Chapter 24 Grace
GRACE
It’s almost midnight by the time we reach the hotel.
It’s a gorgeous penthouse suite that has views of a glittering Eiffel Tower.
There’s a buzz in my veins from all the wine. I take my heels off and go straight to the terrace. Dante is quiet as he follows me. I lean against the balustrade and gaze out at the city. It’s a perfect summer night.
I don’t think it can get better than this.
“I always wanted to see the world,” I whisper. “I used to flip through the pages of my world atlas every night, but I never even let myself dream about a moment like this.”
“Why not?” The proximity of his voice makes my breath hitch.
“Because,” I say, turning to look at him. I can see the entire city reflected in his eyes. “I was terrified. When you exist in a state of survival, it feels like a better life will always be just out of reach.”
“And now?” he asks.
I look at the man who bared all of his secrets to me. He didn’t have to share anything with me.
But he did.
Everything is unfiltered now. My thoughts, my desire, this new ache in my chest.
“I’m not scared anymore,” I say.
He braces his arms on either side of me, caging me against the balustrade.
My eyes land on his lips. I want them everywhere. I want them saying shameless things to me as he claims me.
“I liked the way you kissed me this morning,” I say. “I’ve been thinking about it all day.”
“Grace.” He says my name like a warning, but he moves closer toward me, pinning me in place. I can feel his desire for me branded against my stomach.
“I want to make you feel good,” I say, arching into him.
"And how do you plan on doing that?" he asks, urgency dripping from every word. His fingers dig into my hips.
I drop down to my knees before him, loving the way his eyes flare in the dark. My hands shake as I undo his belt and free his cock. He’s so hard and heavy in my hand, like the softest steel. I stroke his length as I gaze up at this man.
For the first time since I met Dante, I feel like I understand him completely.
And I want to thank him for opening up to me. I lick my bottom lip, making his cock jerk in my hand.
"It's not too late for you to walk away from this," he says. "If you wrap those pretty lips around my cock now, I won't be able to hold back, piccola."
I place my tongue at the bottom of his cock and lick his length, reveling in the way he shudders with his entire body.
"I like it when you lose control," I say. "I like it when you're rough with me."
I watch the way his chest heaves when I wrap my lips around him for the first time. He tastes like salt and sandalwood. I know that I'll be craving this for the rest of my life.
"Jesus." His head drops forward as he clutches the balustrade tighter. "We're not supposed to be doing this, little bird."
"It's okay, nobody can see us," I say, trying to take more of him.
He grabs my hair then, pushing himself even deeper inside my mouth. I hollow my cheeks for him, molding my tongue around his erection. He lets me suck him for a minute before he takes over.
He begins fucking my mouth, pushing my limits with every thrust.
I'm inexplicably wet between my thighs. I can't help it. I love it when he dominates me like this.
"I apologize," he says. "I put my ring on your finger, but I can't help but treat you like a whore."
He holds the back of my head as he uses me for his pleasure.
"Breathe through it," he instructs. "I need you to relax and swallow."
He pushes himself even deeper now, burying every inch of himself inside me. The tip of my nose brushes against his hard abdomen. I'm trembling with desire. I knew I liked being bossed around by this man, but I'm only finding out to what extent.
"Good girl," he growls, pulling out to let me breathe. "You're such a good girl for me."
I'm completely soaked through my panties now.
Our eyes remain locked as he brushes his thumb over my bottom lip.
I want to make him lose control. I want to make him forget about everything else in life, even if just for a minute. My heart pulses with fondness for this man, welcoming him into the deepest parts of me.
I shimmy out of my dress and discard it to the side. His eyes are hungry as they move down my heavy breasts and curvy hips. All I’m wearing now are my panties.
"My little rebel," he says, fisting my hair. "I know you like being watched, but I'm a jealous fucking bastard. I want to keep you all to myself."
"You're the one I'm kneeling for," I say, wrapping my hand around his cock again. I stroke it gently and watch him hiss.
"I'm the only one who ever gets to touch you," he says. "You understand that?"
I look up at him as I take him into my mouth once again. I trace the veins of his cock with my tongue, loving how it seems to pulse every time I do something he likes.
When I gently take one of his heavy balls into my mouth, he throws his head back and curses at the stars.
I swirl my tongue around it like it's a lollipop and suck lightly. I can feel him unraveling now.
"Keep doing what you're doing, and I'll end up breeding you tonight, piccola," he says. "I thought I would have more restraint than this, but you're so sweet. So eager to please. It only makes me want to corrupt you even more.”
Heat wraps around me like a vine, choking me until all I can feel is him.
His hands in my hair. His dirty words caress me. His eyes watch me like he never wants to look at anything else ever again.
He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip before replacing it with the tip of his cock.
"You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth, piccola," he says, thrusting inside me like he just can't help himself.
"I'm older than you. I should know better.
But when you're looking at me with those fuck-me eyes, the beast inside me takes over. And all I can think about is making you mine in every way.”
I shift my hips on the ground. It almost feels like an aphrodisiac is running through my veins again. It's a hunger that I feel in every cell of my body.
Tears prick the backs of my eyes.
He pulls out immediately.
"Fuck, did I go too far?” he asks. "Did I hurt you?"
I shake my head. "I want more, Dante. I want everything with you."
His muscular chest swells as he gazes down at me. The amber in his eyes appear like twin flames now. In a swift motion, he leans down and scoops me into his arms. He cradles me to his chest as he walks us toward the bedroom.
I wrap my arms around him, wondering why it feels like we've done this a hundred times before.
Once we’re inside, he throws me on the bed. There's a hunter's look in his eyes as he takes off his shirt. My heartbeat quickens when I see the hard muscles of his torso. He has the body of a fighter. A warrior.
There's sin written all over his face as he discards the rest of his clothes at the foot of the bed.
I crawl back until my back hits the headboard.
"Too late to change your mind now, little bird," he says. "You're not going anywhere until I get my fill of you."
He walks toward the bedside lamp. He’s about to turn the light on, but I wrap my hand around his wrist.
"I prefer the dark," I whisper.
"Why?" he asks.
"I just do," I say, taking a deep breath.
He watches me, patiently waiting for me to explain. We can still see each other in the moonlight. But turning on the lamp will mean I’ll be completely bare before him. He’ll be able to see all of me. All of my imperfections, all the parts of me I try to keep hidden.
Because the truth is, I've always been self-conscious about my body.
I expect him to protest, but he doesn't push it or make things awkward for me. He lies down beside me and cups my cheek. And then he kisses me.
His mouth is hungry against mine.
He kisses me until I'm a mess between my thighs. There's not a single coherent thought left in my head.
He rolls over on top of me, kissing my neck while hefting my breasts in his hands. I feel his hard cock pulsing against my belly. He grinds it down over my soft flesh, making my thighs spread wider to make space for him.
He leaves a trail of kisses all the way down to my chest.
When he encircles his mouth over my nipple, my back arches off the bed.
"You taste like springtime, piccola," he groans. "Like flowers and honeysuckle and all things sweet. It's all over your skin. I should feel bad for corrupting you with my dirty hands, but I love that I'm the only one who gets to touch you."
His big hands grip my waist as he moves to my other nipple.
His thick stubble scratches the sensitive skin of my breasts. I love the differences between us. I love how his hardness feels against my softness. I love how much bigger he is than me. I love how he dominates.
I become restless as he leaves a trail of kisses down my belly. I hold my breath when he stops right above my pussy.
I used to try so hard to hide parts of my body. But every inch of me is celebrated by this man. He cherishes me like I'm the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
He spreads my thighs apart just to look at me. His eyes find mine.
My heart has started a riot in my chest.
"You blush like a virgin, but do you realize how soaked you are for my cock?" he asks, pressing his nose against my mound and inhaling deeply. "You're in heat for me, little bird. So fucking horny for your first fuck. I would promise to be gentle, but your scent turns me into an animal, piccola.”
My heart gallops as he brings his mouth down over my pussy.
I moan into the dark. Everything is heightened tonight. It feels like the end of the world as I know it.
I don't know what awaits me on the other side, but I know one thing for sure.
Nothing will ever be the same again.
"Mine," he growls. "All. Fucking. Mine. Mine to feed. Mine to fuck. Mine to take care of."
With every flick of his tongue, I feel like I'm levitating. I feel like I'm entering new dimensions.
"You don't come until I tell you to," he says, stroking my clit with his thumb. "This pussy is my business now. I decide when you get to come.”
He spanks me there, making me gasp. Once. Twice. Three times.
The pain blooms into bliss the second his mouth is back on me.
I grab his hair as he lavishes me with all of his attention. It wasn’t until I met this man that I knew just how good chemistry like this could feel.
He pushes a finger into my entrance, slowly fucking me with it. It feels uncomfortable at first, but he’s gentle with it. And when I look into his eyes, I relax completely. I trust him.
His dark eyes are fixated on mine as he pulls his finger out. He brings his hand to his mouth and sucks on it while watching me.
And it does something to me.
My lips part in a soft moan when he thrusts his finger back inside me. He’s rougher with it now, the force of it making my breasts bounce.
Something builds and builds inside me, almost tipping me right over the edge.
"Now," he orders. "Come for me, little darling."
It's like he pushed some button inside me. I shatter into a million pieces as soon as I hear the command.
"Dante," I moan, clutching his hair tighter. "Oh my God."
I feel like I'm tearing in two. He pushes another finger inside me, fucking me through my orgasm.
Watching this powerful man hovering above me, his muscles flexing as he drives his fingers in and out of me, pushes me over the edge again.
A bigger wave of pleasure takes over me, eclipsing the first wave.
Release sneaks up on me again, striking hard.
I hold his bicep tighter as my vision blacks out. I'm teleported into another world. I can taste color here. I can see music. I never want to leave.
Dante is the only tether I have to the real world. He's my only way back.
When I open my eyes again, I feel reborn. Brand new.
I glance down between us to see that the sheets underneath are soaked.
I sit up in bed and pull my knees toward my chest.
"I don't know what happened," I say. "Or why it happened."
"You just squirted, love," he says, taking me into his arms. "It was hot as fuck."
“I’m so embarrassed,” I say, resting my head against his chest.
"How did it feel while it was happening?" he asks.
I take a deep breath. I'm still high from the orgasm I just had.
"Euphoric," I say. "I never felt anything like it before."
My eyes get heavy as he holds me in his strong arms. I rest my head against his chest and close my eyes for a minute, still reeling from the intense pleasure rushing through my veins.
"You're tired," Dante says, laying my head down on a pillow and spooning me from behind. "Sleep."
"But—"
"Here's how it's going to work from here on out, piccola," he says. "I'm in charge of what your body needs. I decide when you need to be fucked. I decide when it's time for you to suck my cock. And right now, I've decided it's time for you to sleep."
One of his arms clutches me tightly to his chest. It feels like a warm cocoon. He's holding me like I'm someone precious to him.
I try to fight it, but he's right. I’m tired from all the traveling today. And his arms give me that feeling of safety I always craved but never had.
"Dante?" I say.
"Yes, piccola?"
"Thank you for the pink bicycle,” I say. "It's everything I ever dreamed of."
And it’s more than just a bicycle. It’s what it represents. Someone cared enough to think about what would make me happy.
"I'm glad you liked it," he says, stroking my shoulder.
I can feel his heart beating against my bare skin.
I'm doing the one thing I told myself I would never do—I’m falling in love with a criminal.