And her heart stilled.
He was there.
In the darkness.
Leaning against the wall beside the window.
Hands in his trouser pockets.
Tie undone, hanging over his collar.
And those magnificent eyes blazing on her.
He was there.
He’d been there through it all.
Her heart stuck in her throat, she looked at that blaze for the first time since the cemetery and felt seared, her entire body flushing under that intensity, upon realizing what he’d seen.
He’d known she’d been playing him earlier, and he’d played her right back.
Blushing till her roots, she held his gaze, her eyes drifting down for a moment towards the big bulge tenting the front of his trousers, before coming back up to his, the knowledge of having aroused him while taking care of herself electrifying her, titillating something reckless inside her.
She knew he wouldn’t break that silence, not tonight.
But he was watching her again, despite himself.
That brought a small smile to her lips.
She saw as his gaze follow that smile before she flipped on her back again and cuddled into her covers, closing her eyes deliberately.
She felt his eyes on her for long minutes, but this time her heart didn’t pound harder. This time, her heart lay beating in her chest, nestled in an odd kind of comfort she couldn’t understand, only feel. She had made it through the day and seen right through him, and he’d made it slightly through his past and seen right through her. And that, for some bizarre reason, comforted her.
She felt him leave as softly as he’d entered, leaving her completely alone in the room this time, the knowledge of his interest, his desire within her.
Almost to the edge of sleep, Morana tried to get her mind to shut down and get as much rest as possible. Because anxiety and anticipation mated in her stomach.
In the morning, the start of something new would begin.
In the morning, her life was going to change.
In the morning, they were going to Tenebrae.
The rain had finally stopped, leaving behind clear blue skies and sunlight that spilled into the living room of the penthouse from the huge windows. Bathed in the bright early morning sunshine, the entire city was sprawled beyond the windows, looking fresh, clean, the smeared dirt collected over the days having been washed off from existence, the city having just woken up from its slumber. For that one moment in time, it almost looked pure.
She had lived there for too long to believe that mirage anymore.
Nonetheless, Morana enjoyed the breath-taking view, sitting on the stool beside the kitchen island, sipping freshly brewed coffee, enjoying the calm since the owner of the apartment was still upstairs in his room. It had been a trying day for them both yesterday and the night to match. She didn’t begrudge him the rest if that was what he was doing. Since she’d never ventured back into his room again, she could only assume.
Not that she hadn’t been tempted, especially after the show she’d unknowingly put on for him last night.
Morana exhaled softly as the elevator dinged, drawing her eyes to Dante as he walked in, looking as put together as she’d always seen him. Dressed in a charcoal gray suit with a darker gray tie that fit his enormous frame perfectly, his hair styled and pulled away from his handsome face, Morana watched him approach her, his dark brown eyes not as distant as they’d been to her, but still cautious.
She wondered if he was worried about her witnessing his momentary lapse of control the previous night after Amara had left. Deciding to be more forthcoming, because while he was trying to protect his own, he’d been nothing but good to her, Morana gave him a small nod.
“Would you like some coffee?” she asked politely.
Dante declined just as politely, coming to the stool next to hers, leaning against it as he regarded her thoughtfully.