Bloody Heart (Brutal Birthright #4) - Sophie Lark Page 0,14

or three dozen white-linen-covered tables have been erected, with formal place settings and covered bread baskets all ready to go.

“I—oh!”

I was about to say yes. Until I caught sight of a hulking figure at the edge of the field, standing away from the lights. Though I can’t see his face, I recognize those Goliath proportions immediately.

“What it is?” Jules asks me.

“I’ve got to go to the ladies’ room,” I say abruptly.

“Of course. It’s over by the—”

“I can find it!” I say.

I hurry away from Jules, leaving him standing there with a baffled expression.

I don’t go directly over to Dante. I walk as if I’m headed to the portable toilets, then I cut back the opposite direction, slipping away from the amphitheater, and into the trees of Millennium Park.

This is the first time I’ve directly broken the rules.

When Dante stole the car with me in the backseat, that wasn’t really my fault.

The same when he broke into my room. I couldn’t be blamed for either of those things.

But now I’m making a conscious choice to leave the party and go meet a criminal in the woods. This is so unlike me that I hardly know myself. I should be sitting at a table with Jules, sipping sparkling apple juice like a good girl.

But that’s not what I want at all.

What I want is stalking me through the shadows under the trees. I can hear his heavy tread behind me.

“Are you lost, miss?” he growls.

“I might be,” I say, turning around.

Even though I came over here to find him, I still feel my heart rising up in my throat at the sight of him.

I didn’t realize he was standing so close. In heels, I’m almost six feet tall. Dante still towers over me. In width, he’s at least double my size. That stern, brutal face is terrifying in the darkness. His black eyes glitter.

I’m trembling. I can’t help it. I feel naked with his eyes roaming over me.

“Did you get the flowers I sent you?” Dante says.

“Yes,” I squeak.

He steps even closer to me, so I can feel the heat of his broad chest, just inches from my face.

“Did you wear that dress for me?” he says.

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Take it off,” he says.

“W—what?” I stammer.

We’re only a hundred feet from the party. I can still hear the music—Brahms, I think. I can even hear the murmur of conversation and the clink of glasses.

“I said take it off.”

I’m an obedient girl. I usually do what I’m told. Especially when it comes from an authority.

Before I can think, I slip the spaghetti straps of the dress down my shoulders, baring my breasts to the cool night air. I can feel my nipples tightening. Their tautness feels like someone is touching them, though Dante hasn’t lifted a hand. Yet.

I drop the dress all the way down to the grass and fallen leaves. Then I step out of it.

“Panties, too,” Dante orders.

My heart is racing. I’ve never been completely naked in front of a man.

I hook my thumbs in the waistband of my underwear and pull that down, too.

Now I’m standing nude except for a pair of heels in a copse of trees in a public park. Anyone could walk by at any time. I resist the urge to cross my arms over my breasts.

I can feel a light breeze sliding over my skin, like human breath. When the air touches between my legs, I can tell that I’m very wet.

Dante looks over my body silently. His face is so impassive that I can’t tell what he thinks. But his eyes are burning like two black coals.

“Turn around,” he orders.

Slowly, I turn until he’s behind me once more.

“Bend over,” he says.

I don’t understand why he’s doing this. I don’t know what he wants. This isn’t what I expected when I came to meet him. I thought we’d talk, or he might kiss me again.

Instead, I’m bending over to touch my toes, which is difficult to do in stilettos on the uneven ground.

It’s humiliating, exposing myself like this. What is he planning? What if he took a picture of me like this? I’d die of shame.

I can hear him move behind me, and I almost straighten up. I only hold this awful position because I’m more afraid to disobey him.

Dante kneels behind me.

He puts his face between my legs.

From behind, I feel his warm, wet tongue sliding up the length of my pussy.

It feels so good that my knees almost buckle. I only stay upright because his