Page 41 of Ivory Obsession

I just needed to gather my courage…because I wasn’t going to accuse him of something I wasn’t sure of.

We didn’t really talk until we got back to my place. He pressed a soft kiss against my forehead as we stood outside my apartment.

“Stay safe,” Dante’s voice was a low rumble, the warmth of his breath brushing my cheek as we stood outside the door to my apartment. He pulled me into him, his arms wrapping around my frame with a possessiveness that both comforted and alarmed me.

I leaned into the safety of his hold, but the tremor in my heart wasn’t just from the cold. “I will,” I murmured, feeling the weight of our separate worlds on my shoulders.

He drew back just enough to look at me, his eyes searching mine for something I wasn’t sure I could give. “I’ll check in later.” His thumb grazed my jawline, and I wondered if he felt the quake of my resolve.

“Okay,” was all I managed, caught in the intensity of his gaze.

Dante leaned down, his lips claiming mine in a kiss that spoke of promises and goodbyes. It lingered, deep and thorough, leaving me breathless when he finally stepped back. With a final nod, he turned and walked away, his figure blending seamlessly into the city’s heartbeat.

I watched him go until the distance swallowed him whole, then turned to face the solitude of my apartment. Inside, the quiet was deafening. I shed my coat and sunk onto the couch, replaying the morning’s revelations and the unsettling encounter that had preceded this farewell.

The memory of how his touch unraveled me the night before washed over me in waves of heat and confusion. How he made me lose control, surrender to sensations I didn’t know I craved, left me yearning for more despite the fear gnawing at my mind.

I needed answers. I needed to understand what being with Dante truly meant—for me, for my future. Resolute, I decided our next meeting wouldn’t be shrouded in uncertainty or lost in the haze of desire. No, I would confront him, demand transparency about his life, his loyalties, and where I fit amidst the chaos he embodied.

But as I paced the confines of my apartment, my thoughts were a tangled dance of logic and emotion. The safe, predictable parameters of my scientific world seemed galaxies away from Dante’s turbulent realm, yet here I was, straddling the line between order and chaos. There was something about him, an inexplicable pull that defied my rational mind and whispered promises of passion and depth.

“Focus on what you can control,” I murmured to myself, the scientist in me trying to formulate a hypothesis for a future with a man whose life was a constant variable. Maybe it was possible to find equilibrium within the disarray, to be part of his universe without losing myself in its darkness.

My hands found their way to the drawer of my bedside table, fingers wrapping around the silicone form that had become a tangible memory of Dante’s touch. It was as if every nerve ending remembered him, craved his presence. With a deep breath, I let go of my reservations and allowed my body to sink into the bed, the cool sheets contrasting with the heat building within me.

I unbuttoned my jeans, sliding them down my legs along with the fabric of my underwear. Lying there, exposed and alone, I closed my eyes, letting the fantasy of Dante wash over me. His touch was a ghostly sensation against my skin, his breath a phantom whisper in my ear. I shivered at the thought of him - no, the memory of him – of us entwined in the throes of passion.

I brought the silicone form close to me, its cold, lifeless touch a stark contrast to Dante’s warmth, to his living, breathing reality. But as I let it explore my body’s landscape, it began to mimic his touch - tentative at first, then confident, insistent. My breath hitched as a wave of pleasure rolled through me.

I closed my eyes, surrendering to the sensations as I guided the dildo with a steady hand, each movement a reflection of last night’s ecstasy. In my mind’s eye, it was Dante’s hands exploring me, his body pressed against mine. My breath quickened as I lost myself in the fantasy, in the connection that bound us together despite the messiness of our worlds colliding. I pressed the dildo inside of me as I turned the vibration on bringing me closer to the edge.

With each thrust, my thoughts were consumed by him. His scent filled my nostrils; his voice echoed in my ears, whispering sweet words of longing and lust. It was as if Dante was here with me - guiding the movements, coaxing pleasure from every inch of my body. The mere thought was enough to drive me over the edge.

“God, Dante,” I gasped out, the intensity of my longing pushing me closer to the edge.

I rode the wave of pleasure, letting it sweep me under until my body went limp with satisfaction. It wasn’t real; it was a pale imitation of what I had experienced in Dante’s arms, but it was enough to soothe the edge of my longing.

As the last echo of my climax washed over me, I lay there panting, hand still gripping the silicone as if it was my lifeline to sanity. Strands of hair stuck to my forehead, plastered by sweat and spent passion. But even in the post-coital haze, I was aware of his absence—aware that despite the orgasmic release, I felt hollow.

And then I knew that no matter what the fuck the rest of his life was like, I was definitely going to reach out.

Chapter Sixteen: Jade

What the fuck did my boss need me for?

I had barely gotten into the lab when Dr. White called me in to see him. I plopped down in a leather chair across from Dr. Stuart White, his office a fortress of knowledge with books stacked like sentinels watching over us. The patter of rain against the window provided a steady rhythm to the weighty silence between us.

“Jade,” Dr. White began, his voice coated with concern, “your research...it’s groundbreaking, but it’s also vulnerable.” His fingers drummed on the mahogany desk, the sound oddly menacing. “You have to tighten up your digital security.”

He only addressed me by my first name when he was being condescending, so I already didn’t love this.

I nodded, my throat tight. I knew the stakes; my work wasn’t just petri dishes and microscopes—it was power, the kind that could tempt the greediest of souls.

Edward Rodriguez stepped forward, his presence commanding despite the lack of any physical intimidation. He laid out a blueprint of our digital defenses—or lack thereof—on the desk. “Let me be blunt,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “Your data could be snatched up before you even realize it’s gone.”

I leaned in, absorbing every word as he detailed firewalls and encryption protocols with the kind of urgency that told me this was no hypothetical threat. Edward wasn’t just talking about hackers; he was talking about predators lurking in the shadows of the cyber world, waiting to pounce.

But…why target me?