He’d just gotten back from helping set up the rehearsal dinner venue, and she could hear him laughing downstairs with the other guys.
She fingered the deeply sloping neckline in a silky, loose V that revealed ample cleavage. The dress was tight everywhere else, curving down to hug her waist and ample hips, embellished with little black crystals that sparkled from any angle. The tiny cap sleeves could barely be called that, resting on the edge of her shoulders, revealing most of her décolletage.
Her mother clucked approvingly as she gave Ella a reassuring rub of her shoulders. “You look beautiful. You have such a nice figure. Why don’t you show it off more?”
Because someone told me I was ugly. And when they violated me, I believed it.
She touched her own skin above her collarbone, marveling at how smooth it was. Why did she have to hide all the time? She wasn’t alone facing Cliff anymore. And she knew if she told Dante, he would believe in her.
She was safe. Safe to be beautiful. Safe to not hide.
She was wearing small, crystal-covered black heels, and hoped she wouldn’t trip in them.
Her curls were styled and pulled up in a loose up-do, with several free around her face.
“I know it’s your sister’s rehearsal dinner, but tonight should be fun for you, too,” her mother said, messing with her hair one more time.
Ella nudged her hand away and turned to give her mom a hug. “Thank you. I’m sorry I stayed away.”
“Was there something wrong?”
“No,” Ella said. “I just… It doesn’t matter. From now on, I’m going to come home more.”
Her mother’s face lit up. “I’m so glad. Now let’s go down and show that beautiful man what a gorgeous lady he’s got.”
Ella took a deep breath. “Okay.”
She followed her mom, who was wearing a similar dress in dark blue but with a small beaded jacket over it, to the top of the steps. As she looked down, she saw Dante, wearing a sharp, silvery suit with a light-blue shirt and a gray tie, looking tall and muscular and just unbearably handsome as he looked up at her.
When he gaped, it was the best compliment she’d ever had.
Dante was a lot of things, but caught off guard wasn’t usually one of them.
She laughed to herself, hoping this was just the start of many times she made him look at her like that.
He came to greet her at the bottom of the stairs, taking her hands in his as he looked her up and down. She snorted when he paused extra long on her breasts and cleared her throat until he looked up.
She was going to make a snarky comment when she realized his face was bright red. He put a hand up to his mouth, closed in a fist, and sat there for a moment, as if he were thinking of something to say.
She smoothed the dress nervously. “Do you like it?”
“Like it?” he sputtered. “It’s beautiful. Amazing.” His golden eyes narrowed. “I want to tear it off you right now.”
“All right,” her father boomed. “Whatever you two are talking about over there, I don’t want to hear it.”
She giggled. “I guess we should head out.”
“I guess so,” Dante said, still looking frozen in place.
“All the blood went to your head?” she teased.
“And other places,” he muttered.
She laughed and swatted his arm, but he looked dead serious. She put her arm through his. “Come on. Let’s go dance the night away.”
“I get to dance with you?” he asked, sounding flabbergasted. His suit was silky, and she loved the feel of his broad muscles underneath. She felt so safe with him.
“Of course,” she said. “Unless you want to let someone else do it.”
He let out a sound like the sort of feral growl a tiger might make, and she looked at him in shock. “I’m not letting anyone come near you in that dress. You’re all mine tonight.”
As she felt blood rush into her cheeks, she realized something startling. Some part of her, when he said, “You’re all mine,” was okay if he meant forever.
Oh damn, she was falling hard for this man.
Dante loved the feel of Ella in his arms. Her scent, some kind of perfume that mingled perfectly with her natural floral, spicy fragrance, was an aphrodisiac.
Her body in that dress was blowing his mind.
When she looked up at him, smile sparkling, eyes glowing, he felt he’d never been happier in this world. In any moment of either of the times he’d lived in.
He wanted to take her home and make love to her right now.
He did another quick scan for Cliff, wanting at all times to see if he was around, but luckily, the other man seemed to have gotten the idea. Either from Dante’s fight with him or from Ella’s family booting him out of the house.