Page 50 of Iron Heart

“Okay, great sex. I already told you that. You’re fishing for compliments.”

He barks out a laugh. “I don’t need compliments. The way you yelled out my name when you came was all the info I needed.”

“Oh, God,” I groan.

“Nope, it’s Dante. How’d you forget my name so quick?”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “That was totally lame.”

“You ain’t embarrassed about being loud, are you?” he asks. “You know guys eat that shit up, right?”

“I mean…” My face flames. “I guess not?”

“It’s sexy as fuck.” He shifts under me, so he can look me in the eyes. “You know your voice is kinda hoarse now, from yellin’ so loud.”

“I know,” I nod, my lips curving into a smile in spite of myself. “My throat hurts a little bit from it.”

“I like you, Tori.”

The words are so simple. But they make me feel like grinning until my cheeks split. Plus, it really does something to me to hear him say my name. I realize he hasn’t said it much, before now. On his lips, it sounds like a caress.

“I like you, too,” I brave.

“It’s been a few minutes,” he says casually. “You ready for round two?”

“I’m not sure you can top round one,” I smirk, cocking my head at him. “You sure you don’t wanna quit while you’re ahead?”

“Just you wait,” he shoots back. “You think your throat is sore now?”

“You’re all talk.”

“Careful with that sass.” He shifts his weight again, and slides a large, rough hand between my thighs. “You’re gonna eat those words later, Lois Lane.”

“Are you saying you’re Clark Kent?” I breathe, already fighting back a moan. “Or Superman?”

“You tell me, afterwards,” he mutters against my throat.

“Oh, God…”

I shudder a breath out as Dante’s teeth nip at my sensitive skin. His deft fingers find my core, still sensitive and swollen from before. “You’re ready for me again,” he growls, and my body shivers against him. There’s no denying his words. I want him, now. My legs fall open, my back arching as he strokes my clit with surprising gentleness. I make a noise, deep in my throat. I’ve never heard it before, but it makes Dante even harder than he already is.

“That’s fucking hot,” he groans. “You’re fucking hot, Tori Lowe.”

His head dips down, mouth finding one taut nipple. I gasp as his hot tongue slides against it. I moan, loudly, and my body arches to meet his touch. I want him everywhere — I want him touching me everywhere at once. I want him inside me. His skin against mine is so mind-meltingly good, I can barely register that the name he just said is mine. I don’t feel like I have a name, or a past, or a future, or anything except this moment right now that’s only going to get better and better as he tortures and teases me and then finally makes me come. My heart is pounding in my chest, so fast and loud that I’m sure he can hear it. My breathing, fast and shallow, starts getting labored. I must have not completely recovered from our last go-round. I pull in air, noticing that my heart is thudding weirdly, faster even now than a second ago, and suddenly oh shit, I know what’s happening, that weight on my chest isn’t Dante, it feels like an anvil. I start to say something but it comes out garbled and I have to try again, have to tell Dante…

“Stop!” I gasp, but it sounds more like “Stah…” I try to push him away with one hand as the other clutches at my ribcage.

Dante lifts his head and looks up at me quizzically. When his eyes get to my face, his expression goes blank with shock. “Fuck, Tori, what’s wrong? What’s happening?”

“My… purse…” I wheeze. “Get my purse… downstairs. I have… pills…”

It’s not much, but it’s enough. Dante bolts out of bed and thunders down the stairs. Seconds later, he’s back, my purse in one hand and a glass in the other. He runs to the bathroom and fills the glass and then he’s back in bed. Dumping the contents of my purse out, he grabs the medication and wrenches it open, then pours the pills out into his hand. Shaking, I take one and suck in a shallow breath, then toss it back and swallow it with a gulp of water.

For the next minute or two, Dante doesn’t talk, just sits with me and waits for a sign. I work to calm down, trying to push all scary thoughts away.Breathe out. In. Out. In. Slow. Slow. Slow.I chant the words in my head, eyes closed. Eventually, the palpitations start to slow.

“Tori,” Dante says urgently. “Do I need to take you to the hospital?”

“No,” I pant. I open my eyes. “I’m okay. I’m going to be okay.”

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