CHAPTER NINETEEN: FORBIDDEN DESIRE

SAGE'S POV

I tried to yank my arm free, my heart hammering against my ribs so hard I could feel it in my throat. Dark, angry thoughts filled my head and I fought hard, kicking and clawing.

The hand over my mouth was firm but not painful, and the body pressed against my back was solid and warm. My body twisted and I even elbowed the person's rib but they stayed still as a slab of marble.

My mind raced with every horror story I had ever heard about being grabbed at events like this.

Then a familiar scent hit me; coffee and cinnamon. It was intoxicating and I froze as the thought crept in. Dante.

Recognition might have made someone else cool down but the urge to get away increased, and I fought harder, shoving against him with everything I had.

“Get the fuck off me,” I hissed the moment his hand loosened enough for me to speak.

“Would you stop acting like a squirrel and calm the fuck down?" He spat back and that only made me angrier. “All the more reason to fight you,” I snapped, pushing hard against his chest.

My palms met the firm wall of muscle under his shirt, and I hated how aware I was of how solid he felt.

He pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand, exhaling slowly like he was trying to keep control.

“Why the hell am I here?” I demanded, voice shaking with rage. “What do you want? Why do you have to act like a creep and drag me into a room? Why didn’t you say something like a normal person?”

Dante stood by the door, blocking it with his body. His steel-grey eyes watched me with that intense, unreadable look that always made my skin go warm.

I crossed my arms, trying to look at least a bit intimidating as I waited for an answer, but my face grew warmer. At this rate, I was going to melt into a puddle.

“I saw you with that man,” he said finally, if I didn't know any better with that look in his eyes I might have assumed he was jealous. “The one who tried to flirt with you. You shouldn’t be around other guys like that.”

"It's not my fault he wanted to dance. Don't act like this dumb ball wasn't your idea," I snapped, my face felt stiff as I waited for his reply. He was the one who wanted this and I'm supposed to do what?

His jaw tightened. “The contract doesn’t cover everything. You’re carrying my heir. I don’t want other men thinking they can touch what’s mine.”

"Well, that's something you'll have to leave with. You can't just keep me around you like a fucking dog."

"Sage!!"

The possessiveness in his words sent a rush of heat through me that I hated and I took slow steps towards him.

“Why the hell do I have to answer to anything you say? What if I need some kind of relief after all the garbage you’ve been putting me through? Maybe I don’t mind getting it from someone else.”

Dante scoffed, and my eyes widened with shock. He sounded amused and overly sure of himself, and for some reason, my face began to burn with embarrassment.

“I’d rather be the one to give you that relief,” Dante said with serious eyes as he walked towards me.

Trying to avoid his sharp gaze, I turned away, shuffling. “What the fuck makes you think I want it from someone like you?”

His eyes darkened and he leaned in just enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “The wetness between your legs is more than enough proof.”

My face paled at his words and it felt like someone had just dumped a bucket of cold water on me. “I’m not wet,” I yelled back suddenly, aware of the moisture between my thighs. “You didn’t make me wet.”

Dante laughed and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It felt off coming out of him and I couldn't look away no matter how much I wanted to.

“You’re a terrible liar, Sage.”

“No,” I insisted, my cheeks burning. “It’s not happening.”

He tilted his head, eyes locked on mine. “If that’s true, then why don’t you reach down there and prove it to me"

I let out a chuckle trying my best to sound calm but it only came out broken. “I don’t have to do anything you say.”

Annoyed at how wet I actually was, I pushed past him and reached for the door. Before my fingers could touch the handle, Dante moved.

One second I was moving, the next my back was slammed against the wall beside the door, my hands pinned above my head by one of his large hands

I felt the hard length of his cock pressing against my stomach through his pants. A whimper escaped me before I could stop it.

Dante’s free hand slid down my body slowly.

“Can you smell that?” he murmured, his voice covered with lust. “The room reeks of your arousal.”

I tried to fight him, twisting my wrists in his grip, but he held me like it was nothing. His other hand slipped under the short hem of my dress. His fingers brushed past my thighs, higher and I opened my mouth wanting to curse him out. I felt them slide through my folds and a gasp let me instead.

He groaned deep in his throat. “Fuck, Sage.”

He brought his fingers up to his mouth and licked them clean, eyes never leaving mine.

I stared at him with pure hate, but my body betrayed me, getting even wetter at the sight. I hated myself as I went limp. His hands went back down and I sucked in air.

He stroked my folds again, slow and deliberate, his palm pressing against my clit. I squirmed under his hold, biting my lip hard to keep an embarrassing moan in.

Noticing it, he punched my clit hard, forcing it out. Dante began rubbing my clit in steady circles while his fingers teased my entrance.

My eyes grew heavy and my breathing took an odd rhythm. I hated how good it felt and even worse, my hips started rocking against his hand without my permission.

“You have no idea how hard I’ve been trying to stay away from you,” he said, voice low and rough against my ear. “Every time you snap at me, all I can think about is fucking you until you can’t speak.”

His words made me drip even more until I was a mess. Slowly, he slid one thick finger inside me, then another, fucking me with them while his palm rubbed my clit.

"Argh..." I moaned out, my toes curling in my heels as I felt my orgasm approach.

“Come for me,” he ordered, biting down on the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder.

The orgasm hit me hard and my whole body trembled as pleasure crashed through me in waves.

I whimpered and shook, but he didn’t stop, keeping his fingers moving until I was a panting, oversensitive mess.

Finally, he pulled his hand away, letting my wrists and all I could do was stare at him with daggers in my eyes, legs still shaky.

He licked his fingers clean again, then handed me his handkerchief without a word. My face was so hot I could barely look at him and I quickly cleaned the wetness that had slid down my thighs.

Not trusting my voice, I shoved the handkerchief back at him and stormed out the door.

My mind wouldn't stop reeling and I was nothing but a mess of lust and emotions. My clit still hummed with aftershocks as I headed toward the bathroom to compose myself.

Just as I was about to enter my eyes landed on a head of purple hair. Crystal was sitting alone on a small bench near the hallway, her face sad and distant, her shoulders slumped like the weight of the world was on them.