Twisted Loyalty

Chapter 29: Beneath the Surface

Sienna

The warm water envelops me, steam curling up around the edges of the bath, misting the mirror and softening the harsh lines of reality. It's quiet here, peaceful, and for a moment, I can almost forget everything—my father's threats, the bruises on my arm, the weight of the night's events. But as I sink deeper into the water, letting it wash over my skin, there's only one thing I can't escape: the memory of Dante.

I close my eyes, leaning back against the edge of the tub, my fingers trailing lazily through the warm water. The tension from earlier still lingers, a low hum beneath my skin, and as much as I try to push it aside, I can't stop thinking about the way his hands felt on me, the way his voice rumbled low and rough in my ear.

You have no idea how much I want you.

The words replay in my mind, each repetition sending a shiver through me that has nothing to do with the cooling air. I shouldn't want this. I shouldn't be thinking about him this way—about how close he was, about the heat of his breath against my neck, the possessive edge in his voice. But I can't help it. The feeling stirs inside me, twisting and curling until it's impossible to ignore.

I open my eyes and glance down at my hand, the dark ruby ring catching the light as it glimmers under the water. It's beautiful, heavy, a symbol of the lie we're telling the world. But right now, it feels real. It feels like a promise, like something more than just a ruse to keep me safe.

I lift my hand, watching the water slide off my fingers, the ruby glinting in the soft glow of the bathroom lights. I can still feel Dante's touch, the way his hands lingered on my thighs, the way his fingers threaded through my hair with that dangerous blend of control and tenderness. The memory sends a warmth flooding through me, a slow burn that settles deep in my core.

I close my eyes again, and it's like I can see him—towering over me, eyes dark and filled with that intense, unspoken desire that made my breath catch. My heart starts to race, my skin heating as I imagine him there, his hands exploring every inch of me, his lips hovering just out of reach. I can't help the ache that blooms inside me, an all-consuming need that's been building for days, since that moment on the couch when he had me unraveling under his touch.

My breath comes faster, my fingers drifting across my collarbone, down over my chest, feeling the warmth of the water mingling with the heat building in my body. The water ripples softly around me as I move, and I bite my lip, trying to hold back the sounds, but it's hard. So hard to ignore the way my body is reacting, the way every nerve is alive and buzzing.

I let my mind wander, allowing myself to imagine his hands on me, touching me the way he has before. I can picture the roughness of his fingers trailing over my skin, the way he'd make my breath catch as he whispered those dark promises in my ear. Promises that still echo in my mind late at night when I'm alone.

I can't stop myself. My hand slides lower beneath the water, my breath hitching as the heat builds inside me, my body remembering all too well the way he pleasured me before—the way his voice had driven me over the edge when he made me come just from hearing him on the phone. The memory is vivid, the sound of his low groans, the growl in his voice as he told me exactly what he was going to do to me.

I'll do anything for you.

The words replay in my mind, their weight pulling me deeper into the fantasy. I imagine him here, his body pressed against mine, his hands gripping me, controlling me, the heat of his breath against my skin as he whispered those dark, dangerous words that always undid me.

My body responds to the thought, my back arching slightly as I chase that sensation, the relief that's just out of reach. I can picture him kneeling in front of me again, like he did earlier, his hands on my legs, but this time, they move higher, parting my thighs, his fingers rough but deliberate as they teased me, made me ache for more. The heat flares inside me, and I bite my lip, a soft moan slipping out as I let myself drown in the fantasy, the feeling, the impossible desire.