the weekend with my parents.”
“So why aren’t you tripping the light fantastic with us tonight?”
“Because I like to wallow in my loneliness the first night Daniella is away,” she told him as she headed for the stairs. “I might be up for it tomorrow night if you all go out again.” She returned a few minutes later with a small cloth bag containing all the items Chantel requested. “I put the pair of earrings and bracelet in there she usually scams from me when she borrows the shoes so you won’t have to make a second trip.”
“You’re the best, Pager.”
Paige handed him the bag along with a withering glare. “When are you going to stop calling me that awful nickname?”
“Never,” he laughed. “I get too much pleasure out of annoying my baby sister.”
“I’m not your sister, though I wish I was sometimes so I’d have the same privilege Chantel has.”
“What’s that, bossing me around?”
“No, giving you a good hard kick in the rear end when you annoy me.”
Marc opened the door and Paige followed him out onto the porch. “You want me to change that bulb before I go?”
“I’ll take care of it in the morning.”
He leaned down and dropped a brotherly kiss on her cheek. “Don’t forget we have a date tomorrow night.”
Paige stood on the porch until he’d gotten his car and backed out of the driveway then waved good-bye, though she wasn’t sure he could even see her since she’d pulled the door closed behind her out of habit, leaving her in total darkness. She turned to go inside when a soft rustling in one corner of the porch sent a mild jolt of fear rippling through her. It’s just a squirrel she told herself then let out a startled squeak when one very large shadow separated itself from the others and moved towards her.
“Is that him ,” a familiar male voice growled.
“Holy hell,” Paige clutched the label of her robe, “you scared me half to death.”
Dante towered over her, consumed with jealousy. “Is that the man you have been seeing, the one you were considering sleeping with?”
“That’s none of your business,” she replied stiffly. “What are you doing lurking around on my porch anyway?”
“I was not lurking,” he bit out. “I came to see you and noticed the car in the driveway so I decided to wait out here until your guest left.”
“You have no right to interfere with my life,” she snapped. “What if I’d invited him to spend the night? Would you have stayed out here until morning or were you planning on breaking down my door and challenging him to a duel?”
“Do not push me, cara ,” his deep voice vibrated with anger, “I am dangerously close to carrying you inside and proving just who it is you belong to.”
Paige drew in an indignant breath. “I don’t belong to you, Dante.”
“Not yet, but you will soon.”
“Are you going to take me against my will then,” she hissed, “because that’s the only way you’ll get me to have sex with you again.”
Dante laughed softly. “Do you honestly believe I would have to force you, mio bello ?” He moved closer, laughing again when Paige backed away from him because it only enticed him to continue advancing on her until she was pinned between the wall and his body. “Tell me again,” he whispered against her lips. “Tell me how I shall have to take you against your will.”
Paige let out a helpless whimper when his mouth crushed down on hers. Heat surged through her, so intense that it felt like her whole body was going up in flames. She grappled with her resolve to resist him for all of two seconds before anchoring her arms around his neck and surrendering to the passion Dante ignited in her. He was incredibly aroused; she could feel his throbbing erection through the thin silk material of her robe as he ground his hips into her and she moaned in response.
Dante slipped his hand beneath her robe and found
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