Page 78 of Savage Ambition

I shrugged. “You made an assumption. You didn’t ask a question.”

“Do you deny it?”

“Why are you and Jace so fucking paranoid?” I muttered.

Dante straddled my waist and pinned my wrists above my head. “Are you really comparing me to that dumbass?” His grip tightened, a quiet threat dressed as restraint.

“When you’re both acting like children, yeah.” His weight pressed me into the couch, his thighs locking against mine.

“You’re deliberately dodging my question.”

“And your attitude is pissing me off,” I shot back. “Why are you even here?”

“I wouldn’t have to be if you weren’t avoiding me.” His thumb traced small circles on the inside of my wrist.

I bristled. “What difference does it make to you?”

He exhaled sharply. “Is this about Jace and what happened the other day?”

“Aren’t you worried he could find out? That anyone could?” If Jace uncovered Dante’s secret life, it would expose my sexuality and bring the Gennaro family’s fallout directly to our door.

“As if anybody would believe that degenerate, anyway.” Dante kissed me hard, all teeth and aggression.

I pulled back as much as my trapped position allowed. “Are you going to risk it?”

“Will you stop coming to see me for such a stupid reason?”

“Why? Would you miss me?” I challenged, pushing against his wrists.

“Maybe.” He leaned in, capturing my mouth again before I could respond.

His body pressed harder against mine as I strained against his grip, desperate to touch him. One hand released my wrists to undo the buttons of my shirt.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked when he broke the kiss.

“Proving a point.” Another button gave way under his fingers.

I grabbed his hands, stopping their progress. “About what?”

“About why you shouldn’t have left last night.”

Fighting the fog of arousal, I struggled to form words. “I couldn’t—I can’t⁠—”

“Can’t what? Handle that asshole finding out?” His fingers traced the exposed skin of my chest.

“No, I can’t stand that you work there. And stop insulting Jace.”

Dante stopped moving. “Where’s this coming from? It obviously hasn’t stopped you from visiting in the past.”

I shoved hard against his chest, needing space to think. “I’m being serious, damn it.”

“So am I. It’s none of your concern, so stop asking.”

“It is my concern,” I insisted.

“No, it’s not,” he replied, his voice dropping flat.

Desperation crept into my tone. “You’re really working there because you enjoy it?”