moment and confession of our love now tainted by the one and only woman who ever tried to control me.
“Matteo, my love, it’s not your fault.”
I turned to Mae abruptly. “How is not?” I shouted.
Mae crossed her arms under her chest, staring me down. “You were a boy. Morgan got her deadly claws into you.”
Mae—”
“No. You listen to me, Matteo.” She rose to her feet, shoving a finger in my chest.
Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed since we were both standing there naked, arguing. I grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around us both.
She huffed, attempting to struggle out of my grip.
I only grinned, knowing her defenses lowered whenever she felt my body against hers.
“Matteo, I can’t talk to you like this,” she said, pushing against me.
“And why not?” I teased, kissing the side of her neck.
She sighed, leaning her forehead against my chest. “Because it’s distracting.”
I chuckled, quite happy with myself. “I’ll behave.” For now.
“Whatever happened between you and her and whoever else, was not your fault.”
“Mae, I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Listen to me. Please,” she said, her voice firm. “Even this last time when you saw her, it wasn’t your fault for reacting the way you did.”
“You don’t know how I reacted,” I bit out through clenched teeth.
“Then tell me.” She pulled back. “I saw you after the fact and you were mean.”
“I told you to leave me alone,” I reminded her.
“Right.” Mae scoffed. “And you would have done the same to me if I told you to leave me alone?”
“Fuck that.” I gave her the blanket and pulled on my pants before heading into the kitchen.
“Exactly, Matteo,” she said, following me. “Does she show up often? Does she always come and find you whenever she wants something?”
“She shows up whenever she’s bored,” I mumbled, gripping the edge of the counter.
“Does she know where you live?” Mae asked, coming up behind me.
I huffed. “Mae, I don’t want to talk about her anymore alright?”
“Fine.” She leaned against the counter across from me, pulling the blanket tight around her body. Her shoulders lifted and fell as she let out a heavy sigh. Her dark hair was mussed, framing her face in messy ringlets. She gave off a just fucked glow and I was proud to say that I was the reason for it.
“You’re so beautiful,” I said, more to myself.
Mae’s eyes slowly slid to mine. “You can’t compliment your way out of this, Sir,” she said, dryly.
“Yes. I can,” I replied smoothly. “But I won’t.” I was tired. Of everything. I just wanted to take Mae and disappear, telling and showing her over and over that I loved her.
I loved her.
I. Loved. Her.
I, Matteo Santos, was in love.
Holy. Shit.
Mae
“Tell me you love me,” Matteo purred in my ear.
“I love you,” I said, kissing him hard on the lips.
“How much?”
I stared intently into his dark eyes. “Are you doubting my love for you?”
“No.” He looked away but not before I saw something flash in his gaze.
“Matteo,” I grabbed his arm when he went to walk away. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” He shoved out of my grip, heading down the hall.
“Sir,” I demanded. “Talk to me.”
“Talk?” He spun on me, forcing me to take a step back. “Fine. I’ll fucking talk. The fact that I allowed myself to fall in love with you scares me. I refuse to break. I refuse to get hurt.”
“Why now? Why are you questioning my feelings?” If anyone was going to get hurt, it would be me. Matteo was the only one who had the capability of destroying me. “Are you doubting that I love you? You demanded me to say it. You must know.”
He searched my face.
Before I knew what he was doing, he was on me. His mouth crushed mine in a hard bruising kiss. It was frantic. Desperation poured from the touch. We kissed like it was the last thing we would ever do.
Matteo lifted me in his arms, carrying me to his bedroom. He whispered over and over that he loved me. That he was confused. And that he was sorry. He told me he needed me in ways that he didn’t understand.
Morgan broke him. And I had no idea how to fix him. But I would start by showing him that I did in fact love him. My feelings were messed up. Stolen from me when my mother died. I lost my happiness until Matteo came into my life. As seconds wore on, I fell in love with him more and