Chapter 23: Chapter Bound By Hatred: Epilogue

It was late April and today was the first warm day of the year. The temperature had finally climbed over 70°F. The ocean was still too cold to swim in it, but I didn’t care.

I wasn’t sure what it was about the beach and the ocean breeze that made me feel free. I stormed down the vast lawn of the Vitiello mansion toward the bay. Matteo was close behind me, and catching up judging from his steps. I sped up even more, not daring to throw a glance over my shoulder to check.

My feet hit the sand. It wasn’t exactly warm; the water would be worse, but I didn’t slow. I stormed right toward the soft waves. The moment my calves hit the water my breath caught in my throat and I stumbled to a stop. This was definitely still too cold to swim. I almost fell forward because of my momentum. Teeth shattering, I was about to back out again when warm hands gripped my waist and lifted me up.

“No! Don’t you dare!” I screamed.

Matteo chuckled and then I was thrown through the air and landed with a splash in the freezing water. My muscles seized for a moment, then I burst through the surface and panted for breath. I scowled at Matteo who was grinning at me. He was up to his stomach in the water and didn’t seem to mind the cold. “You bastard,” I brought out through my shattering teeth.

My entire body started shaking. I wrapped my arms around my chest to make a show out of my freezing. Matteo’s brows drew together and he came toward me, actually looking worried. The moment he was in arm-reach, I attacked. I lunged at him, grasping his shoulders and trying to dunk him under the water.

I should have considered how used Matteo was to physical fights. He used my momentum to catapult me up and swing me over his shoulder. “Hey!” I shouted in protest but he only clapped my butt and started carrying me out of the ocean. “Where are you taking me?”

“We need to warm you up,” he said wickedly.

Excitement jolted through me but I made a show out of kicking my legs and hammering my fists against his back. He carried me to the right toward a corner of the lawn that was shielded from the mansion by bushes. A blanket had been set up. He had planned this!

He lay me down on the blanket and hovered over me. My body was covered in goosebumps, and not just from the cold.

“How about I lick every drop of water off your skin?” Matteo murmured as he leaned down and licked a hot trail up from my bellybutton to my collarbone.

“What if Aria or Luca come down here?” I whispered as he pushed my bikini top down, baring my breasts to the cold. My nipples hardened even more, and then Matteo’s hot mouth closed around one. I cared less and less if someone caught us.

“They won’t,” he whispered against my skin. And that was the last time we spoke in a long time. His lips and hands found every place on my body, banishing the cold and leaving only heat and want. When he finally entered me, our bodies pressed together, it felt like everything was falling into place.

Even without the breeze and the blue sky, I would have felt free. It had taken a long time but I realized I could feel free, be free, even when I was bound to Matteo.

***

In the evening, Matteo and Luca set up a barbecue on the patio. The weather was holding up and we could eat outside. Aria went inside to grab the salad she’d prepared while Matteo headed toward the wine cellar for something to drink. That left me alone with Luca who was manning the barbecue grill. I set the table, pretending he wasn’t there. Things between Luca and me were tense; they’d never been not tense, but they’d gotten worse since I’d accepted his offer months ago.

I took a deep breath. This had to stop. Luca was not only Matteo’s brother, he was also Aria’s husband. We had to make a truce at some point. I put down the last plate, wiped my hands and then strode over to Luca who was turning the marinated lamb chops around on the grate. As if he could sense my attention, he glanced up. It was futile trying to read his expression. I bridged the remaining distance between us. Most of our interactions hadn’t exactly been civil. My go-to-response to him was usually snarkiness, but I was doing my best to keep my expression open and as friendly as possible.

Luca raised one dark eyebrow when I stopped beside him.

Suddenly I felt ridiculously nervous. “I know you don’t like me,” I began. “But I think we should try to get along better for Aria and Matteo.”

I managed not to squirm when he scrutinized me. What was he thinking?

“I didn’t like you because I hated how you treated Matteo.”

“Okay,” I said slowly, not sure where to go from there.

“But I’m starting to change my mind.”

“You do?”

He turned another lamb chop. “I’m starting to think that maybe Matteo was right and you two aren’t the worst match.”

“Thanks?” I said, unsure if it was meant in a positive way. “You are really bad with compliments.”

“I’m not in the habit of handing them out. And don’t tell my brother I said he was right. He’s cocky enough.” His eyes went to something behind me and I turned and spotted Matteo heading in our direction, his arms loaded with several bottles of wine.

“He is,” I agreed with a smile. Luca gave me what could be considered his version of a smile, and some kind of silent understanding passed between us.

Matteo set the wine bottles down on the table before joining us and wrapping his arm around my waist. “What are you two gossiping about?”

“You,” Luca and I said at the same time.

“Is that so?” Matteo lifted one eyebrow.

Aria came back from the kitchen, eyes darting between us. She pressed up against Luca with a confused look. “What’s going on?”

“Your husband and my wife are discussing my many wonderful traits,” Matteo said.

I nudged his side. “You are way too cocky.”

Matteo kissed my ear. “Admit it, you love my cockiness.”

“Done.”

“Your declarations of love still make my knees go weak,” he joked.

I stood on my tiptoes. “Your cockiness isn’t the only thing I love about you.” I let my eyes wander the length of him.

“I need some bloody lamb to cancel out this disgusting display of sweetness,” Luca muttered, but I didn’t miss the tender look he’d given Aria when he thought no one was paying attention.

Matteo swept me into his arms and kissed me. Luca grumbled something else but I didn’t listen. All that mattered was Matteo.