16. Dante
SIXTEEN
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie with more precision than was necessary. My mind kept drifting back to the stolen moments with Eva in the stables. The way her body molded perfectly against mine, the taste of her lips, the soft sighs that escaped her as our kisses deepened... it was all I could think about. A heady rush of desire coursed through me at the memories.
I ran a hand through my hair, attempting to regain my composure. This was absurd. I was Dante Reyes, a man known for his ironclad self-control and focus. And yet, here I was, utterly captivated by a woman I barely knew.
A sharp rap on the door snapped me out of my reverie. “Come in,” I called out, steeling myself and giving my appearance one last critical once-over.
The door opened, and my sister, Sofia, breezed in, her face lit up with a radiant smile. “Dante, are you ready for dinner? You won’t believe the fantastic afternoon Eva and I had riding horses!”
My heart twisted at the bitter tang of jealousy as I imagined Eva enjoying herself without me. “Oh, really?” I forced a casual tone, attempting to conceal my interest. “Do tell, sis.”
Sofia enthusiastically launched into a play-by-play of their horseback-riding adventure, her hands gesturing vividly as she spoke. She described the breathtaking scenery, the sense of freedom they felt riding across the open fields, and how Eva had quickly overcome her initial nervousness.
“She’s incredible, Dante,” Sofia gushed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I can already tell we’re going to be best friends.”
As Sofia rambled on, my mind took off, galloping into a deliciously naughty daydream. I pictured Eva and me cantering through the trails, her hair whipping in the breeze like a damn banner of lust. We’d discover some secret clearing, just the two of us, and that’s when I’d make my move. I’d yank her off the horse and have my wicked way with her, my fingers exploring every inch of her delectable body.
Man, I’d take my sweet time undressing her, teasing her like a fucking master of foreplay. I’d kiss and nibble my way down her neck, her breasts, and her stomach until she was a quivering mess. And then... then I’d dive in. I’d taste her like she was a goddamn ice cream cone on a sweltering day, savoring every inch of her silky skin. She’d be moaning, begging for more, and I’d give it to her.
I’d slam her against a tree or lay her down on the soft grass. Either way, I’d be inside her, our bodies grinding like they were made for each other, losing ourselves in a frenzy, our moans drowned out by the ocean waves as we fucked like animals in heat, our passion as old as time itself.
I was snapped out of my daydream by the shrill ringing of my phone, interrupting my X-rated thoughts. I lunged for the device, nearly knocking over a stack of papers in the process. Clearing my throat, I answered, striving for a professional tone.
“Dante here,” I said, my voice edged with irritation at the interruption.
“Boss, it’s Marco,” came the familiar gravelly voice. “We’ve got a fucking situation. It’s Raul.”
Fuck. I didn’t have time for more of Raul’s bullshit. Shooting an apologetic look at Sofia, I said, “Duty calls, sis. Sorry, but I need to handle this.”
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly and stood up. “Fine. I’ll catch up with you later.” With a playful wave, she strolled out of my room.
I turned my attention back to Marco, my voice clipped. “What’s the issue now?”
“The fifty kilos weren’t at the drop point, boss. That son of a bitch Raul must be trying to renegotiate our deal again.” Marco’s voice was tight with frustration.
A surge of anger coursed through me, chasing away the last remnants of my desire-fueled haze. “The hell he thinks he’s doing? We had a clear agreement with those Colombians.”
“I know, Dante. But the coke wasn’t there. Raul’s playing games.” Marco’s tone was weary, reflecting the weight of our shared frustration.
I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to smash something. That greedy Colombian bastard was pushing us, testing our limits. “And the payment we made? Gone too?”
“All of it, boss,” Marco sighed. “What’s your call?”
I began pacing the length of my room. There was only one way to handle this. Raul needed to be put in his place, once and for all.
“I’m coming back to Miami,” I growled, my voice laced with determination. “Let’s pay Raul a visit and teach him some manners.”
Marco didn’t argue. He knew better than to try and change my mind once it was set. “Understood, boss. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”
I ended the call, my finger hovering over the ‘end’ button a moment longer than necessary, my jaw clenched so tight it throbbed. This wasn’t just about money or power; it was about respect. I’d be damned if I let some cocky Colombian punk like Raul Moreno disrespect me and the Reyes name.
It was time to remind that lowlife exactly who he was dealing with.
The Escalade tore through the streets, my knuckles white as I gripped the steering wheel, anger coursing through me.
“Easy, Dante,” Marco cautioned from the passenger seat, his voice a rumble. “We need to keep our heads straight, man.”
I shot him a withering glare, my jaw clenched tight. “That snake Raul is trying to play us, Marco. I just know it.”
Marco nodded, a grim look on his face. “I hear you, boss. But we have to be smart about this. Charging in half-cocked ain’t going to do us any favors.”
I knew he was right, but the rage burning inside me was damn near blinding.
When we arrived at the warehouse for the meeting, I expected a heavy confrontation with Raul over the missing shipment. I hadn’t anticipated that Raul would insist he’d already handed over the product to one of my men.
“Dante, I swear on my mother’s grave, I gave the shipment to your guy,” Raul said, his voice steady despite the sweat beading on his brow.
At first, I thought he was full of shit, trying to weasel his way out of our deal with some lame excuse. I stepped closer, my eyes narrowing as I searched his face for any sign of deceit. “You expect me to believe that? You think I’m some fool, Raul?”
Raul held up his hands. “I’m telling you the truth, Dante. I wouldn’t dare cross you. This isn’t on me.”
The more he spoke, the more it became clear that we had been played—and Javier Cruz was the only one with the audacity and resources to pull off such a daring scheme.
“Cruz,” I spat, the name leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “That sneaky bastard.”
Marco’s eyes widened as realization dawned on him. “He must have someone on the inside who knew our protocols and had access to our credentials.”
That arrogant prick had infiltrated my crew. He must have impersonated one of my men to take possession of the shipment from Raul. It was a calculated move designed to sow discord between us and our Colombian suppliers while lining Cruz’s pockets with primo products.
I clenched my fists, the rage building inside me like a volcano ready to erupt. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this,” I growled. “And when I do, Cruz is going to pay for this. That’s a promise.”
There was no frickin’ way I’d let my old man’s order to leave Cruz alone stand any longer. But I had to play this smart. Barging into Cruz’s turf without a solid game plan would be too dangerous. But first, I would get Papi to back the hell off and let me off the leash.
As I raced down the highway toward Palm Beach, my mind churned with the revelations of Cruz’s betrayal. The bastard had stolen from us, and now he was hiding behind my father’s protection. It didn’t make sense. Why would Papi shield a rival like Cruz?
An hour later, I pulled the Escalade into the mansion’s driveway, slamming it into park with a satisfying jolt. The tires kicked up a rooster tail of gravel as I stormed across the courtyard, my strides long and purposeful.
Inside, I flung open the study doors, scanning the room for any sign of my father. But it was empty, the silence broken only by the ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the corner.
“Where the hell is he?” I growled to no one in particular.
“Dante?”
I spun at the sound of my mother’s voice. Isabella Reyes stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with concern as she took in my disheveled appearance.
“Where’s Papi?” I demanded, my tone clipped and harsh. “I need to speak with him. Now.”
My mother’s brow furrowed, her lips pursing into a tight line. “Your father had some business,” she said, calm but firm. “He won’t be back until tomorrow.”
I let out a frustrated growl, raking a hand through my hair. Of course, the old man would be conveniently absent when shit hit the fan. Typical fucking power move, leaving me to deal with the fallout on my own.
“What’s going on, mijo?” my mother asked, her tone gentler now as she approached me. “Talk to me.”
I hesitated momentarily, considering whether to burden her with the details. But in the end, I knew better not to. “Nothing I can’t handle, Mami.”
She regarded me for a long moment, her gaze searching mine. Finally, she gave a curt nod. “Do what you need to do, mijo,” she said, resolute. “But be careful.”
I pulled her into an embrace, drawing strength from her unwavering support. “I will, Mami. I promise.”
With a final squeeze, I released her and strode from the father’s study.
Exhausted and frustrated, I shut myself in my room, struggling to rein in my emotions. I grabbed a whisky glass and filled it with enough Macallan to make the damn bottle weep.
I drowned half of it in one gulp and could almost think straight again.
A knock on the door made me tense. My hand instinctively moved to the small of my back, where my sidearm rested in its holster. “Who is it?” I barked.
“It’s me, Dante.” The soft, melodic tones of Eva’s voice drifted through the door, instantly sparking a different kind of fire within me.
I wrenched the door open to find her standing there, a vision of temptation in a flowing, almost see-through dress, living little to the imagination. Her dark hair tumbled in glossy waves over her shoulders, framing a face that Michelangelo could have sculpted.
“Eva,” I breathed, my voice husky.
She favored me with a slow, sultry smile that threatened my self-control. “I heard voices. I figured you were back,” she said, her eyes roaming over me in a way that made my skin prickle with awareness. “I wanted to make sure everything was alright.”
I studied her for a moment, but as always, Eva was an enigma, her face giving nothing away.
“Everything’s fine,” I lied, forcing a casual shrug. “Just some business I had to take care of.”
As I let her inside and closed the door, I could see the curiosity burning in her fathomless eyes. “Business, hmm?”
I barked out a harsh laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, baby. Just some bullshit with a rival crew. Nothing I can’t handle.”
Eva took a step closer, her body heat radiating off her in waves that had me fighting the urge to pull her flush against me. “You seem tense, Dante,” she purred, her fingers trailing along the taut muscles of my forearm. “Maybe I can help you... relax.”
Christ, the way she said that last word in a lustful caress that promised all manner of delicious sins. I felt my cock stir, straining against the confines of my pants as desire coiled hot and heavy in my gut.
“Is that so?” I growled, my gaze dropping to those full, tempting lips. “And what exactly did you have in mind to help me relax, Eva?”
She leaned in closer, her breath a warm whisper against my skin. “Oh, I have all sorts of ways,” she said, her fingers tracing a slow, teasing path up my arm. “Ways that would make you forget all about your... business troubles.”
I groaned, my resolve crumbling like a sandcastle in the tide. Grabbing her by the waist, I hauled her against me, our bodies melding together in a perfect, scorching fit.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Eva,” I rasped, my mouth hovering a hairs breadth from hers. “But fuck, I can’t resist you.”
A wicked smile played upon her lips, her eyes sparkling with desire. “Then don’t,” she breathed, and then she was kissing me, her mouth hot and demanding against mine, as her fingers expertly unbuttoned my pants, freeing my cock.
“Fuuuck,” I groaned as she dropped to her knees before me, her hands planted on my thighs. “You’re something else, you know that?”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked up at me, her lips curving into a sultry smile. “I know,” she said, her tongue peeking out to lick her lower lip. “And I think you’ll enjoy this.”
With that, she leaned in, her lips wrapping around the head of my cock like the filthy angel she was, her tongue swirling around the sensitive tip. I hissed, my hips jerking as her mouth engulfed me, the sensations threatening to overload my brain.
Eva went to town, sucking, licking, and teasing like a pro. Her hands gripped my thighs, her fingers digging into the muscles as she took me deeper into her throat. Her tongue swirled and teased, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked me like she hadn’t eaten in days. Groaning, I tangled my hands in her hair, guiding her head as I thrust gently into her mouth.
“Such a good girl,” I growled, my hips picking up the pace as she devoured me. “Take it all, Eva. Show me what a dirty little cock whore you are.”
Her only response was a throaty moan as she took me deeper. I could feel the head of my cock bumping against the back of her throat, and I knew she was taking me to the limit, making me beg for more. The sounds of her little whimpers drove me to the edge of sanity.
My balls tightened, the coil of pleasure winding tighter as I felt my orgasm approaching like a freight train. “Eva, baby,” I rasped, my hips stuttering as I tried to hold off the inevitable. “I’m gonna come.”
She moaned, the vibrations shooting straight to my cock as she hollowed her cheeks and went down on me one last time, her nose buried in my trimmed pubes. That was it. With a harsh groan, I gripped the back of her head, my hips slamming forward as I emptied myself into her mouth. Rope after rope of hot cum coated her throat, and she swallowed greedily, milking me dry with a soft hum of satisfaction.
I collapsed against the door, panting like crazy. Eva looked up at me with those smoldering eyes, a string of cum connecting her lips to my softening cock.
“Well, I think that did the trick,” she purred, her eyes dancing with amusement and something more.
I barked out a laugh, feeling the tension coiled so tightly in my body finally begin to ease.
I gently lifted her and kissed her neck. I was just getting started.