Chapter 18
Cali Woods
My phone nearly dropped from my hands at the news. My mouth fell agape and my hand shot out to Dante's chest. He slammed on the breaks and looked over at me in concern.
"What-how?" I stuttered, clutching Dante's shirt. My body was now facing him in my seat.
"It was a heart attack, baby."
Tears now streamed down my face as I couldn't help but re-run old memories shared with my granny. She was like my second mother-at times my only.
Dante's hand reached out to mine clutching his shirt and withdrew my hand. He held it in his large one, "I'll be there, bye mom."
I dropped my phone in my purse as Dante pulled over to the side of the road, the ran was coming down harder and we couldn't see out the windows.
I rubbed my hands up and down my arms to rid away the chills of the news. Tears streamed down my face-no doubt screwing up my makeup.
Dante's hand dropped down to my thigh and gave it a light squeeze. I looked up at him-his hazel eyes hard and filled with concern, "Come here."
I didn't think twice as I climbed over his console and onto his lap. My legs wrapped around his torso as I held onto him tightly, the tears coming down harder than before, "She's dead." I whimpered.
Dante ran his hand up and down my back, his mouth was warm at my ear, "Who?"
I sobbed out and clutched his shirt tighter, "Granny."
We sat in silence for a while until I finally retreated from him and sat up in his lap, "The funerals in two days so I have to go home."
Dante raised an eyebrow, "Where's home?"
I wiped my nose with my hand and looked up at his eyes, "Georgia."
Something glistened in his eyes at my answer but he said nothing. Only continued rubbing my back.
I watched him as he watched me. His lip ring was glistening in the darkened car. His sculpted jaw ticking as he watched me. His hard eyes roamed my face in curiosity, and still, he still remained silent.
How could only in a matter of weeks could I feel so attached to someone. I barley knew the guy, but yet here I was crying in his lap. My ex-boyfriends would have never seen me cry, because I wouldn't let them. I didn't believe that they'd do anything to calm me down and ease my mind. Yet, merely the presence of Dante had my nerves calming.
I reached up and traced his lip ring with my finger. I began to wonder why he would get such a thing and know it would look good. Dante sucked in a breath as my trembling fingers outlined his perfect lips. I had so many questions for him-about him-but found myself withdrawing from them. I didn't want to scare him away. He looked like an important man that kept to himself-maybe he didn't want me to know.
I attached my lips to his.
My action caught him off guard and he grabbed my waist tightly. He soon responded, his lips eagerly moving against mine. His cold lip ring ran across my bottom lips, causing a shiver of delight to pulse through me. The desire for him was almost unbearable for me, and I couldn't help but push myself against him even more. He groaned at the close proximity and traveled his hands down to my butt. I moaned at his skilled hands and pulled back a little. I placed my forehead against his, "How?" I asked.
Dante ran his lips across mine, his lip ring leaving another cold shiver, "How what?"
I whimpered and sat up in his lap, playing with the bottom of my shirt, "How do you make me feel like this?"
Dante smirked and attached his lips to mine once again, a kiss I would never forget, "It's still a mystery to me."
The rain began to patter on the windshield less violent. My head was lying on his chest and his heart was becoming my lullaby. Dante chuckled as he saw my eyes droop close, "Let me take you home." He lifted me off his lap and placed me back in the passenger seat as if I weighed nothing.
I reached around for the seatbelt blindly then locked myself in, curled up in the seat.
We were back at my house in a matter of five minutes. Dante got out first and made his way to my side. Ignoring the rain beating down on his large form. He opened my door and grabbed my hand, helping me out of his car. He held my hand as we walked past the door but suddenly stopped, causing my jogging to stop and body slam into his back, "Ow." I mumbled.
Dante looked back at me, his face hard with thought, he finally opened his mouth after a mental fight-I assumed, "Let me take you to Georgia."
I looked up at him, still dazed from my mini nap, "What?"
"I have business down there this weekend, and I don't want you to go alone. Let me take you."
Dante's eyes were soft but his face was still hard. The thought didn't sound so bad, but I knew nothing about him, really. He had suddenly showed up in my life and neither one of us could shoo each other away. I couldn't spend and entire weekend with him, what would he expect in return for me? I looked up at him, studying him for the first time that morning. His bruise along his jaw was fading from a couple of nights ago. He had a light scar lining the top of his right eyebrow that I had never noticed before. It was a strip of white accented on his Italian skin. I looked down his broad shoulders and chest-realizing how intimidating he seemed to people-yet not me. His large hands were clenched in fists as I studied him, I noticed his knuckles were red and bruised also. He cleared his throat causing my eyes to snap up to his hazel ones. His eyes held the most danger, they seemed cold, as if holding terrifying memories.
I couldn't stay with him while I was in my home town, I would risk too much.
"I can't," I whispered, " I don't know you that well."
Dante's face turned to anger as he dropped my shaking hand, "That didn't seem to stop you when I let you sleep in my home."
I opened my mouth to reply but quickly shut it, he was right-why hadn't I said no then?
You were scared. A voice said in my head.
I used it as my excuse.
"You're right-heat of the moment shit right?" Dante replied, "What about that night in your house. You seemed a little fond of me then too." I thought he was going to stop but he continued with as much venom in his voice, "Or a minute ago in the car?"
"Dante stop." I whispered.
"You're right Calista, we don't know each other, so lets stop whatever's happening. For the sake of both of us. But the next time someone comes to kill you...don't be expecting me to save you."
His last word struck me, save you. Is that the only reason I kept him around? So he could be my safety blanket? I covered my mouth at the realization- he thought I was using him for my own benefit.
I went to apologize and tell him it wasn't true but his car door slammed before I could open my mouth and he was already peeling out of my driveway.
My heart broke and I found myself vulnerable and heart broken in the rain.
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Dangerous Kisses
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