Arianna Rose: The Gates of Hell (Part 5) by Jennifer Martucci, Christopher Martucci Page B

won’t listen to me.  I went out there and tried to get him to leave, but he’s being a total asshole.”
    “Okay, so what are you going to do next?”
    “The owner is threatening to call the cops, but I told him to hold off.  I thought maybe you could go talk some sense into him.”
    “Me?” she asked incredulously, the spinning in her mind screeching to sudden halt.  “What makes you think he’ll listen to me?  You’re his brother .”  Arianna was going to continue, but Jason silenced her with a knowing look. 
    “If he’s going to listen to anyone, it’s going to be you,” he said levelly.  “Will you go?”
    “Of course,” she answered without delay.  “Let me throw on some clothes and run a comb through my hair and we’ll leave.”
    “Thanks, Arianna.  I hate to barge in here in the middle of the night and ask you to do this, but Dane’s in bad shape and he needs you.”
    “No problem.  Help yourself to whatever you want in the kitchen and I’ll be out in a second,” she swept her hand toward the kitchenette to her left as she hurried to her bedroom. 
    When she crept inside, she realized Desmond was not asleep.   He sat on the edge of the bed, a sliver of moonlight cutting across the sculpted beauty of his body and highlighting the powerful cords of muscles.  The hard lines of his body moved and flexed when he sat up straight. 
    “You’re going to him.”  His words were not a question but a statement tinged with resignation.  Smooth, hot and raw, his voice reminded her of whiskey.  He inhaled deeply before twisting to face her.  His eyes were midnight blue in the dark of the room.  “I’m coming with you,” he added.
    Surprised, Arianna blurted, “No,” a bit too soon. Though she could not see him clearly, she felt Desmond’s gaze boring into her.  She took a few steps toward him.  “It’s not that I don’t want you with me, it’s just that Dane is drunk and refusing to leave the bar he’s at.  The owner wants to close up for the night, but Dane won’t leave.  Jason tried to get him out of there but he didn’t have any luck.”
    “And Jason thought you could talk him into leaving.”
    “Yes, that’s right,” she answered.
    Throaty laughter spilled from Desmond.
    “What?  What’s so funny?” she asked and felt a small tendril of annoyance spark to life inside her.  She made her way closer to the bathroom and was almost standing right in front of him.
    He held his hands up in front of his chest.  “I’m not saying a word.  I’m not going to have you pissed at me.”  He chuckled again.
    “Ha-ha, laughing boy.  I’m just howling right along with you,” she narrowed her eyes then pointed to her clearly annoyed face.  “Can’t you tell I’m in hysterics?” she asked bitingly. 
    “Oh come on,” Desmond said and refused to take the bait.  Instead, he grabbed hold of her wrist and yanked her toward him.  As soon as she was near, he wrapped both arms around her waist and rested his head on her chest.  She raked her fingers through his wavy, golden hair, enjoying the scent of whatever shampoo he’d used.  It smelled of sage and mint.  It smelled of comfort and home. It smelled like Desmond.  He kissed the space between her breasts, nuzzling his face between them.
    “Hey, knock it off,” she said and lightly tapped the top of his head.  “Don’t think I’m not pissed that you laughed at me,” she warned, but she doubted he’d heard her.  He was too busy sweeping the stubble of his chin from side to side. His movements, while tender, were also arousing.  And she didn’t have time for that.  She needed to leave and get Dane out of the bar before the owner called the police.  She placed a hand on either side of Desmond’s head.  “Cut it out,” she said.
    “Cut what out?’ he asked in a rush of innocence. 
    “You know what you were doing, and we don’t have time for that.  Maybe when I get back though,” she let her