noon.”
“I’ll drop you off.” He leaned down to my ear. “If he hurts you, I will make it so he never sees the light of day again.”
I swallowed hard. “I know.”
“Well then.” He held out his hand, looking over my head. “It was nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Matteo said, grasping the other man’s hand.
They stared long and hard at each other before my father broke the silence. He said some words in a language I didn’t know.
I observed Matteo, wondering how long it would be before I knew everything about him.
A slow smirk spread on his face and he responded.
My dad nodded once, kissed my cheek, gave Nika a quick hug and left the confines of our apartment.
“What the hell did he say to you? And what language was that?” Nika questioned, demanding answers.
“Italian.” Matteo’s gaze slid my way.
I didn’t say anything and sat on the couch.
“Um…well I’ll give you two a moment.” Nika headed down the hall. “Oh and Mae, I need a girls’ night tonight. If that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” Matteo answered for me. “Talk to me,” he said when we were finally alone and sat beside me.
“I didn’t know you spoke Czech.” I turned to him.
“It never came up.” Matteo shrugged.
“You shouldn’t play games with my dad. He’s not…he’s not a good man.” I didn’t want anything to happen to Matteo. Nothing at all but if he hurt me, my father would make good on his threat. I loved him but even I knew not to mess with the man.
“The only one playing games here is you, Marketa.” His jaw clenched.
“I’m not playing any games at all. I’ve told you what I wanted.” I crossed my arms under my chest.
“I will get more out of you then you begging me to fuck you,” he purred. His mouth was inches from my ear, his hot breath searing across my being.
“We were supposed to go to lunch,” I said, trying to change the subject.
“And then you begged me to fuck you.” He trailed a finger down my arm, teasing me. Reminding me where he had been not too long ago.
“But we didn’t get to do that now did we?”
“Not yet, Marketa.” He kissed my cheek. “But we will.”
Me: I’m sorry for ruining our date.
Matteo: You didn’t ruin it. The anticipation of knowing that I will be inside your body soon makes me hard. It’s well worth the wait.
Sweet mother of all things Holy.
Me: I kind of left you in an awkward position.
Matteo: If you are referring to blue balls, Marketa, I’ve had them since the moment I met you.
“Put your phone away¸” Nika demanded, handing me a glass of wine. “I need this girls’ night. So no boys allowed.”
Me: Nika is demanding I put my phone away.
Matteo: Tell her that I am the only person allowed to demand things from you.
Me: No! I’m not telling her that.
Matteo: What would she say if she knew I had you bound by my belt mere hours ago?
Me: Stop! Goodnight.
Matteo: Have fun, sweet girl.
I placed my phone on the table and sighed, scrubbing a hand down my face.
“You got it bad, girl.” Nika crossed her ankles in front of her and popped a piece of chocolate into her mouth.
“I don’t have anything. We haven’t been dating for that long. How can I have it bad already?” I didn’t understand the rules or the logistics of dating but I could only assume after one week, my heart shouldn’t be doing this constant pitter-patter whenever I thought about him. My stomach shouldn’t flip whenever I see him. It didn’t make sense.
“Doesn’t matter how long you date for. The heart knows what it wants before it even happens.” She stared off into the distance, chewing her bottom lip.
“Nika?”
She smiled at me. “Enough about boys. Chick flick movie time!”
Mae
“Who was that man who came out of your bedroom, Marketa?” my dad asked me over breakfast the next morning.
“His name is Matteo—”
“I know what his name is.” He pointed his fork at me. “Who is he to you?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to tell him for fear he would go after Matteo or worse, research his history. My father was over protective and not in a sweet way. I loved him dearly and appreciated all he did for me but his protectiveness bordered on possessive at times.
“I will find out who is he so you might as well tell me.”
“I’m not one of your goons you can boss around, daddy.”
“Remember who you’re talking to,” his