DANTE

I swallowed hard, my mouth moist. I licked my lips over and over. My abdominal muscles clenched and I consciously relaxed them. As I willed tension out of my body, an ache remained.

A throbbing ache in my dick. But there was another ache, one that was higher in my body. Somewhere in my chest.

I need her.

Dio, I was just standing behind Savannah in the elevator. 

A crowded elevator, so her entire sexy backside was pressed against my front and so her sugary scent washed over me. She smelled like macarons or cake or something. Her body fit against mine perfectly. I didn't even bother trying to conceal my erection, and I caressed the curve of her waist and tried to catch her eye in the reflective metal of the elevator door. I kissed the edge of her ear, and yet, she didn't react.

The woman had incredible willpower, I had to give her that.

Patience was not my strong suit once I was this turned on, and I needed to get Savannah to a bed. Or a wall, or a floor. Whatever, wherever. What were all of these people doing on the elevator at this hour? And why wouldn't she meet my gaze in the mirror? Why wouldn't she smile when I touched my lips to her temple, or squeezed her little waist? She fiddled with her small, sparkly purse and kept her head bowed. I fought the urge to take a handful of her hair at her nape and pull, while grinding my erection into her ass. 

She was making me feel like an animal, reduced to my basest instincts. All I could think of was  that red hair everywhere, spilling over her shoulders, and that ivory skin, naked. 

Finally, the elevator stopped and the door slid open. It was our floor, where the entire team was staying.

Savannah shot out of the elevator, not waiting for me. I scowled. She sure wasn't acting like a woman who wanted to hook up.

I followed her, tamping down my enthusiasm. Was she playing a game? Or...

It was then I realized that maybe she didn't want to spend the night with me. Didn't want what I thought she did. Didn't want what I did. Which meant that I had to dial it way back. I wasn't the kind of man who forces, begs or coerces. Mutual pleasure turned me on.

And I distinctly got the impression that Savannah wasn't interested in pleasure tonight.

Impossible. Women never rejected me. She wouldn't turn me away, would she? Maybe she was nervous about going to bed with someone so famous. Sometimes women were like that, but they were always relaxed once we were in the privacy of a hotel room.

She wasn't having second thoughts, was she? Did she hate the way I kissed?

Clearly she was, because she was in front of her door, and not following me to mine. Leaning against a wall, I watched as Savannah fumbled in her purse. Never had a woman made me second guess myself like this.

"I don't know where the key...wait. Here it is," she murmured. "Got it. Well, thanks for the night."

"Savannah."

She looked up. Why did she wear such a frightened expression on her beautiful face? I bit my lip. As hard as I was, as much as I wanted her, a little voice inside warned me to back off. At least for tonight.

Patience would be rewarded. Right?

I reached out and swept a lock of hair off her forehead and trailed a finger down her soft cheek. She shuddered a little. My heart jackhammering, words tumbled out of my mouth. I barely recognized myself.

"Savannah mia, I'm all of a sudden so tired. That sometimes happens to me right after races. It's draining, driving a race car."

Her little smile was so sweet. "I can imagine. It's hot on track and must be like an inferno in the car.

"It is. So, uh, I'm sorry, I'm afraid I won't be—" Dio, get it together. I could barely speak.

"That's actually fine," she interrupted. "I completely understand, I'm exhausted too. You had a great race today. You must be ready to collapse. If I'm ready to fall asleep, you must be ready to pass out."

"Totally. I mean, all of my muscles ache." Like my dick.

She nods enthusiastically. "Maybe you should soak in a hot bath.

"Yes!" Why was I acting so goofy? I'm normally so smooth around women. This wasn't like me at all. "That's exactly what I need."

"Well.." she said. 

"Thanks for coming out with me tonight. I appreciate it." Yep. I just said that. The suave, seductive Italian driver just treated a woman like she'd attended a Power Point presentation at an office in Toledo. 

"Of course! No worries. So, sweet dreams!"

A sharp pain sliced through my chest when I realized she was relieved. I pressed my lips together firmly. How could this be? Most women went out of their way to spend time with me. And Savannah seemed so eager and willing when I was kissing her. We had shared a kiss that was so amazing that it was practically transcendent. Then she suggested we leave. What had changed in the span of minutes? Was it the way I'd fumbled for words just now?

How had she disarmed me from my legendary charm with just one kiss?

"Have a good sleep, Savannah." I dipped my head and brushed my lips against hers. She sighed softly and stepped back. Although need and lust raged in my veins, I broke away. 

I studied her for a few seconds, watching her slowly trace her bottom lip with a delicate finger, as if I had bruised her with tenderness.

"Night Dante." Her voice was wobbly. 

It was only after the lock on her door snicked that another emotion surged through me: anger. A woman had never brought me to my knees and made me practically beg. Why was Savannah having this effect on me, and why had she turned me down?

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