Page 43 of Matteo
As if sensing my attention, Arianna’s eyes found me, those glittering coral-blue eyes clashing with mine, and an instant calm washed over me. Fuck, she had the most captivating eyes. Whenever she looked at me, I swore my knees shook.
“I promised I wouldn’t kiss her again until she begged me to,” I stated, never breaking our eye contact. Her full, pouty lips fell open, and even from here I could see her cheeks staining crimson.
You never said anything about kissing her elsewhere,the devil on my shoulder whispered, and I gave a resolute nod.
It was time the gloves came off.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ARIANNA
The chatter, laughter, and music disturbed the peace of the forest as the party was still going. Somehow the red cup in my hand continued to fill, and soon my movements slowed and my words slurred.
Nikola stood, his pale blue eyes beaming at Skye, then he seemed to catch himself and quickly looked away. He seemed to crave her attention but also… hated himself for it?
Men.
My gaze locked on the tall figure advancing toward me with sure steps.
For a moment, I found myself unable to breathe or concentrate on anything but those intense hazel eyes. There was a scowl on his face, and I knew I was about to get told off for something.
My fingers tightened around the plastic red cup, making it crack like a whip through the space between Matteo and me.
My heartbeat paused for a flicker before going into overdrive.
He stopped in front of me, his strong, veiny arms crossed.
“Stop looking at me like that,” I whispered in a slightly drunk voice. Childhood friends didn’t look at each other that way.
“Like what?” His low timbre reverberated through every cell of my body, making it respond to him like a piano to an expert pianist.
I swallowed. “Like we’re… something more than friends.”
He shook his head, almost like he knew a secret that I wasn’t privy to.
“I think we both know this is more than that, Ari.”
His words shot straight into my bloodstream. My fingers trembled, my sluggish brain unable to fight these weird reactions I’d been having toward him lately.
“Don’t,” I rasped, my mind swimming with impossible thoughts. When I noticed him looking down, I followed suit, only to realize I’d splayed my fingers on his forearm.
“Don’t what?” I started to remove my hand from his forearm, but he shook his head. “Keep touching me, Ari.”
I swallowed, music and chatter serving as a reminder—no, a warning that there were people all around us. Yet I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him, scared to break the moment.
I licked my lips. “It’s wrong.”
“No, it isn’t.” There was such conviction in his voice that flew through my blood and straight to my heart. “There’s nothing in this entire world that’s more right than you and me.”
“And Han?—”
“Don’t you dare bring her into this, Nutella girl,” he ordered, spiking my pulse.
“I’m still mad at you for letting her join the Legacies.”
“If I hadn’t, she’d be off doing some other shit on her own,” he explained, although he really didn’t have to justify anything to me. “It was my way of ensuring she can get her revenge without killing herself in the process. I’d have to kill her all over again if she hurt you with her recklessness.”
His words melted my heart, and despite everything, I smiled. “Who knew Matteo Vitale had a way with words.”
