Putting away the clothes I hadn’t worn in six months also made me realize that I desperately needed to go shopping. My old clothes looked like a relic of an old life. In my haste to leave my apartment in Munich, I had failed to take any of my new clothes. Then, fully dressed, I went downstairs, stopping occasionally to listen to Matthew. Silence reigned in the apartment, and as I crossed the living room to the open kitchen, I met no one, not even a bodyguard. Suspicion flared in me. Matteo would never leave me unsupervised after what I had done. My eyes scanned the ceiling, the corners and every other possible place for security cameras, but I found none. I hesitated for a moment in the center of the kitchen as my eyes darted to the ‘huge coffee pot. Screw it. I needed caffeine. If Matteo wasn’t here, which I was grateful for, I would pretend this was my house. And I didn’t even need to pretend. This was my home now, or at least it should have been.
Of course, I didn’t feel like it. It had been a long time since any place had felt like home to me.
In the last months of my life there, even my parents’ house had no longer felt like one. It was useless to think about it now. I would never forgive my father for how he treated me, nor my mother for allowing him to do so. Maybe I was dead to them, but they were also dead to me. My finger was hovering in front of the button that would turn on the coffee maker. This eerie silence was driving me mad. Reprimanding myself for my ridiculous caution, I finally pushed it. I picked up a cup and chose a cappuccino. I was no longer on the run. The worst had already happened. With a satisfying fizz, the hot liquid spilled out.
As soon as I finished, I clutched the cup and took a long sip, feeling how the warmth and familiar taste further cleared my mind. I leaned against the counter, letting my gaze wander around the apartment. I actually liked the purist design, the elegant black leather sofas, the black wooden furniture and the white walls. I wondered if Luca and Matteo had hired the same interior designer because their furniture looked so similar. I could see myself looking for artwork that would fit, I could see myself buying pillows that would bring some color, I could see myself decorating a large tree for Christmas.
I walked around the counter, perched on the stool, and turned my back on the place where I could easily see myself living. It was not what I wanted. Or at least something I didn’t want six months earlier, something I shouldn’t have wanted, not after risking so much to escape it. I closed my eyes and inhaled the comforting scent of my coffee. I needed to see Aria again, but could I at least go up to the top floor of her penthouse? The idea of having to ask Matteo’s and maybe Luca’s permission every time I wanted to see my sister was driving me crazy. It was a great way to remind myself why I had run, something I could never afford to forget.
A warm breath hovered on my neck, followed by a low “Good morning.”
I yelled in surprise and sent my coffee cup flying off the kitchen counter. It broke into dozens of sharp pieces and spilled coffee everywhere. My head turned and I came face to face with a grinning Matthew.
“Fuck you. Why the hell are you approaching me like that? You scared the hell out of me,” I hissed.
He shook his head with an amused expression.
“All those mean words coming out of your sweet mouth, are they really appropriate?”
He was teasing me. His eyes wandered gently over my curves, lingering on the hickey before lowering again a little. And the worst thing was the way my body reacted to his proximity, to his scent, to his muscular chest. Fortunately, my face wasn’t hot, so maybe I wasn’t blushing.
“Since when did you worry about being appropriate?” murmured . I passed Matteo and knelt beside the broken remains of my cup. I hoped Matteo did not suspect what his proximity was causing me. I picked up the pieces but Matteo came to my aid.
I wasn’t sure if he was doing it to be nice or if he knew about his effect on me and was trying to play with me. From what I knew of him, I imagined the latter. I was trying not to look in his direction as he squatted beside me. He was giving me a good view of his perfectly formed ass. Damn it, why did he have to look like that?
Without warning, she ran her finger over my swollen lip. “I really should have killed your father.”
His touch was so gentle that it made me want to rub my face against his neck and have a good cry. “Do you have a mop?” I asked casually.
He shrugged, dropping his hand.
“I’ve seen Marianne running around with one from time to time.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he had no idea. He had probably never even done laundry. “Do you even know where Marianna keeps her cleaning stuff?” Her gaze lingered on my cleavage. With a sigh, I stood up and set off in search of storage. When I finally returned to the kitchen clutter, mop in hand, Matthew was talking on the phone. He was leaning against the counter, his legs crossed casually.
I tried to listen to the conversation as I mopped the floor.
I had a feeling it was about me.
“Come now. I want it done as soon as possible.”
With that said he hung up and turned back to me. I leaned the mop against the wall, then asked. “Who was this guy? A new bodyguard, do you want to keep an eye on me?”
“Something like that. I’ll put a bracelet on your ankle.”
“What? Have you lost your mind?”
“On the contrary, but we both know you’ll take the next opportunity to escape again, so until I trust you to stay with me, you’ll have to wear the bracelet.”
I stared at him, completely dumbfounded and so angry that I feared my head might explode. “So you admit that I am your prisoner. After all, you are treating me as such.
Matthew advanced on me. “Without the bracelet I would have to lock you in this apartment, but with it you can spend time with Aria, walk around New York and live an almost normal life.”
“I guess you want me to thank you for your kindness?”
The asshole actually chuckled. “NO. Knowing you, I didn’t expect you’d like the idea.”
“No one would like that idea! And you don’t know me, Matteo.
He came very close and without warning slipped his hand under my shirt, unhooked my bra and twisted my nipple. Immediately, my heart stiffened with need. “I know you love it when I do it with your perfect little nipple,” he growled.
I wanted to deny it, but because of the way he teased me with his thumb and forefinger, I couldn’t find the words. Matteo’s dark eyes pierced me as he came very close. “I know you are wet. I know your pussy wants me even if you won’t admit it.”
He knelt down and lowered my pantyhose and panties.
“What…”
I went no further. He leaned forward and kissed my heated flesh. I held back a surprised breath. Matthew freed one leg from my pantyhose and panties before lifting it up and placing it over his shoulder. His eyes found mine as his tongue opened my lower lips and licked slowly. I shivered, tightening my mouth for fear of making an embarrassing sound.
Matthew pulled back a few inches. “See, I knew it.
Wet for me,” he said in a rough voice. He gave me a few kisses before sucking me lightly. My eyes wanted to roll around in my head at the sensation. “Has anyone ever done this to you?” he asked proudly.
I couldn’t even find the power to lie. I simply shook my head “no.”
“Good.” He rewarded me with a mind-blowing kiss, his tongue tracing my opening and then tracing up to my clit.
“Oh God,” I whispered.
Matthew released my throbbing lips. “You taste perfect, Gianna.” He parted me and kissed my clit. “Do you want me to stop?”
I gritted my teeth. I had never wanted anything less. It took all my self-control not to grab him and push my face against him.
“The silent treatment?” asked Matthew in a teasing voice before nudging me with his tongue, throwing spears of pleasure through before catching my clit between his lips and sucking it lightly.
I gasped and clung to the counter behind me, needing something to support me. My head fell back as Matthew did the most amazing thing with his tongue. With slow strokes he brought me closer and closer to the edge. I could tell that this time would be even more intense than yesterday. Without meaning to, my hand grabbed Matteo’s head and my fingers entwined in his dark hair. Matteo rewarded me with a snap of his tongue against my clit.
“Yes,” I whispered. I didn’t even care anymore to admit how good it felt. My whole body cried out to be released. I was so close that my legs began to shake, my breathing quickened. And then the doorbell rang. I gasped in surprise and my eyes flew to the elevator. No one could go up without Matteo granting them access.
Matteo pulled back from what he was doing. My fingers on his head tightened. “Don’t stop,” I demanded. I could not hide the need in my voice.
Matteo straightened up and wiped his mouth with an annoyingly arrogant smile. He leaned in to kiss me but I turned my head so that his lips brushed my cheek.
“Patience, Gianna. I’ve had six months to practice patience, now it’s your turn, but don’t worry, I’ll eat you later. You taste too good to resist,” she murmured before stepping back and heading for the elevator. “You should get dressed. We don’t want to give Sandro a show.”
I couldn’t believe him. I hurried to put my panties and pantyhose back on before washing my hands and adjusting my skirt. My blood boiled with anger.
Matthew smiled as he pressed the button that allowed the elevator to stop on our floor.
This was not the end. Two could play at this game.