Stolen Queen (Dynasty of Deception #4)

14. Matteo

14

MATTEO

T here is something seriously wrong with me. I’ve never held my breath waiting for a reply from a woman before. I never gave a shit. If she wanted me, great, we’d fuck and move on. If not, that was fine too. There are plenty of other women who’d be interested.

But this isn’t just about fucking. It feels like the weight of the world is on me. That Ava, only just barely a woman, is the answer to the question about the purpose of my life.

Not liking how long it’s taking for her to respond, I lean in, offering her a choice. "Stay with me, Ava. You don't have to go back to your father or marry that old bastard in New York. I can give you the freedom you're looking for."

The words come out with more intensity than I intend, but I can't help it. I've never wanted anything—or anyone—as badly as I want her. And not just in my bed, though I'd be lying if I said that wasn't part of it. I want to show her the world she's been denied. I want to see her eyes light up when she experiences new things.

"What do you mean?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she doesn’t quite believe what I’m saying.

I squeeze her hand, like the gesture will somehow help her understand. "I mean exactly what I said. Stay here with me. Let me show you what life can really be like. No arranged marriages. No expectations. Just you living life on your own terms."

I'm used to getting what I want, but this… this is different. For the first time in my life, I actually care about the outcome.

"But what about my family? My father?"

"I'll handle them.” I don’t know how. The situation hasn’t changed. All I know is that if she chooses me, I’ll move heaven and earth to make her happy. “All you have to do is say you’ll be mine.”

Her eyes light with fire, and it excites me. “What do you mean by 'being yours'? I don't want to trade one cage for another."

Her words catch me off guard, but I keep my expression casual. I've got to play this carefully. I don't want to scare her off when I'm so close to winning her over.

"It means whatever you want it to mean, Princess," I say with a shrug, deliberately keeping my answer vague. "I'm offering you freedom, not another cage."

Ava's eyes narrow. "I'm not looking to belong to anyone. Not my father, not some old Don in New York, and not you either."

I feel a surge of admiration for her backbone even as I’m irked that she’s not grabbing hold of what I’m offering.

I smirk. "Is that so?" I lean back in my chair, studying her.

"I want to be my own person. I want to make my own choices, live my own life. Not be someone's property or prize."

My smirk widens. She’s got potential, not just to be a pretty face on someone's arm, but to be a real force to be reckoned with. She just needs the right guidance.

"Sounds like you've got it all figured out," I say, my tone teasing but not dismissive. "So tell me, what would you do with that freedom if you had it?"

“I told you. Travel?—”

“With what money? How would you avoid your father hunting you down? Or his enemies?”

I hate the defeated expression on her face. It makes me feel like shit for putting it there.

My gaze is intense as I lock eyes with Ava. "Listen, Princess. I get it. You want freedom. But you have to understand something. The world is not all sunshine and roses. It's dangerous, especially for someone like you?—”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“No. You’re not. But you’re sheltered and don’t have the resources you need. I don’t want to cage you. It’s quite the opposite. I want to see you spread your wings. But if you want freedom and to be safe, you need to trust me on this. You need to let me guide you… help you. You won’t make it a day on your own out there. I don’t think you’re incapable, but you don’t know how much danger is out there or how to avoid it.”

Ava's eyes flash with defiance, but I can see the uncertainty there too. I press on, my voice low and urgent.

"I know you don't want to belong to anyone. But think of it this way. I'm offering you protection."

She’s studying me. I’m not sure if it’s to assess my proposal’s merits or my trustworthiness.

"I'm not asking you to be my property, Ava. I'm asking you to let me be your shield. To trust that when I tell you to do something, it's for your own good."

Conflict wars in her eyes.

I soften my tone, trying to reassure her, although I feel like I’m on the verge of begging. "It's not about control. It's about keeping you safe while you figure out who you are and what you want. Can you understand that?"

It takes a moment, but finally, she nods. I feel triumphant, but I tamp it down. I hold up my wine. “Then we’re in agreement.”

She clinks her glass with mine and sips.

I watch her, a smirk forming on my lips. “Since you’re putting your faith in me, you can start by telling me just how far you were willing to go when you tried to seduce me to escape.”

Ava's cheeks flush a deep red, and she averts her gaze. "I… I don't know what you mean.”

I wait, not wanting to embarrass her.

She takes a gulp of her drink. “Besides, it’s not like nothing ever happened.”

“Oh?” That’s news to me.

“That night you brought me home from the club.”

“When you kissed me?”

She arches a brow, showing irritation. “And after.”

I lean forward, resting my chin on my palm as my elbow sits on the table. “Tell me more.”

“You know. In my room… your hands…” She trails off, her face burning even brighter.

I’m confused. After that balcony kiss, I put her to bed and left. "My hands?" I prompt.

She squirms in her seat. "They were… exploring me."

I realize that her memory of that night is hazy. The alcohol must have hit her harder than I realized.

I lean in closer, intrigued by her fuzzy recollection. “How'd it feel?"

She gives me an irritated glare. "You know… nice, I guess."

"What part of it felt nice?” I’m dying to know just how she thinks I touched her.

She bites her lower lip. “All of it and… down there.” She points to her lap, shifting in her chair in a way that makes me think it’s not just embarrassment but arousal. My dick grows painfully hard.

"Have you ever been touched like that before?" My voice sounds husky even to me.

Ava shakes her head. "No.”

“Did you like it?" I ask bluntly. "Being touched like that?"

Ava's head snaps up, her eyes flashing with defiance. "No.”

It takes all my strength not to laugh. Despite her words, I can see the desire in her eyes, the way her breath catches slightly at the memory. She might deny it, but her body betrays her.

“Hmm, maybe I did it wrong. Did you come?”

She swallows. “Why do you want to know…? You were there.”

“Men have big egos. There’s no faster, more effective way to bring a man down than to tell him he’s bad in bed.”

She blinks, and I swear she feels bad for making me feel inadequate in bed. I should end this line of questions, but before I can, she says, “Yes.”

“Yes?”

“I came… or I think I did. I felt something.”

My dick is straining my pants. "Have you thought about it since then? About me touching you?"

“No.”

I study her for a moment, waiting for her to retract her lie. When she doesn't, I decide not to embarrass her more, so I say, “Well, it sounds like a lovely time. I wish I’d been there to enjoy it.”

Her brow furrows. “But…”

“The way I remember that night, that kiss… well… it was fucking fantastic. I wanted to fuck you, so much so that I had to show more restraint than I ever have in my life. I hated leaving after putting you to bed.”

She looks at me like she’s trying to decide how it’s possible I hadn’t touched her.

“But like you, Princess, I’ve dreamt about touching you ever since that night.”