Atonement (The Protectors 6)

I suspected Dante was trying to shock me with how twisted his logic had been, but it did the opposite. It made perfect sense to me and explained his behavior from the moment I’d met him and in the months that had followed. Sex was the only thing that made him feel in control…that gave him any kind of power.

My history with Dante made more sense now. I’d ignored him in the hopes he’d back off, but all I’d done was make him feel out of control and worthless. Guilt instantly invaded my senses, but I forced it away.

Clean slate.

“What happened with your family after Aleks…after you guys lost him?”

“My mother and stepfather were devastated…my stepfather blamed me, of course, but my mom stuck up for me. She told me it wasn’t my fault.”

Thank fuck someone had finally stood up for Dante in his life besides his little brother. But the thought was short-lived when his fingers tightened on mine. “What?” I whispered, knowing there was more to his story.

“I initially lied to the cops about why I was meeting the guy at the arcade. But about a week after Aleks was taken, the guy got scared when the police questioned him and told them the truth…my parents found out. The cops had to stop my stepfather from coming after me.”

“And your mom?” I asked.

Dante chuckled, but it was forced and there was nothing humorous about it. “She called me a bicha and told me to pack up my stuff. She made the cops stick around so they could escort me from the house.”

Anger rushed through me at the woman’s defection. “A bicha?”

“Closest translation is fag or queer, I guess.”

My anger turned onto a full-on rage. “So, all that shit about believing it wasn’t your fault…”

“Didn’t make a bit of difference,” Dante murmured. “She told the cops she didn’t want me around my youngest brother, Breno. He was two at that time.” Dante began playing with my fingers again. “Not sure if she thought I would turn him…or worse.”

“Worse?”

“Let’s just say a few of my extended family members had no problem interchanging the words ‘homosexual’ and ‘pedophile.’ I didn’t get to stick around long enough to find out if my mom really believed me capable of something like that with Breno…or Aleks.”

“Jesus,” I muttered. “What did you do?”

“Cops took me to a group home, but I left as soon as they did. Spent the night at a friend’s house and then started looking for work…and Aleks.”

I shook my head in disbelief as I tried to absorb everything he’d told me.

“You still sure you want the main course?” Dante murmured and I realized I’d been quiet for too long. I looked down to see Dante watching me nervously.

Forcing away the turmoil that was threatening to consume me, I smiled and leaned down to brush my mouth over his. “I like having my fair share of dessert, but I’ve always been, first and foremost, a meat and potatoes kind of guy.”

Dante’s relief was profound despite the fact that he tried to hide it by shifting his eyes from mine. He took my hand in his and flattened my palm on his chest and began rubbing it in circles. With every pass, he urged my hand lower. “I like myself a little meat now and then,” Dante said breathily as he pushed my fingers beneath the waistband of his briefs. I closed my hand around his cock and watched in satisfaction as his eyes slid shut and he thrust into my hand. I teased his dick with a few strokes before sliding my hand down to his balls and giving them a gentle squeeze.

“Magnus,” Dante growled and I knew his patience was wearing thin.

“What?” I asked, unable to keep the amusement from my voice.

“Can we be done with this talking shit and get to the stuff I’m going to kick ass at in this relationship?”

The fact that he was using the “R” word to describe what was going on between us was a huge leap forward in my mind. “What did you have in mind?” I asked as I gripped his cock and gave him a few hard pulls before flicking my thumb over his slit. Moisture greeted my skin and my mouth filled with saliva in anticipation.

Dante sighed and squirmed in my hand. “Have I ever told you what my favorite number is?” he asked.

The question didn’t make sense until Dante turned his body so that he was facing me, but his head was closer to my lap. I hadn’t bothered getting dressed after our shower, so my hard cock was already eagerly awaiting Dante’s touch. Except touch translated to him swallowing my length in one move and I let out a loud curse. I was transfixed by both the sight and sensation of Dante vigorously sucking me and began shaking my head in protest when he released me with a pop. “You still need help figuring out that number, Ranger Rick?”