Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 27

Zara

          "Did you have a nice time?" Dante asks as we approach the staircase and I dread the moment of reaching them. I don't see anyone in the hallways, no doctors or anyone else. How is he supposed to get me upstairs by himself?

"And what are you looking for?" He notices me eyeing the hallways frantically. I stop turning my head around and focus my eyes in front of us.

"Nothing. And yes, I had a great time. I just got tired pretty soon," I sigh and rub my eyes. Even though I woke up just a couple of hours ago, I know that falling back asleep won't be any problem. My muscles are tired from keeping my body in a sitting position, and I know my torn abdomen will be grateful once I lay back down.

"I'm glad to hear it. That you had a great time, I mean. Not that you're exhausted." Dante's words come out rushed, and I can't help but chuckle at his explanation. "Yeah, I figured as much," I respond, now regretting that chuckle because it felt like someone stabbed me in the stomach.

We finally reach the grand spiral staircase and I look around once more to see if anyone could jump in. Again, there are just empty hallways.

"Umm, how are you planning to..." I don't get to finish my question before I'm lifted off the floor and I raise my eyes, finding myself only a few inches from Dante's face.

"What were you going to say?" His husky voice breaks me from my daze as we get closer to the top of the stairs.

"Never mind." I clearly underestimated his strength. As we reach the top, he slowly places me down, making sure not to make any sudden movements.

"Everything okay?" Dante straightens his back and puts a hand on my shoulder as he waits for my answer. A wave of his scent invades my senses and I close my eyes for a second, savoring the pleasant ocean freshness.

"Yeah, everything is fine," I say, but he remains standing there, not moving a muscle. If he's waiting for me to tell him what I'm thinking about, he is going to wait for a long time.

Apparently, he wasn't wondering what was on my mind. He knew.

"Do you like it?" he asks, catching me by surprise.

"Do I like what?" He lowers his upper body so his lips are right behind my ear as he practically whispers, "My cologne. I've noticed you being a bit... taken aback every time I get close enough."

I feel his hot breath fanning my neck and his scent is present again. Goosebumps start to rise on my skin and I can hear my heart pumping the blood through my earlobes fiercely as I swallow heavily.

"Did you, now?" I ask, not turning my head to face him, but focusing my gaze ahead of me.

"I did." His lips are almost brushing against my ear as the words come out of his mouth. I don't even have to look at him to know he's smirking right about now, probably noticing my goosebumps too.

Dante's fingers gently remove my black waves from my neck, leaving it completely exposed to his warm breath. His index finger starts tracing a line on my neck slowly. From the soft spot behind my ear, all the way to my collarbone, where he stops.

"You haven't answered my question."

I force myself to take a few seconds to swallow again and make sure that my voice comes out sounding unfazed. "If you're so observant, then I guess you know the answer to that."

He chuckles and it creates a slight breeze on my neck, which is not at all helping my already goosebumped skin.

"You're right. I guess I do," Dante says as he stands up to his full height, removing his fingers from my skin and we continue our stroll to my bedroom. The rest of the trip is short, and in less than a minute, my wheelchair is parked next to the bed, and I'm waiting for Dante to maneuver me back into it.