Page 22 of Matteo
As though we were locked in a trance, pulled by a magnetic force that neither one of us could control, he took a step forward, and so did I. At the edge of the shower, water washing over me and Matteo just out of reach, the anticipation licked at my skin.
Unsettling heat bloomed in the pit of my stomach, and I knew with every second that we prolonged this, I’d be trapped under his influence.
I stared, eyes wide, waiting for… something.
I reached my fingers out, tracing his tattoo. His muscles strained and flexed, but he didn’t pull away.
“What does it mean?” I breathed out.
“It’s a date in Roman numerals.” It wasn’t much of an answer, but I didn’t point that out. Instead, I caressed it lightly, enjoying the smoothness of his warm skin. “Do you want to know what date?”
I held my breath and then nodded.
“The date of our first kiss.” My eyes widened and my mouth parted in surprise as his admission crashed down on me. “Do you want me to kiss you again, Ari?”
My head moved of its own accord, nodding a little bit too eagerly.
“Then use your words,” he murmured, brushing his nose against mine. “Ask me… Beg me to kiss you, and I’ll do it.”
My eyes narrowed, every fiber of my being rebelling at the thought. So I did the first thing that came to mind and nudged him away.
“I’ll beg when hell freezes over.”
Studying me, he smiled, but he didn’t say anything else as he reached to turn off the shower. He wrapped a towel around me, lifted me up in his arms, and carried me out of the bathroom.
“I’ll be back to check on you,” he said softly, setting me on the bed before heading to the door. He stopped with a hand on the knob and turned to me, and I quickly averted my gaze from the muscles shifting at his back. “And, Ari?”
“Yes?”
“I promise you, hell will freeze over.” My breath hitched, and I stared dumbly at him. “Sweet dreams.”
Despite his lingering warning, it wasn’t long before the ghosts of the day slowly withered away, and I drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER NINE
MATTEO
There was one thing I’d known for certain since I was eight years old. Arianna Carter Morrelli was my girl. My woman. Mine.
There was an aura about her, so overpowering that it magnified her physical presence. I saw it that evening all those years ago, when I kissed her beneath the stars, and I saw it again today.
I’d put an off-limits mark on her with all of the guys at D’Arc while we were growing up, unbeknownst to Ari, but I couldn’t have eyes on her at all times.
Occasionally, guys would take Ari out beyond the gates of D’Arc, but I put an end to that shit really fast. Every man who got close enough to kiss her on their date—first and last, if I may add—ended up getting a taste of my wrath. So it didn’t take long for rumors to start surrounding her.
Arianna è solo mia.She was mine and mine alone.
Like my nonno used to warn me, the startling realization came hard and fast. Just like it had with him and Nonna. Just like it had with my parents. Fuck, I missed him. Old age had caught up to him, but he’d never be forgotten.
Dio mio, Arianna è la donna più bella del mondo.The most beautiful woman in the world.
Arianna could break my nose a hundred times, and like a love-stricken puppy, I’d always find my way back to her.
And God help me, I was so tempted to kiss her again tonight. To taste her. But it would be an asshole move to take advantage of her in such a vulnerable state.
Besides, I meant what I said. Our next kiss would be initiated by her.
After changing into dry clothes, I made my way out of my bedroom and sought out my father. I found him in his office, perched on a chair occupied by my mom, his arm wrapped around her possessively. She was gazing up at him, her expression filled with boundless love.
