28. Arianna
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
ARIANNA
A side from my run-in with the mystery man two days ago, the past week had been nothing short of amazing.
Late-night rides on the back of Matteo’s bike. Dinners in the most exquisite and romantic restaurants in New York. Private balloon rides so we could be closer to the stars. Secret dates in the planetarium.
The latter was our go-to and favorite place to meet. Nobody ever visited it, which meant we had it all to ourselves.
“Ride with me,” Matteo tried to persuade me again. It was the day of the Vitale party, and we met first thing this morning before the world even awakened. “We’ll get there before anyone else and have some time alone.”
I shook my head, stretching my legs out on the planetarium’s cool floor. “I can’t. I promised Gianna and Hannah I’d drive. Besides, we’re alone now.”
He ignored my comment, stubbornness etched on his face. I knew it well; I’d seen it plenty when we were growing up.
“Your brothers can drive them.”
“It might give me a window to talk to Hannah.”
He let out a strained laugh. “If I thought you would, I’d agree.”
It made me sound like a coward, but I just couldn’t force myself to rush into hurting my sister. So I dragged my feet, although deep down I knew this secret romance would be doomed with each day I delayed the conversation.
“Hannah hates motorcycles and Gianna isn’t any better. Besides, Penelope is coming along too and there’s no way in hell I’m letting my brothers drive my Jeep.”
“So possessive of your Jeep,” he teased.
“And my men.”
“Your man,” he corrected, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I rolled my eyes, but there was no avoiding the way my chest trembled. Truth be told, I liked Matteo’s possessiveness.
“Who would’ve thought we’d end up here?” I said wistfully.
He chuckled. “You mean after you kicked me in the balls, broke my nose, and I pulled your hair every chance I had when we were teenagers?”
I glared at him playfully. “I hated that, by the way.”
He shot me an innocent look. “But you like it when I tug on your hair while I fuck you.”
My cheeks heated and I ignored the throbbing between my legs. It would take time to get used to Matteo’s filthy vocabulary.
I gently pushed him away, squealing when he slapped my ass. “I’ll see you later at your parents’ house.”
When we arrived at the Vitale manor around noon, the place was swarming with bulletproof cars, bored-looking armed guards, and a sea of both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Dark suits with guns strapped into holsters. Aviator glasses. Mafia bosses.
“This place looks like the godfathers of the world got together,” Penelope muttered.
“Let’s hope nobody dies,” I chimed in. “And don’t worry, once we change into formal attire, we’ll probably fit right in.”
I pulled around the circular driveway and the first face we ran into was my uncle Luca, pacing outside.
His dark eyes landed on all of us.
“Ah, my favorite girls are finally here,” he greeted, pulling his daughter, Penelope, into a hug. “What did I tell you all about driving with the top down? It’s dangerous.”
“What did I tell you about your paranoia?” I asked as I turned off the ignition and jumped out, my sisters behind me. “Besides, my car, my rules. You better worry about Aunt Margaret with your declaration of us being your favorites over her.”
Penelope chuckled. “That definitely won’t end well for you, Papa.”
It took only a glance to know that Penelope was a daddy’s girl through and through. She still got herself into plenty of trouble, but it was always her papa she turned to.
“What wouldn’t end well?” Aunt Margaret appeared, dressed in a showstopping silver ball gown, and it was no wonder Uncle Luca was head over heels for her. The woman was stunning.
“Don’t listen to these troublesome girls, mia bella,” he drawled, wrapping his hand around her waist.
“Pfft, we’re basically saints,” Hannah declared, gesturing a makeshift halo around her head. “Are Mom and Dad here?”
Uncle Luca nodded. “And your brothers. Nico caught them on the highway doing wheelies.”
Gianna grinned. “Oooh, busted. Idiots!”
“And your parents want to talk to you, Hannah,” Aunt Margaret added.
I flicked her a curious look, but before I could say anything, Penelope snickered. “Maybe someone else is busted too.”
“You better not take any of us down with you,” Gianna hissed.
Hannah flipped her off as she climbed the steps two at a time, but then she stopped midway as she passed Aunt Margaret’s brother, Kyran Callahan. Rich and unmarried, he had women younger than us chasing after him even though he was much older. I knew this because we attended his birthday party last year, where a woman literally threw herself at him—naked. Five other women soon “lost” their clothes too, and suddenly, it was a nudist party.
Dad said, and I quote, “That’s the last fucking party of his we ever attend.”
“I swear, if she blabs to anyone, I’m going to murder her,” Gianna growled under her breath, her eyes narrowed on Hannah, who was still talking to Uncle Kyran.
“About what?” I asked curiously.
She waved her hand and I narrowed my eyes, but before I could question her further, Uncle Luca was in front of us.
“Do I even want to know?” he asked, and Gianna shook her head. “Then I won’t ask.” My twin finally disappeared inside. “About your Jeep, Arianna?—”
I groaned. “You sure Dad doesn’t need me inside too?”
He chuckled.
“Count yourself lucky that he doesn’t,” he remarked dryly. “But seriously, the top down and wind in your hair makes for an easy target. I taught you better. No?”
“You did,” I agreed. “I promise you that I didn’t take unnecessary risks. The roads were empty, and I kept an eye on my surroundings at all times.”
“Besides, nobody would have been able to catch up to her,” Gianna deadpanned.
“Not even her own guardian angel from up above could have caught her,” Penelope chimed in.
I groaned. “You two are not helping, and if you continue this, you’ll have to hitch a different ride back.”
They both laughed, knowing it was an empty threat.
“Ari is one of the best drivers I know.” My heartbeat sped up at the familiar voice and my stomach did a few somersaults. I looked over my shoulder, oxygen escaping my lungs at the sight of Matteo’s tousled dark hair and powerful frame.
“Matteo,” I breathed. “You’re here already.”
He nodded, then gave me a pointed look. “I took my bike.”
“I sure hope none of these girls have been on that thing.” Uncle Luca’s eyes sharpened on him.
I smiled and answered before Matteo could. “Of course not. I would never let my family take such a risk.” Only me.
“I’d never let any harm come to Ari.”
Uncle Luca’s gaze flicked between us curiously, but he didn’t say anything further.
“It’s nice seeing you, Matteo,” Aunt Margaret greeted him, concern etched on her face while she glanced between us. “I didn’t think you could get taller, but you’ve proven me wrong.”
Aware of Uncle Luca’s sharp gaze on me, I excused myself, my heart racing. I was barely inside the Vitale manor when Matteo caught up to me, slipping his hand into mine.
“Jesus, are you trying to get us caught?” I hissed.
He swept his eyes over my face, concern etched in his brow. “We’re adults, and we’re not doing anything wrong.”
I let out a heavy sigh, then forced a smile. “I haven’t talked to Hannah yet.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes and a darkness rippled beneath his voice when he said, “She’s bound to learn sooner or later. Unless you’re planning to change your mind.”
“Of course not,” I said, ignoring the stupid flutter in my chest. I stopped walking, ducking underneath the marble steps that led upstairs, then faced him. “I will tell Hannah everything soon, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that promise.” Matteo leaned his forearm against the wall above my head, those bulging biceps cocooning me into a world of our own.
I tossed my hair over my shoulder and pasted on a brash smile. “Or what?”
His eyes pierced mine. “You trying to provoke me, Ari?”
“Why would I ever do that?” I blinked up at him, the picture of innocence.
“Maybe because you want to kiss me?”
“Nope,” I lied.
Anticipation climbed in my chest when he leaned forward, his gaze dropping to my lips. “Or do you need to be punished?”
He closed his hand around my wrist in an iron grip and yanked me toward a door underneath the steps—a storage room of some sort, I soon came to learn, as my back collided with a stack of paper towels and a broomstick. I rubbed my shoulder as Matteo shut the door, clicking the lock in place.
He walked toward me, each slow step sending another jolt of anticipation down my spine. His presence filled every nook of this too-cramped room, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In the next breath, he claimed my lips in a bruising kiss.
Blood pounded in my ears as I yanked a fistful of his hair. He pulled my dress up and ripped my underwear off, never breaking contact. His fingers delved between my legs to find me already wet, and I moaned into his mouth as he dragged his fingers through my folds.
I pushed him away gently, meeting his blazing eyes.
“You’re mad,” I breathed, ignoring the adrenaline and desire coursing through me.
“I want to lock you in my room and tie you to my bed until you see it.”
“See what?”
“That I would give up everything for you. That there’s no sense in delaying this. That I don’t want lies. ’Cause I want you . I love you . The longer we keep this secret, the worse it will be for Hannah.”
He was right, and the worst part was that I knew it. But I didn’t want to think about that now.
I looked around and spotted a stack of boxes to his left. Deciding they looked sturdy enough, I guided him over to it. He sat, eyes curious, and followed my movements as I pushed myself between his thighs.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I love you too,” I murmured, heat burning inside me like an inferno intent on destruction. “I’ll tell her today, but now, please let me taste your cock.”
“Fuck, Ari,” he growled as I lowered myself onto my knees and reached for his belt buckle. “You don’t have to.”
But his hands had already taken over unbuttoning his pants, fumbling and eager. I had to bite my lip not to grin at seeing him so off-kilter. Although, to be fair, so was I.
“I want to.”
The sound of the zipper filled the space between us and I licked my lips. My hands trembled as I wrapped my fingers around his erection. He was smooth and hot, his length thicker than I remembered.
“Tell me if I’m doing it wrong,” I murmured, then gave him a tentative lick.
He let out a hiss as his stomach tightened. He pushed his hand through my hair, grabbing a fistful of it, and when I licked him from the base to the top, his grip tightened.
“Look at me, Ari,” he said harshly, and I raised my eyes to meet his gaze. “Good girl.” Shit, why did those words send sparks of pleasure through me? “Now suck.”
I ran my tongue around the head of his cock, then took him into my mouth, sucking as much of him down as I could handle.
It wasn’t long before Matteo took over, moving my head up and down. He withdrew until just the tip of his cock remained in my mouth, only to thrust all the way to the back of my throat.
“Fuck,” he rasped, repeating the move again while his free hand cupped my cheek tenderly. “This mouth is mine, isn’t it? Every inch of you.” An electric shiver ripped down my spine. “Tell me.”
My answer was a muffled yes and an eager nod.
“Mine,” he said, plunging down my throat in one sharp thrust.
His breaths came fast and heavy while I bobbed my head enthusiastically, the heat in my belly stoking hotter. My nipples and pussy were so sensitive, the lightest friction could tip me over the edge.
I gagged while he continued, up and down.
He caressed my jaw while his tight grip on my hair brought tears to my eyes. There was something intoxicating about this contrast. To know that I had this power over him.
“Can I come in your mouth, my love?” he asked.
I blinked up at him in agreement, and in the next breath, he finished in my mouth with a groan I could feel down to my core. I swallowed every drop, licking my lips while holding his half-lidded stare.
His hand traveled from my cheek down to my neck, his fingers curling gently.
“You and me,” he sighed out. “Nothing and nobody else matters. Remember that when the time comes.”
He released me and I watched him tuck himself back in and head out the door, wondering what exactly he meant by those words.