Page 22 of Doll Face

A floating staircase rested against one wall, leading up to a second floor. A see-through electric fireplace separated the kitchen and dining room from the living room. If that was what it was called. Macy couldn’t see anyone living in the room. It was too polished. Too impersonal. This was a home for a bachelor, who paid people to keep it clean, and she didn’t like it at all.

“Would you like coffee or tea?” Matteo asked as he made his way to the kitchen. His shoes produced a crisp click with each step on the marble floor.

“Just water, please,” she said as she eased onto one of the high-back bar stools.

He produced some fancy bottled water, popping the lid to fill a glass.

“Oh, before I forget, I have something for you,” he said, hurrying away.

“You already got me something,” she called after him.

He was back in a moment, carrying a bag. “It’s actually from Doc.”

She took it from him and looked inside, her jaw dropping at the expensive inhalers inside. “Oh my God!”

“Good?”

“This is amazing,” she whispered, dazed. “This has to be thousands of dollars’ worth of medicine in here.”

She took one out and opened the box, pulling out the folded-up package insert to read the contraindications. Then she prepped it and inhaled, holding the drug in her lungs for a bit before releasing her breath. Then she picked up her glass and swished it around her mouth to clean the steroid off her teeth.

Almost instantly, the tightness in her chest eased. Tears rushed forward so she had to blink rapidly to disperse them.

Matteo cupped her face. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just … this means the world to me.” She held up the inhaler in her hands. “I could never afford all this. Please give my thanks to Doc.”

He brushed some of her hair behind her ear. “I will. I’ve been doing some reading on eosinophilic asthma. The first thing I learned was how to say it.”

She grinned.

“I want to help you with medicine.”

Her humor vanished. “The one thing I won’t do is be one of those gold-digging women.”

“Okay,” he drawled. “Answer me this. Do you want to dye your hair blonde, demand diamonds and pearls, and drink nothing but mimosas?”

She blinked, very confused. “I don’t know what a mimosa is.”

“And that answers all my questions,” he said. “You’d never make a good trophy wife.”

He winked, and electricity jumped between them. Matteo walked around the island, and slowly slid his fingers through her hair. He leaned forward, giving her time to pull away if she wanted, but Macy wanted the kiss. Wanted him. He pulled her as close as possible, their bodies fitting like a glove, melding his lips against her. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as his firm lips covered hers, teasing them apart until his tongue swept in. Starting the kiss slowly, letting the magic build. Macy breathed in his scent, an intoxicating blend of male and raw sexuality. When they had to come up for air, they broke apart and Matteo pressed his forehead against hers.

“Can I touch you, Macy?”

Her eyes fluttered open. “Y-Yes,” she said, a little breathless.

He turned her chair for access. He kissed her neck, trailing his fingers over the tips of her breasts. Teasing the nipples into tight little buds, causing her breaths to grow deeper and more rapid. Matteo leaned in close, his breath brushing her ear, and said huskily, “If I slide my fingers into your panties, will I find your pussy dripping?”

She couldn’t even find her voice to answer.

“Make as much noise as you want,” he continued. “I'm not going to stop until you come all over my fingers."

Her stomach muscles rippled as he slowly made his way downward to her mound. She desperately wanted him to hurry up and get there, but he took his own sweet time. Stopping on the waistband of her jeans, she moaned and gyrated her hips, hoping he understood her acquiescence.

With the barest hint of a touch, he undid her button and slid down the zipper. Macy sucked in a breath, as his index finger brushed under her belt. He watched her closely, even as he pushed his hand down further into her jeans. The thin barrier of her panties gave way, and then he caressed her sensitive pussy lips. She jolted slightly against the odd sensation.

He paused. “You okay?”

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