Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

29. Allegra

Chapter 29

Allegra

T he music pounds, vibrating around the VIP booth we occupy.

Not wanting to let Athena down, I did as I said I would and came out to a club for our last night.

It’s the last thing I want to do after everything that happened with Dante today. I am exhausted. Emotionally, mentally, and everything in between.

But I promised my best friend and I wasn’t going to break that promise, not when Athena has been a rock to me for the last year.

So here we are at Ignite, the upscale nightclub in our hotel, sitting in a private booth surrounded by security guards.

It’s overkill considering that it is just me and Athena, but it’s the only way my brother would let us venture out tonight. I can’t even blame Nico. With all that’s going on, I’m surprised he allowed me out at all.

“I love this song. Let’s dance,” Athena shouts over the music as a remix of Jubel by Klingande plays.

Nodding, I take a quick sip of my soda then let Athena pull me out of the booth and toward the dance floor. I don’t miss how several guards move with us, making people part like the red sea, to give us space on the dance floor.

Athena throws her head back, ass shaking and her arms in the air moving to the beat. Grinning, I sway my body to the music, closing my eyes as I roll my body. It’s a sensual tune, one I would love to dance to in front of Dante, teasing him with every move of my hips.

Running my hands through my long dark hair, I let my mind drift to all things Dante. Of course, I am ecstatic he is alive, though I haven’t really had time to process it. It doesn’t feel real, like at any moment I could wake up and find out it is all some messed up fever dream.

Shaking the thought away, I focus on the reality. That it’s not an illusion, and the man I love is very much alive. Then I allow myself to get lost in the music. It’s only when big, strong hands clamp down on my waist that I remember where I am and freeze.

What the fuck?

Where are the guards?

They are supposed to be stopping anyone coming near me.

My eyes fly open, panic surging in my veins. Glancing up, I find Athena in front of me, oblivious to my dilemma as she jumps and jerks around. My gaze shifts, noting the guards, my brows furrowing when I see them watching me but not making any move to remove the asshole who dared to touch me.

Guess I will have to tell him myself.

Pulling out of his hold, I spin around, ready to give him a piece of my mind, only to pause when I find the last person I thought would be here tonight. A smirking Dante. I blink at the intense, hungry gaze he has pinned on me, and my heart stalls in my chest, throat drying at the sight of him. He wears black pants and a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows showcasing his strong, tattooed, forearms.

Swallowing, I let my eyes roam over him, the sound of the music and everything else fading to white noise in the background. It’s just me and Dante. In our own little bubble where only we exist. But… Why is he here? It’s dangerous for him. For me.

Snapping out of my trance, I step into him, pushing up on my tiptoes, so I can reach his ear. “What are you doing here?”

Instead of answering, he reaches down, grabbing my hand and pulling me from the dance floor.

Glancing behind me, I watch as Matteo trails behind us. It figures. Despite knowing Dante most of his life, there is no way he would just let him drag me away like this. Before everything happened, then sure. But not now. Though Nico believes everything Dante has told us, there is still a small part of him that doesn’t quite trust Dante.

It kills me, but I understand his reservations.

Nonetheless, I trust this man with my life.

Before.

After.

Now.

Forever.

Dante pulls me down a hall, and into a private room at the end.

“You can wait there,” he tells Matteo.

“Boss will fucking kill me if anything happens to her.” He jerks his head toward me.

Dante rolls his eyes. “You know I would never hurt her.”

Matteo blows out a breath, shaking his head. “You may have remembered some shit, but that doesn’t mean we can trust you.”

Dante sighs. “I know you are all looking out for her. But give us this moment. I promise to give her back to you in one piece.”

Resigned, Matteo snaps, “You have ten minutes.”

Dante smirks, closing the door before facing me.

“ Principessa, ” he breathes out, his voice raspy with emotion.

My skin tingles, stomach tightens. One word. But it means so much.

“What are you doing here?” I repeat the question he didn’t answer.

He steps closer to me. “I may have slipped a little Ambien into Cat’s wine.”

I notice how he doesn’t call her wife this time. It’s a relief. I don’t know how much more my heart can take hearing that word. It makes me a hypocrite considering that I am supposed to be entering into my own marriage in a couple months. But it doesn’t change how I feel.

“How did you know I was here?” I breathe.

Grinning, he drawls out, “Nic. He told me where you would be. When I saw you on that dance floor. Fuck.”

My back hits the wall, Dante’s arms coming down and caging me in. He leans forward, sniffing the skin on my neck and breathing me in. My pulse rate kicks up to an unnatural speed. This was our thing. I would sniff Dante, and vice versa. Does he remember? Has muscle memory kicked in? Or has it just come natural to him?

Whatever it is, it’s suffocating having him this close. Don’t get me wrong, I have wanted this for so long, but now I feel like I can’t breathe.

“I don’t remember us. But I know I miss you. I can feel it deep in my gut. The way my heart aches every time I leave you,” he whispers, his tongue darting out and licking a trail up my neck.

My eyes roll shut on their own volition, moisture gathering in my panties. My throat turns so dry, I don’t know how I manage to speak. “I miss you, too.”

He groans, peppering kisses across my jaw. “This fucking dress.” His finger curls under the spaghetti strap on my shoulder. “You’re killing me, angel.”

“Angel?” I question.

That’s new.

I have always been his principessa .

He pulls back to look at me. “From the moment I saw you at those fountains you looked like an angel. My saving grace. You were ethereal and so beautiful, but you looked haunted. Now I know why.”

Emotion tightens my throat. I was more of a ghost when he saw me. Going through the motions. “You may not have recognized me, but deep down your soul knew me. It's why you saw through my facade that night.”

His eyes squeeze shut as if he is in pain. He places his forehead against mine. “We will get through this. There is no other way.”

Reaching up, I rest a palm over his erratically beating heart. A heart that beats strong, and only for me.

“I love you,” I tell him honestly, scared that I might not get another chance before I leave.

His eyes snap open, those dark orbs filled with a range of emotions, but the most prominent one? Love. He smiles, and before I can blink, his lips smash to mine. My breath hitches as he dominates my mouth in a bruising, claiming kiss, but it feels like coming home.

My brain short circuits at the contact. It’s too much but not enough at the same time. He prods at the seam of my mouth, begging for entrance. I allow it. Of course I do. His tongue pushes inside, exploring my mouth like it’s the first time and the last time at once.

But it’s not. We will do this for as long as I live.

“Dante,” I whimper, grinding against his thick thigh, pressed between my legs.

“I know, principessa, ” he growls, nibbling at my bottom lip.

He pushes his thigh harder against me, allowing me the friction I need.

Before Dante was taken from me, though we never had sex we were intimate. He would use his mouth and fingers on my pussy, and I would give him blow jobs.

But out of respect for me and my brother, he would never let it go further.

Despite pushing for him to fuck me, he talked about wanting to save my innocence for our wedding night. It frustrated me to no end, but he wouldn’t budge on it, no matter how much I tried.

After everything that has happened, I wonder if things are different now?

Pleasure surges through my veins, breaking me from my thoughts. I rub against him harder, chasing the orgasm, I so desperately need.

“Dante,” I cry out as the pressure builds.

“You’re going to come,” he states. His hand snaking under my dress and pressing down on my clit at the same time his mouth lands on mine.

It’s exactly what I need.

Before I know what’s happening, I fall over the edge, screaming Dante’s name into his mouth as I come against this thigh.

He pulls back, a look of awe covering his face.

“Good girl,” he praises, and I preen like a peacock.

He was always good at praising me and because of this man, I have a complete praise kink. Dante is – or was, I should say – was very much aware of the kink, and together we explored it.

Content, and satisfied, I slump against the wall.

Dante searches my face for a long beat, running his thumb down my cheek. Smiling, he presses a soft kiss to my lips.

“That’s my girl,” he mutters.

I sigh, happiness warming my body with his words.

His girl.

It’s all I have ever wanted.