Page 73 of Cavaliere

A soft smile spread across my face at him being exactly where I thought he would be. And there he is, brow furrowed as he studies whatever it is that’s on his screen, rocks glass in one hand as the other rests on the desk.

The same desk that I can’t look at without thinking about the first time he finally took me, bending me over the hard surface and caging me in so I was at his mercy. And what place to be that is.

“I think I’m ready,” I say as I lean against the door frame.

Matteo’s eyes leave the screen, softening as they find mine. “You look beautiful, tesoro.”

“Thank you, my knight, but what I want to know is if this is acceptable for family dinner. With it being my first one, I wasn’t really sure how dressy or casual to go…” I trail off, noticing something moving in Matteo’s eyes that I can’t quite place as he continues to stare at me without saying a word.

“Matteo?” I snap my fingers in the air, trying to get his attention. “Hello? Anyone home?”

“What did you just call me?” he finally asks, voice hoarse.

My knight? I know I’ve told him that’s what he reminds me of before. “My knight. Did I say something wr⁠—”

Matteo pushes his chair back, quickly eating up the space between us before he cuts me off by placing his hands on either side of my face, landing a hard kiss on my lips. My body responds to him as he dominates my mouth. I’m just as greedy for him.

His hands press into my face slightly, not letting me break away. As if there is any other place I’d rather be. I can feel the raw emotion he’s feeling being poured into the kiss. It sends a chill through my body.

Matteo is the one to break the kiss minutes later, pulling back slightly before he rests his forehead against mine. “As much as I would love to throw you over my shoulder and take you upstairs so you never forget who your knight is, we can’t.” He sighs. “I don’t want to listen to all of the shit I’ll get if we’re late.”

“I wish you would have told me this was happening. I feel like an asshole showing up without a gift.” He could have at least given me enough notice to get a bottle of wine or something. They make the labels on the twenty-dollar bottles seem so fancy now. I think it would pass as an okay gift. At least, I feel like a fancy bitch drinking it.

“Don’t worry about it. Ma has been dying to meet you. She won’t even notice,” Matteo says, leaving me standing in his office.

“But I’ll notice!” I call after him.

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s go, tesoro.” I find him waiting by the front door. “Do you have everything you need?”

I look down at myself. I have my purse, but I figured I would just leave it in the car. “Maybe we can stop on the way so I can at least get some flowers. I’d hate to show up empty-handed like this.”

Matteo opens the front door and ushers me through. “As much as I would love to take away this anxiety for you, baby, I can’t. There isn’t a store on the way.”

My face scrunches up. “What do you mean?” This is a huge fucking city. He can’t actually believe that. You can literally find someone selling flowers on the street.

“Ma lives in the neighborhood.”

That has me stopping in my tracks. “What do you mean in the neighborhood? Are we walking there?” I ask as Matteo takes off down the driveway.

“She lives two houses down. No sense in driving. And I thought it would be fun to take a stroll with you by my side and not over my shoulder.”

“You mean you would like me to be a willing participant this time.” I snort as I start to follow.

Matteo shrugs as he takes my hand. “Semantics.”

Normally, I would think living two doors down from your mother would be a giant, walking red flag. But considering that I’ve been in Matteo’s life for a few months now, about half of that has been with me staying with him, and I’ve never once seen her. This is like one of those red flags you ignore because just the smell of him soaks your panties.

“If she immediately hates me like Alessio did, I’m blaming you,” I say as I jog to catch up to him.

“How many times do I have to tell you that Alessio doesn’t hate you. He’s just… testy. He’s always been that way. Middle child syndrome or some shit.” Matteo laces his fingers through mine as we stroll down the sidewalk like we’re in a Hallmark movie and not like he’s the head of the Italian Mafia in Ravenna Heights and would blow your head off for looking at us wrong. “And she’s not going to hate you. Trust me. She’s been looking forward to this day her whole life.”

“Only you would describe someone that looks like he’d rather stab himself in the eye than talk to you as testy.” I roll my eyes. Wait. “Looking forward to what her whole life?”

“The day I finally bring someone home.” Matteo flashes me a panty-wetting smile. “We’re here.”

The house looks almost identical to Matteo’s, just about half the size. Still way bigger than anything I’ve ever dreamed of living in. I don’t really know much about Matteo’s family other than his brothers and cousin, whom I’ve already met. From what I’ve pieced together, I think his dad has passed. I need to make a mental note to remind me to ask him about all of this when we’re alone and have time, and I’m going to add a lesson on how to give someone proper notice about a family dinner. Everyone knows an introvert needs at least three to five business days, and even then, it’s a big, fat fucking maybe.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” He’s full-on dragging me up the path behind him now. Who just drops a bomb like that on someone two fucking seconds before you meet his family?