question, but his focus remained fixed on her. On the demands of the physical, rather than the intellect. âLarkinâ¦â
She made the mistake of approaching, the moonlight merciless in stripping away even the subtle barrier of the shadows that had protected her. âYour family is such an emotional one, but youâre not, are you?â
He couldnât take his eyes off her. âDonât be so sure.â
A slow smile lit her face and she tilted her head to one side. With her cap of curls and delicate features, she looked like a creature of myth and magic. âSo you are one of the emotional Dantes?â
It took him three tries before he could speak. âIf I touch you again, youâll find out for yourself.â The words escaped, raw and guttural. âAnd Iâll have broken my promise to Primo.â
For a long moment time froze. Then with a tiny sigh, she stepped back, allowing the shadows to swallow her and returning to whatever fantasy world sheâd escaped from. Everything that made him male urged pursuit. He knew it was the moonlight and Kikoâs howling that had ripped the mask of civilization from his more primitiveinstincts. He fought with every ounce of control he possessed.
As though sensing how close to the edge he hovered, the dog trotted past him to the open doorway. There she sat, an impressive bulwark to invasion.
âYou win this time,â he told her. âBut donât count on it working in the future.â
With that, he turned and walked away from a craving beyond reason. And all the while he rubbed at the relentless itch centered in the palm of his hand.
Â
Sheâd lost her mind. Larkin swept the sheet off the bed and wrapped herself up in its concealing cocoon. There was no other explanation. Why else would she have stripped off her few remaining clothes and walked outside like that, as naked as the day sheâd been born? Never in her life had she been so blatant, so aggressive. That had been Leighâs specialty, not hers.
Leigh.
Larkin sank onto the edge of the bed and covered her face with her hands. What a fool she was, believing for even a single second that she could embroil herself in the Dantesâ affairs and escape unscathed. Maybe if sheâd been up front with Rafe from the beginning it would have all worked out. That had been the intention when sheâd asked to be assigned to the Dantes reception.
Her brow wrinkled. How had it all gone so hideously wrong? Heâd touched her, thatâs how. Heâd dropped that insane proposition on her and then before she could even draw breath or engage a single working brain cell, heâd kissed her. And sheâd lost all connection with reason and common sense because of The Inferno.
The Inferno.
She stared at her palm in confusion. She wanted to believe that it was wishful thinking or the power of suggestion. But there was no denying the odd throb and itch of her palm. She couldnât have imagined that into existence, could she?
A soft knock sounded on her door. It could be only one person. She debated ignoring it, pretending she was asleep. But she couldnât. She crossed to the door and opened it, still wrapped in the sheet. Heâd pulled on a pair of sweatpants and seemed relieved to see that sheâd covered up, as well.
âItâs late,â she started, only to be cut off.
âIâm sorry, Larkin. Tonight was my fault.â He leaned against the doorjamb and offered a wry smile. âI thought I could control what happened.â
âNot so successful?â
His smile grew. âNot even a little. I canât allow it to happen again.â He waited a beat. âAt least, not until I have a ring on your finger.â
Her eyes widened. âExcuse me?â
âLetâs just say that once youâre wearing my engagement ring, Iâll consider my promise to Primo fulfilled.â
The air escaped her lungs in a rush,
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