14. Lennie
FOURTEEN
LENNIE
As soon as my head hit the pillow, I’d fallen asleep.
When I woke up, I found that Dante had left me to my own devices for the day, staying downstairs as I stayed upstairs.
I couldn’t help but wonder why he’d seemed weird when I had asked about the other rooms. Maybe it was because he didn’t want to talk about Arrow, or maybe he just didn’t really like talking.
I also couldn’t help but wonder why he was leaving me alone instead of being on guard.
I got the feeling that he wasn’t a talkative person just from his short answers and direct nature. But I was determined to get him out of his shell and wanted to see what was underneath the hard exterior.
It was late in the afternoon when I smelled something divine. Following the smell, I walked downstairs and saw Dante moving quickly around the kitchen and plating dishes. After hearing my footsteps, he looked over at me with a small smile.
“I was just about to text you to let you know dinner is ready.” He looked down at the plated meals with a frown and then back up at me.
“I’m sorry, I should have asked if you had any food allergies.
” He began fussing around the dishes as if trying to make them even more perfect than they already were.
I walked over to him and pressed a hand on his arm.
Electricity fired at the point of contact.
I’d never had that happen to me before. Although it unnerved me, it wasn’t unwelcomed.
“Don’t stress, I have no allergies, and I’m not a picky eater either.
What are we having?” I looked down at the plates and saw two bowls of Caesar salad and a massive plate of chicken parmigiana.
My mouth watered looking at the plate of pasta goodness.
“I love chicken parm. It’s one of my favorites. ”
Dante gave me a smirk that showed off one of his dimples. It was so cute that I had to fight the urge to kiss it. “Well, that’s good to hear because I made enough for a small army.”
He handed me a large plate and a small bowl of salad, then nodded his head toward the dining room. I gasped when I saw that the table was completely made up with candles, flowers, fancy ivory napkins, and dazzling silverware.
“Dante, you didn’t have to go out of your way to do this for me,” I said as I placed my dishes on the table.
He simply shrugged as he put his dishes down. “I wanted you to feel comfortable.”
I couldn’t help the flush that went to my cheeks. Comfortable? I felt like a princess. Taking a seat, I placed the napkin on my lap before cutting a piece of the chicken and lifting it into my mouth. A moan of satisfaction escaped my lips from the flavors that exploded against my tongue.
When I opened my eyes, Dante was staring at me with heat in his gaze. At least it looked like heat. He could just be annoyed that I was moaning over his food. But deep down I hoped that he felt the attraction that I was feeling.
“Dante, this is so fucking good,” I said, stuffing another bite into my mouth.
I felt his eyes on me while I ate. I started to feel self-conscious about how fast I was eating, but I couldn’t help it.
Dante cleared his throat. “So, tell me, do you like working in the Hive?”
His question took me off guard, but I appreciated his efforts to get to know me. I nodded as I finished another bite.
“Yes, I love it. Do you like being… well, I actually don’t know what you do.” My brows knitted together as I tried to remember all of the jobs that Dante had.
He let out a little chuckle. The sound was like music to my ears. “I am a Forensic and Ballistics Specialist and Medical Examiner for the Elite Squad. I also do some work for the county as well.”
My eyes widened. “Holy crap, that’s a lot of responsibility. Don’t forget to add helping damsels in distress to your job title.”
This made him smile, showing all of his beautifully straight white teeth. Something in my belly warmed and I realized I wanted to make him smile more.
We finished our meals in what seemed like record time as we continued small talk. He confirmed everything that I had learned about him on the internet. Part of me was a little bummed that I didn’t learn more than superficial facts. But hopefully that would come in time.
I couldn’t help but think about how sheepish he had gotten about the rooms upstairs. Arrow’s area I understood, but something in my gut told me that the other space was not a lab. I would explore later.
I said goodnight and made my way up the vast staircase.
As I entered my bedroom, I looked at the closed door at the end of the hall.
A red glow came from underneath. Something about the color of the glowing light and the way Dante had breezed over explaining the space tickled my senses.
It didn’t seem normal to have a lab in a regular home when he had access to extensive equipment and lab space.
Lab, my ass, I thought to myself.
I walked into my room and again took in the beautiful space before me. I grabbed my pajamas and toiletries and went into the bathroom next door, where a gigantic soaking tub took up the far wall.
“Come to Momma,” I said as I closed the door and got undressed.
I looked under the sink to find bubble bath and Epsom salts. Either Dante or Arrow took baths, or they had this stuff on hand for women that came over.
The thought of other women coming over for Dante sent a pang of pain to my chest, even though I knew it shouldn’t. I didn’t let myself think about it too long; Dante wasn’t mine.
I filled the tub with hot water and watched as the bubbles fizzed together over the top.
The lavender Epsom salts smelled divine in the steam and instantly made me feel calmer.
I’d been unable to fully relax since being taken.
But somehow, I knew I was safe within these walls even though I didn’t know Dante that well.
I climbed into the warm water and a groan of happiness escaped me. I clapped a hand over my mouth when the sound echoed through the bathroom. Footsteps outside the door stopped for a second before they started up again. Had Dante heard me? Heat bloomed in my cheeks at the thought.
I read a book on my phone as I soaked in the tub until my toes and fingertips were pruned.
As I left the bathroom with fresh pajamas on, I noticed how quiet and dark the upstairs was.
I plopped on the bed, fighting the urge to go see what was in the other room.
After debating for several minutes, I finally decided to do it.
I peeked my head out the door to make sure the coast was clear before tiptoeing to the room at the end of the hall, which still emanated a red glow. Cautiously, I opened the door and crept inside, gasping at the sight before me.
All along the walls of the room were sex toys and impact play toys–floggers, whips, and paddles.
In the center of the room, ropes were anchored to the ceiling.
Off to the side was a queen-sized bed with black silk sheets on it.
I felt like I had stepped onto the set of Fifty Shades of Grey.
My eyes bulged when I took in all the different kinds of rope organized by color in a dresser.
I walked over to the ropes hanging from the ceiling and ran my fingertips down the smooth red strands. I pictured myself tied up in these ropes as Dante had his way with me. I was so lost in dirty thoughts that I didn’t hear the footsteps that came down the hall and into the bedroom.
“Curious little kitten, aren’t you?”