Torn Between Souls

TOUCH

WARNING: 18+, EXPLICIT CONTENT AHEAD

MATTEOPOV

I held Rose in my arms until I knew she was fast asleep, before I untangled myself from her, pulling away, ignoring the burning in my chest the further I moved from her. As I stood off the bed, she whimpered slightly, reaching for me.

I chuckled and stroked her face a few times until she relaxed. I admired the woman splayed across the bed beside me. The silky white fabric clung to her supple curves, enhancing her glowing skin. Her lips sat gently parted, her luscious bottom lip jutting out slightly, waiting to be bitten by me. Her vibrant hair laid around her in a fiery halo, it’s starkness against the white of the sheets was enticing.

She was ferocious. Beautiful. Strong. Powerful.

My mate. My Fated.

When I knew she wouldn’t stir, I stepped back into the study, lightly closing the door behind me. As soon as I did I considered turning around, climbing back under the covers with her, and letting myself sleep for the first time in several months. I remembered when I explained my sleeping habits to my little princess, and I chuckled.

Rose had her hair knotted into a poofy knot at the base of her skull, and she wore an apron over her leggings and knit sweater, as she prepared a meal for me after one of my impromptu stops at her apartment, something she was determined to do, though I told her it was unnecessary.

I watched her as she worked, and soon, she looked over her shoulder at me, her heavy lashes deliciously surrounding her hazel eyes, “So...do you sleep?”

I chuckled, and shrugged lightly, leaning forward on my elbows as I watched the blush spread over her cheeks and across her chest, my eyes flickering down for a moment to take her in.

“I do...rarely. Every few months, or after several weeks if I’m able to relax enough, I will sleep. Though when I do it’s often an intense slumber. Hard to wake from,” I said.

She looked at me again and made a funny face, before stirring whatever was in the pot on the stove, “That's...weird.”

I smiled and in an instant, I was behind her, my hands on her hips lighter than a feather.

“It is a bit weird, I presume,” I said softly in her ear, hearing her breath catch in her throat as she clutched her apartment countertop.

I moved away again, enjoying the smell of her that hung in my nostrils as she finished our meal.

I smiled to myself. She was an exquisite creature. Honestly, I was amazed I had been able to resist this pull to her for so long. I needed her. She was the very air in my lungs. The only thing that made me feel alive.

I had planned on telling her about being my Fated, but I did not expect Elisa to bring it up in such a way. I was proud of my flower, who held her own in the face of my mother. She had a habit of that. It was almost as if she was unaffected by the hierarchy of the races. It baffled and dazzled me, however, it brought her closer to danger.

I was ready to tell her. I was ready to begin marking her. She already wore so much of my scent. I stared at the doors I had shut in between us, and I couldn’t hold myself back. I wanted her.

I stepped back into the room silently, stripping off my shirt before I laid next to her. Instantly a small sigh escaped her, and she nuzzled closer to me, her head tucked into the nock of my armpit, her lanky body draped half across me. I closed my eyes, deeply inhaling, as a small growl escaped me. One of pleasure.

“Mmm...Matteo…” she murmured.

I trailed a finger down her face, her heavy lids unable to open even as she stirred slightly. My finger brushed over her lips, and she opened her hazel eyes sleepily, as her cheeks deeply flushed. Her eyes were hooded, and I knew she was only half awake. I wanted her so badly, but I wouldn’t until she understood. However, I was not against bringing her the pleasure I could give her in this state.

“Shhhhh, mio fiore, just relax,” I whispered.

Her eyes closed softly, but her lips parted just slightly more, as a soft sigh left her.

I let my fingers trail further, teasing the silky strap of her camisole resting on her shoulder. Her breath hitched softly as my finger went lower, tracing over the soft mound of her breast before a tired gasp shook her as I brushed her n****e, and she shivered in my arms.

I used my arm holding her to bring her closer to me, as I felt my own arousal growing. I was hungry for her, but seeing her soft, pale, flushed body in my arms only made me yearn for her own pleasure.

Her eyes were hooded, but just open enough to meet mine, as I gently kissed her. She sighed into my mouth, and my hand continued lower, tracing patterns over her stomach, teasing the hemline of her top, and then slowly sinking into the waistband of her silk pants. I grinned to myself slightly.

“No panties my love,” I said in a barely audible whisper and I felt her flush.

Her heavy eyes looked at me as if in a trance and she chewed her bottom lip, gazing at me in the darkness. My fingers brushed over her hot s*x, and she moaned, clutching the sheets on top of her.

“What do you want, Principessa?” I whispered, kissing her jaw softly.

She whimpered softly, as I brushed over her again, enjoying the moan that followed.

Her voice was heavy with lust, and exhaustion, “Please…”

“I will give you the world if you ask, mio fiore,” I murmur, “But you must ask.”

She shivered again, and I slowly parted her soft folds with my fingertip, brushing over her most sensitive bundle of nerves.

“Please,” she gasped, “Touch me.”

I almost let a load go myself just hearing her ask for my touch, but I restrained myself, instead just growling softly before I began to rub her sensitive clit.

The tower was filled with her soft moans, and heavy breathing as I brought her closer and closer to the edge. When I knew my sweet flower was nearing the height of her arousal, without warning I plunged a finger into her slick, tight hole, and she almost screamed out of pleasure and surprise.

“Matteo…” she begged, her glazed eyes locking onto mine.

My own breath caught, and I pressed my mouth to hers, drinking in her moans as I plunged my digits in and out of her, until she let out a loud guttural sound, and I growled as she lost herself, releasing her warmth all over my palm.

I held her tightly, my hands not leaving her twitching s*x until her moans dissipated, and her panting slowed. I removed my hand, and brought my fingers to my lips, tasting her. She smiled softly in the darkness, the moonlight picking up pieces of her hair, a deep flush across her face.

“Are you…” she whispered, her eyes flitting carefully to my hand.

I chuckled, before I wiped the remainder of her release on the sheets, wrapping a second arm around her, “I was tasting you, mio fiore, and it is a taste I will always crave.”

I heard her heart skip a beat, and she was silent, curled into my arms. She was silent, and if not for the sound of her breathing, I would’ve thought she was asleep. We laid like that for several minutes, before I heard her speak again.

“You call me...your flower, princess…” she trailed.

“My love,” I finish for her.

She squirms slightly, “Do you love me?”

I knew she was recalling the early evening's conversation, where I asked her the same, and I brushed my lips against her forehead.

“I love you, Rose,” I say quietly, “It is an incredibly dangerous thing to do so, but I love you. Mind, heart, body, and soul.”

She doesn’t respond for a long time, and I hear her breathing slow, falling asleep. Just before her slumber takes her away from me, she speaks.

“I love you.”

I feel a deep, hard piece of myself crumble. Some of the final walls between her and I crashing down. We’ve opened a new door. A forbidden one. I will protect our love, her love, her, with everything.

From everyone.

I fall into a long-awaited, peaceful sleep. The creature that has warmed my stone heart slumbering in my arms.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

When I awaken, the light coming through the tall windows tells me it is late morning. The bed is empty of my woman, my mate, and I frown, standing up in an instant. Her smell is everywhere, so she can’t be far, but it smells stale.

My stomach sinks, and I check the bathroom, the study, and am downstairs in a matter of moments, just in time to hear her scream.