<-I-L-A-<<< I heard a phone ringing but I continued to sleep. I felt the weight on the bed shift, telling me that Matteo was getting up to get it. I opened my eyes slightly to check if my assumption was right.

Matteo was sitting upright on the bed. His naked, fit upper body was revealed as the blanket fell to cover his lap and legs. He answered the buzzing phone and lifted the cellar device to his ear.

Guessing from the lighting in the room, it was early in the morning. I closed my eyes, wishing that night would last a little longer. I was tired and didn't get to sleep much last night. Even certain parts of my body were completely sore.

"Ciao, papà," Matteo said to his dad that was on the other end of the line. He went silent, listening to what his father had to say. Matteo rubbed his forehead as he began to talk in his mother tongue, stressed. "Alright. Bye."

I asked, "Is everything okay?"

"I have to go to Italy to meet my father."

"Right now?"

"Yeah, I should leave right now since its a 10-hour flight to get there."

Matteo got off the bed and slipped on his boxers that were on the floor.

"I've never been to Italy," I stated.

"Nor will you today," He replied, catching my drift. "He wants me to go over there for some dangerous business. Besides, you are starting a new training session."

Matteo gathered his clothes off the ground and neatly tossed them on the bed, organizing the clothes to make it easier for him to dress. Holding the blanket to my chest, I covered my naked self.

"With who?" I asked. If Giovanni was going to be a replacement for Matteo, I wasn't going to even bother attending.

"Marcella, I don't think she's busy."

"Okay," I said as I swooped for his suit coat, "I'm going to go take a shower." I secured the jacket on me, making sure I wasn't so exposed and walked to my bathroom.

In the middle of my shower, I heard my bedroom door open and close. Matteo must have left to go to his room to get ready.

"Holy shit," I said to myself as I stopped shampooing my hair.

He was gone and now it was time for me to freak out.

"Fuck me," I cursed.

He did fuck me. Nothing close to making love, it was fast paced, rough even. Yet, the act was hot and heavy.

I put my hands to my face as I cringed at myself, accidentally sending the shampoo into my eyes. Quickly to get rid of the burning sensation, I washed off the suds off.

I had put out on the first date. Where were my morals? I wasn't even drunk to make the mistake. Sure Matteo said that he didn't plan on making us a one-time thing, but he didn't say anything about a relationship. He could have meant that he wanted the friends with benefits thing for all I know.

I pulled away from the shower. If I continue to flip out in there, the whole world will go through a drought. Fast, I changed into leggings and a loose extra large white tee shirt. I grabbed my phone from my purse and exited my room in my running shoes.

Down the stairs, I went to the dining room. The room was empty for people weren't usually awake at 5 in the morning. However, all the cold foods were already prepared. I grabbed four finger sandwiches and stuffed them into my mouth, in a complete ladylike manner of course. It was delicious, just like all the other meals I had from the kitchen. The cooks never fail to satisfy my taste buds.

I grabbed a few more sandwiches and headed down the hall to the elevator. As I got in, I looked at my reflection. My eyes widen as I touched my neck. It was all covered with hickeys.

Before the elevator could reach the fourth floor, I clicked the button for the 3rd floor to stop by my room to cover the purple, blue, and red skin discoloration.

>>>-M-A-T-T-E-O-> The dangerous errand was more fatal than you'd think. My father called me to get my younger sister back to New York. Apparently, Serena was bothering him in Italy. She loved to make our dad mad. Serena claims that is how she shows her affection toward him. It doesn't take much to get our father all boiled up. He had quite the temper.

I packed items into my suitcase. I tossed in clothes, shoes, cologne, sunglasses, watches, and weapons. Knowing that Serena was one stubborn sister, I was ready for three nights and four days.

Before leaving my room, I checked my appearance in the mirror. I was dressed in sweats for the long flight. My hair was slightly damp from the shower. I didn't bother to do my hair since it'll get ruin if I ended up sleeping. Ruffling my it to make myself at least look presentable, I walked out with my suitcase rolling beside me.

I stood in front of the closed elevator doors, waiting. When the elevator arrived, the open doors revealed Ila. A smile surfaced to my lips.

"You're done already?" Ila asked.

I nodded. "Yup, all packed."

She stayed in the elevator as I entered. As Ila pushed the button to bring us to the ground floor, I noticed that she had put makeup on. The even skin complexion at her neck and the foundation colored stain on the collar of her white shirt told me she was purposely hiding my love marks.

I grabbed her chin and lifted her head up.

"Where are my hickeys?" I asked, making sure that my hot breath fanned her neck. I smirked when I felt her shiver. "Could have sworn I gave you some. Maybe I should try again."

I leaned forward to put my lips on her skin but it was bad timing. We arrived on the ground floor and the metal doors slid open.

<-I-L-A-<<< We stepped out of the moving box. I was glad that no one had caught us, it would have been embarrassing to be caught in an act of intimacy.

"Why are you hiding the hickeys?" Matteo asked. He was still looking at my neck as we walked down the hall. Matteo licked his thumb and expanded his arm, trying to get my neck.

"I don't like how it looks," I answered, swatting his hand.

"I think it looks fine," Matteo said, nonchalantly. He dropped his arm back to his side.

"Do you have your passport?" I asked in order to change the topic. At the same time, I was trying to shake off my arousal.

"I don't need one," Matteo said, dropping the topic just like I hoped for.

"Huh?" I asked.

"It's a private jet."

I rolled my eyes. I assumed it would be. "Wouldn't you still need it to get into Italy?"

"They'll recognize me," Matteo said. He smirked cockily, morphing his face and becoming sexier.

"Do want to get something to eat?" I asked as we passed the kitchen and dining room.

Matteo shook his head. "I'll eat on the flight."

I walked Matteo to the front door. In the living room, Aiden, Marcella, Leo, and Giovanni were talking in the seating area. They stopped conversing and got up to approach us.

"What is it about this time?" Leo asked.

"I need a ride," Matteo told Leo.

"I knew I should have brought my keys." He said as he patted himself down, checking his pockets. "I'll be right back."

Right as Leo walked away, his back turned toward us, Marcella, Gio, and Aiden usual expression turned smug.

"So... Matteo... Did you wrap your foil before you checked her oil?" Giovanni said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Did you dress him up before you mess her up?" Aiden asked, joining in on the taunting.

"Did you cover your stone before you bone?"

"Did you bag the mole and then do her hole?"

The two went back and forth. I covered my face with my hand, not from embarrassment but because I was stifling my laughter.

"Did you leash your pet before you launch your jet?"

"Did you armor the tank before you enter the flank?"

Matteo just stood, arms crossed as he leaned over the handle of the suitcase. "Are you guys done yet?"

"Answer the question. Did you cover your pipe, you dumb ass wipe?" Marcella chimed in, using a different tone than Gio's and Aiden's. Her seriousness ruined the joking mood.

"We plead the fifth," I said, smiling at Matteo.

He winked back at me and I giggled.

Leo came back with his keys and everyone dropped the topic.

"What does your dad need you for?" Leo asked Matteo.

"He needs me to deal with Serena." He sighed.

"Geez," Marcella commented as she patted Matteo's back in pity.

"Good luck, soldier," Giovanni said, saluting him.

Matteo copied the gesture. "Thanks, man. I'll need it."

I didn't know much about Serena. Giovanni and Aiden said that she was hot and had a banging body, typical them. Matteo described his younger sister to be rebellious and a pain in the ass. I wasn't going to take his word for it until I meet her since Marcella told me that she was great girl that was easy to get along with.

"Let's go." Leo opened the door and walked out.

I waved to say goodbye, but Matteo hesitated to follow Leo. As if he wasn't ready.

"Did you forget something?" I asked.

Matteo shook his head and I realized that he was closer than I remembered. He licked at his pink lips as he leaned in. Then he stopped, his face inches away from mine. His eyes moved from my lips to the crowd that was watching us.

Marcella rolled her eyes. "Just kiss already. We already know you guys did the dirty deed."

Matteo laughed. His eyes were set on my mouth once again and he leaned in, all the way this time. His hands were at my neck as we locked lips. Just like the first time, my knees nearly gave out.

He pulled away, only to give me one last peck on the cheek. "Bye."

"Bye," I said, breathless.

I watch Matteo get into the car with Leo. After they drove off, I closed the door and turned to Marcella, Aiden, and Giovanni.

"Who punched you?" Aiden asked, concerned and shocked.

"Huh? Where?" I touched my arms, wondering if Aiden was talking about the bruises he gave me from the time we sparred.

He pointed at my neck.

My hand flew up to my neck to cover the hickey. Matteo must have rubbed off the foundation and concealer during our kiss goodbye with his hand. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I awkwardly chuckled.

Marcella shook her head. "Its a hickey, you idiot."

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