Page 65 of Matteo
“We don’t need to rush,” he murmured against my lips.
“Rush?” I let out a groan. “Matteo, I’m twenty-five.”
“I’m well aware.”
“I’m ready, and if you aren’t going to do it, I’ll find someone?—”
He silenced me with a deep, hard kiss. It wasn’t until he had me panting and writhing that he pulled away and said, “Never… fuckingeversay that again, Ari.”
“Okay.” I peered at him from underneath my lashes, studying his tense expression, then brought my palm to his cheek. “Same goes for you.”
“Baby, I’ve been chasing away every male for almost two decades. Do you really think I’d let any woman touch me now that you’re mine?” A whisper of darkness laced through his voice as he showered my face with kisses. He pressed his mouth to my ear. “Does that scare you?”
I shook my head. It was the truth. I wouldn’t call it fear, not with how hot my body burned.
“Although it was very wrong of you to do that.”
“I protect what’s mine.”
I scrunched my nose and pouted my lips.
“Yeah, but did you protect what’s mine? Did you refrain yourself from being with other women?” He remained quiet, giving me my answer. “So typical of a man to be a hypocrite. How many women have you been with?”
He watched me with a burning gaze. “Zero.”
“Be serious, Matteo. I heard enough about double standards men have to know it cannot be the truth.”
“It’s the honest-to-God truth. I’ve fucked zero women. I’ve only ever fantasized about you. I’ve only ever wanted you. So I’ve waited until you were ready for me.” I scoffed, and he continued, “I would never hurt you by lying to you. I’m not saying I’m a saint and never experimented, but I’m saying I saved myself for you.”
At that very moment, I knew there was no coming back from Matteo. He’d forever be ingrained into my blood, my marrow, and into my soul.
“Tell me you believe me, Ari.”
“Yes.” I swallowed, the rasp of his voice sending shivers down my spine. “I believe you.”
“I’m yours and only yours.” It was a growl that lowered into a promise. “And you’re mine.”
My lips parted as he ran a thumb across them.
“Yours,” I vowed. “Now make me yours in every sense of the word.”
Matteo
My cock strained against my pants, and I quickly shed my clothes, discarding them soundlessly on the floor.
I stood in front of her, naked, satisfied by the hunger in her eyes. She perched up on her elbow, reaching a trembling finger out, and I stood still as it trailed over my abs.
“I’ve been thinking about these abs since that night,” she whispered.
“What night?”
Her fingers stopped on the tattoo over my ribs, close to my heart.
“After the shooting,” she murmured, resuming her exploration only to return to the tattoo. I covered her small hand with my own. “I can’t believe you tattooed this on your chest.”
“Better believe it, because I plan on tattooing every milestone.”
She let out a soft chuckle. “You’re crazy.”
