Chapter 7
The kiss was pure domination, his hot breath mingling with hers in the heated space between them.
Matteo was a masterful kisser, his expertise making Avery's entire body go involuntarily weak.
Her heart raced wildly in her chest.
"Let go of me!"
Avery tried to shove Matteo away, but he caught her wrists in one fluid motion, effortlessly pinning them above her head.
The position forced her chin up, giving him better access as he deepened the kiss.
"I wouldn't struggle if I were you, sweetheart," Matteo's voice dropped to that dangerously sexy register that made her stomach flip.
"Even I can't predict what might happen next."
Images from that night flashed through Avery's mind.
His eyes had been just like this—dark with desire, almost predatory.
By the end of that night, every inch of her skin had been marked by his lips. Her body had carried his scent everywhere, and he had taken her with relentless hunger.
But now? Now he looked even more dangerous.
"Is that a threat?" Avery's laugh was ice-cold.
She could hardly believe her luck—the random gigolo she'd selected for a one-night stand had turned into the complication from hell.
But she hadn't spent twenty-eight years on this earth being intimidated by anyone.
In one swift movement, Avery bit down—hard.
The metallic taste of blood spread between them.
Matteo frowned deeply as he pulled away from her lips.
The pad of his finger traced where Avery had bitten him, his lips now visibly stained crimson with blood.
But Matteo let out a panting laugh.
"Good. Finally, the real you comes out to play."
His smile was equal parts wild and dangerous.
"Ms. Vaughn, it seems you remember that night after all."
In Matteo's eyes, this was the real Avery—the woman who had straddled him that night, who had seduced him with confident purpose.
She moved with decisive precision and fearless confidence.
The interesting part? According to his investigation, Avery always played the role of a demure lady in public.
Clearly, she was hiding much more than she let on.
"So what if I do? It was just a mistake."
Avery's eyes turned glacial.
She'd been cautious about Matteo's identity, trying to avoid unnecessary trouble.
But now that he'd seen through her façade, why bother with the niceties?
In a flash, Avery drove her knee toward Matteo's midsection.
They were standing too close for him to dodge completely.
Matteo released her wrists, reaching to capture her ankle instead.
"Fascinating," he murmured.
It had been ages since someone had awakened his fighting instincts like this.
The thrill of meeting a worthy opponent—how long had it been?
Matteo's eyes darkened to burgundy.
"Let's play this game, then."
He sensed something familiar in her—a kindred spirit.
But before he could finish his sentence, Avery's triumphant smile spread across her face.
"Sorry, I don't have time for these kinds of games."
Before Matteo could make his move, Avery had already retracted her leg.
With a twist of her body, she slipped from his embrace.
Avery moved with the practiced grace of someone professionally trained.
But even as she retreated, danger prickled along her spine.
No matter how quickly she'd moved, Matteo had somehow materialized in front of her.
"Those moves aren't exactly civilian-grade, Ms. Vaughn."
Matteo's form blurred as he came at her.
"And those calluses on your hands—they look suspiciously like what happens when someone handles firearms regularly."
As he spoke, he secured her wrist in his grip.
Avery's entire body tensed.
Matteo's palm was rough, broad, and burning hot against her skin.
One twist and her wrist would snap.
But the tension of the moment—dangerous and electric—didn't frighten her. Instead, a rush of excitement flooded her veins.
In three years of marriage, she hadn't touched a weapon.
She'd thrown herself into family and business, never once getting into a physical confrontation.
This was her first fight since her divorce, and something primal in her was savoring the danger.
"You're one to talk, Mr. Ferrari," she countered, driving her elbow backward.
"I heard you were shipped off to Italy as a child, forced by your family to study finance. Your combat skills seem a bit excessive for a finance tycoon."
Before meeting Matteo, few people had ever made her feel threatened.
And somehow, she knew with absolute certainty that Matteo was harboring secrets of his own.
In one swift motion, Avery spun around and pressed the steel pen from the desk against his heart.
"We need to talk."
Her mask was completely gone now—no more pretense between them.
"Mr. Ferrari, I apologize for that night. If you want revenge, I'll let you have me once more, and then we're even. No debts between us."
Her gaze was detached and cold.
Like she was negotiating with a stranger.
The sharp point of the pen gleamed silver under the lights.
One powerful thrust into Matteo's heart would kill him.
Yet Matteo made no attempt to move away.
"That's not the kind of revenge I'm interested in."
Matteo tilted his head, his eyes locked on hers.
"If I die here, you'll make an enemy of the entire Ferrari family. You wouldn't risk that—not when you're still investigating your mother's death."
Their gazes remained locked as he delivered each cutting statement.
"After all, it's been what—fifteen years since your father married your stepmother and they seized your mother's assets to form the Vaughn Corporation?"
"And in recent years, someone has been quietly acquiring Vaughn Corporation stock."
"If I had to guess, that someone would be you, Ms. Vaughn."
Hearing those words, Avery felt a chill run down her spine.
She couldn't imagine what resources he'd leveraged to uncover so much.
"What do you want?" Avery asked flatly, ignoring his deductions.
Matteo's voice was deceptively casual: "I want you by my side."
Whatever he wanted, he always got—by any means necessary.
Especially since, for years, Avery had been the only woman to provoke any physical response from him.
"In your dreams," Avery scoffed.
The man standing before her was clearly unhinged.
But Matteo didn't seem offended.
"Let's make a bet, then."
He lazily opened his palm.
There in his hand lay the necklace Avery had meant to take.
"If you win, it's truly yours, and we'll pretend that night never happened."
"If I win, you stay with me forever—the price for challenging me."
Avery froze.
She suddenly realized that during their scuffle, Matteo had somehow pickpocketed the necklace!
"You're truly despicable," Avery fumed.
She'd been out of practice for too long—she hadn't even noticed Matteo's sleight of hand!
But Matteo just smiled.
"Thank you for the compliment."
His index finger toyed with her necklace, spinning it around his hand.
"It clearly means a great deal to you."
Avery drew a deep breath.
"Fine. What's your bet?"
"Stay with me for six months."
His eyes bore into hers with hypnotic intensity.
"If I can make you fall for me, you'll stay with me forever."
Before that night, he'd never responded to any woman.
Yet something about Avery had awakened his desire.
He needed to know what made her different.
Avery had never heard such an absurd proposition.
Make her fall for him?
With a time limit, no less.
Perhaps the rumors were true—Matteo Ferrari really was insane.