Page 60 of Desire

“There’s more. I can tell by your tone.”

Dante shook his head. “I let her blow me a few times.”

Emma grimaced. “Did you ever...” Make her come? Send her into orbit with your tongue?

“No.”

That was something at least.

“And while she was still my sub, the sexual part of it had stopped long before you came to Couture. She was not what I wanted and I was not who she needed.”

“She seems to think differently.”

“That’s because she doesn’t like to hear the word no. She would have come to that conclusion on her own eventually. Now, she’s fixated with making me pay. Unfortunately, that means you and Joey are on her radar as a means for her revenge.”

“How are we going to do that?”

“Kiki thrives on attention and causing chaos. If no one is paying attention to her or cares what she’s doing, she’ll move on. The only thing I was able to come up with was that we’re going to have to either pretend not to be a couple or hide our relationship from anyone who might report back to her.”

Emma stared at him, stunned into silence as the implications sank in. Hide their relationship? After everything they’d already been through to be together? Her mind reeled, struggling to form a coherent response. She shook her head slowly, trying to clear the fog of disbelief.

“So what exactly are you saying? That we have to sneak around like we’re doing something wrong? Pretend there’s nothing between us whenever we’re in public?”

Dante reached out to stroke her cheek. “I don’t like it any more than you do. But if it keeps that psycho bitch from messing with Joey’s head and your life, I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”

Emma sat up, drawing the sheet around her body as a sudden chill ran through her. The warmth and intimacy of their passionate encounter just moments ago now felt like a distant memory. Her mind churned with conflicting emotions—anger at Kiki for forcing them into this position, fear for Joey’s well-being, sorrow at the thought of losing the joy of openly being with Dante.

As much as it pained her, Emma knew Dante was right. Protecting Joey had to be the priority right now, even if it meant sacrificing some of their own happiness. She understood the toxic influence Kiki wielded all too well. How many times had her cutting remarks and vicious sabotage left Emma doubting herself?

“I don’t want to hide. I think...” She couldn’t finish the sentence, emotion clogging her throat. Dante pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight against his chest. Emma squeezed her eyes shut, breathing in his scent, memorizing the feeling of his skin against hers.

But then she pulled back from Dante’s embrace, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Is this what you want?” She hated that her voice wavered.

Dante shook his head. “No, but it’s the only way I can think of to make Kiki bored enough to find another victim to torment.” He cupped Emma’s face, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “I hate this as much as you do, but we have to protect Joey.”

Emma leaned into his touch, drawing strength from his presence. “There has to be another way to put an end to this nightmare.”

“I’m open to ideas. If you can think of anything, I’m all ears.”

Emma’s shoulders slumped as she shook her head, her mind drawing a blank. The weight of their predicament settled heavily upon her, and she knew what she had to do. “I don’t want to sneak around, Dante. I think it’s best if we end things for now.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. “I love you, Emma. Never forget that.”

A sob caught in Emma’s throat as she reached up and unclasped the collar from around her neck. The delicate metal felt heavy in her palm as she pressed it into Dante’s hand. Without another word, she slipped out of his bed and left his bedroom. The chill of the night air raised goose bumps on her skin. She managed not to lose it until she was safely back in her own room. Then she cried like her heart was broken, because even though Dante said he loved her and this separation might only be temporary, it was broken.

***

THE NEXT DAY, EMMA found herself in the storage closet, mechanically sorting through the racks of clothing. Her movements were robotic, her mind a million miles away. She couldn’t shake the misery that clung to her like a second skin.

Pulling out her phone, Emma typed out a message to Joey with trembling fingers. I broke up with Dante. Your turn to end things with Kiki. She’s no good for you. She hit send before she could second-guess herself, hoping that Joey would at least call her. He hadn’t returned any of her phone calls for the past two days. Mom and Dad said he hadn’t come home either. Emma wondered if he was staying with Kiki.

Kiki’s relentless online attacks had taken their toll, each vicious comment and snide remark chipping away at Emma’s sense of self-worth. She could feel the weight of the ridicule pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. Why had she put herself out there and tried roller derby? Had she stayed at Couture, stayed safe, this would have never happened.

As she leaned against the shelves, Emma tried to focus on the task at hand, but her vision blurred with unshed tears. The fabric beneath her fingers felt rough and foreign, no longer bringing her the joy and excitement it once had. She was so sick of crying.

In the oppressive silence of the storage closet, Emma felt more alone than ever before. The internal battle raged within her, the urge to run back to Dante’s arms warring with the knowledge that she had to see this through. Just until Kiki had moved on and Joey went back on assignment. She could do this. This was already the longest Joey had been home since he joined the army. He’d probably go back any day now. With a shaky breath, Emma straightened her spine and wiped away her tears. She had waited all these years for Dante to recognize her. She could wait another few months.

Emma dragged herself back to her desk and slumped into her chair. The computer screen glared at her, and she halfheartedly clicked through her emails, trying to distract herself from the emptiness that consumed her.

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