로그인MATTEO’S POVIvan’s voice still hung in the air. “Your move, Moretti. Or should I say… hers?” and every gun in the room stayed trained on its target. My finger itched on the trigger of my own piece, half-drawn and ready to paint the walls with Russian blood if anyone so much as breathed wrong.But Arielle didn’t flinch. She sat perfectly still on my lap, the cigar burning low between her fingers, her ass warm, pressed against my cock. I could feel her pulse racing under my palm, yet her voice came out steady, almost amused.“I accept.”The words landed like a fucking grenade.Rage and something worse surged through me. My arm tightened around her waist so hard I knew I’d leave bruises. “Arielle,” I growled low in warning, but she ignored me, leaning forward just enough to set the cigar in the ashtray with deliberate calm.“I want Ivan’s fingers chopped off if I win,” she said clearly, loud enough for the whole table to hear. “All of them. One by one. Right here.”A stunned beat of si
MATTEO’S POVThe moment Arielle sank onto my lap, every muscle in my body rose up. Her ass pressed perfectly against my cock, soft curves molding to me through the thin fabric of her dress. She reached up without hesitation, plucked the cigar from my fingers, and brought it to those full lips.She took a slow, deliberate drag.Smoke curled from her mouth, and the entire table went dead silent. Part of me wanted to drag her out of here, bend her over the nearest surface, and remind her exactly who she belonged to. The other part, the darker, prouder part swelled with something dangerously close to admiration. My little kitten wasn’t just surviving my world. She was stepping into it with claws out.Across the table, Ivan watched her, those ice-blue eyes dragged over every inch of her, lingering on the way her dress hugged her thighs, the exposed line of her neck where my mark from last night still faintly showed if you knew where to look. He leaned back in his chair, a slow, predator
ARIELLE’S POVI splashed cold water on my face and stared at my reflection in the mirror. It was hard to figure out how I truly felt. Regret? Pain from Matteo's words, absolutely nothing. Groaning softly, I stepped out of the bath tub and dried my skin. For some odd reason, I kept replaying Matteo’s words from this morning in my head like a broken record.“You want freedom? Take it. Walk out that door if you want. I won’t chain you to this penthouse… but you’re a target now, Kitten. They’ll come for you the second you’re alone.”He had looked almost human when he said it. No mocking smirk, or cold rage. Just tired honesty and something darker underneath, regret, maybe. Or fear that I’d actually leave and get myself killed.Did he care about me? I hated that it made my chest tighten.I hated even more that I believed him. There was this part of me, that desperately wanted him to care. By the time evening fell, I had made my decision. I would take the freedom he offered. I would b
THIRD PERSON'S POV The study door clicked shut behind Xavier and Frederico, leaving Matteo and Arielle alone in heavy silence. Matteo kept his hands tucked deep in his pockets, shoulders tense, his expression carefully guarded. What did Arielle want? Why was she in his office? He wandered. The gunshot wound on his side throbbed, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing in his chest. He watched her closely, wondering how this conversation was about to explode.Arielle stood near the desk, her hair tousled from the night before. “So… where were we?” she repeated, voice steady despite the slight tremble beneath it.Matteo didn’t move. He simply waited, listening.Arielle took a deep breath, then spoke. “You slept with me last night, Matteo. You took my virginity after we argued like we always do, and then you just… walked away. You left me there in your bed like I was nothing. Like what happened between us meant nothing. I know you don’t do soft or gentle things, but I didn’
MATTEO’S POV Memories from last night clouded my mind, as I stepped into the bathroom. The hot water pounded against my skin, but it did nothing to wash away the guilt clawing at my chest.I braced both hands on the tiled wall, head bowed, letting the steam fill the bathroom. What the hell had I done?I had taken her virginity.Arielle, my defiant, stubborn wife who had fought me at every turn had been untouched. Pure. And I had claimed her in the middle of an argument, driven by anger, pain from the gunshot, and that damn uncontrollable pull she had on me. I had told myself I didn’t do virgins. I had sworn I wouldn’t cross that line because she would want more than I could ever give.Yet the moment she had spread her legs for me, whispering my name like both a curse and a prayer, I had lost every ounce of control.Now she was lying in my bed, probably feeling used and alone, while I stood here feeling sick to my stomach.“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, slamming my fist lightly
ARIELLE’S POVMatteo’s mouth claimed mine again before I could answer his challenge. The kiss was deep, possessive, and stole every protest I had left. My body betrayed me instantly, melting into him even as anger spread in my chest.He lowered me onto the bed, his weight pressing me into the mattress. The gunshot wound on his side didn’t seem to slow him down at all. His hands were everywhere sliding under the hem of his shirt I was wearing, pushing the fabric up until cool air kissed my bare skin.“Matteo…” I whispered against his lips, half warning, half plea.He pulled back just enough to look down at me, dark eyes burning. “Still talking back, Kitten? Even now?” His fingers traced slow circles over my stomach, moving higher until they brushed the underside of my breasts. “You came in here yelling at me, and yet here you are… legs already parting for me.”Heat flooded my cheeks. I was angry, furious, but my body didn’t care. My thighs had fallen open the moment he settled betw
Arielle’s POVThe next morning arrived too quickly. I moaned softly as my eyes fluttered open, the sheets tangled around my legs. The room was quiet, too quiet. It dawned on me that Matteo was gone. I sat up, frowning at the empty side of the bed. That man is something else. One minute he’s kill
ARRIELE'S POV “Nice to finally meet you, Arielle,” she says, removing her mask.I suck in a breath.“It’s not so nice to finally see you, Giselle. How could you? I can’t believe you know me and I had no idea you existed until I was kidnapped to be your replacement.”“My replacement, huh?” She tilt
Arielle’s POVI knew Matteo was furious with me. He’d spent the entire ride to the event frowning, jaw clenched, eyes fixed out the window like he could burn holes through the glass. And God help me, I loved every second of it.He had no right to be mad anyway. As far as I was concerned, I was only
Matteo’s POVThe sitting room smelled of cigar smoke and whiskey.I sat in the high-backed leather chair at the head of the low table, legs crossed, fingers drumming once on the armrest before stilling. Xavier lounged across from me, one ankle propped on his knee, swirling his drink like the world







