A Gift of Passion (Lover's Gift Book 1) Page 8

  “Promised what?” I asked.

  “Nothing. Let’s just rest,” he said, stroking my hair back. He took off his shoes and climbed into bed with me. I could feel him shivering. He couldn’t be cold, as it was close to seventy-five degrees in here. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. I hadn’t felt this sensation in years.

  I could feel his heartbeat with each passing moment, faster and faster. The heartbeat of someone nervous or someone in love? I closed my eyes and fell into a slumber with his muscular, hard chest pressed against my back, his breath soothing against my neck and hair. Yes, this was the feeling I had been longing for. The warmth and comfort of someone who wanted to hold me as I fell asleep in his arms. We lay on top of this soft, warm bed, slowly falling into each other’s comfort zone. I felt so safe with him. This was exactly what I needed. Thank you, Dante. Thank you . . .

  Chapter 17

  Dante

  I had to get out of there. I made sure she was asleep before I left. A good three hours went by before I decided to make my departure. If I had stayed any longer, I would have confessed everything to her, and that could not happen until she was available without any lingering attachments. The love I felt for her had increased one thousand times over. The feel of her soft skin pressed against mine, the smell of her hair, the warmth of her breath—all of it threw me into sensory overload.

  I was bordering the lines of irrational thought that could lead to irrational action. I had to expose the truth about her husband and soon. She must be mine. Everything—all of me—every single ounce of my being was screaming out to have her in my heart and me within hers. The time for patience and treading softly was over. It was time for action. I loved her, and she needed to be with someone who would treat her like the goddess she truly was. That embrace—that soft, sensual embrace threw me into an enraptured state.

  The moment she fell asleep, I let it all off my chest. I proclaimed my love for her. How her silky dark hair, soft flushed skin and beautiful hazel eyes, drove me to the point of emotional insanity. My heart fluttered noticeably when I pulled her body closer to mine. Her touch forced my body to shake uncontrollably, yet I knew those feelings couldn’t be reciprocated in her drunken state.

  I was sure that by the time she woke up, she would have forgotten everything. Nothing could be more tormenting than loving someone you could not have, but to sleep in the same bed with them, to cuddle them, to have them ask you not to leave was a torture worse than hell.

  If she only knew the depth of my love for her, then she would have known how much suffering my heart went through last night. I supposed I shouldered most, if not all, of the blame for this. Despite her pleading, I could have left. Despite her reluctance, I’d taken her out and flattered her with that helicopter ride and candlelit dinner.

  Worst of all, I’d deceived her with my handwriting. Knowing she had become suspicious of me, I chose to write with my left hand and not my right, concealing my identity as her secret admirer—bringer of the letters. I suffered all this because I must. I had to keep it all hidden until she was divorced. I promised myself this.

  Only now, I believed she was starting to see me in a different light. I could be everything she was looking for, everything she desired and more. My only hope, only wish, was that she would remember all of this when she woke up.

  “Dante, are you in there?” a voice asked from the other side of the door.

  I looked through the peephole. I was hoping it would be her, but instead, it was Maya. What could she want? I opened the door a crack. “You’re up early. Can I help you with something?”

  “May I come in?” she asked.

  “Why?” My glance was off-putting.

  “I’d like to talk to you for a moment.” She smiled. I wasn’t so sure about letting her in; nevertheless, I opened the door wider, allowing her to step in.

  “Why are you all dressed up this early?” She looked me up and down.

  “These are the same clothes I was wearing last night. I haven’t had a chance to change.”

  She walked by my smirking. “So, what’s up with you two ditching Gaspard and me last night? I went to check in on Isabella, but she’s still sleeping. What did you two do?”

  “We just went out sightseeing and had dinner.”

  “Just the two of you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I see.” She took off her shoes and sat on my bed.

  “You like her, don’t you?” She giggled a bit.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Isabella. You like her. I can tell.”

  “Well, of course I like her. She’s an exquisite businesswoman and has a great personality.”

  “I’m not talking about professionally, Dante. I’m talking personally. You have feelings for her, don’t you?”

  I tried to hide my embarrassment. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Oh, come on, Dante, it’s written all over you. The way you keep staring at her. The way you dismissed my advances. Not to mention the way you look right now.”

  “And how do I look?”

  “You look sad, disappointed even—that I came to your door and not Isabella.”

  I stood there speechless.

  “Well, am I right?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry, Maya, but I really need to take a shower and get some rest. Our flight back is only ten hours from now, and I’m exhausted.”

  “Prove to me you don’t have feelings for her.”

  “Maya, I’m not sure what you think you’re doing, but—”

  She stood from the bed and drew nearer to me. “Kiss me,” she said. I took a step back. She couldn’t be serious. Was she drunk?

  “I’m not going to kiss—” Before I could utter another word, she pressed her lips against mine. I stood there in shock, unable to move. I didn’t kiss her back, nor did I touch her. A few moments later, she opened her eyes, pulled away, and smiled. She looked at me with certainty.

  “You just answered my question. I’ll see you later, Dante.” She put her shoes back on and left. I couldn’t believe what just happened. How could she just come in here and— How in the world could . . . She was going to ruin everything. The landline of my hotel room rang, startling me. What could it be now? Gaspard was supposed to have kept an eye on that woman. How in the world did she find out what room I was staying in?

  “Hello? Who is it?” I said agitatedly.

  “Dante, how are you? You left so suddenly last night. Is everything okay?” It was Isabella.

  “You told me to stay with you until you fell asleep. So, after you fell asleep, I came back to my room.”

  “Thank you so much for last night, Dante. I had the time of my life. When is our flight back?”

  “In about ten hours.”

  “Do you want to have lunch with me?” she asked. Operating on very little sleep was a price I was willing to pay if it meant I could spend more time with her.

  “Sure. When would you like to go?”

  “Around one o’clock? We’ll meet in the lobby. Is that all right?”

  “That sounds perfect, Isabella.”

  “Good, I’ll see you soon—oh, wait a second. Maya’s banging on my door. I’ll give you a call when I’m headed down there. See you soon.” She hung up the phone. In my excitement to meet her for lunch, the fact she’d just mentioned Maya took a moment to register in my mind. If Maya was banging on her door, then she was probably going to tell Isabella what just happened. Crap!

  Chapter 18

  Nathan

  I threw my phone against the wall, smashing it to pieces. That manipulative cunt. Everything I had planned may be at risk because of her. The whore purposely went off her birth control, lying to me for weeks to get herself pregnant. If Isabella found out I’d been fucking her cousin, it would be the end of everything. I’d be left with nothing. I’d told Valentina I would never leave my wife for her.

  She knew the only thing that mattered to me was pleasure, and I was emotiona
lly committed to no one. If she believed having my child would change anything, she’d be mistaken to say the least. She was just as delusional as my wife was. The very thought of being with her made me want to vomit. This whore had her mind set on having this child, according to the text she’d just sent me, and would no doubt tell Isabella the moment she got back.

  Valentina . . . that beautiful body, sweet smell and luscious wet gash reeled me in with the promise of endless pleasure, only to outmaneuver me by getting pregnant. The pain room was the only option I saw for getting rid of that thing growing in her belly. The double life I led was getting tiring, and I needed an escape. My wife’s fortune was the only key, and I’d be damned if I let that bitch compromised it all. The pain room it was.

  The only question now was how. How was I to lure her in? What reason could I give her to lower her guard and come with me into my little room of horror? I must think of something because if I did not, all I had planned would lay in shambles.

  Perhaps I would use the allure of love and commitment. Women, in general, were incredibly naïve when it came to love. They would believe just about anything you told them as long as you had their heart in the palm of your hand. I knew how much Valentina cared for me, and I would use it to my advantage. There was no way in hell I was going to allow this whore to carry my offspring.

  The pain room would have its next victim. I hadn’t needed to use this room for months, but now was as good a time as any. Having it built wasn’t easy. Each time Isabella went out of town, using her money, I had workers slave tirelessly around the clock until its completion. Underneath this beautiful little villa of ours lay the room where I took my most precious submissives to engage in the most hardcore of BDSM.

  Keeping my wife from finding my little room of torture had been no easy feat. The door leading to my pleasure chamber was hidden underneath wooden boards in our basement. She’d never find it as long as I used it when she was gone. And use it I did. The last people I’d brought there were Oliver and his wife, which was why he now served me so unquestioningly.

  Valentina would endure the pain, which I hoped would lead to a miscarriage. If the pain room were unsuccessful, I would have no choice but to slip an abortion pill into one of her drinks. I’d never had to take a life before, but I had no choice.

  On the other hand, instead of forcing her to lose the baby, I could probably buy her off until Isabella’s empire was liquidated. Choices, choices, choices. What was I to do? I guess I would choose the least harsh scenario in my repertoire. If she refused to submit, then the pain room it was; if the pain room didn’t do it, then the pill was it.

  “Open the door,” a feminine voice called out. Why would someone be out there banging on my door at this time of night? I wasn’t expecting anyone. Please, don’t let it be Isabella. “Are you going to let me in?” she asked. I looked out the window. It was Valentina. Just the person I wanted to see. “Nathan, are you there? We need to talk,” she said. Yes indeed, we needed to talk. I opened the door to a nervous and tearful Valentina. Why the tears? She knew what she was doing when she went off her birth control. These crocodile tears would garner no sympathy from me.

  “Did you get my message?” she asked, trying to hold back a smile under her fake sad face.

  “Yes, I got your damn message. What the hell were you thinking? You know I’m married to your cousin, and if she finds out about us, I will lose everything, do you hear me—everything!” She wiped her tears away and started laughing.

  “Listen, Nathan, I know all about your plans. And I want in. I’m not about to let you leave me here with nothing. You have to take me with you. Wherever you go or whatever you do, I want to be there when it happens.” She sat on the couch and crossed her legs seductively as if that would have any effect on me anymore. I couldn’t believe this fucking cunt. So, she wanted in. At this point, the pain room was calling her name.

  “With this child, our bond will be solidified, and we can spend the rest of our lives together.” A conniving smirk formed on her face as she rubbed her belly. “Just do what you do, and we will be waiting for you.”

  “Valentina, do you have any idea the shit-storm you have brought down on me? If Isabella finds out you’re pregnant, my plan will be as useless as my bank account.”

  “I promise not to tell her anything. The child is insurance. I just want to be with you after you’ve made your fortune.” The manipulative grin on her face was pissing me off. It took every ounce of willpower I had to keep from strangling her to death right there. This whore knew nothing of me. Once I stole what I needed from my wife, I would disappear so fast that no one, not even this useless little cunt, could find me.

  “Have it your way, Valentina. I’ll bring you in. However, we have to keep this between us. No one can find out, not your mother, your friends, your sister Maya, or anyone. Do we understand each other?” I gritted my teeth and balled my fists. For a brief second, I contemplated just killing her to be done with it.

  “Yes. I understand.” She shot me a cunning smile.

  “Excellent. Now get the hell out of here. Isabella could be home any day now.” She stood up and flicked my nose with her index finger before she walked toward the front door. That simple touch enraged me to no end.

  “Yes, Sir,” she mocked.

  She closed the front door, and I rushed to lock it. The sadist in me needed release. I needed to inflict pain on someone, anyone. I had to call one of my subs to relief this rage. The pain room was going to be used tonight after all.

  Chapter 19

  Isabella

  “Maya and Gaspard—what are you both doing here?” I opened the door and let them in. My hair was tangled and messy, as I was in the middle of fixing myself up to meet Dante for lunch. They both entered my room, out of breath. To say I was a little confused by their demeanor would be an understatement. “Sorry, I’m a mess. I didn’t get in until this morning. Why are you two here anyway?” I asked.

  “I’m sorry for disturbing you, Isabella. I just have to talk to Maya,” said Gaspard.

  Maya focused her gaze on Gaspard. “Did Dante send you down here to stop me?”

  “Stop you from what? I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just wanted to discuss something with you about yesterday’s meeting,” he said. It looked as if he was hiding something.

  “How did you know I was going to be here in Isabella’s suite?” she asked. Both Maya and I gave him a suspicious glare.

  “What’s going on here?” I asked.

  “I was headed to your suite, but I saw you in the hallway, so I followed you. I suspected you’d be coming here,” he said.

  “Well, that can wait until later. I have something to discuss with my cousin.” Maya nudged Gaspard out of the way and took my arm.

  “Listen, the both of you, whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait until later. I’m still trying to get ready. I’m about to meet Dante for lunch. We can all talk then.”

  “Yes, you’re right. We can talk then. We’ll see you soon,” said Gaspard. He grabbed Maya by the hand and tried to walk out the door with her. I was growing suspicious. What the hell were these two up to? Maya snickered.

  “Would you please let me go? Why don’t you go downstairs and wait for us?” she said sternly. He released his grip on her and took a step back. I strode into the bathroom, leaving them both by the door. They could stand there and bicker all they wanted. I just needed to take a shower so I wouldn’t be late. I watched as they went back and forth with one another.

  “You know, don’t you?” she asked him.

  “Know what?” he said. I turned around and saw Gaspard put on a façade of confusion.

  “That Dante has feelings for her. That him going into business with us was so he could get close to her,” she whispered.

  Briskly, I walked back over to the door with my brows raised. “Has feelings for who?” I asked, stunned.

  “No one, Mrs. Williams. I have no idea what she’s talking about. I just f
ollowed Maya here to see if she wanted to have lunch with me.”

  “I thought you said you wanted to talk about the meeting yesterday?”

  “Yes . . . over lunch.”

  “You expect me to believe that?”

  “Believe it or not, it’s the truth.”

  “Sure it is,” she said, looking him up and down, then pointing to his shoulder. “Did you already have breakfast? I think you’ve got some jam on your clothes.”

  He looked at his shoulder. “Where?” The moment he took his eyes off Maya, she rushed toward me and ferried us both to the bathroom.

  “Close the door!” she shouted.

  “What the hell is going on, Maya? Why are you acting like a psycho? I’m meeting Dante for lunch in less than an hour. Why don’t you go and get ready so you and Gaspard can join us?”

  “Listen, Isabella. I have something important to tell you.”

  “Can’t it wait? I was about to hop into the shower before you two barged into my room.”

  “No, it can’t. I think Dante has feelings for you.” I curled my lips and burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?” she bellowed.

  “You’re nuts if you think Dante has feelings for me. If he did, he would have tried to sleep with me last night. As you can see, he didn’t.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “Come on, Isabella. Look at everything he’s done for you. How can you not tell he did all this just to get close to you?” I began to remove what little makeup remained on my face from last night and turned the shower on.

  “Come to think of it, there was something alluring about last night. It was one of the best nights I’ve had in a while. I felt so safe with him. He was so gentle and kind. The whole experience teetered on the line between casual and romantic. I even suspected him of being my secret admirer. I went as far as to have him write my name so I could compare it to the handwriting of those letters I’ve been receiving. I even asked him to stay the night with me last night.”

  “And?” Maya pressed.