Page 69 of Vicious Reign

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MADDIE

It’sa little before dinnertime when Leo and I get back to the apartment. The smell of fresh herbs, garlic, and sweet sausage assault me as soon as he opens the door. We follow our noses and head straight toward the kitchen.

“Hope you guys are hungry. I made spaghetti Bolognese tonight,” Matteo calls over his shoulder.

I pause against the island just to take him in. Matteo Rossi on a normal day is enough to steal your breath, but Matteo Rossi bent over a stove with his shirtsleeves rolled up to his forearms, cooking a delicious dinner? It’s the stuff of fantasies.

“Oh, I’m hungry.” I’m nearly salivating at the sight of him. Who knew the domesticated look would be a turn on?

He spins around, wiping his hands off on a light gray tea towel. I don’t bother clearing the lust from my face, I want him to see how affected I am.

He crosses the kitchen in slow, measured steps until he stops in front of me. He tosses the tea towel on the island and leans in. “How was the bookstore?”

His words are soft, his breath feathering across my lips. He might as well be asking me to take off my panties for how my body reacts. I lick my lips and push up onto my toes to kiss him. He slides his palm up the front of my throat, his thumb swiping slowly over my pulse point. It’s dominant and hot as hell—and he knows I love it. A soft whimper falls from my mouth, and he’s quick to swallow it.

Someone chuckles, and I float back down to reality. I settle back on my heels and stare at Matteo with my kiss-swollen lips and half-lidded eyes.

“Did you guys forget I was here?” Leo laughs under his breath.

“If you can’t handle the heat, then maybe you should—”

“I swear to god, Matteo, if you finish that lame-ass dad joke, I’m going to start calling you old man.” Leo’s voice rises with laughter, so it’s hard to take his threat seriously.

I giggle at their back-and-forth. It’s nice to see them playful like this. I grab my bag of books that I set down on the floor when we first came in and hold it up proudly. “I got four books today, and guess what?” I don’t pause to let him answer. “I even got a reverse harem romance.”

Matteo just stares at me, his expression blank. “Am I supposed to know what that means, Cherry?”

I roll my eyes, but Leo beats me to the explanation first. “We’re living in one, man. One girl, multiple dicks.”

I smirk at his oversimplification but don’t call Leo out. I only explained what it meant a couple weeks ago when he saw me reading a book about a girl who falls in love with monsters.

Matteo eyes the bag in my hand before raising a brow. “Maybe I should take a look after you’re done.”

I feel my cheeks flush when I think about him reading all the spicy group scenes. A slow smile inches across my face. “I think that’s a great idea.”

* * *

Dinner ended a couple hours ago,and I’ve been curled up on the couch reading for the last hour. Matteo had to run out to follow up on a threat about the next target. I still don’t totally understand who the enemy is, but neither do they, I guess.

I think he’d tell me more if I asked, but with my own family problems hanging around my neck like an albatross, I decide I’m fine staying on the need-to-know basis.

Neither Aries or Dante have been home since this morning, but I’ve texted with both of them earlier, and they both assured me they’re fine.

The checking-in thing is a new rule we have. It’s dangerous to be out of touch for too long, especially when people are disappearing off the streets—or worse, ending up dead in their homes or while they grab a bagel for breakfast.

Leo shoots some zombie-looking creatures on the TV from next to me on the couch. He makes these adorable grunting noises and even tilts his body when he wants his character to move a certain way. It’s totally silly and completely endearing.

He tosses the controller on the couch cushion on his other side. “My eyes need a break. I’m going to do a caffeine run. You need anything, baby?”

It’s not unheard of for us to run down the block and pick up an evening latte, especially with the late hours we’ve been keeping. I slip a bookmark into my book and set it down on the coffee table. “Oh, sure. I’ll come with you.”

He leans over and kisses my forehead. “No, you stay here. It’s still hot as hell outside. I’ll only be gone a few minutes.”

“You sure you can carry them all back by yourself?”

“Absolutely. I’m grabbing two caramel lattes. Those assholes can grab their own coffees.” He flashes me a dark grin and swoops in to press a hard kiss to my lips.

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