Page 42 of Shadowed Whispers

Why does that send a little thrill through me?

“Well, I’m not saying you have to date them, but you’ll be free to do what you want after this dinner,” I point out and hope like hell I’m making sense, but I think I’m failing, because Leo just keeps smiling at me, and it’s unnerving me.

“We want to date you, Frankie.” Leo sits back, his thumb brushing his bottom lip. “Why do you think we asked you to lunch, and not the other girls?”

“Impossible.” I start my Jeep, wondering how this all went to hell, and drive down the street to the dockside diner right next to the Grotto. Bishop and Tori stand out front as they wait.

I’m a little rough on my Jeep as I climb out and stomp to the entrance of the building, only to have Matteo grab me around the waist and press me against the vehicle.

The action is so smooth that my breathing doesn’t react until his dark eyes bore through mine, and his pouty lips are so close to me I’m convinced he might kiss me.

And I’d let him.

“What’s wrong, my gem?” he says so quietly that I know the words are only for my ears, and once his rumble rips through me, I have to press my thighs together, reminding me another man made me come only hours ago. “This is how couples act, no?”

I see Leo diverting Bishop and Tori behind him, leading them inside.

“They are gone,” I whisper, holding onto his biceps, and holy fuck, he’s ripped.

Let go. I unlatch my nails from his flesh and drop my hands to my sides.

“You didn’t answer my question.” He doesn’t move away.

“Yeah, I guess this is how couples act.” I have no idea. The only relationship I had was with Bishop freshman year, and even then, he kept me hidden.

“Good.” He backs away then wraps his fingers around mine, leading me inside the diner.

I am pretty sure I lose a whole five minutes of my life just staring at his hand, because when I blink again, I’m sitting between him and Leo.

Really, how did I get here? And how can I get out of it? My face feels like it’s on fire, and my panties are damp all over again.

Matteo leans down, his lips so fucking close to my ear. “Make it look good.” His hand drops to my knee, and I do my very best to stop myself from jumping in my seat. Barely.

His hand just lies there, on my knee, his thumb going back and forth on my thigh ever so slowly.

“Oh no,” Tori whines, and I swear she stomps her foot. “I have to go.”

“What?” She is going to leave me with the three of them? I don’t like Tori, but I also don’t want to be alone.

“I don’t know.” She pouts, leaning into Bishop. “Can you tell your mom now really isn’t a good time for me?”

Bishop has to peel his eyes away from me. “No.” He glances at her phone before focusing on her. “If Mother needs you, then you better go.”

He’s smiling, that bastard.

Matteo squeezes my knee once, and I can’t help but wonder if he is trying to reassure me. Hell, we barely know each other, so why would he even bother to give a shit about my emotions?

“Can you take Bishop back?” Tori hops out of her seat, and I can tell from the tightening around her eyes that she doesn’t want to leave.

“No” sits on the tip of my tongue.

“Of course she can,” he answers for me.

Matteo’s hand tightens ever so slightly. Eventually, he’s going to get sick of Bishop, and a part of me wonders who would win in that fight.

“Okay, thanks.” Tori pauses, holding her phone to her chest. “Just don’t—” She practically bounces with the need to say something, then she stomps away.

Odd.

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