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Matteo’s stare was an incessant wasp buzzing in my face, refusing to allow me escape.
“What?” I bit out, glaring up at him. “Do you need me to show you the door?”
His gaze sparked—icy flames scorching every inch of me. “What plans?” He’d teased and prodded, coerced and demanded, but now his words were the deadly strike of a viper.
I could respond in one of two ways: play my flute and soothe the beast or hiss back with my own venomous attack. I knew which one was wiser. I also knew I felt exposed and vulnerable. There was nothing more vicious than a cornered animal, wounded and afraid—not that I would ever admit my fears to him.
It didn’t take any debate or consideration to know which option I would choose. I went with my instinct, and that instinct screamed to protect. I’d been a flight type of girl before and spent years reprogramming my brain.
Now, my brand of defense was to fight.
“Until I walk down that aisle, my affairs are none of your concern.” The innuendo had been strategic. My voice, a whip snapped in warning.
Matteo wasn’t one to back down easily. If anything, my response only poked the angry bear.
He slowly, menacingly positioned himself so close I could feel the sultry heat emanating from his broad chest. “You go near another fucking man, aisle or no aisle, and I’ll kill him.”
Matteo didn’t do idle threats. He was making that crystal clear.
“What happened to just business?”
“That was before. Before I you sucked the air from my lungs like your life depended on it. Before I’d felt your claws retract and saw a glimpse of what’s hiding beneath the armor. Before you made my cock so hard it hurt to breathe. I don’t know what this is between us, but it is certainly not just business.”