by Nana Prah
He ran his hands over her back. “You smell fresh, like a garden.”
She had an impossible time understanding what he’d said, although she’d watched his lips. “It’s the bath soap.” She forced her eyes to move to his. “They have quite the selection.”
“Good.” He nibbled her earlobe. “It’s delectable on you, but I need a more masculine scent.”
She grabbed the sides of his face, and the slight stubble of growth grazing her hands brought an increased sense of excitement. She pulled him down while rising onto her toes. If they had only tonight, she might as well set it off right.
Their lips fused as their tongues glided in a languorous manner. She slipped her hands around his back to draw him closer.
A moan escaped her when he opened her robe to rub his thumbs against her bare, hardened nipples.
She whimpered when the coolness of the air hit her lips as he ended the kiss.
“I want to take this slow. To be gentle.” His ragged breath against her ear drove her further into a state of need.
Her glazed-over eyes attempted to focus. “Why?” She captured his mouth in another searing kiss, blocking any answer. There would be a time for sweetness, but right then she’d combust with her need to have him fill her. Love her.
Their kiss went wild as their hands roamed everywhere. They separated only long enough to strip his clothes and remove her robe. The pleasure of touching the tight, muscled body she’d admired for so long became an addiction.
When he tried to pull away, she refused to let go.
“I need to get a condom from the bag.”
Lanelle dragged her hand along his waist as she moved behind him. They walked as one unit while she alternated between nipping, licking and sucking his back.
As he reached into the bag, his intake of breath as she reached around and rubbed the head of his erection made her feel deliciously naughty.
Pulling out a small box, he opened it to remove one of the condoms. She snatched it from his hand and stepped in front of him. She took a moment to appreciate his magnificence by stroking him before opening the packet. Loving the way his eyes closed and his head dropped back over his shoulders, she took her time slipping it on.
More than ready for him, she lifted herself onto the edge of the table and opened her legs, placing one on a nearby chair and curling the other around his hip. She’d never been this bold when it came to sex, but with Dante she seemed to know no other way.
Arching her back with her eyes closed, she anticipated he’d enter her immediately. When his hands stroked her thighs for a few seconds, she opened her eyes.
He gazed into her face.
“What?” Self-conscious under the scrutiny, she realized how wanton she must appear, splayed open for him.
“You are exquisite.” He leaned forward and slid his lips over hers in a kiss so sweet it had no comparison. Then he increased the pressure. Her mouth opened, and he touched every crevice until she started sucking on his tongue. She moaned into his mouth when he reached between them to open her outer folds and touch her clit. He knew just how to stroke her as his fingers rubbed, bringing her close to climax.
The pressure became too much to contain as his fingers rotated faster while he thrust his tongue into her mouth. Lanelle let go, rasping his name as the spasms took over; collapsing onto his shoulder, she struggled to catch her breath.
He scooted her closer to the edge, lifted her legs over his forearms to widen them and stepped farther between. They stared at each other as he reached her entrance. The feeling of him filling and stretching her brought too much pleasure for her to maintain the eye contact. She closed her eyes, drowning in the sensations.
He stilled. “Look at me.”
Forcing her lids open, she did as ordered, only to be rewarded when he thrust into her.
He set the rhythm. It didn’t bother her that he had so much control over her body. She relinquished it without a qualm. Just as long as she could be one with him.
She experienced him everywhere. His scent filled her nose, his taste remained in her mouth, every inch of skin was aware of his touch. Most of all, he expanded her heart, which would burst at any moment.
Her nipples rubbed against his chest with each return stroke as he increased the pace, leading her into a tempo that would have her coming again. When he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked, she broke apart. Driving into her harder, Dante joined her, creating an intimacy the likes of which she’d never experienced.
Forever. The word drifted into her mind as she came down from the best sexual experience of her life. No matter what he chose to do, she’d be his until time stopped.
His heart rate slowed against her chest as they clung to each other. With the brush of his lips over her cheek, he eased out. The emptiness hit her more than the chill of the air conditioner on her damp skin.
He lifted her from the table and laid her on the bed, covering her with the sheet. His lingering lips brought a honeyed flutter into her belly.
Admiring his taut physique as he walked to the bathroom, she waited for his return. Would he cuddle with her? Would they talk? Or, like her ex-husband, would he stay alone and aloof on the other side of the bed?
Chapter 25
Dante crawled under the sheet and reached for his woman. There was no way he’d consider her anything less. She came willingly, snuggling against him with a sigh.
He smiled and brushed his chin against the top of her head. “Tell me about your dreams.”
She lifted her head from his chest and frowned. Shifting their bodies a fraction, he kissed her. Her response urged him on. He released her lips with reluctance, finding it more important to hear her answer than to make love again. It would come soon enough.
He settled into the pillows. “Hasn’t anyone asked you what your greatest desire in life is?”
“Never.”
He squeezed her close. “I’m asking, so tell me.”
The moments ticked by. “I don’t have any. I stopped dreaming when my babies died.”
“So there’s nothing you long to do or have?” Dante refused to believe a person could go through life without a dream.
“You asked me why I like cathedrals so much.” She drew in a breath and released it on a long warm exhale across his skin. “After losing the twins and my marriage, I became inconsolable. I had no need to exist anymore, and I didn’t want to.”
Her voice was stronger than he expected it to be. “I went to counseling, but it didn’t seem to be working. I lived in a state of depression. And I couldn’t look at a baby without crying.”
He caressed a hand down her arm. Solid and soft.
“I wanted to die.”
Dante stifled the panic that rose. “But you didn’t.”
The shift of her cheek tickled his chest when she smiled. “Unless you just had sex with a ghost.”
“Stranger things have happened, although not to me. Tell me more.”
“My mother, lost as to how to help me, led me to a church a couple of months later. Not our normal one, but a cathedral I’d never set foot in. The message the priest gave brought tears to my eyes. He spoke about forgiveness and learning to move forward. Existing in the pain would help no one, especially the person suffering. It was as if I’d been delivered there for those words.”
She lifted her torso and braced a forearm on his chest. He missed the contact of her body flush against his. Looking into her eyes made up for it.
“When the service ended, we stayed seated, allowing the priest’s words to echo in my head. As if some kind of miracle had descended on me, all of a sudden I had a reason to live. I realized I couldn’t live for anyone. Life is for me.” She nodded as if reaffirming what she’d learned. “With my mother by my side, not having said a word the entire time, I
stood and meandered through every area of the building, appreciating the statues and stained glass windows. Touching the pews as if they held a life of their own. I finally saw the beauty of being alive, even if my children hadn’t been able to make it.”
He didn’t have to imagine her reverence in the church; he’d witnessed it firsthand.
“I lost track of time as we wandered. The priest asked if there was a problem. I’ll never forget the compassion that filled his eyes when I broke down and told him everything, ending with how much his words had touched me. He must’ve been a busy man, but he took the time to listen and console me. Do you know what Father Patrick did next?”
Dante shook his head, not having a clue.
“He prayed for me and told me to return the next day.”
“I take it you went back.”
“I couldn’t stay away. When I was younger, I wanted to be a nun, but once I left Catholic school I realized it wasn’t for me. Maybe it wasn’t too late.”
“Did I just sleep with a reverend sister?”
Lanelle smacked his shoulder with a giggle. “No. I didn’t become a nun.”
Dante believed there were no coincidences in life. Destiny had a way of making things happen so it would be fulfilled. “So what happened?”
“Father Patrick had me volunteer at a women’s shelter. My life changed from there. These women had gone through much worse than me, and yet they’d survived and continued to try to make a better life for themselves and their children. Father Patrick reminded me I had a purpose in life and I had to fulfill it.” Her eyes shone.
“I’d like to meet this man and thank him for helping you.”
She rested her head on his chest. “He got transferred to Tennessee, but we still keep in contact. He ended up being a true friend and mentor.”
“Then we’ll go visit him.” He’d committed himself and looked forward to the trip one day.
“What for?”
Because he saved the life of the woman I love fell short of slipping out of his mouth. He didn’t think she’d be able to handle something he’d barely gotten a grasp on. “Because he helped you and brought you back to life.”
“I gave an anonymous donation to Father Patrick’s church. I didn’t tell them what to do with the money, but they ended up expanding the shelter. Even though he left, it still thrives, and I donate to help keep it running.”
Humbled by the woman in his arms, he inhaled their mingled scents as he squeezed her.
They lay silent for a long time. Just when he thought she’d fallen asleep, she whispered, “My dream is to be a mother.”
“Then we’ll work on making it happen.” Feeling the stirring of desire, he rolled her onto her back. “Just call me the dream maker.” He had no doubt one day they’d have a child, whether biologically or by other means. But tonight, he’d focus on pleasure.
Chapter 26
On the way back to Agrigento the next afternoon, Lanelle snuck a peek at Dante as he drove.
Being with him had been amazing. She leaned her head against the seat and closed her eyes. Recalling each caress and whisper they’d shared brought a prickle of heat to her skin.
He grabbed her hand. “You’re smiling.”
Intertwining their fingers, she looked at him. “So are you. I was remembering.”
“Those must be some damn good memories.”
“Indeed.” Dante’s words of making her dream come true rose up to taunt her. She wanted him to be the father of her child. For the first time in years, she was willing to endure whatever pain might come along with creating a baby.
He couldn’t have meant what he’d promised. He still doesn’t know my true identity. What will he say when I tell him? The image of sparks flying from his body from pure rage filled her imagination.
“What excuse did you give the others about why we spent the night in Trapani?” Lanelle asked in order to divert her attention from the unintended subterfuge, which could break them up before they had a chance to solidify what they shared.
“My sister didn’t ask.” He turned to her and wiggled his brows. “I figure they already knew I wanted a night of nooky with you.”
“Cut it out. They won’t think we had sex, will they?”
“The way you’re glowing, they’ll have no doubt.”
She pulled the visor down to look in the mirror. Nothing had changed, except that she couldn’t get rid of the silly grin. “I’m not glowing.”
“Maybe I’m overlaying the memory of you calling my name with your orgasm this morning.” He looked at her for a moment before returning his attention to the road. “We need to change the topic. I’m thinking of pulling over.”
Lanelle hoped her sidelong glance came out saucy. “I wouldn’t mind stopping.”
He groaned and squeezed her hand. “Don’t tempt me, love.”
Love. There it was again. He’d whispered it as they’d made love last night. It wasn’t anything more than a simple term of endearment.
The exhaustion from the night of lovemaking, mixed with too little sleep, caught up to her. On her way to drifting off, she murmured, “Hmm?” when Dante called her name.
“Last night you mentioned donating money to the shelter Father Patrick ran.”
Her eyes sprang open. She’d been so involved with her experience of the past, she’d forgotten about exposing herself. “Yes.”
“Who are you?”
Playing dumb would insult his intelligence and draw out his anger. He’d made it more than clear he detested lying. Why would she risk not having him fall in love with her over a tiny nondisclosure? Besides, he had money, power and confidence of his own. He didn’t need hers.
Those things can never be enough. People always seek more. Lanelle hushed her inner cynic. Or was it her inner realist? Either way, she’d tell him everything. “My name is—”
“Lanelle Murphy. I know. What I’m looking for is how you were able to give the shelter so much money. Expansions to a facility aren’t cheap.”
She dived into her bag when her cell started ringing. Postponing the inevitable for a couple of more minutes couldn’t hurt anything. The annoyance on Dante’s face claimed otherwise.
Brad’s number flashed on the phone. “Can you please pull over? I have to take this call.”
“I’m driving, not you.”
She cut her eyes at him. As she answered, Dante pulled the car to the side of the road, and she hopped out.
Knowing it wasn’t a social call, she got to the point. “What’s up, Brad?”
“I finished my run-through of the NICU.” His pause didn’t bode well. “Lanelle, someone cut so many corners the place is on the cusp of being dangerous to anyone who walks in.”
Her stomach bottomed out.
“The materials used were below substandard, covered over to make people think they were of superior quality. And whoever constructed it only considered the bottom line.”
Anger raced through her. All she’d wanted to do was provide a place of healing for premature babies. Someone had put people at risk with their greed. “Will it need to be torn down?”
“The foundation is actually solid, so it could be worse.”
She scoffed. “It could be better.”
“True.”
Trusting her friend as she did one of her own brothers, she asked, “So what’s the way forward?”
“Get in touch with the hospital’s project manager and have them call off the workers who are there. They’d only be wasting their time at this point. When you get back, you’ll need to have a major meeting with the board to see how to progress. Has your accountant been able to find anything in the books?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. Can you please do me another favor?”
He chuckled. �
��Since you rarely ask for anything, sure, I’ll go through the construction bids and see if I spot something shady.”
“I owe you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Thanks, Brad.”
“Other than calling off the flooring people, there’s nothing you need to do. So enjoy the rest of the vacation.”
Worried sick, she knew the impossibility of such an order. “We leave tomorrow, so I’ll be back soon.”
A brief goodbye from both sides and the line went dead.
Head down in extreme distress, Lanelle turned and caught Dante watching her, and once again her courage failed. She couldn’t tell him. She just couldn’t. After looking up the project manager on her phone, she called and told him to contact Calvano Flooring to inform them to halt work on the project.
The calls to the board could wait until she got back to the hotel.
Lanelle trundled to the car to face her shame. She might as well try to enjoy the last day she had with him. Once he found out about her being an Astacio and her involvement in the project, whatever he may have started to feel for her would disappear into the ether.
Dante met her at the passenger side door. “Is everything okay?”
Squaring her shoulders, she told him the truth. “It will be. I just have a rat to catch.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Thanks, but I need to process it all first.”
He rubbed his hands along her arms, then pulled her in for a hug—the one thing she’d wanted most at that point. But with all her deception and spinelessness, she didn’t deserve it, so she pushed away and forced a smile up at him before sitting in the car.
He’d receive the news about the NICU soon. Would she be able to complete it? Brad seemed optimistic. How would it affect Dante’s chances of expanding his business and keeping control of his company?
Not for the first time, she wished she’d been better able to keep an eye on the business dealings of the project during its most critical phase.
