13. Matteo

13

MATTEO

T he rest of the day was spent roaming the streets and checking out local vendors and shops. Matteo lived for this sort of thing. He loved finding unique and rare items while taking in new and sometimes overlooked cultures.

When he was younger, he used to enjoy traveling across the globe and exploring new cities. Once his parents died, that all changed. He suddenly found himself responsible for hundreds of people. There were staff who worked at the chateau, people who tended to the various properties his family owned around the world, not to mention a team of lawyers, accountants, and consultants who all helped his father with his investments and business interests.

His father made quite a bit of money through investments and real estate, finding opportunities early and making a killing when mergers or acquisitions happened. That was how the public believed his father made his fortune.

But that was not the only way.

When Matteo was in his late teens, his father disclosed to him that part of their fortune was also made by investing funds in criminal activities. As it turned out, the Sabarino family had been silent partners, funding lucrative drug deals spanning across Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France for decades. Only a few high-level members knew of the Sabarino involvement, his father choosing to remain in the shadows to protect his family and the Sabarino name. There was lots of money to be made in the drug trade, his father had said. It was easy money, so long as you knew how to work the players.

That being said, his father assured Matteo that the family did not invest in the uglier side of the criminal underworld. Sex trafficking and murder were two industries that his father refused to be a part of—yes, people paid a lot of money to have other people murdered.

His father explained that when it came to sex work, the person must always be free to choose whether they wanted to sell their body for money or not. Sex trafficking was a violation of that person's autonomy over their body and was one of the worst crimes imaginable in his eyes.

Matteo took those words to heart. While guys at La Maison may sell their bodies to guests at the club, they do so of their own free will. They set their own prices, decide who they sleep with, and they keep all of the money that is exchanged. This was one of the reasons why Matteo had no issue with Jared and Isaac deciding that they would no longer sleep with guests of La Maison . They had fallen in love with each other and agreed that sex was something that they only shared with one another. Yes, they continued to dance and flirt with guests, but they made it very clear to patrons that sex and sexual activity were off the table.

When Matteo's father passed away, Matteo met with his father's criminal associates and paid a handsome amount to cut his family's connections to their criminal enterprises. He didn't want to continue investing in the drug trade. There were plenty of other ways to continue to make money.

Instead, he decided to open La Maison de M , a private gentlemen's club where the rich and powerful could indulge in their fantasies without fear or judgment. So what if he took advantage of their ignorance and vulnerability and made a little money on the side? It was surprising how open a man could be when his cock was being drained by the mouth of a god. Matteo never professed to be good or even a saint.

Needless to say, between his businesses and taking care of the guys at the house, he didn't have much time to travel the globe and explore.

"What do you think of this?" Ares asked, spinning around to show off his very bright, multicolored silk shirt and matching sunglasses.

It was the middle of November, and Ares was standing there with his shirt unbuttoned, no coat, and a gigantic smile plastered on his face.

The man was an idiot.

Matteo couldn't help but chuckle.

"Think you might scare the kids with that raccoon you got growing on your chest."

Ares glanced down at his furry, exposed chest and grimaced. "Yeah, I guess it could use a bit of a trim."

Taking off the shirt, he handed it to the woman to place in a bag while he covered himself up with the appropriate attire. He paid for the item, then rushed to catch up with Matteo, who was already browsing through the next booth.

"Planning on wearing that to your next meeting of the crime bosses?" Matteo asked, picking up a few bottles of spices and handing them to the vendor to purchase.

"Please. I've got better taste than that. I just wanted to support the woman. She had a little girl sitting off to the side."

Well, that was sweet.

It wasn't Ares's lack of sweetness that pissed Matteo off; it was the way that things had ended between them and the way that Ares reacted when Matteo's parents first passed away. Those were two things that Matteo could never forgive.

When they got back to the cabin, Ares hopped on his phone to check on a few things while Matteo sent a quick text to the boys to let them know that he was fine and having a good time. He didn't mention anything about his intruder or the man who followed him around like New Year's Eve regret.

Deciding to play nice, Matteo cooked them both dinner and even decided to allow Ares to eat with him at the kitchen table.

What was that saying? Never feed a dog from the table. They will never leave you alone after that?

He knew he shouldn't be nice and that he was only playing with fire, but still, something inside him was pushing him forward.

The cabin was rustic and not what people would have expected Matteo to purchase. It was a modest two-bedroom lodge with a fireplace in the living room and a decent-sized kitchen. Just off to the side of the living room sat an old wooden table that he used to eat meals. Matteo had one of the local tradesmen reinforce the legs and refurbish the wood. It wasn't the most modern of pieces, but it fit the rustic look of the cabin perfectly, in Matteo's opinion.

Reaching across the table, Matteo poured them both some wine, then sat down across from Ares.

"So, what ended up happening with that guy's older brother? You know, the one who shot me?" Ares asked, cutting into his steak and shoving a large chunk of meat into his mouth. The man had no class. He was all rough edges and didn't give a damn.

Matteo felt his dick twitch.

Fuck, he hated that the man's roughness still turned him on.

"He's currently enjoying his stay in my dungeon."

Ares's fork stopped just below his mouth as he stared, frozen at Matteo.

"Your… what?"

"Dungeon. It's where I like to keep all the people who piss me off and betray me," Matteo said, the right side of his lip curving upward slightly. He was trying his hardest not to laugh.

Grinning, Ares stabbed at his meat as if what Matteo had just said was normal, everyday dinner conversation.

"I knew that dark side of you would eventually come out." Ares resumed chowing down on his meat, ignoring the droplets of juice dripping down the side of his mouth.

Fuck, the guy was a pig.

Matteo's dick got even harder.

"And your bullet hole? How is that healing up?" Matteo asked, trying to distract himself from the dirty thoughts currently running around inside his head.

"Humm, it's good. Had a good nurse. A little on the feisty side, but once he stopped trying to kill me, the wound healed right up."

"Not sure what you're talking about." Lifting his glass, he diverted his eyes as he took a sip of his wine. He was never going to admit to trying to do any such things.

Across from him, the sloppy pig let out a snort. "Sure you don't."

While Matteo was playing nurse to Ares, following his bullet to the stomach, he may have contemplated using rat poison instead of sugar in the man's tea. Jared caught him while he was staring at the picture of the dead rodent on the box, reminding him that pretty boys didn't fare well in prison.

So, against his better judgment, Matteo pulled the spare sugar from the pantry and decided to serve Ares some regular, boring tea instead.

After dinner, Ares cleared the table while Matteo washed the dishes.

In the living room, Matteo had some classical music playing, hoping that the tempo might help to calm to multitude of emotions turning over inside his head.

There were times during dinner when Matteo couldn't help but think about all those lazy Sunday mornings when the two of them would lay tangled in each other's arms, the smell of sex thick in the air while cum slowly dried to the sides of their thighs. Fingers intertwined, they would lay there, discussing their future together, the places they wanted to see, the things they wanted to accomplish.

Then darkness would roll in, and Matteo was reminded of the day when his hope in love died and the ensuing hurricane that followed. It was in those memories, in those moments, that Matteo wanted to turn to Ares and punch him in the throat.

"Here's the last one," Ares said, sliding a dish into the soapy water of the sink.

"Why are you here?" Matteo asked, hands holding a dish just below the surface of the water. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

Ares stood there in silence.

"I think you know the reason why."

"No. I don't," Matteo said with a crack in his voice.

For someone who was usually so poised and in control, Matteo was struggling with so many emotions. This was one of the reasons he insisted on being alone. He didn't want anyone else to see him struggle.

These past few weeks had been a mindfuck. Dealing with his parent's pending anniversary, questioning his own life choices, and now this?

The last thing he needed to deal with were old wounds that had barely healed being slashed back open, again.

When it came to Ares, Matteo was a mess.

"Because I still care about you," Ares whispered.

Hearing those words uttered out loud was like a punch to the gut. Matteo closed his eyes and tried to gain control of the shitstorm of feelings battling it out inside his head.

"I know that this is a tough time of year for you. So, when I heard that you had run off, I got worried and had to come check on you."

There was a long pause as Matteo tried to reel in his emotions. Ares had been the only man who truly understood him. When things ended between them, Matteo had been devastated.

"I still love you." Ares's words were barely audible.

Words like those did not come easy to the hardened man. Knowing how hard it was for Ares to admit that was like getting struck by a cannon in the chest.

The next thing Matteo knew, his soapy hands were flying out of the sink and pulling Ares's startled body right into his. Their mouths slammed together, and Matteo began his hungry assault on his ex-boyfriend's lips.

Emotions collided together.

Anger, fear, lust, love.

Each of the emotions he'd kept bottled up was now battling it out for dominance, taking it out aggressively on Ares's stunned lips.

A moan escaped Ares's throat before his mind seemed to finally catch up with what was going on.

The need. The hunger. The uncontrollable urge to just let go.

Matteo hated to admit it, but he'd never stopped loving the horrid beast before him. Even after hearing those heartbreaking words… "I'm no longer in love with you."

It was madness.

He didn't understand why.

But for some fucked-up reason, Matteo still loved the infuriating man.

Tired of fighting, Matteo finally let his guard down and gave in to the desires he'd been fighting all these years.

As if sensing Matteo's plight, Ares wrapped his arms around him and pulled him tight against his burly chest.

Fuck. He missed this. Being wrapped inside this hungry man's arms, having his mouth devoured like he was the first meal after a hunger strike. All of it.

Letting out a snarl, Matteo spun them around and shoved Ares hard against the fridge.

The man let out a groan as a few items sitting on top of the fridge fell to the ground.

"Excited, are we?" Ares huffed, staring at Matteo with knowing eyes.

"Shut up," Matteo shot back, struggling to undo the buttons on Ares's shirt, thanks to the soap still dripping from his hands. "Fuck it," Matteo growled, deciding to rip open the shirt in frustration.

Buttons flew across the room, proving that Matteo was part Hulk and sexually frustrated.

"Damn, and that was one of my favorite shirts," Ares complained sarcastically.

"I'll buy you a new one, poor man," Matteo snarled before diving down and biting Ares's neck.

Ares gave a grunt, taken aback by the aggression but secretly loving the act. Matteo knew. They both loved wild and aggressive sex. That was their thing. Sometimes, it got a little violent, and sometimes, it got a little painful, but in the end, they both shot the biggest loads.

"Fuck, I've missed this," Ares moaned, grabbing the back of Matteo's head and guiding Matteo's mouth across his neck.

Another bite. This one leaving a nice red mark.

Good. Enjoy the pain, asshole .

Matteo made his way lower, licking Ares's furry chest, stopping momentarily to taste his nipples. He gave a gentle bite, secretly loving the hiss escaping the asshole's mouth.

Ares loved having his nipples played with, but tonight wasn't about giving Ares what he wanted. It was about Matteo taking what he needed.

Anger and lust were battling it out at the moment. Matteo wasn't quite sure which emotion was winning.

Ignoring the desperate whimper that left Ares's lips, Matteo continued on his journey of torment, making his way lower toward his end goal.

Once he reached his destination, Matteo rubbed his cheek against the straining bulge trapped behind the man's zipper.

He was a man in heat, desperate and needy. Pressing his face against the material, he could feel the blood pumping through Ares's cock, pulsating as it begged to be released from its denim prison.

Popping the top button, Matteo stared at the bulge just inches from his face.

How many years had it been since he'd been in the same position? How many years had it been since he'd choked on this man's incredible cock?

Fuck, he missed this.

"Don't be shy. It's not as intimidating as it seems," Ares teased in that smug, confident voice of his.

Matteo both hated and loved that arrogant confidence of his.

Eyes turning upward, Matteo watched Ares's expression as he slowly unzipped his jeans before pulling back the material.

"Go ahead. Give it a lick. Remind yourself what a real man's cock tastes like." Ares gazed down at Matteo. His chestnut eyes locked with his.

The fucking confidence of this guy.

Matteo grabbed the bottom of Ares's balls and gave them a squeeze through his underwear, smirking when Ares let out an uncomfortable groan.

Licking his bottom lip, Matteo pulled Ares's thick cock out of the folds in his underwear and held it firmly in his hand.

The head was red and angry, waiting for someone to put it out of its misery. Slowly, Matteo ran his tongue over the head of Ares's cock, loving the taste of salty precum as it spread across his tongue.

"Taste good?" The sound of Ares's rough voice went straight to Matteo's dick.

Fuck, he was in trouble. It appeared that lust had won the battle.

Gripping the base of Ares's cock, Matteo swallowed the whole thing down in one go.

A moan escaped Ares's lips.

"Jesus, fuck, I've missed that mouth," Ares gasped, head tilting back and resting against the cold surface of the fridge.

Hungry and dying for more, Matteo began his assault on Ares's cock. Using his hand, he made deep circular motions as he swallowed Ares's dick from tip to base.

"Fuck, babe."

Another moan.

Rough, firm hands gripped the back of Matteo's head, forcing him down even further.

He slurped and gagged and choked and swallowed. Tears stung his eyes as he refused to waste time breathing.

Fuck he loved sucking this man's dick.

With eyes fully dilated and spit dripping down his chin, Matteo barely noticed when two strong hands grabbed ahold of his body and pulled him up to his feet.

Dishes went crashing to the floor as Matteo's body was suddenly thrown against the kitchen counter.

"Oof," Matteo huffed as the wind was temporarily knocked out of his body.

The next thing he knew, his pants were being yanked down his legs seconds before his ass was assaulted by a hungry wet tongue.

The violence, the forcefulness. Matteo loved it all.

Endorphins flooded his brain as Matteo experienced a high he had not felt in years.

Gasping, he clung to the edge of the counter as he pushed himself back onto Ares's hungry mouth.

"More. Deeper," Matteo whimpered.

He knew he sounded desperate and eager, but he didn't fucking care. He would probably hate himself tomorrow, but right now, his dick was in charge, and he wanted this man's dirty mouth all over his fucking body.

God, the man had a wicked tongue.

"Fuck, you have such a perfect ass," Ares growled before giving Matteo a hard slap on the ass.

Matteo hissed.

Judging by the stinging, there was going to be a burly-sized paw print on his ass there tomorrow.

"Turn," Ares ordered, gripping Matteo's hips and turning his body around without waiting.

Matteo's eyes dilated.

He loved being manhandled. Having a guy take charge and take what he wanted was such a turn-on. Fuck this gentle lovemaking bullshit. He wanted a man to throw him down on the bed and pound his ass until he couldn't see straight.

Rough and painful. That was how he liked it. That was how they liked it.

Before his mind had a chance to register, a warm wet mouth enveloped Matteo's cock. Leaning back on his elbows, he watched as his cock disappeared into Ares's sinful mouth.

Good boy.

Seizing the opportunity, Matteo gasped when Ares's slick, wet finger began massaging his hole.

Closing his eyes, Matteo gave in to the dizzying sensation making its way through his body. With a hot mouth sucking his cock and a strong finger massaging his prostate, Matteo threw one leg over Ares's shoulder and gave in to the welcoming desires that his body so craved.

Loving and hating this, Matteo tried not to think about the consequences or about what was going to happen when the sun came up.

Right now, all he wanted to think about was the mouth eagerly draining his cock and the orgasm exploding through his balls.