Matteo (13 page)

Chapter 23

I’m banging on her door again.

Goddammit – I’m a fiend. Addicted. Obsessed.

This time, the door flies open almost immediately. Ellie stands just inside, both hands hooked on the curve of her hips, her weight balanced on one foot. “Why are you here?” she says with a frown.

She’s so fucking
cute
.

I lean over and kiss the pout right off of her face.

I brush past her, padding towards her kitchenette. “I brought food,” I say hoisting the brown paper bag into the air. “—and wine.” I dangle the dark bottle of expensive red between my fingers.

She sighs and stomps over to where I’ve taken a seat and am making myself comfortable at the kitchen table. She tips the bag in her direction and peeks inside. Her stomach roars when the aroma of roasted lamb and herbed French fries hits her nostrils.

“Mmm mmm,” I say with a smirk as I set a container down in front of me and stretch the other out to her. “Mind getting me a bottle opener?” I say, tipping my chin towards the wine.

She doesn’t move an inch. “What are you
doing
?” she says, folding her arms tightly across her chest. She’s trembling slightly. I can tell that she’s seething.

“We’re having dinner,” I say with a syrupy grin, trying my best not to be offended by her foul mood.

“I don’t need you to bring me dinner. I need you to leave me alone.” Her lips draw into a tight line.

“Ellie, you don’t mean that. C’mon.” My shoulders slump forward slightly.

“This is becoming complicated, Matteo. The way I feel…it’s becoming
complicated
.”

I grunt. “I didn’t plan on this. I didn’t expect to feel this way for you.”

She pulls on the loose strands of her hair. “Let’s not do this. Please.” Her eyes are begging me.

“Let’s not do what?”

“Fall in love.”

I push a heavy breath out of my mouth as I lean back in the chair. “Look, Ellie – I don’t know what’s happening. All I know is that I can’t
not
be around you.”

Her hand raises to her mouth and she chews nervously on a fingernail. “I feel the same way,” she says in a small, unsure voice. She gazes off into the distance. “What about Catalina?”

I scrunch up my eyebrows unable to understand what she’s getting at. “What
about
Catalina?”

“You’re seeing her, right?”

I toss my head back and a laugh bellows out of my mouth. “I’m not
seeing
Catalina. Nothing of the sort.” But I hesitate to reveal to her the true nature of my relationship with Catalina.

Ellie pushes forward. “Well, who is she then? She texts you all the time. And it’s obvious that you both live in the same house.”

She deserves to know. If we’re falling in love with each other, then Ellie deserves to know what she’s getting herself into.

I rap my knuckles against the tabletop. “Catalina is my daughter’s nanny. She’s a hound dog, but she absolutely loves my little girl.”

Pure shock registers in her eyes. “Your
daughter
?” she chokes out.

“Yes – I have a little girl. Tilly. Not many people know about her.”

She looks absolutely stunned. She grips the edge of the table and slowly sinks into the chair in front of her. “You – you never told me.”

“I know – you and I weren’t serious about each other and I just wanted to protect her. If the tabloids ever found out about her, she could kiss a normal childhood goodbye. I just want her to be safe.”

Ellie gives me a solemn nod. A moment passes before she says. “I understand – you only want to protect her.”

I give her a weak smile. She slides the lid off of the container in front of her and grabs a fry. She seems to be deep in thought.

“Where’s her mother? Your daughter’s mother?”

I pull in a deep breath and my shoulders hike up to my ears. “Amelia – Amelia’s in California. It’s a long story. You really don’t want to hear it.”

One of her perfect eyebrows arches high. “Um – yes, I do.”

I sigh again. “Fine. At least get me a wine opener and a glass.”

I watch as she slides out of her chair and slinks over to the cabinet where she pulls out two porcelain teacups before taking a corkscrew from the drawer. She sets it all down in front of me and returns to her seat.

I decide to start at the beginning. “So, Amelia’s company was being represented by my family’s law firm. She was looking to sign a commercial lease in Los Angeles. It was a pretty straightforward file.”

I open the wine and pour a generous measure into each cup as I speak. Ellie reaches over and takes a cup from me when I stretch it out to her.

“We became involved, sexually, and she got pregnant not long after. That’s when she told me that she was married. She came clean to her husband and he almost killed me, but when the dust settled, Amelia decided to keep the baby. Thank god.”

I take a mouthful of the dark liquid while I sort through my thoughts.

“As part of our custody arrangement, she agreed to move to Florida. That way, it was easier for me to visit my daughter regularly. But then, a few months ago, Amelia decided she wanted to move back to California with her husband. She threatened to take Tilly with her. The only way she’d agree to let Tilly stay on the east coast was if I paid her…a lot. And I did. Because I love my daughter. And I wanted to have her with me. She deserves more than a mother who views her as a burden or an inconvenience. I wanted her to know that she’s loved. I wanted to take care of her. Amelia actually had a big grin on her face when she signed the paperwork to terminate her parental rights. It’s like she thought it was a get-out-of-jail-free card or something. So now, Tilly’s with me. And sometimes it’s rough. She misses her mother, but it’s better this way.”

Ellie is looking at me, her eyes wide. “Oh Matteo – I had no idea.”

I shrug my shoulders. “It is what it is.”

“What kind of mother just abandons her child? What kind of
parent
does that?” I know she’s thinking about her own father now. The man virtually paid her mother to keep her a secret. I know that Ellie’s wounds run deep and because of that, she relates to my Tilly on some level. That only makes me appreciate this woman even more.

“I try not to think about it. Tilly’s with me now and that’s all that matters,” I say.

Ellie’s eyes are misty. I can tell that what I’ve just revealed to her has hit her hard. But she’s still full of questions. “How old is she?” Her gaze is peeled to my face.

“She’s almost four years old.”                            

“Can I see a picture of her? She must be so cute. I’d love to meet her.”

I chuckle, reaching out to touch her hand. “Ellie – I really don’t want to talk about my daughter right now.” As much as I love Tilly, I didn’t come here tonight to play proud papa. I came here to escape. Into Ellie. I don’t want this conversation to ruin our night. I didn’t come here to watch her cry…I came to fuck.

I move out of my chair and approach her, drawing my finger along her chin. Her eyes go wide and she shivers softly. I kneel in front of her and place a kiss on her kneecap. The way she looks at me, I can tell that she gets the hint. Finally.

But she wants to play games. “Dinner smells delicious.” She grabs another fry and chews slowly and exaggeratedly.

She’s getting under my skin and she knows it. I hook her leg over my shoulder and kiss the inside of her thigh. Her panties are slick. I can tell. Her desire fragrances the air. I love that she’s so responsive to me.

“It was very thoughtful of you to bring me something to eat. I haven’t eaten all day.” The playful glint in her eye tells me she intends on torturing me with her faux naiveté. Sneaky, little broad.

Now, I have to punish her…

She gasps when I tug harshly at her panties and they rip away from her body.

“The only thing I’m hungry for is your sweet pussy and you know it,” I say impatiently as I throw her other leg over my shoulder and hoist her up in the air. Her legs hook around my neck as I rise to my feet. Her sweet musk surrounds me as I bury my face in her wetness.

“Our dinner’s gonna get cold,” she teases as I press her body into the wall. Her head is inches from the ceiling.

I roll my tongue slowly against her clit. “Forget dinner – I’m about to feast on dessert.”

She groans as I slide my tongue along her glistening seam, lapping at the wetness seeping out of her. Her fingers curl in my hair and she squeals my name. The anticipation in her voice stokes me on. My lips seal around her swollen bud and pull and suck till the muscles at her core are clenching and releasing like crazy.

Knowing that my touch is the cause of her pleasure really caresses my ego and my dick is rock hard.

This
is true happiness
, I decide with my face buried at her core and her legs roped around my neck.

There’s absolutely nothing else I want in this moment.

Then, her spine arches and her body tenses. Her essences come gushing out onto my tongue as her climax shatters her.

Chapter 24

The space is masculine yet inviting. The walls of the foyer are frosty blue and the dark wooden floors gleam. Through the doorway, I see floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. The furniture is upholstered in sturdy, dark fabrics and contemporary art hangs on the walls. Soft lighting illuminates the room.

The whole décor is very…
mature
. If it weren’t for the pair of tiny, pink rain boots on the doormat and the cartoon characters on the umbrella hanging from the coat rack, I never would have guessed that a child lives here.

Matteo has told me that, before Tilly came to live with him, he rented a simple bachelor pad in SoHo. But once he had a daughter to care for, he upgraded to a more family-friendly abode. He wanted to provide a home for her. That’s honorable.

I jump slightly when I hear him close the door softly behind me. He grins at me and whispers, “She must be sleeping.”

But before I even have the chance to respond, I hear tiny feet pitter-pattering down the hall. “Daddy! Daddy!”

He sweeps the little girl up in a bear hug and kisses the side of her face. “Tilly, where are your socks? The floor is cold.” A cascade of blonde curls tumble around her head.

She ignores her father’s question and eyes me curiously. “Who that?”

I can’t help but laugh at her precocity. Matteo laughs, too, as he sets her down on her feet. “This is my friend, Ellie,” he says, his hand resting on the top of her head.

“Hi Tilly,” I say, stooping so that we’re eye-to-eye. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

She smiles and her blue eyes twinkle. She has Matteo’s dimples. “She pwetty. I want touch her,” Tilly announces bluntly.

She has me laughing again. Matt pushes a sigh. He glances at me. “Do you mind?”

“Of course not,” I say, furrowing my eyebrows at him.

Tilly gives him an excited grin before she steps towards me and takes my face between her hands. “Woooowwww! You so pwetty,” she coos. “You be my friend?”

“I’d love to be your friend.” I’m already loving this kid. She’s smart and confident and cuter than a button. I think back to what Matteo told me about her mother. How could any mother walk away from that adorable little face? Amelia’s heart must be made of stone.

When I rise to my feet, she takes me by the hand. “Come. We play with my toys.”

Just as I’m about to accept her invitation, two curvaceous women with long dark hair and olive skin round the corner and start down the hall towards us.

“Anna-Maria – I didn’t know you were here.” Matteo’s eyebrows shoot up as he addresses the taller of the two women and he suddenly seems uneasy.

Her attention is trained singularly on me. She looks familiar. “Ms. Parker? Wha – ?” She stops herself midsentence and her eyes dart over to Matteo and then back to me. A frown slides over her features.

“Ellie – you remember my assistant, Anna-Maria.” Oh – that’s how I know her. She was at my first meeting at Cartwright Moretti Stevenson. Now, I understand why she’s not happy to see me. She’s probably figured out that my reason for being at her boss’s apartment at 8:00 p.m. on a Tuesday night is anything but professional.

“It’s nice to see you again,” I say coolly.

Don’t make this awkward. Don’t make this awkward.

“Likewise.” Her tone is curt and frigid.

Dammit – it’s awkward.

The other woman glares at me before approaching Tilly. “Mathilda – time to sleep.” Her accent is infused with heavy hints of Spanish.

“You must be Catalina,” I say as I approach her with my hand outstretched.

She ignores it. “I put Tilly to sleep,” she says to me as she takes the little girl by the hand.

Tilly whines and complains for a beat before reluctantly toddling down the hallway with her nanny.

That leaves Matteo, Anna-Maria and me standing clumsily in the foyer.

“I’m gonna go,” Anna-Maria says awkwardly as she digs the toe of her shoe into a knot in the floorboard.

Matt gives her a skittish grin. “I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.”

“Yes.” She buttons up her jacket as she ambles over to the door. Just as she’s about to step over the threshold she turns back and gives me a forlorn glance. Her eyes are shiny as if tears are about to spill over. “Good night,” she says quietly.

“Good night,” I say, my voice sounding high-pitched and overly-perky as Matteo closes the door behind her.

“Take a seat in the living room,” Matteo says quickly before I can question him about the nature of his relationship with his secretary. I know that, technically, it’s none of my business but my curiosity demands an answer. “I’ll be right back.” He leaves me standing in the foyer and disappears into the kitchen.

I find my way over to the couch and curl up on the cushion, gazing out at the view. I noticed the way Anna-Maria looked at me. I felt Catalina’s hostility towards me. I saw the sheepish expression on Matteo’s face.

I want to know what’s going on.

Matteo returns a few minutes later with two beers and a tray of fruit in hand. He lays the tray down on the coffee table before sinking down onto the couch beside me and handing me a bottle of beer.

I lean close to him and whisper. “What was
that
all about?”

“What?” He’s feigning ignorance.

My eyes roll up to the ceiling. “Please don’t act like you didn’t feel all the tension in this room a few moments ago. What was going on with you, Anna-Maria and Catalina?”

Matt puffs a breath of air out. “Well, as far as Anna-Maria’s concerned, you shouldn’t be here. You’re a client of the firm’s and seeing you here, she’s probably guessed that we’ve been having sex. She knows it’s against firm policy and I’m gonna get an earful from her tomorrow.”

I study his face for a moment. I shake my head at him. “No. No. It’s something more,” I press. He gives me a blank look as he turns his beer bottle round and round in his hands. “C’mon Matteo. Spit it out.”

He sighs again, raking his hand through his thick, dark hair. “Anna-Maria and I have…
history
.”

“History? You mean, you fucked her?” I don’t have time to play games. I need him to come clean so I can understand exactly what I’m getting myself into.

His shoulders slouch forward. “Yes – I fucked her. Okay?”

“Once?”

“No. Not once.”

“So, how many times then?”

He gives me a steely look. “Don’t ask questions you can’t handle the answers to.”

A cold chill runs through me. “Should I leave? I feel like I should leave.” I lean over to place the beer on the table.

Matteo’s hand jumps to mine. “No – you’re not leaving.” His voice comes out in a growl and for some reason that turns me on.

The possessiveness in his tone. I
want
to be possessed by him.

“Look – there were women before you. You know that. But since the day I first saw you, I haven’t laid a finger on anyone else. I can’t look at another woman’s face without comparing it to
your
beauty. I can’t even think about touching anyone else’s body without aching for yours instead. You’re everything, Ellie. As complicated as this is–“ he gestures to the space between us “you’re everything.”

My chest tightens. “Please don’t say that. Don’t make this deeper than it has to be.”

He gives me a soft stare. “Why?”

Guilt assaults my senses. Matteo is professing deep feelings for me, but he’d probably be singing a very different tune if he knew what I do for a living. “You don’t know me. You know nothing about how I grew up. You’ve never asked me about my work. We’ve barely discussed our families. You don’t know me. We do sex. Hot, amazing, mind-bending sex. But it’s not love. So don’t make it into that.”

“Ellie…” I see supplication in his eyes.

The feelings we feel for each other scare me. I don’t want to talk about them. I don’t want to think about them. But I
do
want to know about Matteo and his nanny.

“What about Catalina?” I lower my voice and glance down the hallway to ensure that we’re alone. “Did you sleep with her, too? She seemed pretty pissed to see me here.”

Matteo shrugs and takes a gulp of beer. “She and Anna-Maria are good friends. In fact, Anna-Maria recommended her to me. So, I guess her hostility towards you is a show of female solidarity or something. But, to answer your question – no, I’ve never slept with Catalina.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. Things would be even more awkward if I had to see Catalina now and then, all while knowing that she fucked Matteo. Some of the tension melts out of my shoulders.

He looks at me and grins. “So, are you done with the inquisition yet? ‘Cause if so, I’d like for you to come sit close to me.”

I sigh, expelling frustration from my body. As much as I know I should resist him, I
want
to be close to him and pretend that my secrets don’t exist.
“Feeling cuddly tonight?” I say with a small smile.

“I do actually.” His face is much more serious than I expected. “Really, I just want to hold you, Ellie…I want to feel you next to me tonight.”

That tugs at my heart. I smile as I scoot closer to him on the couch. He drapes his arms around my shoulders and buries his nose in my hair.

“This is nice,” he mutters, half to himself.

I nod in agreement. “It is.”

If it wasn’t for the guilt niggling at my conscience, I’d really enjoy this. My brain tells me that now is as good a time as any to tell Matteo about my involvement with the
New York Flame
but the selfish part of me wants to savor this moment while it lasts. Because, despite the way Matteo claims to feel about me, his heart will do a complete 180
o
once I reveal my secret to him…And, honestly – I don’t want to lose this.

I snuggle closer to him, greedily lapping up the moment.

“Now, I have a question for you,” he says, his voice low and intimate.

My pulse quickens and my stomach churns nervously. “Yes?”

“Why won’t you call me ‘Matt’ like everyone else does?”

I think about it for a moment, and then I say, “I like calling you ‘Matteo’. It reminds me that the
real you
is different from the ‘you’ that the rest of the world thinks it knows.”

His lips brush against my temple. “Different how?”

“You’re…
complex
.”