Page 61 of Matteo
“You said you wouldn’t let anyone touch what was yours?” I tried to backpedal, but somehow I knew it wouldn’t work.
“I never told you about that.”
I stepped on each of his shoes and rose to my tiptoes, then pressed a kiss on his lips, hoping to distract him. It worked. He thrust his tongue between my lips, ravaging my mouth.
Pure lust erupted inside me, and I roamed my fingers over his shirt and along his abs.
Sliding a hand up his neck, I pushed my fingers into his hair. I was ready to skip over the date and go straight to what came next.
His tongue slid against mine, and with a rough sound from deep in his chest, he sucked on my tongue. Then abruptly, he nipped my bottom lip and I yelped.
When I pulled back, both of us were breathing heavily.
“We’re doing this date, Ari.” His voice was like red velvet while his eyes darkened with enough heat to melt the polar ice caps. “If I have any say in it, we’ll have nice stories to tell our children, not just fucked-up ones.”
Staring at him, my mind was spinning. Whether from his strange words or the kiss we shared, I wasn’t sure. Either way, I had no business feeling such a carnal need to jump his bones. Maybe this business of being a virgin for so long was finally backfiring.
I had to clear my throat to find my voice.
“Isn’t it a bit too early to talk about children?” I said, ignoring my throbbing core.
He brought his hand to my neck, his fingers caressing my fluttering pulse. “Let’s get this date started, then, because I can’t wait for my dessert. And, Ari?”
I gulped. “Yes?”
“I’m not talking about cookies.”
“It’s the best cookie I’ve ever had.” I threw another Nutella cookie into my mouth and chewed on it, stroking my hand over the picnic blanket. While we were working on the cookie dough, he’d discarded his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves, and I couldn’t help but admire his strong, veiny arms. In fact, I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed them before.
It was the best date I could have possibly wished for. Matteo recreated our first time together in the kitchen as children. We even made the same cookies.
“I’m just grateful my nose didn’t have to be broken for you to bake for me.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Come on, I’ve baked for you many times since.”
“True, but that was the last time you did it next to me in the kitchen.”
“Because you almost ruined my batch,” I reminded him, unable to keep my grin under control. “I said apinchof salt and you dumped the entire container of it into the mix.”
“It meant we could spend more time together that day.” I stared at him in disbelief and he shrugged. “What? Don’t tell me you’re surprised.”
“I broke your nose that day,” I reminded him. “I would have thought you’d want to spend the least amount of time possible with me after that.”
“Absolutely not. I was proud and impressed with your self-defense capabilities.” I gave my head a subtle shake. No wonderit was so easy to fall for this man. “Besides, it was the first secret we shared and the true beginning of our friendship.”
My chest twisted in guilt, reminding me of our deception. I would have to talk to Hannah eventually, but I refused to dwell on it now.
My gaze darted around the dimmed space. The portable kitchen was a mess while the glittering stars above us played peekaboo between the clouds, the soft breeze teasing my strands. The weather had been on our side, delaying the showers that the soft rumble of thunder in the distance promised.
“How did you get the equipment in here?”
“I have my ways.”
“If you get caught?—”
He chuckled. “I never get caught.”
I rolled my eyes. “One day you will.”
