UNHOLY DESIRE

MATTEO POV

“Advantage?” I scoffed, downing my third drink for the night. Deirdre had made it seem like I had assaulted her.

She had made me look like a fucking pervert. While I’d admit she was in shock, she was of legal age, and I wasn’t much older than her. We first met when I was twenty-seven and she was eighteen. While a nine-year gap wasn’t common, it did happen in relationships.

Moreover, Deirdre had approached me herself. She had seduced me. I resisted as much as I could until I couldn’t anymore, yet she was painting me as the villain. I felt somewhat disgusted with myself. I didn’t understand why, but the way she had expressed it with so much hatred as if I had taken her against her will, was deeply unsettling.

Maybe she didn’t mean what she had said, but it was Deirdre, and I saw the hatred in her eyes.

“She’s attractive,” I heard whispers swirling around me.

“Damn, I’d have those legs around me, even if just for tonight,” another voice chimed in.

I didn’t want to look, but judging by the attention, whoever was approaching had everyone captivated.

My eyes nearly bulged out when they locked onto Deirdre. She was wearing a provocative fishnet miniskirt that left little to the imagination. The top button of her red blouse was undone, revealing creamy flesh. Her face was heavily made up, making her almost unrecognizable, and her lips were painted a vivid red.

“Deirdre!” I growled, lowly stalking towards her, momentarily forgetting my anger for assuming the worst about me.

“What are you doing?” I seethed, gripping her hand tightly, pulling her towards the room. When we reached it, I locked the door, released her hand, and put some distance between us.

“You wanted a different side of me, Matteo, and here I am,” she said.

“Damn it, Deirdre, I’m trying my best not to lose my mind after the accusation you made earlier and now this. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

“Perhaps,” Deirdre said, shrugging.

“Did you despise me that much?” I asked, furrowing my brow.

Deirdre sat cross-legged on the room’s solitary chair, her gaze fixed on me. “Despising you is an understatement, Matteo. I don’t know how many times I have to say this, but if you hadn’t coerced me into coming here, I’d prefer being thrown into the ocean.”

“Deirdre,” I murmured. “I don’t know what you’ve thought of me. But I’ve always been open, truthful, and loyal to you.”

“You suffocate me with everything,” she said. “You’ve made my life miserable, and you haven’t even let me breathe fresh air without all your henchmen chasing after me!”

“It’s for your own good,” I grunted.

“Perhaps you tell me about the dangers, and I’ll face them myself,” she said.

“I’m trying to protect you, Deirdre. Regardless of how you perceive my methods, it’s still protection. And if you don’t want it, you can leave, but I’ll never let you involve Kendall in your risky lifestyle,” I said.

“Risky lifestyle?” Deirdre snapped. “I’m anything but that, and you know it.”

“I don’t know much about you,” I admitted. It was the truth. I only knew a bit about her, and I didn’t have much interest in knowing more after discovering what I needed.

“I should be saying that. Who in their right mind leaves late at night and returns to their family at midnight? If it isn’t something illegal, I don’t know what it is,” she said.

“Assume the worst about me, Deirdre. I don’t care. But that’s not even the point. It’s about you appearing like some whore I saw a few minutes ago,” I pointed out.

I saw her eyes widen. I knew it wasn’t Deirdre who had tried to provoke those men out there. It had never been her style to wear something so extravagant. I assumed she wanted to provoke me, and she did a good job of it.

“You left me no choice, Matteo,” she said. “I checked what I’d packed and found some of my things had been replaced.”

“Then wear my clothes,” I suggested. “You should have mentioned it sooner.”

Deirdre sighed. “I can’t go out wearing your clothes.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” I assured her. “They suit you quite well.” Even though they were a bit larger, they would at least shield her curves from the leering eyes.

“They’re too big; I can’t wear them outside,” she insisted.

“I told you not to worry about that. You don’t even need to go out. I just want you here so I can see your face without worrying you’ve vanished again,” I explained. Then, firmly, I added, “You should change out of that outrageous outfit unless you want me to get my hands bloody.”

Without waiting for her reply, I left the room and returned to the bar. All eyes were on me, but I paid them no mind. They were fortunate that I wasn’t in the right state of mind; otherwise, I might have dealt out harsher consequences.

Still, I doubted I would ever cross that line. I had a code of conduct and a territory where I refrained from conducting my operations. I had only broken it once, after the altercation with Jean.

I felt a tap on my back and turned to see a man of average height with a receding hairline, thick brows, and deep-set blue eyes.

“Hey mate,” he greeted, the scent of alcohol strong on his breath.

“Hey,” I responded.

“The lady you brought with you, who is she?” he inquired.

“That depends on who’s asking,” I replied, eyeing him and his assumed companions.

“It’s me,” he declared, pointing to himself.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

I retrieved the small gun I had discreetly kept in my pocket placing it on the counter. “Step back,” I grunted.

“It was just a harmless question,” he protested, arms raised.

I ignored him. I didn’t want to engage anyone in conversation. I partially blamed Deirdre for wearing such an outfit and drawing the attention of lustful men, but I also acknowledged that part of the blame was mine.