Page 11 of Dare To Free Us

My heart swelled so big I though it would burst from my chest. What I wouldn’t have given to hear him say that.

Then he stood from the table and my gaze hit my lap with fresh tears and this time a soft sob.

Now was when he says that it can’t happen. His father laid down the law and Matteo was going to walk away. After giving me what my heart had longed to hear, he was going to smash it to pieces again.

“Come, Arianna. My car is outside.”

I slowly looked up to see his hand outstretched toward me. I shook my head. Could it get any worse? I was making such a scene he felt the need to remove me. “I don’t need you to give me a ride home. I have my car.”

“No, Arianna.” He shook his head slowly. “I’m not taking you home, unless that is were you want to go. But I would rather take you to my bed.” My lungs froze as shock tingled my wet cheeks. “I lost you once. I’ll be damned if I lose you again.”

“What about your father? My father?” Those two things were not just minor details of the situation.

“Let me handle that.” Matteo stretched his hand out a bit more. “Come with me.”

The world stopped. The sounds of cutlery scraping against lunch plates and noise of mindless chatter faded out like a hazy summer sky. I looked upon Matteo’s beautiful face. His eyes were soft but the set of his jaw made me realize how desperate he was for me to say yes.

Slowly I placed my hand in his and my body lit on fire. He gave me one of his signature nods and gently began to lead me out the door. Luca came out of nowhere to follow us and I walked without feeling my limbs.

I had to be insane. Whatever part of my brain that did the rational thinking had flown out the window. No matter what he said, how did I think things would turn out any different? That it wouldn’t end with heartbreak all the same. But I wanted it, even if it meant disaster awaited. So, I’d either lost all sense of self-preservation or I was dreaming.

That must be it.

This isn’t happening.None of it was real. I was having a dream. A wonderfully, cruel dream that I was going to love and hate when I woke up. But for the moment I sank into it and let myself believe the big hand holding mine was reality, and the man I loved wanted me too.

* * *

We madeour way across Boston as Luca drove and Matteo and I sat in the back seat of the large SUV. We drove in awkward silence that made it hard to sit still. Matteo wouldn’t stop staring out the window on his side, looking completely lost in thought. One that made his brow pinch and shoulders bunch. I resisted the urge to tug at my dress or fiddle with my purse.

He hadn’t let go of my hand but otherwise hadn’t looked at me either. Reality crashed down hard on my head. I hadn’t seen Matteo in over four years and had no clue what kind of a man he might have changed into. Because his inability or unwillingness to talk with me was not the Matteo I remembered. Suddenly, I realized I’d been in love with the man from four years ago. How much of him was left?

It was obvious Matteo had changed. Though he was never one to appear less than capable, somehow he looked larger than everything around him. He watched the city flash by as if he owned it. He was harder and felt colder somehow. But the silence made the greatest impact.

Conversation had never forced between us and in that moment I didn’t think I could get him to speak to me if I begged. Something was going on in his head and I wasn’t sure if I should be nervous or not.

“Matteo? Is everything ok?”

“Yes.” He didn’t look at me.

Asshole.

One word answers were shit in my opinion. Suddenly all the hurt and longing over the years pressed together, the friction caused the heat of anger to burn in my chest.

We pulled up to a high-rise building, and before I could voice my growing frustration Matteo was pulling me out of the car. We walked through the lobby at a hurried pace. I trotted alongside Matteo in my heels until we came to the elevators. A ding sounded and Matteo pushed past the middle-aged couple that had been waiting.

He pulled me into the elevator. “You will have to wait for the next one.” Matteo pushed the close-door button as the couple’s mouths fell open at the total disregard for politeness.

Then he punched in a code on the upper panel, a button for one of the top floors illuminated, he pressed it quickly. The elevator moved upward and we were encased in awkward silence once again.

Ok enough of this crap. “Matteo.” I jerked on his hand. “Will you at least look at me. What the hell is going…”

He moved so fast I stumbled into the wall behind me as Matteo’s lips took mine. The kiss was rushed and desperate, tearing at every nerve ending in my body as I exploded with need.

Matteo growled as I kissed him back with everything I possessed. His hands couldn’t seem to stay in one place for long as he tried to feel every piece of me as fast as possible. My heart raced so fast I though it might give out.

I panted as his lips left my mouth to kiss, nip and suck at my neck. Heat pooled down low, I was wet within seconds. Matteo used his hips to press me against the wall and I gasped at the feel of his erection rubbing against my lower stomach. Only my thin dress and his zipper separated us; so little and yet so much.

“Fuck, I’ve never stopped thinking about you.” His hands cupped my ass and lifted me so he could get at my breasts. With his hands full and my dress in the way, Matteo did his best to kiss all the exposed flesh he could.

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