Page 41 of Wicked Bloodlines

He opened his eyes then, dark pools in the dim light. He blinked once, slowly, then looked at the ceiling as if gathering his thoughts. His voice, when it came, was exactly what I expected. Blunt and unvarnished.

“Dario told me to,” he said. No hesitation. “Said it was good for business. Good for the alliance. Said your name still carried weight, even if your father was a snake. That’s all you were supposed to be.”

My chest tightened, but I kept my gaze on his face. This was the truth I’d asked for. I could take it. “I see. I was an order.”

“You were an order.” He said it flat and with no apology, and I respected that more than if he’d lied. “I figured I’d get a wife on paper who’d hate me, who I’d never see outside of Christmas and funerals, and I’d keep my mistress in the city. You’d keep whatever life you wanted as long as you didn’t embarrass the family, and I even figured I’d get someone to help you manage that aspect and plan accordingly.” He cringed when he said that part. “I’m not a monster. I wanted you happy, no matter the circumstances.” Then he sighed. “That was the whole plan in my head. I remember thinking, if I’m getting shackled to a stranger, the least I can do is keep her safe and comfortable. That was it. That was the entire feeling I had walking into this. Duty and a little bit of guilt because I knew nobody even asked you.”

“When did that change?”

“You want a date?” He gave me a self-deprecating smile.

“I want the truth, Matteo. You said you’d give it to me.”

He exhaled, long, through his nose, and finally turned his head to look at me instead of the ceiling. Up close his eyes were bloodshot, rimmed dark, a man who’d killed people twelve hours ago and hadn’t stopped moving since. “My office,” he said. “The night you asked me about seating charts like I was going to believe that. You kissed me first. You were lying to my face about the man watching you outside the dressmaker’s, lying about everything, and I knew it, and I still wanted you so bad I put you on my own desk. I told myself it was just wanting. Just chemistry.” He shook his head slowly against the pillow. “It wasn’t just that. I wanted you even knowing you were hiding something that could burn my whole family down. That should have scared me straight, but it didn’t.”

I didn’t say anything. I let him keep going, because I could feel he wasn’t finished. Knowing he was a man of power, I thought maybe he saw tender feelings as a weakness. I know all the men I’d ever been around felt that way. But he’d held me close in front of his men. Kissed me even.

“Then the garage,” he said. “Four in the morning and you were standing there with that stolen key card, and you told me you’d decided to stay. I don’t think anyone has ever chosen me for me, Sofia. My whole life I’ve been feared or seen as a way into my family’s empire. All of us have. I see what my brother and Belle have and that’s what I want. And you look at me the way Belle looks at Dario.”

He shifted, pulling me higher onto his chest, his arms tightening around me. I felt the comforting weight of him, the heat radiating through my thin shirt. Matteo wasn’t poetic, or romantic, but this was his truth. And it was everything. My throat ached with unshed tears.

“You know,” I began, my voice a whisper. “When I was told about this arrangement, I thought I was walking into another prison. Just another gilded cage.”

“I know.” Matteo kissed the top of my head.

“But you…” I trailed off, searching for the words. “You always surprised me. With the small things. I don’t think I ever once saw you look at me like a piece of property. A puzzle, maybe, but like you wanted to understand me and who I am. You were careful with me. You were kind, Matteo. Even when you didn’t have to be and when no one expected you to.” I pulled back slightly, looking up at his face. His eyes, still dark with the aftermath of the night, held a possessive tenderness I hadn’t known he was capable of. A small smile touched my lips. “You still owe me, you know.”

His brows knit in confusion. “Owe you for what?”

I raised an eyebrow, a teasing spark in my eyes. “That spanking you’ve been promising me.”

His mouth twitched, a slow grin spreading across his face, something dangerous and hungry in his eyes. The raw emotion from moments before hadn’t vanished, but it had changed, taking on a new, playful edge. He shifted me closer, pressing his hardened cock against my belly through the sheets as he rolled us so he lay half on top of me.

“Yeah,” he rumbled, his voice low. “I think you earned that spanking.”

I laughed, a shaky, relieved sound. “My guards certainly seemed to think so. And I did brain him with something.” I pushed myself up too, leaning against the headboard, careful of the ache in my temple. The air in the room was cool on my bare skin, but the heat of our shared moment lingered, a warmth that had nothing to do with the room temperature.

“He said you apologized while he was passing out,” Matteo said, a deep chuckle rumbling in his chest. “You’re a rare treasure, Sofia. An absolutely priceless treasure.” He rolled so he was partially on top of me. He stroked my cheek, his touch light.

“It was just a small rebellion,” I said, trying to sound dismissive, but my body already responded to his nearness, to the warmth radiating from him, and the delicate way he touched my skin. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love the way he tried to take care of me.

“A small rebellion that saved one of my men and almost got you killed,” he corrected, his voice losing some of its playfulness, becoming grave. His eyes locked on mine. “Don’t ever pull a stunt like that again, Sofia. Nothing can happen to you.” He sighed, then a new smile curved his lips, one that reached his eyes and made my pulse leap. “So, the spanking.” He moved closer, settling back beside me, his thigh brushing mine. “How do we do this?”

I felt a flush creep up my neck. “Well, I’m not entirely sure. It’s not exactly a common marital custom, is it?” Much as I think we both needed this, I knew this would change us both. He needed to know I trusted him and I needed to know I trusted him too.

“For us, it might be,” he murmured, leaning down to kiss me thoroughly. His tongue delved deep. My pussy wept, and I arched my hips, thrusting at him, needing friction on my clit so I could come. The graze of his skin against mine was electric.

Then he was gone, pushing up from where he lay on top of me. He pushed up to rest against the head board. Matteo had on his boxers, and though I’d somehow lost the gym shorts I’d had on in Dario’s study, I still wore a T-shirt and panties. “Undress and come to me. I want you to straddle my hips, facing away from me.” His grin looked positively wicked. “Show me that ass of yours.”

A thrill, sharp and unexpected, shot through me. I giggled, a nervous, excited sound, then pushed myself up and did as he’d instructed. His hands landed on my hips, warm and heavy. He kneaded my ass, squeezing and rubbing, sending shivers through me that had nothing to do with cold. My heart raced, excitement rather than fear gave me a shot of happiness I’d never expected to know.

“You think this is funny?” His voice was low and dangerous, but I could hear amusement there.

“A little bit. Yeah.” I looked back over my shoulder and wiggled my ass at him.

“Christ, you’re perfect,” he murmured, pure masculine satisfaction evident in the sound. He palmed my ass again, spreading me gently, letting the cool air ghost over my pussy. A fresh wave of arousal soaked me. I was so wet for him, it had to be obscene.

Then he landed the first smack. The sound startled me, the sharp, crack heating my ears as much as his hand heated my bottom. I shivered again, but Matteo gave his own dark chuckle before smacking the other side.