174

Aria leaned over to whisper in my ear. “I know you don’t want to see it, but you and Matthew are like made for each other.”
I shot her a look, ignoring the way my pulse quickened from an emotion I didn’t even want to think about. “Don’t even start.”
Aria shrugged. “It’s the truth. And he’s really trying.
They’re not perfect but they’re trying to be good to us. You don’t look unhappy.”
I wasn’t exactly unhappy, but I was trying to attribute it to Aria’s constant presence in my new life. It was the convenient explanation. I said nothing, unable to come up with a witty response that didn’t sound completely false.
We sat in silence afterward, yet I felt that my silence was more of a response than I wanted. I was actually relieved when we finally stopped in front of an upscale apartment building not unlike the one Matteo and I lived in.
A doorman rushed to our car and opened my door.
It was a good thing he did not see both Luca and Matteo holding their weapons, always ready to attack.
I thanked the boy who looked barely my age and got out. Aria quickly followed him. We returned the jackets to our husbands before entering the well-lit lobby. Another doorman waited beside the elevator and clicked the correct button for us.
As we ascended to the top floor, Matthew approached and murmured, “Don’t forget to behave.” He winked at me when he backed out, and I knew we would be in trouble. Matthew’s expression promised that he had absolutely no intention of being good tonight.
The party was held in a huge penthouse overlooking the city. It was not as big as Luca’s but definitely flashy. The walls were covered with drawings by Picasso, Warhol, and Miro, all original, and I had a feeling the furniture was just as pretentious, but everything had been removed to make room in the room for two long tables for eighty guests and a dozen bar tables where guests could socialize before dinner.
The noise level was overwhelming despite the size of the attic, and there was nothing Christmassy about the decoration except an abstract glass nativity scene on the shelf and an even more abstract glass Christmas tree in one corner. Aria and I looked at each other and almost burst out laughing.
My mood collapsed the moment the host and hostess, a middle-aged couple who looked even more fake than their tree, approached us. I braced myself for the disgusted look , but the woman smiled at Aria and me equally.
The hostess who introduced herself as Miriam practically smiled at me beaming, although she looked almost frightening because her face was frozen from too many Botox treatments. “You must be the beautiful new bride,” she said, and kissed me on both cheeks.
“Yes, thank you,” I said, surprised.
I cast a confused look at Matteo. He must have read it right because he leaned toward me as the host and hostess talked to Luca and Aria. “They are not part of our culture. They don’t give a damn about our rules and morals,” Matteo whispered.
The hostess turned toward us. “Dinner starts in thirty minutes. But please help yourselves to our delicious hors d’oeuvres and Champagne.” She pronounced Champagne with a strange French accent, which almost made me laugh again, but instead I recovered and smiled politely. The woman had been kind to me, so I had to behave accordingly, even if Luca thought me incapable of sympathy.
I looked around and noticed only a familiar couple, who I thought were part of the crowd otherwise I would not have recognized them. Other than that, we were blissfully surrounded by strangers, who did not call me a slut under their breath , nor did they look down on me. This was a real social event attended by normal, well normal rich people. I relaxed. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.
“Come on. Let’s load up on champagne. We’ll need the buzz to get over the boredom,” Matteo said. Luca gave him a frown, but Matteo merely smiled and led me to a vacant table in the bar. I took a glass and took a long sip. This was the only good thing about living in our world; no one cared if I was of legal drinking age. The bubbles delightfully pinched my tongue. It had been a long time since I had had good champagne. The ‘last time was at Aria’s wedding.
Matthew smiled.
“What?” I asked, checking my dress for stains.
“You look like a sophisticated woman.”
“I am not a sophisticated woman,” I said quickly and was about to take another sip of champagne, but I stopped with the rim against my lips. With a grim look, I put it down. “I’m not .”
“I didn’t say you were. I just pointed out that you looked like one.”
He was right. I adapted, which brought me back to my previous problem. Why was I becoming more and more of a trophy wife every day? I downed the rest of my Champagne in one long, not at all genteel gulp, making Matthew laugh, and I couldn’t help but do so, too. It was good to laugh with him, and even better to see the mirth chase away some of the darkness in his eyes.
Miriam invited everyone to settle around the tables, and asked us to sit next to her along with other important guests.
Unfortunately, Aria had to sit across from me, so I couldn’t even talk to her in case I got bored. I was stuck between Matthew and a woman I did not know. Fortunately, the first course was served almost immediately, so I had something to do.
Miriam and the other women around us were more interested in Aria anyway, probably because she was Luca’s wife and knew how to make appropriate small talk.
Suddenly I felt Matteo’s hand on my knee. I glanced at him but he was deep in conversation with Luca and the host. I took another bite of my Carpaccio but stopped mid-chew when his hand started to go higher, toward the lace edge of my hold-ups. I had to suppress a small shudder at the sensations his light touch sent straight to my center. I tightened my legs and tried to focus on the conversation Aria was having with the other women. The corners of Matthew’s lips twitched in reaction. Of course, it didn’t end there. When was it ever?
Matteo’s fingers slipped between my legs despite my attempts to lock him out, and then his fingers slipped under the hem of my panties and lightly stroked the crevice between my leg and vulva. I took the glass and took a long sip of wine.
“What do you think, Gianna? Would you be interested?” asked hostess Miriam. Her eyebrows were raised but, because of all the Botox, the rest of her face was static and her expression resembled mild boredom.
My eyes ran to Aria, hoping she would help me. I had no idea what Miriam was talking about. Matteo’s fingers had distracted me completely.
“I know you love modern art and it is not easy to join a private tour of the Guggenheim. I’m sure Matteo can spare you for a few hours,” Aria said with a meaningful look.
I could have kissed her. She always saved the day.
“Yes, I’d like that-” Matteo’s fingers slipped between my lower lips, gently pulling them away, finding me wet and sore, you stupid bastard. He was still talking to Luca and the other men as if nothing interesting was happening under the table .
Aria and the other women looked at me expectantly. I cleared my throat and kicked Matteo’s leg hard before saying. “I would like to accept this offer.” Could I sound more sophisticated? Trophy wife all the way .
Matteo’s finger went up my slit until it reached my clitoris where it began to draw small circles. I tightened my lips to prevent a moan from escaping. Fortunately, Miriam gave another monologue about a trip to the Caribbean and I went back to pretending to listen. Only Aria gave me a strange look from time to time, as if she thought I might not be feeling well.
If only she knew. The waiters entered the room without the main course, but I hardly cared.
Without even meaning to, I opened my legs a little wider, giving Matthew more room to explore my wet folds. His fingers slid up and down, teasing my opening, before returning to my throbbing clit. I clutched my wine glass.
I would not have been surprised if I had broken it in two with my firm grip. My breathing was shallow. Matthew kept the pace slow, pushing me closer and closer to release. I should have pushed his hand away, should have stopped that madness before it became the most embarrassing night of my life, but the need had taken over and banished any hint of reason. After a few bites of veal, I put down my fork. I was hungry for only one thing.
Matthew slipped a finger inside me and I could barely hold back the whimper. I was getting so close. Could I have kept quiet, too?
But I was too far away to care. Matthew kept not looking at me. Instead he was completely focused on the conversation, or at least pretended to be. I hated him for his acting talent. He got closer and closer to me, taking his time. God, that was the most delicious torture.
His deft fingers became the center of my being until suddenly, without warning, he pushed them away . Shocked, I stared at him, only to realize that the waiters had returned with our dessert, chocolate mousse.
Matteo smiled at me.
I wanted to rip his clothes off and have my way with him, bring him to the brink, only to deny him release.
Matteo dipped a finger in the mousse, the same finger he had used to touch me, and stuck it in his mouth, licking it clean.
“Hm. Delicious.”
My body quivered with desire, but at that moment I wanted to push Matteo’s face into the stupid mousse. He took the spoon and began to eat calmly. Aria gave me a quizzical look when I didn’t move.
I squeezed the spoon a little too hard and tasted the mousse. It was delicious, creamy and very chocolatey, but now it only reminded me of Matthew’s fingers and what they had done just moments before. Two could play at this game. Once the dessert was finished, I slid my hand under the table and slipped it between Matteo’s legs. I found him already hard and that realization made me ache even more. I thought about stroking myself instead of teasing Matteo, but I chased the idea away. If I wanted to win this game, I had to play. My fingers closed around Matteo’s erection. He took a quiet breath before his eyes met mine, lifting one corner of his mouth. I massaged him through the fabric of his pants, feeling him get even harder and bigger. Unfortunately, my body responded as well .
Matthew turned to an older boy in front of him who had asked him a question, and I used the moment to find his suggestion and start rubbing him. Matthew had had an easier time.
He didn’t have as many barriers between his fingers and their target, but as I worked on the head of his cock, I could see from the flexing of his jaw that Matthew was not completely numb. And apart from me, he would have had a hard time hiding his arousal if he stood up, and even harder if he came in his pants. The thought made me smile.
Aria leaned across the table toward me. I really hoped he wouldn’t notice anything. “What’s the matter with you?
You’re acting strange,” she whispered.
I shook my head and said “later,” but my hand never stopped working under the table. I hoped Matteo was getting closer. It was hard to tell. He had turned his face away from me and was actually conducting a coherent conversation with the old man. I squeezed a little harder, annoyed, and finally got another, albeit small, reaction. Matthew stiffened briefly but then visibly forced himself to relax. I could have screamed in frustration.
I was about to squeeze her again, even harder, when her hand found mine under the table and pulled it away. I would have clung to his erection if I hadn’t been afraid of hurting him. Although I would never admit it to anyone, I loved Matteo’s cock and especially what he could do with it . I glanced at Matteo and met his gaze. There was hunger in there, but also something else, something that made me want to run for the hills, because I had a feeling I knew what it was and I was pretty sure I was beginning to feel the same. I ripped my hand from his grip, pushed back my chair, and straightened up.
With a small smile at the other guests, I said. ” Excuse me.” Without giving Matteo another look, I headed straight for where I hoped to find the bathrooms.
It took all my self-control not to run down the long hallway that branched off from the main area of the apartment.
When I entered the bathroom, I released a sharp breath. My cheeks were flushed, but not so much that I suspected anything. That, at least, was what I hoped for. I grabbed the edge of the sink and closed my eyes. My heart was pounding against my rib cage. Suddenly someone grabbed my hips. My eyes opened wide and I stared at myself in the mirror. Matthew towered over me, his gaze practically burning with desire. He pressed his hips against my butt. “You left too soon.” His hand slipped under my dress as his other hand lowered my zipper.
“What are you doing?” – I hissed, casting a glance toward the door. “What if someone comes in?”
“Who cares? Let them get the show of their lives. It’s probably been years since those bitches have seen a cock.” He pushed aside my panties and slipped two fingers into me . I pushed my butt out, giving him better access. My body seemed to act on its own even as my brain screamed at me to push Matteo away.
“Matteo,” I gasped. “Shut the stupid door.”
He moved his fingers in and out in a delightfully slow rhythm. My hips moved against him, pushing his fingers deeper into me.
“Do you really want me to stop so I can lock the damn door?” He licked my back from the edge of my dress to my hairline, then met my gaze in the mirror. I shivered. He poked me again with his fingers, hitting a soft spot deep inside me. His eyes seemed to pierce me , trying to reveal my deepest, darkest secrets. My heart leapt and I knew I would be doomed if I did not stop this madness soon. Sex, I could deal with, but these moments of silent understanding, these long glances filled with too much meaning, were beginning to crumble the walls I had taken years to build.
Matthew cupped my breast through my dress, massaging and pinching my nipple in an almost painful way that made me even wetter. I closed my eyes to avoid his eyes and immersed myself in the sensations. Matthew kept thrusting his fingers into me. I bite my lip to hold back the sounds. Matteo’s lips tightened on my pulse point, sucking the skin into his mouth. I arched up, pushing my butt against his hand with all my strength as the ‘orgasm coursed through me.
“Look at me,” Matteo ordered, and my eyes opened wide, meeting his. “Yes Like this. Fuck, you’re so fucking wet and hot.
I dropped onto my forearms with a shuddering breath, enjoying the last waves of pleasure as Matteo slowed his fingers. He lifted my skirt even higher. I felt him undo his pants and then he wrapped his arms tightly around my chest, pulled me against him and rubbed the tip over my opening. Then he slid inch by inch. I tried to stick out my butt, needing to feel him completely inside me, but he wouldn’t let me. If possible, he slowed down even more, moving closer to me.
“Fuck me,” I whispered harshly.
He reached out and tilted my head to the side before claiming it with his mouth as his tongue took possession of me. He had finally sheathed himself fully in me and then, after a moment of stillness, began to slam into me. My hands snapped to grasp the edge of the sink. Matthew pushed my body against the cold stone as his cock penetrated me, deep and hard.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” Matteo squealed. I groaned in response. It felt better than anything it had ever been.
This was all working. God, what was going on?
I tried to turn my brain off and focus only on the way Matteo’s cock filled me, on how he removed himself almost completely to drive me crazy only to slam me back in.
The edge of the sink sank into my palms as I clung to it. Matteo’s hands lowered, gripping my hips. I threw my head back, gasping and whimpering as I fell back over the edge with Matteo at my heels. The sound of his moans spurred me on even more. A moment before we both collapsed forward, our gazes met again in the mirror. And then I knew why I had hardly considered running for the past two weeks, and it terrified me like nothing ever had before.
I quickly lowered my gaze, trying to catch my breath and calm my heartbeat and pulse.
Matteo kissed my shoulder blade. “I’m damn glad you’re mine.”
I stiffened and would have pulled back if I hadn’t been trapped between the sink and Matteo’s body.
When Matteo finally pulled out of me and we adjusted our clothes and cleaned up, I couldn’t meet his gaze. I was not embarrassed by what we had done. That ship had sailed. I was confused and terrified by what I had seen in my eyes.