EleniI gape at Dante. Christos asked him not to tell us? Why wouldn’t he want us to know he was dead?“Why should I believe you?” I say, clinging to the last vestiges of the shell I’ve built up.He drops back into his seat. “That’s your question to answer. I’ve told you everything I know. I was just keeping a promise.”My anger burns away my grief. “Keeping a promise? You lied to me, Dante. You let me—sleep with you, and you hid this from me.”“I took his body out with the rest of our men,” he says like I didn’t speak. “Tony and I buried him upstate. I buried him, my friend, with my own fucking hands. I can show you, if you want.”I slam my hands down on his desk. “Are you listening to me? What the hell made you think that would help? I’m leaving in the fucking morning.”“That’s your choice,” he says evenly. “But you should know this isn’t a life people just get to walk away from.”“Is that a threat?”He meets my gaze. “It’s a promise. You have a reputation after these last two weeks
EleniDante surges up to meet my mouth, and within moments, he has to drop back against the pillows to catch his breath again.“I’m sorry, pet.” He runs his hands up my sides. “I don’t quite have my stamina back.”The siren song of old patterns calls, but I’m not the Eleni I was the last time he used that name for me. It still sends a shiver down my spine, but if we’re finding a new balance, maybe we don’t have to let habits dictate what comes next.“That’s okay.” I nip at his earlobe, kiss down to the hollow of his throat. “I have enough stamina for the both of us.”He quirks an eyebrow at me when I lean back. I know what he’s looking for. I stay silent.“Sir?” he prompts.“Sir just wiped out like a cartoon character walking in the front door.” I smile. “So why don’t you let me take the reins tonight?”Indecision flickers across Dante’s face, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s ever had sex where he wasn’t in charge.Then, he says, “Okay.”Part of me didn’t expect that. My breath catc
EleniI roll over, feeling rested for the first time in I don’t even know how long, and reach for Dante. My fingers meet sheets where I know he fell asleep after our third round last night. Cold sheets. My heart leaps into my throat. I open my eyes and sit up.Rumpled blankets. Clothes scattered everywhere. No sign of Dante. I scramble for my phone to see if Gianna or Tony has been trying to reach me with something important. A few notifications await me. One from my email, alerting me I have an unsaved draft. I swipe that away. I tried to write a polite “no, thank you” back to Professor Calhoun yesterday, and it’s the last thing I need to think about right now. A few general check-ins and junk. One from Gianna that I open without reading the message preview.Hello?? Tell me you didn’t literally leave for Greece without texting me goodbye.I blink. Then, my gaze drifts to the time she sent the message. Eleven am. My heart skips another beat, and I check the time now. Nearly noon.“Shi
DanteI pull the car up in front of the abstract red sculpture that marks the front of the Tandon Institute, and Eleni turns to me with a glare.“What the hell are we doing here?”I park. “You know, I think the sculpture looks like a bunch of checkers falling over. What about you?”“Dante.” She crosses her arms. “Answer me.”I smile. I knew she was going to react like this. In truth, I don’t really care. She’s staying. She’s finding a way to get used to the fact that I killed Christos. It’s not over between us, and I don’t have to spend the rest of my life wishing I never told her. Even the ache in my chest can’t bring me down today. I climb out of the car without answering, circle around the hood, and try to open her door.It’s locked. She locked it. She stares through the window at me, arms still crossed.“Answers, or I’m not getting out,” she calls through the bulletproof glass.I exhale heavily. How has she gotten more stubborn? I was only gone for two weeks.“Is ‘you’re going to
EleniWhen I joked that we should go shopping before lunch, have the whole commuter experience, I didn’t expect Dante to take me up on it. I certainly didn’t expect him to trail after me through designer store after designer store, making introductions to the right clerks and offering opinions on my choices. I look at the two extra chairs they had to pull over to our table in the ridiculously upscale if tiny French bistro, both piled with bags full of purchases. I have no idea what’s going on. All I know is there’s a real chance we just spent as much as the semester at Tandon, even with the ridiculous bribe he probably had to make, and he’s still smiling at me over the most expensive burger I’ve ever heard of.At the very least, spending his money feels great. It was the one thing I was scared to do with him gone, and after his behavior at the warehouse the other day, he deserves it.I deserve a little treat from time to time, and based on the look on his face, he likes doing this. He
EleniWe walk out of Louie’s shop, and I blink in the summer sun. Everything that happened in the tiny jewelry shop starts to feel like a dream.“What now?” I ask. “Can we finally go home and deal with whatever makes you keep checking your phone?”Abruptly, I realize he hasn’t looked at his phone since we stepped into Aurora’s. But I’d be surprised if Louie had ever heard of Wi-Fi, much less spent his mornings texting prospective clients.“Yes and no.” Dante smiles. “I’m done with my phone, because everything is arranged, but we’re not going home.”I scowl at him. My feet are starting to hurt. Maybe I need to build up stamina before I invite Gianna on one of these. I’ve watched a few of her shows now, and it seems like stamina is the one thing a pole dancer needs in spades.“We are going to stay the night in the city at a five-star hotel,” Dante says.* * *A short walk, a conversation with a very snooty concierge, and a strangely tense elevator ride later, I stride into a suite near
EleniDante leads me through the lobby, his gaze barely leaving my cleavage, and out into a waiting limo. Today has been so crazy I don’t even ask where the other car with our shopping went. But as we pull into traffic, I do notice the two nondescript sedans that pull out behind us. My heart picks up speed until I spot the license plates. Both Saints cars. They’re nothing more than an escort. Dante is quiet on the ride to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but I’m bouncing in my seat. I look incredible, feel incredible, and I can’t wait to find out what the hell kind of gala a mafioso goes to and more importantly, why.When the limo pulls up outside, I have to smother a laugh. A massive banner dangling over the front of the stone edifice declares a benefit for a charity helping misguided and underprivileged youth.“Who are you, Dante?”“What?” Dante smiles as he opens the door. “You don’t think I have hidden depths?”I’m about to meet a completely different side of him. Cameras flash as
EleniI struggle to tamp down my libido as Dante pulls me out of the sculpture gallery. Cal Duncan? Here? With all the champagne, I forgot the day started with his name. For all my research, I haven’t been able to find a picture of the guy, so I have no idea who to look for in the crowd of well-dressed partygoers.“Mr. Cattaneo.” A man with deep red hair and a lilting Irish accent steps into our path. “And Ms. Calimeris. What a pleasant surprise.”Before I can reply, he takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. I blink, fighting for coherency. Instead, I notice the fine sprinkling of freckles on Cal’s sharp cheekbones and the amusement in his light brown eyes. The charming man in front of me doesn’t match any of the horrifying stories I heard about him.“Mr. Duncan.” Dante’s voice sounds strained as he sticks out his hand to shake. “I was so hoping to see you tonight.”“Is that so?” Cal releases my hand and shakes Dante’s. “I heard you’d been absent from the circuit for a while. It seems
*Heidi*The steamy session at Cal’s car only got me worked up enough to be desperate for him to take me. So much that I didn’t even bother that he took me to his office out of all places. When he said he wanted to take me somewhere safer, I thought he was talking about his apartment, but to my surprise, I was even more aroused when he took me to his bar.I never had sex in an office before, but I’ve read enough books to keep my imagination vivid and wanting to give it a try.Standing in his office in nothing but my underwear turns me on more than I expected. The simple fact that someone could barge in at any minute and catch us excites me more than I’d like to admit.God, I was never like this before. I wonder how Cal manages to turn me into this hungry woman who can only think about having sex.Sure, I do want more from him, but right now, having sex with him leaves me fully satisfied, and if that’s all I can get, well, I might as well take it while he is offering me.The intense loo
*Cal*“I didn’t think you meant your bar when you said ‘somewhere safer,’” Heidi points out with a note of amusement in her voice as I guide us inside through the back door.I managed to shake whoever was following us, but I don’t think I lost them completely. They might be somewhere near, watching my next moves. They know I own this place, but I can’t show Heidi any sign of worry or fear right now.I can only hope they don’t have ulterior motives tonight other than keeping an eye on us. An attack would be a fucking mess with Heidi here with me.“It wasn’t my first thought, but considering you really liked my office the last time you were here, I figured, why not?” Heidi seems surprised by my answer, but her expression softens as soon as I open the door to my office, and she finds everything exactly as she remembers it.“Make yourself comfortable,” I tell her, pecking her on the lips, one hand gripping her waist. “I’ll just send my men away and get us both something to drink,” I lie.
*Cal*Taking Heidi to her apartment this morning and being forced to leave her after the incredible night we spent together was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and that’s saying a lot.I cursed Tony the entire way to my bar, but I have to admit it ended up being the right choice after all. I don’t know how he did it, considering none of my men succeeded when they investigated it, but Tony managed to confirm that Mateo’s cartel was involved in the attack on Christmas’ Eve.He didn’t confirm who took that picture of Heidi leaving my bar, but that wasn’t necessary. I have all the confirmation I need already.When I asked him why he couldn’t tell me this news over the phone, he showed me a picture of two cars, one of them which I immediately recognized as being the one who attacked me that same night. Tony gave me some confidential information on how to track down Mateo’s men and told me he’s trying to find out who is leading them now and why they are targeting me and not
*Heidi*Being practically dragged out of Cal’s bed and his apartment is not the way I imagined ending our date. I hadn’t originally planned to sleep at his place either, but after the best sex of my life, I didn’t have the strength to leave his arms, get dressed, and call for a cab.I didn’t think Cal would have let me do that even if I’d wanted to, but now that he’s basically told me to leave, I’m starting to doubt my instincts. He reassured me that he didn’t want to go either, and I could tell by his expression that he was being honest with me. But as he drives me back to my apartment, I wonder what got him out of bed so early.I don’t think our relationship is close enough for me to ask him–even though we’ve seen one another completely naked and vulnerable–so I stay quiet the entire time, watching the empty, snow-covered streets out the window. Even with my coat on, and the heat from the car, I’m shivering. I also think it has something to do with Cal’s eyes on me. I feel his gaz
*Cal*I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that I finally got to have Heidi to myself. Taking her on a date had been a surprise already, but when she agreed on coming here with me, I was stunned. I thought she was going to freak out once she realized I had brought her to my apartment, but one look at her, and her expression told me she was more than pleased. I didn’t think it was possible for her to look sexier than she had when I first picked her up, but she managed to prove me wrong.A completely different woman showed up in front of me once I began to entice her. The look of lust, desire, longing, and yearning that crossed her face had me on my knees. Literally. I’ve had plenty of sexual partners in my life, lots of different experience, but even so, Heidi brought out things in me that I’ve never felt before.I couldn’t get enough of her.And never once have I brought a woman to my apartment, let alone my bed. This is my safe harbor. My home. The only place I feel like myself.
*Heidi*“Oh, my…” I trail off, unable to finish my sentence while Cal’s tongue flicks out and ravishes my clit with enthusiasm. My whole body shivers, my muscles tightening and breaking into spasm as my orgasm finally reaches its peak. Every cell inside of me is so sensitive to his touch, I wouldn’t be able to form a proper sentence at the moment, even if my life depended on it.My fingers are tangled in his hair, keeping his head trapped between my legs, even though he doesn’t seem to be ready to get out of there yet.I drop my head back, closing my eyes to savor how good it feels to reach climax with only his mouth on my body. If he’s this good with his tongue, I can only imagine what he can do with his dick inside of me.The wave of pleasure starts dissipating when Cal pulls back, and I allow myself to take a deep breath. If I want this to keep going–which I absolutely do–I need to pull myself together first.I feel my cheeks burning when I realize Cal is staring at me, completely
*Heidi*The drive back to Manhattan is excruciating. I can still feel Cal’s hands on me, his lips hungry on mine. Every cell in my body is alert, anticipating the continuation of our kiss on that rooftop.I can tell he feels the same. His grip on the wheel is so tight that his knuckles are turning white. Neither of us says anything, the sexual tension inside this car making it hard to breathe.I don’t ask where he’s taking me. I just look outside the window, hoping we get there as soon as possible or I’ll combust right here against his leather seat.When Cal pulls the car inside the underground parking garage of a luxury apartment building in Midtown, I realize he’s taking me to his place… not back to mine. A part of me scolds myself for agreeing to go to a man’s apartment on a first date–a guy I barely know–but I shove that unwelcome thought aside.I don’t want to think tonight. I just want to feel. I just want to let Cal treat me like the woman that I am, someone who deserves atte
*Heidi*This has to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to in my life. Not that I get out that much, but I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to dine in such a luxurious restaurant with a spectacular view of Manhattan if it wasn’t for Cal.I’m glad I didn’t push him to tell me where he was taking me because I actually do like surprises. When they’re good surprises, anyway. I wasn’t necessarily lying when I said I don’t normally like them, but then, I wasn’t expecting a surprise from him to be this magnificent. He really managed to surprise me. The fact that we’ve gone all the way to Stanton Island is one thing, and then the view through these enormous glass windows is breathtaking. From this distance, with the water separating us from the mainland, Manhattan seems peaceful somehow, not the chaotic city I’m used to.“Do you like it?” Cal’s voice reaches my ear, and only then do I realize how close to my neck his lips really are. It causes an electric current to cours
*Cal*Heidi looks stunning in the dress I picked for her, even better than I imagined. As soon as my eyes fell on that dress wrapped around her beautiful curves, I knew it had been made for her.I hadn’t prepared myself to actually see her in it, though. It took everything in me not to jump on her as soon as she opened that door. Until that moment, I had only seen her in jeans, sneakers, and big sweaters, nothing too revealing or sexy, and that had been enough to leave me drooling and waking up in a cold sweat. But this dress…Even now, as I drive us to the restaurant that Tony reserved for us, I’m struggling to keep my eyes on the road instead of on her. Her presence is consuming all of my senses, her intoxicating perfume invading my nostrils and making it hard for me to breathe.The way the silk fabric clings to her tiny frame makes me wonder what it would feel like to run my fingers along her curves, hold her in my arms, and…“Where are we going?” Heidi asks after minutes of pure