Page 13 of Ruthless Match

But before I could finish, he was facing me and capturing my lips in a searing kiss, his tongue exploring the depths of my mouth with a hunger that told me he was as hungry for this as I was.

He entered me slowly at first, allowing my body time to adjust to his size.

“Are you okay?” he asked sincerely.

“Yes, I’m more than okay. Please don’t stop.”

“As you wish.”

My legs wrapped around his waist as his movement quickened. I couldn’t believe how easily our bodies adapted to each other, perfectly in sync, almost like they were made for one another.

I didn’t get time to dwell on that before I began seeing stars.

“Matteo,” I gasped, “I’m going to…”

As my climax exploded, I screamed in ecstasy and clung to Matteo while the waves of pleasure subsided.

We lay in silence for a while. The only sounds were the gentle rustle of the sheets and the soft, distant hum of the ocean waves. For a reason I couldn’t decipher, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t experienced in years. But I knew in my heart it couldn’t last.

The uncertainty and fear were bound to come back soon, but now they would be compounded by our intimacy.

“Matteo,” I asked barely above a whisper.

Stroking my back as my head lay on his chest, he responded softly, “Yes?”

“What happens now?”

His hand stilled as he said, “We take it day by day.”

As we lay in the darkness, our bodies entwined, for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that maybe—just maybe—there was a chance I could be happy.

CHAPTER 9

Matteo

I woke as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains of the honeymoon suite, casting a warm glow across the room. Surprisingly, I had fallen asleep easily. Sleeping next to a woman, no matter who she was, was not something I did.

I lay on my back and stared at the ceiling while Aurora slept peacefully beside me. The events of last night replayed in my mind. I didn’t regret what happened, but the feelings that came with it were not something I was expecting. It was a unique mix of emotions—satisfaction, intrigue, and most of all, fear—fear of what this all meant.

I glanced at Aurora, her long blonde hair cascading over the pillow. She looked so peaceful in the soft morning light, a far cry from the feisty woman I had witnessed so far. But maybe … maybe this is who she really was—a gentle soul with a tough exterior to protect her from the outside world.

To say last night was unexpected would be an understatement. I had planned to assert my dominance and remind her that she wasn’t the only one in this arranged marriage. But I found a woman who opened herself to me both physically and emotionally, letting me see a glimpse of the woman beneath the layers of anger and defiance.

I was intrigued. I thought I had married a princess—a beautiful, intelligent princess who graduated top of her class at Yale, but a princess, nonetheless. What I found was so much more. I wanted to know more about the woman underneath the veil of defiance.

Not wanting to disturb Aurora, I slipped out of bed quietly. On the plane, when Aurora wasn’t talking to me, I made arrangements for us to spend the day exploring Viejo San Juan.

Was it presumptuous to think she would want to spend the day with me? Yeah, but my life is built on taking chances, and this one couldn’t hurt me—not physically, anyway.

I hoped that a change of scenery and the vibrant atmosphere of the historic city would help ease the tension between us. It was perfect timing. I had a feeling things were going to be even more awkward after last night.

As I quickly dressed, I thought about the day ahead. I had visited the city a few times before on business and was intrigued by the cobblestone streets and historic colonial architecture. I have always wanted to explore it as a tourist. Today, I would get that chance, only I wouldn’t be alone. I would also be seeing it through Aurora’s eyes. I couldn’t wait.

Do you realize what just happened? You can’t wait to spend the day with a woman in a non-sexual way; what the hell is going on with you?

Just as I was fastening my watch, Aurora began to stir. I looked over as she opened her eyes. Smiling, I walked over and kissed her before she could resist. “Good morning, I have a surprise for you today.”

Aurora blinked sleepily, her expression cautious as she sat up, covering her nakedness from me in embarrassment. I laughed internally at the adorableness of the gesture.

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