Chapter 11 #2
Matteo rises from the couch. The hairs on my nape rise.
He stalks to the display shelf built into the wall, selects a few accessories, and strides toward me.
The heels hanging from his hooked fingers mock me, but my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth when he drops to a knee in front of me and circles his thick fingers around my ankle.
I use the mirror for balance as he replaces my bulky cotton sock with a disposable nylon one and fits the shoe onto my foot.
As he does the same to my other foot, blurry visions flash through my memory.
He wiped my legs clean after I climbed onto the table during our class reunion.
When he caresses my calf through my pants, my throat thickens.
He’s the only one in my adult life who has taken care of me.
Despite my harsh words and adamance that we’ll never work, he treats me as though I’m the delicate rabbit he claims I am.
He treated my bruised arm, applied cream to my burned face, held my hair back while I vomited, and cleaned my legs when I was too drunk to notice.
I clear my throat as he places my foot on the floor and rises.
The low heel doesn’t disrupt my balance like I feared, and the padded soles add support my regular dress shoes lack.
Shock rolls through me when he closes a necklace around my throat, fastens a bracelet around my wrist, and pulls the ponytail out of my hair. When he closes my fist around the handle of a designer laptop tote, I shove it back toward him, but he turns me toward the mirror and steps away.
Despite my generous salary, I will never be able to afford this outfit if I want to get my revenge in the next decade.
But I look amazing.
Without a word, Matteo takes the bag, jewelry, and shoes.
“Next,” he says as he settles back onto the couch.
The next suit comes with both a pair of pants and a skirt.
I hate the cropped blazer, but I pull it on before changing into the pants.
A small sound escapes the back of my throat as I realize how deep the pockets are.
With wide legs and a high waist, they compliment the blazer so well I change my mind.
When I step in front of the mirror, I can’t reconcile the woman staring back at me with the body I’ve lugged around for twenty-nine years. She’s gorgeous, stylish, and elegant in a take-no-shit way.
I squeak when broad shoulders fill the mirror behind me and jerk in alarm when Matteo slips his hands into the deep pants pockets.
“Fuck, that’s a pretty sound. Make it again,” he murmurs against the well of my shoulder.
My heart pounds against my sternum as he splays his fingers and grabs my upper thighs through the pockets. Warmth pools between my legs as his thumbs brush against my sex. A whimper escapes me.
“Goddamnit, little rabbit. You’re already soaked, aren’t you? You like teasing me, don’t you?”
Pressure builds in my core. I shake my head.
“Unbutton your top,” he growls.
My breath hitches as he shifts his thumbs closer to my clit. Emotions clog my throat even as need pebbles my nipples.
“You may be above begging, but I’m not.” Fissures of pleasure travel up and down my spine as he brushes his lips along my throat as he speaks. “Please, little rabbit, unbutton your shirt and show me those perfect breasts.”
Every reason why I should say no drains from my mind. My fingers tremble as they move to fulfill his wish.
When cool air wafts over my front and the plain white fabric of my bra flashes in the mirror, my sanity returns. I pull the blazer tight around me and fight for oxygen.
Lightning zaps from my clit to my core as Matteo presses his thumb in a slow circle over the sensitive bundle of nerves. I hiss and abandon my top to grab his wrists. He licks up the side of my throat and sucks my earlobe into his mouth.
I gasp and tip dangerously close to losing control.
“Stop, Matteo. I can’t—”
He growls and closes his teeth over my sensitive earlobe.
I cling to his wrists and fight for breath as he strokes my clit through the fabric with disastrous accuracy and pops my breasts free of my bra with a single tug upward.
His hot palm compresses my peaked nipple as he grabs my breast. The sensation of flesh on flesh scrambles my mind and skyrockets me into a new plane of need.
He flicks his tongue over the trapped shell of my ear before pulling his teeth gently away. The sting travels to my sex, and I ache as my core clenches around nothing.
“Say my name again,” he growls.
I shake my head.
Liquid desire melts my bones as he yanks his hand out of my pocket and unfastens my pants. I gasp as his thick, demanding fingers touch slick, needy flesh.
“Fucking hell, little rabbit, you’re so wet. Say my name again and I’ll let you come all over my fingers,” he rumbles into my ear.
I dig my nails into his wrists and drop my head back against his shoulder. Every inch of me trembles. I’ve never been this aroused before.
The pressure in my belly is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. It’s terrifying. Part of me is scared of what’s on the other side. The other part trusts Matteo enough to follow him into the abyss.
He slips his digits deeper between my legs and groans as liquid honey spills over his hand. When he curls his finger and hits directly over my clit, lightning spears through me. I arch my back. His hard cock grinds against my ass.
He pinches my nipple and nips my ear.
“I-I can’t. I’ve never…”
My courage fails me. His entire body stiffens. He lifts desire-darkened hazel orbs and steals my soul through the mirror.
“You can. Give it to me, Brook. I want all of you.”
A mix of pleading and demand, his words break the dam inside me. I fly apart as he strokes my clit with relentless fingers and twists my nipple.
My insides clench and wetness floods my panties as waves of euphoria crash over me. His name slips from my lips.
Every cell in my body quakes from the aftermath as my orgasm ends.
“Another. Give me another,” he demands.
He doesn’t stop. I squeak and wriggle, but he steps forward, presses me against the mirror, and circles my clit with renewed vigor. My breath fogs the glass.
“Wait, Matteo, I—oh my god, I—”
I shatter into a million pieces as a second full-body orgasm slams into me. My toes curl and lungs seize. The world fades to black. Nothing exists beyond his ruthless fingers and hungry mouth as he nips and sucks along the side of my throat.
I sob his name. He presses a kiss to my jawline and gentles his touch. My senses slowly return.
“I need to taste you,” he murmurs against my temple.
I curl my hands into fists against the mirror as he slips his fingers away from my throbbing sex. His digits glisten with my release.
Visceral delight joins the buzz in my veins as he licks his fingers. His groan vibrates deep into my marrow.
“I want to taste you, too.”
The words slip from my lips without my permission, but lost in the glow of endorphins, I find they’re the truest words I’ve ever spoken.
He pinches my chin and pulls my face up to his.
“Are you sure, little rabbit? I can’t guarantee I won’t lose control. I’m so hard right now.”
The concern marring his brow seals my fate. Despite his desperation, he cares for me.
Logically, I know it makes no sense. He wrung my orgasms from me without permission. In fact, I told him no, but he pushed past my barriers and took what he wanted.
He never would have gotten it otherwise. I never would have said yes to having my first non-self-induced orgasms in a dressing room with my boss, no matter how much I wanted them.
He gave me what I was too scared to ask for.
He’s asking now.
I don’t want to deny myself anymore.
I want more. So much more. I want to give him everything.
I can’t. Not yet. Revenge comes first.
But I can give him the same pleasure he gave me.
“Yes, I’m sure,” I rasp.
He takes my lips in a hot, demanding kiss, and for a little while, nothing exists beyond his dominance.
Not revenge. Not my mother. Not his betrayal eleven years ago.
Fuck, I’m falling for the man who stole my heart in high school only to rip it from my chest and stomp it into the ground before turning his back on me.
It’s going to hurt like hell when he realizes I can’t offer him more than physical pleasure. He’ll have every right to dump me to the curb, unlike my father eleven years ago.
I survived abandonment before and I can do it again.
I hope.