Page 25 of Tempting Tessa

“You were just leaving,” Matteo says, his voice deceptively soft but laced with a threat that makes even my skin prickle. “Unless you’d like to discuss exactly what you were proposing to Ms. Gallo with her father. I believe Conrad would be very interested in your...business approach.”

Wilson takes a step back, nearly tripping over his own feet. “No, no, that won’t be necessary. I was simply⁠—”

“Goodbye, Thomas.” The dismissal is final and absolute.

Wilson scurries away like a cockroach when the lights come on, and I’m left standing with Matteo’s presence burning into my back.

I spin around, ready to tear into him. “I don’t need you fighting my battles.”

His eyes are cold, predatory. “That wasn’t a battle. That was vermin trying to fuck what’s mine.”

“I am not yours,” I hiss, even as my traitorous pussy clenches at his possessiveness.

Matteo steps closer, backing me against the wall. His large frame effectively shields us from the rest of the room, creating a bubble of tension that’s thick enough to choke on.

“You keep pushing my buttons, stellina.” His voice drops to a whisper as his fingertips brush against my bare arm. “First you ignore my calls. Then you show up here dressed like sin itself, flaunting that body to every man in the room.”

“It’s called networking,” I snap, trying to ignore the goosebumps rising under his touch.

“It’s called asking for trouble.” His eyes darken as they drop to my lips. “And you’re earning yourself more than one punishment.”

My breath hitches. “Fuck you.”

“Oh, you will,” he promises, his hand sliding around to grip the nape of my neck. “But first, I’m going to teach you what happens when you parade yourself around like a prize to be won when we both know you’re already claimed.”

I hate how wet I am already, how my nipples have hardened against the silk of my dress just from his proximity. “I’m not some possession for you to⁠—”

“Shut up,” he growls, his grip tightening just enough to send sparks down my spine. “I’ve watched you all night, working that pretty mouth, batting those eyes. Your little show is over.”

Who the fuck does he think he is? I wrench away from his grip, stumbling slightly as I put distance between us.

“My ‘little show’ is called building my business,” I spit. “Something you’d understand if you weren’t so busy trying to get in my pants.”

I turn on my heel and storm off, pushing through clusters of glittering socialites who part like the Red Sea at the look on my face. My hands are shaking with anger and possibly something else I refuse to acknowledge.

I need air or space. Just really need to be anywhere he’s not.

The hallway leading to the terrace looks empty and promising. I make a beeline for it, my heels clicking aggressively against the marble floor. Just as I reach for the handle of the French doors, a large hand wraps around my wrist.

“Running away, stellina?” His voice is a dangerous rumble behind me.

“Let go of me,” I hiss, trying to yank my arm free.

Instead of releasing me, Matteo spins me around and pushes me backward. My back hits the wall as he crowds into my space, one arm braced beside my head, the other—oh fuck—sliding between my legs.

His hand hovers there, not quite touching my pussy but close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his palm. My breath catches in my throat as he leans in, his lips a mere inch from mine.

“If you wanted to flirt and fuck, I’d have happily obliged you,” he murmurs, his hazel eyes burning into mine.

“You’re not the boss of me, Matteo. You don’t get to dictate who I talk to or how I dress.” I tilt my chin up defiantly, even as my thighs tremble with the effort not to press against his hand. “You’re just my investor, remember? Not my keeper, not my boyfriend, and certainly not my fucking owner.”

“Keep telling yourself that, stellina.”

“You know what?” I push against his chest, creating just enough space to look him dead in the eyes. “If you wanna touch it, then do it or let me the fuc—” The words die in my throat as he suddenly drives two thick fingers straight into my cunt, the intrusion so sudden and deep that my knees nearly buckle. I’m horrified to realize I’m already soaking wet, my pussy gripping his fingers like it’s been waiting for them.

“Fuck!” I gasp, my head falling back against the wall with a thud.

“So fucking wet,” he growls against my neck, curling his fingers inside me while his thumb finds my clit. “All this attitude, all this sass, and your cunt still weeps for me.”