MATTEO’s POV
My gaze shifted towards Evelyn, my eyes betraying a mix of incredulity and disbelief. Her long nails drummed on my desk in an annoying, rhythmic beat, while her green eyes bore into me like daggers. Evelyn stole the letter, and she knew how her life was hanging by the thread.
As her hand drifted across my exposed flesh, a chill ran through me. Her voice, laced with longing, whispered, “I’ve missed you, Matteo.” But as I gazed into her eyes, I saw a reflection of someone I despised, a person I’d hoped to never encounter again. A wave of revulsion washed over me, my muscles tensing in response to the unwanted touch. The ghost of my past loomed over us, its specter casting a shadow over this stolen moment.
My voice cut through the charged silence like a scalpel, the question echoing in the stillness of the room. “Where is it?” I demanded, my body coiling with tension as I rose to my full height, casting a menacing shadow over Evelyn. She remained steadfast, her gaze unwavering as she met my stare, her hands cupping the sides of my neck. She saw through the mask of menace, the cloak of darkness that often clouded my true self. In her eyes, I wasn’t a monster, I was a man. A man who she feared, yet loved.
Evelyn’s fingers, strong yet tender, kneaded the knots of tension that resided in the nape of my neck, her voice a seductive purr as she assured me, “The letter is secure, Matteo. I wouldn’t let it fall into the wrong hands. Especially Aria’s.” Her touch was like a balm, easing the aches of mistrust and deceit that had plagued me.
“What do you want?”. I asked, and she smiled at me. Her chest pressed against mine.
“I want you inside me”. She whispered, and I smirked.
“What if I take the letter by force and have you killed?”. I said, my voice deeper than it used to be. She moaned lowly, and I smiled, her eyes moving from my lips to my eyes and back to my lips.
“This is what I love about you. You’re fierce and I miss that”. Evelyn said. She couldn’t take her eyes off my lips, and her breathing changed, showing me how much she wanted me. Her fingers ran down my chest, hinting at what she wanted. It was clear that she was turned on by my intensity.
“Take your hands off me,” I growled, my tone laced with threat and warning. Evelyn froze, her fingers splayed against my chest. When she didn’t move, I repeated, “Take them off,” my voice brimmed with menace. The power dynamic shifted as I asserted my dominance, her hesitation stoking the embers of my fury. Evelyn’s hands trembled slightly, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and desire, yet she remained glued to the spot, caught between the fear of angering me and her own insatiable need.
Evelyn’s tone turned frosty, her words a stark reminder of her leverage as she said, “Matteo, my love. You must remember that I hold the power here. Either you comply, or you face the consequences of Aria discovering the truth.” Her lips, once curved in a coquettish smile, now formed a thin, determined line as she stared back at me, her gaze unwavering. My gut twisted, the realization of her advantage hitting me like a punch to the gut. I remained motionless, my mind racing with possibilities as I searched for a way to regain control.
“You made the call that day, right?”. I asked, and her grip around me tightened.
“Yes,” Evelyn breathed, her eyes gleaming with triumph. “Yes, I hold the letter. And I won’t hesitate to use it against you if you don’t comply.” She relished in the moment, savoring the reversal of our positions.
“Who has the letter?”. I asked, calm and collected.
Her ultimatum sent a jolt of panic through me. “Give me what I want,” she demanded, “or lose Aria forever.” My eyes, wide with terror, darted around the room, my mind grasping for any escape. I couldn’t fathom a life without Aria, her absence from my world, a black hole that threatened to swallow me whole. I clenched my fists, the rage within me building to a fever pitch. Yet, I knew that in this game of cat and mouse, I was the mouse, trapped, and at Evelyn’s mercy.
“Touch me, Matteo,” Evelyn purred into my ear, her warm breath tickling my skin. She paused, letting the anticipation build, before finishing, “I want you to feel me just the way you did with… Daya.” The name left her lips like a sinful confession, the mere mention of it enough to send my pulse racing. Her tongue traced the contours of my earlobe, her touch both seductive and taunting.
“Get off me,” I hissed under my breath, but my words fell on deaf ears. Evelyn was relentless, her hands roaming my chest through the fabric of my shirt. One by one, she undid the buttons, her fingers nimble and quick. Finally, she yanked the shirt off my body, her hungry gaze drinking in the sight of my exposed skin. She left me bare, vulnerable, the raw power of her desire enveloping us both like a cloak. I shuddered, my heart racing as I tried to fight against the seductive pull of her touch.
“Even better than I remember,” she breathed, her eyes glistening with a predatory hunger. They were a mesmerizing shade of green, a warmth to them that belied the danger they held. The feel of her palm against my skin sent shivers down my spine, but I refused to look at her, instead turning my gaze towards the window. The glass reflected her face, her expression dark and entranced as her hand continued to explore my body, her lips ghosted against my neck, her mouth leaving a trail of heat and moisture in its wake. “C’mon, Matteo,” she cooed, her voice a low, sultry purr. “I know you want me.” The kisses continued, her mouth dancing across my skin like a butterfly in flight, her tongue trailing tantalizing paths that left me trembling with desire. She teased and tormented me, her touch a sweet torture that weakened my resolve.
She knew my body like a map, tracing every contour and curve with an expert hand. She stripped off her dress shirt, her movements slow and deliberate, the cloth pooling at her feet. She unhooked her bra with ease, letting it fall to the floor, revealing the familiar curves of her breasts. They were as I remembered, full and perky, the sight of them sending a wave of hunger through me. Like a predator stalking its prey, I stared down at Evelyn, my gaze devouring every inch of her. She was a feast for the eyes, her skin a canvas for my desires. The feral heat that simmered within me threatened to consume me, and I knew that resisting her was no longer an option.
Evelyn’s voice was a tantalizing whisper, her hands reaching up to push her breasts against my chest. “Don’t you want to touch them?” she purred, her lips caressing mine. But my gaze remained fixed on the window, and my mind focused on the figure that caught my attention. Aria’s small form danced across the mud, her steps light and carefree, her face turned towards an unseen companion. The sight of her made my heart seize, a crippling fear squeezing at my chest.
I squinted my eyes, waiting for this person to come into my view, and I saw Carter and I clenched my jaw. The scene of their joy, a stark contrast to the darkness of my mood. As their laughter echoed through the air, my heart felt like it was being crushed in a vice. I turned to face Evelyn, her emerald gaze piercing my soul. Without a word, I seized her head, my grip harsh and unrelenting, and pressed my lips against hers with a ferocity that left no room for doubt.