Leaving the noise of the Devil's Domain behind, she had just made it to her car when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Hey. We're not finished." Dante sounded concerned, but she also caught the tangy scent of his confusion.
Turning toward him, Tori tried to ignore the heat that blanketed the night. It had rained, leaving behind wet pavement and a muggy feel to the air. She could smell the nearby mesquite trees, and in the illumination of the parking lot lights she saw the determination on Dante's face as he came to a halt in front of her.
"If all you want to do is talk about my brother, then I don't think we have anything left to say."
His brows drew down over eyes dark with frustration. "Hey, I'm just tryin' to get to know you a little better, that's all. I didn't know it would upset you. I'm sorry."
He was sorry. So was she. She knew she'd overreacted and now was starting to feel like an idiot. "Don't worry about it. Rand and me … it's complicated."
"Probably doesn't help that you're prets, right?" He moved a little closer, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his big body.
"You're right. Rand hasn't … " She blew out a sigh. "I don't think he's accepted what he is. He's … restless."
Dante raised his chin in acknowledgment. "I get that." His hand lifted as if he were going to touch her, then dropped back to his side. "So, I guess I'll see you around," he said turning away from her.
"Dante, wait." She stared at him, trying to figure out the puzzle of this man. Here he was caring and compassionate, his eyes broadcasting his attraction to her. Yet he seemed hesitant to follow through on it. "Can you just tell me one thing? Are you interested in me or not?"
"You're a beautiful woman, Tori. I'd have to be dead not to be interested," Dante said in that slow, sexy drawl of his. "But I just don't think I have the time to commit to a relationship right now."
She frowned. That was his thing? He didn't want to get involved because he didn't have time? Genuinely confused, she asked, "Who said anything about commitment? I'm F fronidnnot necessarily interested in getting serious with anyone, either." She spread her hands. "We're both adults. Why can't we just enjoy each other and see where it takes us?"
"You're not the kind of woman a man can just enjoy." Almost as if he couldn't help himself, he reached out and caressed the bare space at the nape of her neck. The weight and warmth of his broad hands made her sway with desire. The sweep of his callused thumbs along her skin made her want to moan. His deep voice husked across her eardrums, sending tiny shivers through her core. "A man gets one taste of you and it only makes him want more." His voice dropped lower. He moved one hand to cup her jaw. "Makes him want it all."
At that husky admission, Tori's heart picked up speed. She moved closer until she rested lightly against him, her belly nestled in the V of his slightly spread thighs. The evidence of his interest rose behind the zipper of his jeans. "Then take it all, Dante. I don't mind." She raised her arms and looped them around his neck. "And I promise I won't bite. Unless you want me to."
His bark of laughter was abrupt, though sensual humor lingered in his eyes. She slid her hands up to cradle his skull, gently urging his mouth down to hers. He resisted, but for only a second, before she felt the shock of his lips on hers all the way to her toes. With a moan she went up onto the balls of her feet, holding his head, pulling him closer. The hard ridge of his erection pressed against the softness of her stomach. His big hands slid down to her hips, tilting her pelvis. She lifted one leg, wrapping it around his thigh.
His low, deep groan rumbled against her breasts. He brought his hands up to her face and took control of the kiss, tilting her head to the angle he wanted, thrusting his tongue between her lips to lay siege to her mouth.
She willingly allowed him to conquer her as she ran her hands over his back, feeling the softness of his shirt and the hardness of flexing muscles beneath. He was hot under her fingertips. Strong.
And he smelled so good, like the fresh outdoors and a healthy male in his prime. The combination called to everything within her, both feminine and feral. With an impatient growl, she pulled his shirt free from his jeans and spread her fingers over the warm flesh of his back.
When she started toward the buttons, he wrapped his hands around hers and rested his cheek against the top of her head. "Wait," he rasped, his breath coming fast and hard.
"Why?" She pressed a kiss to the dip in his throat bared by his open collar. "Consenting adults here." She dropped another kiss onto his Adam's apple. "Though I suppose we should move this to someplace more private."
He cupped her face and gently moved her back. "It would … complicate things, Tori. I'm not saying it won't happen. I'm just saying I'd like us to be friends first." His hands dropped to his sides.
Her brow dipped, just a little. Usually when a handsome man told a woman he just wanted to be friends, it meant one of two things: he was gay or he just wasn't that into her. She didn't think Dante could kiss her like that and not be straight, and she also didn't think he could kiss her like that and not be interested. "I'm confused."
"You're a beautiful woman. Sexy as hell. But I have obligations that take up most of my time right now, and it wouldn't be fair to you to always be last on my list." His gaze was steady on her and his sincerity seemed real. "I want to get to know you better, I do."
"But … " she prompted.
He shook his head. "I've already told you the ‘but.' Let's keep things simple for right now, okay?"
"Things don't get much simpler than I want you and you want me, but all righ K bu around het." Battling back her hurt ego, Tori glanced toward the club and decided she didn't want to go back inside. There were too many people in there for her current frame of mind.
Plus, Stefan might still be around, and she didn't want to take the chance that Dante would somehow recognize him. She needed to figure out what her cousin was up to before anyone official got involved. And since Dante seemed willing to proceed as friends, she didn't want to miss an opportunity to spend time with him. "Why don't you come to my place for coffee? Just as friends," she stressed. When he didn't say anything right away, she added, "I have pie," hoping to further entice him.
He seemed torn. "What kind of pie?"
"The best kind. Homemade." She had a bit of a sweet tooth, and sometimes the craving for dessert was impossible to ignore, so she just about always had something on hand. Or the ingredients ready to whip up a treat. "Dutch apple and peach. And triple-bean vanilla ice cream."
He grinned. "You've just talked me into it."
"Excellent." Tori adjusted the strap of her evening bag. "Just follow me home."
Dante pulled out his smartphone. "Give me your address."
She rattled it off and he input it into the device. "Got it." He looked up at her, his dark eyes still holding banked lust, though mostly he seemed intrigued by her pies.
If she had to start with his stomach, so be it.
"Where're you parked?" he asked.
She motioned to her right. "I'm a few rows that way."
"I'll walk you to your car." He cupped her elbow.
It was nice, being treated like a lady. She didn't have the heart to remind him that, as a werewolf, she could protect herself better than he could. She drew her keys out of her purse and remotely unlocked her Mini Cooper.
As she opened the door, he shook his head with a muttered, "This is like driving around in a tin can." He looked at her. "It's not safe. Someone in a bigger vehicle could roll right over you."
"You mean like someone driving a big heavy-duty pickup?" she asked with a glance over his shoulder at his truck.
"Yeah. Or a Hummer. Lots of Hummers in this town."
She shrugged. "I'm a good defensive driver. And I get great gas mileage." She ran a hand over the roof of her car. "Besides, it's such a cute thing. If it makes you feel better, for its size, it's gotten great safety ratings."
He grimaced. "I can see this is one argument I'm not going to win. Just be careful."
"Yes, sir, officer." She grinned at his scowl. "I'll see you in a few minutes."
She got in the car and started it up, waving at him to get him to go back to his own vehicle. She waited until he had climbed behind the wheel and started the big truck, the diesel engine rumbling like some great behemoth, and then she pulled out of the parking lot and headed home. Time for some pie and maybe a little cop on the side.
Dante made a right and followed Tori's tin can of a car into a residential neighborhood. He kept replaying that kiss in his head, remembering how good, how right, she'd felt in his hands. How hot, how sweet she'd been on his tongue.
He hadn't been wrong-one taste of her had only made him want more. God, what had he been thinking? He should never have followed her home. Just walking into her house would change their relationship. Seeing where someone lived, how they lived, lent an intimacy he wasn't sure he could handle.
He should just turn his damn truck around and go home. Stop this before it got out of his control. He lifted his foot off the accelerator and watched Tori' Ktchskeds little Cooper move farther ahead of him. His gut tightened as the distance increased. With an oath, he picked up speed. He wasn't going to be an ass about this. He said he'd have pie with her, so he had to see this through. As long as he kept things work-related for the time being, he should be fine.