Chapter 8

Dante

“Have you had enough of your first kiss?”

She shook her head. “No, I like it.”

Definitely not a little girl.

I ran the pad of my thumb over her swollen lips. “You like it?” I asked with a grin.

Camila nodded. “I’m afraid this isn’t real, and I’ll wake up.”

I knew how she felt. If this was a dream, I didn’t want it to fucking end.

Lowering my face, I brought our lips back together. The ferocity was still there, but I slowed, savoring her sweetness as my hips ground against her. Soon she was pressing back, bouncing to my rhythm. Her breaths came quicker as whimpers filled my ears.

I imagined pushing her panties to the side and slipping a finger or two into her virgin core. My thoughts swelled in proportion to my cock as I fantasized about how tight she would be. I was a grown-ass man dry-humping like a fucking teenager, and it could possibly be the best sex I’d ever had.

“Oh,” she called out, her fingernails digging into my shoulders.

“That’s it, ride it out, beautiful.”

Camila pressed her core against my hardness.

I watched in awe as her eyes closed and her lips parted. Watching her climax was intoxicating. It was a vision I would never tire of seeing. Finally, she dropped her forehead to my shoulder. I released her thigh, giving her two feet on the floor to keep her balance. Still, I held her close until her breathing evened.

When she lifted her face and our eyes met, I smiled. “Has anyone ever made you come before?”

She hesitated for only a moment before answering, “No.”

“A night of firsts.”

Her cheeks pinkened. “Should I be embarrassed?”

I shook my head. “You’re gorgeous, Camila. Being you, making your wants and needs known…it’s sexy as fuck.” I ran my thumb over her swollen lips. “If anyone sees you, they’ll know you’ve been kissed.”

“I won’t let anyone see me.” She took a deep breath. “Can we…? Will you…? I don’t want anyone to know.”

“Staying pure for whomever el Patrόn chooses.” Saying the words did something to me. Even the thought of another man touching her caused my blood to heat.

“I don’t want that.” Her smile faded. “I’ve considered leaving.”

I cupped her cheek. “You’re safe as long as you’re in college.”

Camila shrugged. “Catalina was, but I don’t know about me. Mama said she’s doing her best.” She tilted her face to my touch. “You know how much a woman’s opinion is regarded in securing the cartel.”

My forehead furrowed. “You said you haven’t been promised.”

“I don’t know. I wouldn’t know until the deal was done.” She inhaled, stepped away from my touch, and stood tall. “I’ve saved some money. Being out in the world on my own is a terrifying thought, but so is being forced to marry a stranger.”

Pressing my fist to my chest, I swore my oath. “Camila, you have my word—my promise—what happened tonight stays between us.”

Camila nodded. “I promise too.” Her smile returned. “I don’t want my father to kill you.”

“That would really fuck up the alliance.” I shrugged. “Of course, if Dario knew what I did, he might give your father permission.”

Her lips curled. “What we did, Dante. To avoid your bloodshed, we won’t tell anyone.”

Our fingers found one another’s as if they needed to feel the other. I lifted her hand to my lips. “Thank you for choosing me. You should go back upstairs.”

“Okay.”

“There’s a camera in the elevator.”

Camila stiffened. “Shit.”

“I figured you didn’t know.”

“I didn’t,” she said, fidgeting toward the doors.

Reaching out, I rubbed her slender shoulder. “I’ll try to get to the security footage tonight and erase your coming and going.”

“What if Dario already saw it?”

“He wouldn’t. It would be Giovanni, and if he did, I’ll swear him to secrecy.” I reached into my pocket. “You need to return the card before Contessa realizes it’s gone.” My pocket was empty. “Shit.”

Camila’s grin grew wider as she pulled the card from her pocket. “For a dangerous Mafia guy, you’re pretty easy to pickpocket.”

Damn—I was impressed.

I shook my head. “You little thief.”

“Better than being called a little girl.”

“How did you learn to do that?”

“You had me distracted,” she said. “I almost forgot to take it back.”

“Yeah, you had me distracted, too.”

“My brother showed me how when I was about fifteen. My parents used to keep the liquor cabinet locked, but our housekeeper, Lola, always had a key with her. One day, I caught Em with a bottle from the cabinet. He convinced me not to turn him in. In exchange, he’d teach me how to get the key and how to put it back.”

“Did Lola ever figure it out?”

Camila shook her head. “We were good. I don’t like liquor, but I’ve found that sometimes, it’s helpful to be able to take something without anyone knowing.”

I thought of a question. “Is Catalina a pickpocket too?”

“No, she doesn’t know. Catalina was always the perfect daughter—you know, the one who agreed to marry because she’d been told to? She might not have turned us in to our parents, but we never let her know.”

“To keep this secret” —I motioned between us— “when we see each other…”

Camila nodded. “I know. We can’t acknowledge what happened. I’ll keep my memory of tonight to myself. It was my choice, Dante. I have the feeling you’ll be a hard act to follow.”

I didn’t want anyone to even try. The idea made my jaw clench.

Camila flashed the card before the sensor and the elevator doors opened. “Good night.”

“Good night.”

For a moment, I stood watching the doors close. Once I figured she was up to the penthouse, I went to my tablet and accessed the security footage from the elevator. It only took me a few seconds and the evidence was gone.

Looking down at my shorts, I adjusted my still-erect cock and saw a dark spot of moisture.

Evidence of her essence and sweet cinnamon scent remained.