With a smile, she moved back up, then hovered her sex over his cock.
If she was going to tease him, he might just lose it. Instead, she smiled and sank down on his erection. Slowly, she began to ride him. He watched her, mesmerized by her movements and the reactions she was pulling from him. With wild abandon, she tilted her head back. The ends of her silky tresses brushed against his thighs.
She was the most beautiful woman in the world.
As his orgasm grew closer, she seemed to sense it. She straightened, then she leaned closer, placing a hand on either side of his head. Her rhythm increased and just when he thought he couldn’t handle it anymore, she leaned down.
“Come for me, Dante,” she whispered.
He did as she requested, closing his eyes and giving over to the pleasure that washed over them.
She collapsed on top of him with a sigh. He stroked her spine with his hand, happy that neither of them felt the need to rush off.
“So, over three years, huh?”
She laughed and he felt her muscles tighten over his penis. “I should have known you would remember.”
He wanted to tell her that he would always remember this, every moment in the late afternoon sun, as they lay in bed. But, he didn’t. Somehow, he knew she needed time to get accustomed to the idea that she was his.
Dante just hoped he had the patience to wait.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
They finally made it to her kitchen sometime past midnight. Dante had thought maybe they should ignore their hunger pangs and just make love again. Apparently, Madison had disagreed. She dragged him down the hallway to get something to eat.
Women.
Charlie followed behind them. She turned the lights in the kitchen on and off three times before heading to the pantry.
“Cereal?” she asked.
“That sounds good,” he said, thinking it would be quick to make and eat. Then he could get her back into her bedroom.
They filled their bowls and settled at the small kitchen table.
“Do your folks get down here that much?” he asked.
He sensed her stillness and looked up at her.
“Uh, no. I haven’t seen my parents in a long time. We talk on a weekly basis, well, almost weekly. Most of the time.”
There was something there that hurt. Before, he would have let it go. But now, he didn’t want to. He wanted—no needed—to know what brought that sad look into her eyes.
“What’s that about?”
She shrugged. “We’ve never been that close.”
They weren’t. He knew that. It was odd because he always thought the smaller the family, the closer they would be. He had seen it during her time at Annapolis though. For being their only child, the Bakers had a strange way of acting like it. He always thought an only child would get more attention.
“What?” she asked.
It was his turn to shrug. “I was just thinking that a smaller family would be closer than our family, but maybe I’m wrong.”
She hesitated for a long moment, and he thought she would stay quiet on the subject. Then she sighed.
“I think in a bigger family, there’s less pressure.”
He snorted. “Yeah, because having three older brothers and a twin sister to compete against, that was easier than just being an only child.”
Some of the tension seemed to dissolve. “You forgot about Fernando.”
“No, I don’t count the baby,” he said, smiling as he thought of his youngest sibling. “Mom thinks that idiot can do no wrong, so we all lose out.”
She smiled like he knew she would.
“But, if someone irritates you…or disappoints you, then there is always someone else to turn to.”
That’s when it hit him. The bastard was treating her as if she failed him in some way.
He had only met her father once or twice, but he hadn’t been a big fan. Mr. Baker was a Marine, but he was a bit of an ass. He never appreciated his daughter in Dante’s opinion. There was a definite chill he got from the man. Her mother seemed to do whatever her husband told her to.
She wasn’t eating any more and she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“Madison.”
She sighed. The sound was so sad, so lonely; he ached when he heard it. Finally she raised her gaze to his. There was a shimmer of tears there.
“Your father is wrong. You are not a disappointment.”
She blinked as if trying to control the tears. “He never said that.”
But he had implied it. His absence was enough to let Dante know that. “When was the last time you saw him?”
He felt her pull away from him. Not physically but emotionally. Dante reached across the table and took hold of her hand.
“I was at SAMMC.”
San Antonio Military Medical Center. It had to be after she returned from Afghanistan. How could a parent not visit their only child? Especially one that was hurting, fighting every day to be stronger. The son of a bitch hadn’t come to see her in three years.
“Ow, Dante.”
He realized then he was squeezing her fingers. He loosened his grip, and lifted her fingers to his mouth.
“Sorry.”
She sniffed. “I’m not made of glass. I can handle it.”
“But you don’t have to. You know that, right?”
“I…”
“I’m here and I have strong shoulders, if you haven’t noticed.”
Her gaze drifted over his shoulders and then to his bare chest.
“Yeah, I kind of noticed that.”
And just like that, heat licked through his blood. He wanted her again. Right here and now, but for some reason, he knew it wasn’t the right thing to do at the moment. He tugged on her hand.
“Let’s go.”
“Bowls.”
He sighed and they rinsed off their bowls and put them in the dishwasher. He led her down the hallway to her bedroom. They settled in bed, her head on his shoulder. It had started raining, and he liked hearing the patter of drops against the roof.
“So, tell me about this training you’re doing with the dogs.”
She said nothing, then, “You want to talk about that?”
He nodded and kissed her head.
She glanced up at him, then settled her head against his chest.
And there in her room with only a soft night-light to illuminate the room, he listened to the rain fall and the woman he loved talk.
Life was pretty damned good, in his opinion.
* * * *
Madison’s cell phone vibrated against the nightstand waking her up. Madison wasn’t that happy about it. Neither was Dante, who grumbled in his sleep and tightened his arm around her waist. She grabbed the phone and rolled her eyes when she saw Elena’s number.
“What are you calling me for at two in the morning?” she whispered. She tried to slip away from Dante. He tightened his arm even more.
“I’m bored and I figured you would be up all night with what happened.”
She normally would be. Dante had made sure she had been tired out enough to pass out after the second time they made love.
She wiggled and dislodged Dante’s arm. When she was finally free, she slipped out of bed and then padded barefoot down the hall.
“Madison?”
She waited until she got into the kitchen before answering.
“What?”
“I thought I lost you.”
“Nope. Just wanted to walk to the kitchen.”
Elena sighed.
“What’s up, Santini?”
“I’m…out of sorts.”
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain NCIS agent, would it?”
“Everything to do with him. I pretend that none of my brothers are in trouble all the time. Even with Brando deployed at the moment, I’m more worried about JT. And that makes me feel horrible.”
“Ah. Well, since I’
m an only child, I don’t understand.”
Dante stepped into the kitchen with nothing but a pair of boxers on. He was frowning, there was some stubble on his chin, and his hair was a mess. Damn, the man was gorgeous. She’d dated Marines before. It was sort of hard not to get involved since the job took so much of her time. But none of them could compare to Dante. Sure, they had been built, but there was a soft heart beneath that iron exterior.
That made him more attractive than any man she knew.
His narrowed look softened, then turned sensual in a mere split second. He started walking toward her with purpose.
Her heart flip-flopped.
“We agreed it was only one night. No strings.”
“Why did you say that?” she asked as Dante backed her up against the kitchen counter. He nuzzled her neck, then she felt his teeth graze along her jaw.
“I didn’t really think about it. Wait, no, I did, but the whole idea of being that close and not getting a taste, that was too much to ask a girl to resist.”
“Oh, okay. I guess I can understand a little bit,” Madison said. If she could have Dante for only one night, she would have to jump at the chance. Thank God she didn’t have to make that choice.
“Your voice sounds funny,” Elena said.
“Really?”
“Oh, God. Is my brother there doing something to you?”
“Uhhh,” she lost the ability to talk. Dante was kissing his way down her neck and pulling up her shirt.
“This is just wrong. Bye.”
Then, the phone went dead. She dropped it as Dante pulled down her boxer shorts. He put her up on the counter, then pulled his own down. She heard foil crinkle and realized he brought a condom with him. He had it on before she could say it wasn’t really right having sex in the kitchen.
He slipped into her. She was already wet, but she was a little sore from the activities of the night. A gasp escaped before she could control it.
Dante stilled. “I’m sorry.”
She laughed and he pulled back and looked at her.
“What?” she asked when he kept staring at her.
“I just love it when you laugh.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. “And don’t be sorry. Just get on with it, Santini.”
His mouth curved up and his eyes filled with laughter. “Yes. Ma’am.”
He started to move again, pulling her to the edge of the counter. Soon, they were both falling over into the edge of pleasure.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Dante watched as Madison worked her way through her yoga positions. He’d dated a dancer once, but Elaine had nothing on Madison.
She was fluid. The old saying of poetry in motion came to mind. He knew there was no music, but it was as if she were working to some inner soundtrack, one only she could hear.
It was breathtaking. She was breathtaking.
She finished her work out, then rose to her feet. He slid the door open.
“It’s kind of creepy that you are standing there watching me,” she said, without turning around. When she finally did, he shrugged.
“None of you know how to behave.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.
“All the Santinis know they can charm just about anyone out of their clothes.”
“Is that true?”
“Yeah.” Then she moved, agitation in her movements. It was so at war with her earlier work out, it stood out.
“So, are you telling me that was all this was about?”
He didn’t answer right away. This was one of those times he wasn’t sure if she was kidding or if she was serious.
“You think I went through all that just to get your clothes off you?”
She cocked her head to one side. “Some might say it would show that I was worth it.”
Then, her lips twitched before she started to giggle.
“Oh, my, seeing you squirm is definitely fun.”
He set his coffee cup down easily. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah.”
Suddenly, he whipped around and headed off in her direction. She let loose a totally girly squeal he never expected to hear coming from Madison, and ran in the opposite direction. Charlie ran interference. It didn’t take him that long to catch her though. He sent them both tumbling onto the ground. They rolled around on the soft grass as Charlie ran around them barking. Finally, Dante ended up on top and pinned both of her arms above her head.
She was laughing, her face flushed with happiness, and her hair was a tangled mess against the carpet of grass beneath them. His breath caught in his chest, his heart slowing down a beat or two, then kicking up into a crazy rhythm.
Madison’s smile faded as he continued to stare her. Dante couldn’t help it. Since his revelation the night before, he’d been dealing with a mixture of emotions, and he still felt like he was on a rollercoaster. So much he wanted to tell her, to share with her. He would love to hear her laughter until the last moment he drew his breath on this earth.
“What?”
He wanted to tell her all of this, but…she would definitely panic. Instead, he shook his head and lowered his mouth to hers. Slowly, keeping his gaze on hers, he brushed her lips with his. She sighed, the small sound sending a frisson of sensual heat pulsing through his blood. He slanted his mouth and meant to take the kiss deeper, but her neighbor had a different idea.
“Hey, don’t mind us over here,” Jack said with a laugh. “I’m just on the phone with your Aunt Joey.”
Dante pulled back. “I think I might kill him.”
She chuckled as he rolled off her, then to his feet. He helped her up.
“Yeah, he was assaulting my next door neighbor,” Jack was saying on the phone. “Her name is Madison Baker.”
Jack’s eyes were dancing when he held the phone out to Dante. “Your aunt wants to talk to you.”
“You’re a dead man, Johnson,” he said from behind clenched teeth.
But, Dante knew better than to ignore a phone call from Joey. When he put it up to his ear, she was already talking.
“I am not being nosey, Stewart. I’m saying hello to my favorite nephew.”
“Anthony’s feelings are going to be hurt, Joey. He thinks he’s your favorite.”
“Dante,” she said, her voice filled with laughter. “And of course you are my favorite. Anthony doesn’t answer my phone calls all the time.”
“That’s because we all know you do surveillance for our mother.”
She gasped. “What a perfectly horrible thing to say to me.”
He laughed. “Yeah, sure.”
“So, you were attacking a next door neighbor?”
He sighed and walked away from the fence. Madison was talking to Jack and he wanted a little privacy.
“Yeah. She’s kind of cute.”
“Really?”
“Well, once I looked past her bucked teeth.”
There was a pause.
“Bucked teeth?”
“The hump in her back is barely noticeable if she wears a shirt big enough to hide it.”
“Dante Michael Santini, stop messing with me.”
“Sorry, it was too much temptation to mess with you. And yes, I was attacking Jack’s very gorgeous neighbor, Madison Baker. We actually went to Annapolis together.”
“Navy or Marines?”
“Marines, but she’s a civilian now.”
“Ah, well, I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to make sure you are okay.”
His heart warmed. The Santini family was large, but they were close knit. Joey was the matriarch of sorts and she liked to meddle, but she did it out of love.
“Doing great. Spent Friday night out with Elena.”
“That’s great. I’ll let you go. Tell Jack I said goodbye, and I am ready for another grandbaby.”
“He’s not your son.”
She made a disgusted sound. “I claim him, he
has no choice. Love you, Dante.”
The line went dead. He turned off Jack’s phone and headed over to the fence.
“So, she’s wanting a new baby?” Dante asked.
Jack shook his head. “Not even my mother and she insists it will be her grandbaby.”
He knew that Jack’s mother had passed away a long time ago and his father never remarried. “Give it up, Jack. Once Joey adopts you, you’re considered hers.”
Jack rolled his eyes.
“Would this be the legendary Joey Santini?” Madison asked.
“You know her?”
“Of her. Your sister thinks she is a goddess.”
He smiled. “The only woman who scares any of us more is our own mother. They are both forces of nature.”
And more than likely, thanks to those forces, he should probably expect another phone call soon. He hoped that he at least had a few days’ reprieve.
* * * *
Joey looked out over the falling leaves in the backyard as she waited for Marcella to answer her phone. Stewart was already outside fighting the losing battle of trying to keep their yard clear of them.
“Joey, I was just thinking of calling you today. Tony and I are talking about a trip to England to see Dave and Bess, and we thought maybe you and Papa might want to go.”
“That sounds fabulous, but I would wait on any solid dates.”
“Why, is there something wrong?” she asked, worry infusing her warm tones.
“No. I just got off the phone with Dante.”
“You talk to my kids more than I do.”
Joey chuckled knowing it wasn’t true. “I didn’t call him. You know Jack Johnson, Leo’s brother-in-law?”
“Oh, yes. Dante stayed with him for a few days after PCSing to Pendleton.”
“He has a neighbor and apparently Dante spent the night.”
There was a pause. “A female neighbor?”
“Well, yes. Madison Baker.”
“Well, well, well.”
There was something in her voice that caught Joey’s attention. “You know her?”
“She was Elena’s roommate at Annapolis.”
She searched her memory. At the graduation, she remembered a friend of Elena’s although she didn’t talk to her. “Oh, I think I remember. Tall, striking.”
ASantiniinLoveMelissa Schroeder Page 9