Dani glances at him for a second—I’m sure she’sstunned at how fast I killed him—and then she looks at me, and her entire body sags in relief.
“Matteo,” she breathes and then runs toward me.
She’s barefoot, dressed in a tank top and cotton shorts, and I imagine she was waiting for her food to arrive when he got to her.
I slide my gun into the back of my pants just as she jumps into my arms, wrapping hers around my neck and her legs around my waist.
And then her mouth crashes against mine.
Nipping, licking, sucking.
Her mouth molds perfectly against mine.
Our tongues stroke one another like they were made for each other.
I should stay and wait for cleanup to come. Dominick needs a new fucking car.
But the moment another one of my guys shows up, I look at my brother, and he nods, silently letting me know that I’m good to leave with Dani. Eddy will wipe the cameras, and they’ll make sure there were no witnesses.
“Scotty,” I call out. “Can I borrow your car?”
He nods and throws me his keys. “Dominick and I can get a ride with Ian.”
“Thanks.”
Neither Daniella nor I say a word during the short drive home. And once we’re back in the condo, we let our bodies do the talking.
Laying her out on the bed, I remove her clothes until she’s completely bare for me. Her hair is up in a messy ponytail, her face free of makeup, and when she smiles up at me, she’s never looked more gorgeous.
I start with her lips, licking along the seam, and then I deepen the kiss, needing more of her. Growing up, I never did drugs. I saw the way addiction affected people. They would stop at nothing to chase the high that drugs gave them.
But now, I get it because as I kiss Dani, the high it gives me isaddictive, and I know with every fiber of my being, I am addicted to this woman and would do anything to keep her for the rest of my life.
“Matteo,” she murmurs into my mouth, “I want this, but …”
I stop when she says the last word. As much as I want her, need her, desire her, her feelings come first.
“But …” I prompt.
“I don’t want what happened last time to happen again,” she admits softly. “I want you, I want to be with you, but I don’t know if I can handle you leaving again.”
Fuck, this woman …
She deserves so much more than I’m capable of giving her, but that isn’t going to stop me from trying to give her everything.
“I should regret being with you,” I admit, rolling onto my side and pulling her with me. “But I can’t.” I press my lips to hers for a brief kiss. “I knew I had fallen for you long before we had sex. And then I went to the club with your brother for my birthday, and when he mentioned finding women to hook up with, I didn’t even entertain the thought, not wanting anyone but you.”
She blinks up at me, and I run my knuckles down her soft cheek.
Jesus, she’s breathtaking.
“This past week, I’ve tried to stay away, but every night when I get home, I spend hours watching you sleep, not wanting to admit what I already know …”
“What do you know?” she whispers.
“That, despite trying like hell not to, I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Her eyes widen, and I should probably be scared shitless that I just admitted to being in love with her. I’ve never said those words to anyone. But, if anything, finally being able to admit it out loud is liberating.
