Chapter 6

6

NATALIE

T hat was insane. Bouncing off the walls bonkers.

Dante took a hit and beat the hell out of three guys for me. He let the world know I’m his without a second thought or any worry of what it might mean for him. And that kiss … An embrace so intense I can still feel the heat of his lips against mine. It leaves a burning in my chest that extends up to my rosy cheeks and straight down to my soaked panties.

“She’s taking the rest of the night off, understood?” Dante barks at Larry, but his eyes flick through the crowd to see if anyone else wants to challenge him.

Larry bobs his head with such intensity, I’m sure he’s gonna give himself whiplash. He stares dull-eyed and pouting while he acknowledges Dante, realizing that whatever chance he thought he had at taking me for himself is gone.

“Ready to get out of here?” Dante asks.

Before I can respond, he grabs my hand and leads me outside. The crowd parts, creating a large gap between them and us. By the time we reach the door, most of the patrons have returned to their tables, continuing their night out. A few of the staff, Larry included, help Rick and his buddies off the floor.

We don’t speak while we walk to his car. Dante opens the passenger side for me, and I get in. And as he walks back to the driver’s side, I can’t contain the high-pitched squeal of pure, ecstatic delight from what just transpired.

Does it mean I’m screwed up? Relishing the idea that three people are left bloody and bruised in a place I hate working at? I almost want to believe I’m a bad person for feeling this way, but I don’t. Guys like Rick and his friends are filth. They deserve what they got.

So, why not enjoy the fact that this Demon wants to protect me?

I compose myself before he opens the door and drops in his chair.

His eyes fall on mine, and he smirks, noticing my delight.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know? It’s just a shitty perk of the job. Happens all the time,” I say.

Working in a bar that insists on skimpy outfits, a few wandering hands are par for the course. It used to upset me, leave me a shaking mess, unable to control my emotions, but nowadays, it’s barely an inconvenience. You have to develop tough skin for this line of work, or you’ll never make it.

“I did,” Dante answers. “You’re mine now, Natalie. The sooner this whole damn town learns it, the better. Might make them think twice before trying to pull any stupid shit.”

Dante starts the car, and the engine roars to life.

“Anyone else giving you trouble in there?” He brings the conversation back to a more serious topic, even though his dark brown eyes scream that they want to get into the fun of the night.

“Nothing like that,” I answer as we start to move. If I had to remember the faces of everyone who touched me or made me uncomfortable, Dante would be cracking the skulls of half this town. “But…”

“But what?”

“Just the manager. He’s been annoying me since I started working here.” I giggle at the thought.

“Want me to have a word with him instead?” Dante asks.

“No, I’m sure he’ll think twice about making another move after what you did tonight.” I rest a soothing hand on Dante’s leg to still his newly mounting frustrations.

Even while driving, his head tilts to my touch. It lingers longer than I expect it to, considering he’s supposed to be looking at the road. Yet, the car continues moving straight, and he starts to stop at a red light as if by instinct alone.

“I didn’t know you were going to come by tonight,” I say. “With the way you left things yesterday, I didn’t know what to expect at all.”

“That makes two of us,” Dante answers. “But I had to see you again. I was awake all night thinking about it.”

“Only see me?” I bat my eyelashes at him, even though his attention is back on the road.

“Trust me, if I was sure you’d let me tear away your panties and drown myself in your pussy juice, I’d do it. But I want you to want this,” he says.

The directness of his statement makes my heart sink into my loins. My mind flashes with filthy images of every fantasy I’ve had of him. Those strong arms gripping my waist, pulling me into thrust after hard thrust of his intense fucking. His hand gripping my throat. Sucking his fingers into my mouth as he has his way with me. Yet nothing could’ve prepared me for a sentence like that.

“And what does being yours entail, exactly?” I nibble on my lower lip. I’m smart enough to know pleasures of the flesh are expected, if not mandatory. My entire body tingles in delight at the mere thought.

“Exactly what it sounds like.” Dante smirks. “No wandering thoughts or shared intentions. Mine alone. To do with as I please. But something about the smile on your face says you already knew it. Want it.”

He’s not wrong. But hearing him say it out loud brings me back down to earth. His alone? I can get behind the idea, sure, but does it go both ways? Am I his, while he gets to do whatever he wants with whoever he pleases? He admitted it himself; he came here tonight with no goals in mind other than to see me again.

What if I’m just a new shiny toy to him? Bought and paid for to help my dad out of trouble.

“You sure sound confident in what you want,” I say, trying to shake the chills my thoughts provoked.

“I’ve never been more certain of anything,” Dante answers. “It’s not in my nature. I do everything with intent and purpose.”

“Everything?”

“I’ve already told you I want you to smother me with your thighs. Want me to explain all the filthy things I want to do to your tight body? Bend you over the hood of my car? The way I’d erupt into a whimpering mess at the first stroke of my cock inside your walls? Or scream out in exquisite anguish while I fill your womb with my seed?” The last sentence leaves his mouth with a deep growl.

“All of it. Every damned word. Speak and never stop. Not until it all comes true,” I whimper.

This roller coaster of emotions is driving me crazy. One minute, I’m worried he’s going to get bored of me, and the next, I’m a mess, lingering on every word and over-eager to put them to the test.

“Why speak when we can act?” He floors the gas pedal to speed through the streets.

Maybe this is a fleeting fancy, and Dante won’t want to pursue it further than a one-night stand or a few nights of intense pleasure. But even if that’s the case, why waste an opportunity to be with him?

Especially if he can make my wildest dreams come true?