Dante's Love (18+)

Chapter 17

Dinner was pleasant.

Despite drinking the pomegranate juice, I sipped on some wine as well. The 1990 Musigny Grand Cru that they served us lightened the mood considerably and the awkward line between us vanished.

I hide my smile as I saw Dante caving into the intoxication that the wine provides. He was less robot now, more human.

His eyes was trained on me throughout our meal courses. His dark eyes lighting up as I told the story of Mrs BLT and poor Jared.

"I hate cats. Vicious little things. Imagine if they were a tad bigger, they wouldn't be very far from taking over the world. Especially with their cute eyes to get them out of trouble. I prefer dogs." He shuddered.

"But you like Mr PBJ!" I exclaimed.

"Grudgingly. I have to suck up to that monster."

"Why?" I leaned forward.

"I need someone on my side in case what I said was true! The end of humanity and the rise of cats."

Huh. That was what Gillie said.

"Is this why you're nice to me now? To get closer to my cat?" I feigned horror.

"Is it working?"

"Yes." I gestured at the half-eaten food and bottles of red wine in front of us.

"Good. This was a rather expensive bribe." He eyes the bottle.

I tried not to groan in horror when I realised that I had a drink worth $11k in my stomach. I tried to hide my embarrassment as the check came. I opened my mouth to protest but he quickly shut it down.

"A little treat for all of the good work that you are doing for me."

I shut my mouth quickly and observed the male in front of me. I did not recognise him. Butterflies erupted in my stomach as he pressed a warm palm on my back, leading me out of the quiet restaurant. Doubts thudded at the back of my head, warning me not to get to close, that I would get hurt again. However, this time I allowed myself to ignore them and enjoy the comfort of the towering male beside me.

The ride back was silent yet peaceful. We had a rowdy meal and now we are tired from the good food and wine. I tried not to let the fatigue get to me. However, I lost and felt myself closing my eyes and drifting off.

-

When I woke, I was pressed up tightly against a warm body. A heavy arm rests on my shoulder while my head was laid tiredly against a strong chest.

Realising who I was sleeping on, I shuffled back quickly, horrified. I have definitely overstepped some professional boundaries.

"I'm so sorry. I did not realise..." I trialed off as obsidian orbs gaze into mine.

Dante seemed to shrug it off as we entered the dimly lit hotel lobby. Maybe it was the confidence from the wine or the romantic ambience of the hotel but as we stepped in front of our hotel door, I tilted my head up, suddenly wishing for my lips to meet his.

I noticed that his sights were already on my lips. I parted my lips slightly, memories of our activities before, flooding into my mind once again.

He lifted one of his big hands to come to rest on the back of my neck. He pressed his thumb on one side of the neck while letting his index finger rest on the other. Suddenly, he tugged at it sharply. I inhaled a sharp breath. He grinned darkly. He knew the effect he had on me. He knew he was in control once again.