CHAPTER SIXTY

Angelo could have simply dropped me off, but instead, he walks me to my door like we’re on our first date.

“You’re okay until Bea gets home?”

“I am.”

“I can stay.”

“I’m going to take a shower, and she’ll be home in twenty minutes. I’m fine, love.”

When he leaves, I text Matt and take a very hot shower. When Bea arrives home, she throws her arms around me and bursts into tears.

The guys had told her that I was okay, but apparently the incident made the news–including video footage from someone’s phone.

We spend half an hour consoling each other.

In the meantime, Matt texts. He needs to spend the rest of the day with Julie, but he’ll come by in the morning and give me his full attention.

I constantly replay the moment before he left the building. All he said was “We’ll talk later.” He assigned practically no emotion to his words, certainly displaying fewer emotions than those emitted by Jarel or Angelo.

Of course, he was potentially facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Maybe that’s all he could focus on in that moment.

Angelo said that Matt sounded relieved, but I’ve barely heard from him in the past twenty-four hours.

I don’t know how to interpret that.

And the longer we go without talking, the easier it is to convince myself that he might break up with me.

That he realized he doesn’t need all this drama. That he doesn’t want to be in the position of facing criminal charges–or being shot. That he doesn’t need additional complications in his life.

That a relationship with me isn’t worth the trouble.

Or… did he see me hide the paper and now imagines the worst?

Is he looking at me so differently that he’d rather walk away instead?

***

Jarel and Angelo both offered to come check on me or sleep over, but I turned them down. Instead, I slept in Bea’s bed, and I think it helped both of us.

I’ve poured my second cup of Earl Grey when Matt knocks on my door. When I open it, his hands are in his khaki pockets, and he’s completely unreadable.

I step aside to let him in, and when I close the door, he looks into my eyes before wrapping his arms completely around me. He holds me tightly and rests his head against my shoulder.

I return the hug, and we stand in my kitchen for several minutes, simply holding one another, listening to each other exist.

When he pulls away, he rubs my cheeks with his thumbs.

“You saved us, Matt,” I whisper. “I’m forever in your debt.”

He shakes his head. “You would’ve done the same for me.”

I simper. “I don’t have your knife-throwing skills.”

He doesn’t laugh. He doesn’t even smile. “You’re my everything, Valentina.” His left hand grips my side, and he places his right hand behind my head, holding me in place. “Close your eyes, beautiful.”

His lips are soft, but his kiss is intense, and the passion only grows. “I want to please you,” he whispers and gently tugs on my shirt to direct me to follow him as he walks backward into my bedroom.

I stand at the foot of my bed as he continues his kisses and slowly lowers my pajama pants. Then he stands so close that I have no choice but to fall onto the bed.

“Lie back,” he says as he spreads my legs. “Let me worship you.” He kneels in front of me, and when his tongue touches me, I shiver.

His fingers spread me, granting him complete access to clit and sensitive skin.

He caresses, licks, sucks, teases, plays.

“Wait.” There’s too much stimuli for my nerves to register it all. It’s incredible, but I’m not used to this from him.

He kisses my thighs, hips, and stomach, and his attention causes my muscles to spasm. When I nod at him, he returns to my clit, and I grip the sheets as I arch my back.

When the waves start, he holds my legs apart, giving me no escape from the pleasure. As I quiet, he slows, but he doesn’t stop, and after a couple of minutes, he returns to his magical rhythm.

And that rhythm elicits my screams and moans four times before I finally can’t take any more of his devotion.

I’m still half-naked when he lies down next to me and covers us with the sheet.

He places his hand on my hip and pulls me against him. “You are not allowed to die, Valentina.”

“Matt–”

“I saw what my future could look like without you, and it terrified me. You and I are going to live a long, happy life together, understand? I’m not losing you. Death will just have to wait.”

I run my fingers through his hair, and now I understand why he was unreadable in that moment, why he stayed away, and why he barely texted.

He was too emotional to see me, to be around me. He told me he retreats, and I just witnessed it.

But now he’s back and still madly in love.

“Tell me your side of the story, Matt.”

He shakes his head.

“It’ll help you, and I need to hear it.”

“You’re sure you want the details?”

“I am.”

He takes a deep breath and plays with my curls. “When I got outside, I called the police, just like you instructed. I told them as much as I could, but I didn’t know more than what you told me. The operator heard the hostess’ scream and sent more cops.

“I stayed on the phone, but I was determined to help you, so I tried to get back into the restaurant, but the back door only opens from the inside.

“I was just pacing out there, trying to figure out a way to get back in without being seen… But then Vic let some people go, and a terrified, little boy was the first to open the door.”

He swallows and shakes his head. “Fuck.”

I brush his hair away from his forehead and stroke his cheek. “Keep going, honey.”

He rubs his thumb across my hip, sending chills down my spine. “I blended in with everyone as they were leaving, and I had to walk past the kitchen. I saw the stack of steak knives, and I grabbed one.

“I don’t even know what I thought I was going to do with it. Obviously, I couldn’t get close enough to actually stab him or cut him. I just saw a weapon and thought it was better than nothing.

“When I got closer, I crouched and took small steps until I could see you. When I realized he was pointing the gun at Jarel, I knew I had to do something.”

The more emotional he becomes, the harder he grips and strokes my hip. There are no tears in his eyes, just the obvious desire to be as close to me as possible.

“I thought if I were lucky, the knife might cut or at least nick him, and the pain would provide enough of a distraction to let us get away. I threw it as hard as I could, but I didn’t actually expect it to lodge in his leg like that.

“And when the gun went off, I froze, waiting to see what would happen next.”

He shrugs. “You know the rest.”

“How was it at the station?” I ask.

“Shitty, but quick.”

I kiss his palm. “I’m sorry, Matt.”

He places his thumb against my bottom lip. “When I was outside, I just kept thinking, ‘If she dies while I’m out here, I’ll never forgive myself.’ I don’t think I’d be able to get over that.”

I close my eyes. “Do you regret that I put you in that position? Regret falling in love with me, Matt?”

His lips brush mine. “Absolutely not. If I could do it all over again, I would. And this time, I’d do it with more faith in you and in us.”

His kiss is tender, and I wrap my arm around him.

“You are all I need, Val. You are my everything. I love you very, very much.”

“I love you too, Matt. So much.”

I open my eyes, and he strokes my cheek. “I know.”

“Angelo found us a house,” I tell him as he stares into my eyes. “Will you come see it?”

“I can’t wait. The sooner I can move in with you, the better. All I want is to come home to you every night and ask you how your day was. All I want is to be with you.”

I debate how to respond. Do I let that statement hang in the air, or do I tell him what I truly want?

After yesterday, can I really be anything less than honest?

“I want more, Matt,” I say between gentle kisses. “I want more with you.”

“Then let’s move in together and talk about it,” he whispers against my neck before covering me with more kisses.

Yes, let’s.

Assuming we can afford it.