"Dante...." I whispered as his shocked hazel eyes scanned my face.
"Aria…." He whispered back in disbelief.
"What, how are you even here?" He gaped
"I just moved here." I replied
"It's been a while... thought you'll never leave that town." He beams
"You know each other?" Elijah cuts in suprised.
"Yeah we dated briefly but she dumped me." Dante blurted out.
"Ohhhh….." Camila gasped at how direct the information was.
I downed a shot of tequila on the table as I sat gently beside him while Camila took the spot to her man.
My throat burned as I swallowed mind foggy but flustered. Then his smooth baritoned voice vibrated in my head.
"Why did you come here? You've hidden in Verona for years with offers of a better life which you refused. Why did you suddenly choose to come and of all place Milan?"
" I work here" I spoke coldly with shaky voice already dreading the conversation.
"We'll leave you guys to catch up. We are heading to the dance floor." Camila cuts in with a knowing smile.
Without waiting my response she pulls Elijah softly and they were out of sight.
Then silence... both of us refused to talk, just basked in the silence , the familiarity and then his voice cuts in.
"How have you been?"
" I've been good, just been trying to settle down here since I moved here." I replied.
"You stopped replying my messages or mails." He cuts in.
"I didn't want us to keep going back and forth, besides you made it clear you didn't want my friendship" I replied quickly.
He blinked defeatedly eyes scanning my face, like he was memorizing every piece of me. His eyes shamelessly trailed down my body, longingly, hot , bothered and settling back on my face.
"You are so beautiful….." he whispered.
My heart skips a bit. But I couldn't help it with the way his eyes yearned, the intensity of his gaze, like he's pleading with me to be his, like I'm the only thing that mattered.
I cleared my throat awkwardly as I replied with a warm smile.
"Thank you Dante, you look charming as well"
He beames, eyes glinting happily as he savored mine and then the mumbles, someone of importance just walked into the club.
From the slight shift in behaviour of the people to the mood of the club. And then the guest entered the vip section.
"Alessandro"
He walked in like he owned the place, face stoic, dark shades on, well fitted suit and a clean cut. He looked breathtaking that I was lost and didn't see the beautiful woman by his side.
She's drop dead gorgeous with ginger curls. I can never beat such beauty. My heart sinked, eyes looked away from her as I brought my emotions back in check.
I looked up back to him as his gaze landed on us then shifted to Dante whose hand rested on my lap as he was tapping me earlier.
I pulled his hand away from my laps so quick I almost snapped it. But his gaze didn't change as his eyes roamed all over me, I felt beautiful, the tension, the sensual energy...…
And then the pretty lady sinks her hand in his, holding tight.
They walked down to the other section opposite us causing me to be more tensed as we are facing each others. If looks could kill Dante would be six feet under the ground.
His eyes darts back to mine, staring me down again but this time not with anger but with lust, I felt naked under his gaze but I couldn't bask it in. Not with the pretty lady beside him forcing her self on him.
"He really is a womanizer….im sure this is another of his flings…." I thought as I eyed her. She looked like a goddess yet was pushing for his attention which was on me.
She whispers in his ears her hands touching his legs. I stare daggers at her feeling the sudden urge to smack her hands off him.
He chuckles….. seeing through me tilting his head lightly.
"Are you good?" Dante asks concerned at the sudden shift in my mood and demeanor.
"Yeah I'm good" I blurted back sounding more confident.
I downed the third tequila shot, throat burning at the feel.
I was a light head and I know I'll be long gone by the time the alcohol sinks in.
I turned to a concerned Dante as I held his hand softly.
"Let's go dance"
He paused still concerned about me.
" Dante…. I whispered with a sad gaze, I knew he'll fall for it. He can never resist my sad gaze and I always got away with a lot of things cos of that.
"Please…." I added for extra effect.
He nodded slowly as I stand pulling him up and leading him to the dance floor.
My eyes fell at Camila who was grinding on Elijah couple steps away from us. Then flicked to Alessandro who's was on us. I looked away as my heart fluttered.
"This man didn't have to even do anything and I feel this way." I screamed internally
I stepped closer to Dante as I swayed my hips. I have experience in flamenco or should I say that's my forte and I was damn ready to get a reaction out of him. If he thinks he can parade around with as much women as he pleases then I can do even better. I'll grind on a very very appealing one.
The music changed just in time.....low, sultry and something reckless inside me snapped awake.
Perfect....
"Dance with me….." I whispered in Dante's ear. It's been a while we dance together as we used to go for flamenco classes years back.
His brow lifted just a little as he understood the kind of dance I meant.
The moment we moved it was like slipping into a familiar language.
Body to body, breath to breath,tension to tension.
His hands settled on my waist, warm, steady, my hips responding automatically rolling, slow then sharper with the beat.
"You're playing with fire sirenetta." Dante whispered seductively in my ear.
"Good" I whispered back.
"Let it burn." I added.
I flipped my hair back deliberately catching Alessandro's stare.
His finger tightened around his glass so hard I thought it would shatter.
"Gotcha" i grinned inwardly.
Dante spun me, my minidress riding up my thigh. The room heated air thick, people watching.... But I didn't care.
I wanted Alessandro to break and he already did.
I turned back into Dante's arms, sliding my arms up his shoulders as my hips rolled against his.
He inhaled sharply a little surprised, maybe affected but always careful with me.
"Aria" he murmured tugging the hem of my dress down discreetly.
"You're kind of...…losing it."
I was and I didn't care.
I grind my hips against Dante one more time, slowly, totally controlled and deliberate.
A hand clamped around my waist.
The world's spun as I was yanked against a firm chest.
His scent hit me like a drug, warm, masculine, expensive, like smoked cedar and sex.
My breath stuttered.
"Enough!"
Alessandro's voice was low, furious..... my heart hammered. He leaned closer, breath brushing my ear.
"How much have you been drinking?"
"I'm fine…." I slurred in response adding to his fury.
"Since when did you get drunk like this? Since when do you act carelessly? Like a child?" His fingers pressed into my waist.
"Since when did you let a stranger put his hands on you?"
Before I could speak Dante stepped forward voice sharp with a hint of warning.
"She's not a stranger to me. And you don't get to talk to her like that." He bellowed.