Chapter 7
RUBY
Being with Dante in the darkness should be scary. I don’t know what his job is exactly, and I guess it’s something I should disapprove of. The fact he won’t tell me, and the speculation I heard, indicate it’s not innocent.
I don’t care. Whatever he is, I want him.
He sees me in a way no one else ever has. He’s interested in me, and has listened as I’ve over-shared my art hobby.
He hasn’t taken my hand again, but he’s close enough that we’re sharing breath and my heart is beating so hard.
I shrug one shoulder slightly. “I’d love to make covers as a job, but it’s really tough to get jobs.
” I can’t help the wistful tone in my voice.
“I’m a hairdresser because my mum was, and she wanted me to follow in her career.
The bit I like is helping people feel good about themselves.
It’s not actually about the hair. It’s giving them something they can feel proud of. ”
“You’re a good person,” he says, almost sadly, sighing, and shifting away.
I want to beg him to come back, but I stash my phone into my purse. He’s gazing out into the shining black and flickering lights on the lake when I sneak a glance sideways at him. His undone collar gives a tantalising glimpse of tattoos that snake downwards, and his strong neck.
“Plus, we didn’t have the money for me to go to university or anything like that. It was a choice of ‘start from the bottom as a hairdresser’, or work as a shop assistant, really,” I add, trying to be cool and unaffected by him.
“That was your mother who was with you? The woman who fled at the first sign of trouble?” He doesn’t sound impressed by my boss.
“Ha. No.” I sigh. “Two years ago, my mother sold her business, and I was sort of part of the package.”
“What?” he says, low and dangerous.
“Oh not like that. Just that I have a contract, and I had to keep working through my training period, or I’d lose all my progress and have to start afresh with no qualifications.”
“And what did she do, meanwhile?”
“Took early retirement. She lives in Spain.”
Dante grits his teeth. “Is that so?”
“I don’t mind. She worked hard all her life running her hair salon and bringing me up alone. I was a lot of hassle as a child. Needed things all the time.” I say the words almost by rote, and as I finish, a low rumble of discontent makes me look over at Dante.
In the creamy half-light from the garden lanterns, his face shadowed, Dante looks as demonic as his name implies.
“That’s not how you treat someone you love.”
I jolt at the word love. It’s so unexpected from a man like Dante.
“Not how you behave towards a child.”
“I’m not a child.” I bristle. I don’t want him thinking of me that way.
“You’re not.” He turns to look at me fully, allowing his gaze to fall slowly taking in all my curves in this dress. It’s not revealing, but for a second it’s as though his eyes burn off all the fabric and see me entirely. Naked skin, needy little heart, insecurities and all.
My clit pulses. I press my thighs together as wet heat floods me.
He smiles, his face softening. “Family, then. It’s not an acceptable way to treat family, and I wouldn’t allow it.”
My mind goes to how Dante and his sister supported Francesca getting married, down to ensuring her dog was involved, and her best friends present even though they had food poisoning.
Would my mother do any of that? No.
I look back at the lake, because Dante’s quiet sympathy and anger on my behalf is more than I can cope with.
I want to return to the moment earlier when he was looking over my shoulder and was close enough to kiss.
It’s not like I can change any of this. I can’t swap my family, or join the Angelini family. But I have this one evening, this single opportunity.
I could lose my virginity, finally. Dante would be an amazing first. And only, a sly voice in my head adds.
“Dante.”
He turns immediately, as though I’m important and he wants to hear whatever I say.
“I was thinking…” Would you like to fuck me however you want? I’d be happy with literally anything, I think, because I’m squirming with desire for you. I’m hot and wet and achy.
I’m not sure how to phrase my request.
“What is it?” He dips his head, so his face is level with mine. His green eyes are shadowed and his white shirt open at the neck makes me more than a bit feral.
“I…” Still don’t know how to say it.
So I take the plunge. I kiss him.