you, treasure you, protect you...” I wasn’t in the mood to hear Savanna’s silly denial of this thing between us. “You need to know something about the protection part.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve arranged for one of Lorenzo’s men to look after you when we’re not together. To keep you safe.”
“What, you mean like a bodyguard?” She sounded surprised.
“Exactly like that.”
“Oh, Dante, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not a child. I can look after myself. If anyone is aware of that, you should be.” She made a stabbing gesture with her right hand, which I found hilarious and sick at the same time.
Which just went to prove my point. Savanna and I had equally sick minds. Equally wicked sex drives.
I knew exactly how to prove that to her, and I’d definitely take my time doing whatever it took.
“Be that as it may.” I backed my truck into a parallel parking spot and jerked the brake into place, turning off the motor and yanking out the keys. “I wanted to give you a head’s up. His name is Pete; he’ll be your driver and your eyes and ears.” I got out and opened her door, holding out my arms to lift her onto the ground. “It’s not up for debate.”
The young woman in the boutique was feline, classy, and everything I would have once found attractive. But with Savanna at her side, she faded out like invisible ink.
“Thank you,” I said as I took two champagne glasses from the tray she offered us.
“What did you find that will work for the Thomas Fundraiser? They’re holding it at Mario’s Supper Club.”
“It’s going to be beautiful. Let me know if you come across any extra tickets,” she said. She addressed Savanna. “This way to the dressing room, I’ve got several pieces set for you to look at. That way I can get a feel for your taste.” There were floor to ceiling mirrors at one end of the room and on the other end a painting of a gorgeous Italian villa overlooking a lake.
I’d take Savanna to a spot like that when we had our honeymoon, despite her faulty opinion that this was merely a business arrangement.
Fuck.
Was I falling in love with her?
True, I needed her to help me get the backing of the old Irish Catholic families who ran half the damn development projects at this end of the state. They would never vote for someone who wasn’t a family man.
As old-fashioned as that was, I honored my Uncle’s wishes and ran for Union President as a man with plans to marry Savanna. Our family would benefit from the construction jobs that came as a bonus from holding that office and would help the Drago family level up their legitimate business.
Savanna yanked me back into the present saying, “This is pretty,” waving her hand over the cocktail dress in floral print had thin shoulder straps.
“That’s a Dolce & Gabbana. Try it on. It suits your coloring and will bring out the pink in your cheeks,” The attendant said, and I resolved to get her a fundraiser ticket come hell or high water.
Savanna came out of the dressing room, and the sight made my cock go nuclear.
The attendant had her standing on a slight pedestal so she could examine every dart and seam. “Perfection,” she said, and I had to agree. “You’ll be the belle of the ball wearing this.” She skimmed her palms down the side of the above the knee-length dress.
“Do you like it, Dante?” Savanna asked.
“I love it. You’re stunning, gattina.” My Zio’s nickname for Jessica just came out.
“Gattina. What’s that? Is it Italian?” The attendant asked.
“It means kitten. She’s my kitten.” I explained, not sure if I understood what I was doing.
My pet. To keep and care for.
“That’s sweet. Romantic.” A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I’d never expect such a thing from a Drago. You all have reputations for being tough guys, you know.” She rested her chin on her fist and raised her eyebrow at me. It was gutsy of her to say such a thing, but good-looking women got away with more than most.
“Who’s to say the two things are mutually exclusive? Maybe I’m a romantic brute,” I said. “I’m sure we can roust up an extra ticket for tonight. I’ll have someone drop it by for you.”
I could tell she wanted to hug me but knew better. Instead, she turned to Savanna and gave her a squeeze.
“So, tonight’s a pretty big deal, huh?” Savanna asked, looking at the jewelry pieces under the glass counter at the front of the boutique.
“Yes, it’s a huge deal for the Dragos. Pick something out that you like—earrings, a necklace. What else? One of those tiny purses women carry to these kinds of events,” I said.
“A clutch?” the attendant jumped in. “What about this one—it’s a Bottega Veneta that just came in and it’s a stunner.” She held up a bright pink number and Savanna checked out the price tag.
“Holy shit balls, for thirty-two thousand dollars it better be!”
“Do you like it?” I asked.
“Who wouldn’t!? But I can’t afford to pay that much for a bag.”
“You’re not paying. Why would you think that?” My pulse sped up. “We’ll take it.” I commanded the attendant.
“Dante. Come on, that’s unnecessary.”
“But it’s what you deserve. Besides, you’re my fiancée. It’s important that you look the part.”
The attendant folded her hands together on the counter, resting her chin on top of them, and cooed, “So romantic.”
The attendant carefully wrapped our purchases in tissue, boxed and bagged.
I led Savanna outside, and she stood up on tiptoe to place a kiss on my lips. She swayed, eyes closed. I wanted to take her home when she said, “Thanks so much, Dante. You didn’t have to do that, but it was awfully sweet of you.”
“There’s one more thing we need for tonight,” I tell her while locking the fancy bags in the steel storage lockers of my truck. “We can walk there from here.”
It was time to pick out an engagement ring for my wife to be.
15
Savanna
We walked hand in hand down the sidewalk, like a real engaged couple. Dante’s palm so huge and solid in mine, I could hardly span it with my fingers. I allowed myself to make believe that this was all real, that he’d chosen me out of all the women on the planet, to be his forever.
As if something in me could make a man go that bananas.
The last time a man went bananas for me, it didn’t end well.
But that was different.
Not one thing about Dante creeped me out or frightened me.
He had a way about him that made me want to pay attention. I couldn’t help but stare at his sinewy forearm and the huge, knobby fingers of his. Just the planes and contours of his chest, arms, and shoulders got me feverish.
Rig
ht here, right now. Walking down the sidewalk.
Most likely it was my biological clock kicking in.
Thirty.
My body was protesting the lack of eggs dropping to unite with some powerful swimmers of their choice. My ovaries were ready to hook up, and Dante was prime breeding material.
That had to be what this was about.
I let him move ahead of me a bit, so that I could admire his high and tight back end. It filled out his jeans perfectly beneath his broadly muscled back.
He stopped. “This is it.”
“A jewelry store? But we got jewelry at the boutique. I’m good, Dante.”
“There’s one piece of jewelry you’re still missing. Not something you can pick up in a dress boutique.” He reached out, grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. “Come on. Let me introduce you to Ralph, the owner.”
The store was plain, no effort put into decorating. Just white subway tile on the floor, white walls, and a single chandelier overhead illuminating the gemstone brilliance showcased underneath in row after row of sparkling jewels.
They were the point, after all. Sapphires, emeralds, diamonds. The precious stones lit up the room like no artwork, rugs or potted plants could.
“Good afternoon, Ralph. There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Dante said.
“Mr. Drago. Long time no see. How’s your Uncle?” The man named Ralph hefted a huge cat off of the glass display case in front of him. I swear his paws were the size of tangerines. The cat ducked his head under Ralph’s arm.
“Everyone’s good, real good. But I’m the best of them all. That’s why I’m here.”
If I didn’t know Dante was acting, I’d full on believe that he was a proudly engaged man, who’d just won his prize. I had an inkling about why we were here, and it made my stomach flutter and plunge at the same time.
If only it were real.
Instead, this was an “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” type of arrangement.
He was keeping the secret of me having killed a man, and I felt no remorse.
Okay, maybe an ounce.
Were my actions really worthy of jail time?
Mathew would have murdered me with no more hesitation than when he slaughtered my puppy, Peaches.
At least when I killed him, it was self-defense.
I drifted back to the present, listening to the men’s conversation, “Something elegant. Like her. A statement piece if you know what I mean.”
Ralph set the huge feline on the display case again, and I noticed his arms were three quarter the size that they should be for his height. His right arm was visibly shorter than his left. He shoved his tiny round glasses up his nose and carefully followed his cat, as it strolled along the top of the display case.
“Babe always knows. We can go over your likes and your preferences for an engagement ring, but I suggest using his skills first. He’s hardly ever wrong.”
“Engagement ring! Dante that’s not necessary.”
Ralph gave me a look. “Why don’t you see what Babe has to say about that?”
The weird logic of letting a cat find an engagement ring for a fake wedding was beyond bizarre, and I laughed louder than was socially appropriate, wondering if I was losing it altogether.
The big cat stopped and sat on a case with his tail wrapped around him until it came all the way to his front paws on the other side of his body. His whiskers were longer than any I’d seen on another cat. “Is he part Maine Coon?” I asked.
“I found him the back alley behind the shop when he was a kitten. Don’t think his blood runs too pure, but that doesn’t make him any less pretty.”
“So, what’s the verdict?” Dante asked. “What did he pick out for us?”
“Oh, that’s not his ring pose, that’s his getting ready pose. You’ll know the difference when you see it.”
“How can you tell?” I asked, watching as Babe stood on all fours again, prowling lazily to the other side of the room, plopping himself down, tail straight out behind him, tiny cat butt kissing the glass.
“That’s it right there.” Ralph sounded so excited. I really was amped to see what Babe’s cat bootie had picked out for me.
Ralph gently shoved the kitty aside, sprayed the glass with Windex, cleaned up with a paper towel and rocked back on his heels. “Yup. Never fails. Babe, you’re a genius.”
I strode across the room to see what the verdict was, and Dante followed, standing right behind me, putting his hands in the pockets of my jacket and pulling me back into his embrace.
“Oh, God. It’s stunning,” I said. “But I don’t think that’s in our price range.” Truth be told, I didn’t know what the hell Dante’s price range was. But in our case, a cracker jack ring would have cut it. No reason to go hog wild here.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Dante said in his low, insistent voice.
Ralph slid the glass doors of the display case open and set the ring down on a pile of cream-colored satin.
There sparkled the largest diamond I’d ever seen in person.
“Dante, that’s huge.”
Ralph held out his small hand, in an elegant gesture I couldn’t refuse. Obliging, I set my left hand on top of his tiny palm, thinking absurdly that this was the perfect profession for him since his diminutive size made the gemstone look even more monumental.
He slipped the ring on my finger.
It was a perfect fit.
“What did I tell you? That cat will never lead you astray. More to the point,” asked Ralph, “What do you think?”
“Oh, my stars.” I pet the pretty sparkles that flashed under the light. The ring made me feel special. Like a real live princess.
I’d wear it for a while just to see what it was like. Nothing permanent. Kind of like borrowing a dress from a friend.
As if he could read my thoughts Ralph said, “Tell you what, you’re going to the Thomas Fundraiser tonight, right?”
“We are,” Dante answered.
“Why don’t you wear it there, get a feel for it? If you aren’t in love with it after tonight, you can bring it back.” His grin was smug. He picked Babe back up, who hooked his enormous paws over Ralph’s arms, owner and pet’s limbs nearly equal in size.
“Are you sure?” I asked Ralph.
“Of course.” He picked up one of Babe’s paws and pointed it at me as he spoke. “Just let them know where it came from. Babe’s Baubles.” He waved the giant cat’s paw at me for emphasis.
Dante stepped in front of me on the sidewalk as we headed back to his pickup truck. “I’d have bought that for you, you know?” I had no choice but to stop, and he pinned me against a store wall. “Why do you keep fighting me? I’m just doing what your fiancé would in this situation.”
I lowered my voice. “But we both know that isn’t the case, is it? This is all for show.”
“Is that what you believe, Savanna? Is that how you feel? That this is all a ruse?” He lowered his eyelids and swept in for a kiss, which I met with my lips, but he licked my mouth open.
His tongue was so hot, insistent.
And damn it if I didn’t start melting the spot between my shaky legs.
I knew what he meant. Just one kiss from him and I was breathless and making whimpering sounds beneath his mouth.
He shoved at me with his pelvis, right there on Main Street, and I could feel the rigid steel of his thick cock shoving at my belly. “Is this a ruse? What you do to me?”
“Dante!” I gasped.
“Savanna, you’re driving me crazy. You’ve got to see I’m not pretending here,” he said, and his throat was a little froggy.
It freaked me out, and he must have noticed because he took a step back and shoved his fingers through his hair. “Fine, Savanna. We’ll play it your way. So long as you realize one thing.”
“What Dante?” I asked.
“I’m not fucking faking it.”
He gave me space. All the way back to the truck, and I couldn’t com
plain. Hell, I was the one who insisted on calling these feelings between us nothing more than a performance. But I missed him pulling me to his side, feeling his warmth against me, being safe under the shelter of his powerful arm.
I held the ring in front of me so that it caught the sunlight, and it blurred as a single hot tear ran down my cheek.
What would it be like to walk next to this man as his fiancée for real?
The temptation to play that fantasy over and over in my mind was pulling at me.
What was my freaking problem?
I glanced left and caught his profile, the striking dark brows, his high, jutting cheekbones, and the manly stubble that covered his square jaw.
Dante backed off when I got my fight or flight on; he respected my space. He didn’t push and insist like Mathew would have. He didn’t ignore everything but his own needs and desires.
Instead, he attended to mine.
So, would it be such a big, goddamn deal if I gave into temptation? Didn’t just play the little wifey-to-be for the public vote but actually believed in the fairytale for a while?
What would be the harm in that?
We drove on a back road I didn’t recognize.
“Hey, I have one more surprise for you before the party tonight,” he said.
“Dante, you’ve done enough already. Honestly.”
“This is probably the most important of all,” he said, pulling up to a building that said, “Chloe’s Salon & Spa”.
“Spa? Are you having a spa day?” I teased.
“Come on, silly.” He helped me down from his truck, placing me on my two feet in front of him and gave me another show-stopping kiss.
My stomach swooped, and all the heat rushed to the spot between my legs. Dante put his arm around me and walked me into the foyer of the spa.
Sitting down with a magazine open on her lap was Kate.
She looked up. “Savanna!” She leapt to her feet, held her arms out, and walked to me, pulling me into her embrace.
“I’m gonna leave you two girls here to enjoy yourselves. Savanna, call me when you’re ready for a ride. Kate, good to meet you—I look forward to spending a lot more time with you.” I noticed he hung back until Pete, my er, bodyguard, pulled into the parking lot. Not sure how I’d explain them to Kate. I suppose I could just tell her they were protection since Dante was running for office and I was his fiancée.
