Page 53 of Cavaliere

“Yes.” My eyes narrow playfully. “The point is that you make me happy.”

Matteo holds my gaze, eyes shining. “You make me happy too.” He taps my outer thigh. “Let me up.” Unwrapping my ankles, I let my legs fall to the side, and he lifts off me and saunters off to the bathroom. “Don’t move,” he orders over his shoulder.

Rolling on my side, I squeeze my thighs lightly together, trying to get rid of the longing ache that formed when he pulled out. I can feel us trickling out slightly. Letting out a long, satisfied sigh, I sit up.

“I thought I told you to not move,” Matteo says as he emerges from the bathroom with a cloth in hand. “Lay back and spread.”

I fall back onto the bed with my thighs still pressed together as he closes in. He arches an eyebrow at me, waiting for me to obey. Hesitantly, I let my legs fall to the side, the most intimate part of me on full display. It’s fucking ridiculous that I’m even feeling insecure right now. This man has already been in and around downtown. It’s nothing new. Nothing he hasn’t already seen. But this? This is different. This feels more vulnerable. Like we’re both flayed open, leaving every card on the table.

A rumble erupts from Matteo. “Seeing the product of you and me is so fucking hot. If I knew you weren’t sore and swollen, I’d take you again.” He presses the cool, wet cloth against me, gently cleaning me.

“How do you know I’m sore?” I ask, breaking his concentration.

He lets out a humorless snort. “I know my pussy, Wren. I’m not small, and it’s a tight fit. It’s incredibly hard not exploding as soon as you clench down.” Matteo throws the cloth towards his laundry bin, falling just short of it. “You want to wash your face, and I’ll get you a shirt? My plan was to end our first date by cuddling in bed and watching a movie if you’re up for it,” he sheepishly admits.

My heart stutters at his admission. Who knew the head of the Italian Mafia in Ravenna Heights would want to cuddle and watch a movie for a first date? It’s becoming incredibly hard to “test this out” and not fall blindly with no turning back when he lets me in on these little tidbits here and there. Especially when I know I’m the only one that gets this side of him.

“Yeah,” I say softly. “I’m up for it.”

Chapter

Thirty-Five

WREN

“Sooooo, what the fuck is up, bitch?” Delaney's voice sounds through the phone, making me smile.

It’s the day after what I have decided to call the best date of my life. True to his word, we cuddled and watched a couple of rom-com movies until we both fell asleep. And this time, when I woke up, Matteo wasn’t gone. He had one arm holding me against him and one leg hiked up over me, almost like he thought I was going to try to leave. If only he knew I couldn’t even if I tried.

When we finally got out of bed, he made me breakfast, and we just enjoyed each other's company. We didn’t talk much, but the silence was comfortable. After breakfast, he said he had to take care of some things at the restaurant, so here I am, lounging out by the pool with Rob baking away nearby.

“I don’t even know bitch.” I laugh. I wish I fucking did. “How’s work without me? Do you miss me yet?”

“Bitch, don’t even ask me that. You know I can’t stand Stacey’s dumbass. If she has to ask me one more time how to put a jack and coke into the system, I’m going to lose it.”

“She irritates the fuck out of me. I’m sorry you’re stuck with her,” I say, hoping she can’t hear the smile in my voice.

“No, you’re not.” Delaney laughs. “So, when are you coming back?”

“I honestly have no idea,” I sigh as I sit up on the lounger. “I don’t think Matteo has made any progress on figuring out what’s been going on.” If he has, he hasn't said shit, which is going to really get on my nerves. I need to ask him about that. “He still has someone with me wherever I go. Bitch, I can’t even lay out at the pool by myself.”

“That’s kind of fucking hot. I love me a protective man.”

“Of course you do.” I snort. Delaney loves any man that gives the aura of fucking crazy.

“Do you think he will let you go out for your birthday?”

Ugh. I’m dreading turning thirty. I know people say age is just a number, but this one feels different. I feel like I need to start planning my funeral instead of celebrating. I’ve been very careful not to tell Matteo about my birthday coming up.

“He’ll let me go, but I know he’s going to demand that someone go with me.”

“That is seriously going to kill the thirtieth birthday vibes, but we’ll make it work,” Delaney decides.

“Do I even want to know what you have planned?”

“It’s a surprise, bitch. I just need your sexy ass to show up. And if that isn’t clear enough, I better see a minimum of three inches of cleavage.”

“Three inches of cleavage. Got it, boss.” I laugh.