CHAPTER 7

My mouth fell open the second I said that. Did I really just say that out loud?

To Dante?

His eyes got extra wide, like when you see a spider on your ceiling and you freeze. Then, a slow, mischievous smile spread across his face. It was the kind of smile that made my stomach do a full gymnastics routine.

"Say that again, Sunshine." His voice was all rough and low, like gravel.

"No way," I squeaked, trying to wiggle out of his arms. He was like a human brick wall. "You heard me. Now let me go before my dad comes back out here with a shotgun or something!"

Dante just laughed, a soft rumbly sound that vibrated through his chest and into mine. "Jake doesn't own a shotgun. He's afraid they'll backfire."

"He's not afraid of anything!"

"He's afraid of moths."

I gasped. "He is not! Take that back!"

"Last summer, a Luna moth got in the house. He screamed like he was in a horror movie and made Marinette trap it with a Tupperware." Dante's grin was evil and totally knowing. "I was there. I have video evidence."

My brain short-circuited. My big, strong dad, scared of a fuzzy moth? No. Freaking. Way. But the way Dante said it... it sounded true. And it was so embarrassing! But also... kinda funny.

While my brain was busy melting, Dante used the

distraction. His head dipped and his lips found that very sensitive spot right below my ear, A full-body

shiver ran through through me, from my scalp down to my toes, which immedíately curled in my shoes.

“Dante,” I whimpered. It was supposed to be a warning, but it came out sounding like a plea.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured against my skin, his

teeth giving a little nibble, His hands slid down from

my waist, over the curve of my ass, and he squeezed.

Hard.

A totally embarrassing squeak shot out of me and I slapped a hand over my mouth, my eyes shifting out toward the house. All the lights were off. Please let them be asleep.

Please please please.

“You're driving me crazy," I hissed, turning my head

to face him which turned out to be quite a big mistake, because now our lips were, like, a

centimeter apart. I could smell the mint on his breath and the clean, spicy scent that was just him.

"Good," he breathed. "Be crazy with me.” Then he kissed me, And oh my god. This wasn't like the

hungry, desperate kisses from last night. This was

slow and sweet and gentle. His lips moved against mine like he was trying to memorize their shape. My fists, which had been pushing against his chest, unclenched.

My fingers slowly crept up, tangling the soft hair at the back of his neck. I sighed înto his mouth, and he took that as an invitation to deepen the kiss.

His tongue swept in, and I felt fireworks exploded behind my eyelids. My knees Iiterally went weak, If he wasn't holding me up, I'd be a puddle on the porch.

After what felt like a year and also two seconds, he

pulled back, We were both breathing like we had run a marathon, His stormy grey eyes were dark, almost black with want.

"Climb up," he said, his voice wrecked and rough.

"W-what?"

"Your window, I'm coming up."

My brain finally rebooted. "Are you INSANE? You can't climb up to my window! You'll fall and die and my dad will find your broken body in his petunias!"

He raised one perfect eyebrow, “Sunshine, I do pull-ups with a 45-pound plate strapped to me, I think I can handle your trellis.”

He pointed, and I saw the thick, woody vine hanging up the side of the house right next to my window. It did look strong. But still!

“No! No way! This is a terrible, horrible, no-good idea!"

“It's the best idea I've had all week," He gave me one more quick, hard kiss. "Go, Unlock the window, I'l give you sixty seconds before I follow, unless I’ll fuck you right here without caring if you scream.”

He let go of me and stepped back into the shadows, I stood there, frozen, my heart poundíng so loud I was sure it would wake up the whole neighborhood.

This was it.

This was the definition of reckless. Climbing into my childhood bedroom with my dad's best friend while my parents slept down the hall. I should say no, I should march inside, lock my door, and never look at Dante Cross again.

But my body didn't listen to my brain, My feet carried me silently through the front door which I'd left slightly ajar, how stupid was I?! Then I went up the creaky stairs, and into my pink-and-white bedroom, I stood in the middle of the room, hyperventilating.

I could still lock the window, I could text him and tell

him to go home.

I jumped when a foot came up in the air. A dark shape blocking out the moonlight outside my window.

Ohmygodohmygod.

He was actually doing it!

With trembling hands, I fumbled with the latch and

pushed the window up, A muscular arm reached in, then, another, and Dante hauled himself over the sill and into my room with a soft thud, He looked completely out of place. A giant, dangerous, sexy man in my frilly, girly room with its stuffed animals and ballet posters.

He straightened up, dusting off his hands, and looked around. A slow smile spread on his face.

"Cute."

"Shhh!" I rushed forward and put a finger to his lips. “You have to be quiet!”

He kissed my fingertip, making me jerk my hand back.

“Then you'll have to be quiet too," he whispered, his

eyes dropping to my lips.

The air in the room got thick and hot, My pink fairy

lights suddenly seemed way too bright, He took a step toward me, and I took a step back, My calves hit the edge of my bed, and I sat down with a little oomph.

Dante stood in front of me, looking down, He reached out and traced a finger along the strap of my sleep

tank top. “This is what you wear to bed?" he asked, his voice husky.

“Y-yeah,"

"It's adorable." He didn't sound like he meant 'adorable,' in a little-kid way, He sounded like he meant it in an 'I-want-to-tear-it-off-with-my-teeth’ way.

My breath hitched, He knelt down on the floor, right

between my knees, He was so tall that even on his

knees, his face was level with mine, He placed his big, veiny hands on my bare thighs. His touch was warm and slightly rough.

"Last night." he started, his eyes serious now, "The

note. I was an idiot, A coward, I got scared of how

much I wanted you. How right it felt," He swallowed.

You're not a mistake, Callie. You feel like a miracle."

Tears pricked my eyes again, but this time they were happy tears, stupid, happy tears, I nodded, not

trusting my voice.

“Do you forgive me?” he asked, his thumbs drawing

Iittle circles on my inner thighs.

I bit my lip and nodded again, "Yeah, I forgive you,"

The smile he gave me then, it was like the sun was coming. So. Fucking. Bright. It made my heart do a happy dance, But then his smile turned sinful again.

"Good," he whispered, Then his hands pushed my thighs apart wider and he leaned forward, burying his face between my legs, right over my thin cotton shorts.

“Dante!”I yelped, but it came out as a strangled

whisper. I fell back on my elbows, my eyes wide, He

nuzzled my cunt through the fabric, and I could feel his hot breath, A moan tried to escape my throat, and I clamped my teeth down on my lower lip to trap it.

He hooked his fingers in the waistband of my shorts and in one smooth move, tugged them down

my legs and off, The cool night air from the window hit my bare skin, making me gasp. Then his mouth was on me instantly, and the gasp turned into a silent, open-mouthed scream.

His tongue was… oh god… It was like he was starving and I was his favorite meal, He licked and sucked and teased, and my hips bucked off the bed all on their own, I grabbed fistfuls of my comforter, my knuckles turning white. Every nerve in my body was zinging. It felt so good it was almost too much, My legs started to shake.

I was so, so close to totally losing it when we heard it.

A creak.

The sound of the floorboard in the hall right outside my door.

We both froze. Dante went completely still. his mouth still flicking his tongue lightly against my clothes, completely unbuttered by the creak.

“Callie?” Mom's voice cutting through the air and I froze. Then, he bit me and a scream shot right up my throat.

“Callie!” Mother's voice came through Spain, this time panicked. “Jake! Come over. I heard a scream from Callie's room.