Adrianna kept up with him by mirroring his actions. At times his movements were slow and slithering like a lion on the prowl. Other times, they were sharp and staccato. It was clear Dante was in his element as this was a dance in which the man led and the woman followed.
When the music became stronger, he flung Adrianna away like a ragdoll and then drew her to him again like she was his most prized possession. The smoldering glint in his light brown eyes filled her with longing. How were they supposed to take things slow when he looked at her like that?
His burning eyes held hers throughout the dance while his fingers slid sensuously over her bare arms. He led her across the floor with ease in the slow, slow, quick, quick, slow routine before suddenly spinning her around and around. She’d barely had a chance to recover when he crushed her to him and leaned down to kiss her. It was light and soft, a mere brush of his lips, but Adrianna felt it all the same.
When they parted Dante looked into Adrianna’s eyes and found the excitement had added shine to her gaze and color to her cheeks. They were so busy looking into each other’s eyes that they didn’t realize the music had stopped until the entire class began clapping enthusiastically.
Adrianna enjoyed the tango. The dance had shown her a different side of herself. A side in which she could be free to try something new and not care about how others saw her. For most of her life, she’d had to watch how she behaved for fear of how she would be viewed, but tonight she hadn’t cared that they’d had an audience. In fact, she’d reveled in being in Dante’s arms.
An older Latin woman whom Adrianna could only assume was the instructor approached them. “My dear.” The woman kissed both of Dante’s cheeks. “You’ve come a long way.”
“Madeline Dubois, allow me to introduce Adrianna Wright.”
“Lovely to meet you.” The older woman extended a hand which Adrianna shook. “Isn’t he wonderful? Dante has been taking private lessons and is my star pupil.”
“Oh, really.” Adrianna looked up at Dante questioningly.
“Yes.” Madeline smiled. “Dante is a natural. And it looks like he’s found the right partner in you. You two generated some serious heat on the dance floor just now. My students could learn a thing or two from you about passion.”
Adrianna blushed.
“Madeline, thank you for allowing me to interrupt your class, but we really must be going.” Dante bent down to kiss her cheek. “I promise to stay longer next time.”
“I’m going to hold you to it, Dante.”
Dante helped Adrianna with her wrap, slowly draping it across her shoulders. “You ready?” he whispered in her ear.
Adrianna glanced behind her. “I am, if you are.”
Once in the car, Adrianna thanked Dante for the experience. “When did you learn how to tango?” she inquired. “Was it a way to get to the ladies?” She’d seen quite a few women in the dance studio.
Dante chuckled. “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?”
“Of course not,” she lied. “I was just curious.”
“I learned to tango when I took waltzing with Quentin and Avery for their wedding. Poor Quentin had two left feet when it came to waltzing, but I picked it up quite easily and found I enjoyed it, so I tried another dance. First it was the tango, and then the rumba, then I got more adventurous with the cha-cha, samba and mambo.”
“I’m impressed,” Adrianna responded. “Not many men would venture out of their element.”
“I’m not many men,” Dante replied huskily.
Adrianna glanced at Dante. “No, you’re not.” Her eyes fixated on Dante’s full sensuous lips and she knew the evening was not about to end.
“What do you say to a nightcap?” Dante asked.
“I’d love one.”
Chapter 7
Back at his duplex Dante uncorked a bottle of his favorite white wine and poured Adrianna and himself a glass.
She’d already made herself comfortable on his leather sofa as she soaked in the ambiance. Dante had turned on some soft jazz on his iPod docking station and Adrianna kicked off her strappy heels and tucked her legs underneath her.
“Here you go, my dear.” He returned from the kitchen to hand her the wine.
“Thank you.” Adrianna accepted the glass as he joined her on the sofa. Dante didn’t sit far away, either; he scooted close to Adrianna until their thighs touched, sending a tingling straight to the pit of her stomach. Dante had a raw sexuality that was lethal to her well-being.
“To a wonderful first date.” She stared with longing at Dante over the rim of her glass.
“And an even better evening,” Dante added, his eyes never leaving her face.
The heat between them was so intense they didn’t bother to take a sip of wine. Instead Dante took the glass of out Adrianna’s hands and placed it on the cocktail table. He grasped both sides of her face and kissed her, sending spirals of ecstasy straight through her.
Dante relished the feeling of having Adrianna in his arms again and groaned huskily. “Do you want me as much as I want you?” he asked, pulling her into his lap and angling himself so he could nuzzle her neck.
There was no mistaking the bulge in his pants, so Adrianna’s answer was a soft sigh. She wanted nothing more than to be right where she was, lying against his wide chest.
His eyes lingered on her tantalizing pink lips, just before he bent down to suck on the fleshy bottom of her lower lip. She opened her mouth to give him full access and Dante groaned, gathering her close in his arms. Adrianna was all woman and all his and he intended to show her just how much he wanted her. The first time they’d made love here had been hurried and frantic because the passion had overtaken them, but this time it would be different. This time they could slowly savor each other’s bodies and take delight in each other’s responses.
Adrianna moaned as Dante made the kiss deeper and wetter than the last one. When his lips left her mouth to trail a path down her cheek to her neck and then on to the valley between her breasts, she moaned in protest. Then she felt cool air hit her back as Dante unzipped her strapless dress and pushed it down, exposing her bare breasts to his appreciative male gaze. The dress had a built-in bra so she hadn’t needed one.
“Adrianna…sweet Adrianna,” Dante murmured as he lowered his head and licked the dark brown nipple of one full globe. He laved the peak with his tongue until it turned hard like a plump raisin. When he was done with one globe, he turned his attention to the other and paid it equal service. “Is it good, sweetness?” he asked, his voice hoarse with desire.
Adrianna nearly screamed at the attention he was bestowing on her breasts. Red-hot flames of desire were shooting through every nerve ending and she couldn’t resist letting out a purr of ecstasy. He’d pleasured her so well, she returned the favor by reaching down to stroke his shaft inside his pants.
Adrianna’s soft hands caressed his length slowly at first, causing Dante to clench his teeth. Then she began quickening the strokes.
“Like this?” she asked as she pleasured him with her hand.
“Y-yes,” he barely managed to get out, as she squeezed the fullness in his pants, “which is why we need to take this to the bedroom.”
He lifted her, weightless in his arms, and carried her off to his bedroom. When they came down on the bed, his weight pressed her into the mattress and his mouth claimed hers again with fierceness. When she recovered her senses, he stripped her of her bikini panties and she was naked as the day she was born.
His hungry gaze roved her caramel-colored length. “I want you now,” he said as he stood beside the bed and began to undress. He tossed his clothes aside with little regard because he was eager to be with Adrianna. The wanton look she was giving him as she watched him unzip his pants caused him to shove his pants and briefs down his hips quickly and kick them away.
His sex jutted out powerfully as he approached the bed, causing Adrianna to lick her lips with anticipation. She was fascinated by that male part of him a
nd the tremendous power he possessed. “And I want you.” She reached up to pull him down to join her on the bed.
His hands caressed the long expanse of her outer thighs and steadily moved forward to stroke the petal-softness of her inner thigh all while his tongue dipped in and out of her mouth. He could feel Adrianna trembling underneath him as his fingertips found their way to the hair covering her mound. He hovered at first, letting his fingers tease the plump folds, until they gently worked their way inside to worry the tiny nub at the top of her womanhood.
Adrianna moaned aloud, drawing Dante’s eyes to hers. He watched her enjoyment accelerate as he played with the tiny nub. Her eyes fluttered and closed as he maddeningly caressed the sweet folds between his fingers. Her breath started coming in quick, uneven pants.
“Are you enjoying it, baby?” Dante crooned close to her ear. He could feel her become slick with her own juices. He wanted to drown in her sweet scent and taste and before Adrianna could react, his lips quickly left hers and he lowered himself on the bed to focus his attention elsewhere.
He cupped her buttocks between both hands and lifted her hips to his mouth and tongued her with feverish delight. Adrianna nearly jumped off the bed at the first flick of his tongue down there. He stroked her until she cried out with delight.
At her desperate cries to take her, Dante quickly leaned over to the nightstand to grab a condom and slip it on before he slid between her thighs and eased himself into the slick entrance of her body. He trembled with pleasure as he pressed forward and Adrianna accepted him easily. His upper body lifted off the bed as he used his hips to plunge again and again deep inside her. He reveled in her moist heat and Adrianna clung to him, calling his name and begging him for more.
Dante gave her exactly what she wanted, by thrusting harder and faster until he felt her body climax underneath him. He gave one final stroke before he, too, gave in to the sheer pleasure of his own powerful release. He collapsed on top of her before rolling over to his back and pulling her into his arms.
Adrianna didn’t protest. Her curvy body was still intertwined with his and she rested her head on his shoulder.
“That was amazing,” Adrianna finally spoke once she’d caught her breath.
“You’re amazing,” Dante murmured just as he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Adrianna slowly awoke to find herself in Dante’s arms and this time she wasn’t thinking about running away. She smiled as she turned to face him, but he was still asleep. It gave her a chance to study him unobserved.
Last night had been magnificent. Dante was the giving lover she’d remembered him to be. He knew exactly where and how to touch her to evoke a response and he made sure she was completely satisfied each time they made love. With Dante, she felt beautiful, sexy and every bit a woman.
She couldn’t resist stroking his strong jawline and letting her fingertips caress the fullness of his lips. Her actions caused Dante’s eyes to pop open.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said lazily.
“Good morning.” She brushed her lips across his.
“Ummm,” Dante moaned. “I like being woken up like that. And more importantly, I like having you in my bed.” His mouth swooped down to capture hers.
When he finally lifted his head, Adrianna asked, “So what’s on the agenda today?”
“You don’t have to get back to your father?”
“Nigel is with him and I don’t want this day to end.”
Dante felt the same and was glad Adrianna did, too.
“Well then, if you’re interested the New York Yankees are playing today. How about we catch a game?”
“For real?”
“Yes, one of my favorite diners works there. I always give him the best table in the house and he always tells me if I need to be hooked up, he’ll take care of me.”
Adrianna’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Pays to know people in high places. And it sounds great, but I have nothing to wear.” She only had the dress she’d worn last night.
“Don’t worry about it,” he responded. “You can wear some of my old sweats and we’ll pick you up something on the way.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
While Adrianna showered, Dante lined up plans for the day. First, they’d shop around and find Adrianna some casual clothes for the day. Then it was off to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees play the Boston Red Sox, followed by a romantic dinner along the Brooklyn Bridge. He’d already taken the liberty of ordering a dress from Bergdorf Goodman for their evening festivities.
Dante was waiting for Adrianna when she emerged from the steaming hot shower, holding a fluffy white towel. Adrianna wasn’t embarrassed stepping out of the shower and into his arms. Dante knew every part of her now, intimately.
Dante bent down and licked a droplet of water off Adrianna’s glistening skin as he dried off her wet body. “Hmmm, you smell fresh and clean.”
“Yeah, well, you’d better stop that or we’ll end up back in bed.”
Dante’s face melted into a buttery smile. “And would that be such a bad thing?” He couldn’t get enough of her sweetness. It was like she had him under her spell and he was powerless to resist.
They eventually made it out of his condo on the Upper West Side to head to a department store to pick out Adrianna something to wear. The weather was unseasonably warm for May and they didn’t need jackets. Dante was wearing a Yankees jersey, jeans and sneakers, while Adrianna was dwarfed in his old sweats and a pair of flip-flops. She’d had to roll up the legs to her ankles just to appear somewhat stylish as they walked down the street.
They arrived at Barneys and with not much time to spare, Adrianna found a tunic that cinched at the waist, some skinny jeans and a pair of bejeweled sandals to wear to the baseball game.
While she was putting on her clothes in the dressing room, Dante called his restaurants to let the staff know he would not be in. He put his sous-chefs in charge for the day.
“Are you kidding?” Marvin, his sous-chef at Dante’s, said. “You’re really not coming in?”
“No,” Dante stated emphatically. “I’m not.”
“I can’t remember the last time you took a day off,” Marvin commented.
“Well, then,” Dante said, “you had better enjoy being top dog for the day.”
He was hanging up when Adrianna came out of a dressing room stall. “How do I look?”
Dante’s eyes roamed over her figure. He loved the way the jeans hugged her backside. “Just perfect.”
“Okay, tell the sales lady I’m cutting off the tags, because this is coming with.” On the way to the counter, Adrianna couldn’t resist adding a hobo bag to her outfit, but when she arrived to the counter she found Dante had taken care of everything. “Dante, you didn’t have to buy my clothes.”
“I know. I wanted to.”
“Thank you.” She pulled him close for a quick kiss on the lips.
“And please put the bag on my card as well,” he instructed the cashier.
When they made it outside, Dante’s town car was already waiting for them and ready to take them to the game.
“Are you trying to spoil me?” Adrianna asked, sliding into the backseat.
“Yeah, how am I doing?”
“Marvelous, baby. Marvelous.” Adrianna giggled. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy. She felt euphoric and she had Dante to thank for it.
The drive to Yankee Stadium took a half hour with Manhattan traffic making it a rather long trip to the Bronx, but they arrived with plenty of time to take their seats directly behind the Yankees dugout on first base.
“Ohmigod,” Adrianna gushed as they walked to their seats holding hot dogs, popcorn and beer. “These seats are to die for. And on the day of the game? How’d you manage it for the championship team?”
Dante’s chest puffed out. “I told you I have connections.” Thanks to his contact, the tickets were waiting for them at will call.
“This
is going to be so much fun.” The last game she’d been to was when her father as governor had thrown the first pitch and it had all been about image. He’d been all about the press and not about the family day he’d promised her, so it hadn’t been much fun for her. She’d vowed to never come to a baseball game again. And she hadn’t until now.
Dante turned to glance at her and realized just what a big kid Adrianna could be. He liked that she was so open and honest with her emotions. She wore her heart on her sleeve, which was why the fact that she’d been dating another man while sleeping with him ten years ago made no sense. How could she show him such affection, make love to him so passionately, and yet all the time be going behind his back with another man? It didn’t make sense when her father had told him back then and didn’t make sense now. She’d apologized for the past, but had never fully explained what happened.
Dante took a deep breath. He had to stop letting negative thoughts take over. Why let nagging doubts spoil their romantic day? “I’m glad you’re enjoying the game,” he said, taking a sip of beer from the large plastic cup. His questions would just have to wait for another time, but someday, someday soon, he’d want to know the answers.
Adrianna glanced sideways at Dante. “I guess it’s easy to tell that I don’t get out much, huh?”
“I think you’ve led a very sheltered life,” Dante admitted.
“There wasn’t much room for fun in the Wright household,” Adrianna replied.
“True, but at least you didn’t have to worry about whether a fight was going to break out on your floor,” Dante said, thinking back to some rough patches at the orphanage. “Or if you might have to protect your boys. Or wonder if there was going to be enough food to go around in the dining hall.”
Two to Tango Page 9
