Page 27 of Queen of Vice
“Tell me more about yourself.”
I took another sip of my drink, gathering my thoughts. I’d already given the basics at the restaurant. "There's not much more to tell," I started, unsure of how much to reveal. "I've spent most of my life trying to stay out of trouble and looking after my sister."
Mateo nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "And what about your interests? Your dreams?"
I hesitated, surprised by the genuine curiosity in his voice.
"I used to dream of traveling, seeing the world," I admitted. "But those dreams took a backseat as I got older."
He listened intently; his expression thoughtful. "I understand," he said after a moment. "Things will be different. You're stepping into a new life, with new possibilities. You give me the location and I will make sure we go."
I looked at him, trying to read the intentions behind his words. I couldn't detect an ounce of deceit. It wasn't as if he needed to butter me up with pretty words or empty lies. I could see myself jet-setting with him as easily as I could being his wife--not very clear at all. "What about you, Mateo?”
He leaned back slightly, considering his response. "Power, control, and the need to protect what is mine," he said finally. "Many assume all I have is inherited like I was some fucking trust-fund, spoiled asshole.”
“I don’t.”
“Because you’re sweet,” he acknowledged with a dimpled smile. “I admit, I learned much from my father and the other men who raised me, but I've built my side of this empire from the ground up, and I will do whatever it takes to maintain it."
His honesty was both intimidating and oddly reassuring. This was a man who knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it. As I took another sip of my drink, I realized that understanding him was crucial to navigating this new reality. We continued to talk, the conversation flowing more easily as the hour progressed. Despite the circumstances, there was a strange comfort in the way he listened and responded, a connection forming between us that I hadn’t anticipated.
Or maybe it was just the alcohol talking.
"Isn't this where you're supposed to be showing me what being your wife is like?" I asked, the alcohol giving my voice a sultry tone.
Mateo's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I haven't forgotten. And I've been thinking about where to begin since I saw you in that stunning dress."
My cheeks flushed at his intense gaze, and my heart raced. "That's not what I meant."
"Regardless, let me make good on my promise," he said with a mischievous grin, finishing his drink. The ice clinked as he set down the glass and moved closer to me. As he closed the distance between us, I could feel the heat of his body against mine. He turned my stool and took hold of my face. His touch was amplified by the alcohol swimming through my veins, electric as he traced a line along my jaw, his eyes never leaving mine.
There was a hunger in his gaze that both thrilled and terrified me. I tried to steady my racing heart as he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a tantalizingly soft kiss. Time seemed to stand still as we lingered in that moment.
One hand tangled in my hair, pulling my head back to deepen the kiss. The other slipped under my dress, roaming up my smooth thighs. His movement faltered when he reached the hem of my lacey thong. His grip on my hair tightened and he pulled away from my mouth. “I don’t recall sending underwear with this dress.”
“I couldn’t go without,” I replied softly, the warning in my head distracting me.
“Already doing as you please?” He stared down at me. “I need to get you upstairs.” He stepped back and pulled me to my feet with a gentle but firm grip, his eyes never leaving mine.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Without another word, he led me through his expansive home. The dim lighting made it difficult to see, but I could sense the sheer size of the space as we walked. We climbed a grand staircase and turned down another hallway, continuing until we reached a pair of double doors. He opened them gracefully and revealed a bedroom far larger than mine, an elegant fusion of luxury and intimacy.
It had a distinct, inviting scent—a blend of rich leather, faint tobacco, and a hint of something spicy, like sandalwood. The chandelier above us was set low, casting a soft intimate glow. Dark walls and plush furnishings exuded sophistication. A massive bed was the focal point of the room, surrounded by equally lavish nightstands and lamps that screamed expensively. I heard the door click shut, and a surge of awareness shot through me like a bolt of lightning, cutting through the haze of alcohol in my system.
I was alone with Mateo Escuro.
I was alone with Mateo Escuro in his bedroom.
It wasn't hard to discern why he would've brought me there after the kiss at his bar, even in my partially inebriated state. He brushed against my side as he moved around me. I remained rooted in place, as he walked over to the nightstand nearest the door, watching him remove his watch with care. There was a glint of metal in his hand next. My heart skipped a beat as I realized it was a gun, one that I had failed to notice before. But of course, he carried. He was essentially a king in this world of organized crime.
He placed it on the nightstand next to his watch with practiced ease before turning to face me. “Is this your bedroom,” I blurted out, immediately feeling like a fool for asking the obvious.
Amusement flickered in his eyes; his dark brows raised slightly.
"Yes, it is. You're one of the very few women I've allowed this far into my home."
Right. Because there had obviously been others. Why hadn't he married any of them? His head tilted to the side, a sly grin spreading across his lips as if he could read my every thought. And then it hit me - I had said that last thought out loud.