Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Sophia
I tried to push the thoughts away, but couldn’t. Had my brother really threatened Lily, or was it all in my head? I was so wrung out that I could have imagined it, but I didn’t think that was the case. Not if Matteo had seen it as well.
“Come back to me,” Matteo said softly into my ear, and I almost jumped out of my skin.
Tilting my face up to his, I quickly searched his face. He still had a worried look in his eyes, but he didn’t come right out and ask me. I was glad of that, because I didn’t think I could deny it again and be convincing.
“What do you mean?”
Tenderly, his hand splayed wide over the small of my back. His fingers were sliding back and forth. “You went away. Into your head,” he added. “I just mean you were thinking so hard.” He trailed off.
“I know. I’m sorry.” Sighing, I hid my face in his chest, and after a second, I felt him sigh. His arms tightened around me.
“It’s reminding you of that night, isn’t it?” Matteo ducked his head and whispered into my ear.
Even more confused, I continued to sway. What did he mean that night? And that’s when it hit me, and with it came a fresh wave of sadness.
It tightened my chest until it was almost painful. Matteo was talking about the night we had danced under the twinkling lights and could finally be together without anyone being suspicious.
“You look beautiful,” a smooth, masculine voice said from behind my right shoulder, and I couldn’t help it. I jumped a mile.
Spinning around, my heels caught in the hem of my long red dress, and I almost went down. I would have fallen on my face if Matteo's hands hadn’t come down hard around my hips to steady me.
Lifting my chin, I met his eyes. Those beautiful gold-flecked eyes that seemed to get darker when he looked at me.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I didn’t think you were coming tonight.” I was so hyper-aware that his hands were still on my hips. His fingers were digging in with an air of propriety.
As much as I loved his hands on me, especially when they were on my hips and waist, because it usually meant he was going to kiss me, I knew he couldn’t do that here in front of everyone.
No one could know about us.
Not yet, anyway.
Plus, I was enjoying having him to myself. I liked the fact that he could kiss me when we snuck out together without our families butting in.
Being with Matteo was taboo and forbidden and hot.
“I didn’t think so either, but…” he took a step forward like he couldn’t help himself, drawing me so close to his body so that only an inch separated us.
“I couldn’t stay away. Not if there’s a chance to see you, Sophia.
” Reaching down, he tucked a curl behind my ear and lowered his lip to it. His lips brushed against my earlobe.
I stifled a moan.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he whispered, and I felt my heart take flight.
In the three months since our first kiss, Matteo had become the best thing in my life. Sweet and tender, his kisses made me ache, but not once had he pressured me for anything else.
It was me who pushed for it, because if I was going to lose my virginity to anyone, I wanted it to be him. Matteo wanted us to wait, though, because he was a gentleman.
“I can’t stop…” The hair on the back of my neck stood up on end, and I stiffened. “I think people are starting to stare at us,” I mumbled.
It was like someone had zapped him with a cattle prong. He stepped back, throwing his head back and laughing so loudly that more than one set of eyes darted towards us.
My eyebrows shot up. What the hell?
“That’s cute, Sophia,” he said in a loud voice, still laughing in his booming voice. His eyes were serious, though, and they seemed to want me to play along.
Cracking a smile, I giggled into my hand. “I knew you would find it funny.”
This was all an act so that no one would suspect our real relationship. If they saw the way we looked at each other, the game would be up, though. We couldn’t hide our feelings when we looked at each other.
“So you wanna dance?” Matteo shoved his hands into his pockets.
My eyes widened. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
The words were barely out of my mouth before he was leading me into the middle of the dance floor. Couples swayed and spun around us. Older couples, married couples. We were the only people dancing from our age group, but I didn’t feel out of place.
Clasping my hand in his, he cradled the small of my back and drew me close to him. “Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?”
“Well.” I couldn’t breathe around him. I definitely couldn’t talk. “People will see,” I added lamely.
“That’s the point. We’ve danced together before, Sophia.” Again, he pushed a wayward curl back behind my ear. Only this time, his fingers lingered on my skin. “People would talk more if we didn’t dance together.”
He had a point there.
“Plus,” his grin grew devilish and a little lopsided, “I can’t get enough of you, Sophia, and if this is the only chance I get to see you this week, then I’ll take it. Even with everyone’s eyes on us.”
“This is really hard.” Sighing, I nestled into his chest, laying my cheek against his thundering heart. “I hate this,” I mumbled sadly.
His heart sped up a notch, and on my back, his hands pressed me into him. “You hate dancing with me?”
“I hate not being able to kiss you.”
His sigh was loud. “I know Sophia, and one day,” he rested his chin on the top of my head, “one day you’ll be mine and I’ll kiss you in front of everyone. That’s a promise.”
I knew he meant it.
“One day.” Murmuring, I closed my eyes. The music was old-fashioned, but it felt romantic. It felt good to be held by him. To dance with him.
It felt good just to be with him.
“Soon-…”
“What will be one day soon?” My brother’s voice broke through the spell, and we jumped apart almost guiltily.
Matteo recovered first. Twirling me under his arm, he spun me toward my brother, who caught me easily.
“That she will get asked to dance by a boy her own age.” Winking at me, he grinned at Gio. “If anyone would ever put up with her, that is.”
Gio’s lips twitched up into a grin, but his eyes were deadly serious as he looked between us. “Yeah,” he said finally. “I don’t think she will have long to wait for that. Come on, Sophia.” Gripping my hand hard, he yanked me away. “Mom and Sad need you.”
. I shot a look over my shoulder at Matteo.
“What’s going on?” I mouthed silently, and Matteo's frown deepened, shoulders hunched as he followed after us.
“Sophia, darling.” At the very edge of the crowd, my mother stepped forward. Pulling me into her arms, she hugged me quickly. “This is such a magical night, isn’t it? You look perfect.” Holding me out at arms’ length, she studied me. “Doesn’t she look like a beautiful young woman, Matteo?”
Blushing, I waited for his answer.
“She is.” Matteo swallowed hard. “Yes, she does. Although beautiful doesn’t quite cover it,” he said in a rush, and again my brother frowned.
We were going to have to be careful. Gio was getting suspicious.
“Come and stand with your papa and me, Sophia. We have a very special announcement,” my mother cooed, and again, I was led away. Only this time, the only person who followed us was my brother.
“What’s going on?” I whisper-hissed.
Gio didn’t say a word as we took our places next to our parents.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know…” My father’s boomed out. Reaching for my hand, he drew it up to his lips and kissed it. “My beautiful daughter Sophia recently turned nineteen, and I know many of you have approached me about …”
I drowned him out. I hated it when they spoke about me like I wasn’t there. It grated on me. Letting my eyes wander, I found Matteo on the edge of the crowd, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed about his chest. He gave me a lazy smile, and I relaxed with a sigh.
“We have searched long and hard for the perfect husband for her,” my father continued.
My head snapped up. Wait what?
Wildly, I looked around. Matteo straightened, a look of disbelief on his face.
“Sophia is my only daughter, so we needed to make sure the match was someone who would treasure her as much as we do, and I think we have found someone.” My father took a theatrical pause. “A young man we have known for many years. Someone who is a dear friend to us.”
I held my breath. He was talking about Matteo. He had to be. He was the only man who fit the bill.
Across the ballroom, our eyes clashed.
“So I am honoured to welcome Kaleb…”
Kaleb? No. No way.
“To our family, as our newest son.”
A blonde, gangly figure stepped out of the crowd, a wide smile on his face as he wandered toward us. Hands were shaken, congratulations were shared, and all I could do was stand there in complete and utter shock.
“I hope.” Finally, he stepped in front of me. “We can have a happy and…” Kaleb’s hands wrapped themselves around my waist, and his face lowered to mine.
Oh, hell no.
I would not let him kiss me in front of everyone.
Turning my head at the last moment, I felt his wet mouth land on my cheek.
Matteo’s eyes flashed and his lips twisted. There was pain in his eyes, but more than anything, there was anger. He walked away without another look in my direction.
“I’m sure you will.” Sliding between us, my father’s arm came around my shoulders, but he was speaking to Kaleb. “And I look forward to welcoming you to the family. In fact…” Heads together, they began to talk business, which was typical.
Women like me were just there to look pretty and give them babies. Our actual thoughts and feelings never came into it.
Usually, I hated it, but today, it gave me a chance to sneak away unnoticed.
Keeping my head down, I went after Matteo.
“Matteo?” I called out in a shaky voice, and a shadow detached itself from the high wall.
“You shouldn’t be out here, Sophia. Not now that you are engaged.” In the half-light spilling from the windows , he looked like a wild animal. His hands were clenching and unclenching. “Not with me.”
“I didn’t know.” I took a shaky step toward him, and he stepped back with a shake of his head.
“Don’t, Sophia.” Holding a hand out like he didn’t want me to come any closer, he shook his head. “I know you didn’t know, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are going to be married.”
Married. My whole life, I had known that my parents would choose my husband, but part of me, a massive part, had always thought they would choose Matteo.
He was the obvious choice.
He would be my choice.
Not that it mattered what I wanted.
“I don’t want to marry him.” Tears made my voice thick. “I want to be with you.”
For the space of ten agonized seconds, we stared at each other in silence.
“We need to stop seeing each other, Sophia.”
I started. “What? No.” Desperately, I tried to reach for him, and again he stepped away. “I don’t want that, Matteo, I…”
“I don’t want to see you anymore.”
His words were cold, and tears rushed up into my eyes. “You don’t mean that.” My voice shook. I knew he didn’t mean it.
“Yes, I do.” He shrugged his wide shoulders. “It’s been fun, Sophia, but it’s over now. I think it’s best if you go back inside and dance with your fiancé.”
“But…” The words stuck in my throat.
“Congratulations.” Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing on the terrace.
“But I love you,” I whispered, even though I knew he couldn’t hear it. And even if he could, what difference would it make?
Unless we decided to run away together, I would marry a man ten years older than me before my next birthday.
Watching his retreating back, I called out to him again, “I love you.”
For a second, he paused. “I know,” he called back, and then disappeared down the stairs, leaving me there with silent tears slipping down my face,
“Yes,” I whispered back. “Yes, it's reminding me of that night. The first time you broke my heart.”
His chuckle was sarcastic. “Breaking your heart? Do you know how I felt watching you dance with him? Knowing that he was the one who got to kiss you?”
My eyes widened. “You watched me dance with him. I thought you left?”
Silently, he shook his head. “I should have, but that just about killed me. That’s when I knew how I felt about you. That’s when I knew I would do anything to keep you.”
“Are you saying?” I whispered. Two months after my emergent announcement, Kaleb had been found dead in the bed of a prostitute. “Did you do that?”
Matteo stared at me steadily. “I think our night is at an end,” he said firmly. “Let’s go home.”
Entwining our fingers, he motioned for his security, and they parted the crowd for us.
“But to answer your question, Sophia, I did what I had to do to keep you in my life.” His eyes flashed. “I will always do what I have to in order to keep you.”