Page 41 of Tempting Tessa

“Girl, if you don’t want him, I’ll take him,” Nat says, eyeing the expensive products spread across my coffee table. “A man who sends La Mer and writes dirty notes? Sign me the fuck up.”

Something hot and ugly rears inside me. “He’s not a fucking toy you can borrow, Natalia,” I snarl, the words coming out sharper than I intended.

The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret them. Nat’s eyes widen, her mouth falling open in surprise at my venom.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” I say immediately, shame washing over me. “I didn’t mean⁠—”

“Oh no,” she cuts me off, waving a hand dismissively even as a knowing grin spreads across her face. “You made my point for me. Take the fucking dick arrangement, Tessa.”

“I am not,” I protest, but it sounds weak even to my own ears.

“Bitch, please.” Nat rolls her eyes, reaching for the black package I’d hidden under the cushion. “You just went full psycho-possessive over a man you claim you don’t want.”

She’s right, I did.

Because I may act like I don’t want him, but I sure as hell don’t want anyone else to have him either.

And seriously, what would it hurt to have a situationship with Matteo?

I could use mind-blowing, on the regular sex. It would be like research. The more satiated I am the better I can focus on my business.

Or at least that’s what I keep repeating to myself until I almost start to believe it.

Chapter 13

Matteo

I’m not a patient man by nature, but for Contessa, I’ve cultivated patience like a fucking art form.

Yet again, getting into her apartment was embarrassingly easy. My visit serves two purposes. I’m done with her ignoring me, and she just filled her birth control yesterday so I need to swap that pack out for another Marino sugar pill only special. If she’s not pregnant already, I sure as hell don’t want the protection back in place.

Contessa Gallo will give me a baby, an heir. She’ll carry my heart outside of my body, and if I have my way, she’ll carry the Marino name instead of Gallo before my little bambino comes into this world.

Gathering the packet of real pills, I pocket it and slide the new and improved foil packet into the case before heading back to her front room and settling into one of her chairs.

I choose the armchair facing the door, angling it slightly so it’s the first thing she’ll see when she walks in. Then I settle in to wait, pulling out my phone to check on a few business matters while I’m here.

A key slides into the lock. The door swings open, and there she is. She looks fucking magnificent in a tight champagne-colored dress that hugs every lush curve of her body. Her purple hair is pulled back in a high ponytail, exposing the elegant line of her neck. The neck I marked with my teeth a week ago.

She doesn’t see me at first, too busy kicking off her heels and dropping her keys in the bowl by the door. The door swings shut behind her with a soft click.

“Hello Contessa.”

“What the FUCK, Matteo?” she gasps, fumbling for the light switch. “How did you get in here?”

I enjoy the shock on her face as the light reveals me sitting in her chair like I own the place.

“Your security is shit,” I say calmly, not bothering to stand. “And you’ve been ignoring my messages.”

Her chest heaves with indignation, those magnificent tits straining against the fabric of her dress. “So you break into my apartment?”

“I didn’t break in. I have a key.” A small lie.

“We both know I didn’t give you a key,” she snaps, her eyes darting around the room like she’s looking for an escape route.

“Yet here I am.” I spread my hands, letting my gaze travel slowly down her body, “You look good enough to eat, stellina.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Get out.”