Chapter 11
DANTE
D inner at Grandma’s house always felt like stepping into a different world—one where everything was simpler, slower, and the weight I carried didn’t press as hard. Tonight, though, it felt heavier than usual. I’d brought Genesis and Mia into this part of my life, and I knew it was time to come clean.
Grandma had always been good at making strangers feel like family. She hugged Genesis tight when we arrived, doting on Mia like she was her own grandchild. Watching them bond over dinner, laughing and trading stories, gave me a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in months.
Genesis seemed to relax more, too. She’d been tense the whole ride over, but now she was smiling, even teasing Grandma about how many cookies she was sneaking to Mia. I sat back, letting them take the conversation, but my mind was somewhere else.
I couldn’t keep holding onto this secret. Not with Genesis. She deserved the truth, and I needed to get it off my chest before it ate me alive.
After Grandma excused herself to get dessert, I leaned over to Genesis, keeping my voice low. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
Her eyes flicked to mine, a little confused but patient. “What is it?”
I hesitated, the words heavy on my tongue. “It’s about why I agreed to this... arrangement.”
She frowned slightly, waiting for me to go on.
“It wasn’t just about helping Beni,” I admitted. “A few months ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.”
Genesis froze, her eyes widening with shock. I could see the questions forming, but I pushed on before she could ask.
“I didn’t want to tell anyone at first. I couldn’t even wrap my head around it, let alone explain it to anyone else. But when Beni came to me with this marriage proposal... I saw it as an out. A way to not deal with everything alone. I know it wasn’t fair to you. But I needed something—someone.”
Her hand found mine, and I could feel the warmth of her touch. It was grounding, like she was pulling me back from the edge.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice soft.
I looked down at our hands, then back up at her. “I didn’t know how. Hell, I didn’t even know if I wanted you to know. But... I’m telling you now because things have changed.”
“Changed how?”
I met her gaze, trying to find the right words. “You’ve changed things for me, Genesis. This marriage isn’t just about a deal with Beni anymore. You and Mia... you’ve become more to me than I expected. I wasn’t looking for a family, but I found one with you.”
Genesis blinked, her lips parting like she was about to speak, but nothing came out. She just stared at me, her eyes soft and searching.
“I don’t want you to think this is just some arrangement,” I continued, my voice a little rough. “I meant what I said that first night. I want this to work. I want us to work.”
She was quiet for a moment, but her hand squeezed mine. “Dante, I didn’t know...”
“I didn’t expect you to,” I interrupted. “But now that you do, I need you to understand something. Being with you, with Mia—it feels right. It feels like something I didn’t even know I needed.”
Grandma came back then, carrying a plate of pie, and the moment passed. But Genesis didn’t let go of my hand.
Later, when we said our goodbyes and got back in the car, Genesis was still quiet, but the tension I’d been expecting wasn’t there. She leaned into me as we drove back, her head resting on my shoulder, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe things would be okay.
As we pulled up to the house, I glanced over at her. “You alright?”
She looked up at me, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Yeah. I am.”
I wrapped an arm around her and carried Mia as we walked inside, holding her close. I’d confessed one of my deepest fears tonight, but instead of pushing her away, it felt like it had brought us closer.
And that? That was more than I could’ve ever hoped for.
Later that night, I was in my room, still processing everything from dinner. The weight of what I’d shared with Genesis had lifted some, but there was still a lot left unsaid. I wasn’t sure where we stood now, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between us—something good.
I heard a soft knock on the door. “Dante?”
Genesis.
I stood and opened it, finding her standing there in her pajamas, looking smaller and more vulnerable than I’d ever seen her. There was a quiet hesitation in her eyes that I hadn’t noticed before, like she was balancing on the edge of something.
“Can I come in?” she asked softly.
I stepped aside, nodding as she walked past me and into the room. “Of course.”
She stood there for a moment, her arms wrapped around herself as if she were trying to gather her thoughts. I watched her closely, feeling a pull toward her that was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Finally, she turned to face me. “Dante... I’ve been thinking.” Her voice was quiet but steady. “I... I want to move into your room. With you.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised but intrigued. “You do?”
She nodded, her eyes locking onto mine with a mix of determination and vulnerability. “I’ve wanted to for a while now. But I didn’t have the courage until tonight.”
I took a step closer to her, my heart pounding in my chest. “What changed?”
Her gaze softened, and she let out a small sigh. “Tonight, at your grandmother’s... seeing how you are with Mia, how you are with me... it made me realize something. I’ve been holding back because of what I went through with Chant. I’ve been scared of letting someone in like that again.”
I clenched my jaw at the mention of Chant, but I forced myself to stay calm. This wasn’t about him. This was about her. “You don’t have to be scared with me, Genesis. I’m not him.”
“I know,” she said quickly, taking a step closer to me. “That’s why I’m here. With Chant... I was his possession. He didn’t care about me, about what I wanted or needed. It was always about control with him.”
She paused, her voice growing softer. “But with you... it’s different. You make me feel... safe. Desired. Like I’m not just something to use, but someone to care for. And I want that. I want to be yours. Completely.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, but in the best way. The possessiveness I’d been trying to hold back surged forward, and I stepped even closer, closing the distance between us. “You are mine, Genesis,” I said, my voice low and firm. “And I don’t just want you in my bed. I want you in my life. Every part of you.”
She swallowed, her eyes wide as she looked up at me. “I’ve never had that before,” she admitted. “With Chant, it was always... cold. Robotic. Like I was there to fulfill a need, nothing more. But with you...”
I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “With me, it’s different,” I told her. “You’re not here to serve some purpose. You’re here because I want you—because I need you. Every part of you.”
She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing for a moment as she absorbed my words. When she opened them again, there was a fire in her gaze that I hadn’t seen before. “I want that, too. I want to be in your bed, Dante. I want to wake up next to you every morning, fall asleep in your arms every night.”
Hearing her say it, hearing her claim me as much as I was claiming her, sent a rush of heat through my veins. I pulled her closer, my hands sliding down to her waist as I pressed her body against mine. “Then move in here, Genesis,” I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear. “Be mine.”
She let out a shaky breath, her hands resting on my chest as she looked up at me. “You really want that?”
I nodded, my voice a low growl. “I’ve wanted that since the day we got married. But I needed you to come to me when you were ready.”
She smiled then, a soft, genuine smile that made my heart ache in the best way. “I’m ready now.”
I kissed her, slow and deep, letting her feel everything I hadn’t been able to put into words. She melted into me, her hands gripping my shirt as she kissed me back with just as much intensity.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless, I rested my forehead against hers. “You’re not just my wife on paper, Genesis. You’re my wife in every way that matters. And I’ll spend every day reminding you.”
She smiled again, her fingers tracing along my jawline. “I know you will.”
For the first time, I felt a sense of contentment. She was here, with me, and she wasn’t running anymore.
And I wasn’t going to let her go.