Chapter 110 Bummer
Serena's POV
It was the strangest of acts.
One very unfamiliar and unexpected with someone like him.
It forced the words back through my throat and for a second, it pushed the wind out of my lungs.
And with everything, it brought a special kind of warmth to my body.
In a split second between me blabbing my apology and Dante standing a foot from me, I found myself in his arms.
He wasn't carrying me, he wasn't pressing me, he just had his arms around me.
It was the gentlest of acts for more than half a minute, I didn't know how to react.
My face remained flushed against his chest and when I finally regained myself, I slowly put my hand around his back too.
He had his firmly around my back, pulling me to himself and resting his head softly against mine.
It didn't have the same energy as any of his moves last night had, not even half.
But it carried a different feeling, not that forceful or heavy feeling, but a warmer and more caring one.
And after about a minute of remaining in that position, I stopped over thinking it.
I closed my eyes shut, tightened my hands around him and melted into his touch.
It was perfect, it was different.
It was the first real show of affection we've ever had outside the bed, and I planned to enjoy every second of it.
And when he pulled apart, I refused to let go.
His chest vibrated as he chuckled, but he wrapped his arms around me again.
I twisted slightly, forcing him to join me in a cozy posture.
He chuckled again, shaking me in the process before pulling me on himself and lifting me to the air.
I laughed as he swirled me around, turning in circles with my legs flapping in the air like I was flying.
He turned a few times before collapsing on the bed with me laying on top of him.
I was still laughing as he chuckled, resting my hands on his chest to steady me as my head spun from the crazy play.
He chuckled till it died down and he stared at me right in my eyes.
I was still laughing before I noticed that he'd dropped his smile and he was staring at me intently.
I suddenly felt small in his eyes as heat crept up my neck, all the way to my cheeks.
“What?!” I asked with a high pitched tone, chuckling and pushing a fallen strand of hair back.
He didn't respond, he just smiled and kept staring at me.
I laughed again and shook my head, then tried to push myself up with my hand against his chest.
But his hands around my waist held me firmly in place.
“Let me go,” I chuckled, hitting his chest playfully. “You are making me shy, and besides, I'm supposed to be angry at you,” I said with a dramatic sway of my head.
He chuckled, refusing to let go of me or stop staring at me.
“What? Can't help it when you look this beautiful,” he replied in a gentle voice.
I smiled and turned away, refusing to let him see the blush that crept up my cheeks.
“You'll need to do better than that to get on my good side,” I replied sassily, turning my head away.
He chuckled and reached forth, kissing my jawline.
I was stunned by that but kept my strong look.
He reached forth again, kissing my neck this time and going lower.
I chuckled when his soft lips touched a particular spot at the skin around my ear and he noticed.
He sent more kisses to that spot, pulling giggles from me till I couldn't take it any longer.
I laughed and shook excitedly.
“Okay, okay okay!” I screamed as he brought his fingers to the fray and tickled my sides.
I laughed, feeling tears at the edge of my eyes as I threw my hands around.
“Stop, stop!” I yelled but it was no good, he had gone too far to stop.
He rolled me onto my back and climbed over me, tickling my sides with his fingers and kissing my neck.
He sucked and bit at the tender spot that hit me directly.
“Okay! Okay! You win!” I exclaimed as the pressure heightened.
But he didn't stop immediately, he kept going till I felt my ribs burn.
Then he stopped suddenly, letting me breathe again.
He too chuckled slightly from on top of me as I slowly got myself back, laughing out the remains of the tickle.
He went back to staring at me while resting most of his weight on his hands, careful not to squash me.
I finally calmed myself down and met his eyes.
I held them for as long as I could before looking away.
But he pulled my face back to his, keeping my face in place and our eyes on each other.
I stared at him, matching his energy with his fingers on my jaw keeping me steady.
I was trapped, and he knew it.
And slowly, he lowered his lips to mine.
I watched him all the way till his lips were just a breath away from mine.
And when he lingered for a second too long, I reached up and claimed his lips with mine.
He smiled against the lips, probably getting satisfaction from my little act.
But he kissed me back all the same, slow and needy, nothing like the fast and lustful ones we had the previous night.
He took his time, like he was savoring the taste of my lips.
And after one of the best seconds of my life, he pulled back and stared into my eyes again.
This time, I didn't feel small, I didn't feel pressured to look away.
I felt perfect, like this moment was just right.
Then he whispered the softest words he had ever said to me.
“I like you a lot, Serena”
I smiled.
It wasn't the exact three words I was expecting to hear, but with someone like him, it was more than enough.
I couldn't stop smiling.
“I like you a lot too, Dante Russo,” I replied.
He chuckled and rubbed my cheeks warmly before lowering his head and pecking me on my lips again.
He pulled back, then pecked me again, then again.
Before lifting himself off me completely.
“You need to rest, we'll see more tomorrow,” he said softly before standing to his feet.
I instinctively wish he hadn't.
Then I raised myself up against my elbows to get a look at his face.
“What's going on tomorrow?” I asked with a smile.
“Nothing much. Have a good night's rest, Piccola,” he replied with a smirk, pulling the door open and closing it after himself.
I dropped back on the bed, smiling sheepishly at the moment we just had.
Dante finally admitted to liking me. I know it's not that much, but it's a great lot.
And the feeling it brought to me, I felt nothing could spoil the morning.
Till my phone buzzed by my side…