Chapter 30 #3
Matteo frowned, his expression softening even more as he leaned in, wrapping one arm around my waist. I leaned in too, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding on tight. Most of all, filled with relief that we were okay.
I didn’t know why I was so sure he would hate me because I lied.
Deep down, I guessed I cared about the rumors about him after all. Maybe I really did think he wouldn’t want me after he got what he wanted.
His other hand went under my knees as he lifted me up effortlessly, like the princess he always called me.
And I knew, he’d told me the truth. I was his exception.
He walked us across the marble floor, to the large bathtub overlooking the city through the privacy window.
Then, as if it was the easiest thing in the world, he stepped in, sitting down with me in his lap. Leaning back and allowing me to rest on top of him as the tub filled with hot water.
He held me in his big arms as I looked up at the New York stars – the golden skyline lights sparkling in the distance.
“You shouldn’t have walked away.”
My head was resting on his chest, my sharp nails drawing patterns on his chest.
“You didn’t exactly have a good reaction.”
His rough palm came up to cup my cheek, gently making me look up at him and see the raw honesty behind his words. “Lo siento, mi amor. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
I knew. That didn’t change the fact that I was jealous.
So, I simply leaned my head back on his chest and let him run his hands through my hair.
Matteo reached out and stopped the water once I was covered in the warmth.
And we laid there together. For how long, I’m not sure.
Steam flowed around us, though the only warmth I could truly feel was that radiating from his body.
It warmed more than just my skin.
I felt it warm my soul.
Tangled up in my chest and wrapping around it tight.
Possessive in a romantic way that felt true and sacred.
Like this connection was something only the two of us had ever discovered.
Neither could verbally explain it.
But saw it in the other’s eyes.
And I just knew for some reason, he was not going to let me go once the year was over.
The scary part, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to anymore.
His hand went into my wet hair, firmer this time, making me glance up at him again. He didn’t need to speak for me to understand him.
My chest expanded with an enamored breath.
I stopped myself, looking away and shaking my head with a small breath of forced amusement. “It’s just sex, Matteo.”
His hold tightened on my chin, forcing my naked eyes to his.
“Don’t lie to me.” His voice was deep and raw with honesty. “It hasn’t been ‘just sex’ for a long time. Not for you. Not for me.”
I was so out of it, and I knew it.
With the soft amber lights around us, being held in his big arms, naked and wet and vulnerable – finally feeling safe and loved and by him, in his secure masculinity…
I could feel the shape of my eyes morphing into hearts as I looked at Matteo.
And I couldn’t find a care in the world.
I could let myself dream until the end of the year.
When he leaned down to kiss me, I welcomed it – ached for it. He captured my bottom lip between his in the softest, yet deepest, most passionate way. Matteo Di’Ablo was making my head spin – but it just felt so right.
“Feel better?” He asked, cupping me between the legs, firm and heavy, making me shiver.
“Yeah,” I replied in a soft breath.
“Ready to get up and shower?”
“Five more minutes?”
The softest smile I’d ever seen on him. It radiated like the sunrise in an early summer. Gold and blinding, yet in the gentlest way imaginable.
His face turned slightly serious. “You’re sleeping on my chest like this tonight. No more of that ‘separate rooms’ bullshit. You understand me?”
A smile of my own found me. Small and maybe a little shy.
Who am I?
“Yeah.”
“Good,” He murmured, still holding me between the legs.
I felt a weird sense of safety from it, like nothing in the world could ever touch me when I was wrapped around him like this.
He tipped his head toward me, raising a brow. “And you’re moving all your stuff into our bedroom too.”
I smiled. Bigger this time, and laid my palm flat against his heart. “Okay.”
I froze immediately after, realizing what I’d done, not sure how it’d come across.
It was fine as long as I knew how much I liked him. Long as I knew the effect he had on me.
But I didn’t want him to know yet. To think I was one of those people that attached easily just because of a little love.
Matteo’s hand came up to mine, on his chest. And in one soft move, he grabbed it and brough it up to his mouth – staring directly into my eyes as he kissed my hand.
Then, turned it over and kissed my palm – eyes still on me – before moving onto the inside of my wrist and leaving a kiss there too.
My lips parted when he brought my palm to his cheek and nuzzled into the feeling.
It was then, I knew.
This man was going to consume me.
Matteo got out first, reaching for me as the bathtub began emptying.
I stood slowly. “It’s okay, Matteo. I can walk now.”
He didn’t hear me, picking me up and carrying me anyway into the grand, glass-walled shower.
Lowering me gently, he kept a firm hand on my lower back as he turned on the water, holding me pressed to him where he knew I’d be safe.
My palms rested on the sides of his body, over his ribs covered by merciless muscle. Still pressed flat to his golden skin, I ran my palm down his defined abdomen – long, sharp, red nails scratching – feeling each hard, accentuated ridge of his pack, down to the v-line leading straight to his…
I swallowed dry.
He was still hard, though nowhere close to the way he’d been when he fucked me earlier tonight. Even like this he was huge. I’d felt it press into my ass and between my legs in the bathtub.
Matteo cleared his throat, bringing my attention back to his face, and his eyes almost looked slightly jealous I hadn’t been staring at his face.
With a soft smile, I wrapped my arms around his neck and reached up on my tip-toes, and pressed my lips to his.
A masculine growl of appreciation rumbled in his chest, sending the buzz right between my legs. His hands wrapped tight around me, his mouth devouring me body and soul.
When he pulled away, I was on cloud nine – breathless, and barely able to stand on my own.
My eyes met his, so full of meaning… It rooted me in place.
“I’m going to take care of you, amor, and help with the soreness between your thighs.”
He was so serious, I couldn’t help but run my hands through the short hair at the nape of his neck.
“First, I’m going to wash… Every. Single.
Inch. Of this beautiful body. I’m going to use the warm water and your coconut oil and massage your perfect pussy until pain is the last thing on your mind.
And when you are all melted against me and can barely stand anymore, I’m going to take you to our bed, lay you down on those expensive Italian sheets you seem to like to much… ”
“Matteo…” I moaned, squeezing my thighs together.
“I will push your thighs wide open to the mattress, lower down to your sweet, little, aching pussy… And I’m going to kiss it better. For as long as I want. Until I know without a doubt that you’re on cloud-nine. Then…”
“Matteo…” I moaned again, more desperate this time.
“Then,” He continued. “I’m going to climb back over you, pull you close and press you into me until you fall asleep in my arms, with my big hand holding tight onto my perfect pussy.”
He finished by cupping me between the legs from the back, giving me a preview of exactly what he was promising me for the night.
“Because it’s mine, isn’t it, princesa?”
My nails dug into his shoulders, a groan escaping my chest, filled with need.
“Hm?” He pushed, one hand coming up to wrap around my throat and force me to look up at him.
I felt my answer collect in his palm between my thighs.
“Yes.”
He frowned in that charming way of his, satisfied with my answer, before leaning down and kissing me deep. Passionately, like they did in old Hollywood movies. Like he’d run out of air and his only source of life was hidden deep inside me. Like he couldn’t breathe without me.
In the shower, Matteo did exactly as he promised. He washed my body, including in-between my legs. I blushed bright red; I hadn’t wanted to let him at first, but once I was holding onto him as he gently took care of her… I realized that was exactly what I needed.
Once he did every single thing he promised… We went to bed. I rested my head on his chest, and like promised, his hand cupped me between the legs.
“So… You missed me that first night, huh?”
He chuckled. “Had me walking by your door at two in the morning.”
I laughed, resting my forehead against his muscular chest and shoulder, basking in the way he smelled so good it made me want to bite him.
“And no more lying, Francesca. I’m serious. I’m not doing it anymore.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means if you don’t stop lying, I’ll have to punish that pretty mouth of yours.”
“Don’t tease me…” I smiled, reaching up to kiss him.
One thing led to another, and before I knew it, the sheets were on the floor and I was palming his cock again.
“No,” He broke the kiss. “I already fucked you too hard. You’re going to be sore in the morning.”
I groaned in protest, pulling him closer. “It hurts right now, not having you inside me…”
“Francesca…”
“Matteo, please… I ache.”
His eyes melted into mine, then his mouth was on mine, kissing the deepest parts of my soul.
We barely slept at all that night.