Page 213 of Phantom Mine

She’s speechless. “I’m not sleeping with her.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m okay with her seeing you dressed like this either.” I inch closer, snagging the edge of her dress shirt between two fingers. My voice is a guttural rasp. “Is this mine?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

A low hum crawls up my throat. I fist the fabric, using it to tug her towards me. “Good.”

Possession wraps thickly around my throat, commanding my actions like a collar.

Valentina’s next words are cautious. “Dagny’s seen me in a lot less than this, Matteo.”

My gaze snaps up to her. “What? When?”

“Plenty of times,” she answers, fixing me with a troubled look as if she’s surprised I don’t know this. “We’ve shared a house, we’ve been on vacations, we’ve been to thespa,” she points out. “We’ve changed in front of each other countless times.”

The green eyed monster surges to life with raw, primal intent once more. I can’t help it, let alone control it.

“Does Enzo know about this?”

Valentina gapes at me. “I don’t see why he should, just like I don’t s—”

Her words cut off mid-sentence when I snag her throat. “It matters because the only person who should see you naked is me,” I whisper silkily. “And I promise you that Enzo is going to feel the exact same way about his wife upon learning this news.”

Her cheeks blush prettily. I run a thumb over the flush skin, humming hoarsely at the heat beneath my touch.

“No more getting naked with Dagny or any other woman,” I order.

“You’re insane,” Valentina whispers breathily.

I nod, agreeing. “Mhmm.” My forehead comes down to hers and I exhale a sharp breath. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

She pouts. “I thought you’d like the gift.”

“Oh, I do,cara. I fucking love it. I need to teach myself how to print and bind books though because I’m not letting anyone see these photos except me.” I fist her hair and tilt her head back. “If these had been available on my phone this week, I would have come earlier. Staying away would have been impossible.”

I bury my face into her neck, pressing kisses around the hold I still have on her throat.

“Did something happen to make you come home early?

“No, I just needed to see you. You’re my favorite part of the day. They don’t feel very meaningful when you’re not there. I didn’t want to go another sunrise without waking next to you.”

Valentina’s hands come around my neck. “You’re the favorite part ofmyday,” she assures. “Which is why I don’t understand how you could ever believe I’d cheat on you. We’ve been through this—”

“There’s nothing rational about my jealousy, Len.” My lips find her ear. “Itrust you implicitly,Iknow you would never cheat on me, but this is a part of my brain that loving you has driven to madness. The truth is, I would still want you even if you were someone else’s wife, and the fact you had a husband would do absolutely fuck all to dissuade me from having you, so I have to assume the same is true of any man or woman who looks at you.That’swhy I’m absurdly territorial and possessive, so don't ask me to change because I can’t.”

Valentina blinks up at me with wide eyes and wider pupils. My nostrils flare when I pick up the smell of her arousal.

“Why don’t we recreate some of these poses,” I purr sultrily. “I'm particularly interested in whatever use you were about to find for the whipped cream.”

An erotic growl rumbles in my chest. I tug at her throat to claim her lips when she presses a hand firmly against my chest and gives me a hard stare.

"You were mean, Matteo.”

“I was,cara.” Desperate fingers clamp her waist as I nod in vigorous agreement. “I apologize for being a jealous asshole. Let me make it up to you.”

I drop to my knees.

---