Chapter 14

**Lily**

I’m lost and drowning, without knowing what way is up anymore. The incident with Noah shook me to my core, and to be honest, I still haven’t really recovered. It also made me very unsure how to act around him now. I mean, I do see and meet with him there on a regular basis. And we are supposed to meet with the Esposito SRL people together. Yet, he scares me and at this point I don’t want to be alone with him.

I did as he asked. Not immediately after the incident. I keep calling it an incident, because I don’t want it to refer to it as the time he crushed my windpipe the entire time. Incident also doesn’t do it justice, but it makes it easier for me to think about it. Anyways, I did reverse the accounts. The point is, they were flagged according to the regulations. They were not crossing the regulations by a major amount, so I guess it could be a grey area. The problem is, I don’t like grey areas. I’m not good with grey areas, I need clarity in my life. And I like to be right.

So, I decided to get out of his way as much as possible. Or to just ignore him.

I am rushing towards the restaurant where we are meeting with the Esposito team. It is supposed to be a formality only because they already said they would sign to move their business over to the bank. Still, that was Vita who said that. I don’t know how much of it is agreed with Matteo, and if he can still veto that decision. Of course, I am well prepared because there is no way that I would be able to face Noah if I screwed up. I mean, if he would almost kill me over some accounts, what would he do over a missed deal?

The restaurant was a bit further than I expected, and my heels and skirt were definitely not helping me in my rush. I entered the restaurant flustered because of walking fast, I shrugged off my coat and handed it to the host of the restaurant fast. I take a deep breath to compose myself, and then the host leads me to the table. Clearly, the others were already sitting there. Vita and Guilia are smiling and getting up to greet me. Noah stays seated, but his gaze is unreadable. Well, at least that means he might be able to contain himself for a bit.

I noticed that there were still two empty seats at the table, next to each other. Does that mean that Matteo is not attending? Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about that.

“Oh, good, you’re back.”, Vita said to the person behind me. I didn’t even have to turn around to know who just showed up. His presence gave me goosebumps, and it sent tingles down my body to wake every single part of me. Especially in my lower stomach region. All my body’s attention went to him, no matter how much I fought it. I couldn’t even get my feet to move. I felt him approaching me, and it was as if my body was like a magnet attracted to him. It frightened me, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

Then I felt him move next to me, and before I realized it, he was in front and sat in one of the empty chairs without even acknowledging me. The asshole. How is it possible that he affects me so greatly, yet he seems completely unaffected by me. Could it be that such a feeling is one-sided? God, I hate looking like the fool! So, I got my act together and tried to behave as normally as I could when I took my seat at the table. Next to him, just my luck.

After dinner choices were made, and drinks had been served, we got down to business. I had to admit, the more I worked with Vita and Guilia the more I appreciated them. These women were good! And they showed it again when we talked through the data I had sent them previously. They really picked it apart to analyze what I had done with it, and I admired them because of it. Not everyone did that before they signed a contract. So, before long we were in discussion of the deep details. And to be fair, I expected Matteo to lose focus and let the women to do the questioning. But as I should expect by now, he surprised me.

You know what else surprised me, while it shouldn’t anymore? His hand on my thigh. Yup, he put his hand on my thigh the moment the discussion on content with Vita and Guilia was over. I guess that answers some of the questions I had. Or did it mean he was playing games with me?

Matteo left his hand rest on my mid-thigh while we were still discussing the contract. I guess he was a typical man that couldn’t multitask. The weight of his hand was enough to wake my senses, to make me aware of everything that came to me through my senses. The taste of the food seemed more intense than it was before, the way the buzz of the celebratory champagne frizzled on my tongue and how the alcohol was slowly hazing my rationale.

The way that his smell was intoxicating me. His distinct cologne was stopping me from moving away from him. In fact, his smell was pulling me to him. I guess this was biology at its finest with all the pheromones and stuff. Maybe if I had paid more attention in school, I would have been better at getting out from under his spell.

His touch was relaxing me. The warmth of his hand was putting me at ease, like this was where I was supposed to be. His thumb started to rub lazy circles on my leg. What vexed me though was that he had not once looked at me during the entire dinner. I really should push his hand away from me. I shook my head slightly as if that would get me out from under his spell. Then I put my hand over his as quietly and as unsuspiciously as possible and lifted it off my thigh. I just let it drop next to it, not caring if the others saw him move weirdly. I heard a soft chuckle coming from him, but it didn’t dare to look at him.

Just when he was done eating his appetizer, Matteo again put his hand on my thigh. And again, he started to rub circles with his thumb. My body and mind were fighting each other. The feeling of his hand and thumb was starting to feel relaxing to me, the constant movement was lulling me into an unsuspecting state. It was bringing my guard down. Yet my mind was on edge, what was his plan? What was he going to do next? And then, when he took his hand away to be able to eat his dinner, my thigh was feeling empty. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Looking from the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a smirk on his face.

And again, as soon as he was done eating his main course, his hand was back. Strangely, I was surprised by it. This time I felt his hand creeping up my thigh. Damn for the split being on his side! I just couldn’t decide whether it was a good thing, or a bad thing.

His hand kept going up my inner thigh. I took a big sip of my wine to calm myself down, and tried to continue eating as calmly as I could. Trying to pay attention to the conversation around the table. Or at least, trying to look like I was paying attention. A conversation he was having with Noah. His hand was causing tingles and sparks in my body, and it felt so incredibly good. Too good. I was too aware of his hand getting dangerously close to my private part.

I let out a soft squeal when he started to touch my front on the outside of my lace thong. I saw Vita raising her eyebrows in question when she heard it. I just ignored her because I don’t think I could speak coherently at this point. I couldn’t suppress the shiver going down my spine going straight to my core when he applied a little more pressure. Any concentration that I had still had when straight out of the window at that point. I felt myself getting hotter and wetter with every caress he made. My legs started to part on their own, giving in to the feelings he was creating in me. Then suddenly, his hand was gone.

Matteo got out of his chair to excuse himself for a phone call he had to take. Suddenly, I felt cold, and the haze of lust and pleasure was drifting away from my mind. I came to my senses and excused myself to go to the restroom. I desperately needed to get myself together.

The moment I entered the restroom, I rested my hands on the counter, and I let my head hang for a second to catch my breath. What the hell was I thinking? Why was I letting him touch me like that? Well, I knew why. Because it felt too damn good!

I didn’t take any notice when I heard someone entering until I felt someone behind me. No, not just someone, him. I looked up and our eyes locked in the mirror. His blue eyes shone and were darkened by lust and desire. He wasted no time and walked up behind me. I stood straight, while I watched his actions in the mirror. He stood behind me and ran his fingers up my arms. The other hand held me by my waist, making sure that I stood still and did not go anymore. Even with my heels on he was still a few inches taller than I was, making it easy for him to block any movement with his body. His strong, warm body that was now pressed against my back, and any resistance I had was gone.

He bent over slightly to kiss my neck, all the while holding my gaze through the mirror. His fingers went down my neck to my breast, which he cupped through my clothes. His other hand left my hip and travelled down inside my skirt continuing the movements it was making during dinner. His caress was stronger than before, and I felt his fingers push my thong aside. His fingers danced up and down my slit but ignored the places where I wanted to feel his touch. I threw my head in my neck and closed my eyes to let his touch overwhelm me and to drown myself in pleasure. “Look at me, Bellissima.”, he whispered as he bit my earlobe softly to get my attention. My eyes opened reluctantly. And when I did, Matteo entered one of his fingers in my slit unexpectantly. I moaned softly and closed my eyes again out of pleasure. He withdrew his finger immediately, and my eyes opened panicked. “Good, I have your attention. Eyes on me, Bellissima.”, he whispered with a hoarse voice. He went back to kissing and nibbling my neck, and his finger entered me again, while his thumb started to rub my clit.

I leaned against him with my entire body now, arching my back into his hard chest, letting myself enjoy the pleasure he was giving me. I reached one hand behind me to his neck, to pull his mouth to mine. Matteo happily complied, and he pressed his lips against mine. He groaned as I opened my mouth and kissed him as hungrily and passionately as he did. He kept pumping his finger into me and his other hand kneading and fondling my breast through my bra. I felt the familiar tightening sensation in my core building up, and I breathed out a moan. Matteo started to pump faster and rubbed faster against my clit.

“Ah… Matteo… Fuck.”, I moaned as I felt my climax building fast in my core. I felt Matteo pressing his hard erection against my butt, and I heard him groan in my ear as I grinded my ass against his hard on. My hand gripped at his neck, and my breathing was getting harder and harder, and I was struggling to keep upright. He managed to make me feel incredible, and to make me forget everything else. Then he hit a spot that made my legs tremble, and I gripped his neck uncontrollably. I cried out in pleasure as the climax rippled through my body.

Matteo slowed down his movements to allow me to ride out my climax and held me to prevent me falling to the floor. He kissed my neck sweetly and looked me in the eyes in the mirror. “So beautiful.”, he mumbled. He turned me around and helped me to get my skirt and top back in place. He kissed me softly on my lips. “Let’s go back, Bellissima.”

He pulled me out of the restroom to go back to our table.

“Wait!”, I pulled him to stop. “Is this… Am I a game to you?”, I asked him. Matteo turned around and looked at me funnily. “No.”, he said. I thought I saw honesty and something I couldn’t identify shine through in his eyes, but before I could see more, he had already turned around and walked back to our table. Just before getting there, I realized that Matteo was still holding my hand. I let go as if I got burned.

When I sat down, I saw Noah looking at me with narrowed eyes. Did he see us?