Page 49 of Phantom Mine

It takes long seconds for me to register them, to interrogate why they sound so familiar, and to finally realize why they do. Because theyare.

It’s not the first time I’ve heard them.

It’s not the first time he’s said them to me.

My eyes fly open, the lust receding sharply as reality slams into me.

Suddenly, it’s like all the pieces connect. All the times I felt like I’d seen the curve of his lips before or felt the hard planes of his body. All the times I disregarded those feelings as being impossible.

Matteo feels the abrupt change in my body when I stiffen.

Slowly, he pulls away. His mouth leaves mine and he retreats. He peers down at where I lie trapped beneath his hard body. His gaze traces over the hand that comes up to my lips in shock and his mouth stretches into an arrogant smirk, his eyes shining triumphantly.

Danger dances along every word when he speaks, his voice low and sultry. “Do you remember me now,pavona?”

Chapter Fourteen

Matteo

A year and a half ago

I’ve been watching her for the past two hours, completely bewitched even though her face is hidden away behind a mask. I don’t need to see it to be entranced by her.

Not when I’ve already seen the way she laughs, head thrown back, open throated, and completely guileless. The way she bends over the bar as she orders tequila shots. The way she throws them back like they’re water, her only reaction when she bites into the lime wedge. The way her face scrunches up adorably and she jumps in place, shaking her head to lessen the sting. Not when I’ve seen the way she flirts with everybody. Man, woman, friend, asshole,everyone. They’re all on the receiving end of her coy looks, corner smiles, and lethal dance moves. Not when I’ve seen how she parks her hand on her hip when a man bumps into her friend before proceeding to bite his head off.

It’s everything and nothing all at once, but it’sher. Suddenly, on a Saturday in May when I least expect it, I get to live through the life-altering experience that is to be completely absorbed by someone at first glance.

No, not absorbed. Arrested.

Stopped cold in my steps—in my veryexistence—as if by a physical blow.

And I want her.

She has me spellbound and she doesn’t even know of my existence.

Yet.

“You’re going to catch flies if you keep your mouth open like that,” Enzo drawls, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Make a move. Or better yet, come with me. Graziela and Estella have been anxious to meet you.”

I throw a look over my shoulder at the cordoned off section where we’ve been sitting. Two girls wave coquettishly at me with their fingers, giggling behind their hands when I tip my chin back at them in response.

“No, thanks,” I tell my cousin, looking back down into the crowd and at her.

Enzo follows my gaze. “Are you going to do something? If you stay here any longer you might actually start to grow roots.”

“Rocco’s here tonight. You know I’m not going near anyone while he’s atFirenze. I won’t risk it.”

“Guido told me Rocco’s in a meeting. He’s been in that private room for hours now, I don’t think he’ll come out tonight.” Enzo tips his chin in the direction of the brunette. “We leave tomorrow,cugino. It’s now or never.”

This is my seventh time back in London since I left for Rome. I’ve made yearly trips to maintain the appearance of a good relationship with my father and brother.

They have no idea that I’ve been quietly planning my own coup. It needs to stay that way if I have any hope of it being successful, so every year I come for a couple of weeks to show my face, smile like nothing's wrong, shake their hands and pat their backs, and then I go home.

Enzo is right. It’s now or never.

There’s a weird tugging in my chest when I look down at her. The emotion is foreign, not one I’ve ever felt before, but one I want to investigate further.

I see her move through the crowd towards the stairs to the second floor where I am. The crowd seems to split willingly around her like the Red Sea parting for Moses. People stare as she walks past them and I know exactly why.

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