Hells Gate: Santino (5 page)

“I told you I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“So what happens now? I close my eyes and you kiss me. Why don’t you let me or any of the others see you?” April asked.

“I have my reasons. You aren’t the first to ask me that. Now shall I kiss you and then you get to go home and have sweet dreams of me?”

She sighed and leaned her head back against the padded wall. The coldness of the room raised
goosebumps
all over her body. He stepped closer, but she still couldn’t see his face. He brushed a stray hair from her cheek. The gentle caress of his fingers on her skin made her suck in a breath through her teeth. His hands were the same as those from the man in her dream. It made her yearn to be thrown back to experience those hands again. He traced the expanse of her jaw. The soft touch trailed down her cheek and over the line of her throat. She expected him to grope her breast, but he didn’t. Instead, he stepped closer. April tried to peer into the darkness of his hidden face, but the cloak obscured her view. His words shocked her about dreams.

“Why do you say that about dreams?”

“It’s what I hear from the bouncer. Women tell him they dream about feeling my lips on them.
Nothing more.”

She completely snapped out of the spell that he was weaving around her. “No. It’s more than that.”

He sighed. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

April leaned forward. She might not be able to see his face, but she could hear the lie on his silver tongue. “I know when people are lying. You were in my dream the other night, weren’t you? How is that possible?”

He stepped away and it felt like she was being scrutinized. She could almost see the grin on his face. He crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re very good. I’m surprised you figured this out so quickly.”

“I don’t know how it can be, but it makes sense. Not that any of this is logical. But you kept insisting that I come back here. I couldn’t figure out why my dream wanted me to return to this place. How could you come to me while I was sleeping?”

The man placed a finger on her lips. “Does it really matter? You’re here. And all I want to do
is
kiss you. Won’t you let me do that?”

“Will you let me see you?”

“There’s no need for you to see any more than my lips. Let me do all the work. You shouldn’t feel a thing.”

He leaned in closer. His presence pushed upon her body before his skin did. April tried to make out more of his features than just his full upper lip and the sensuous bottom lip that pouted a little bit and the pointed chin with a small cleft in it. A smattering of a trimmed beard hugged his
jawline
. All of it hinted at a beauty of a man underneath the cloak. He was so close. His question ran through her mind. Did it matter?

“Just let me in. One little
kiss
.
To feel your flesh.
Please.”

His voice lulled her back into a half-trance. He pressed his palm on her cheek. She gasped from the coldness of his hand.
“One kiss.
Since you already kissed me in my dreams.
Why not?”

Once their mouths met, an electric zap lit up her entire body. April’s eyes widened. The hair rose on the back of her neck. The most ecstatic pleasure she’d ever felt flushed her very being. It curled her toes inside of her shoes. She arched forward trying to feel more of his body. It was better than being in her dream. This was real. April gripped the shackles and tried to keep from drowning in the bliss that consumed her. She skimmed her tongue along his lips. He opened to hers. She groaned into his mouth. He kissed her hungrily and touched her teeth with his tongue. With each second they kissed, a fire burned inside of her. It blazed along her nerves and made her ache for more. It left her out of breath and her heart slamming into her chest. When he pulled away, it took her a moment to realize he had stopped. Opening her eyes, she saw he remained inches from her mouth.

“You taste so sweet, like cherries. Did you enjoy my kiss?”

“Very much.”
April licked her lips, hoping to taste him. The fire he’d ignited inside of her still burned. It was brighter than in her dreams. She craved more of him now. He trailed his fingers along her neck and back over the top of her breasts. She moaned again. No man had ever made her feel the way he had with just one kiss. Not even after lovemaking had her body felt so in tune with everything around her. Now she understood why there was a line outside waiting for him. He ran his finger over her lips. She flicked her tongue over the tip of it.

“I knew you were different than the others that I’ve kissed before. That’s why I was able to come into your dream.”

“How am I different? You mean you don’t do that with all the women who you kiss?”

“No, I don’t visit people’s dreams often. You have kissed me. Would you mind if I asked another boon from you?”

“It depends on what it is. Can I see your face if I do it?”

He stepped closer and pressed his lips to her ear. “There’s only one way to see my face. To do that, you must let me make love to you. That is the favor I ask.”

“Didn’t you already do that in my dream?”

“That wasn’t anything compared to what I can truly do to you. I can bring you passions you have never imagined. Come with me tonight. If at any time you wish to leave, then I will bring you back. What do you say?”

Common sense said she shouldn’t go with him. However, after the dream she had the other night and his kiss now, her soul said it was good for her to say yes. She bit her lip and tried to see him. A strange glow surrounded him. It seemed that she was now in a different world. The club had fallen away. The music was dulled and the fog had dissipated.

“Can I ask you another question before I say yes?”

“It depends on what it is.”

“Will you kiss me once more?”

“That will have to come later.”

“Then what’s your name?”

“
Santino
.
No one has asked me my name for a long time.”

“I’m surprised, because you’re such a good kisser.”

“Thank you for that.”

April smiled. “Will you let me go?”

“Will you say yes to me?”

She had to touch him one last time before she answered. “Just release one hand. Please.”

Santino
sighed. He undid one of her cuffs. She reached under the hood and placed her hand on his cheek. He winced but didn’t shy away. His skin was soft underneath the cloak. When she touched him, another spark
sizzled
her soul. A moan that permeated her body came from her throat. The urge to touch all of him was so overwhelming she yearned for him more than she’d ever wanted any man in the whole world. His hand slid over hers.

“How come I feel this way? It’s more than you kissing me. I want to feel you all over. It’s more than you being in my dream. Then it was…I don’t know…scorching. This is explosive.”

“So you’ll come back with me and allow me to make love to you?” he asked.

April closed her eyes. She loved his soft touch. Her body’s needs had to be answered. “Yes.”

Chapter Five

Her captor released the other cuff. April tried to see his face, but he kept the cloak over it. He tucked her underneath his arm and held her close. She slipped a hand around his waist and nestled her head onto his shoulder. The cloak was made of heavy velvet, soft and warm. She inhaled the scent that clung to him. It was heady and laced with cinnamon.

“Hold on to me. Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I tell you to.”

April squeezed her eyes shut. Her other arm went around his neck. The fog in the club wrapped around her arms and legs, tugging on her flesh. The music completely disappeared. A rushing wind roared around her until it drowned out even her heartbeat. A great weight compressed her bones until pain shot up her arm. She tried to cry out, but when she sucked in the air, it suffocated her. The chill reached inside of her throat and permeated her body. She clung to him tighter until the world settled down around her.

“It’s okay now.”

April gasped as the air came rushing back into her lungs. The weight on her body disappeared. “What was that?”

“It’s how all of my kind travels. I apologize if it was unpleasant for you.”

“What are you? If you can do that, and come into my dreams, what else are you capable of?” April asked.

“I’m cursed. That’s all you need to know.”

“What kind of curse?” April looked around. They were in a bedroom. The bed was back against the wall and covered in a black spread. It was settled into a wrought iron frame. Cobwebs hung from the corners of the bed. The air was stale and musty. It stuck to her tongue when she drew in a breath. Faint light filtered in through the holey curtains. It was obvious he hadn’t used this room in quite some time. Hearing that he was cursed made her heart go out to him.

“Long story.
Sit on the bed and take your clothes off.”

April sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. She slipped her shoes off. Starting to unzip her skirt, she felt as if she were on display the way he watched her.
Santino
stayed stoic in the corner. April kept his eyes on him and bit her lip. The room was cold, and her courage was slipping away. He was having no interaction with her and the fire was dwindling inside of her without his touch. At least he had been involved when they were in her dream.

“What are you waiting for?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I can’t do this. I’m sorry. But the other night you were more intimate than you are now. Just standing there…” She stood and redid her skirt.

He stepped forward. “I thought you wanted to see my face.”

“I do, but—”

“I understand. Sit down again, please.”

April studied him, but his face was still hidden. If she could see his eyes, she could see how sincere he was. Sighing, she bit her lip and sat back onto the bed. He knelt before her.
Santino
took her hands in his and kissed the back of each of them. The feel of his lips on her flesh was intoxicating. It brought her back to her dream.

“Forgive me.” He pressed his mouth to hers.

At once she was transported to another world. The pleasure of his kiss ignited her nerves. She groaned and slipped from the bed onto her knees. She
slid
her hands along his cheeks and through the strands of his hair that hung around his shoulders. April pressed her tongue against
Santino’s
mouth and he accepted it. The delight of his soft lips on hers was so ecstatic she could barely keep herself contained. Breaking the kiss, she pushed the hood back.
Santino
hissed and looked away. From what she could see of him, he had pale skin and dark brown hair.

“Let me see you.”

“No,” he growled.

She kissed the side of his cheek. Even the feel of his skin gave her pleasure. Something about him drew her. No man would ever make her feel this way again. “Please.”

She placed one hand on her breast. When she squeezed their combined hands, her nipple puckered. With her other hand, she trailed it over his flat stomach to his cock.
Santino
was already erect. April kissed the side of his throat and bit it lightly. He tasted smoky and she desired more. Through all of this, she didn’t force him to turn his face toward her. As she nipped his ear, he turned. He took her face in his hands. His golden eyes were the first thing to capture her. They gazed into her soul and held her prisoner but did not rob her of her free will. It didn’t matter because at his first kiss, she was his slave.
Santino’s
mouth was drawn back into a sneer, showing off deadly fangs. A gasp parted her lips.