Page 250 of Merciless Desires

A scar, hidden by a winding snake tattoo, sliced across his lower stomach. I traced the scar that was thin, but long, like someone had tried to stab him but he’d turned before they could.

Matteo nibbled at my neck, ignoring my concern.

“Upper shoulder,” he mumbled into my skin.

I slid my hands up his sides and across his back as he brought his mouth down to mine again. I felt the circular scar on his left shoulder, and I didn’t need to ask what had caused it. Our kiss slowed and when Matteo pulled back, he pressed his forehead against mine.

“I told you I could take a bullet, amorina.”

“I don’t want you to get shot.”

He breathed a laugh. “I’ll take a bullet for you.”

Matteo sat across from the change rooms, suit unbuttoned, posture lax, and his gaze locked fully on me. Every dress I tried on, he loved and bought for me.

But the one that set it all apart was the crimson square-neck dress with a slit that nearly went to my right hip.

“Cazzo,” he hissed and leaned forward.

“You hate it,” I teased and turned away.

I gazed at myself in the mirror, admiring the fit of the dress that made my body look smoother than it actually was.

Matteo appeared behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pushing me into the dressing room further. He pulled the curtain closed behind us, and the large man possessed the small space.

“You’re getting it. In every fucking color, amorina.”

His hands were back on me, slipping over the polyester. His touch was gentle, yet prodding, teasing just enough to make my pussy tingle.

Matteo pushed hair away from my neck and brought his mouth down to my skin. A soft kiss quickly turned to a sharp nibble that made me yelp.

He watched me in the mirror and unzipped the dress. “I want you to wear this one tonight, amorina.”

With a wicked grin, Matteo’s hands were off me and he left the change room, closing the curtain behind him.

Chapter Fifteen

MATTEO

Kissing her wouldn’t be enough. Fucking her wouldn’t be enough. No matter what, I’d always want more of her.

I had said I wanted to go dress shopping with her to spend time with her, but we both knew I needed to go to keep her safe. Dominov’s men were becoming more aggressive, and it was a bad time to plan a wedding.

I was certain the planted eyeball had been found, and the repercussions of that would arise soon enough. We were a few steps ahead, or at least I hoped we were.

In all this chaos, I knew one thing for certain: Marcella looked fucking incredible in red.

She quizzed me on my mamma as we were driven to the massive and insanely reinforced home, desperate to know more about the woman who would soon be her mother-in-law.

I’d chosen not to drive so I could drink tonight, but mostly so I could be in the back of the car with Marcella. Keeping my hands off her was already proving to be a challenge, especially in that goddamn dress.

“I feel like I know nothing about you,” Marcella said with a pout.

She was right. I knew everything I possibly could about the woman I was going to marry, but I hadn’t afforded her the same luxury.

“What would you like to know, amorina?”

“I want to know you, Matteo.”

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