Page 47 of Desire

Chapter Fourteen

EMMA

The pulsating neon lights of Club Inferno washed over Emma as she stepped into the dimly lit entrance, her body still buzzing with adrenaline from her roller derby tryouts. Every muscle in her body should have been aching, but instead, endorphins danced through her veins like liquid fire. She felt alive, invincible even, as she crossed the threshold and searched for Dante amidst the writhing bodies on the dance floor.

“Emma.”

She whirled around. He wore faded denim jeans and a snug cotton T-shirt pulled taut over his muscular frame. No leather. No chains. Just raw, casual sensuality. His dark eyes smoldered with an intensity that made her wet. She blinked, feeling overdressed in her corset and fishnet stockings—attire he had specifically instructed her to wear.

“Change of plans?” she asked, her voice quivering with anticipation.

Dante’s lips curved into a wicked grin. “You might say that.”

Surprise mingled with curiosity as he led her away from the dungeon door and onto the dance floor. The bass reverberated through her bones, each beat echoing the unspoken desires thrumming between them.

He drew her close, his hands settling possessively on her waist. Against the backdrop of thumping music and swirling lights, they swayed together, two souls entwined in a hypnotic rhythm. As they moved as one, Emma could almost forget the years of unrequited longing, the countless times she’d watched him from afar and wished he would see her as more than just his best friend’s sister.

And then, without warning, Dante grasped her wrists and pulled her close. His lips crashed against hers, sending shockwaves of pleasure coursing through her body. She gasped as he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing her lips before slipping inside her mouth.

Emma moaned, clutching at his shirt as he pushed her against the wall. She felt helpless under his gaze, yet strangely empowered by his possession. As he broke the kiss, she looked up at him, her eyes filled with desire and trepidation.

“You’re mine,” he growled, his voice low and threatening. “And tonight, I’m going to make sure everyone knows it.”

With every touch, she felt herself sinking deeper under his spell, the rest of the world fading away until there was only him. Emma’s pulse quickened, her breath hitching as desire pooled low in her belly. Everyone would have to be blind not to see that she was completely his.

“You have pleased me greatly,” he murmured into her ear as they danced, his warm breath making her shiver. “And I think you deserve a reward.”

A reward from Dante could mean so many things—and she wanted them all. But what form would it take tonight?

“Let’s get a drink in you first.” Dante flagged down the bartender. “Then we’ll see just how much fun you can handle tonight.” Her body still buzzed with adrenaline from the roller derby tryouts earlier. The ache in her muscles reminded her of the battle she waged in the ring, but it couldn’t compete with the anticipation building inside her, fueled by Dante’s enigmatic smile.

“Here,” Dante said, handing her a chocolate martini. The rich aroma filled her nostrils as she took a sip, the velvety liquid leaving a sweet trail of warmth down her throat.

“To the newest Sinner,” he toasted, voice a low rumble that vibrated down to her very marrow. “May you skate fast and hit hard.”

“Thank you,” she said, raising her glass in toast before taking another sip. Her gaze flitted to some dancers who wore masks to hide their identities, cavorting without inhibition. A part of her longed for the anonymity her mask would have provided, but as she looked into Dante’s eyes, she realized that she no longer needed it. She was ready to embrace this new chapter in her life—unmasked and unafraid.

“I have a surprise for you,” he murmured, the words an intimate caress. “Come with me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dante’s hand found the small of her back, a searing brand through the flimsy lace of her corset as he guided her away from the dance floor. Anticipation wormed beneath her skin, a restless itch she couldn’t quite scratch. He led her down a discreet hallway, the muted clicks of her heels against polished wood a staccato counterpoint to the distant throb of music.

He ushered her through an unmarked door, and Emma found herself enveloped by the warm glow of artfully placed candles and the subtle scent of aromatherapy oils. The room had all the trappings of a high-end spa, from the plush massage table to the array of lotions and salves arranged on a gleaming cart.

Before she could take it all in, Dante’s breath stirred the fine hairs at her nape. “Strip.”

The clipped command brooked no argument. Her breath hitched as she complied, stripping off her corset and fishnet stockings and folding them neatly.

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