Dante's Fire(16)

     



 

They laughed. "But you couldn't close it?"

Ed's shrewd question threw her off, but she told the truth. "No, I  couldn't close it." The men waited in silence. "I want one more chance.  Give me a few more days. If I can't get him to close, I'll put Tom in  charge of the negotiations."

Tom raised a brow. "What about your promotion?"

She swallowed her sickness and pasted on a smile. "Getting Inferno to  close is key - you all know that. If the team leader can't follow  through, the others need to step up. That's fair."

A wave of silent relief seemed to pass over the table. "Deal?" she asked.

"Deal," Tom said.

They bullshitted for a while and the men left her office.

Selina walked over to the window and stared out at the Manhattan  landscape. The city shimmered in a distant fog. Definitely a snowstorm  coming. The sky brooded as if not able to make up its mind to spit ice  or snow out on the world. Dots moved up and down the street--a mingle of  cars and pedestrians all in a hurry to get somewhere.

The attack had taken a piece of her she'd never truly get back. Dante  had helped heal her. But she'd learned something else in these past  weeks-a truth about herself she'd hoped for but never truly believed.

Her strength.

The world was a painful place. Strangers tried to rip away pieces of an  innate sense of security and happiness with no real reason or  rationalization. Bad things happened to good people.

But she'd not only keep surviving, she would flourish. That fight burned  inside of her, it was part of her core, and so many other survivors.  Yes, Dante was a catalyst to get her through the difficult journey, but  eventually, she would've found her own way. With therapy. With time.  With the support of friends. She, and countless others, would  consistently rebuild whatever was stolen.

A deep sense of peace settled over her.

Selina stared out the window, knowing she now needed to make a decision about Forrester.

The truth would cost her the deal. Was it worth it? How could she work  with a known rapist on her team, even for millions of dollars and the  chance of promotion? It would be like selling her soul. Then again, did  it really matter? Forrester had the mark and couldn't hurt anyone else.  Maybe she could salvage the deal after all and strike a bargain with  him. Silence for silence.

But at what price? Her soul?

She thought about the question for a long, long time.





Chapter Nine



That evening, Selina looked around the bedroom. Candles burned and cast  soft shadows against the walls, filling the air with the scent of apple  and cinnamon. The cheerful yellow bedspread was eased back to reflect  clean, white sheets and plump down pillows. The t-shirt and shorts had  been replaced by a sheer black lace nightie that cupped her breasts and  halted mid thigh.

The scene was set.

Now she only needed Dante.

Her stomach jumped with nerves. He promised he'd come tonight. Would he  sense her impending seduction scene and stay away? Or did he ache for  her as much as she ached for him?

Selina settled back on the pillows to wait. He'd helped to slay her  demons. He'd shown her kindness, patience, and gave his heart. And she  knew she'd always regret it if he left without claiming her completely.

She ached for his touch. Her orgasm last night had given her freedom,  but what about him? When had he ever been able to take for himself, to  allow himself to let go of his barriers and pursue only pleasure?

She wanted to give him a gift he'd always remember.

Herself.

"What are you doing?"

She rose from the pillows, startled by his harsh voice beside her.  Selina stared at him hungrily, taking in his familiar black shirt,  jeans, and mask. His inky eyes glittered with danger as he met her gaze,  but he was unable to hide the gleam of lust from his wall of control.

"You're here," she whispered.

His lips tightened. "I told you I'd come. But only to say good-bye. You don't need me anymore, Selina. You have to move on."

"You're wrong." She reached out to him. "I need you tonight. I need you to make love to me."

His body visibly shuddered and she heard a muttered curse under his  breath. He took in her skimpy nightie, the candles, and the seduction  scene before him. Then shook his head. "No, I can't do this. I told you  I've never made love to a woman before who's been hurt. And I don't want  to now. You're only asking for this because you feel you owe me  something. You've transferred some feelings because I was the one able  to get you to accept a man's touch again. It happens often, but you'll  get over it."

He was lying. The truth showed in his locked muscles, his face carved  from stone, the hard bulge between his legs. His words were another form  of protection, and Selina swore she'd do anything to make him admit he  wanted her. As a man to a woman.         

     



 

"I don't want to get over it," she said softly. "I want you to finish  what we started. I'm not offering my body because I feel grateful, or  sorry. So let me make this crystal clear." Selina trembled with the  force of her emotions. "I want you as a man. Your body on top of mine,  thrusting deep inside of me until I become part of you. Not as a friend,  or a healer, or a damn shrink. Get it?"

His temper broke. With a low growl, he thrust one knee on the bed so he  towered over her. The strength and dominance in his aura should have set  her into a deep panic, but she trusted this man on a deep level and  knew he'd never hurt her. Her eyes widened as he grasped her arm and  yanked her in. His breath struck her lips with every deliberate word.

"You don't get it, do you? I can't belong to anyone because I belong to  everyone. How do you think you'll feel when I leave your bed, night  after night, to touch another woman? How would you like to be having  dinner with me, when suddenly I vanish like smoke and don't return for  hours? How would you like to be reminded of the stench of evil every  time I come home to you, a memory you only want to forget? This won't  help bring us closer. This will only tear us apart."

"Then I want tonight. Give me that and I'll let you walk away."

"Why?" He gritted his teeth as he shook her. "Why do you want this so bad?"

"Because I'm in love with you."

The calm words caused him to stagger back, a look of devastation on his  face. Selina forced a smile at his complete shock. "I'm sure you hear  that from many women you've helped. But I mean it, Dante. I love your  very soul, and saying I don't won't change anything."

"You don't know anything about me."

His emotionless tone broke her heart. "Why don't you tell me?"

"What do you want to hear? That I watched my mother get beaten, raped  and killed? That I was maimed so I could be reminded every day of my  inability to save her? That she gave me a gift as she died in front of  me - the ability to save women like her, but never enough to stay and  fall in love with one woman? I'm a ghost with the power of fire, half in  this world, and half in another. You belong in the light, Selina. You  don't belong with me."

Silence descended. She studied the man before her, head bowed. His past  had made him; scarred him; changed him. She may not be able to convince  Dante they could walk in the light, but by God, the night belonged to  him, and she'd make herself a permanent part of his world forever.

In one swift motion, she removed her nightie.

He sucked in his breath. Selina knew the glow of the candles bathed her  flesh, highlighting the curve of her breasts, her hips, the dark curls  hiding her sex. She remained still, letting him drink his fill, gorging  on his intense stare that made her feel beautiful and precious and  whole.

"I want you." Her voice trembled. "I want you inside of me, want to  become a part of you. Just for tonight." She paused. "Please."

He closed his eyes in despair.

Then moved.

In seconds, he had ripped off his shirt and covered her body with his.  She arched upward, loving the hard length of him cradling her soft  curves, twining her fingers in his long dark hair. The scent of musk and  soap and coffee clung to his skin. His arousal pressed between her  thighs and made her instantly wet. He lowered his head until his lips  stopped an inch from hers.

"You belong to me."

He kissed her. She opened her mouth, reveling in his dark, heady taste  as his tongue swirled around hers and claimed her. She moaned as he  nipped the sensitive curve of her lower lip, then delved back in to  play. Her nipples grew tight and hard, and he stroked her breast with  talented fingers that caused ripples of desire to shoot down her body to  her pulsing center.

He tore his mouth away from hers. Pulled back. Quickly shucked off his  jeans and his underwear until he was gloriously naked. Then took her  breasts in his mouth.

She panted his name as he sucked and licked and teased. He plumped her  breast, tasted her nipples, and circled the aching tips with his tongue.  Slowly, kissing and tasting every inch of her skin, he worked his way  down her belly, and along the curve of her hips. He nibbled at her  flesh, as he pushed her thighs wide so she was exposed to him. Her nails  curled into the bed as he sunk lower and blew a hot breath over the  damp pubic curls, parting her swollen folds. His hand rested on her  belly.