Her mouth fell open in shock. He was beautiful, lean and muscled, with a flat stomach. Dante reached over and pulled back the sheet, revealing the simple t-shirt and shorts she normally wore to bed. Selina hesitated as her belly clenched in fear. Embarrassment at being exposed made her squirm inwardly. She couldn't remember the last time she was in bed with a man, let alone in her grungy clothes and not a piece of lace in sight. At least she had brushed her teeth.
She waited for him to climb into bed and prayed she wouldn't act like a scared virgin.
"Invite me in."
His command was dark, seductive, and demanding. Her skin prickled as awareness trickled through her. He never moved, never blinked, just stood before her like a gorgeous vampire from the night.
Her lower lip trembled. "Why?"
"Because this is your choice. Every move I make, every touch, is because you allow it. Your body and surrender is a gift to me. You have all the power, Selina."
And as simple as that, some of her confidence was restored. He'd never push her to past her comfort zone. She trusted him.
She inched aside to make room. He climbed into bed wearing only a pair of low riding jeans and the black mask. His bare feet brushed her leg as he re-arranged the covers and settled close. Then with slow, deliberate movements, he placed his hands around her waist and pulled her towards him.
She sucked in her breath as heat singed her. God, he was deliciously warm and hard, his bare chest pressed against the flimsy cotton of her shirt. Her nipples rose on command and an itchy, unsettled ache throbbed between her thighs. One hard thigh wrapped around her leg so she was snuggled tightly around every inch of him. Her head spun at the feeling of safety, like a warm cocoon protected her. She relaxed inch by inch against him.
"Okay?" His breath stirred the tendrils of her hair against her ear.
"Yes." A few heartbeats passed. "Now what to do we do?"
Amusement laced his voice. "You're definitely a planner. This is it for now. Just relax."
His command allowed her to obey. Selina drifted in sensual heaven as he held her. After a few moments passed and she felt more relaxed and unpressured to touch him or make conversation, her muscles reached a new level of release she hadn't felt since the attack.
Then the feeling turned.
Her heart sped up as she became aware of the length of his body pressed against hers. The delicious scent of coffee and musk drifting from his skin. The sexy sensation of his breath against her ear. The obvious bulge against her leg told her he was aroused, though his level of control was that of a superhero. He never gave any indication he was uncomfortable.
Selina began thinking of other things. How his lips would taste against hers. How his hands would slide over her naked skin.
He gave a low, sexy laugh as if he knew her thoughts. "Let's move on now, shall we?" he murmured. Dante slid down a bit. Pushed her hair back. And lowered his head.
The sensation of his lips against the sensitive curve of her neck made her toes curl. He made his way up to her ear, nibbled on her lobe, as his hands stroked her nape with gentle, talented fingers. A moan rose up to her lips as she gave him further access.
He took it. His tongue swept down and licked the pounding pulse at the base of her neck. Nibbled over the swell of her breasts. She arched upward. God, she wanted his hands on her swollen nipples, wanted...
Bra torn, rough hands grabbing, hurting, twisting...
"No!" She stiffened as the image assaulted her vision and blurred the man in front of her. Instantly, he removed his hands from her body. She fought panic until the sound of her name spoken over and over cut through the fog.
"It's me. Look at me, Selina." She turned her head and focused on Dante. Dark eyes glimmered with patience, understanding, and desire. "It's me. Not them. Never them again."
"Not them."
"That's right, sweetheart." He smiled with encouragement, and then caressed her cheek. "Just me. They can never hurt you again."
She closed her eyes; afraid she'd never get past that barrier. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"No more apologies. A gorgeous, intelligent woman is allowing me the pleasure to lie down with her. Be with her. I'm the lucky one. Don't forget it."
She smiled, the warmth in his eyes allowing her to relax again. Who was this wonderful man who was so patient and kind and mysterious?
"Who are you?" she asked again. Selina reached out and touched the edge of the soft mask, tracing the outline of his eyes, his mouth, over his dark brows. He stiffened beneath her touch.
"You don't need to know."
"I know. But I want to know. Do you help all women who have been hurt?"
She watched him struggle, deciding whether or not to answer the question. He took the opportunity to begin touching her again, but this time when he caressed her shoulders and the top of her breasts, no image assaulted her vision. Just the tightening of desire for more.
"Yes. I have no control over where I'm sent. It can happen anytime, but it's usually at night. I'm pulled into the scene. Most of the time, I get there to stop the attack. Once in a while, I'm there too late." Shadows stole his vision for a moment, and Selina glimpsed a deep pain that was a part of who he was. "I help them. Stay with them during the nightmares. Transition them to heal."
"Do you make love to them?"
The question popped out of her mouth before she could stop it. Still, she waited for the answer, knowing it wouldn't change her opinion of him. Knowing he would do anything to replace violence with light.
"No." His gaze burned into hers. "I hold them. Let them get familiar with a man's touch again. Take away the fear. But I've never made love to a woman who needed my help. It's against the rules."
"Rules? Tell me."
He hesitated. Selina had a strange feeling he rarely talked to anyone about his abilities or limitations. She waited for him to ignore the question or tell her he couldn't answer. Instead, he spoke.
"When I was young and came into my powers, I was reckless. Angry. The first time, I struck out at the attackers of a young girl with too much force." His lips tightened. "I killed him."
She kept quiet, hoping to offer her own comfort by the light caress of his hand over her back. "He deserved it."
"Perhaps. But it was against the rules. Afterward, my father came to me in a dream. He said I must always obey the balance of life, and never take justice into my own hands. That is for God to decide. Rule number one is ironclad. I am not allowed to take a life, not matter how I feel. I began to work harder to control my anger and I've never slipped again."
Selina wondered how he lived with the violence and hurt on a daily basis. Yet, there was so much gentleness in his touch, in his eyes, in his heart. Tenderness rose up like a wave and drowned her. "It's so much responsibility to take on," she murmured. "So much pain to experience on behalf of healing others."
He jerked back. His fingers tightened around her shoulder and he let out a shaky breath. "Thank you," he said softly. The gratitude on his face broke her heart. As if he'd never come in contact with someone who understood.
"What are the other rules?"
"I can only save one woman at a time, and I never know when the healing process is complete. Usually, I'm connected with the woman until she reaches a point she no longer needs me. I sense when she needs me, and I'm able to appear by her side, wherever she is."
"So you don't choose to come for these midnight visits?" she asked carefully. "You're automatically dragged through some sort of time travel tunnel?"
"A bond forms at the time of rescue. My duty is to stay with her through the healing process."
Humiliation cut through her. She didn't know why the idea of him not choosing to come to her sliced deep. Like she was some type of mercy project for him. Duty. Dear God, was this all it was to him? Her muscles stiffened and she began to pull back.
"Selina, no, you misunderstand." He caressed her cheek. "I go because I want to. Your pain calls to me, and I'm only pulled in because I need to be close. Don't you understand? As much as you think you need me, I need you more."
A fierce need rose up inside of her, swallowing the fear and hesitation. She wanted him. Craved him. His words and his heat seemed to burn her alive, until the only thing to slake the emptiness was him.
He was a modern day superhero who saved women from the crippling fear of their own sexuality. He never asked for anything back. What expense had that been to his soul?
Selina reached up and pulled his head down to hers.
She kissed him, learning the taste and texture of his lips. They sipped at hers with a pure gentleness that rocked her soul. He let her set the pace, but his patience only pushed her need for more. She slipped her tongue between his lips and entered.