8. Aurora
CHAPTER 8
Aurora
After I set the last of the dishes in the sink, I poured myself another glass of wine and walked to the veranda. Dinner with Matteo was intense, and I needed air before I turned in for the night. I needed to clear my head, and ever since I was a young girl, the ocean air has always seemed to do the trick.
Unfortunately, I’m all grown up, and the air's magic seems lost. Still, it’s relaxing, and at least I am away from Matteo. I’m not stupid. I knew that rubbing my ass against what I can now tell is a rather large cock and flashing him my cleavage was like playing Russian Roulette, but I hadn’t cared.
He deserved to be tortured after what he did. Does he really think I am some play toy he can use and discard when he gets bored?
Thinking about our earlier encounter, I could feel my anger boiling. I drank the rest of my wine and looking at my watch, decided to go to bed. It was only 10:00 pm but O didn’t care.
Walking back inside, I set my glass on the bar and yelled, “Good Night” as I made my way to the spare bedroom. Did he deserve to be told good night? No, but I am a lady. He might be able to accuse me of many things, but being rude won’t be one of them.
As I lay in the spacious spare bedroom of the honeymoon suite, the soft hum of the ocean waves began to relax me. I wasn’t sure how to interpret the uneasy tranquility it brought but it was better than the writing hostility I felt earlier.
What about Matteo Santoro, my husband, got me so flustered? Was it his domineering personality, his brooding gray eyes, or the intricately patterned mosaic of tattoos that I desperately wanted to explore? I didn’t know and was too tired to try and figure it out.
Before closing my eyes, I glanced around the dimly lit room, the moonlight glowing across the elaborate furniture. It was ironic. Here I was on my honeymoon, surrounded by tropical comfort and warmth, yet I had never felt so alone. It had been a long, emotionally chaotic day, and my emotions were reeling. Where there should have been happiness and joy, I felt confusion, anger, resentment, and, worst of all, longing and desire.
I pulled the silk sheets up to my chin as I turned to my side to try and quiet my mind. As tired as I was, sleep seemed elusive, like an object in the distance that I could see but never touch. No matter how hard I tried to push them away, my thoughts drifted back to Matteo. Why were all our interactions so confrontational and intense? How had I allowed him to catch me in moments of vulnerability that left me exposed and wanting more?
Realizing I couldn’t figure it out, I took a deep breath and relaxed my body and mind. Just as I was about to fall into dreamland, I was jolted awake by the sensation of something or someone in bed beside me.
My body tensed, and my heart began pounding in my chest as I felt the warmth of Matteo’s body sliding in behind me. Out of fear and anger, I turned quickly to confront him, but when I did, I became acutely aware that he was naked. Matteo Santoro was naked in my bed. What in the hell was I supposed to do now?
“What do you think you are doing, Matteo?” I asked in the angriest voice I could muster. I prayed he couldn’t hear the fear and shock that went along with it. “This is my bed. Yours is down the hall.”
Matteo’s eyes met mine, a combination of desire and determination that was both sexy and frightening. How he managed to be both, I have no idea but damn, I was in trouble.
“I am very well aware of where my so-called room is, Aurora. However, I have no intention of spending my wedding night alone.”
What did he just say? Does he think we’re going to… does he want to…
My breath caught in my throat as I searched for the right words. A flood of emotions, anger, fear, resentment, and something I couldn’t quite name and didn’t want to, crashed over me as he inched closer toward me.
Pulling the sheet closer to my chin, I looked at him defiantly. “You have no right to be here, Matteo.”
Smiling seductively, he reached out and gently stroked my face. “Oh, but I do, my sweet Aurora. We are married, after all. We might have our differences, and this might not be the fairy tale you dreamed of but there is no denying that we want each other.”
Appalled at his presumption, I felt a new surge of anger, but against my will, I was curious. Curious to know more about the man who was now my husband and who dared to be naked in my bed.
“I don’t believe in fairy tales, Matteo and I am no one’s plaything. You are sorely mistaken if you think you can manipulate me into submission.”
As much as I wanted to fight him and demand he leave, my body was betraying me. The closeness of his body created a heat deep inside me that I couldn’t ignore.
Slowly, he ran the pad of his thumb across my lips.
Shaking my head I tried to speak. “Matteo, I don’t think…”
“Shhh, don’t think so much Aurora. Just feel. Let me be close to you tonight and enjoy the beauty of the moment.”
My resolve began to waver, and my heart pounded as I searched his eyes for any sign that this was a joke. I wouldn’t put it past him. But I didn’t see any. Instead, I saw a raw, unguarded longing and sincerity that made me want to give in to our desires.
Slowly, I nodded as my breath hitched. Matteo began to smile as he moved closer, his muscular body pressing against me, sending shivers down to my toes. My mind was a snow globe of emotions. Realizing I wasn’t going to make sense of them, I gave in.
Matteo slowly slid his hand down my arm. Such a gentle touch that left a trail of fire behind. My breath quickened and I could no longer deny my need. Despite my fear and anger and the mountain of differences between us, I wanted him. I wanted all of him. I just wasn’t sure I could.”
I had always dreamed of my wedding night and how special it would be. This was a far cry from that. My voice was almost a whisper. “Matteo, I don’t know if I can…”
“Shhh, just enjoy…”
As Matteo’s lips brushed my neck, I closed my eyes and sighed softly as I surrendered to the moment. The sensations that coursed through me as his lips touched my skin were electrifying.
His touch was tender and commanding, almost as if he was making a silent plea for me to trust him. I didn’t want to, but I did.
Sensing I was still tense, he whispered, “We don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for, Aurora, but I want to be close to you, to feel you.”
My heart jumped at his words. I wanted to believe them, but the walls I’d carefully built around my heart were strong. Years of disappointment, betrayal, and watching my mother become a shadow of herself as my father cheated repeatedly had fortified them.
Trust is fragile, easily broken, and even more challenging to rebuild. I’d seen that firsthand.
But as Matteo’s hand moved to cup my breast through my satin nightgown, his touch sent waves of pleasure throughout my body that I couldn’t ignore. My defenses began to crumble, and my body took over. Why shouldn’t I get something out of this? Even if it is just physical pleasure?
A cold, calculated agreement may have bound us together but that didn’t mean I couldn’t get some enjoyment out of it. As his hands continued to roam my body, I gave in to the sensations coursing through my body, screaming for me to let this tattooed, muscular asshole of a god worship me. I deserved it.
Softly moaning, I arched my back as he lifted me to ease the nightgown off. Staring at me in awe, he licked his lips. “Stunning, absolutely stunning, my gorgeous wife.”
I was breathless. Matteo continued to tenderly caress every inch of my body as he kissed along my neck and jaw before taking my right breast into his mouth. Groaning, Matteo sucked and flicked his tongue across my hardened nipple as he massaged my left breast with his rough yet incredibly soft hands. The man was a conundrum, but I didn’t care right now.
“That feels so good, Matteo. Please don’t stop.”
I don’t know what overcame me, but my sudden need for this man threatened to consume me.
“Don’t worry, my beautiful vixen, I’m just starting. This is only round one.”
I shivered at his words, wanting to believe that feeling this good was right. There could be more to this fake marriage than snide remarks and hollow threats.
I felt a sudden loss as his mouth left my breast, but it was quickly replaced by the feel of Matteo’s lips kissing down my stomach to my inner thighs. Slowly, he licked my slit before grinning up at me.
“Delicious, just as I knew it would be.”
He teased my swollen bud with the tip of his tongue as he inserted two fingers inside me. I clung to him, my fingernails digging into his back as I rode the waves of pleasure building inside me.
But I wanted more. I needed more.
“Matteo, I need you inside me. Please…”
But before I could finish, he was facing me and capturing my lips in a searing kiss, his tongue exploring the depths of my mouth with a hunger that told me he was as hungry for this as I was.
He entered me slowly at first, allowing my body time to adjust to his size.
“Are you okay?” he asked sincerely.
“Yes, I’m more than okay. Please don’t stop.”
“As you wish.”
My legs wrapped around his waist as his movement quickened. I couldn’t believe how easily our bodies adapted to each other, perfectly in sync, almost like they were made for one another.
I didn’t get time to dwell on that before I began seeing stars.
“Matteo,” I gasped, “I’m going to…”
As my climax exploded, I screamed in ecstasy and clung to Matteo while the waves of pleasure subsided.
We lay in silence for a while. The only sounds were the gentle rustle of the sheets and the soft, distant hum of the ocean waves. For a reason I couldn’t decipher, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced in years. But I knew in my heart it couldn’t last.
The uncertainty and fear were bound to come back soon, but now they would be compounded by our intimacy.
“Matteo,” I asked barely above a whisper.
Stroking my back as my head lay on his chest, he responded softly, “Yes?”
“What happens now?”
His hand stilled as he said, “We take it day by day.”
As we lay in the darkness, our bodies entwined, for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that maybe—just maybe—there was a chance I could be happy.