Divine Party (2 page)

“I’m hosting. I can’t…”

“You have before
that time in Kenosha
”

“It’s different now,” she said, avoiding eye contact. Something about the sincerity in his eyes pricked her resolve.

Dante stepped back from him before her senses made her do something she could regret. Not that she really thought she would regret being with him, but she’d made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t engage in brief encounters. The emotional havoc wasn’t worth it.

He scowled in confusion. “Are you pregnant?”

She smiled and decided to share her secret. “Really? No, Kenshin. I’m retiring. This is my last party. So, I want to savor it.”

His face fell. “What? Why?”

Poor guy. He really must love her parties! Perhaps that was all he had in his life. Shaking her head, she touched his arm to comfort him. “I know you enjoy my parties, but there are others.”

He smirked. “You don’t understand, Dante.”

“No, really, I do. I get it. My parties are the best, but there are others. I’ve got contacts. Some in Madison too. It’s a drive but…”

Kenshin threw back his head in obvious frustration. He leveled a look at her that gave her pause. Clearly, she’d missed
something
.

“You must forgive me. You’re right. I can attend any party. But I don’t come to these parties for the food, the entertainment, or the dancing.”

“So, why else attend a party?” Dante was thoroughly confused about the situation.
If he can get food and adventurous sex at any freak party, what is his problem?

“For you. I come to these parties for you, Dante.”

Chapter Two

Raw energy raced through the partygoers. It prickled Kenshin’s skin. He could tell Dante felt it too. Dante had been trying to fight it off since he’d seen her walk in. Closing herself off from the others, she stood apart from the scent, sounds, and sensuality scampering through the room. She hadn’t realized that all it did was make her more attractive to him. Around them, conversations dwindled down to moans and cries for more and the faint pants of hurried breaths. Already the dance floor gave testament to the fact that all pretense of partying had dissolved. Couples and a few trios had carved out spaces on the couches, chairs, and floors. Some people left to go upstairs to hotel rooms. Kenshin only wanted one partner tonight.

Dante
.

“I-I’m sorry?” Dante said. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

She knew exactly what he meant. They both knew it. In all the years he’d attended her parties, he’d never failed to let her know his attraction to her. The problem resided in the fact that most people wanted Dante too. How could he blame them? Even now, with her hair curled into loose, supple waves, she looked incredibly sexy. Her breasts filled out the V-neck blouse in such a way that it made other women envious and horny at the same time. He wanted to nibble along her neck and cup her sizable bosom. The light color of her blouse warmed her already toffee skin, and her grace and confidence transported mundane clothing into a sensual outfit.

“I only attend these for you—to see you, to talk to you, to be near you.” He brushed his fingers across her cheek, slowly so as to not startle her.

She turned her head, leaning out of his reach. “I’m sorry, Kenshin. I can’t do this anymore.”

“You’ve invested so much into your business…”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

He stopped and nodded. A sick feeling rolled through his stomach. This didn’t seem to be going well. Kenshin couldn’t let her get away. It was now or never. He’d watched her for years. Longing uncoiled inside him. He’d respected her open relationship with a man she called Sugar Bear. Yet, for Kenshin, she had always seemed so sad. If she had him, she would never need others to fill the vacancy inside her. Obviously her ex-boyfriend failed to see her need and damn sure couldn’t fill it.

“Go play,” Dante said, walking away.

With interest, he watched her stroll away. The ivory slacks cupped her ass like his hands itched to do. He imagined his stiff rod gliding between her tight buttocks. With a smile, she caught him looking, winked, and waved bye to him over her shoulder.

She can’t just walk away. Not now. I’m so close.

“Hear me out!” Kenshin hurried to her. “It sounds like you need a break.”

Dante sighed and spun on her heels to face him. She crossed her arms under her breasts and tried to keep her face blank. But he saw how her body reacted to him, and he watched her battle its hunger for him. Throughout their shared time together, Kenshin had fallen in love with her spirit, her candor, and her savvy. Some people wrote her off as just a superior lay. He saw beyond her luscious body. Dante was complex, smart, and business savvy—one hell of a woman.

“What are you playing at, Kenshin? What exactly is your game?” She looked at him with suspicion. This time she fully met his gaze. There, in those dark depths, hope flickered.

“There’s no game. I mean to make you mine.”

“Is this what you want? A sexy black woman in your arms?” She pressed closer to him.

“Yes.” His body on autopilot, he slipped his arms around her. This was heaven, a dream come true. Divinity in his arms. Dante.

“Once you have this wonderful package all sexed down in your bed, will your life be complete?” she whispered softly.

Her champagne-scented breath was cool against his face. Sweet. He couldn’t wait to taste her.

So he nodded and pressed his lips to hers. He closed his eyes and tried to deepen the kiss. Right before his cheek burned and he was stumbling backward. His eyes opened and he blinked to clear the mist of horniness. It took about two seconds to register. She’d slapped him!

“Dante!”

“You are just like every other horny-ass man here! I’m not some expensive, exotic piece of ass!” she growled at him, keeping her voice low to avoid disturbing the party. With her fists balled up and her chest heaving, she swore before storming off.

“No, no, Dante! Wait!”

Damn his hunger. He obviously hadn’t heard her tone. With his head a lot more clear, he cursed at her trap. She’d deliberately tested his motives, and he’d failed—epically. When he tried to follow her, two large men barred his path. Ren and Rob shook their heads. Dressed in white tuxedos, the security guards resembled two ivory pillars.

“Let me pass.” Kenshin had to explain to her that he didn’t just want her for sex.

“Ms. Divine said for you to either stay here or exit the hotel.” Ren’s long blond hair had been tied tightly behind him in a sleek ponytail. It seemed at odds with his polished clothes.

“You two know me. Have I ever hurt her? Or any woman?”

“No means no,” Rob added. His scarlet-red hair had been tied back like Ren’s. “Divine Party’s golden rule.”

“She didn’t tell me no.”

Ren looked at Rob. “He is the first guy to really get under her skin.”

“She has been moody lately,” Rob agreed.

“We should see where this goes,” Ren said.

“You can always tell her I used my martial-arts skills to kick your asses,” Kenshin suggested.

Ren and Rob chuckled. “As if she’d believe that.”

Kenshin growled from deep in his throat. His patience with them waned. “Please.”

Ren nodded. “She’s in suite 1001. But one scream from her and I’ll snap your neck.”

He hurried beyond the guards and out into the hotel’s lobby with Ren’s warning fading from his memory. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Dante. Besides, she would probably stab him with her stiletto herself. Both elevator cars headed up, so Kenshin took the stairs. He pushed through the doors to the stairwell and raced up. His sole goal was to catch her before she entered her suite. Once that door closed and locked behind her, he’d be shut out.

Sweating and panting with excitement, he reached the tenth floor. Only a few doors lined the hall. Dante’s scent lingered and he hurried to catch her. Already at her suite’s door, she seemed lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to the sound of him walking quickly behind her. She opened the door and stepped into the suite. Running, he managed to slip inside the closing door.

Dante whirled around and attacked. “Hiya!”

He saw her karate chop and blocked it. But she didn’t stop. She came at him with whirling arms and punches.

How the hell does she do that in heels?

Kenshin fell to the floor. “Ow! Ow!”

Dante stopped. “Kenshin!”

He smiled up at her. “Hi.”

Groaning, she offered her hand. “I thought you knew kung fu.”

At that moment, he grabbed her and brought her down to the carpeted floor with him. He rolled her onto her back, pinning her beneath him. Bringing his face close to hers, he confessed, “I do. But I don’t fight girls.”

“Girl?” Dante quirked an eyebrow.

“
Woman
.”

“I don’t know why you’re here or how you got by Ren and Rob…”

He kissed her cheek. “You are an attractive woman.”

She broke into laughter. “So you said.”

“I’m not here for sex…”

“Really…”

She sighed.

“You turn me on, but I meant what I said. I mean to make you mine—not just sexually, but emotionally too.”

Dante sobered. “You’re serious.”

“Can’t you tell?”

With that he leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth, claiming the kiss she’d teased him with all night. Sweetness and a hint of spearmint were on Dante’s tongue and they quickly became flavors in his mouth. Beneath him, Dante’s pelvis rotated, grinding against him. He released her wrists and broke the kiss. It took all of his self-control. He released her and got to his feet.

Dante sat up, rubbing her lips. “What just happened?”

“I wouldn’t want you to think I was just here for sex.” Kenshin’s cock jutted against the fabric of his trousers as if contradicting his words. It resembled a tent pole, and he saw Dante’s eyes go to it. “Don’t worry. It’ll go away soon.”

But not as long as I’m this close to you.

Dante stood up and straightened her blouse. Breathless, she reached into her hair and removed the pins. Loose, sexy curls fell to her shoulders. She placed her diamond-decorated hairpins on the coffee table. Her eyes remained on him, moving up from his erection to his face.

“Tell me again why you’re here, Kenshin. The sushi?”

Chapter Three

Dante waited for Kenshin’s answer. With a fluid, practiced motion, she kicked off her ivory stilettos. In stocking feet, she walked around the four-room suite and up to the minibar that neighbored the room’s kitchenette. The large space had seemed large. Now, it shrank, closing in on her with each step Kenshin took toward her. The room felt almost crowded—and Kenshin came incredibly close. She removed the lid to a round container of ice that was slowly melting like her resolve. Using the tongs, she fished around for a few salvageable chunks. Ren had done his duty and fixed the suite before coming downstairs to oversee the end of the party and to make sure folks got to a private room before too much skin and sin unfolded.
Thank goodness.

“I’m here to show you what you’ve been missing,” Kenshin said at last, following her to the other section of the suite. His voice glided along the air, enticingly smooth and seductive.

“How do you know what I’ve been missing?” Ice clinked into the glass. She gripped the liquid-filled glass for dear life. Heaven help her, she’d promised. She wouldn’t succumb to her flesh, her lust, and her carnal craving. But Kenshin made it so hard to stay true to her promise. The cold seemed to anchor her. Jack Daniels and cola sounded good right about now, anything to calm her raging hormones. Kenshin tempted her. Her resolve could only last so long, especially with him. When he looked at her and spoke in that commanding voice, it turned her legs to jelly. It caused cracks in her armor. Maybe she could blame the booze in the morning.

“Because I have been missing it too.”

He reached out to her so gently, so streaked with emotion, she almost believed he’d been missing truth, love, and commitment.
Almost.

Before she knew it, his hands were in her hair, moving it to one side, revealing her neck. His breath was warm against her sensitive skin, raising chills as if she were cold, making her burn. It roused her once more, and her courage wavered. Then he pulled her back to him. His hard cock rested on the curve of her ass. Their clothes couldn’t lessen the stone feel of him. She melted into him. In a business like hers, she’d had her share of lovers. Did Kenshin really have something new and inventive to give her?