“Then she offhandedly says we have to get you to process the anger—those that don’t are the ones who become serial killers. I was nine and it rocked my world. I was already reading Koontz, and King, and Saul. I was terrified if I didn’t get my shit together I was going to become a serial killer. Then I became fascinated with how normal some of these people were on the outside while doing these horrific things behind closed doors.”
“The normal is what always gets me too. Then again, normal is subjective.” Finished with my dinner, I take her plate and mine into the kitchen then run the water over them. “How about pistachio gelato?”
She turns around. “Sounds good to me.”
I scoop half the pint into a bowl and snag two spoons. Settling back onto the couch, I hand her a spoon.
Fuck, she’s nearly on my lap. Her breasts are inches away from me, and my cock stirs. We talk through the first episode of the show as we share dessert.
“Mmm... yummy.” She sighs as she sucks on her spoon with her eyes closed.
I toss the dish down on the coffee table and tug her onto my lap. A happy sigh comes out of her as her arms go around my neck. She tastes of early morning sex, sleepy and sweet, more intoxicating than any liquor. My control is slipping as her untutored tongue tangles with mine; I catch it and suck deep. Her body trembles, her arms clutch me tighter, her soft body melts into mine. I’m feeding off her little whimpers, swallowing them whole, devouring her every response yet none of it is enough. I want more, I want all of her. Shit, I feel her fear and I yank my head back, letting it fall on the back of the couch while I fight for control.
“Dante.” She moans, her head falls on my chest. Her small hands are running over my back. I’m debating throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her to bed when she whispers, “Sorry, I got scared for a second. I didn’t mean it.”
Shaking my head, I run a finger over her swollen lips. She isn’t ready yet, even if she thinks she is. Patience. “I’m sorry I scared you. You taste better than any dessert.”
The witch opens her mouth to suck on my finger. It goes straight to my cock. “I like when you scare me. I trust you. I love what you do to me, even when I wondered if I should or not.”
I pull my finger from her mouth. “What are you wondering if you should like or not?”
A soft pink warms her cheeks. “When you threatened to spank me and tore my dress. Every time you get all growly and...” She sighs as she rubs against me like a cat in heat. “I thought it was wrong to like it, shouldn’t I want soft kisses and gentle touches? Only none of those things make me wet the way you getting growly and dominating does.”
Damn, I can smell how wet she is. “That’s a relief because every time I reach for you, my intention is soft and gentle but once I touch you, you make me greedy for all of you.”
Emerald glitters up at me. “Same.” She smiles; her hands go into my hair and pull me to her.
Slow, slow, it’s not working, second by second I’m delving deeper, wanting to gauge her every response, what makes her whimper, what makes her moan. I ease back, trying to gain control over my hunger. Bethany groans, pulling me tighter to her. Before I lose it my hand goes into her hair to hold her in place as I raise my head. Her little gasp has me gripping her tighter as my tongue traces her pulse hammering beneath her skin. When my cock stops leaking I go back to her mouth, slow, slow, better, yes. She moans into my mouth as she picks up what I’m teaching her. But slowly the hunger is building again. This time I discover the spot right behind her ear that has her moaning my name, then shivering as I nip at her earlobe.
Another taste of her, one last time. Now both of us are slower, savoring this new knowledge of each other. When we pull away to catch our breaths we come back together in harmony, Bethany tilting her head before I’ve even moved in sync without saying a word. Then her eyes close, and I feel her deep intake of air. I smile as I pull away; her eyes flutter open in question. I press my lips to the tip of her adorable nose. “You’re sleepy.”
She shakes her head, only to yawn. “It’s really annoying how you’re always right. I get to be right too, sometimes, don’t I?”
“We’ll see. I’ll think about it.” I pick her up, intending to carry her across the hall.
Her hands around my neck, she bites my neck lightly. “Ow.”
“Put me down. I’m way more tired than I thought I was. I’m already getting cranky at the thought of you leaving me alone again, even though I’m way too tired for anything to happen. When I’m this tired I don’t have to make sense. I can make it across the hall. If you take me to bed I’m pretty sure I’ll throw a tantrum I’ll regret tomorrow.”
It’s hard not to laugh. “Your wish is my command.” I lower her to her feet.
“No, it’s not, because if it were we would already be in bed right now. But whatever. Goodnight,” she snaps as she walks away.
I catch up to her before she opens the door. I tug her around to face me, then back her up against the door. A hand under her chin forces her head up to look at me. I kiss her with all the longing I’m feeling too. I don’t want to send her across the hall bu
t she’s not ready, not yet. Candy sweet, mine all mine soon, damn it. I growl low—she’s using what I’ve taught her. Ending the kiss, I step back then walk away while I still can.
10
Bethany
Tonight we’re sharing tiramisu for dessert. I love the way we share dessert. Which is weird because normally I’m very much, Bethany doesn’t share food. I hate when people pick off my plate, and a few times I’ve slapped Alicia’s hand hard enough to leave a mark. Then again, this isn’t mine, it’s ours, and it’s weird how much I love thinking of it that way. Tonight we’re watching a John Woo movie I’ve never seen before, which is crazy to me because I thought I’d seen them all. Dante has the kind of movie library that would make movie nerds salivate.
We spend hours sharing our favorite movies and books, some of them the same. He’s already planning what we’ll watch on a movie day over the weekend. There’s a new level of comfort, of intimacy, where even though I’m dying for him to kiss me again since I know he will before the night is over, I’m not frantic for it like I’ve been every time I got close to him in the past. When he pulls me into his arms I snuggle close, loving the feel of his arms around me. I’m in a loose oversized T-shirt and silky lounge pants, no bra as usual.
Lord this man can kiss. If they gave gold medals for it he would get them all. Hmm... espresso, spice, all Dante. I get lost in the taste of him. Just when I’m desperate for air, he ends the kiss. His mouth roams my neck, tasting, nipping, making me tremble.
A big hand slides down my back then under my shirt. Oh god, my eyes open, not wanting to miss a moment, needing all my senses for this. He cups my breast as his thumb slides over my tight nipple.