Page 64 of Cavaliere

“I feel empty without you inside,” I admit softly, thankful that he can’t see my face.

Matteo’s hand leaves my hip and gently grips my jaw, turning my head so I’m looking at him. I can feel the heat start to grow in my face from the intensity of his stare.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” he whispers, not breaking eye contact. “Don’t ever be embarrassed to tell me how you feel. What you and I have is rare. People go their whole lives searching for the kind of connection we have. For that instant spark. And as shitty as it was, I strongly believe you were meant to find me crashed into a tree that day. You believe in fate, don’t you?”

My words are stuck in my throat, so I do the only thing I can at the moment and stare deep into his eyes because he’s right. I haven’t been able to get him out of my head since the night of the crash. In the beginning, I was hoping I would forget about him, but he kept popping up like that one annoying chin hair every girl has. But now? Now, I recognize the emotion for what it is.

Love.

“What was it you told Alessio that night?” he asks, thinking out loud. “It's bad karma to mess with a dying man's wishes?’ Yeah. That’s it. You can’t believe in karma without believing in fate, Wren.”

“I believe in fate,” I whisper.

“Then let it take over and stop fighting it every step of the way,” Matteo says softly before pressing a kiss to my lips. It was meant to be light, but the emotions from this conversation deepen it. Our mouths move lazily in tandem, our tongues tangling with no sense of urgency. Just savoring the bond we’ve solidified.

My hips ache as Matteo taps my ass lightly. “Let me up.”

I whimper at the feeling of his head leaving me, making me feel empty all over again as I fall to the bed on my side.

“I know, baby.” Matteo soothes me as he rubs my side. “If I could stay inside all day, every day, I would. I’ll be right back.”

Matteo rolls out of bed, but he doesn’t head for the bathroom. Instead, he struts into the walk-in closet. I hear a drawer opening and shutting before he finally emerges, tossing an oversized T-shirt at me.

“It’s not your favorite one, but it’s the same brand, so it will feel the same. I know you like the really soft ones.”

This fucking man.

I bring the shirt up to my nose as I bury my face in it, grinning from ear to ear like a fucking idiot. I don’t think he even knows how all of the little things he does affect me. I don’t care about his money or his status symbol. I care about how he treats me and views me.

He’s like the knight in a shining suit that I never knew I needed, until he crashed into my life.

“Spread,” Matteo says as he comes out of the bathroom with a wet cloth.

This time, I let my legs fall open without hesitation. He’s seen so many parts of me over the last few months that I don’t feel like trying to hide anymore. He’s earned the right to see every inch of me.

“Are you sore?” he asks as he presses the cool cloth against my core. “You rode me hard.” I can hear the pure male satisfaction in his voice.

“A little,” I admit. “It’s a good sore though.”

Matteo takes his time cleaning me up before tossing the cloth off to the side and climbing in bed next to me.

“We really need to start using condoms,” I murmur once I’m tucked up against his side, settled in for the night.

“What did I tell you about fighting fate?”

“You thought I was crazy with the karma thing, so forgive me for not believing that you just randomly woke up and decided to change your views on how the universe works.”

“I didn’t just randomly wake up and change how I viewed it.” Matteo places a kiss on my head, letting his lips linger before continuing. “You and your stubborn ass gradually changed how I view it.”

As sweet as that is… “I’m not on any birth control.”

“I know. Whatever happens is what’s meant to happen.” His arms squeeze me a little tighter. “Go to sleep, mi amore.”

For once, I actually do what I’m told. I shut my eyes and let the steady rise and fall of Matteo’s chest lull me to sleep.

Chapter

Forty