14. Chapter Fourteen Dante
Chapter Fourteen: Dante
T he gallery’s chatter and the clinking of glasses faded into the night as I led Jade out onto the New York sidewalk. The autumn air was crisp, a sharp contrast to the warmth we’d left behind. My hand brushed hers as I flagged down a cab, the contact sending an electric jolt up my arm.
“Where to?” the cabbie grunted as we slid into the backseat.
“Drive,” I muttered, not yet decided. The lights of the city smeared across the cab windows, a whirl of color against the encroaching darkness. In that moment, with her next to me, the city felt different—charged, like us.
Jade’s laughter cut through the hum of the moving taxi, and I turned to face her. “At this rate, you might as well just ask me out, Dante.” Her tone was light, playful, but it sliced right through the fog of my thoughts.
I ran a hand through my hair, a smile breaking free despite the storm brewing inside me. It was reckless, all of it, but that’s what made it feel so damn right. “You know what? You’re absolutely right,” I conceded, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
“Okay then, Dante Moretti. Impromptu date it is. Where are we headed?” Jade’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
I instructed the driver to head to a secluded bar I knew—a place where the shadows clung to the walls and the cocktails were strong enough to dull even the sharpest edges of reality. The cab pulled up to the curb, and I paid the fare before leading her inside, the intimate buzz of conversation greeting us.
The bar was a cocoon of privacy, the perfect place for what I needed now—a moment out of time with someone who could unravel me with just a look. I steered us to a booth tucked away in the corner, its cushions worn from countless confessions.
“Whiskey for me, and...” I glanced at Jade, raising an eyebrow.
“Surprise me,” she said, a challenge lacing her words.
“Two of your finest concoctions,” I told the bartender with a nod. He understood the assignment—something potent enough to ease the barriers without dulling the senses.
As we settled into our seats, I felt a strange mix of comfort and vulnerability. This wasn’t my usual scene—I didn’t do vulnerability. But here I was, about to peel back layers of armor for a woman who saw through them anyway.
“Tell me something about you I can’t learn from your rap sheet or the company you keep,” Jade prompted, her gaze intense yet inviting.
“Rap sheet?” I asked, raising my brows.
“What, you’ve never been arrested?”
“No, I have,” I said, winking at her. “But let me answer your questions. I was thirteen when I learned to drive. Stole my father’s car in the dead of night just to feel the engine roar under my fingertips.
Jade laughed, the sound like music in the dimness of the bar. “You’re a rebel.”
“Was,” I corrected her, and took another sip. “I had no choice but to grow up fast, become part of... all this.” I gestured vaguely, encompassing a world she’d only glimpsed the edges of.
“Wait, you’re no longer a rebel?”
“Maybe in the eyes of the law, but my father would’ve killed me if the law had found me,” I said. “So my brother and I, we had to be smart.”
“Sounds lonely,” she observed softly, touching a nerve I kept well hidden.
“Maybe,” I conceded, and for a fleeting second, I wondered how different things would have been if I’d met Jade under other circumstances.
“Your turn,” I said, eager to shift the focus. “Tell me something real about Dr. Jade Bentley. Nothing work related.”
She smiled, leaning back against the leather. “When I was seven, I tried to create a new species by cross-pollinating flowers. I was convinced I’d invent a plant that could cure diseases.”
“Did it work?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“No, but I ruined my mom’s garden,” she replied. “You know the worst part is that she was more devastated than angry. I felt so bad. I never messed with flowers again. Maybe that’s why I decided to go to the brain instead of fauna and flora.”
We kept talking, exchanging anecdotes about our childhoods for what felt like a very long time.
The bar’s rowdy clamor had dwindled to a gentle hum, the hour late enough that only a few night owls lingered over their last rounds. The bartender started stacking chairs on tables, signaling time. I caught Jade’s eye, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her face, the dim light casting shadows that only enhanced her features.
“Oh, it looks like they’re closing,” she said.
“Do you want me to ask the manager if he’ll keep it open for us?”
“No,” she replied. “You can’t…no, it’s late. We should probably go.”
I leaned in, my voice dropping to a murmur only meant for her. “You’re right. Wait. Let me do that again. Do you want to get out of here?”
We both knew what I was implying.
For a moment, I saw hesitation flicker in her eyes, then resolve. “Yes,” she said, and the simplicity of her answer made my heart kick against my chest.
We left the bar behind, the chill of the autumn air in New York City biting at our skin. We walked side by side, stealing glances, both aware that tonight was different, that every step took us deeper into uncharted territory.
Because I had slept with her before…but I had never really spoken about myself. I had never really let my defenses down, not even with her.
It was odd…heady. I liked it.
The taxi ride to her apartment passed in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—it was electric, charged with the anticipation of what was to come. Our knees brushed occasionally, sending jolts through me, making me wonder if she felt the same.
When we reached her building, she led the way, fumbling slightly with her keys. A nervous giggle escaped her lips as she struggled to find the right one. “Sorry, I’m not usually this clumsy,” she said, her smile infectious even as I felt a coil of tension unwind within me.
“Take your time,” I reassured her, though patience was a virtue I found hard to come by in that moment. Every second stretched out, filled with the promise of the unknown.
Finally, the key turned, and the door opened to reveal her world—a world so different from mine, yet one I couldn’t wait to step into. As I crossed the threshold, following her into the warm glow of her living room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was crossing more than just a physical boundary. I was stepping into a part of her life, and that felt intimate beyond measure.
“Are you sure?” The question hung in the air as I stood there, taking in Jade’s living room – a space that felt leagues away from my own existence. There was an edge to my voice, a hint of the darkness I was bringing with me into her world.
“We’ve already had sex,” she said.
“Yeah, but…” But what? This felt different? “I just want to hear it from you.”
“Yes,” Jade replied, her voice firm, and it was like a green light igniting something within me. She tugged me closer with a confident smile, and I couldn’t resist the pull, the magnetic force of her presence.
I pushed her back against the wall, my lips finding hers with a hunger that had been building since the moment I first laid eyes on her at the gallery. My body pressed into hers, and I could feel her warmth, her curves molding to mine. “Have you been wet since you saw me?” I asked against her lips, needing to know if the heat I saw flickering in her eyes had ignited a fire within her too.
“Since the gallery,” she breathed out, and the sound of her affirmation sent a spike of possessive desire through me.
“What about since the last time we saw each other? Have you been touching yourself thinking of me, like I told you to?”
Her whispered “yes” was like fuel to the flame.
We kissed again, and it was desperate, frenzied—the kind of passion that burns too hot and too fast. I was aware of every shudder that ran through her, every gasp that filled the space between us. With each touch, I felt like I was peeling back layers, exposing parts of us that were raw and real.
My fingers found the waistband of her jeans, slipping beneath it with a determination that matched the beating of my heart. As I touched her, feeling the slick warmth of her arousal, I played her body like an instrument.
Jade clung to me, and I to her, as we lost ourselves in the escalation of our passion—a passion that seemed to defy the gravity of our worlds, the weight of my name, and the shadows that I knew would always chase me. But here, now, none of that mattered. There was only Jade, only this feeling, only us.
“Bedroom,” I murmured against her lips, the word coming out as a command laced with a need that couldn’t be sated standing up.
She nodded, her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that matched the pounding of my pulse. She took my hand, leading me through the dimly lit space to where her bed waited.
As we stood at the foot of her bed, I reached for the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head and discarding it without care. Jade’s fingers trembled slightly as they worked on the buttons of her blouse, revealing the soft skin I had only begun to know but already craved like a vice.
“Tell me,” I said, my voice low, “what you’ve been using when you’re alone, thinking of me.”
“Like you want me to touch yourself in front of you?”
“Like I want to know how you’ve been touching yourself,” I whispered against her ear.
A flicker of shyness crossed her face before she turned towards her nightstand. Opening the drawer, she pulled out a big vibrating rabbit dildo, holding it up with a mix of hesitation and defiance.
“Show me,” I insisted.
She hesitated for a brief second before sitting on the edge of the bed, parting her legs with a boldness that sent a surge of desire straight to my cock.
“Take your pants off,” I said.
She nodded.
And so she did, dropping her jeans to the floor before mirroring the action with her panties. She was bare before me now, and the sight stole my breath away. Her body was a masterpiece painted in curves and softness, and I was the fortunate bastard allowed to admire it.
“Lay back,” I instructed, my eyes never leaving hers. I grabbed the vibrator and put it in her hand. “Okay. Show me.”
With a deep breath, she reclined back onto the pillows, her legs parting slightly in invitation. As if in slow motion, she turned on the vibrator, the low hum of it vibrating through the room and adding to the tension palpably hanging in the air.
I watched as she moved it slowly down her body, over the soft rise of her breasts and down her stomach. I watched every flicker of emotion that crossed her face—the anticipation, the desire, and then finally, the pleasure.
A soft sigh escaped Jade’s lips as she began to tease herself with her toy, the buzz of the vibrator barely audible over the pounding of my heart. My eyes trailed down her body, following the path the rabbit was taking. I could see how her body reacted to each touch, each ripple of pleasure that shot through her - and god, it was a sight that threatened to undo me.
When I couldn’t stand the distance any longer, I closed the space between us, taking the toy from her hand and grabbing it. It continued to vibrate in my hand.
“I’m going to fuck you with this,” I said.
Without waiting for a response, I pressed the toy against her. Her sharp intake of breath echoed in my ears as she arched her back off the bed, a clear invitation for more.
“Does it rotate?” I asked as I thrust the toy in and out of her.
“Yes,” she gasped, her fingers fumbling with the controls before the toy started pulsating in a slow, tantalizing rhythm. The sight of her writhing beneath its touch was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, the sight of her writhing in pleasure stirring something primal within me. The room was filled with soft sighs and the buzzing thrum of the vibrator, creating an intoxicating symphony that stirred my senses.
“Dante…” she whispered, a plea and a prayer all rolled into one. It was like music to my ears—intoxicating and addictive. I wanted nothing more than to draw such sounds from her, to be the cause of her pleasure.
“Look at me,” I demanded, my voice rough with desire as I increased the toy’s speed. Jade’s eyes fluttered open, finding mine in an intense stare that sent shivers down my spine. The sight of her beneath me, fully exposed and on the precipice of release—it was a sight that could bring any man to his knees. “Don’t close your eyes while you come. I want your eyes on me.”
Her breath hitched, her body squirming as the vibrations increased. “Fuck,” she gasped again, her fingers digging into the sheets. I watched as her eyes filled with a desperate kind of hunger, her gaze never leaving mine even as she trembled on the edge.
“Tell me you want to come,” I commanded, my voice thick with arousal. Her responding nod wasn’t enough. I needed her to say it.
“Say it. Say you want to come, Jade.”
“I... I want to come,” she said, her voice a breathy moan that made me ache with desire. Every word, every movement, every gasp of pleasure was driving me closer to the edge, pushing me towards a pinnacle of desire and need I had never known before.
I watched her, every inch of her, as she succumbed to her climax. It was raw and beautiful in its intensity. Her body convulsed around the toy, hips arching off the bed as her orgasm crashed over her. Her eyes remained locked onto mine in a gaze that was both vulnerable and defiant as waves of release swept through her.
“Good girl,” I said hoarsely, overwhelmed by the sight unfolding before me. She was stunning—breathtakingly so—and I knew in that moment that there would never be enough of her. Not for me. “Have you ever squirted before?”
“Never,” she panted, her eyes wide with something that looked a lot like curiosity.
“Would you like to try?” I asked, my gaze never leaving hers. My hand remained steady on the toy, holding it still within her. Jade bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before she nodded.
“Yes,” she whispered.
With her consent, I repositioned the toy, angling it towards a spot inside her that would increase her chances of reaching this new height. I moved slowly, carefully, watching her reaction to each adjustment.
“Do you trust me?” I asked, meeting her gaze as I turned up the vibration once again.
She swallowed hard before nodding. “Yes.”
“Good,” I responded, pressing the toy deeper within her. Jade’s breath hitched, her body trembling as the vibrations began to build up once again inside of her.
“Push down on it,” I instructed, then leaned down and sucked her clit between my lips.
Her eyes widened at the sensation, her fingers digging deeper into the sheets beneath her. A soft moan fell from her lips as I worked her with my mouth and the toy. I could feel her body tightening, feel it coiling in anticipation. I fucked her harder with the vibrator as I flicked my tongue over her clit, building up a rhythm that had her writhing beneath me. I reveled in the sounds she made, each gasp, each moan, and every plea urging me on.
“I...I can’t,” she whispered at one point, her body trembling violently beneath me. But I didn’t stop.
Jade began to shake, her thighs quivering as a familiar tension started building up inside her. The sight of her losing control, the taste of her on my tongue, was intoxicating. It was raw, it was primal, and it made me want her even more.
“Do you want to feel my fingers inside of you too while I fuck your g-spot with this vibrator?” I asked.
She looked at me, her eyes heavy with lust, and nodded. It was all the affirmation I needed. I reached down, sliding a finger inside her already quivering core. Jade gasped at the intrusion, her body arching off the bed as she adjusted to the added stimulation.
I kept my movements slow and careful, making sure to hit all the right spots. All the while, I kept my eyes on hers, drinking in the unrestrained pleasure that had her eyes fluttering shut.
“No,” I growled, “Eyes open.”
I withdrew the toy momentarily, replacing it with two of my fingers while continuing to pleasure her clit with my mouth. A gasp fell from her lips as I curled my fingers inside her, seeking out that sensitive spot that would drive her over the edge. I moved my mouth away and pressed the vibrator, on the highest setting, against her sensitive clit.
She let out a strangled cry, her body arching off the bed as pleasure shot through her. The vibrations were overwhelming, the sensation of my fingers inside of her pushing her closer to the edge.
“Are you ready?” I asked, my fingers never stopping their rhythmic motions. “We’re going to make you squirt, Jade.”
“I don’t know if—“ she could hardly speak.
“You can, and you will,” I said. My tone was stern, authoritative even, but underneath it all was the desire to see her unravel. “Trust me, Jade.”
With a sharp nod, she surrendered herself, her body trembling beneath me as I picked up the pace. The vibrator hummed against her clit, my fingers plunging in and out of her in a rhythm designed to drive her wild. Jade gasped and moaned, her body writhing beneath me as she neared the edge once again.
“Let go,” I whispered into her ear, my voice low and rough. “Let go for me, Jade.”
And then she did. With a cry that pierced through the silence of the room, Jade came undone. Her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave, leaving her gasping for breath and shaking from the intensity. Her eyes were wide and stunned, staring up at me as if seeing me for the first time.
Suddenly, her body tensed in an entirely different way than before - a sharper, more intense reaction.
Then, with an intensity that stole her breath away, warmth gushed from her in an eruption of ecstasy, the liquid splashing against me as she cried out. Her back arched high off the bed, her body trembling uncontrollably as waves of pleasure washed over her. The sight of Jade letting go, surrendering herself completely to the ecstasy, was one of the most stunning things I’d ever seen. Her eyes, wide and filled with awe, connected with mine as a flush of surprise painted her features. She was trembling, sweat beading on her forehead as the wave of her climax slowly started to roll back.
“Fuck, Dante,” she breathed, her voice hoarse and laced with exhaustion. Her body was still shaking from the climax, her chest rising and falling heavily as she tried to catch her breath.
I pressed a slow, tender kiss to her sweat-soaked forehead and then eased away from her. I removed the toy from her trembling body, my fingers tracing over the sensitive flesh there before slowly sliding out as well. The sight of her, spent and panting beneath me, was nothing short of incredible.
“Was that…okay?” she asked softly.
“Shhh,” I whispered, ghosting my lips over her cheek in a soft caress. “You were incredible.”
She looked up at me with those wide eyes, still glazed with pleasure and disbelief. The blushing hue on her cheeks made her look even more enticing, but I knew she needed a moment to ground herself. Jade had just experienced something completely new and overwhelming.
“Relax,” I said gently, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer.
“You’re not going to fuck me?” she asked.
“Later,” I said. “There’s nothing I want more than putting my cock inside of you, but after watching that, how long do you think I’m going to last? I’m only human. And watching you squirt…I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful.”
She blushed harder at my compliment, looking every bit the picture of innocence despite what we’d just done. Her bottom lip was swollen from her teeth worrying it, and I couldn’t resist leaning down to press a soft kiss there.
“Sleep now,” I murmured, carding my fingers through her smooth, dark locks. Jade’s eyelids were heavy with exhaustion, and as much as I wanted to continue exploring her body, watching her rest in the aftermath of intense pleasure was its own kind of satisfaction. I pressed my lips against her ear. “I’ll wake you up by fingering you. How does that sound?”
She let out a soft, sleepy giggle that felt like a victory. “Sounds perfect,” she murmured against my chest.
Her body relaxed against mine, her breathing gradually slowing to the steady rhythm of sleep. I found my own eyes growing heavy as I watched her; the way her lashes laid softly against her cheeks, the slight part of her lips, the steady rise and fall of her chest with each breath she took. She looked peaceful, content.
I brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear before leaning down to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “Sweet dreams, Jade,” I whispered against her skin.
This…was not supposed to get serious.
I was meant to keep her at arm’s length, use her for my own pleasure and nothing more. That was the plan. The rule. No attachments, no commitments. It wasn’t long before I realized how impossible that task would be.
Jade was too special to be swept up in my dark world, yet here she was, wrapped around my arms, spent from the pleasure I had given her, and all I could see in my mind was the way she’d looked at me with those wide eyes filled with trust and...something more.
I ran my fingers along her arm, tracing soft patterns onto her skin. My mind whispered against reason, reminding me of what we had just shared. It was intimate, more so than anything I’d ever experienced before.
She wasn’t supposed to get under my skin like this.
But being with me…that was dangerous. And being someone I loved just put a target on her back.
So maybe what I needed to do was get away from her. But for now…for now, I would just enjoy her. For as long as I could.