Page 96 of The Chameleon

Matteo didn’t bother grabbing their coats. It was only a short walk through the gardens before they reached their destination.

“No. When I murder you, it will be the murder that all mystery murder writers always dream about writing. There will be no body, no evidence of a crime, and lastly, no questions directed at me. You will simply vanish from the face of the earth without a trace.”

Matteo didn’t bother to look over his shoulder at Ares’s expression. The man’s guttural moan said it all.

“After you,” Matteo said once they reached their destination. Matteo held open the door so Ares could step inside the massive greenhouse.

Both were immediately engulfed in the warmth around them when they stepped inside. The air held a certain degree of moisture, making the living space ideal for the inhabitants growing within.

“Wow. I never knew this place existed,” Ares whispered, taking in the luscious exotic plants and flowers growing all around them.

The air was sweet, and each breath felt like breathing in new life. This was one of Matteo’s favorite places in the château. He often came here to escape the madness of his life and quiet the voices in his head.

“This is myotherspecial place. No one is allowed in here, and this section of the gardens is not open to the public. This is where I come to be alone and process all the chaos that surrounds my life.” Matteo lifted an orchid and brought it to his nose. He inhaled its fragrance, then smiled as he released the red flower.

“Wow, this place is amazing.” Ares hobbled the rows, taking in the various plants and flowers that would make some of the most famous botanical gardens jealous with envy.

They came to a large workspace covered with pruning shears, half-filled pots of soil, and even discarded flower trimmings.

Matteo popped the cork on the champagne bottle and began filling their glasses. He passed one to Ares, then lifted his own.

“I wanted to properly thank you for everything you’ve done for me these past few days, hell, even these past few years. No matter how difficult things are between us or how much I try to hate you, you are always there for me when I need you.”

Ares’s cheeks flushed, and his gaze shifted to the floor.

Matteo recognized the look. It was the look that Ares gave whenever he realized that someone was seeing his true self instead of the bullshit façade that he put on for the world to see. Matteo was probably one of the only people who ever truly got the chance to see the real man hiding behind the mask.

“And… no matter how much I try to hate your fucking guts, my heart just refuses to listen to my brain,” Matteo finally admitted.

Matteo was tired of this constant war between his brain and his heart. Logically, he knew that he should hate Ares for all the pain and misery he had suffered at his behest, but in his heart, he knew that everything the man ever did was to protect the one person he truly loved—Matteo.

How could he continue to hate someone who brought a fucking army to save his captured ass? Matteo was done fighting. His heart had won the war. His brain was raising its white flag.

“And your dick?” Ares asked, placing his crutch against the wall and shifting back into that cocky façade that Ares wore so well. Theking of gun smuggling.The purveyor of hard-to-obtain treasures. You wanted something done; Ares could make it happen.

Of course the cocky asshole would take a romantic moment and make it allporny. But that was one of the things Matteo loved about the man. He might not be good at showing emotions or the lovey-dovey bullshit… but deep down, Ares was all heart… and cocky-man roughness.

“Well,” Matteo said, taking a sip of his champagne before closing the gap between the two. “My dick has always been ‘Team Ares.’”

Watching the devilish grin expand across Ares’s face, Matteo knew that he was in trouble. He was opening the cast iron gates and letting the horny beast before him into his playground.

Things were about to get very X-rated very quickly.

Matteo placed his glass down on the workbench. He wrapped his arms around Ares’s strong shoulders and decided to let the one man he ever truly loved back into his heart.

Standing just inches apart, Matteo could smell the French cologne that Ares always wore on special occasions. It was a brand that Matteo had picked out for him when they had first started dating.

The scent of Ares was intoxicating. It was a sweet combination of sandalwood and raw masculinity. Everything about Ares was raw and powerful: his speech, his mannerisms, even the way he took hold of Matteo when they were intimate. Ares was possessive, protective, and always aggressive.

Matteo’s dick began to thicken.

Rough, eager hands grabbed Matteo by the waist and held him firmly in place. Eyes locked together, Matteo leaned in until his lips grazed Ares’s.

Electricity shot through their lips as their mouths desperately sought one another. Long-lost lovers finally being reunited as one once again. The pull he felt toward Ares’s essence was beyond Matteo’s control.

God, was a connection supposed to feel this strong?

A moan escaped Matteo’s lips as Ares gripped a handful of his ass cheek.

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