Read Online Dante's Fire by Jennifer Probst - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jennifer Probst
Tags: Romance
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staring up at the lace curtains, until he saw her wave.
He waved back, climbed in the cab, and left.
With methodical movements, Selina went through her bedtime ritual. Changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, turned on the television, and propped up on her pillows to watch late night entertainment.
The screen swam before her as the tears burned and released. She sobbed with frustration at her inability to enjoy a kiss or a touch from a man. Would she ever be the same again? She turned out all the lights, flicked off the TV, and buried herself under the blankets.
Time ticked by with a painful slowness. Sleep eluded.
Now she knew why she'd kept Daniel at a respectable distance for so long. Not because he worked in the mailroom. Not because they ran in different social circles. Evidently, her heart had always known the moment she spent alone time with him, it would reinforce the fact he was special. He made her laugh. He made her feel good about herself. He made her feel safe.
And he was hot . All through dinner, she ached to touch him. To feel those carved lips slipping over hers. She already knew he'd be a patient, thorough lover. Those dark eyes held a sensual promise of the things he’d do to her when they were finally alone in a bedroom. She ached for more, but a simple kiss had her running for shelter. He didn't seem bothered, but Selina had to tell him what happened. He never pressed for more details regarding the mugging. If she wanted to continue this relationship, she needed to tell him the truth.
Despair leaked through her. Tears burned her lids, and a raw, aching emptiness reared up and swallowed her whole. She ached for safety, warmth, and tenderness...
"I'm here."
Chapter Seven
T HE deep, gravelly voice cut through the darkness. Selina flung back the covers and turned.
Dante sat beside her bed. Dressed in black, with the fabric mask covering his face, he seemed like a superhero-gone bad. But he was hers. A deep longing rose inside of her for more of this man. More knowledge, more connection, more of...everything.
"Dante?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"How do you get in my apartment?"
He laughed, and the memories of Daniel’s laugh beckoned. She pushed the guilt aside. Dante was a mythic figure of the night. He didn't belong in the day, or to reality. She'd stopped searching for logical answers. Selina just knew she needed him.
"Magic. Why are you crying?"
She swiped her cheeks. "I feel like an idiot. I can't stand for anyone to touch me. I don't think I'll ever get past this."
Dante reached over, took her hand, and rubbed her cold flesh between his warm fingers. She relaxed and surrendered to his presence. "You're letting me touch you right now," he said.
Her face flushed. "That's different. It's a friendly touch." Selina tried not to fidget. "I meant sexually."
"Date tonight?"
"None of your business."
He laughed again. Then tipped her chin up. "You've been violated. This is a normal process and it takes time. It takes trust. But I can help you, if you'll let me."
"How?"
I can show you how to trust a man's touch again. I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. But you need to learn to let go, to surrender. Do you trust me?"
Selina nodded. "Yes." This was the man who had saved her, helped her night after night, and held her hand while she cried. Yes, she trusted him on a basic level she’d never experienced before.
"Very well." He stood up, and with one smooth motion, stripped off his t-shirt.
Her mouth fell open in shock. He was beautiful, lean and muscled, with a flat stomach. Dante reached over and pulled back the sheet, revealing the simple t-shirt and shorts she normally wore to bed. Selina hesitated as her belly clenched in fear. Embarrassment at being exposed made her squirm inwardly. She couldn't remember the last time she was in bed with a man, let alone in her grungy clothes and not a piece of lace in sight. At least she had brushed her teeth.
She waited for him to
He waved back, climbed in the cab, and left.
With methodical movements, Selina went through her bedtime ritual. Changed into her pajamas, brushed her teeth, turned on the television, and propped up on her pillows to watch late night entertainment.
The screen swam before her as the tears burned and released. She sobbed with frustration at her inability to enjoy a kiss or a touch from a man. Would she ever be the same again? She turned out all the lights, flicked off the TV, and buried herself under the blankets.
Time ticked by with a painful slowness. Sleep eluded.
Now she knew why she'd kept Daniel at a respectable distance for so long. Not because he worked in the mailroom. Not because they ran in different social circles. Evidently, her heart had always known the moment she spent alone time with him, it would reinforce the fact he was special. He made her laugh. He made her feel good about herself. He made her feel safe.
And he was hot . All through dinner, she ached to touch him. To feel those carved lips slipping over hers. She already knew he'd be a patient, thorough lover. Those dark eyes held a sensual promise of the things he’d do to her when they were finally alone in a bedroom. She ached for more, but a simple kiss had her running for shelter. He didn't seem bothered, but Selina had to tell him what happened. He never pressed for more details regarding the mugging. If she wanted to continue this relationship, she needed to tell him the truth.
Despair leaked through her. Tears burned her lids, and a raw, aching emptiness reared up and swallowed her whole. She ached for safety, warmth, and tenderness...
"I'm here."
Chapter Seven
T HE deep, gravelly voice cut through the darkness. Selina flung back the covers and turned.
Dante sat beside her bed. Dressed in black, with the fabric mask covering his face, he seemed like a superhero-gone bad. But he was hers. A deep longing rose inside of her for more of this man. More knowledge, more connection, more of...everything.
"Dante?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"How do you get in my apartment?"
He laughed, and the memories of Daniel’s laugh beckoned. She pushed the guilt aside. Dante was a mythic figure of the night. He didn't belong in the day, or to reality. She'd stopped searching for logical answers. Selina just knew she needed him.
"Magic. Why are you crying?"
She swiped her cheeks. "I feel like an idiot. I can't stand for anyone to touch me. I don't think I'll ever get past this."
Dante reached over, took her hand, and rubbed her cold flesh between his warm fingers. She relaxed and surrendered to his presence. "You're letting me touch you right now," he said.
Her face flushed. "That's different. It's a friendly touch." Selina tried not to fidget. "I meant sexually."
"Date tonight?"
"None of your business."
He laughed again. Then tipped her chin up. "You've been violated. This is a normal process and it takes time. It takes trust. But I can help you, if you'll let me."
"How?"
I can show you how to trust a man's touch again. I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with. But you need to learn to let go, to surrender. Do you trust me?"
Selina nodded. "Yes." This was the man who had saved her, helped her night after night, and held her hand while she cried. Yes, she trusted him on a basic level she’d never experienced before.
"Very well." He stood up, and with one smooth motion, stripped off his t-shirt.
Her mouth fell open in shock. He was beautiful, lean and muscled, with a flat stomach. Dante reached over and pulled back the sheet, revealing the simple t-shirt and shorts she normally wore to bed. Selina hesitated as her belly clenched in fear. Embarrassment at being exposed made her squirm inwardly. She couldn't remember the last time she was in bed with a man, let alone in her grungy clothes and not a piece of lace in sight. At least she had brushed her teeth.
She waited for him to
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