Page 113 of The Devil's Den

“Iknowhe does.” Dante clasps him on the shoulder, looking straight at him. “And you, you can let go of it, that guilt you carry.” Dom’s mouth goes tight. “You saved us. We got Matteo back, even when we thought that was impossible. You’ve got nothing to feel guilty about anymore, brother. You’re done now.”

Dom’s throat bobs, and Enzo and I come to stand beside our two brothers.

“The Cavaleri brothers,” Enzo adds. “We’re back, baby.”

“What the hell does that even mean?” Dom grimaces.

“I don’t fucking know.” He shrugs. “But it sounded good.”

Then we’re all laughing like nothing has changed, like the years weren’t stolen, like our world hasn’t been turned upside down, because sometimes, that’s what you have to do to survive.

* * *

The past couple of weeks have been everything both of us could’ve ever imagined. She has a father, and a new family. And I have mine, however broken it is.

Aida’s been dealing with her trauma with the help of Jade. In fact, they’ve gotten very close and have been seeing a therapist together. Jade even accompanied her to the doctor to get checked out after everything she went through.

I’m grateful she has someone to help her, because no matter how badly I want to, I can’t. It didn’t happen to me. I could comfort her, but I can’t do much more than that. With Jade, she has someone she can relate to. And together, I know they’ll get through this. I could already see small changes in Aida—the way she laughs, the way she looks at me. It’s like those scars are slowly healing, like the ones on my back have.

Aida groans with a smile in her voice as she yawns and stretches. While I do my best not to stare, it’s nearly impossible not to notice how hard and damn beautiful her nipples are.

My cock stiffens at the very sight of her, wanting to feel her coming while she’s wrapped around my cock. I touch her when she lets me, when she tells me it’s okay. The first time we sleep together, I hope I manage not to fuck it up. What if I suck at it? What if I hurt her? How the hell do people do this for the first time? But my body, damn it wants her bad.

My breathing grows heavy as she continues to stretch, her thigh rubbing against my inner one, and if she moves just a fraction, she’ll notice how much I want her.

The comforter crawls down her body when she reaches her arms up with another yawn, falling past her stomach. I bet anything she doesn’t even realize how damn seductive she is.

When she finally stops, she catches me staring and holds my gaze. I don’t know if she notices something in my eyes, but I notice something in hers, like she feels this too—this maddening desire. Her lips part, her breathing turning harsher, my gaze falling to her mouth.

My jaw pulses, her chest rising and falling to the tempo of my heartbeats. “Matteo…” she whispers as though sensing the battle in my head. “I want this.” There’s confidence in those words and I’m not sure if she wants what I think she does.

“Are you saying…”

She nods, and my gut tightens with knots. I need this to be perfect for her. How the hell can I do that?

“Baby…” I let my hand reach the delicate outline of her face, my knuckles brushing down from her temple to the tip of her chin. “I don’t know how to love you.”

Her brows tighten, her eyes fastened to mine. “You’ve been loving me your entire life, Matteo. Just keep doing that.”

Slowly, I allow my hand to fall. Lower. Sailing along her neck, her pulse racing beneath my skin, until it falls between her breasts.

I flip the comforter off of us completely, allowing me free rein of her body. When one of my fingers strokes over her taut nipples, her back arches and the most erotic moan finds its way out.

It’s the only encouragement I need to rip past the last bit of fear holding me back, both my hands around her hips, my cock heavy and throbbing. My mouth replaces where my finger had just been, and I suck her into my mouth through the soft silk, the tip of my tongue circling over her beaded flesh as I watch her watching me. My cock jerks in my sweats, aching to feel her.

“Yes,” she pants, a hand flying to the back of my head, clutching deeper. I pull back, needing my gaze to drink in every line, every curve, every valley I’ve yet to discover. I can’t wait to discover more of her in every year to come.

“Are you sure?” The pitch of my voice is consumed with hoarse uncertainty, dripping with temptation, wanting to make sure she’s ready for this after everything she was forced to endure. And selfishly, I want to also hear her say she wants me, that I’m enough for a woman like her. Someone good.

With Aida, I realize all the stuff I was forced to do doesn’t define me. My love for her, her love for me, that’s what matters.

She nods, her gaze searching mine. “I am. You’re my sanctuary, Matteo. The only time I ever felt safe was with you. This is no different. Not for me. Not anymore.” Her eyes squeeze shut for a brief moment before she looks to me again. “I need this. It’s how I continue to heal.” She takes my hand to her mouth, kissing the center of my palm. “I’m ready now. I want you, only you.” And there in the rasp slipping between her words, I can hear the truth just as much as I can see it in her eyes.

Without letting another second pass us by, I rise to my knees, my hands reaching the thin straps at her shoulders, and gradually, I glide her gown down her arms until her breasts fall free, roughly yanking the rest of it past her thighs and onto the floor.

She’s completely bare. For me. A man who doesn’t deserve this level of trust. But here she is, giving it to me anyway.

“Aida,” I groan, unable to stop staring at how beautiful she is as she writhes, hunger piercing her gaze.

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