I kissed her through it, swallowing her moans, the tiny whimpers spilling from her lips.
“Fuck, Cait… you feel so fucking good.” One more thrust and I jerked inside her, coming hard.
We stayed like that, wrapped up in one another, breathing each other’s air.
“You good?” I asked her.
A faint smile traced her mouth, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
I rolled away, quickly disposing of the condom and then climbed back into bed, pulling her into my arms. “That was incredible.”
“Matt…” She blushed.
“I know you feel it, Cait.”
“It doesn’t change anything.” Her brows furrowed. “I’m… and you’re…”
“What does that even mean? I can protect you. We can protect you. You don’t need to worry about DiMarco.”
“You promised we wouldn’t do this… not now… not after—” She rolled her lips together, refusing to say the words.
Dejection pulsed through me. How the hell could she deny the connection we shared? It was a living, breathing thing, lingering in the space between us. She felt it. I knew she did.
So why the fuck was she still fighting it?
I wanted her—I’d made it more than clear.
Besides DiMarco, what was she running from?
As I pulled her closer and tucked my chin on the top of her head, it was the only question on my mind.
The next time I woke, it was to an empty bed. I let out a frustrated breath and ran a hand over my face. Sunlight poured in through the curtains, a sure sign it was finally morning.
Voices caught my attention beyond the door, and I climbed out of bed and pulled on my jeans and sweater, making a quick stop in the bathroom before I went looking for Caitlin.
I didn’t expect to find her laughing and joking with Arabella as they made pancakes. Leaning against the wall, I watched them, my chest constricting.
“I know you’re watching,” Bella smirked over her shoulder.
“Busted.” I held up my hands, going over to the breakfast counter and sitting on one of the stools. “Something smells good.”
“Caitlin was making breakfast and I offered to help.” She beamed.
That was Bella, she liked to feel helpful.
“So where did you sleep last night, Matt?”
“Bella.” I shook my head.
Caitlin didn’t look at me, just kept flipping the batter and adding the pancakes to the growing stack.
“What?” My sister grinned. “It’s a simple question.”
“Stop,” I mouthed, right as Cait met my eyes.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
“Okay then, I’ll just be… over there, making myself scarce.” Bella slipped out of the kitchen and down the hall.
“You were gone.”
“I didn’t want to wake you.” My brow lifted and she added, “Fine, I didn’t want things to be awkward.”
“Why did you think things would be awkward? I don’t have a single regret about last night. Do you?”
“Matt, I—”
“Morning.” Luis came in through the front door, shaking off his jacket. “It’s kicking up a storm out there. Hmm, something smells good.”
“I made pancakes,” Caitlin smiled at him, and a bolt of jealousy went through me. It was irrational, but I wanted her to look at me the way she looked at him. So comfortable and at ease.
Maybe you should have stayed out here with her.
“Help yourself.” She shoved the stack of pancakes into the middle of the counter and started on the bacon. Soon, the smell lured Nicco, Arianne, and Alessia from their bedrooms and we all crammed around the counter.
“So good,” Arianne complimented her. “Thank you, you didn’t need to cook for us.”
“It’s no big deal.” Caitlin shrugged, remaining over by the cooktop.
“Join us,” Arabella added. “You can’t cook for us and then not eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
I stared at her, willing her to look at me. But she dug in her heels, looking everywhere except in my direction.
Last night had been close to perfect, the way our bodies had moved as one, her soft whimpers and the heat burning between us. The sex was incredible, but it had been so much more than that.
Now, she was acting like it was nothing. Refusing to acknowledge this thing between us. And it pissed me off. I didn’t want to force her hand. I wanted her to come to me willingly.
Deep down, I wanted her to want this.
To want me.
“Did Matteo upset you?” Arabella chuckled. “Because I know he isn’t the easiest person to—”
“Bella!” I snapped, growing tired of her bullshit.
“Jeez, what crawled up your ass and died?” she murmured. “I was only joking.”
I swallowed the mouthful of pancake and helped myself to a glass of juice to wash it down. This wasn’t quite how I imagined the morning after the night before going. Caitlin deserved more. She deserved hearts and flowers and all that stuff women dreamed of.
The silence stretched out before us as everyone glanced between me and Caitlin. It was awkward as fuck, and I breathed a sigh of relief when Arianne suggested they take their second mugs of coffee into the living area.
“Remind me never to bring Arabella out here again,” I muttered to Nicco.
“Did you talk to her?”
“Bella?” I frowned.
His brow quirked and my stomach sank. “No. I tried but she’s shutting me out.”
“So, you still don’t know what she plans to do?”
“She’s scared,” I whispered.
“Maybe so, but she has to make a choice.”
“Is it really a choice?” I stared at him, my best friend. Surely, he had to know what he was asking of me. Of her.
“If she wants to leave, Nic…” I couldn’t lose her, not when I’d only just found her again.
“That’s her choice, Matt. But if she wants to leave, you need to make it clear what that means.”
“I know. Fuck, I know, okay? I just… I need more time.”
“We’re running out of time. E is heading to Providence soon and then he and Lucino will head straight to see DiMarco.”
“One more day. I need one more day.”
“Fine. But you need to talk to her, or I will.”
“Can you take Bella back with you?”
“Of course.” A strained expression washed over him.
“Shit, Nic, I’m sorry,” I said. “I know how hard this must be for you.”
“He’s still alive, there’s still hope.”
But the emptiness in his eyes told me he’d already given up. He believed Uncle Toni was gone, and it was just a case of his body catching up to what his soul already knew.
“They deserve more.” He stared over at the girls, his sharp gaze lingering on Alessia and Arabella.
“Yeah.” I swallowed. Nicco knew how I felt about Arabella growing up in this life. I wanted nothing more than to wrap her in cotton wool and protect her at all costs. But it was easier said than done. In this life, people were used as pawns. Collateral. Leverage. If someone—our enemies—wanted to come at us, they would do it through hurting one of our loved ones. Nicco and Enzo had not experienced that firsthand.