Chapter Seven

The arcade that evening was pretty dead, and Macy was relieved. Her chest had felt tight all night so it helped not having anything exciting going on. Stress wasn't good for someone dealing with an eosinophilic asthma attack. She was only glad that she wasn't spitting up sputum because that shit was gross.

When the arcade closed, Tommy asked if she wanted a ride home. She was about to say yes when she spotted Matteo leaning against his car, watching her. Clearly waiting for her to get off work.

"Looks like I have a ride," she told Tommy.

He looked out the window, frowning. "Who is that?"

"He is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome." She grinned and gave a little kiss on Reynard's cheek. "See you tomorrow."

"Same bat time, same bat channel," he said absently.

Macy hurried outside and rushed up to Matteo. "Hi."

He smiled down at her. "Hi. Want a lift?"

"Sure," she replied and hurried around to the passenger side. Seconds later, he started up the engine, the low rumble sounding like a dragon. "Why shouldn't you write with a broken pencil?"

He grinned. "Why?"

"Because it's pointless."

He chuckled as he pulled onto the freeway. "I love your jokes."

"Really? No one else seems to. Even my best friend, Tommy, just rolls his eyes."

He reached over and took hold of her hand, intertwining their fingers. "No one else matters. Especially not this Tommy guy. Am I gonna have to battle for your heart?"

She rolled her eyes. "Goof. And no, he's just a friend."

"I can be a jealous son-of-a-bitch."

Macy squeezed his hand. "Not about this. Believe me."

They drove in silence, but it was a comfortable companionship. All too soon, she realized he was driving right toward her apartment complex. If one could call it that. There wasn't any security or even a front gate. It had been pulled off the hinges so long ago, the bolts were rusted. Paint peeled down the walls like a banana shedding skin. The area stunk of urine and marijuana, and half the feces lying everywhere was probably human.

"How do you know where I live?" she asked.

"I made it my business to find out," he replied.

She narrowed her gaze. "Did you run a background check on me?"

"I'd say that you're probably ninety-nine-point nine percent right." He eyed the run-down neighborhood. "If I park my car, do you think it'll still be here when I come back out?"

Embarrassment burned through her. "Probably not."

"All right," he said. "New plan."

Matteo abruptly did a U-turn in the middle of the street, cutting off an oncoming car. The driver laid on the horn, but Matteo just ignored it. Macy gripped her seatbelt as he sped off.

"New plan? What plan? You have a plan?"

A smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "My place."

She studied the side of his face, admiring him as the streetlights flashed across the broad plains and sharp angles.

"I have to be at the coffee shop at half past five tomorrow morning."

He spared her a quick glance. "You want to spend the night?"

Now she was confused. "Wasn't that what you're implying?"

He was silent for a moment. They quickly exited from the shitty neighborhood and rolled through something more upscale. Past shops with expensive clothing. Restaurants closed for the night. She never really came this far uptown because she had no money to visit the area, let alone go shopping. As he pulled into the underground parking structure of a ginormous building, she suddenly had doubts. How could poor little her keep a man like Matteo interested? Was he just slumming it?

When he cut the engine, he went to exit, but she grabbed his arm.

"What?" he asked.

"Um, I've never … visited with a man."

Nerves burst through her, and the tightness in her chest got a little more pronounced.

"Hey," he said, using a finger to lift her chin. "Nothing will happen if you don't want it to. You have all the power here."

"But that's not what you want."

"Doesn't matter what I want. All that matters is what you say. Besides, I thought we could talk."

"Talk?"

"Yeah."

"About what?"

"About whatever we want to talk about. Stay right there."

He exited the car and walked around to the passenger side, opening it, and holding out his hand. She placed hers in his and he helped her out. As they walked to the elevator, he entwined their fingers.

Macy looked down.

"Is this okay?" Matteo asked.

She nodded, smiling. Her heart raced with excitement and she hoped her palms weren't damp. She'd rub them on her jeans but she didn't want to break contact. It was rather nice holding hands with a man. Especially this man.

They rode the elevator to the top floor, where it opened to a hallway. Matteo led her to the only door and used his thumb pad at a panel to unlock the door. Then he typed in a password.

"You don't have an ordinary key?"

"You can never have enough safety."

"Uh huh," she muttered as she walked into the biggest apartment she'd ever seen.

Sleek and luxurious, decorated in shades of grey and white. The open floor plan highlighted the kitchen, which had an oversized center island with a breakfast bar, plenty of counter and cabinet space, and what looked like a walk-in pantry. Windows took up one wall, overlooking the city below to the river curved as it wound its way through the metropolis. The sparkling lights of the riverwalk created little, glittering pinpoints on the surface. The height made her slightly dizzy so she backed up.

A floating staircase rested against one wall, leading up to a second floor. A see-through electric fireplace separated the kitchen and dining room from the living room. If that was what it was called. Macy couldn't see anyone living in the room. It was too polished. Too impersonal. This was a home for a bachelor, who paid people to keep it clean, and she didn't like it at all.

"Would you like coffee or tea?" Matteo asked as he made his way to the kitchen. His shoes produced a crisp click with each step on the marble floor.

"Just water, please," she said as she eased onto one of the high-back bar stools.

He produced some fancy bottled water, popping the lid to fill a glass.

"Oh, before I forget, I have something for you," he said, hurrying away.

"You already got me something," she called after him.

He was back in a moment, carrying a bag. "It's actually from Doc."

She took it from him and looked inside, her jaw dropping at the expensive inhalers inside. "Oh my God!"

"Good?"

"This is amazing," she whispered, dazed. "This has to be thousands of dollars' worth of medicine in here."

She took one out and opened the box, pulling out the folded-up package insert to read the contraindications. Then she prepped it and inhaled, holding the drug in her lungs for a bit before releasing her breath. Then she picked up her glass and swished it around her mouth to clean the steroid off her teeth.

Almost instantly, the tightness in her chest eased. Tears rushed forward so she had to blink rapidly to disperse them.

Matteo cupped her face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just … this means the world to me." She held up the inhaler in her hands. "I could never afford all this. Please give my thanks to Doc."

He brushed some of her hair behind her ear. "I will. I've been doing some reading on eosinophilic asthma. The first thing I learned was how to say it."

She grinned.

"I want to help you with medicine."

Her humor vanished. "The one thing I won't do is be one of those gold-digging women."

"Okay," he drawled. "Answer me this. Do you want to dye your hair blonde, demand diamonds and pearls, and drink nothing but mimosas?"

She blinked, very confused. "I don't know what a mimosa is."

"And that answers all my questions," he said. "You'd never make a good trophy wife."

He winked, and electricity jumped between them. Matteo walked around the island, and slowly slid his fingers through her hair. He leaned forward, giving her time to pull away if she wanted, but Macy wanted the kiss. Wanted him. He pulled her as close as possible, their bodies fitting like a glove, melding his lips against her. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as his firm lips covered hers, teasing them apart until his tongue swept in. Starting the kiss slowly, letting the magic build. Macy breathed in his scent, an intoxicating blend of male and raw sexuality. When they had to come up for air, they broke apart and Matteo pressed his forehead against hers.

"Can I touch you, Macy?"

Her eyes fluttered open. "Y-Yes," she said, a little breathless.

He turned her chair for access. He kissed her neck, trailing his fingers over the tips of her breasts. Teasing the nipples into tight little buds, causing her breaths to grow deeper and more rapid. Matteo leaned in close, his breath brushing her ear, and said huskily, "If I slide my fingers into your panties, will I find your pussy dripping?"

She couldn't even find her voice to answer.

"Make as much noise as you want," he continued. "I"m not going to stop until you come all over my fingers."

Her stomach muscles rippled as he slowly made his way downward to her mound. She desperately wanted him to hurry up and get there, but he took his own sweet time. Stopping on the waistband of her jeans, she moaned and gyrated her hips, hoping he understood her acquiescence.

With the barest hint of a touch, he undid her button and slid down the zipper. Macy sucked in a breath, as his index finger brushed under her belt. He watched her closely, even as he pushed his hand down further into her jeans. The thin barrier of her panties gave way, and then he caressed her sensitive pussy lips. She jolted slightly against the odd sensation.

He paused. "You okay?"

"Yes," she whispered, sucking in a deep breath. "I just never felt anything like this before."

"You want more?"

"Don't stop. Please don't stop."

"I knew you"d be wet for me," he whispered into her ear. "You're absolutely fucking perfect."

Up and down, he explored her, dipping in to circle her clit before moving down to her entrance. He slid a finger inside her pussy, causing a tsunami of pleasure to wash through her, stealing her breath. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back in her head and her mouth dropped open as her orgasm hit like a freight train. He kept stimulating her, prolonging the ecstasy as long as he could. Finally, when she was completely spent, he brought her down. Her head rested against his pec.

"Who do you belong to?"

She opened her eyes, staring up at him, beyond words at the moment. He ran his nose up the side of her neck, taking little nips along the way. "Macy," he murmured against her skin. "Who do you belong to?"

"You," she breathed.

"Damn right," he said, leaning down to kiss her softly on the lips. "You're mine, and I'm yours."

"Can I…" she glanced down, noting the large bulge in his pants. "Do you want me to help you with that?"

"Only if you want to."

She bit her lip. "You'll have to show me what to do."

His finger eased the skin away from between her teeth. "Then take to your knees."

The command in his tone sent a jolt of lust through her core. Doing as he told her to do, she placed her hands on his legs and looked up, waiting.

"Unbuckle my belt. Lower my zipper."

She followed his instructions, then looked up at him again and waited. Wanting his instructions.

"Take me out."

Carefully freeing his long, thick cock, this was the first time she'd held one in her hands. It wasn't that she was a prude, but she always had something better to do, like working so she could afford her medicine.

"Jerk me," he ordered softly. He took her hand and wrapped it around him. "As you move your hand from the bottom to the crown, squeeze."

He demonstrated a bit, until she got the hang of it, then he eased off and let her take over. Macy made sure to watch his face, wanting to make sure he liked what she was doing. With each stroke, a little bead of moisture appeared at the tip. Curiosity had her leaning forward to lick it, and a slightly salty taste burst across her taste buds. She went back for more, growing accustomed to the flavor. Matteo groaned, his hips bucking, and she took that as permission to slide her mouth down on him.

"Oh, Christ," he muttered, spearing his fingers through her hair. He tugged, guiding her, starting out slowly, going deeper with each thrust. "Look at me, sweetheart."

She did as he instructed, staring him in his eyes. As he took over, controlling her head movement, it thrilled her to know she was giving him pleasure. Tears leaked from her eyes as he fucked her mouth, relaxing her throat to allow him to chase his climax.

"That's it," he grunted. "Jesus. Fuck. Yes, swallow me, Macy. Take it all."

With a loud moan, he spilled onto the back of her tongue. She drank him down, and when he finished, he half collapsed. She pulled off him, wiping away the moisture from under her eyes. Gently, he helped her to her feet, then leaned forward to kiss her.

"You're amazing," he said.

"So are you," she whispered.

Happiness filled her. Matteo was everything she'd ever wanted in a man, and more. She couldn't wait to do it all over again.