Page 33 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

“You’re embarrassed. I’m embarrassed. I put you in a horrible position.” He lets out a sigh. “In a short amount of time, you’ve become one of the closest people to me, outside of Tomas. I keep my circle small because I can’t trust anyone. I know I can trust you, but my stupid dick has gone and ruined that.”

“You haven’t ruined anything,” I reassure him.

“I haven’t?”

“We’re still friends.”

Relief falls across Mateo’s face at my words.

“Just no more hugging,” he says with a smile.

Don’t think we need to go that far.

“I still like your hugs. You make me feel safe,” I confess to him.

Mateo raises a brow at me. “Just no hard-ons,” he adds, giving me a smirk.

I can’t stay mad at this man. “Yeah, none of those,” I agree with a giggle.

“I’d never do anything to hurt you, Zoe, know that,” Mateo says seriously before leaving my room.

11

MATEO

It’s been a couple of days since the infamous hug. After leaving Zoe’s room and making sure she was okay, and I hadn’t ruined our friendship because my stupid dick finds her attractive, I returned to my own room where I received a huge lecture from Tomas. He completely chewed me out. He was disappointed in me for not being able to control myself. I’m disappointed in myself as well, but come on, when her gorgeous body is pressed against mine, and I’m melting into her hugs the little guy gets confused.Big guy I mean, he’s definitely not little.

Zoe agreed to pose for me today in my studio. I’m nervous as we are both alone for the first time since I embarrassed myself. Tomas is in Barcelona for a meeting, which he left for last night and I was kind of hoping for his calming nature to be a buffer between Zoe and me today. I know I’m nervous as I rearrange my art studio for the fifth time this past hour.

“Knock, knock,” Zoe calls out as she enters my creative space.

I turn around and see she is dressed in a gorgeous floral silk robe that the stylist bought when Tomas and I ordered clothes for Zoe. I think she got the wrong idea, but in this moment, I’m happy for that miscommunication because she looks gorgeous.She’s fresh-faced and her blonde hair is pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head. Her tanned skin is on display, and thankfully, all bruises have almost faded as it’s been a month since finding her.

“Come in,” I call to her.

She gives me a small smile as she walks into my space, twisting her hands into knots with nerves.

“You don’t need to be nervous. There is no right or wrong way to pose,” I try and reassure her.

“I know, it’s just … you know … I’m not a model.” She waves her hands around the studio.

“It was your essence that has inspired me to paint today. Being around you, your light, your joy has lit a fire in me that won’t stop burning until I’ve got it out on the canvas,” I explain to her.

Zoe nods and bites her bottom lip. “I’m worried about not being good enough for you.”

I rush toward her and wrap my hands around her trembling shoulders. “You’re so fucking perfect, Zoe. I wish you could see what I see.”

Zoe’s sapphire eyes soften as she stares up at me.

“You can go as little or as far as you want today.” I explained to her that I paint a lot of nudes in my studio and that if she felt comfortable, I would love to paint a nude of her. At first, she was reluctant, but the more I showed her my work, the more she embraced stepping out of her comfort zone. But now that she is here it looks like she might regret her decision.

“Hold on, give me a sec,” I tell her as I rush out of my studio and into the small kitchenette next to it where there’s a drinks fridge. I grab a bottle of champagne out of it, pop the cork, grab two glasses, then hurry back, spilling champagne all over my hand in my haste. “Here, have one of these,” I say, giving her the glass.

“Thank you,” she says with a smile, bringing the glass to her lips and throwing back the entire glass.

I guess she’s nervous.

“It’s just you and me. Tomas is in Barcelona, so no one other than me will be here today while I paint,” I reassure her.