King of Wrath (Kings of Sin #1) by Ana Huang

My words faltered at the storm gathering in his eyes. “Are you talking about an affair, Vivian?”

Goosebumps erupted in alarm over my chest and shoulders.

“No, and that’s not the point. Answer my question. Is this business, or is this something more?”

He remained silent.

“Heath was wrong for what he tried to do, but you’re upset because…why? You’re threatened? Territorial?” My nails dug into my palms. “I’m not a toy, Dante. You don’t get to toss me aside and pick me back up only when someone else wants me.”

“I don’t think you’re a toy,” he ground out.

“Then why do you care? Why did you punch Heath when you were the one who told me to leave our feelings out of this?”

More silence. The cords of his neck visibly strained against his skin.

The tension was so thick I could taste it in my throat, but I pushed forward, unwilling to let him off the hook so easily.

“We’re only together because of a deal you made with my father. What’s it to you if my ex shows back up in my life? You know the wedding would move forward either way,” I said. “Are you afraid I’ll break the engagement? Run off with Heath and leave you looking like a fool in front of your friends? Why do you care?”

“I don’t know!” The force of his reply stunned me into silence.

Dante’s granite mask cracked, revealing the torment underneath.

“I don’t know why I care. I just know I do, and I hate it.” Self-loathing coated his voice.

“I hate the idea of you touching anyone else, or anyone else touching you. I hate that other people can make you laugh in a way I can’t. I hate how I feel around you, like you’re the only person that can make me lose control when I. Don’t. Lose. Control.”

Every word, every step brought him closer until my back pressed against the wall and the heat of his body enveloped mine.

“But I do.” His voice dropped, turning ragged. “With you.”

My blood thundered in my ears, muffling his words until I was underwater and drowning in a sea of emotions.

Shock, hope, fear, elation, uncertainty…they all mingled until they were indistinguishable from each other.

“I don’t know isn’t good enough,” I whispered.

Once upon a time, it would’ve been. But we’d passed that marker long ago.

Dante’s jaw tightened. This close, I could see the hints of gold in his eyes, like flecks of light in a sea of darkness.

“Heath said he still loves you. Enough to go against your parents, and me, to be with you. But you broke up two years ago and he didn’t do a damn thing about it until he found out you were engaged.” The darkness edged out the light. “You want to know the truth, Vivian? If I loved you as much as he claims to love you, nothing would’ve stopped me from keeping you.”

I didn’t realize until that moment how easy it was for one simple sentence to dissolve the threads holding my world together.

If I loved you as much as he claims to love you, nothing would’ve stopped me from keeping you.

“If,” I breathed, my throat unbearably tight. “Hypothetical.”

The gold disappeared completely, leaving pools of midnight in its wake.

A sardonic smile. “Yes, mia cara.” Warmth brushed my lips. “Hypothetical.”

My heartbeat slowed.

Time suspended for a brief, agonizing moment, just long enough for our breaths to intermingle.

Then a groan shattered the spell, followed by a low curse.

That was the only warning I got before Dante yanked me to him and crashed his mouth down on mine.





CHAPTER 24





Vivian





I should push him off.

We hadn’t resolved the heart of our issues yet, and kissing—or more—would only complicate things further.

I should push him off.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I threaded my fingers through his hair and succumbed to the skillful assault on my senses.

The firm grip on the back of my neck. The expert pressure of his lips. The way Dante’s body molded to mine, all hard muscle and heat.

His mouth moved over mine, hot and demanding. Pleasure fogged my senses as the rich, bold taste of him invaded my mouth.

Our kiss in Bali had been passionate but impulsive. This? This was hard. Primal. Addicting.

My worries from earlier that day melted into nothing, and I instinctively curved my body into his, seeking more contact, more warmth, more.

I’d kissed my fair share of men over the years, but none had ever kissed me like this.

Like they were a conqueror hellbent on breaching my defenses.

Like they were trapped in the desert and I was their last hope for salvation.

A soft gasp escaped when Dante hooked my legs around his waist and carried me out of the room without breaking our kiss.

Blurry glimpses of gilt-framed paintings and golden wall sconces passed through my peripheral vision as he navigated us through the maze of hallways.

When we reached his room, he kicked the door shut behind us and set me down, his breath as ragged as my own.

Under any other circumstances, I would’ve savored my first time in his private sanctuary, but I caught only the faintest impression of expensive oak and charcoal before his mouth was on mine again.