MINE!

23: Amore

Disclaimer!: unedited chapter

Dante's POV

She thinks she's slick.

But it'll take a lot more than a thigh rub to break me, even though I can't deny that it's making me feel some type of way.

I mean how could I not? She's sitting next to me with the puppy dog eyes. Not to mention her true intentions for wanting to come with me to this meeting so bad. I know she's not just doing all of this to be a part of everything just for the fun of it.

She's taking her position in my life not only in stride, but seriously, and I couldn't be anymore proud of her. Because she doesn't have to do any of this; vehemently wanting to go to this meeting, standing her ground with my men, and even my grandfather.

Yet she is. And I couldn't be any more happy than I already am. I didn't think she would accept me, let alone want so much to be an active part of my world.

I'm broken from my thoughts when I feel her hand squeeze my dick through my pants, making me hiss.

"Fuck Mari. You always startin' some shit," I say through clenched teeth, gazing at the beautiful vixen sat next to me.

"And? Whatchu gon do about it?" She asks with a tilted brow, goading me. "Nothing. Exactly," she rolls her eyes smirking.

"You know you're not cute right?" I ask, deadpanning her.

"Pfftt, you right," she oddly agrees. "'Cause I'm sexy as fuck and you bet not forget it," she says kissing me.

Everytime she does some shit that makes me wonder why I love her weird ass again, I'm quickly reminded of why.

She may not be perfect, but she's perfect for me.

"How could I when you look at me with those big brown eyes?" I ask pecking her soft lips and taking the hand still firmly wrapped around my dick from around it and bringing it to my lips.

"Aww, that was sweet. Does that mean you're not mad at me anymore?"

"I was never and could never be mad at you mi amore," I tell her truthfully.

"Ouhh, my love, I like that," she says then her face turns somewhat sour as if she just thought of something bad.

She turns away and I give her some time and space to mull over her thoughts when she finally turns back to me like two minutes later.

"So is was that just you calling me that in like a nickname typa way or was that you professing your love to me?"

"Mari, is that what you've been thinking about this whole time?" I chuckle at the eye roll she throws my way, then turn to her. "No it wasn't me professing my love, though I do love you and I have no problem voicing that to you," I explain.

She stares at me stagnant as she processes my words.

"You love me?" she asks so shell shocked I can't help but laugh. "Hey, that's not funny ok? Do you love me, like really for real real?"

Her eyes stared back at me apprehensive yet hopeful and I damn near melted.

"Mariana-Leilani Jacobson, of course I love you. You are the best person I know and everything I could ever want in a woman. You're loyalty as all hell, funny as shit, & the most kind hearted individual I've ever met. You're the first and last thing I think about every day. Even though you've only been in my life for a few months, I can't imagine my life without you. And with the way I can't even look into your big beautiful brown eyes without feeling warm inside, how could I not fall in love with you?"

I didn't exactly plan on the conversation to take this turn, but I'm glad it did. And seeing the tears in her eyes right now were worth it.

Before I could even register her movement, she was on my lap with her arms wrapped around me and her head tucked into my neck.

"Fuck you, you big bitch," she croaked out and I couldn't help but laugh. "Got my ass out here cryin, what kinda bullshit?!" she exclaimed through a sob.

"I'm so sorry, how insensitive of me."

"You damn right!" she sat on me as she quietly sniffled every so often as I rubbed her back and peppered kisses on her head for what felt like ten minutes until she pulled back to look at me. "Now, don't play wit me alright, be for real, did you mean all that shit or was you just tryna get yo dick sucked?"

"Anddd, you're done, yep," I sighed as I picked her up off of my lap and placed her back into her seat. "Now Mari, why the hell would I say all that just to get some head? You do that shit anyway!" I point out.

She takes a couple of seconds to evaluate my words as she seems to come to the conclusion that I'm right, "Yeah, I guess you right."

"Exactly, you know I'd never play with you like that."

"Yeah I know. It's just..." she trails of, fiddling with her fingers. "I've never had a significant other tell me that they loved me and I believed that they were being genuinely honest. And if I'm being honest, that scares me a little, I've never had anyone feel that way about me. What if I don't know how to love you back or I do something that makes you change your mind or what if you-"

"Mari, sweetheart. Breathe, please," I instruct her as I take her hands into mines and look into her eyes as she looks into mine. "First of all I am so sorry that you have never been loved in a relationship like you deserve to be. You are an amazing woman and I genuinely fall in love with you every time that I think about you. And secondly, You could never do anything to make me love you less than I do. You are the light of my life and as long as I know that you love and respect me I will only love you more as time goes by. And as far as you possibly not knowing how to love me back, I will never try to tell you how you feel. But loving someone has nothing to do with saying the words, as long as you're trying your best to respect me and make me happy and have our relationship thrive, that's all I need you to do until you're ready to say the words. I love you Mari, and I always will."

She looks at me with tears brimming her eyes and all I can do is hold the back of her neck, bringing her to me and kissing her forehead.

I hate how much she's been through, she doesn't deserve to not know what love from a partner is like. To not believe that she can love another human being in a romantic way. Because whether she says the words or not, I know that she loves me simply because of her actions alone.

I know Mari, and there are three things that she doesn't mess around about; her time, happiness, and her money. And call me presumptuous but, there is not a chance in hell that she would risk even one of those thing on me if she didn't love me.

"I'm so glad I met you," she whispers through her closed eyes.

"So am I sweetheart, so am I," I replied as I brought her across my lap to carry her bridal style and led us to the master bathroom at the back of the plane.

When I got inside, I sat her on the bed and she watched me as I tenderly removed her clothes, then mine and brought us to the top of the bed.

I tucked her in and noticed her eyes starting to become heavy. But then she looked at me as she brought her hand up to cradle my face.

"If I can ever love anybody, it'll be you."

I couldn't bring forth any words to respond with so I just pecked her lips lightly and finished getting into bed and spooned her.

"Rest amore."

I've never been a religious man-a man in my position knows God has more deserving people to tend to- but I pray that I will never have to know what's it's like to not be able to feel this love.

A/N: .... hey. I know, imma piece of shit for leavin y'all for so long, but let's just say I want a refund on life😭😭 hope y'all enjoyed the chapter & have a great Thanksgiving!❤️