SIX

MATTEO

The wedding had passed in a blur.

I had not heard even a word of what the priest said during the entire marriage ceremony.

How could I when this man afore me was looking at me like a long lost artifact?

His piercing emerald eyes never left mine all through the winding and boring service.

That intense gaze travelled all over me with a promise flashing vividly in them.

A promise to possess me.

I couldn't blame him though because if it was a crime I was definitely guilty too.

Eyes sampling him like a slab of meat.

My blood vessels were rushing with more desire than blood at the moment.

And my gaze was lingering at the top of his shirt were three buttons were undone.

His tattoos peeked faintly from the space, sleekly, arousing and intoxicating.

I couldn't even fathom how many times I had swallowed in the short service.

We soon said our vows, eyes devouring each other as we placed the rings.

He had gotten pure gold bands.

Something simple.

I liked it.

The priest said a prayer.

And it was finally over.

There was no kiss.

Alessandro took a step closer immediately the priest took a step back from us.

My gaze rounded.

"What?" I mouthed.

He leaned in closer until his lips were faintly brushing against my left ear.

The move caused my breath to hitch.

That familiar cologne that almost drove me wild two weeks ago overwhelmed me.

Heat surged through me.

"You're mine."

My breathing grew ragged.

The vibrating sound of his voice did something to me that I could not explain in words.

My body began to tremble.

“Remember that,” he added.

My heart rate spiked.

Then, he stepped back.

Our eyes locked.

"Let's head to the reception area," he said to me while offering his elbow.

My gaze remained fixed on him.

I tried to speak.

But I couldn't form any coherent words.

So, I gave up.

I only nodded, slipping my hands into the offered elbow and intertwining both.

He led me there without a word.

The reception room in the chapel was much smaller than the chapel itself.

It was decorated in cream and gold fabrics, hanging around in loose swags.

Soft music was playing from somewhere behind the veils that I couldn't see.

Now, I watched the assigned waiters as they moved between the handful of guests.

The trays of champagne glass in their hands called out to me as I stood beside him.

Alessandro.

But I could not move because his hand was resting possessively on my lower back.

Every time I had tried to shift away, his fingers had only pressed harder.

I realized that he was keeping me anchored to his side, not allowing me to leave.

My father was in a low conversation with Alessandro's lawyers across the room.

Papers covered the table between them.

I needed no one to tell me that was the contracts that would bind our families together from this point on.

I watched my father as he signed each one with a smile without hesitation.

His face was calm and businesslike.

The money worshipper.

This was exactly what he wanted.

A transaction.

Nothing more.

He didn't care what became of me.

Or my sister.

What a man!

I rolled my eyes.

Thank heavens mother left him.

He might have sold her too.

He didn't care about anything that wasn't him, his company or his pocket.

Self-centred clown.

My eyes moved away from them.

It landed on my step mother, Clara.

She was watching me.

I wondered why she was seated near the window.

She hated them, especially when they were open.

That's why she had heavy blinds installed in the house the moment she moved in.

I heard her mother had jumped out a window and wound up dead.

Who wouldn't commit suicide with a father like hers?

A terrifying Italian mob leader who had lived by the sword and ended by it.

She had so much trauma.

It wasn't shocking she fell in love with my father, or was it safe to say that she likely trauma bonded with him?

Her eyes didn't leave me.

A glass of champagne was in her hand.

And she was swirling it.

Nonchalantly.

The satisfaction written across her facial features started to infuriate me.

Luca and Gianna were not far off from her, on her tail coat as usual.

Or was it tied to her apron strings?

They were whispering to each other and glancing at me occasionally with expressions that I couldn't quite read.

But I figured it was curiosity probably mixed with mockery and perhaps glee

I was sure they would have plenty to say the minute they arrived back at home.

"Matteo."

Alessandro's voice close to my ears pulled my attention back to him.

I glanced at him.

"Yes?" I asked, brows raised.

He gestured with his eyes.

Mine followed his.

They landed on a man in his fifties with a broad smile sitting on his face.

My eyes narrowed.

"This is Marco Santini,"Alessandro began to introduce, "my business partner."

“Oh,” I whispered, inaudibly.

Marco extended his hand to me.

I stared down at it.

"Nice to meet you."

I nodded and accepted it.

His palms engulfed mine.

I shook it mechanically.

"Congratulations," Marco continued with a smug look.

I quirked my brows at him.

"Your husband is a lucky man."

Husband?

It sounded strange to me.

The fact that I was married now.

Tied to him.

Alessandro's hand slid from my back to my waist, pulling me closer against him.

I gasped inaudibly.

"Very lucky."

The heat my body gained from his warm one instantly crawled up my neck.

"Right, Matteo?"

He looked at me.

His eyes pierced into me.

I forced a smile.

"Yes," I nodded.

There was more introductions with names I might never remember again.

I was sure every of the faces being shown to me at this event would all finally blur together into something of no importance.

The space grew suffocating.

Yet Alessandro kept touching me.

His hands never left my body.

It was everywhere.

On my shoulder.

My waist.

My hand clasped in his.

Each touch felt like a brand.

It was as if he was marking me as his and only his in front of everyone present.

I tried to pull away once when a waiter passed by me with champagne.

Alessandro's grip on my wrist immediately tightened the instant I moved.

I turned to him.

"Stay," he murmured.

He leaned in.

His breath was rather warm against my cheeks which flushed instantly.

"Unless you want all of this to end so I can carry you out of here right now."

I became moon-eyed.

The threat in his voice was clear.

I stopped struggling.

An hour crawled by.

Maybe longer.

Well I wouldn't know.

Time felt distorted.

Finally, Alessandro began to wrap things up.

I joined him in thanking each of the guests.

His hand had returned to rest on the lower part of my back earlier.

Now they were steering me forward.

I followed without a word as he guided me towards the exit.

But my father intercepted us at the door with a cold look in his eyes.

The same ones he always used to deliver threats and merciless ultimatums.

"May I have a word with my son?" He asked Alessandro with a small smile.

One that didn't reach his eyes.

"Of course," my groom said.

He let go of me.

Then he took a few steps back, giving us privacy.

But his eyes were still on me.

"Matteo," my father started, "No matter what, do not disappoint me."

I said nothing.

Whatever could I tell this monster.

"Everything—including Sofia—now solely depends on the outcome of this alliance."

His voice irritated me.

Yet I bore it.

"You must not ruin this."

I sighed.

"I won't."

He came closer, still.

"You must do everything your husband says," he continued sternly. "If Alessandro orders you to bark, you bark."

"Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"Cat got your tongue?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Yes I do."

"Good," he said.

His hand reached for my tie.

I wondered what on earth he was straightening out there.

"Don't mess this up."

I swallowed.

"You have my word."

Father nodded and stepped aside.

Alessandro was by my side in an instant.

"We will take our leave now," he said.

"Yes, take care," my father said as we walked outside the chapel.

A black limousine was waiting.

The chauffeur hurried around to hold open the back door for both of us.

Alessandro gestured for me to get in first and I stepped into the air-conditioned automobile.

He followed behind me, settling in as the chauffeur closed the door shut.

My stomach dropped the moment we were alone in the back space.

I heard when the chauffeur got in, smoothly pulling away from the chapel.

The partition was instantly raised.

And I felt cocooned by it and the tinted windows surrounding us.

It felt too private.

My mind began to race.

It was desperately trying to make sense of everything happening at the moment.

Meanwhile, Alessandro was quiet, staring down at the phone in his hands.

I wondered how on earth he had gotten me here, in this position I was now.

How on earth had he met my father? Had he forced this arrangement?

If so, why?

What did he want from me?

I turned away, plastering my face against the nearest tinted window.

The silence between us was charged and heavy with something I couldn't name.

Suddenly his hand gripped my thigh.

I gasped.

My head whipped around swiftly to face him with eyes as wide as saucer.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Alessandro leaned toward me.

His eyes were dark, glittering with something that I knew too well.

Desire.

"Whatever you think," he answered.

His hands moved lower.

"And what do you—"

The words died in my mouth as his hands moved over the front of my pants.

Desire rushed through me.

Blindly.

I heard him chuckle as my cock started to engorge.

"Can't help yourself?" He asked while still stroking my clothed cock.

His movements were slow.

Deliberate.

My senses began to blur.

A moan slipped past my lips.

"Did you think it was over, pretty boy?"

His voice did things to my body.

Deliciously low.

“Can't speak?” He teased.

A lump formed in my throat.

"No."

My voice was sharper than intended.

And he instantly gripped my semi hard dick through my pants, as punishment.

I went wide-eyed.

My body responded instantly.

"This is just the beginning."

Blood rushed downwards alone.

Every single part of my body was flooded with heat.

Without fail.

Despite my reluctance.

His touch burned through me.

And it ignited something that I had hopelessly been trying to suppress.

Something I had felt since I had recognized him standing at the altar.

He stroked faster.

"Ahhh," a soft moan left my lips.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't think.

Stars formed behind my eyes.

And I nearly came.

Then, he stopped.

My eyes flew open.

I held his gaze, staring at him as his lips curved into a smirk.

The expression was familiar.

And I recalled it was the same one he had worn then, two weeks ago.

When he had carried me out of the bar.

My breath hitched.

"Welcome to your new life, pretty boy.”