He prepared me thoroughly. Three fingers stretching me while I gasped and begged. Taking his time even though we both needed this desperately. Making sure I was ready.
"Please," I finally managed. "Matteo, I need you inside me. Need to feel—"
"I know." He positioned himself. "I know exactly what you need."
He pushed inside slowly. Inch by inch. Watching my face the entire time. Making sure I felt every moment of connection.
When he was fully seated, we both groaned.
"This," he said, holding still. "This is real, Stefan. This connection. This feeling. Not manipulation. Just us."
"Just us," I agreed breathlessly.
He started to move. Slow at first. Deep strokes that lit up every nerve ending. But the emotion between us—everything I'd just done, every bridge I'd burned—demanded more.
The pace turned fierce. Desperate. Matteo gripped my hips hard enough to bruise. Pulled me into each thrust. The angle was perfect, hitting that spot inside me that made stars burst behind my eyelids.
"You chose me," he said, his voice rough with emotion and exertion. "You chose this. Over your family. Over everything you've known. You chose us."
"Yes." I met him thrust for thrust. "I chose you. I'll keep choosing you."
"Good." He leaned down to kiss me. Hard. Possessive. "Because I'm never letting you go. Never giving you back. You're mine now."
The words should have scared me. Should have reminded me of Antonio's warnings about being controlled and used.
Instead, they made me feel safe. Chosen. Wanted in ways I'd never been before.
"Yours," I gasped. "All yours. Only yours."
His rhythm turned almost punishing. Fast and hard and so intense I couldn't think. Could barely breathe. Could only feel.
One hand wrapped around me. Stroking in time with his thrusts. The dual stimulation was overwhelming.
"Look at me," he commanded. "Stefan—eyes open. Let me see you."
I forced my eyes open. Met his dark gaze. Let him see everything—the pleasure, the emotion, the absolute certainty that I'd made the right choice even if it was insane.
"That's it." His voice was wrecked. "Let me see you fall apart. Show me I'm not using you. Show me this is real."
"It's real." Tears pricked my eyes from the intensity. "God, Matteo, it's so real—"
"I know." He thrust harder. Deeper. "I feel it too. This connection. This obsession. This need."
"I need you." The admission came out broken. Raw. "I need this. Need you to keep choosing me. Keep wanting me. Keep—"
"Always." He cut me off with a kiss. "Always, Stefan. I'll always choose you. Always want you. You're everything."
The words shattered what was left of my control.
I came with his name on my lips and tears streaming down my face. The orgasm was so intense it bordered on painful. My body clenched around him, pulling him deeper.
Matteo cursed. Drove deep and held there. I felt him pulse inside me as he came. Felt the warmth. Felt him collapse against me, both of us trembling.
We stayed like that for a long moment. Both trying to catch our breath. Both overwhelmed by what had just happened.
Finally, Matteo pulled out carefully and rolled to the side. Pulled me against his chest immediately. Like he couldn't bear even a moment of separation.
"You're crying," he said, wiping tears from my cheeks.
