âIâve dreamed about you,â he whispered. His hold was an unbreakable grip on her wrists.
At his confession, her heartbeat picked up and hope blossomed inside of her. Finally, finally, heâdâ
âIn my dreamsââa muscle flexed along his jawââyou kill me, Cassie Armstrong.â
Oh, hell. âI told you. Iâm not here to hurt you.â
âBut you have killed me before, havenât you?â
Cassie knew she had to be careful. She wasnât like him. Dante could die, again and again, but he would just come back from each death.
Heâd rise from the ashes and be born again.
While she would justâwell, die. There would be no coming back for her.
With a thought, he could incinerate her. The heat that warmed her skin beneath his fingers could turn into a blazing inferno at any second.
âLast night, I dreamed about you.â His words were a low growl as he leaned closer to her.
The noise from the bar drifted into the room. The blaring beat of music. The scents of sex, blood, and booze.
âYou stared right at me, then you stabbed me.â
His bad memories werenât going to make things any easier.
âSo maybe you should tell me why I shouldnât just pay you back for that right now.â His breath blew lightly over the sensitive skin of her neck. âAnd end you.â
She shook her head, sending her long hair sliding over her shoulders. âPlease . . .â
âOh, I like it when you beg.â
Actually, he did. But that was another story.
âSo youâve had dreams.â Cassie started talking, fast, because she had seen him incinerate a man before. She didnât want that same fate. âWell, Iâm your key. I know you. Every dark spot in your mind? I can shine the light and show youââ
His mouth was just inches from hers. Inches? More like an inch. âWhat are you going to show me?â
âEverything,â she whispered, promised. âI can tell you the secrets of your life. I can tell you who you are, if youâll just trust me.â
His gaze searched hers. Some people thought that his eyes were just darkâmirroring his black soul, but they were wrong. There were flecks of gold hidden in his eyes. You just had to look hard and deep enough to see them.
âWhy should I trust a woman whoâs killed me before?â
âBecause Iâve saved you, too.â Sheâd risked so much to save him. âBelieve it or not, you actually owe me.â
âI donât believe it.â
Her lips trembled.
His gaze dropped once more to her mouth.
âDante . . .â
He kissed her.
She hadnât been expecting the move, and when his lips closed over hers, shock froze her for a moment.