Page 22 of Hawk's Sapphire

Anything but the love you crave.

Matteo is pure muscle and masculine power in an expensive suit.His strong jaw, and piercing eyes, with his dark hair and olive complexion make him the perfect male specimen.Don’t get me started on the size of the man’s hands.Holy shit.

He’s smooth, yet sincere in the way he speaks to women and cares about those who are under his care and protection, which I guess I am for now.

“Are your accommodations to your liking?”

“Oh, uh, yes.Everything is perfect.Thank-you.”I smile politely.“Where will my computers be set up?”

“We’ve set up an office for you.My men are working on mounting your monitors now.I’ve sent Sergio to gather the other items you requested from the store.Once he returns, my men will put everything together for you.”

“That won’t be necessary.If you’ll just have them leave everything in the office, I can set it up myself.”I tell him.When he holds my stare but doesn’t speak, I explain.“I have a certain way I like my things set up.”I shrug.“I’m kind of anal about it actually.”

Matteo’s laugh fills the room.“If it’s anal you’re looking for, Dolcezza…” his words trail off.

I watch him with my mouth agape.Matteo isn’t usually the one to throw around innuendos or dirty jokes.I’m not offended by any means.I’ve grown up with bikers who make a dirty joke out of every possible opportunity.Hell, Hawk and Cash could make anything into an innuendo or an invitation.

“You dirty bastard.”I tease.“You’ve been hiding this fun personality under all those stuffy suits all this time.”Matteo shrugs, still smiling.

“Sometimes an innuendo is the perfect icebreaker to a conversation.”He states.“I thought you could handle it.”

I smile at that.“Aren’t you the one who keeps correcting me whenever I say shit I’m not supposed to?”

“Like cursing, Dolcezza?”He lowers his gaze to glower at me.“We will begin your training soon enough.You might want to learn to curb your affinity for curse words before then.”I shiver in my seat at the meaning behind his words.“For tonight, we eat.Then I’ll take you on a tour.Let you get your barrings before we get into the harder stuff.”He lifts a brow, teasingly.

I bounce my hands in my lap and laugh.“Oh my god.Stop it!I can’t deal with this-” I wave my hand from his head to his feet.“…version of you.It’s weird.”

Matteo laughs again, putting his hands up in front of him.“Fine.Fine.I’ll be business as usual since you are clearly not going to be any fun.”He lifts that ridiculous brow again.Weird bastard.

“We need to go over some rules, Miss Jenkins.”I know immediately the fun and games are over.Matteo rarely uses my name unless he’s about to drop something serious on me.

“What rules?”A woman comes out of the kitchen and places two large plates overflowing with what looks like chicken parmesan and fettucine on the side.“Thank-you, Marta.”The woman nods to Matteo then pours two glasses of red wine.He smiles at my quizzical brow then says, “You are not underage when seated at the table in an Italian home.Wine is a staple for us.It’s not the same as hard liquor.But…” He pauses, and thatdon’t argue with meglare is back.“You do not drink anywhere or with anyone else without my express permission from now on.Are we clear?”

“Is this one of your rules while I stay here?”

“No.It’s one ofyourrules while in my care.I will not have you harmed because you were reckless and drank too much or were slipped something by swift hands.These people we will be around, they do not care about consent.But if they know you are under my care, they will hesitate to fuck with you unless they have express permission.But even still, if someone offers you a drink, you are to ask me before accepting.Always.”The deep timber of his voice leaves zero room for argument.

I nod and pick up my fork and aimlessly twist the food around.My stomach is still in knots about everything that’s happened.

“Do you not like the food, Dolcezza?”The man missing nothing.

“No.It’s fine.I’m just not very hungry.”I reply not wanting to talk about the events of the day.

“You’ll eat, at least three meals a day while you are here.You’ll need your strength for everything we have to do, and I won’t have you malnourished and passing out on me.”He says then scoops up his food, using both his knife and fork to raise the enormous bite to his lips and eating it.He dabs his mouth with the black cloth napkin and watches me as he chews.With a simple nod to my plate, I get the hint and take a bite of my own.It’s not quite as big as his bite, but it’s enough to satisfy his watchful eyes.

He swallows, then continues to explain.“I’ll take you on a tour of the penthouse apartment.There are areas you may not go, and you need to obey me in this.There will be no leniency for disobedience.Vincenzo is a generous man to a fault.But if you cross him, in any way, I don’t have to tell you what that could mean for your family?I must be able to trust you implicitly in these things.It’s for your safety and my own.Understand?”

“I get it.”

“I can never trust you to be honest or do what’s best for us or the club.”Hawk’s words echo in my mind.

“Good.”Matteo draws me back into the conversation at hand.“I’ll show you to the gym on the second floor and your office.There’s an indoor pool you may use at your leisure, and the kitchen.Of course, if there’s anything you wish to have stocked in the pantry or made for any meal, you need only inform Marta, and she’ll see to everything.”

“I can make my own meals.I don’t usually eat at regular times anyway.”I shrug, taking another bite of chicken.

“I’ve already explained my expectations for you to eat.”He leans back, crossing one knee over the other.“Are you unclear on my rule?”

“No.”I sigh, sitting back myself.“I don’t usually eat full meals throughout the day.I have a drawer full of snacks at my desk and I pick at them all day while I work.If I work out I’ll eat a large meal before and after, but it just depends.”

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