51. Camille

Chapter 51

Camille

M y heart pounded as I knocked on Dante's door. A heavy silence lingered on the other side, stretching my doubts to the breaking point. Could I really do this? Could I stay with Dante, knowing he might still be involved in something as dangerous as selling drugs? The thought gnawed at me, but I was here, and I couldn’t turn back now.

Just as I was about to reconsider, the door swung open, and there he stood. Dante. Bare-chested, wearing nothing but sweatpants, his dark hair tousled like he'd just rolled out of bed. His muscles, sculpted and hard, flexed slightly under his tanned skin, but it was the exhaustion in his eyes that hit me hardest. Dark circles told me he hadn’t been sleeping. While I’d spent the weekend wrapped in Kage’s embrace, Dante had clearly been tormented—and I was the reason why.

"Camille." His deep, gravelly voice tugged me from my thoughts.

“Dante, I’m sorry for just showing up like this.” I could hear the tremble in my voice, the uncertainty creeping in. “But I need to talk to you. I never should have given you that ultimatum. It wasn’t fair. You’ve always accepted me, no questions asked. And I... I want to do that for you.”

His eyes darkened, guilt creeping in. “I lied to you,” he said softly, his voice thick with regret. “You have every right to hate me for that.”

I shook my head, feeling a pang in my chest. “I don’t hate you, Dante. I never could. Even though I don’t agree with the decisions you’ve made, I know you’re trying to do something good. You believe what you’re doing is right, and I understand that.”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he stepped back to let me in. His hand brushed my arm, and a jolt of electricity shot through me, the connection between us undeniable. I followed him into the living room.

We sat down, facing each other. His expression was guarded, his muscles tense as though he were bracing for a fight.

“I’m not going to pretend I’m completely okay with what you’re doing. But I know that drugs aren’t going to disappear, and in your mind, you’re trying to control something uncontrollable. Maybe... maybe if someone like you had been in my mom’s life, she’d still be here.”

Dante’s jaw clenched. When he finally spoke, his voice was rough, almost strained. “I’m not sure how to take this, Peaches. I thought I’d lost you for good.”

“I’m not walking away,” I said quietly. “Not from you.”

He stared at me, the weight of my words sinking in. “You’re serious?”

I nodded. “Yes. Don’t quit what you’re doing for me. If you believe it’s the right thing, I’ll stand by you.”

Dante looked truly shaken. He ran a hand through his hair, his voice quieter now. “I’ve been thinking... Maybe there are other reasons I should stop. It’s not just about us. I don’t trust Razor anymore. Things have changed.”

I leaned forward, my heart swelling with hope. “Then make that decision for yourself. Not because of me.”

He took my hands, his fingers warm and strong as they closed around mine. “I feel like I’ve just been given a reprieve from a death sentence, Camille. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’ve already missed you. Thinking of never getting to see you again, to never be with you again” he murmured, his voice huskier now, filled with an emotion that made my chest tighten.

My breath caught in my throat as Dante released my hands and lifted one of his to cup my neck, his thumb caressing my skin. Without thinking, I leaned into his touch, my body instinctively responding to the heat of his gaze. His fingers moved slowly, tracing the curve of my collarbone, then down my arm. Every touch felt like a promise, and I couldn’t help but tremble under the weight of it.

“Dante...” My voice was barely a whisper, but it was enough to break the tension.

Without warning, he scooped me into his arms, standing with a smooth, effortless motion as he carried me toward his bedroom. The world blurred around me as I clung to him, my heart racing in my chest. Dante kicked open the door to his room and laid me gently on the bed, his eyes never leaving mine. He stood over me for a moment, his gaze dark and intense, before slowly reaching for the hem of my shirt, pulling it up and over my head.

“Be sure, Camille. Because if we do this, you’re mine,” he murmured. “And I’m never letting you go.”

“That’s exactly what I want, Dante.”

“Fuck, Peaches,” he growled. “My Peaches.” He lowered his head and kissed me. His hands roamed over my skin, rough and tender at once, igniting a fire I didn’t know could burn so fiercely. The raw masculinity that radiated from him made it impossible to think of anything but how much I wanted him. His scent, the heat of his body pressed against mine, everything about him consumed me.

He undressed me slowly, savoring every moment. I arched into his touch, needing more, but he kept the pace deliberate, teasing, his dark eyes locked on mine the whole time. When he finally had me bare before him, he paused, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he took me in.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” he rasped.

Before I could respond, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips, soft and sweet, so different from the fiery passion he had shown moments before. It was as if he was reminding me that this wasn’t just about desire—this was something deeper.

He undressed himself, and every muscle in his body rippled with strength as he moved. When he settled back over me, his skin hot against mine, I was lost in him, in the way he made me feel like the only woman in the world.

“I don’t deserve you,” he murmured against my neck, his lips tracing a path down to my collarbone.

I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer. “We deserve each other, Dante. I’m not going anywhere.”

With a growl of approval, Dante kissed me harder, his hands framing my face as he deepened the kiss. I felt the tension in his body, the need he was holding back, and it made me want him even more. His restraint was agonizing, but at the same time, it showed me how much he cared, how much he was willing to take his time with me, to make sure I knew exactly how he felt.

He took the time to put on a condom then positioned himself between my thighs. Slowly, he eased into me. Every touch was a promise, every kiss a vow that whatever came our way, we’d face it together. The world outside Dante’s bedroom faded away, and all that remained was us—two people, flawed and imperfect, but somehow perfect for each other in that moment.

When it was over, we lay tangled together, our breaths coming in slow, steady waves as we came down from the high of our connection. Dante’s hand traced lazy circles on my back, his touch soothing even as there was desperation to it, as if he still feared I’d somehow change my mind and walk away from him.

“How was your weekend?” he asked.

I blushed, thinking of Kage and that magic egg. “Um, it was good.”

Dante cocked a brow. “You spent it with Kage?”

I bit my lip and nodded. “For his birthday. Did you know he had an apartment in the city?”

Dante shook his head. “No, but I’m not surprised. Did he spoil you rotten?”

I hesitated. I wanted to be honest, but I felt embarrassed talking about my trip with Kage to Dante. With Kage, everything is extravagant. Making sure I’m looked after with his little—and sometimes not so little—gifts is his thing. While I love that about Kage, I’d never want Dante to feel bad that he couldn’t provide for me in the same way.

“You’re worried about making me feel bad? What did he buy you this time? A car?”

My cheeks got even redder. He wasn’t far off.

Dante threw back his head and laughed. “He seriously got you a car?”

“No, he got himself one,” I shot back defensively, before I confessed the truth. “…for me to use.”

“Don’t hide that kind of stuff. I want you to feel comfortable enough to tell me everything,” Dante told me. “Besides, I’ve got money. I’d like to spoil you too, you know.”

My gaze shot to him. “Really?”

He chuckled again. “Yes. And I’m not talking about drug money, either,” he added, as if reading my mind. “I made a few good investments years ago that paid off. So, you don’t have to hide when you spend time with him, Camille, and you also don’t have to hide what he gives you, or what he does for you.” Dante lowered his hand and cupped it over my pussy. “I know he spends quite a lot of time here, and you don’t ever have to feel ashamed. He’s good about sharing, but if he ever changes his mind, tough. Like I said, I’m not giving you up.”

“He’s not changing his mind. He’s the one who encouraged me to reconsider and talk to you, Dante.”

Dante’s eyes widened. Then he let out a bark of laughter. “Looks like I owe the guy then.

I rolled my eyes. “How about you just focus on rewarding me for coming to my senses.”

He smiled and rested his chin on my chest, looking up at me boyishly. “Reward you with what? Hmm… let me think. Do you want me to show you what I learned in India? About Tantric practices?” He winced suddenly, as if realizing that he’d have had to “practice’ with someone, and I knew perfectly well he was talking about not just spiritual practices but sexual ones.

“I’m not jealous. I know you’re mine, Dante. Will you teach me?”

Slowly, he pulled me up until we were sitting across from each other on the bed.

“Tantric practices are about channeling energy. One of the key elements is eye gazing. It's where partners engage in prolonged eye contact, fostering a deep connection and intimacy without even touching."

I felt a flutter of nerves at the thought. "Okay, let's try it," I said, determined not to shy away from the experience. We started, and at first, I couldn't help but giggle, the intensity of his gaze making me feel exposed, vulnerable. He laughed, too, acknowledging the awkwardness of the moment.

But gradually, under Dante's gentle guidance, we found a rhythm. The laughter faded, replaced by a serene silence. It was as if the world around us had stilled, leaving nothing but the space between us. The initial awkwardness gave way to a profound sense of connection, and soon, our breath fell in line with each other.

"You feel that?" he asked softly.

"I feel it," I breathed back.

I felt a rush of emotions, a mix of awe and a deep, grounding sense of being seen. Dante's eyes held mine, and in them, I saw not just the man I cared for, but a reflection of my own soul, raw and open.

The experience was unlike anything I'd ever known. It was intimacy on a level I hadn't realized was possible, transcending physical boundaries and touching something deeper within us both.

After what felt like an eternity and a single moment all at once, we slowly broke the gaze, both taking a deep breath as if coming up for air, and he reached for my hand to give it a squeeze – like he was bringing me back down to earth.

"Yeah, awkward as hell at first," Dante murmured, his voice soft, a smile playing on his lips.

I nodded, still processing the depth of what we'd shared. "But then it wasn't," I found myself saying, my voice barely above a whisper. "It was... beautiful."

“Not as beautiful as you. Nothing is as beautiful as you, sweetheart.”

Dante caressed me and as he did, he directed me to keep our gazes locked. Through his slow and deliberate movements, every touch felt like a spark, igniting something deep within me. I'd never experienced anything like this. Every movement of his hands, every shared breath felt like we were syncing in a way I hadn't thought possible.

"Fuck, Dante, this is... I don't want this to stop," I gasped, as his fingers danced across my skin, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me. Every touch sent a shockwave of sensation through me, like my nerve-endings were lighting on fire – like I was boiling from the inside out. He smiled, that knowing, confident grin that told me he had so much more to show me.

"You know, one of the best parts of what I've learned," he murmured, his breath hot against my ear, "is how to control my climax. I can make this last for hours if you're up for the challenge."

I shivered, not from cold but from sheer anticipation. "Hell, yes, I'm up for it."

And he wasn't lying. What followed was a dance of touch, breath, and movement that had me spiraling into pleasure again and again. Dante knew exactly how to push me to the edge, then pull me back, a cycle that had me begging for release but not wanting the experience to end.

His tongue grazed over the inside of my bottom lip, and his gaze burned into mine – like he couldn’t get enough of me, like he couldn’t even imagine it. I groaned as he drew me back from the edge of orgasm once more, my hips grinding up against him as he held himself inside of me.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" I gasped.

"Of course I am," he replied, chuckling, stirring his hips against me. "Making my gorgeous girl shake and moan...fuck, what’s not to like?”

And then, finally, he sank into me again, and my body was consumed with pleasure. He moved with me, against me, inside me in a way that felt like we were creating our own universe, one where only we existed.

It was intense, intimate, and absolutely mind-blowing. I lost track of time, of how many times I came, each climax rolling into the next until I was sure I couldn't take anymore. But Dante was relentless, in the best possible way, guiding me through it all with a patience and focus that left me awestruck.

By the time he finally allowed us both to tumble over the edge one last time, I was spent, my body a mix of helpless satisfaction and tingling pleasure. I lay there, draped over him, both of us slick with sweat and breathing hard.

A long time later, he gently shifted me in his arms. He got up to take care of the latest condom he’d used then immediately gathered me in his arms again.

"I love you, Dante," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. It was the truth, a truth that this experience had brought to the surface. I loved him, not just for what we'd shared physically, but for the person he was, for the way he made me feel seen and understood. I knew in my heart this time that my love for Dante wasn’t a betrayal to Kage—it was a testament to Kage’s love for me. That he would not just share me with Dante, but he would encourage our connection, knowing how much Dante fulfilled my soul.

He stiffened slightly beneath me, then relaxed, his arms tightening around me. "I love you too, Camille," he replied, his voice rough with emotion. “I always will.”

I nestled closer, my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. We stayed entwined, talking and laughing, sharing kisses and gentle touches until the need for sleep became too strong to ignore.