The Fire Within

by Dana Marie Bell

  He nipped her neck, sucking, marking her skin with his teeth. If he had his way she’d always wear his mark. “What a good idea.”

  “You...” She grunted, but it wasn’t in pain. “You need your rest.”

  He pressed her up against the counter. “Come with me, Elizabeth.”

  She stared at him, studying him intently before nodding. “All right, Dante. But on one condition.”

  At this point he’d promise pretty much anything so long has he got inside her. “Yes?”

  “You let me do all the work.”

  Oh, thank God. She wasn’t going to fight him. “Fuck, yes.”

  “Good.” She grinned. “You know how much I like being in charge.”

  He half moaned, half laughed. “This should be interesting.”

  She pulled free of him and crooked her finger. “Coming?”

  “Not yet.” He followed her into the living room, ready to submit to both their desires. The pain in his arm was a distant thing. His cock hurt far more, but that would change after they’d both gotten off.

  But he’d deal with that once the time came.

  She slid her arms around his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers.

  Dante took the kiss she offered and deepened it, his tongue thrusting in and out of her mouth in a display of what was to come. He needed her. He’d never needed anyone this much before. If she didn’t start touching him soon, he’d die.

  She began unbuttoning his shirt, the kiss making things awkward. Neither of them seemed willing to break it, however—her lips never leaving his for a second as the shirt slipped off his shoulders.

  The slight ache in his arm was worth it when her fingers began plucking at his nipples. She used her other hand to begin unbuttoning his jeans, and whimpered when he stopped her.

  “Upstairs.” He had to have her in his bed, on his sheets.

  She began to stroke his cock through his jeans, grinning when he moaned again.

  “What the hell are you doing to me?” he gasped as her warm mouth began to trace a trail down his body.

  “No, baby, not here.” He tugged her back up, ravaging her mouth with a hunger that was almost frightening.

  She pulled him to the couch in his living room and pushed him down, straddling his thighs. He couldn’t find it in him to protest when she began kissing her way down his body again.

  Elizabeth was going to devour him, and he was just fine with that.

  She got his shoes and jeans off him, leaving him bare to her gaze. But unlike Dante, who would have taken a moment to admire her beauty, she sucked his cock into her mouth with the ferocity of a starving woman. He bucked up as her wet heat wrapped around him, her talented tongue stroking over him desperately.

  She was driving him insane, and she was still fully clothed.

  He let her have her way with him, the suction of her mouth taking every thought away but one. He needed more than her mouth on him. He had to be inside her, to mark her with his inner fire, the urge to do so overwhelming everything else. He used his good hand to tug on her hair until she looked up. “Get naked.”

  “Dante.” Something in her expression said she’d planned on bringing him off, but not herself. She must have been planning this from the moment he’d started caressing her stomach.

  “Please.” He reached up, touching any part of her he could reach from his prone position. Her thighs, her stomach, her knees, he stroked them all. “Please, Elizabeth.”

  She frowned, the expression oddly sad. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He shook his head. “Let’s take this to bed. I’ll lie there and think of England.”

  She burst into startled laughter. “You’re such a nut.”

  “Your nut.”

  Her laughter died, her expression awed. “I think you are.”

  He held up his good hand. “Take me to bed, woman.”

  That happy laughter bubbled out of her again, making him feel like Superman. She mockingly saluted him. “Yes, sir.” She grabbed his hand and helped him off the sofa, careful of his wounded arm. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

  He looked down at his red, rock-hard cock.

  “Forget I asked.” She dragged him to the stairs and up into the bedroom. “Lay down, Dante.”

  He lay on his side of the bed, propped against the headboard. She’d already taken off her top and bra, but watching her jeans slide down her long, silky legs had his cock jerking. The panties soon followed, and he damn near wept for joy.

  When she slid on to her side of the bed and reached for his cock he had to hold himself back by sheer force of will. He would do exactly what she’d asked of him and give himself to her, knowing that in the end it was he who’d ultimately claim her.

  Elizabeth set her glasses on the end table before curling up next to him, her leg thrown over his, her damp pussy brushing against his thigh. She sucked him once more into her mouth, her head bobbed up and down, making him crazy with need. Dante gripped her hair and helped set the rhythm, their pants and sighs the only sound in the quiet room.

  He wanted to taste her, to have her come on his tongue, but he doubted she’d allow it. Already she was trying to drive him to orgasm, sucking on him with such enthusiasm that if the need hadn’t been there to claim her he would have spilled in her mouth.

  “Elizabeth.”

  She sucked on him harder.

  “Let me taste you.” The request fell from his lips before he could stop it.

  She shuddered.

  “Please.”

  She slowly slid off his cock. “All right.”

  Her voice was breathless, but her movements sure as she carefully crawled up his body. She made sure not to touch his wound. “If this hurts, it all stops.”

  He bit back his response. It would hurt so good, but only if she allowed it. “I promise, if we hurt my arm we’ll stop.” Right now, the only thing he felt was the need to be buried to the hilt inside her.

  Instead, he leaned forward and lapped at her pussy, smiling when she gasped. “You taste so good, tesoro.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Hmm?” Dante could barely concentrate with such a feast in front of him. He lapped at her clit carefully, not wanting to strain either of them.

  “Tesoro. What does it me—” Her hips thrust forward the tiniest bit, and he knew he’d found a hot spot. “Mean?”

  “Treasure. Honey. Darling. All that and more.” It was his favorite term of endearment, the one he’d heard his father use for his mother for years.

  It was odd, but he’d never once called Lillian his treasure, but Elizabeth had been so since the moment he realized he wanted her.

  “Dante.” Her fingers were tugging on his hair, pulling him closer, and he obliged, sucking her clit into his mouth. She writhed against him, her hips moving, her head thrown back in ecstasy. He remembered how she’d reacted to his fire before, how she’d come and come against him, on him, around him, and he let it loose, let it warm her flesh.

  Elizabeth screamed, her body shuddering in climax as his fire stroked over her pussy. Dante was awed at the beauty of her pleasure.

  She really was made for him.

  He licked his lips, her flavor on his tongue. “More?”

  She whimpered.

  “Would you rather ride me?”

  The demanding look she shot him was kinda hot. “Don’t. Move.”

  Dante froze. “Yes, ma’am.”

  She slithered down his body, her skin caressing his, her breasts stroking him. She paused only long enough to kiss his injured arm before sitting up, the top of his cock nudging at her opening. “I’m warning you, Dante.” She leaned over him, arms on either side of his head, no part of her touching him as she lifted her hips away from him. “Or it
all stops.”

  “Gonna tie me up?” The thought of being at her mercy didn’t scare him at all. He trusted her, more than anyone other than his brothers.

  Even shock looked good on her. “You’d like that?”

  He shrugged his good shoulder. “Only if I get to return the favor.”

  She laughed, low and husky. “Then we’ll have to invest in some rope.”

  He grinned. “I guess we will.”

  She sat up again, but this time she slid down his cock until his balls rested against her ass. “You’re mine, Dante.”

  He smiled. “Prove it.”

  She began rocking her hips, fucking him gently. Her face was full of desire, her lips parted, her cheeks flushed as she rode him. When she cupped her breasts and played with her nipples Dante felt a stab of envy. He wanted to be the one to touch her there, but watching her toy with herself was the next best thing.

  Dante wanted to stroke her sleek skin, hold her hips and thighs while he thrust into her, but he knew if he so much as twitched wrong she’d slide off him, leaving him desperate for her. So he did the only thing he could do.

  Dante lit his inner fire.

  She gasped, her eyes going wide, her movements stuttering to a halt. “Jesus.”

  “Nope. Dante.” He sighed sadly. “Someday you’ll get that right.”

  She stared down at him. “What are you doing?”

  “Touching you the only way I can.”

  She moaned as his fire touched her, his heat licked over her skin. Twin flames danced around her nipples and she came again, her back bowed, her thighs clamping around him.

  So beautiful. So his.

  She clamped her hands on his thighs and began riding him in earnest, her body slipping and sliding over his, her thighs bunching and flexing as she took him inside over and over. Dante sent his fire licking over her pussy, warming her clit as his cock warmed her on the inside.

  He’d never tried this before Elizabeth. He’d been too afraid of burning his partner. But somehow Elizabeth was immune to his flame.

  She gasped, coming again, her pussy squeezing him so tightly he groaned.

  Perhaps immune wasn’t the right word. She seemed to get off on it, to find unbearable pleasure in his fire.

  So Dante gave it to her, let his flames lick her skin, her hair, her pussy. She cried out, her movements becoming erratic, the bed frame squeaking with the force of their lovemaking.

  He felt the inferno build, the fire within him growing until there was only one way, one resolution. “Tesoro.”

  She stared down at him, her gaze filled with passion. “Tesoro.”

  The fire erupted.

  Dante filled Elizabeth with his seed, his passion, his fire, until he didn’t know where he ended and she began. Elizabeth shrieked, her whole body clenching in an orgasm that looked almost painful. He shuddered, gasping for breath as the ecstasy almost blinded him.

  When it was over she collapsed beside him. “Dear mother of God.”

  Her voice was shaking, husky from her screams. “Amen.”

  She turned to him and laughed, curling up on his good side, wrapping herself around him. “Have I ever told you you’re hot?”

  Their shared laughter filled the empty place that he hadn’t even realized was there.

  He loved her, and he from now on he was keeping her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The light slanting in through the curtains woke her up long before the alarm did. Turning over, she studied Dante as he slept. He looked worn—dark circles still under his eyes, his face scrunched up even in sleep.

  When he’d been shot, she’d thought her heart had stopped. It almost had, until she’d heard his cursing, but it had still taken the trip to the hospital and that sweet kiss to reassure her that he was okay.

  If he had asked the moon of her last night, she’d have given it willingly and never counted the cost.

  It scared her, the hold he had on her now. She knew, all too well, what love could do to someone who wasn’t cautious, who didn’t hold back a piece of themselves from their lover. She’d seen her parents go from partner to partner, throwing themselves into their new relationships only to find that what they thought was love was just lust.

  But something about Dante, the way he held her and kissed her, told her it was much more than lust. She felt safe in his bed, sleeping in his arms. She’d opened herself to him completely, and she didn’t think she’d ever be able to remove him from her heart.

  Oh, she was strong enough to walk away if she had to. Watching her parents’ disintegrating marriages had proven that. She’d leave an integral part of herself behind if she did, one she’d miss like hell. She’d probably learn to live without it eventually, but what would be the point?

  No one wanted to live without their heart, and Dante held hers firmly in his grasp.

  He sighed in his sleep, and her attention focused once more on him rather than the misty future. She carefully lifted the covers, trying to see his arm, but instead she found herself pinned under him. “Um. Good morning.”

  “Was there something you wanted?” He pressed against her with a wicked grin.

  “To check your arm.” She’d gotten him a pain pill after she’d gotten her breath back last night, but it should have worn off by now. He should be achy and sore. “Does your arm hurt?”

  “It’s fine.” His voice was muffled against the softness of her breast. Before she could think of a reply, he took her hungrily into his mouth and began to suckle her. “It’s another part of me entirely that aches.”

  She shifted slightly and felt his erection press into her thigh. “Since you’re not wearing pants, I won’t ask if that’s a gun in your pocket.”

  He nipped playfully at her neck. “Nope. Not a banana either.”

  He kissed his way down her body slowly. Tendrils of pleasure raced through her as his mouth descended on her stomach.

  Was he going to do that fire thing again? She shuddered at the thought. She’d never thought she was so fond of heat until Dante licked her with his flame.

  When he winced she stopped him. “No, Dante.”

  He whimpered. “Aw, c’mon. I haven’t had breakfast yet.” He leered and licked his lips.

  “Remember the rules?” She glared at him. “You’d better follow them, or there will be no nookie.” She shook her finger at him. “No nookie for you!”

  He sighed and rolled over onto his back. “Sit, Dante. Stay. Woof.”

  She shook her head at his silliness. Who knew Detective Zucco was such a little boy inside? “If you’re not up for this we could skip the whole morning sex thing and go for donuts.”

  He started whining.

  “What, I thought cops like donuts.”

  “You suck.”

  Aw, look at the puppy eyes. “Not yet I don’t.” She was barely holding back a laugh. Most of the men she’d dated didn’t know how to have fun in bed, but Dante made everything that much brighter.

  “Fine. Here I am, an almost-virgin sacrifice. Do with me what you will.”

  He sounded so put-upon. “Like I said, if it’s too much trouble...”

  He growled and tugged her down. “Kiss me good morning, damn it.”

  Beth did as he asked, careful not to jar his arm. “We need to get you a pain pill.”

  His expression was determined. “Priorities, Elizabeth.” He tapped his cock against her thigh. “Priorities.”

  She started to laugh. “You are such a pig.”

  He sniffed disdainfully before starting to laugh himself. “Well, one of us has to remember what’s important.”

  She managed to effectively stifle his laughter when she took him into her mouth and began to slowly, methodically pleasure him. She used her tongue, stroking
his shaft, pulling as much of him into her mouth as she could.

  He put his hand in her hair, guiding her movements, groaning when the tip of her tongue caressed the weeping hole at the tip. “Mmm, yes, Elizabeth.”

  She hollowed out her checks, sucking on him as hard as she dared. He hissed, hunching his hips at her face, slipping his cock further between her lips. She sucked greedily at him, using rapid little strokes of her tongue, pumping her head faster and faster. His hand clenched in her hair as she brought him to climax that left him gasping and groaning.

  She patted his hip as she released his cock. “Pain pills?”

  He moaned a laugh. “You are evil, woman. Pure evil.” But he grimaced as he shifted. “But you’re a right evil woman.” The puppy eyes made another appearance. “Can I have some donuts?”

  She loved this cute side of him. She wondered how many others got to see it, and had the sneaking suspicion few ever had. “You’re pushing it, copper.”

  “And coffee?”

  “How about a cafe mocha vodka valium latte?”

  “Make it a grande, please.” He yawned. “Oh, and jelly donuts?”

  “Guess I’m running out for breakfast.” Beth wasn’t going to complain. She really couldn’t cook. Even scrambled eggs were beyond her. She ate most of her meals out of a microwave pouch. “I’ll bring back enough for tomorrow too.”

  “Mm.” He was mostly asleep already. “Love you. Be careful.”

  Beth froze, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. “Dante?”

  His quiet snore was her only answer.

  “Damn it, Dante.” She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. “I love you too.” She dressed quickly and stole his keys off his dresser. This wasn’t how she’d planned on confessing to him. Maybe next time she said it he’d be awake for it.

  He was still asleep when she returned with the coffee and donuts, so she left his by the bed along with his pain pills. She wrote a quick note telling him she was headed into the office and her apartment, adding she’d return with orange juice and milk since he was out. She made sure to lock the door behind her.

  Hopefully he’d sleep most of the afternoon. As much as he thought he was all right, she’d seen how pale he was after he came. He needed to rest, and it was too tempting to give in to him when she was lying right beside him.