by Cala Riley
“Maybe.”
“Ask and you shall receive.”
I wait, anticipating his next move. When he doesn’t do anything, I sigh. “Matteo,” I call out.
“Shh.”
I take a deep breath, letting it out.
Without warning, Matteo’s hand lands on my ass.
I hiss then moan as I feel my core clench at the sensations.
“The sounds you make drive me insane. Did you know that, cara?”
His voice comes from my right.
“No, but you do the same to me.”
“Turn over on your back,” he demands.
I do as he asks immediately.
“Hands up toward the headboard.”
I assume a position I’ve become familiar with. I feel him grab each wrist, attaching them to the headboard.
I hear him move around the room. It sounds like he is rooting around in the chest where he keeps our toys.
Our toys.
I shiver at the thought.
I jolt when I feel his hand touch my ankle.
“Relax.”
He places something around my ankles before letting go. I try to move, but whatever is there locks in place, not letting me close my legs.
“The more you move, the more it locks open. So your challenge is to stay still.”
“Touch me,” I demand.
“Oh, no. This isn’t your show. It’s mine. Fuck, Vanessa. If you could see how you look right now? You’re a fucking wet dream.”
My pussy is throbbing. I attempt to rub my thighs together, but the mechanism in between my legs doesn’t let me. Instead, it opens farther.
“That’s right, baby. Keep moving. I love the view.”
“Matteo, stop teasing me.”
He chuckles. “If you saw yourself, you wouldn’t be calling me the tease.”
He goes silent then. I’m so focused on where I think he is that when something touches my breast, I gasp.
Whatever he is using, he brushes against my other breast before trailing it down my stomach.
I inhale deeply as my body tingles everywhere he touches me.
“Do you know why blinds are so exhilarating in the bedroom?”
“No. Why?”
“It heightens the other senses. It makes you more sensitive.”
I shiver as he blows his warm breath across my center. He’s not wrong. The feelings are better when I don’t know what is coming.
“Do you trust me?”
“I do.”
“Good.”
He goes quiet again as he stops touching me. I want to cry out my frustration, but one thing he always tells me is that patience is rewarded. So instead, I bite my lip, focusing on the throbbing between my thighs.
Then a burning sensation hits me. My right nipple feels like it’s on fire. I gasp out as the feeling overcomes me. It has a bite of pain, but as it cools, it gives me goose bumps.
“Fuck,” I call out, my breaths coming quicker.
“You like that?” he rasps.
“Yes,” I hiss.
I feel the heat again as it trails between my breasts. I gasp, feeling it spread down my stomach, pooling on my stomach.
“You’re fucking glistening right now, cara.” He trails his fingers through my folds. “I can’t wait anymore, I need inside you.”
“Do it.”
I feel him pull away and can’t help but whimper.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” he says, as he takes off my blindfold. “I just want to see your eyes.”
My eyes flutter open and Matteo comes into focus. His gaze intense. “I need you.”
“You have me,” he says, inside me. I moan, arching into him.
“God, you’re so fucking tight,” he growls.
Matteo pulls out, only to slam back in, making me scream.
“I can feel your pussy milking me, are you close, cara?” he asks, holding still.
“Yes.”
Matteo kisses me with wild abandon, his tongue tangling with mine. His hips slamming into me, taking me higher and higher.
“Come, cara,” Matteo demands, sending me over the edge. I arch, crying out with my release.
“Fuck,” Matteo roars, finding his own release. He rests his head between my breasts, caressing me.
“You drive me fucking mad, cara,” he says, pulling out of me. I watch him get out of the bed and walk into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. He comes back with a washcloth in hand and slowly cleans up our mess.
“Is that wax?” I ask, looking at the red substance between my breasts.
“It is.” He smirks as he unties my legs.
“Well, that’s new,” I joke, making him laugh as he undoes the handcuffs.
Matteo pulls me into his lap as he rubs my shoulders, then my wrists.
“You take such good care of me,” I sigh, nuzzling his neck feeling sleepy.
“Always,” he rasps, right as I drift off.
Finishing the book, I close it and set it on the end table next to me. This one was completely different from what I usually read, but I still enjoyed it.
Who knew the art of war could be so riveting?
At first, I wasn’t sure about it, but by the third chapter, I was enthralled by the versatile applications that the book teaches. It might seem like a book devoted to military plans of attack, but you can use many of the skills in other aspects of life.
The clock catches my attention.
Fuck, I think to myself. It’s later than I thought. I need to start dinner.
I stand, stretching my stiff muscles.
“Where are you going?”
I smile, looking over at Matteo behind his desk.
When he works from home, I usually end up in the chair in his office reading. It’s comforting to sit in the same room as him, even if we are both doing something different. Not to mention the couple of times some heated glances turned into hot office sex.
He’s turning me into an addict. I never knew that I could feel as good as I do when I’m with him.
“I need to start dinner,” I tell him, walking toward him.
“Or you could be my dinner,” he says with a wicked gleam in his eye.
He grabs my hand, pulling me into his lap.
I giggle. “That would satisfy your hunger, but I’d still need something to satisfy mine.”
He reaches down, cupping himself. “I’ve got some protein for you.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s your answer to everything.”
“I don’t usually hear you complaining.” He nips at my ear.
I push off of him. “Dinner won’t take long.”
I lean in and kiss him. He attempts to deepen the kiss, but I pull back.
“No, sir. I’ll be back.”
When I turn to leave, he slaps my ass, making me question my decision.
“You play dirty,” I grumble.
“Only with you,” he replies, making me smile.
That smile stays with me all the way to the kitchen. I pull out the chicken I prepared earlier to make a grilled chicken salad. Usually I stick with pasta, which Matteo seems to love, but I decided I wanted to try something lighter tonight. Even when I’ve messed up dinner, he seems to love it, so I think he will enjoy this meal as well.
I pull out the cutting board and cookbook, smiling at the familiarity of each step. Soon enough, I fall into the rhythm of getting dinner ready. I didn’t know it when I started, but cooking is calming to me. I love watching how individual ingredients are transformed to make one cohesive dish.
Lost in my thoughts, I startle when the front door opens.
I freeze, glancing up to the entryway into the kitchen. I let out the breath I was holding and smile when I see Nico.
“Hey,” I say, setting down the knife and wiping my hands.
“Hi,” Nico says as he approaches.
I pull him into a hug. He’s stiff for a moment before his arms come up to hug me back.
“I am so
glad you’re okay. I was worried.” I pull back, taking a good look at his face. “You are doing okay, right?”
“I am.” He looks down, drumming his fingers on the counter. “I’m here to talk to Matteo, but I just wanted to say thank you.” Nico looks up. “Thank you for calling for help and having my back. I know you could’ve used that opportunity to run, but you didn’t. You called for help instead. Thank you.”
“Well, I owed you one, right?” I joke before letting out a deep sigh. “I know I apologized before, but I want to say it again. I’m sorry for taking advantage of your trust before. I was caught up in my head and I didn’t see what my actions might cause. I never wanted you to get hurt because of something I did. I’m also sorry you’ve been stuck on Vanessa duty when I’m sure there are other things you wish you could be doing. It has to have been hard to be stuck here all the time.”
“It hasn’t been all bad.” He smirks. “You can be pretty entertaining. Thank you for the apology. I’m happy to accept it.”
“Good,” I say, softly picking my knife back up to continue chopping the lettuce.
“I better get in there,” Nico says, pointing over his shoulder toward the stairs to Matteo’s office.
“Sounds good.” I look down, picking my knife back up.
“Vanessa.”
“Yeah?” I look up.
“Be careful with Matteo, okay?”
“I don’t understand.” I frown, confused.
“I know there’s something going on between you two and I don’t want to see either of you get hurt. He’s nicer than most in this life, but he’s still vicious when he needs to be.” He looks away, rubbing his chin. “Then there’s you.” He looks back. “You’re a wild card. You grew up on the streets and have only ever had to look out for yourself. You might not see it, but I see that uncertainty still inside of you. You might not have run this time, but who’s to say in the future that urge won’t hit again. That you won’t remember the things he did to you in the beginning or that you’re here against your will. If you run now, he would physically be okay, but mentally he wouldn’t survive it.”
“Nico,” I draw out.
Nico raises his hand, stopping me. “It’s still early. If you have no plans to stay, you need to make that known now. He’s a fair man. If you ask to leave, he will let you. It might take some time, but he won’t keep you here if you really want to go. I don’t need you to say anything, I just want you to think about what you really want. Okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
Nico nods and turns, walking toward Matteo’s office.
I mull over his words.
Do I still want to leave? Will I ever feel like I belong here when the initial choice was against my will? Have I already forgotten how this all started?
I rest my head in my hands.
Is this all a mistake?
The knock at the door pulls me away from the numbers I’ve been crunching.
“Come in,” I say, expecting Vanessa to walk in.
“Nico,” I say, surprised to see him. “Sit.”
“Thanks.” He lowers himself down, favoring his side.
“You getting around alright?”
“I am.” He nods. “It’s weird being away, though. I don’t do well with downtime.” He smirks, making me laugh.
“I don’t think any of us do well with downtime. Hazard of the job.” I smile. “Are you ready to come back?”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about. I would like to get out of town for a few days, possibly go visit my sister out west. I know you need me though. We still haven’t found the guy who attacked me. If you need me here, I’ll stay, but if you can spare me. I’d like to take the next couple of days and fly out there. I’d be back on Monday.” He looks down at his hands in his lap.
“You’re one of my best men. You’re a real asset to us.” I watch as his face seems to drop. “With that being said, we can manage without you, but not for long. Go visit your sister. Enjoy your time and rest. Come back better than ever.”
“Thank you.” He smiles.
“Get out of here,” I tease, waving him toward the door.
Nico stands, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I wanted to talk to you about something else before I go.”
“Of course.” I stand, coming around the lean on my desk.
He looks nervous.
He mumbles to himself before clearing his throat. “I think you need to be careful.”
“With?” I drawl out.
“Vanessa.” He cringes.
I stiffen. “Explain.”
“I know you have a thing for her. She clearly has a thing for you too. I’m worried that once the dust settles, she’ll remember she was brought here against her will. She’s a strong woman who is all about survival. Can you honestly say that one day she might not resent you for kidnapping her?”
Tilting my head, I really look at him. “Do you have a thing for her?” I ask, thinking about all the time he spends with her alone. Unconsciously, I clench my teeth, jealousy consuming me.
“No,” he scoffs, looking truly disturbed by the idea of being with her. “She’s great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not like that. She’s off-limits. I knew that the moment you brought her here. Even if she wasn’t, she’s more like a sister to me, anyway.”
“I see.” I relax, slightly. “You’re protective of her.”
“I am.”
“Not because I asked you to be,” I observe.
“No. I’m protective because she deserves to be protected. I don’t know her story, but I don’t need to. I can see it in the way she acts. The way she flinched when the girls showed up. Right before that guy attacked me? I saw the look in her eyes. She was scared to death.”
My heart beats faster. I hate the thought of her being scared of anything but me. She should know she is safe here.
“You really think she still wants to leave? I gave her a code to the door. She can come and go as she pleases,” I inform him.
He looks surprised. “Has she?”
“No. She’s stayed in the house.”
“Is it because she prefers to stay here or because she doesn’t know she can leave?”
My breath catches.
Does she know she can leave if she wants? Do I want her to? What if she doesn’t come back?
“You’ve given me much to think about. You should get going. I don’t want you to worry about us here. Enjoy the time with your family.”
“I’ll see you on Monday then.” He bows his head in respect before turning to leave.
As he leaves I wonder; Is Vanessa here because she wants to be, or does she still feel like a prisoner?
“You want to get out of here?” Matteo asks from the other side of his desk.
“And go where?” I ask, perking up in my chair.
Outside of dinner with his mother and his friends, this will be the first real time I’ve been out since he took me in. Sure, he gave me a code, but I feel like I’m not really supposed to use it.
How long has it been? Two months since he kidnapped me?
“I need to go to the club and get some work done there where it’s Monday.” He shrugs. “I know it’s not much, but afterward we can stop and get some food.” He pauses. “If you’re interested.”
“I want a cheeseburger, and fries,” I blurt out. “No, onion rings.” I cringe. “Maybe both?” I say, making him laugh.
“Sounds like a reasonable enough request. How long have you been craving that?” He smiles.
“Ever since you showed me how to use the television. I’ve been watching all these cooking shows. One showed the best burgers in the country. Ever since then, I’ve been dying to try one.”
He chuckles. “We will take off in twenty minutes, does that give you enough time to get ready?”
I spring out of the chair, not even responding, Matteo laughing behind me.
Quickly I change into a pair of black high-waisted pants and slip on a T-shirt. Slippi
ng on a pair of black boots, I look in the full-sized mirror and can’t help but stop.
You can’t tell I’m a street kid anymore, can you?
Hell, this is the first time I’ve even worn shoes since I’ve been here. I don’t need to when I never go outside.
I smile to myself as I toss my hair up into a high ponytail and rush out of the room, back to Matteo. I skid to a halt, almost running into him in the hall. He grabs me by the shoulders, preventing me from falling.
“Excited?”
“Yes.” I beam up at him.
He pulls a jacket out of the closet. It looks new.
“Is that new?”
“Maybe. Come on, put it on.”
I turn, letting him help me into the jacket.
“Let’s go. The sooner I get to work, the quicker I can be done, and then I can feed you.” He ushers me outside.
“There’s no rush. I’m interested to see where you go when you leave me.”
He leans down, kissing my lips. “I usually walk. Are you okay with walking?”
“That’s fine. I used to walk everywhere.”
He holds out his arm, taking my hand to curl it into the crook of his elbow. Nico falls into step behind us.
“Is he following us because of me?”
Matteo looks down at me. “Yes and no. Usually, he stays at the house with you because he is assigned as your main guard. Prior to you, he would stay near me as my second in command.”
“Why would you assign your second to me?”
“I wanted someone I knew I could trust to protect you.”
We fall into silence after that. His words strike a chord within me.
He assigned his closest guy to protect me.
I smile as I take in the people around us. Soon, my smile falls.
So many people.
Everyone passing each other but not really seeing one another. Stoplight after stoplight, I become sad for all those people glued to their phones. They never look up to see the beauty of this city. Even those who are walking with someone are missing the interaction with that other person.
Everyone always said that being homeless was one of the worst things that could happen to a person.
I disagree. Being homeless gave me the ability to appreciate the beauty around me. The ability to cherish the time spent with another person with whom I care for.