LONELY HEARTS (COMPLETE)

Chapter 8: The Early Morning

As Matteo drove, Gemma looked up at his profile. The headlights of passing cars highlighted the depths of his scars. Those marks definitely told stories even if he didn't want to. Her eyes waned down his neck, she followed the lines of his tattoo until they disappeared under his collar.

Something happened on that ferris wheel. She no longer saw a two dimensional character within him, she saw a man who had fears. He didn't have to say anything, she just knew. She's seen the loneliness in his eyes before, in her own.

After a few more minutes of silence, Matteo finally spoke. "Did you want to come over? I have scotch", he asked. There was a slight tinge of almost nervousness in his voice. Gemma chuckled at the idea that a man of his status could be so anxious.

"Yeah, sure, that sounds good to me", she smiled as she tried to hide the giddiness in her voice.

Mateo didn't understand why he was so nervous. He's talked to dozens of women, yet he felt like he was being an idiot right now. "C'mon, get it together", he thought to himself,"How are you gonna let a broad do this to you"?

He squeezed the steering wheel and wondered what had gotten into him. He's never let anyone see where he lived. Girls were brought too and from, blindfolded every. single. time. Matteo swore it was for safety purposes, but it was mainly to keep them out of his house and his life. But it was so easy for him to ask Gemma to come over. He didn't mind her having access to his home or knowing little things about his day to day. That realization made the most feared man in the city become very scared.

Matteo opened Gemma's door revealing the most pristine high rise. A giant marble fountain took up the front lawn, paling in comparison to the sleek, white building behind it. Looking around, Gemma knew where she was and realized it wasn't too far from her own apartment. Matteo led her up the staircase and to the mahogany doors. They were both greeted with subtle nods by the guards as they shut the door behind them. She looked over and remembered the living room with its velvet couch and fireplace, except this time it was on.

The fire danced and crackled as Gemma ran her fingers on the sheepskin rug beneath her. Matteo brings over two glasses and hands one to her. He pours scotch into each glass and sets the bottle down between them.

"Glenlivet 25 Year!?", Gemma asks, noticing the bottle. "You took my recommendation", she joked.

"Well, it definitely sounded more like an order", Matteo laughed. He studied Gemma's face more intently now, watching every move she made. He noticed how she covered her mouth when something was funny and how she furrowed her brows slightly when she tried to remember something. Her laugh was infectious and her mood was easy going. These traits made it hard for Matteo to keep his walls up.

"My parents died too", he blurts out. Surprised, Gemma listened carefully. Matteo went into every detail of his parents' passing and assuming his role. He started to mention his job until he abruptly stopped.

"Is something wrong?", Gemma asked. She knew what it was, he was scared to mention anything about his profession. She lightly placed her hand on his and looked him in the eyes.

"We all play the game of survival. Sometimes we make our own decisions and sometimes our paths are chosen for us by fate. Foster homes were my fate and I choose to survive. You assuming this role was inevitably your fate and you choose to survive. That's what life is, just one big, lonely game of survival", Gemma explained.

"Why does it have to be lonely for you?", he asked.

"I guess it just makes survival easier", she replies,"Surviving seems difficult when you care too much. Being alone makes it easier to make decisions for yourself. It's too hard to hold onto something, it's better to just free yourself or that burden, you know".

Matteo knew all too well of what she was saying. He's been playing the survival game for too long. She was right, it was easier to just be selfish and not give a damn. It was easier to be alone, but nothing had come easy for the both of them so why would they settle for easy now?

The electricity between them was there and they could feel it. It's as if it's been there the whole time and both had been ignoring it. Gemma looked up for the first time in what seemed like forever, acknowledging the tension between them. The flames flickered in his eyes and she noticed they were filled with hunger.

Matteo could no longer pretend he didn't want her. He had never given a damn once in his life and he wasn't about to start now. He reached his hand out, tucking a piece of hair behind Gemma's ear. He trailed his hand down the side of her face, gently tracing the corner of her lips with his thumb. They were soft and pink and he knew that the decision he was going to make next was either going to heal him or ruin him. He knew once he broke down this wall that it couldn't be rebuilt.

He pulled Gemma's face into his, their lips exploring each other's. She bit his bottom lip only increasing his want and desire. They kissed almost in a hurry as the fire danced behind them. It was like they were making up for lost time. Matteo held the back of her neck with one hand while he ran his fingers through her hair with the other. Gemma ran her hands along his broad shoulders, feeling every indent of muscle.

She fumbles with his shirt buttons revealing his perfectly chiseled torso. Although is body is completely covered in tattoos, Gemma notices the multiple scars across them. Matteo gingerly laces his fingers around her dress straps and slowly pulls them down. As the dress falls to her hips, he takes a minute to soak up what was before him. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Matteo watched her chest rise and fall with every heavy breath that she took as sweat dripped down her tan skin.

Matteo's hands explored every inch of her, biting her neck and shoulders. Gemma let out a moan as he pressed his hardness against her, her hands tangled in his hair. As he trailed down her body, he saw what looked like cigarette burns and old cuts along her stomach. Gemma tried to redirect his attention out of embarrassment, but it didn't change his view of her. Understanding that these scars told stories as well, she was more beautiful to him than ever before. He licked and kissed every single scar causing Gemma to cry out in pleasure.

Gemma ran her hands down his back until they were met with the cold metal of his gun. She pulled it out of his waistband and placed it carefully aside. She quickly unbuckled his belt and slung it to the floor. She tore off his pants revealing his hardness growing in want. Matteo gently laid her down on the sheepskin rug and fell into her, their bodies now one. He was going deeper and faster now, trying to match the speed of his desires. Gemma clawed at his back and he welcomed the pain. The air smelled like alcohol, sex, and sweat. Their two bodies tangled together for what seemed like an eternal bliss until they both gave into their release in unison. Panting, Matteo rolls over to his side. Propping himself up, he touches Gemma's face and passionately kisses her.

They both stared into each other's eyes until they drifted off to sleep, still naked and legs tangled together. The fire slowly burned out in the middle of the night while there's was just getting started.