24. Matteo

Chapter 24

Matteo

I t had taken us hours to get back to my place, and right away, I had the staff make her something hot to drink and eat, and I ran a bath for her.

Slowly, as she soaked, she started to relax until she now lay back with a towel placed behind her neck and her eyes closed as I washed her.

She didn't fight me as I ran the washcloth over her nude body, and I didn't know if that should worry me because she was in shock or if I should be elated because it meant she was truly mine and felt safe with me.

"What are you thinking, Amore ?"

She didn't answer right away, but I didn't push her to respond. I wanted her to feel safe and comfortable with me. I felt different with her. At peace. When she wasn't around, I was the dark man who did whatever he had to in order to survive. But with Liliana? I felt this warmth consume me.

And I had missed it. I wanted it forever.

"You killed a man for no reason."

I felt my whole demeanor darken at her words. "No reason? He spoke to you. That's reason enough to kill him. If I'd had more time, I would have cut off his dick and shoved it down his throat."

She opened her eyes, her throat working as she swallowed after I said those words.

"I killed your worthless brother and father because they hurt you." I smoothed a finger down her cheek. "I killed that prick from the week before who you drew your knife on."

She cleared her throat, her expression showing she was surprised I knew about that.

"You were following me this whole time?" She changed the subject, and I let her. Or maybe she didn't. Maybe she wanted clarity on what I'd done.

I wanted to explain in great detail all the things I would have done to that bastard to make sure she knew how much I could protect her.

The sound of the water dripping into the tub as I lifted the washcloth and ran it over her neck was the only sound surrounding us.

"Yes," was all I said, but when she cracked her eyes open and let her head fall slowly to the side so she could look at me, I continued. "I told myself not to. I convinced myself pushing you away and letting you go was what I had to do. But I lasted one fucking day, Sunshine."

She inhaled deeply but showed no emotion at what I said.

"Last week I gutted the fucker who touched you. His father was a congressman. He tried pleading for his life with that information. I made his death slower because of it."

"I won't even ask how you knew where I was," she whispered

I smirked and ran the rag over her arm. "I would find you no matter where you ran off to, pretty girl." I let the cloth fall into the tub and braced my forearms on the edge of the porcelain, just staring into her eyes.

"I was hoping you'd come for me."

My heart squeezed tightly in my chest at hearing those words. I reached out and smoothed my thumb over her cheek, along her jawline, and over the pad of her bottom lip, pulling the flesh down and letting it snap back into place.

"I hated that I felt that way but never wanted it to go away."

God, what this girl did to me was like an electrical shot right to my chest.

"I've never wanted anything as much as I want you." I leaned in, my mouth close to hers. "I've been watching you from the moment you moved into that apartment. Watched you while you worked and made sure you got home okay."

Something flickered in her eyes, and I slowly grinned. "I made sure that motherfucker who touched you got his hand broken."

She shifted in the tub, the water sloshing as she became alert.

"I didn't kill him, even though I really fucking wanted to." I leaned in and gripped her chin, pressing my mouth to hers as I kissed her hard. "But I made sure I hurt him. Real fucking bad, Amore . I made that asshole cry for his daddy. I won't make the mistake again of letting you go." I pressed my mouth to hers and bit her lip, causing her to gasp and pull back.

But with my hand now tightly around her nape, I kept her close to my face. "Say you're mine." I felt violent with my emotions. She was quiet too long, so I said it harder. "Say you're fucking mine, Liliana."

She sat up, facing me fully and took on a hard look. It was cute and comical how stern she appeared. "I planned on running off and living in the middle of the woods. Being alone for the rest of my life seemed like a suitable alternative than missing you like crazy and wishing I was with you."

I let out a low growl, one that was from all the built-up possessiveness for my girl. I was about to demand she tell me she was mine when she cupped my cheeks, silencing me with the gentleness.

She looked me in the eyes and said in the sweetest fucking voice, "I'm yours, and you're mine. Don't forget it."

I grinned, feeling like a ton of fucking bricks had just been lifted off my chest. I pulled her out of the tub—not giving a shit that she was soaking wet and my clothes were drenched. They'd be coming off anyway.

I took her to bed where I fucked my pretty girl three times and called her my whore before I let her go to sleep.