The Italian Billionaire’s Nubian Queen

Alyssa frowned.

She’d imagined it, hadn’t she?

There was nothing out there. Her stupid dreams were driving her mad. Maybe she did need therapy now.

But there was something there. A figure, tall and imposing, walking through the pelting rain almost as thick as a curtain, towards her. Even through the sheets of water pouring between them, even in the darkness, she thought she could see his eyes.

Panic filled her. This couldn’t be happening. She was not prepared for this to happen. Was it the one who searched for her? Or was it the one who found her? All the panic and fear and uncertainty and longing in her dreams wrapped around her heart and squeezed it as if it wouldn’t let her breathe, wouldn’t leave her alive.

The figure stepped under the eaves in front of her door and it was just a man. A man who could make her half mad with longing. A man she barely knew, but somehow recognized, in her heart.

He didn’t knock. She had her hand on the key. If she turned it, and turned away, he would leave. This would be the third time she’d turned him away in some way. She knew it would be the last.

She couldn’t do it.

She opened the door and stepped back. He walked in, water dripping from his coat onto her clean floor, and he stood there, watching her. His eyes appraised her, as if he wasn’t sure if he’d found what he was looking for. She hadn’t even known that she’d been looking, but she didn’t know what she’d found, either.

But she had opened the door.

A gust of wind blew in rain. Quickly, she closed the door and locked it. She hesitated just a moment before pulling the shades down and turning to him.

“Alyssa.”

The way he said her name made her breathless. The way he looked at her made her tremble. She was afraid. She was afraid of how she felt with him. She’d never felt like that before. Not with anybody. She’d never felt this compelling, irresistible chemistry with anybody.

“You’re soaking wet. I’ll get you a towel.”

He didn’t move. She didn’t move, either.

“Matteo, what are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t get you out of my mind.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I went back home. I went back to Italy, but I could do nothing. I waited a week. I told myself that I would wait forever if I had to, but I couldn’t. I needed to see you.”

“I’m here.”

“I know. I see you.”

“Matteo, I don’t understand what’s going on.”

“Do you need to?” asked Matteo, and Alyssa looked up into those green eyes, and she didn’t care. Everything she’d tried not to feel came roaring back. She wanted him. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted a man before.

Couldn’t she have that? Couldn’t she just take that much and trust that she would be fine afterwards?

She was deluding herself. She knew that, too. But she’d opened the door. She’d made her choice in that moment. She knew that.

“I… I don’t know.”

“I’m here because I couldn’t get you out of my mind. You’re in my head. You’re in my dreams. I needed to see you.”

“Your dreams?”

“My dreams. You’re everywhere, but not with me. I need you with me.”

She took a step towards him, knowing that she might be making a mistake. Knowing that she was risking more than she could imagine.

“I don’t…”

“You don’t what, Alyssa?”

She was so close to him, just a few inches away. One more step and she would be brushing against him. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him, and met his eyes.

“I don’t know why this is happening.”

“Do you need to know?” he asked again, and Alyssa didn’t look away.

“Matteo.”

He sighed, pulled her into his arms, and she melted against him. She was found. She was home. His coat was wet and soaked her clothes through, but it didn’t matter. She was warm in his arms anyway. She rested her head under his chin and held on, wrapping her arms around him, pressing herself to him.

Was it the first time they’d touched since he’d kissed her hand? Since he’d gripped her arms? This time, it felt like everything right.

“Matteo.”

“Look at me.”

She raised her head to look at him, looked into his eyes, and she trusted him. She chose to trust him.

He bent his head towards her. The world seemed to go still in anticipation. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. Her lips parted, just a little. Her eyes closed. When his lips finally touched hers, she sighed against his mouth, moved against him, and opened for him.

Oh, she wanted so much more.