A Dark Dance

Chapter2

A week later, I pulled up to my family's home after a long shift at the office. My back was aching, especially given that I had insisted on wearing heels with my simple pantsuit, and I looked to pull my long black curls free from the severe bun I'd worn today. I was halfway up the drive, pulling pins in my hair free, when I noticed the sleek black SUV in the drive. Parking, I finished pulling my hair loose, then opened the driver's door, slipping my heels on.

I didn't have to guess who it was. The driver, a tall and dark man, gun on his hip, eyeing me carefully, told me everything. He straightened as I stepped out of my car and I rolled my eyes.

"Stand down, I live here." I call out, reaching back into the car for my purse.

But he walked over to me. "Id."

It wasn't a suggestion, it was a command.

I snort and pull my wallet from my purse. "Don't worry, I'm only dangerous when I'm hungry." That was half true. I was more dangerous when I was hungry, but my Zio had taught me how to shoot and hand to hand combat. But this guy didn't need to know that.

He did look like he wanted to smile at my comment though. He took my ID and glances over it, then nodded. "You'll have to excuse me, ma'am, but my boss is-"

I take back my ID and wave a hand. "Yea, I know who he is. Don't worry about it."

With that, I sling my purse over my shoulder and start up the walkway to the front door. As I enter, another man is standing in our foyer and turns in surprise as I enter. He's just as big as the one outside, but meaner looking, with a scar that runs down his left cheek and short buzzed hair. He's demeanor screams ex-military or contractor.

"The driver already checked me." I say with a clipped tone, removing my jacket to hang up on the hall tree.

He just narrows his eyes on me, looking over me with both annoyance and a hint of lust.

Gross.

I sneer at him and move towards the stairs, trying to avoid whatever was happening in the office. Not my monkey, not my circus. But I heard a shuffling of feet and then the doors to the study slide open, just as my foot hit the first step. "Viola, you're late."

I sigh and turn, looking back at my father. "There was a last minute meeting, I had to run some errands." I say, then wait.

He waves a hand. "Come in, I want you to meet your sisters fiancee." It's not a suggestion.

I fight back the urge to roll my eyes. With an exaggerated sigh, I place my purse on the banister, then walk towards him. "Fine, I'll meet him, but then I want to shower and eat." I grumble.

My father ignores my tone, grabbing my arm gently as I near. He pulls me into the room beside him and I see my siblings sitting in front of his desk and a tall broad figure by the window. His dark hair is wavy and slightly long, a streak of white running down the back from the front.

My stomach twists.

No. No!

When he turns at our entrance, I don't need to see anything but his dark hooded eyes to know the truth.

I'd been home for a week when my childhood friend, Cassie, had finally convinced me to go out with her. She'd said we wouldn't need ID'S because she knew the club owner. So, I had gone to her apartment in the city, and let her dress me up in a black and burgundy grecian styled dress, with a matching mask. Cassie went as an angel, which I was on the floor with laughter over. And she'd been right, we didn't even have to wait in line, went straight in.

We'd drank and danced, enjoying each other's company after so many years apart. I'd drank more than I was used to, feeling the need to let loose after coming home to the ruins of my childhood home. I had just wanted a moment for myself.

Then, as I was dancing with Cassie, strong arms encircled my waist, pulling me against a tall and firm body. I didn't question it, especially after I turned and saw him. I couldn't see his face, but I knew in that moment, he could have anything he wanted of me. Drunk or not, I wasn't moving away. Instead, my hands moved up his chest as we moved our bodies together.

"Little goddess, tell me your name." He'd purred in my ear as he'd bent to kiss my neck.

"Persephone." I said, teasingly.

He had chuckled, his hands moving to grasp my waist, pulling me closer. "How fitting." His voice was deep, the slight accent of a first or second generation Italian. His mouth and tongue trailed along my neck, his teeth nibbled at my ear. "Tell me, Persephone, do you belong to anyone?"

I chuckled, playfully. "If I did, would I let you touch me? Would he let you touch me?"

It was his turn to chuckle and his hands dug into my hips, almost bruising. "Only if he were an idiot."

Then, his lips crashed against mine. My entire body trembled as he leaned over me, claiming my mouth with a fierce possessive need. My fingers grasped the front of his shirt, pulling him closer and I moaned into his mouth as his tongue danced with mine.

"Bella," he growled, pulling away. One of his hands moved up my back into he was holding the back of my neck. "You're delicious, cara mia." His mouth find my neck again. "Let me have you." He purred against my skin.

I didn't hesitate, didn't overthink, I just panted. "Yes."

I didn't even look back to find Cassie as he lead me upstairs and past VIP booths. Didn't protest as he lead me down a hallway to a back room, an office.

He took his time, savoring every inch of me and my body had responded as though I already belonged to him. I renege reaching up, to take his mask off, but he shook his head, a white streak of hair falling down across his eyes. But he'd removed my mask, then my dress. His eyes, his mouth, his touch, every bit of him worshiped every inch of me.

And when he'd bent me over the desk in the room and entered me, and I gasped in pain, the shock in his eyes spoke volumes.

But he didn't stop, didn't slow, just seemed to hold me closer, as if never wanting to let me go.

After, he did let me go though. He'd left without a word to me, without a glance back at me. So, embarrassed, I'd gathered my things, dressed, then left, sending Cassie a text to let her know I was alright.

And now, here he was. My devil.

Something flashed in his eyes. "Tesoro mio."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

Everyone in the room stilled.

Then, he moved towards me, crossing the room quicker than I could think. His hands grabbed my waist as he pulled me against him and his lips captured mine. Without thought to the others in the room, my hands reached for him, moving up his chest as they had that night, before moving to his neck and pulling him down closer. His mouth ravished mine with an intensity that stole my breath.

When he pulled away, he reached up with one hand and cupped my face, pressing his forehead to mine. "You ran, Tesoro."

I shook my head. "You left me, without a word."

"Excuse me, what the hell is going on?" I heard my brothers voice break through the haze.

Then I remembered.

Eyes wide, I pull away, pushing him away.

Dante Socci. He wasn't my devil, he was my sisters husband to be. The man who was buying Beatrice to save my father. I couldn't stop my lip from quivering slightly and without a word, I turned and rushed out of the room, before anyone, especially him, could see my tears fall.