Author's Note:

Kind of a short chapter, but it's all I had time for and it seemed like a good stopping point for now. Thank you for the feedback, you guys! It's so much fun to be writing again, and I'm so glad you are enjoying it! I hope to be updating again later tonight or tomorrow.

"Oh my God," Lulu gasped as she and Dante collapsed on the bed. "Every shower I take after that will be so incredibly boring."

Dante grinned and looked over at her. "Should I take that as a compliment?" he said jokingly, reaching up to play with the ends of Lulu's hair. She laughed. "Oh, that was definitely a compliment," she assured him, turning slightly towards him to rest on her elbow. They grinned at each other, and she shivered slightly.

"Cold?" he murmured, reaching down to pull on the comforter, tucking it around both of them. "We should probably try and get some sleep," he admitted reluctantly, and she laughed again.

"Don't look so disappointed," Lulu teased. "And I'm sure you need some recovery time, anyway."

Dante raised his eyebrows and placed his hand on the small of her back, pressing her against him more fully. "Wanna bet?" he asked, his voice low. Lulu wound her arm around his neck and giggled. Jesus, she never used to be a giggler, she realized. But it was so freeing, so simple, to be lying next to this man after being completely ravished, teasing and laughing. He was awaking parts of her that she'd shut off, and she was going to enjoy every moment of it. Even as she had the thought, Dante moved his hand toward her waist, and she winced.

His face changed completely, and he jerked his hand away. "What is it?" he demanded, concerned, and ripped the covers away before she could answer. He stared in horror at the small bruises that were already darkening the skin on her hips. Bruises that his hands had put there, he thought dully.

She looked down and shrugged. "It's nothing," she said, trying to pull the covers back up, but Dante held them tightly. He couldn't tear his eyes away from what he'd done to her beautiful body. She tucked her finger under his chin to bring his face up, and his eyes met hers. They were stormy and dark, full of pain and regret, and she opened her palm to caress his cheek. He shook his head. "Lulu, I," he said haltingly, trying to form the words. "I'm so sorry. I hurt you. It's completely inexcusable. Do you need some ice? Let me get you some ice. Do you want any aspirin? Is there any aspirin in this house? Maybe there's some in your bag. I'll go down and check-"

Lulu cut him off by leaning forward to hug him. She pressed her cheek to his, and tried not to laugh. She pulled back again so she could look into his eyes as she spoke.

"Dante, please stop," she said softly. "I've had worse from bumping into my desk at the office." He started to speak again and she solved the problem by putting her hand over his mouth. "Don't you think I know you would never intentionally hurt me? Don't you think it makes me happy to know you wanted me so much?" Slowly his eyes began to change, and she moved her hand, relieved. "And seriously, Dante. Don't you know that a girl likes to be taken control of every once in awhile?" she demanded. "You are ruining one of the hottest things that has ever happened to me, so please, knock it off."

He stared at her for a moment and let out a breath. He let his head fall down so their foreheads touched, and he closed his eyes. "Okay," he said finally. "Okay." He pulled away slightly so that he could lean down and kiss her, softly and gently. When they parted, he looked in her eyes and saw no pain. "Okay," he said again to himself, and bent to kiss her again.

The next few seconds went by in a flash. The bedroom door flew open, and a trio of voices yelped at the shock when the lights blinked on. Dante cursed himself for leaving his gun downstairs. Stupid! He thought angrily as he scrambled off the bed. So fucking stupid to be up here messing around while an entire mob (literally) was after him.

Dante's eyes began to adjust to the bright lights as he ran at the door, and he saw in a guy about his age holding a long black metal object, staring in shock at the bed. Dante's face darkened as he watched the man's face take in Lulu's naked body, and his anger grew. He barely had time to notice that the weapon had fallen to the man's side limply, and Dante heard Lulu gasp right before he swung. Dante's fist connected solidly to the man's jaw, and he crumbled to the floor. Dimly Dante thought he heard Lulu, but she couldn't actually be…laughing, could she?

The man on the floor braced a hand on the door frame and shook his head to try and relieve the pounding. Suddenly Lulu was there, wrapped in a sheet from the bed, kneeling down next to the man. Dante stared in shock, his body still tensed for attack, as Lulu turned the man's head to look at the swelling on his eye.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, sitting back on her heels and trying to catch her breath. The man rolled his eyes.

"Jesus, Lulu, this is my house," he answered sarcastically. "What the hell are you doing here? Other than trying to give me a heart attack?"

Lulu ran a hand over her face and tried to control herself from giggling again. The man glared at her and she pressed her lips together in an attempt to keep a straight face. "I'm sorry," she managed, and she held out a hand to pull them both to their feet. She turned to Dante, who was still standing as though ready to ward off an entire army, and she almost burst out laughing again. The men stared at her in silence as she braced a hand on the wall to keep herself up.

"I'm sorry," she said again. "Wow. This is…um. Strange." She took a breath and turned to face Dante again.

"Dante, this is Dillon Quartermaine. Dillon, Dante Falconari."

Dillon raised an eyebrow. Dante didn't move a muscle. Neither held out a hand, but Dillon was the first one to speak.

"Uh, dude? You want to put some clothes on?"