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1129 Words
No. He was just saying that to get into my head. Dante had never cared about me before and I doubted much had changed since then.
“What does your mate think about that?” I asked with a delicate smile, spinning in Dante’s arms before meeting his gaze. “Besides, did you expect me to stay behind after you rejected me, pine after you and grovel for the dregs of your affection?”
Dante’s shoulders stiffened and I knew my words had hit him right where it hurt. His ego.
His hand settled around my waist again.
“Black suits you,” Dante’s next words were an obvious misdirection. “You seem different.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Am I supposed to be flattered by your words, Mr. Orion?”
The sides of Dante’s lips twitched and if he had been a different person, I might have mistaken it for humor.
Dante drew me close, far closer than the waltz called for and his scent flooded my senses. I tried not to react.
This was just a move for Dante to unnerve me. Reacting would just mean that he had gotten to me. He hadn't.
We swayed to the music in sync, and I found myself winding up with every swish, every touch, every coordinated movement.
Dante’s hand on my waist seemed to singe me through the layers of fabric; and his gray eyes seemed to hold so many emotions that I could have drowned in them, if I had been a little less cautious.
Dante’s head dipped slightly, and he pressed his nose to my nape and inhaled deeply.
Goosebumps erupted across my skin, my body and mind ceasing to function for a moment.
I looked up at Dante questioningly.
“What are you doing?”
He didn't speak, those gray eyes staying steady on mine, then I felt him trace the back of his hand down my cheek.
I took a step back from him instinctively, the song ending that very instant.
Dante’s hand fell from my cheek and for a moment he stared at me. Then he clenched his jaw, and that delicate moment was lost to time.
“In business, I don't take kindly to people that cross me, Ivie,” He warned. “You've crossed me twice.”
This was better. Dante’s animosity I could face.
“Stay out of my way, Mr. Orion, and I’ll return the favor.” I scoffed then walked out of the gala without a backward glance.
My opportunity was gone. I would need to set up another meeting with Fort.
As my chauffeur drove me home, annoyance brewed within me, my fingernails biting into the palm of my hand and my cheek still tingling where Dante had touched me.
Nothing today had gone according to my plans. Meeting Dante on my first day back? Seriously, what were the odds?
I thought of Dante’s warning and my anger only crested. He was going to interfere with this deal with Fort. I just knew it. Why he couldn't simply focus on his family instead of bothering me, I didn't know.
Although according to him I had “crossed him first”. True, my assistant had informed me of some calls from Decadent, but I had those calls fielded as I wanted nothing to do with Dante.
If I’d simply investigated the properties thoroughly then I would have been able to prevent this.
But if Dante Orion thought that I would just watch him waltz in and wreck my plans he had another thing coming.
“Mom!”
I walked out of the car and Mason tackled me, knocking me right out of my train of thought.
Purely on instinct developed after years of enduring this, I caught him easily, balancing him on my hip and peppering his face with little kisses.
“How’s my little troublemaker doing?” I teased.
Mason groaned trying to wriggle out of my hold.
“Mom, stop it. I’m no longer a baby.”
Naturally, I had to kiss him some more until Mason let out a high-pitched whine of complaint.
“Mom!”
I laughed, letting him off easy as I let him wriggle off me.
Mason made a face, and I couldn't help staring at him, my son. He had wavy dark brown hair like me, but those gray eyes and toothy grin were all his dad’s.
Some days I couldn't believe I had created something so perfect, pure and beautiful. My heart warmed with more love than I’d ever known myself to be capable of.
There were times I felt a twinge of guilt for hiding his existence from Dante, just a twinge, but in the end, I knew my decision had been for the best.
I had stayed in that palace, lived that life. And I wanted none of it for my son. He deserved more. He deserved a better life than I’d had. He deserved sunshine, happiness and so much freedom: not judgment, chastisement, and abandonment from his own father.
“Mason!” Nora, Mace’s nanny, ran out to the yard looking flustered, her face a bright red when she realized I’d come home.
“Welcome home, Ma’am.” She inclined her head slightly.
She was a helper that had been highly recommended by Mia, who had been blowing up my phone right from the moment I stepped into this city.
I looked at Mason who blinked up at me innocently.
“Mace, what did I say about troubling your nanny?”
Mason looked off to the side with a small, cute pout playing on his lips.
“We were just playing.”
Suddenly I felt someone come up from behind me.
“I hope I'm not intruding.”
I turned, a smile already on my face at the sound of his voice.
“Jordan.” I smiled.
With his casual clothes, easy demeanor, short black hair and kind brown eyes, Jordan fit into the drop-dead handsome guy-next-door stereotype rather than the low-key Lycan billionaire that he was.
“Ivie,” he returned my smile leaning in to drop a kiss on my cheek before crouching to Mason’s height.
“Hello, little guy,” he smiled, ruffling Mason’s hair.
Mason stared at him for a moment.
“Hi,” he said finally before taking off again racing through the yard.
“Please excuse me, Ma’am,” Nora bowed, her expression more than a little exasperated as she went after my son. “Mason, your lunch is getting cold!”
The sounds of Mason’s giggles faded until they disappeared completely.
Jordan straightened from his crouch, a self-deprecating smile on his face as he shrugged.
“I don't think he’s going to warm up to me anytime soon.”
- Writer
