Angel of Tears: A Verona Legacy Short Story Read online

  “It feels so deep.”

  “You good?” I gathered her hair off her shoulder and wrapped it around my hand, clutching the base of her neck. She gave me a reassuring nod and I ground out, “Ride me, Tink.”

  She started moving, sliding up and down my length like she was born to do it. It was so fucking erotic watching her, eyes glazed, and lips parted. Those small little moans that kept falling from her pink kissable lips.

  “Wrap your legs around me.” I needed her closer, tighter.

  I needed more.

  Caitlin made easy work of it. She was so fucking flexible, my mind started going to all the positions I could have her in. But I couldn’t move right now. I couldn’t think about anything but the intense sensations as she gripped and released me, over and over.

  Letting go of her hair, I let my hands go to her hips, giving myself leverage to thrust up as she rolled down, until we were rocking in perfect harmony.

  “Oh my god,” she cried, “I’m almost there.”

  Yeah, me too. I tried to focus, to tell myself to slow down. I wanted to savor this, to imprint this moment to memory. But it felt too good.

  She felt too fucking good.

  “Go faster, baby,” I murmured against her lips, delving my tongue into her mouth.

  Caitlin picked up the pace, and her body began to shudder, her walls rippling around my dick.

  “Oh yeah,” I choked out. “Fuck, baby. I’m gonna... Fuck.”

  Blinding white pleasure crashed over me, Caitlin’s spent body melting against me. I dropped onto the mattress, taking her with me, covering her face with kisses. “That was...”

  “Tell me about it,” she chuckled. “I can’t believe we just did that.”

  “Believe it,” I replied. “And get ready for round two in about fifteen minutes. I just need to catch my breath first.”

  “Again?” Her eyes went wide.

  “Hell yeah,” I glanced over at the window. “The storm hasn’t passed yet.” And I hadn’t had my fill of her yet.

  I wondered if I ever would.

  “Until the storm passes?” Her eyes danced with mischief and the promise of dirty, dirty things.

  Pulling her face down to mine, I grinned. “Until the storm passes."

  Sunlight hit my eyes as I opened them. “Whoa.” I went to pull an arm over my face, but realized there was a very naked, very beautiful girl in my arms.

  Sweet Jesus, last night had been real.

  Somewhere this morning, during my pleasure ridden dreams, I’d felt sure Caitlin was nothing more than a figment of my imagination. Nothing on Earth could feel that good. But there she was, asleep in the curve of my arm, a faint smile tracing her lips. I hoped she was dreaming of me. Remembering how intense it had been between us, how fucking real.

  I’d never felt anything like it. After the first time, our bodies didn’t need any assistance. They came together like two pieces of the same puzzle. Her stamina was impressive, and she’d let me love her long into the early hours of the morning, until my muscles ached, and her eyes were heavy with sleep.

  “Hey, Tink,” I said gently. “I kind of need my arm back.”

  “Huh?” She murmured. “Oh, hey.”

  “Good morning.” I dropped a kiss on her head. “I need to...” My eyes flicked to the door.

  “You need to go?” She bolted up. “Oh God, I’m sorry.”

  “Relax.” I frowned. “I just need to use your bathroom.”

  “Oh.” She blushed. It reminded me of all the ways I’d made her blush last night. I already wanted to it again.

  But we’d agreed one night.

  One perfect storm.

  “I’ll be back,” I said, my voice thick with regret. I already knew I didn’t want this to be over.

  I wanted more.

  More kisses.

  More silly card games.

  Just more of her.

  Grabbing my boxers, I slipped them on, pretending not to notice Caitlin watching me. Her eyes followed as I slipped out of the room and across the hall into her small bathroom. Everything about the apartment was small. But it was neat and tidy and had that feeling of being cared for.

  It suited her.

  After washing up, I found some toothpaste and gave my teeth a quick finger brush. The bedroom was quiet when I peeked my head around the door, and sure enough Caitlin was sleeping soundly.

  With a smile, I tiptoed down the hall to the kitchenette and checked the refrigerator. She’d been right last night—there wasn’t much. But there was bread on the counter and a few eggs left in the carton.

  Caitlin had given me an amazing night last night; the least I could do was make her breakfast in bed.

  Chapter 6

  Caitlin

  The next time I opened my eyes, it was to the smell of coffee and the crackle of fried eggs. Smiling to myself, I sat up and yawned. My body ached, but in the most delicious way.

  Matteo has been insatiable. He was such a skilled lover. It was a surprise given how gentlemanly he’d been up to getting me in the bedroom.

  I smothered a grin. I still couldn’t believe I’d done that. Dared him to kiss me. Asked him for more.

  What had I been thinking?

  I didn’t regret it though. I couldn’t. It had been perfect.

  He was perfect.

  The perfect distraction.

  I pulled on a clean nightshirt and some clean panties and padded into the hallway. Matteo was busy at the stove, humming a tune while he poked and prodded the eggs.

  “What did those eggs ever do to you?” I said around a smile.

  He looked good in my kitchenette, standing there shirtless, cooking for me.

  A little too good.

  “Well, I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed.” He glanced over his shoulder, his muscles rippling. Matteo’s body was a sculpted work of art.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  His eyes flashed to mine, dark and searching. “I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to. Sit and I’ll get your coffee.”

  “Wow, a girl could get used to this.” The words rolled off my lips before I could stop them.

  Thankfully, Matteo ignored my little slip, saving us both the awkward conversation about what happened after he left to return to Verona County, and I went on with my life here in Providence.

  He served me coffee before pushing a plate toward me. “Something tells me you’ll be hungry this morning.” His eyes twinkled.

  “Oh, I see how it is. The storm passes and the real Matteo Bellatoni comes out.” We shared a secretive smile. A smile full of stolen touches and sighs of pleasure. “I hope no one back home missed you last night.”

  “They know I’m safe. I do need to get back soon though.” Regret washed over him.

  “That’s okay. I’m so grateful for... everything.” The words almost got stuck, and Matteo smothered a rumble of laughter.

  “It was some night, huh?”

  “It was.” God, he gave me that smile again, and I felt myself melt.

  I worried it was branded on me.

  That he was branded on me.

  But our time together was finite, and all good things had to come to an end.

  “This is really good,” I said as I tucked into my breakfast.

  “You sound surprised.”

  “Not surprised. More like... impressed.”

  “I can cook. It’s in my blood.”

  “It must be nice, having a big family.”

  “It’s the best.” He smiled, cleaning off his plate. “But having so many cousins and aunts and uncles means there isn’t much privacy. Everyone’s always all up in your business, wanting to know everything.”

  “At least they care.” Pain coiled around my heart.

  “Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

  “No, not at all. You should never feel ashamed for having a family that loves you. You’re incredibly lucky.”

  Something passed over his face, but before I could a
sk what was on his mind, his cell phone vibrated. Matteo quickly read the message, letting out a frustrated breath. “I hate to cut this short, but I need make tracks. Family emergency.”

  “Oh no. I hope everything’s okay?”

  “It will be, but I need to get home.” He stood and sadness snaked through me.

  I didn’t want to say goodbye. I didn’t want to let him go. Because I knew once he walked out the door, all I would have were hazy memories and lingering touches. And eventually, time would take them.

  “Thank you,” I said as we reached the door. “Last night was unexpected in the best kind of way.”

  “Shit, Cait.” His hand brushed my cheek. “I’m not ready to say goodbye.”

  “We both agreed until the storm passes.”

  “Yeah, but it can be more. Maybe it can—”

  “Matteo.” I pressed my hands against his chest, leaning up to kiss the corner of his mouth. “Moments like this, what we shared last night, are rare. Like shooting stars. They burn bright, but don’t last. Yet, if you are ever lucky enough to see one, you can bet you’ll never forget it.”

  He buried his hand in my hair, pulling my face to his. Our lips met in an earth-shattering kiss. It wasn’t just goodbye; it was Matteo’s attempt on branding himself on my soul.

  What he didn’t realize was, he already had.

  “Let me have your number?” he said, touching his head to mine.

  “Matteo...”

  “Please.” The desperation in his voice squeezed at my heart.

  “Do you believe in fate?” I asked him.

  “I like to think there’s a higher purpose, sure.”

  “Well I believe that sometimes people come into your life when you need them most. I needed you last night, Matteo. You prevented something terrible from happening to me and you gave me something so beautiful in return. And I’ll never forget it.”

  I’ll never forget you.

  “So that’s it? You’re going to break my heart?” He gave me a playful smile, but there was something hauntingly sincere about his words.

  “Who knows?” I said over the lump in my throat. “Maybe our paths will meet again one day.”

  “Until the next storm?” A spark of hope glittered in his eyes.

  “Until the next storm.”

  I watched him leave my building and climb into his truck. He glanced up, but I knew he couldn’t see me.

  And it was for the best.

  A guy like Matteo would soon move on. He had options. He had the whole world at his feet. Eventually, he would meet a beautiful girl who could be everything he needed, and he would forget about his night with me.

  But I would never forget.

  I would remember the guy who made me feel worthy.

  The guy who showed me how good it could be.

  I would forever remember how brightly we’d burned.

  Thank you for reading Angel of Tears.

  Matteo and Caitlin’s story continues in Savior of Regrets, available here

  About the Author

  Angsty. Edgy. Addictive Romance

  Author of over forty mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.

  Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.

  L A loves connecting with readers.

  The best places to find her are:

  www.lacotton.com