"It's not about forgiveness," she finally said. She hugged her arms around her chest. "It's about trust. Did I work this hard for nothing? Were you on the sidelines, ready to jump in and give me what I wanted because you wanted me?"
His lips tightened. "No. I swear to God on everything I hold dear, each step in Inferno was your doing. Chase was always in charge of the day-to-day operations. You proved your worth on your own accord, and no matter what happened with Forrester, Chase would've given you partnership. I respect you, Selina. I would never take something so precious from you."
She believed him. He realized her drive to succeed on her own made up the core of who she was, and he'd never interfere. "And Forrester? If he hadn't broken in, would you have ever told me the truth?"
Pain darkened his eyes. "Yes. I was going to tell you tonight."
"As Daniel? Or Dante?"
"Both. I am both, Selina. I've loved you as Daniel for over two years, and Dante the moment you allowed me to help heal you. I'm asking you to allow both men to love you."
Her lower lip trembled. "I already do," she whispered. "But why did you wait so long? All this time, I was so confused, torn between both of you. Your voice. Your scent. Why didn't I put it together?"
"I was careful. And sometimes we miss what's right in front of us for a reason. You weren't ready to know. Besides the mask, I made sure to wear my cologne as Dante, but not Daniel. I deepened my voice. There may have been clues, but I think you needed to believe in both men for a while."
He was right. She needed Dante's tenderness and touch. She needed Daniels' friendship and quiet passion. Together, they made her whole.
"I love you. I had to say good-bye to you as Dante because I didn't think a relationship could ever work. Not in the light. But what you said to me that night was true. I needed to take a chance. I just don't know if I'm being a selfish bastard by asking you to be with a man like me. If you'd even be able to handle it. I can leave. Give you time to think. I'll do whatever you need."
She stared up at him. Agony carved out his features, but his jaw clenched with determination. He was offering her a future if she was brave enough to take it. And in that blinding moment, Selina realized all roads had always led to him. It may have been a twisting path filled with thorns, but the outcome was worth it.
She reached up and pulled his head down. When her mouth met his, a groan escaped his chest, and his lips sipped at hers, gentle and as delicate as gossamer, treating her with a care and delicacy that rocked her soul.
Then his tongue slipped inside her mouth.
Fire.
Selina moaned and kissed him back with a ferocity that shook through her like a storm. The familiar taste of him, smell, touch swamped her senses and made her weep with joy. A tear leaked down her cheek but she couldn't pull away, just sank her fingers into his long silky hair and opened her mouth wider so he could claim her.
When he pulled away, one thumb caught her tear and he murmured her name, kissing her cheeks as he held her tight
She pressed her forehead against his. "I love you, Dante Stark. I want the chance to be with you. When you disappear to help another woman, I want to be waiting for you. I want to be the one to guide you back into the light. Don't you think we both deserve to be happy?"
He hugged her tight and whispered her name. "I guess even superheroes deserve a happy ending."
Selina smiled and buried her face in the crook of his arm. Warmth and a feeling of home washed over her. "I think superheroes deserve one the most."
Epilogue
DANTE leaned down and kissed the beautiful woman before him. As usual, her lips softened under his, and her taste swamped his senses, plunging him into pure heaven on Earth.
He deepened the kiss, but she laughed, pushing him away as he growled and nipped at her bottom lip. She swatted him away. "No, I'm not burning dinner tonight. You'll have to wait until my gourmet meal is on the table."
The heavenly scent of biscuits and spiced pork drifted in the air. "Fine. But we're eating fast. I missed you."
"Missed you too." She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in. Dante pressed a kiss to the top of her head and wondered how he'd gotten so lucky.
They made it work. Their relationship had its challenges, with his secret identity, his sporadic disappearances, and the rumor mill. They'd talked about the best way to move forward, and agreed Daniel needed to stay. Dante remained hidden in the night, belonging to the women who needed healing and his soon to be wife.
Once the team and Selina's boss heard about Forrester, they washed their hands of the client and she got the promotion she'd always deserved. On her own. They went public with their relationship, and took the heat. The first few weeks were rocky, and Chase had tortured him on his gigolo reputation. Slowly, things calmed but there were still looks and judgment. Many warned her he was after her money.
Selina usually told them she was after his body.
Things had been quiet the past week, and they got into a nice routine of cooking dinner together, and spending a quiet night at home. He moved into her apartment, and found the warm, happy space filing the holes in his soul.
Just like she did.
"I'll open a bottle of wine," he finally said, heading to the wine rack. "Red is good with pork?"
"Sure. I'm using this spicy recipe for the sauce but--Dante? Are you alright?"
The shimmer of energy pulsed around him, and his skin prickled in warning. He let go of the neck of the bottle and mentally hung on. His gaze swung to hers, and she nodded quietly, knowing within seconds he would be gone. He clung to her image as long as possible, and the warmth and support on her face made his breath come easier, his muscles relaxing slightly.
She would be waiting for him.
The room spun faster and faster like a crazy teacup ride at a carnival. He fought off the familiar nausea, closed his eyes, and hung on.
When he opened them, he blinked and tried to focus. He'd gotten better at judging and adapting to his surroundings quickly, knowing it was necessary for survival.
An alley. Dumpsters overflowed with rotting garbage, and the stench rose to his nostrils. The sidewalk was wet. He spun around, looking for her, and finally zeroed in on his target.
Three men. One woman. She knelt on her knees, her silver hair streaming down her back like moonlight. The memory of his mother hit him hard, but he'd trained himself to let the images rush past him so he could concentrate on the present. Dante moved quickly, his feet pounding in a blinding rush as he raised his hand to mark them.
He never made it.
With a high shriek, an ear splitting noise echoed in his head. He stumbled, tried to shake it off, but the pain slicing through his brain was too much. He dragged in a breath, pushing himself harder, needing to get to the woman in time.
Seconds after the piercing cry, another sound blasted through him. Low, keening howls hit the airwaves, and the sidewalk trembled with the stampede of paws. Dante looked up, frozen.
Dozens of dogs came bounding down the alley, teeth bared, saliva dripping, Cujo incorporated. Bodies lean, ears pricked back, they jumped on the startled three men all at once, tearing clothes, nipping, sinking teeth into tender skin.
The woman rose to her feet. Untouched. Looking at the scene with a tiny smile of satisfaction as her attackers screamed and fought them off, stumbling drunkenly in the alleyway.
Dante watched with her, as justice was served.
Blood pooled in the streets and the dogs chased them down the alley until they disappeared.
Slowly, he turned and studied the woman in front of him.
Her green eyes were startling with her silver hair and white skin, almost translucent. Long, slender limbs. Pale, pink lips. Dressed in jeans, casual t-shirt, and boots, she looked like a normal woman he'd pass on the streets without a glance back.
"Who are you?" he asked.
She smiled. His heart stopped. He sensed he'd known her from another time and place, and a
surge of energy sizzled. Not sexual. More like meeting a childhood friend or sister after years of being apart.
"About time you got here. I've been trying to channel you for a while, and it's not like I can hire a PI with your qualifications. A good thing those Neanderthals came after me or who knows how long I'd keep looking."
Her humor was vaguely familiar, as if they had bantered before. "Who are you?" he repeated.
But he knew the answer, knew in his heart and soul even before she said it.
"I'm your half-sister." A mischievous grin curved her lips. "My name is Sage."
The name stirred his memory. He took a step closer. "Have we met before?" he asked.
She shook her head. Silver hair spilled over her shoulder. Those meadow green eyes darkened with a pain he knew only too well. "No. But I've been looking for you for a very long time. I knew you were out here." Her jaw clenched. "I knew I wasn't the only one."
They drifted closer until they stood inches apart. He shook his head, trying to make sense of the overwhelming and shocking truth. He had a sister. Blood. Family.
And she was like him.
"Do you know about my power?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes. Mine revolves around the animals. An earth element, I think. I don't know the rules but I sense there's more out there. Will you help me find them?"
She put out her hand.
Slowly, Dante took it. As their fingers wrapped around each other, a sense of homecoming surged through him. Blood to blood. Power to power.
Not alone.
"Yes. But first I want to introduce you to somebody."
They smiled at each other, and Dante knew his life would never be the same.
And it was a very good thing.
The End
Authors Note
I CONCEIVED Dante's Fire during a long car trip, with a conversation echoing in my head from my boys. They were superhero addicts, and I spent a lot of my time answering their questions by googling strengths and weaknesses and history. Throughout my fact gathering missions, I began really identifying with the loneliness of their calling, and played a fun game of what type of male superhero I'd create.
Dante was born.
I never set on creating a so-called paranormal book. I only wanted to write what I adore - a great love story set in the contemporary world. Sometimes, I follow my muse into twisty paths and corners I never intended to visit. Many times it works. A few times it doesn't. I need to write it anyway.
I truly hope Dante's Fire worked for you.
I didn't know this would become a series until I wrote the epilogue. Imagine my surprise when Sage showed up and Chase quietly whispered in my ear he deserved something bigger than a few scenes, dammit. But the idea of exploring these characters is too delicious not to play with. I'm not sure yet what's in store for Sage and Chase when I write this, but I'm hoping you enjoyed Dante enough to go on this journey with me. Stay tuned on my website and blog for when the second in the series is coming.
As always, thank you for reading. Thank you for your support. Thanks to my wonderful Posse street team who helped me tweak the cover and brainstormed some of their secret desires for superhero powers.
If you enjoyed the book, reviews are so appreciated on any platform.
More by Jennifer Probst
"A passion that is explosive as the love that unfolds is tender, a beautiful happily ever after that encompasses everything; Jennifer Probst delivers a fiery and wild romance that goes straight to your heart." ~ Maldivian Book Reviewers - 5 stars "A charming, fast-paced story full of non-stop sexual tension that crackles off the page. The Marriage Bargain will hook you and leave you begging for more!" ~ Laura Kaye, Author of Hearts in Darkness "Absolutely amazing! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down." ~ Kris, Bitten By Paranormal Romance "THE MARRIAGE BARGAIN is one of the cutest stories I have read in a while. The story is highly amusing and kept me chuckling throughout when I wasn't mopping the tears away." ~ Kay Quintin, Fresh Fiction "Loved it! 'The Marriage Bargain' had all the ingredients for the making of an amazing story: Childhood friends reunited, Marriage of convenience, Love spell gone astray, opposites attract and great chemistry." Sara, Harlequin Junkie Reviews "I just had to read Jennifer Probst's book after all the buzz about it on Twitter and Amazon and Goodreads, etc, and especially after I'd got an eyeful of that super-sexy cover.... And I can happily say I wasn't disappointed. Yes, what's inside the book is as sexy and gorgeous as that cover." Heidi Rice, USA Today Bestselling Author PURCHASE
From "one of the most exciting breakout novelists" (USA TODAY) comes the first novel in an irresistible new series--a spin-off of the bestselling Marriage to a Billionaire series--featuring a matchmaker who falls for a man who doesn't believe in love.
Kate has given up on love--at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people--a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.
But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love...only to find herself falling for him along the way.
PURCHASE
Witty dialogue and passionate characters... a sophisticated,sexy romance with an intelligent business savvy heroine at its center and a super hot love interest (RT Book Reviews) PURCHASE
COMING EARLY 2015
THE POSSE SERIES
To find out more about Jennifer Probst please visit her website.
About the Author
Jennifer Probst is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of both sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her novel, The Marriage Bargain, was the #6 Bestselling Book on Amazon for 2012. Her first children's book, Buffy and the Carrot, was co-written with her 12 year old niece, and her short story, "A Life Worth Living" chronicles the life of a shelter dog. She makes her home in New York with her sons, husband, two rescue dogs, and a house that never seems to be clean. She loves hearing from all readers! Stop by her website at https://www.jenniferprobst.com for all her upcoming releases, news and street team information.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
COPYRIGHT (c) 2012 by Jennifer Probst, Updated 2013
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Cool Gus Publishing
Cool Gus Publishing
eBook ISBN: 9781621251835
Print ISBN: 978-1621251903
Table of Contents
DANTE'S FIRE
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Authors Note
More by Jennifer Probst
About the Author
Copyright
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