13. Dante
13
DANTE
I ’ve been away from Ilaria for about two hours and have been very aware of the fact that she wasn’t near me. Hating every second that I had to spend without her.
She just fit beside me, this puzzle piece that clicked in with my life, and made me crave the warmth of her presence.
I like being around her to the point it scares me how much I enjoyed it.
She had sent me a text that she was finishing getting ready and should be here in twenty minutes.
I had been distracted to the people setting up, looking at the clock ,and waiting for her to arrive ever since that text. There was plenty for me to be doing for tonight, lots of last minute checks of the Inferno but all I could think about was what she was going to be wearing.
I was wearing the shoes she had bought me for our photoshoot, seeming to register for the first time she had used her own money instead of explaining it was her fathers card to anyone as she checked out. Not expecting me to pay for anything as she shopped and never even looking at me for my opinions.
She had her own money somehow and I was thinking back to how she had money with what had to be a municipal government salary.
It had to be an allowance.
Or maybe her mother left her some money when she had passed?
Ilaria had been taking care of things for so long for her father that I wondered when the last time someone took care of her was.
It was long overdue.
I wanted to take care of her, let her know that she didn’t have to do everything by herself. But it had been only 24 hours and everything felt like it was in this full force pedal to the metal feeling for me.
My mother was right about Ilaria, she was a treasure.
And I wanted to cherish her like she deserved.
Standing up, I pushed away from the desk, grabbing the glass of scotch and quickly downing it with asoft hiss as I left the office to do a final walkthrough of the restaurant before Ilaria got here and made my head swim with thoughts of her.
I was riding the elevator up, thinking of Ilaria and wondering what she was wearing again.
She had left me a suit that was a deep burgundy with a black silk lapel and a black suit that I would usually wear for something like this.
I wore the burgundy because I liked that she had got it for me.
The way she had bought me something without me knowing, having clothes sent to my office, giving me options, knowing how much this night meant to me all while she had only known me for twenty four hours.
She is an angel.
As the elevator dings and I’m about to step off, I freeze as I watch Ilaria walk in.
My heart falls to my stomach as I see her and beats in such wild erratic beats I wonder if I’m dying.
All that chocolate hair in soft waves, half pinned on one side with diamond pins. No sweet curls for me to pull at but I can’t even be mad when Ilaria’s looking like such a vision.
She’s in a black floor length dress with a slit that comes up high on her left thigh. The dress is off her shoulders, with small little off the shoulder sleeves, cut so her breasts are pushed up and on display in a way that is both sexy and appropriate.
Her heels are the same color as my suit, silk strap ribbon tied up and in bows at the back of her calves. A small clutch in her hand in the same burgundy color. Her makeup is simple but her lipstick is bold and eyelashes dark.
She is the definition of breathtaking. If I opened up the dictionary there would be a picture of her at this moment.
Ilaria is a goddess and I was ready to drop to my knees and give her the proper worship she deserved.
“Congratulations, Demon.”
Her nickname for me makes me smirk, clinging to hope that she is at least trying to build some intimacy with me.
She walks to me, swiping at my suit, like she is trying to put this picture together of me as I’m still wrapped up in her beauty, drunk off the smell of her champagne bubble skin as she reaches for my wrist, tapping my watch.
“Is this sentimental?”
I’m thrown off but shake my head no as she reaches into her bag that I realize hadn’t been closed, pulling out a box as she holds it out to me, waiting for me to take it.
She got me a present.
The idea of her buying me so much when all I’ve gotten her so far was a couple cups of coffee throws me off.
She’s bought me shoes, a suit, and now another present in the short time that she’s known me.
I’m learning that the way she shows affection is gift giving and not just any sort of gifts but things that show I’m well taken care of.
Opening the box there is a watch inside, expensive with a burgundy face. But Ilaria is flipping it over showing me the inscription on the back.
‘“Do not be afraid; our fate
Cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.”
7-1-23’
I haven’t cried since I was a kid when Tomas Blaise hit me in the nuts with a hockey stick when we were playing street hockey. I had puked first and then fell over, tears burning my eyes from the pain.
Just like how now I can feel the way that tears are burning the corner of my eyes as I look at the watch Ilaria had gotten for me.
“Here.”
She’s taking it from me, her fingers working as she takes off my other watch, dropping it in her purse as she clasps it to my wrist, rubbing her thumb over it as if she is proud of it. Marking me with gifts as she possesses me like a little dragon.
My hand slides over her neck, clasping the back of her neck as I pull her to me, lips brushing hers in a soft kiss because I know she’ll complain if I dare smudge her makeup.
“How did I get so lucky with you?” I’m half asking myself but Ilaria tenses at my words.
Someone hurt my principessa and made her unsure of how to accept kindness. I’ll carve their tongue from their mouth and write their apology for it in a card made of their skin, word signed in blood so she understands the sincerity of it.
She will learn how to be loved under my hands.
“You signed on the dotted line and poof, yours.”
She’s teasing in that flippant tone of hers again but there is a bite in her words and I’m looking at her wondering if this marriage isn’t the happy ending she had wanted for herself.
I’ve worked hard at everything in my life and getting Ilaria to love me might be the hardest job I ever faced.
“Thank you for the watch, principessa . Thank you for-”
“Stop thanking me so much. Fuck.”
She rolls her shoulders as she steps away from me and I’m hyper aware of how she reacts in situations she’s unsure of.
Watching her look around as she tries to think of a suitable way to change the subject and minimize the kind things she’s done.
Ilaria treats me with gifts she thinks I deserve and yet she can’t handle the appreciation I have for her gifts. I’ll get her to understand but for now I’d avoid the fight and get her on something else.
“Why don’t I give you a tour?”
Offering my arm she slides hers through mine and I know that I’m going to have the prettiest girl on my arm tonight. For the rest of my life.
She’s so warm against me and I finally feel like I can breathe, relaxing as she is beside me and knowing that this night is going to be one of the best of my life.