Page 57 of Bound By A Promise

It wasn’t that I would have denied him sex before we were legally wed. By the way my body reacted to his mere presence, I would have acquiesced. However, he never asked. That didn’t make me feel rejected in any way. On the contrary, his patience made me feel respected.

Marriage—or lack thereof—was no longer a barrier to sex. We’d said our vows, signed our license. I was ready to learn whatother women knew, the feeling of a man touching her, teasing her, loving her, and being inside her.

I read books and watched movies.

Now, I wanted to learn for myself, to experience what I’d only imagined. I wanted to be the heroine in my own story with the hero of my choosing.

Dante’s lips took mine—strong and possessive. He wasn’t staking his claim. That he’d already done. Dante was declaring me for himself. I was his, the deal signed, the ring in place. My hands climbed his broad shoulders higher to his thick neck, and up to his wavy dark mane. I took in his scent of leather, spice, and enough gunpowder to add the hint of danger.

His kiss consumed me, twisting my core. As his tongue sought entrance, my body tightened, painfully so, as synapse after synapse exploded within me. Heat accompanied the detonations, threatening to engulf the two of us in a fiery inferno.

I gasped for breath as his kisses lowered, following the trail his finger had explored. A moan escaped my lips as he peppered my skin, slowly and meticulously, and his lips moved down my body. I jumped at the sight of Dante’s knife.

“What?”

“We have our traditions, too.”

A long-ago memory of Mia telling Cat about the cutting of the wedding dress came back. I stood perfectly still, willing myself not to move as my husband sliced one spaghetti strap like butter and then the other. The neckline lowered, revealing my breasts. Lifting my chin, my neck arched as the combination of sea air and his warm breath caused my hardened nipples to turn to diamonds.

“You’re fucking perfect.”

A man like Dante had probably been with many women more experienced and definitely shapelier. “They’re small.”

He sucked one nipple into his mouth. I squealed as he nipped my flesh with his teeth. “Perfect,” he said against my skin. “I won’t hear any other description.”

Taking a step back, Dante stared down at me, my dress now resting at my waist, below my exposed breasts. “Look at you, with your hair tousled, your skin marred by my attention.” He brought his finger again to my neck. “Your artery is pulsating, and your breathing is erratic.” His lips quirked. “Your scent is divine. I can smell your arousal just as I did that night in my apartment.”

Warmth filled my cheeks at his accurate description.

He ran his palm over his cheek. “I should shave. Your skin is sensitive to my scruff.”

I shook my head. “I like it.”

In one fell swoop, Dante lifted me from the concrete balcony. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me back into the bedroom. Gently setting my feet back on the floor, he closed the doors to the balcony and took a step back. “I want to see you, Camila. All of you.”

The goose bumps were back.

When I didn’t move, he leaned closer, whispering a menacing murmur and coating my ear and neck with his warm breath. “All of you.”

Nodding, I pushed down my sundress, the material pooling around my feet.

His brown orbs burned with unspoken desire.

Even a woman as inexperienced as I noticed the strain of his erection against his dark jeans.

Dante lifted my chin. “When we’re alone, I want you to remember that you belong to me. You’re mine to do with as I want. Outside our private bubble, I love your fire and determination. You’re incredibly sexy standing up for yourself.In private, I want to hear your desires as long as you remember that I’m in charge.”

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry.

“Can you remember that?”

My nostrils flared as I nodded, my chin still in his grasp.

“Now, what did I say I wanted to see?”

“All of me.” My voice came out stronger than I anticipated. I straightened my neck. “I want to see you, too. I’ve never seen…”

Releasing my chin, Dante’s cheeks rose as his smile curled. “Oh, beautiful, you will see me. First, it’s my turn. Don’t make me repeat myself again.”