*A light, warm kiss to Belle’s shoulder had a smile winding across her mouth.
The first dim streaks of dawn brightened the huge windows across from the bed, enabling her to make out semi-distinct shapes in the gloom.
“I should go. You know, get out before the local busybodies see us leaving together and have the rumours flying all around town before breakfast.”
She turned her head to see him watching her. A gentleness that she hadn’t noticed before softened his face as he looked at her.
“We have to keep your good reputation intact, now.”
Belle laughed and rolled onto her back. She stroked his face, comforted that he turned his cheek into her palm, his eyes closed.
“I guess we do.”
He opened his eyes, deep pools of dark blue in the dim room. “I don’t want this to be awkward, but … thank you. You shared something pretty amazing with me last night. And I’m … ah … glad you chose me.”
Belle wanted to giggle at the sheer embarrassment flooding his face. Dante never got embarrassed. She hadn’t thought it was in his DNA.
“I should be thanking you for relieving my little issue.”
His expression grew serious. “While it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed by, I’m happy to repeat said relief any time you want.”
Surprise widened her eyes, while sheer delight surged through her. She hadn’t expected that. She’d thought he most likely had said yes because he felt sorry for the sad little virgin, and hey, who said no to uncomplicated sex?
He tapped her bottom lip. “I mean it. I’m not saying that to smooth things over. If you want … me … I’m in.”
Belle nodded, unable to do anything else. Dante leaned in and kissed her, his lips so soft they almost seemed ethereal. A shudder ran through him and he pulled back. He rolled over and pushed up out of the bed.
He glanced at her while shoving his costume and bits and pieces into his bag, not taking the time to fold or be careful with the items.
“If I don’t go now, I won’t go at all. And I don’t think either of us, or our families, want to deal with snarky comments or rumours at the moment.”
Belle sat up and watched as he finished. He tied his shoelaces and stood straight.
“I’ll see you later, okay? I know you’re working tonight, so if it’s not today, then definitely tomorrow.”
She nodded. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then was gone.
Belle fell back into the sleep-warmed sheets and blankets. The biggest smile she’d ever had threatened to split her mouth apart.
She’d never experienced anything like the night before, had never expected to with Dante. He’d been her every fantasy, attentive and caring. She’d never have believed it possible to come that many times in one night.
And he’d enjoyed himself just as much. That was clear in his responses.
And the small fact that he’d offered to repeat their night was beyond thrilling. Did it mean he felt more toward her than she’d thought? She’d thrown herself at him once before, years ago now, and he’d gently but firmly told her no.
Sure, she’d been nineteen, but still. They’d gone to a party and got hot and heavy in the back seat of his car. She’d been in absolute heaven, especially when he’d slid his hand up her shirt. She’d asked him to have sex with her, to be her first.
Then he’d pulled back, as if shocked by his own behaviour. He’d apologised and told her it had been a mistake, that he didn’t want to ruin their friendship with fooling around. Over the years she’d heard things he’d said to various girlfriends, comments she wasn’t sure she was supposed to overhear.
Including his adamant viewpoint on marriage, and how that wasn’t something he wanted for his future. No marriage, no kids.
A warning not to get too attached.
It had surprised her, but she’d never let on that she’d overheard.
Things had changed between them now. Drastically. Spending last night with him would change every aspect of their friendship, even if they didn’t want it to. Finding their new normal would be the awkward part, but she’d be knocking on his door and collecting on that offer of more of him.
He could count on that.
*
Dante leaned back in his car seat, the edges of dawn peeking over the horizon.
Wow. No, more than wow. Freaking amazing, more like.
They’d gone at it all night. All. Freaking. Night.
He rubbed his eyes, then shook out his hand, surprised to see it shaking. What shocked him more than the fact that Belle kept wanting more was that he was able to walk out of the room.
He’d wanted to stay with a fire that burned through his entire soul. Physically and mentally, he was a complete and utter mess. His legs shook even now while sitting in his car.
Anything she’d wanted, he gave. Over and over. She hadn’t realised that he’d wanted it too, more than his next breath. She’d thought he was doing her a favour.
He let out a strangled laugh and shook his head. A favour.
How could she think that? He’d wanted it as much as she had. Maybe more. Hopefully his comments had shaken that thought from her head.
He’d had a thing for her for such a long time that it was a constant, burning on low in the background of his life, tormenting him any time he let down his guard and thought about it. It was one of the reasons he’d never let anyone else get close.
He started the car and reversed out of the car park, swinging onto the main road that joined the highway leading out of town.
He’d kept his hands to himself all these years purely because he hadn’t wanted to risk their friendship. It meant everything to him. A life without Belle in it was incomprehensible. She had been his constant companion his entire life. He hadn’t been prepared to risk it. If he’d pursued her and she’d pulled away from him, it would’ve destroyed him.
But now that she’d thrown down the gauntlet? Now that she’d shown him that she did want him?
He’d have to figure out how to move forward, how to show her that he was a viable option for her future and test the water to see if she would want to try with him. He turned down the road that led to the vineyards.
He couldn’t get the images of her out of his head. Naked. Lying in the middle of the bed. Hands twisting in the sheets, trying to stop the moans leaving her delicious mouth while he …
A shudder wracked his body from head to toe.
“Hell.”
He pulled over on the side of the road, the long weeds slapping the underside of his car. If he couldn’t concentrate, he wouldn’t be able to get home, let alone work today.
Wouldn’t that be fun to explain to his family—why he was stuck on the side of the road, or worse yet, having to walk because he didn’t trust himself to drive the measly kilometre and a half left to go.
If one night with her created this kind of meltdown in his body, he was glad he’d left, because who knew what kind of short circuit his brain would suffer if he’d spent the day with her? It would probably fry his synapses completely.
Lucky he was only bottling wine today, not blending or refining. If his concentration had evaporated so badly, he’d more than likely ruin entire vats of the liquid gold.
His father’s expected reaction should that happen was more than enough to snap him back to reality.
Dante breathed deeply and counted to five. Satisfied he could safely get himself home, he shifted into gear and drove slowly down the bitumen road.
One thing was abundantly clear—Belle Davis was going to do him in, one way or another, and depending on the end result, it could mean the happiest decision of his life.
Or the worst.