I pant, “I fucking hate you.” The words escape before I can stop them. Our rhythm never falters. I’m so close.
“I fucking hate you too. Now come for me, just like the little slut that you are.” His grip on my throat tightens. I scream as I come, clenching around him. He pulls me down harder onto him, groaning, his cock swelling inside me, his hot cum pulsing into me.
He leans his forehead against mine as our sweat cools in the air. I can still feel him throbbing inside me. The hard mask is the only barrier saving me from this man, saving me from falling under his power.
Stealing myself and locking down any emotions to prepare for the usual Matteo whiplash, I shift off of him. The loss of him inside of me makes me feel empty. I say nothing as I pull my pants back on.
When I look up, Matteo is standing, pants fastened again. There’s something in his gaze that I can't quite place. I’m pleasantly surprised when he reaches for me, cupping the back of my neck, he pulls me into him, wrapping both arms around me. I lean into him and soak in the peace of this moment.
Somehow, he knows me; he knows what I need. The rush, the danger, the safety, and the freedom. All of these conflicting parts of me find balance with him, with all of them.
Slow clapping sounds to my left and I turn my head to look in that direction without breaking physical contact with Matteo. Heat floods my face when I see Akio and Declan standing there. Akio’s mask is on the ground at his feet while he gives us the most dramatic slow applauseI think I’ve ever witnessed, while Declan stands there, mask in hand, pinning me in place with a dirty fucking smirk.
Did they just watch? Embarrassment is at war with a thrill inside me at the thought. I bury my face back into Matteo’s chest, trying to hide the blush covering my skin.
“Come on, Siren. Let’s go back inside. We all need to talk.” When I take Akio’s hand he gives Matteo a pointed look. Intrigue has me willingly going back inside. I’ll have to find a way to contact Quinn later.
Declan hangs back to walk with Matteo while Akio has an arm around my shoulders. Their heated whispers follow behind me, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. I turn my head to Akio so I can read his expression. “What do we need to talk about?”
His features are locked down but his arm tightens around me ever so slightly. “We all need to get on the same page with where to go from here.” He hesitates a moment, throwing what seems to be an involuntary glance over his shoulder. “And we need to make sure we all have the same information moving forward. It’s going to get dangerous if we don’t.”
I nod in response because that makes perfect sense, but I still feel like he’s holding something back. We climb the stairs and enter through the front door; the guys catch up to us once we hit the foyer.
As we step into the living room, a high-pitched voice greets us from the couch. “Welcome home!”
Akio and I come to an abrupt stop, causing Declan and Matteo to stumble into us. After the initial shock wears off, I squeal and dive onto Quinn, who has somehow found her way into the house.
Matteo
I attempt to muster some irritation at Quinn’s breaking into our house, but seeing Fallon so happy, and after that connection in the maze, all I find is contentment. As we all gather in the living room, I mentally prepare for this conversation. Hades sprawls at Fallon's feet after huffing when he couldn't squeeze onto the couch with her.
I’m aware my brothers won’t tolerate our secrecy much longer, especially where it concerns Fallon. They care too much for her, and the truth is, I do too. But fear has a hard grip on my stomach as I think about how, for the first time, both Fallon and I truly let our walls down. If we tell her what we know and she runs, I don't know if any of us will recover.
“How did you even get in here?” Akio sits beside Fallon with Quinn on her other side.
Quinn scoffs a laugh. “Well, you left the fucking door open after chasing my best friend outside. It’s not like it was hard.”
“How do you know about that?” Declan’s eyes narrow on Quinn, but I already know the answer.
“You got past my latest firewalls didn’t you? Son of a bitch.” Akio flops back on the couch, looking defeated.
Quinn shrugs, and Fallon laughs as she leans into him. Her casual contact with him brings a smile to his lips, and he wraps an arm around her. His eyes meet mine and he nods for me to get on with it.
“Why are you here?” My tone is sharp as I pin Quinn with a stare.
“Ease up,” Fallon warns me before settling back against Akio.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and force back my exasperation as I try again with a much softer tone. “Can you please tell us why you’re here?” I meet Fallon's eyes with a look that says,Are you happy now?She gives me a wink, so I guess that was good enough.
“Thethree of you are taking too long,” Quinn says. “She can’t be a captive forever.” Her words echo the argument that we have had for what feels like a thousand times. “Clearly the four of you are working together now, so I have one question for you.” When did this mouthy blonde take control of this conversation? I raise a brow, waiting for her to continue. “Do you care about her?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Fallon tense ever so slightly, her eyes darting between myself and my brothers. I know they catch the shift in her demeanor, as well. Our answer matters to Fallon.
“Yes.”
“Obviously.”
“Yeah.”
