Page 137 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“Why?”

Matteo straightens up. “Because of you.”

Sweet heat streaks through me, but I fold my arms. I’m not going to make it easy for him. And these are just more damn words. “What about me?”

“Thing is, I’m not a noble guy. At all. I’m a tricky bastard who plays all sorts of underhanded games. And… I don’t want to be without you.”

“If I don’t trust you?”

“I love you, Heaven. More than anything. I thought letting you go was the best choice. You hated me and loved me, but you didn’t trust me and…letting you go was another gesture. I see that. Grand, noble?—”

“And bullshit. “

He smiles. “That, too.Amore mio,it wasn’t grand or noble throwing myself in front of the bullet. I couldn’t think. It was just you being alive. I only cared about that.”

Hot tears press at my eyes but I’m done crying. “And me? What about what I care about? What if I couldn’t be here with you gone?”

Matteo takes a step toward me. “That’s the thing with instinct. Protect who you love. But, Heaven, I don’t think grand is big. You said some things to me I needed to hear. And I agree. Real grand gestures are in the small things. The day to day. Grand is being with you. Building our empire together. Our names?—”

“He gave that to Conor.”

He laughs. “It’s going to be yours soon. Conor isn’t smart enough. And when it starts to crumble, we can step in.”

“Are you plotting?” I should walk, but I can’t. I’m rooted to the spot. I need to hear the right words. Because the thing is, I know he loves me like I love him. But it needs to be more. He’s still making gestures.

“It’s yours, Heaven. Yes, I am plotting. But if you don’t want that, we walk. We start new. If you’ll have me.”

“You’re getting a little warmer, Matteo, but these are words. Why should I believe them?”

He takes another step, and now he’s so close I can smell that familiar, intoxicating scent of him, feel the heat of his body. This man doesn’t play fair. “Then I’ll spend my life earning your trust back. I’ll do everything to show you I love you and that you can have faith in me. More than that, I’ll be there through the hate and dislike. I’ll be there when it gets tough. When it’s quiet and nothing is happening to rock the world. I’ll be there, through big and small, thick and thin. I’m in this, Heaven, for the long haul. I want…I want to grow old with you. Discover you. I’ll win your trust and love every day, and when you piss me off, I’ll still love you.”

“If I disappoint you?”

That blue gaze is steady on me and my heart flips in my chest. “Never.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m willing to do everything for you. With you. I’m not the man you first met in my club.”

“How so?” The tears are back, burning hot, but they’re filled with hope, like a second chance is in my grasp.

If I choose to take it.

“You made me better, Heaven. We haven’t had long together, but we have passion.”

“Passion isn’t enough. And what if this isn’t love? What if you get bored?”

“Of you? Never. Heaven. It’s love. You’re tougher than anyone. You’re vulnerable in the right way. You feel so deeply and you care for those who don’t deserve it. Like your brother and your father. And me. But unlike them, I want to deserve it. You want to swim with glowing centipedes?—”

“That’s not?—”

“I know what they are. Here.” He reaches in his jacket. “A ticket. For a honeymoon. It’s up to you. I won’t push. But I’ll be on the flight. And if you don’t come…”

“You’ll give up?”

The dark fire of the old Matteo burns in his blue gaze. “Fuck no. This is just the start. I owe you a honeymoon, but I’m not letting you go. Consider the annulment annulled. I’m also Roman Catholic. I suddenly agree with that no divorce stance.”

And then he moves in, closes the gap, slides his hands on either side of my face and kisses me. It’s soft and sweet and brief. And I tremble because it’s everything I need.

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