Page 116 of The One
Her ebony hair shimmers under the passing light of the street lamps, along with her silvery dress. Sitting down, it reveals her long, toned legs. What I would give to have them wrapped around my ears.
I groan inwardly at the mental picture, my cock not getting the message that it’s not real… yet. By the end of tonight, the pattern of my zipper will be permanently imprinted on it.
Mari is looking out of the window, watching fascinated as the streets of Rome rush by. I love her wonder, the way she discovers the world outside of Sicily. I’m the luckiest bastard alive that I’m here with her to witness it.
Fuck, I really am a goner.
Whenever I look at her, my mind summons the memory of our kisses today. The way she felt pressed against me, how she tasted, her sweet moans.
Every touch of her hands on my head and around my neck, the way she pulled on my hair, it drove me mad with need. I want her, badly.
She’s made for me. And only for me.
Mariella Accardi is mine.
Chapter Forty-Five
Mariella
The car stops in a quiet side alley, and Mateo steps out, holding out his hand for me. His eyes sparkle with an intensity that makes my heart take off in a sprint.
What am I saying? It’s been racing in my chest ever since his eyes landed on me walking down the stairs and his gaze traveled slowly from the top of my head all the way down to my feet.
My dress seemed suddenly tighter and way too short, and I wished I hadn’t washed off Sofia’s over-the-top makeup. At least it would’ve hidden the blush heating my cheeks.
My entire body was on fire under his casual perusal, and it hasn’t cooled since. How could it, when he kept stealing glances at me on the way here, his hand brushing over mine in soft, deliberate touches throughout the ride?
I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
Less than two weeks ago, he didn’t notice I existed, and now, after our kiss, he can’t seem to stop touching me. Truly, I don’t mind. I revel in the warmth of his skin on mine. It’s just baffling.
How have things changed so dramatically?
Is he trying to seduce me? Because if he is, I stand no chance. My defenses melt away like sugar dissolving into a hot cappuccino whenever I’m around him.
With a fortifying breath to calm the butterflies in my tummy, I slide across the seat and place my hand in Mateo’s outstretched one. He weaves our fingers together like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I wish it was.
Cut it out, Mari. This is a silly notion.
Whatever this thing is between us, it’s not serious. Mateo De Marco doesn’t do relationships.
Remember that!
He steadies me on my wobbly feet as I step out of the car. So close to me, his scent swirls in the air. It’s potent and kind of drugging. I want more and more of it, of him.
Dammit.
This crush I have on him has spun out of control. How do I rein it in?
How do I stop it before it consumes every last part of me?
It’s a lost cause. Especially when he looks so damn hot in his perfectly tailored charcoal suit, paired with a dark gray shirt that clings just right to him. He exudes the perfect blend of darkness, command, and sin.
As Mateo exchanges a few words with a guard, I tug at the hem of my dress with my free hand, trying to coax it lower. While it’s not scandalously short, it still shows more leg than I’m used to. None of my other clothes reveal this much. Well, except for my gym outfit, but no one ever really sees me in that.
Having never stepped foot in a nightclub, I’m not sure what to expect. A mix of excitement and apprehension flutters in my chest, and I shift on my heels.
I wonder what Father would do if he knew where I was about to go. His voice echoes in my mind, a constant reminder of his strictness and control. He’s always been relentless in keeping us away from anything he considered a taint on our squeaky-clean reputation.
