Page 24 of Ruthless Match

His voice began to crack as he softly said, “I know I hurt you. But I need you to understand that I never would have hurt you. In my heart, I know we can work this out.”

I laughed bitterly. “Work this out? Do you think a simple apology can fix this? I can’t trust you, Matteo. Not after this. Not after what you’ve done.”

Matteo’s face looked like someone had stabbed him. For a man who was always in control, he no longer was, and he didn’t know what to do.

“Aurora,” he whispered with desperation. “Please give me the chance to make this right. Give me the chance to prove myself to you.”

I looked at him. For a moment, my resolve softened before hardening again. “I can’t, Matteo. This is all too much. I need time to think. We need to spend some time apart.”

Before I could turn to walk away, Matteo grabbed my bicep and pushed me up against the wall. I’d be lying if I said electricity didn’t shoot through my body from his touch because it did. And that bothered me.

How can a man who threatened my life less than an hour ago make me wet from a simple touch? I must be seriously messed up.

His breath was hot, and his cologne filled the air as he inched closer to my ear.

“You aren’t going anywhere, Bella Rosa. There are things I need to say, and you are going to listen.”

“But what if I don’t want to?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

“You will, Mi Amore, you will.”

My attempt at resisting was futile. Matteo was too strong, and deep down, I didn’t want to.

Matteo slowly began softly kissing my neck as he began to speak. “Aurora, I didn’t expect any of this to happen. My life has always been a well-oiled machine, one I could control how I saw fit. Love was never on my radar. But then you blew into my life and threw me off course.”

I tried to speak, but Matteo placed his finger over my lips to silence me.

“Not yet, Bella Rosa. I’m not finished. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t fight the magnetic pull between us. When I wasn’t looking, you snuck into my heart and grabbed a hold of it. You are my other half, Aurora. My heart belongs to you. I am dedicated to you completely, now and forever. I will cherish you and protect you always.”

I tensed at the word protect. I’d had a glimpse of what that meant, and although it made me nervous, it also comforted me.

“Nothing will ever harm you, not while I’m around. From this point forward, there will be no other women. There never really was, No one could compare to you. I promise to be faithful until the day I die.”

My heart was melting, and my body was on fire. I wanted him, but I also needed more assurance that my family was safe. I may not want anything to do with my father, but that doesn’t mean I want him dead.

“What about my father, Matteo? I know he’s a low-life son-of-a-bitch, but he’s still my father. How can I be sure you won’t go after him? Especially after what he did?”

Still holding me against the wall with his left hand, Matteo used his right hand to slowly raise the hem of my cotton sundress. The feel of his fingertips on my bare skin sent shivers down my spine.

I was beginning to lose control.

Kissing along my collarbone, he stopped to look me in the eyes.

“Aurora, my love, I promise to never threaten your father again, but I will not be in the same room with him for any reason. Your father will continue to live as he always has as long as he stays away from me, from us.”

When Mateo said from us, my control snapped. The desire and love I felt for this man threatened to overtake me. It shouldn’t have been there, but it was. Deep inside, I knew that no matter what happened, I was safe. Matteo would never hurt me. I was home in the den of my protector now.

My hands found Matteo’s head and pulled him to me.

“Kiss me, Matteo…”

Before I could say more, Matteo engulfed me in a searing kiss. My body was on fire. Our tongues collided as our bodies frantically tried to say what for so long had been ignored.

This, right here in each other’s arms, was where we always belonged. It wasn’t enough, though. I needed more, something to put out the fire that Matteo’s words and touch had ignited. I needed to feel his body against mine as we brought each other to the peak of ecstasy.

My head fell back as Matteo slipped his fingers inside my black lace panties. The torture was agonizing as he slowly stroked his thumb over my swollen bud.

Damn. If this is how we settle every disagreement, sign me up.

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