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Matthias

Now that the Wicked Witch of the West is gone, I can finally appreciate the beauty of what just happened.

“You were jealous.” I can’t hide the glee in my voice. My spitfire was jealous over me . She was possessive. She staked her claim. Watching her do it had me hard. I had to lean my hips back so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea. But, holy fuck, her ownership of me was so hot.

“No, I wasn’t. She’s just a bitch,” Margot grumbles.

“Oh yeah, she’s a bitch. But you were possessive of me.”

“I was protecting you from the snake. What did you even see in her? Was it just her hot body?”

“You were claiming me and fuck me if it wasn’t the hottest thing ever. The way you did it… It’s exactly how I want to claim you.” I press my hips into her ass, letting her feel just how much I enjoyed it. “And no. She’s not even close to your league. She was just easy.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know what I look like. I can’t compete with someone like her. ”

I spin her around and stare into her eyes. “You can’t compete with anyone, because no one comes close. You are my fantasy come to life, Margot. You’re the girl I love. And I’ll keep showing you that every damn day until you believe it.”

“No, Matty. I know that. I just can’t help it when my insecurities take over,” she whispers.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I won’t stop until every insecurity disintegrates. And even then, I’ll keep telling you how perfect you are, every day, for the rest of my life.”

Her eyes brim with unshed tears, and she nods.

I pull her into my arms and rest my chin on her head. One hand cradles her head while the other rubs soothing circles along her spine.

“Sweetheart,” I murmur, “there are far too many hors d’oeuvres to waste time on tears. I think I saw brie bites.”

I say it teasingly, hoping food will pull her from her spiral. After all our dinners together, I know her tastes, and I know those brie bites will make her moan in that way that makes my blood burn.

She laughs and leans back. “Let’s go.”

***

After what must be an hour of way too much mingling and not enough snacking, I realize I haven’t checked my watch once, haven’t felt the usual itch to leave.

Aside from the part of me dying to fuck Margot in that sexy dress.

When I finally glance at the time, I’m shocked. Three hours have passed since we arrived. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. And I’ve definitely enjoyed showing her off.

Even the schmoozers haven’t annoyed me as much as usual. But the way some of them looked at Margot? Yeah, that got under my skin. There were moments I was seconds away from throwing a punch. She always seemed to sense it. She’d grab my arm and pull us away before I exploded.

My phone rings, cutting off my stewing.

Dom .

I hesitate. Do I answer and step away from Margot, not willing to risk her overhearing something I don’t want her to. Or ignore it and possibly miss something crucial about the Bratva?

Fuck.

“I have to take this, sweetheart. Stay right here.” My voice leaves no room for argument. She cannot move from this spot.

Once she promises to stay put, I step out of the ballroom and answer the call.

I’ll only be gone a few minutes. But I can’t shake the foreboding in my chest.