With my eyes closed, I sit between Matteo’s long, muscular legs as he gently rubs a sudsy washcloth over my back. Ironically, I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck after what happened with Dominic earlier.
I’m emotionally drained.
I’m more broken and battered on the inside than on the outside.
Matteo has been at my side ever since storming into Dominic’s house. He’s taken care of me, treating me with kid gloves as if I’ve been crafted from glass and are infinitely precious.
I was uncertain as to what the future held for us last night. I wasn’t sure if I could accept his family being involved with the mafia. Or Matteo being part of it. But after everything I’ve been through in the last forty-eight hours, I’ve realized that none of it matters.
Not because I’m alone in the world and someone is better than no one. It has everything to do with how much this man cares for me. And how much I care for him. The irrepressible chemistry that exists between us.
It’s undeniable.
Magnetic.
Impossible to resist.
I doubt I could walk away from Matteo even if I wanted to.
He breaks into my pensive thoughts by pressing a kiss against my shoulder blade, his warm breath ghosting over me as he lingers. Delicious shivers dance across my flesh.
“I’m sorry about Dominic,” he says softly.
The entire situation continues to baffle me. I still can’t wrap my mind around everything my godfather set in motion.
“He did care about you, Grace. Still does.”
My chest tightens. But I’m tired of tears. I refuse to release the little buggers. I force out a laugh, but it’s a weak attempt and one that’s full of sadness. “Well, he has a strange way of showing it.”
Matteo says in a low voice, “If I hadn’t been involved, I doubt Dominic would have hired someone to scare you. I think us being together is what pushed him over the edge.”
Swiveling my head so our eyes can meet, I growl, “Don’t you dare make excuses for him. He didn’t have to do any of it.” Hot licks of anger bubble up inside me. “I could have been hurt far worse than I was.” I don’t add killed. But we both know it’s the truth.
Matteo’s voice softens. “I know, bella. It makes me sick inside to think about it.” He lays another kiss against the nape of my neck.
“He was quite willing to pin the blame on you and your family,” I remind him. Matteo is all too aware of what Dominic tried accusing him of. It doesn’t escape me that without Matteo’s involvement, I might not have ever found out that Dominic had been stealing from me.
“That was never going to happen. I wasn’t going to rest until I knew who tried hurting you.”
“Thank you for that.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” A hard glint enters his dark eyes as they hold mine. “I told you before that I take care of what’s mine.”
I smile as desire sparks to life and burns in the bottom of my belly. “Are you trying to tell me that I’m yours?”
He snorts. It’s the cutest sound imaginable. “Was there ever any doubt?”
I shrug, suddenly feeling shy. “Just making sure.”
We’ve never sat down and had a big heart-to-heart about our feelings. That’s why his next words take me by surprise.
“I love you, Grace.”
My eyes widen at the unexpected declaration. “I love you, too,” I whisper in return.
He leans forward and kisses me, gently turning my body until I’m lying across him. His erection presses against my belly, and my body awakens despite how tired I felt seconds ago.
It’s always like this between us.
He groans when my fingers wrap around his hard cock and begin stroking him. “Not tonight. You need to rest.”
My body is sore, but another part is beginning to ache as well. It’s an ache only Matteo can relieve. I playfully bat my eyelashes and pout. “Don’t you want me?”
His voice turns raspy as if he’s battling his own urges. And I love that. Love that I can drive him to the brink of distraction. “Of course I do, but you need a few more days to heal.” That doesn’t stop his lips from crashing into mine. From claiming my mouth and branding me as his. “Then I’ll take you exactly how I like best. Hard.”
A delicious thrill bolts straight down to my center. The ache between my thighs intensifies and grows into a steady, pulsing beat. A demand for more.
“I’m not going anywhere, Grace. I’ll always be right here with you.”
His promise takes the sharp edge off my desire, filling me with a tenderness I didn’t think was possible.
“I love you,” I whisper against his lips. I don’t want him to ever doubt me. “I don’t care who your family is. I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. I only care about you.” My eyes meet his. “You’re all that matters.”
The darkness hiding in his eyes disappears. A smile spreads across his face. My belly flips because he’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen and I can’t imagine there coming a time when I’m not affected by him.
At least, I hope there won’t be.
The same love coursing through me fills his espresso-colored eyes. He reminds me, “Just know that you are mine, bella. You will always be mine.”