Dark Intentions - Charlotte Byrd Page 0,58

up so many guardrails and so many obstacles, and now I wonder if maybe I did that just so that I could find him. His starched white shirt is now hopelessly wrinkled, and he lies on his side, propping his head up with his elbow, using it like a pillow.

My mouth feels parched, so I sit up on my side of the bed. I pour myself a glass of water very quietly from the tap, not wanting to make much noise.

Instead of being exhausted, I am energized. I pick up a book, the first one on top, the dark romantic suspense set in a house in the woods. I begin to read. Two chapters in, and I'm pretty certain I won't be able to sleep, but then the next thing I know is that I open my eyes and it's morning. The shades are still drawn, but a little bit of bright sunshine is peeking in from underneath.

Dante's sitting at the table in the corner, typing quietly into his laptop, the blue screen illuminating his face.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" he asks.

I shake my head no. The book lies open flat with the spine bent next to me.

"Saw that you made quite a dent into that one. What do you think?"

"It was so scary at first. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get through it," I say, stretching my arms as I sit up in bed.

"Thanks for letting me stay over.” He smiles.

"Sure.” I nod.

I look at the time. In another hour, I can go see my mom.

"Last night was really nice," I say, walking over to him.

He grabs my hand and pulls me closer for a kiss, but I push him away. "No, I can't."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I misread things," he says.

I laugh. "No, I'm just ... I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

He smiles, grabs my hand, and presses his lips to mine. I don't want to open my mouth, but my body seems to take over.

His hand snakes its way underneath my T-shirt, and my nipples immediately get hard to the touch.

Suddenly, my desperate need for a shower doesn’t seem to matter anymore.

Dante kisses me harder and harder. His hands pull me closer to him. He tugs on my hair just slightly.

My whole body explodes in anticipation.

I'm dressed in a ratty T-shirt and a loose pair of pajama bottoms that somehow fall off of me with one quick tug.

He grabs my butt cheeks, squeezing tightly. I reach for his crumpled shirt and I struggle with the buttons, running my fingers up and down his hard stomach. I feel each one of the muscles flex, his tan olive skin in stark contrast to my own.

He lowers me onto the bed and pulls down my panties, tossing them onto the floor. He makes his way up my inner thighs, and I open my legs for him, arch my back, and close my eyes.

He rubs me a little, kissing just around my thighs and my belly button, but not quite going all the way. When I've had enough of the teasing, I reach down and grab onto his large cock, rubbing it hard in my hands.

He moans a little in my ear and helps me push down his pants and his boxer briefs. When our bodies are pressed to one another, he kisses me again and again.

This feels different from how it felt at the club. There was all that mystery and uncertainty, but this feels good and comfortable in the best sense.

"Do you have anything?" I whisper into his ear.

"Yeah, in my bag."

He reaches over the bed and grabs it off the side of the chair. I continue to kiss him, licking his abs and then going further and further south, grabbing his butt cheeks with my hands, and then my phone goes off.

I usually keep the sound off, but the hospital told me that they will get in touch in case of any emergency. Grabbing it off the nightstand, I answer immediately.

"Your mother's condition is getting worse. We'd like you to come in,” the nurse says on the other end.

Her voice is professional and courteous and sounds like the kiss of death.

35

Jacqueline

When we get to the hospital, Dante holds my hand as Dr. Ellis meets with us in front of my mom's room.

"The pneumonia has become quite severe," she says. "She will need to show a positive change within the first two weeks, otherwise there'll be nothing that we can do for her."

My heart sinks,