I stay like this for a few moments until he presses chaste kisses against my ear and neck. It causes me to turn around, heated in anger at the audacity he has, how he’s acting like he didn’t just abandon me for an entire month. Before I realize what I’m doing, the coffee cup is mid-air and the latte I just prepared has coated his white dress shirt.
Dante inhales sharply, looking at me with darkness in his eyes. He stares for a moment while he unbuttons his shirt, tossing it on the floor below us. “I appreciate your passion, mi reyna, however I’ve had a very long month and I didn’t anticipate coming home to this.”
“What is it you expected, exactly?” I don’t hide the anger in my tone. “You didn’t even call me, Dante. You made me feel important and then you disappeared in the middle of the night. Fuck, you didn’t even leave a note. I found out from one of the staff. How did you think I’d feel?”
Dante struggles to find words. I knew he would. He’s such a smooth talker and he can’t smooth talk his way out of this. While he’s caught off guard I keep going. “You left and haven’t said a fucking word to me for thirty days. You could’ve called, but you’re the one who chose not to. Now you’ve come back with your charming smile and those sexy eyes of yours and think you can get whatever you want? No. Actually, hell no. I’m angry at you. Not even calling me your reyna or amor can get rid of my anger.” With every word I say, heat rises to my cheeks and I physically feel my outrage making its way through my body.
He sticks his tongue out and grazes it over his top lip, crosses his arms in front of his chest. Dante takes one step toward me, glances directly into my eyes and speaks. “If I could’ve called you, I would’ve. If you thought for one-second I wanted to leave that night, please allow me to tell you just how much I didn’t. The only comfort I had is that my brothers were on their way. I only worried Angel would’ve tried to be Javier’s wingman while I was away. I was on Cartel business, mi amor. Familia business. You understand I can’t say no to these things.”
I shake my head. “And you didn’t even have the common decency to let me know you were leaving. To tell me straight to my face. Do you even realize how awful it was to wake up and find you gone, Dante? After everything we’d . . . everything we’d endured together.” I start to choke up when I get near the last bit and look away, not wanting him to see how much his absence hurt me.
Dante puts his finger under my chin and lifts upward, forcing me to look at him. “Be honest with me, Amara. When you think of me, what is it you feel? I need to know. I have to.”
“I . . . I don’t know how I’m supposed to answer that.” I mutter, trying to think of the word for how he really makes me feel.
Dante moves his fingers from under my chin and cups my cheek. “It’s simple. Right here. Right now. What do you feel with me?”
I blink a couple of times while my lip begins to tremble. I’m terrified to admit this to him, but I’m going to because I know if I don’t, I’ll risk losing this man forever. And quite frankly, I like him far too much for that.
“Safe. You make me feel safe, Dante Lopez. It’s as if all my worries vanish, and it happens every time I look into these eyes of yours.” I bring my hand up and graze my fingertips against his cheekbone. I stare into his eyes and realize this isn’t enough. It’s like everything comes crashing in, every feeling and emotion.
I rise to my tip toes and press my lips against his. I’m quick to wrap my arms around his neck and pull myself closer. His lips are soft and velvety. I’d thought they’d be rough and chapped, but no.
Dante snakes his arm around my waist and holds me in place. I close my eyes and revel in the feeling of us being this close together. His lips brush against mine in a sensual, soft manner but after a short amount of time we both begin to grow rougher with the other. It’s the only thing we need to know we’ve both had this feeling inside us.
He crushes his lips against mine, as if he can’t breathe without me. Our kiss grows with hunger. I push my tongue past his clenched teeth when he rips himself away.
His nostrils flare as he paces back and forth. “You . . . you’re something else, mi reyna. Fuck. Fucking fuck! We can’t do this. Not now. Not when I’ll fucking rip you apart given the slightest opportunity. Is that what you want, to see me for who I really am?”
I’m taken aback by what he’s said. “I already know you for who you are. A good man. You showed me compassion in my moments of turmoil. Dante, you are the good one in this scenario. You’re the beauty. Don’t you see that? I’m the beast. It’s me. I’m the one who ruins everything I touch.” I don’t realize what I’ve replied with until it’s out.
Dante immediately stops pacing, rushes through the distance between us and holds my face in the palm of his hand. “I don’t want you to ever say something like this again. Que no ves Amara? Me tienes captivado por tu belléza y por todo lo que tu erés. Te quiero
