Descent - Mattheo Riddle

Chapter twenty-eight

Enzo's grin widened as he looked between us one last time, clearly enjoying whatever he thought was happening. "You've got half an hour, lovebirds," he added, his voice dripping with faux sweetness, before turning to leave. Mattheo shot him a withering glare, but Enzo merely chuckled as he closed the door behind him.

"Don't listen to him. He's out of his mind," Mattheo grumbled, his tone dark, though there was an underlying edge to his words that made my pulse quicken.

I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "He's not that bad..." I said lightly, though I noticed the way Mattheo tensed at my words. His jealousy was almost palpable, a sharp contrast to the calm he usually exuded.

Without warning, Mattheo stood and offered me his hand. I took it, and as he pulled me to my feet, he didn't let go. Instead, he pulled me closer, his body pressing against mine once more, his breath warm on my skin. My heart raced as I felt the heat of his body, the solid strength of him surrounding me.

His hand slid up my arm, leaving a trail of tingling warmth in its wake, before coming to rest on the nape of my neck. His lips brushed against my ear as he leaned in, his voice a seductive whisper that sent shivers down my spine.

As he pulled me even closer, his lips brushed against my ear, and he whispered, "You know, I don't share well, Lucia." His voice was low, laced with a possessive edge that sent shivers down my spine. "Especially not when it comes to you."

Every nerve in my body was on high alert, the air around us thick with tension. The way he held me, the way he spoke, it was as if he was branding me, claiming me in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying. And for a moment, I wondered if I was truly ready for the firestorm that was Mattheo Riddle.

Mattheo

June 4th, 4:30 a.m., Enzo's Hideout

Having Lucia so close, feeling her body pressed against mine, was a temptation I was finding increasingly difficult to resist. Every time she was near, it became harder to keep my thoughts in check, harder to maintain the careful distance I knew I should. There was something about her, something magnetic that pulled me in, no matter how much I tried to hold back. The more time we spent together, the more I realized I didn't want to hold back any longer. I wanted her—her presence, her touch, her everything. The possessiveness I felt earlier was a sign of that, a signal I could no longer ignore, even tho I had too.

As I murmured those words in her ear, I could see the effect they had on her. Her eyes widened slightly, and her breath caught, a delicate flush spreading across her cheeks. For a moment, she looked as if she was about to say something, but then she hesitated, her gaze flickering between my eyes and my lips.

Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. "You don't have to protect me from everyone, Mattheo. I can take care of myself... but I don't mind having you by my side."

That simple admission sent a surge of warmth through me, and I couldn't resist the urge to lean in just a fraction closer. I could feel her breath on my skin, the tension between us electric, charged with the unspoken connection that seemed to grow stronger with every moment.

But before I could act on it, before I could close the remaining distance between us, I forced myself to pull back, releasing her reluctantly with a smirk that I hoped masked the frustration gnawing at me. "You're right," I said, my voice laced with both admiration and resignation. "You can handle yourself... but I'm still not letting anyone else get too close."

Lucia offered me a small, understanding smile, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us. But then, the reality of our situation snapped back into focus. We had a mission, and there was no room for distractions—no matter how enticing they might be.