Page 32 of Third Crime’s A Charm (Princes Take New York #3)

Twenty-One

T he silent loneliness of Muriel’s vacant apartment was unsettling so Matteo headed out for coffee and a bagel and found his way to Central Park. Being mid-morning on a Monday, it was just the right kind of quiet. Matteo was able to find an empty bench and was close to nodding off in the sunlight.

He’d fallen in love with Manhattan and thought of it as home but it was time for Matteo to move on.

Staying in Manhattan would be a nightmare with all the gossip about him and Truman and Matteo couldn’t risk crossing paths with him.

Paris was the most obvious choice. Matteo had a lot of friends there and spoke French fluently.

And it was nothing like New York so Matteo wouldn’t be reminded of Truman.

As often.

Their affair hadn’t been real and had only lasted three weeks but Matteo suspected he’d have scars.

He couldn’t love as easily or as freely as Theo.

That was why he was careful about who he had flings with and never mixed his criminal business with pleasure.

He’d learned his lesson this time and would stay away from Manhattan for a few years.

“Mind if I join you?” Truman asked and Matteo cracked an eye open, then grimaced. Instead of looking perfectly polished and imposing, Truman’s hair was wild and his tie and collar were a wreck. His shirt was stuck to his body and Truman’s coat was wrinkled.

“You look like shit.” Matteo gestured at the rest of the bench but looked away as Truman sat and dropped a rolled-up paper bag between them. “You’re still having me followed?”

“Yes.” Truman sighed, sounding exhausted as his arm stretched along the back of the bench. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his other hand and chuckled. “What a fucking day.”

Matteo glared up at the clouds, seething. But he put a pin in it because he still had questions and this could be the last time they talked. “I take it the meeting didn’t go well.”

“Depends on who you ask. Marty’s dead so it’s safe to say he’s not pleased.”

“What?” Matteo turned in stunned horror. “Did you mean for him to—?” he whispered, earning an offended snort.

“Why would I go to all this trouble if I was going to have him killed? It looks like the cigars finally caught up with Marty and he had a heart attack. I gave him CPR until the medics arrived but there was nothing they could do.”

“Mein Gott, Truman! I’m so sorry,” Matteo said and gave his thigh a comforting pat.

“Eh.” Truman shrugged. “I wanted him to die in prison but this is for the best.”

Matteo didn’t know what to make of that. He picked up the paper bag and unrolled it, then looked inside. His eyes dried as he stared at the star. “What about…?” he croaked and blinked at Truman.

“Peter Lonsdale?” He waved dismissively. “He’s gonna be just fine.”

“Who the hell is Peter Lonsdale?” Matteo asked, shocked that Truman was finally telling him.

“Peter is Marty’s nephew. He’s a good man so I never understood why Marty hated him. Marty was going to hang as much as he could on Peter but I couldn’t let him spend the rest of his life in jail.”

“That’s why you wanted this.” Matteo refolded the bag and held it out to Truman but he shook his head.

“Peter doesn’t need it now and it isn’t really my taste.”

“Oh. Now what?” Matteo asked, his voice shaking.

The hand on the back on the bench curled around Matteo’s neck and caressed it tenderly. “Want to go to Austria? I can have a jet ready in an hour.”

“You’re giving this to me? You could keep it in case you need to make a deal later,” Matteo said and Truman nodded.

“So could you. Do whatever you want. Consider it a…pre-engagement gift?” he asked with a hopeful lift of his brows.

“I know it’s way too soon and I need to smooth things over with Leo, first. But I was a goner the moment you stepped into my townhouse.

Not because you were a glamorous prince or the greatest thief the world has never known.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of you and I had to make you mine.

I just had that other matter to take care of before I could do it properly. ”

“That’s why you want to go to Austria?” Matteo asked, biting his lip as he considered.

“Not that I don’t like the rest of it!” he said quickly.

“I think I’d like being…pre-engaged and this needs to go back to Austria immediately.

But I’m not sure if we need to worry about Leo just yet. Maybe once we’re…post-engaged.”

“No, Matteo. This isn’t a job or a business deal, it’s the rest of our lives. I don’t want to spend it in conflict with your brothers so I have to do it right.”

“Right,” Matteo agreed weakly, too overcome and overjoyed to say more.

“Let’s not start off on the wrong foot with your family,” Truman continued carefully.

“Your brother isn’t just smart, he’s shrewd and he understands how the world works.

So does Theo and Max and I think I can fix things with them too if they see that I’m serious. Sneaking around doesn’t look serious.”

“No, it doesn’t. But going to Leo for his approval is so…official.”

“You’re not ready to be official?” Truman guessed, then frowned. “You don’t think we’ll last that long.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” Matteo slid closer and took Truman’s hand in his. “I was going to move to Paris before you sat down. I’d never get over you if I stayed.”

“Like I’d let that happen.”

“Stop it,” Matteo laughed as he rolled his eyes, then gasped when he was pulled into Truman’s arms and kissed thoroughly.

They were both breathless when they raised their heads.

“What I meant was that this part is fast,” Matteo continued.

“Ten minutes ago, I was saying goodbye to the city and my life here, now we’re pre-engaged. ”

“That’s a yes, then?” Truman said, making Matteo laugh.

“I think so! You’ve shared a lot and I do understand everything and I do believe we belong together, I just need a little time to process all of this. And some privacy so we can talk more freely,” he added, making Truman swear as he looked around.

“Good thinking. Come back to the townhouse. It’s too quiet without you.”

“Alright, but we’ll have to stop by Muriel’s first. I should pack the rest of my things and make arrangements for a plant sitter if the place is going to be vacant for a few months.”

“I’ll take care of that. Let’s go home,” Truman said as he raised Matteo’s hand and kissed it. “I want to celebrate and we have a trip to plan.”

Matteo had changed his mind by the time Truman swept him through the townhouse’s front door.

Knowing why and the danger to Peter Lonsdale if his uncle had found out made it a lot easier to forgive Truman for so many things.

With all that Matteo had learned about Martin Lonsdale, it was safe to assume he would have killed Peter if he had found out.

The reality of how far Truman had gone to save an innocent man and to save Lonsdale at the end touched Matteo deeply.

Truman wasn’t an angel, but he wasn’t as evil as he wanted the world to believe.

He was good and kind at his core and protected the people he cared about.

His methods could be a little heavy handed at times, but Matteo was proud of Truman and couldn’t wait for his family to see what he was really like.

“You’re right,” Matteo said as he was helped out of his coat and went to work on what was left of Truman’s half Windsor.

Matteo pulled the tie free and tossed it over his shoulder and wound his arms around Truman’s neck.

“No one knows we have the star or how we got it. I want to go home and use its return as a celebration of our engagement . We can let Leo in on it and work the details out at Schonbühel. That will show my family how serious we are and how generous my fiancé is,” Matteo said with a haughty lift of his chin.

Once again, Matteo was kissed until he was lightheaded. “The whole world is going to know by the time I’m through,” Truman vowed. “I love you Matteo. More than all the stars and for the rest of my life, or as long as you’ll have me.”

Now that he knew the truth and Lonsdale was behind them, Matteo knew it was safe to trust his heart to Truman.

“I love you too, Truman. Even when I didn’t like you, I loved you.

You have no idea how much that pissed me off,” he added with a playful scowl, making Truman groan as he pecked at Matteo’s lips and danced him toward the bed.

“I’m very sorry. Let me make it up to you.”

Matteo slapped his hands away and pointed. “You look like hell, Truman. You’re exhausted and I can tell you didn’t sleep.”

“Maybe, but?—”

“Nein! You’ve done enough for one day.” Matteo helped Truman out of the rest of his suit and shoes, then quickly stripped.

“What did you have in mind?” Truman asked, hesitating as he lowered onto the bed.

“It’s my turn to spoil you,” Matteo replied and dared Truman to argue or deny him.

“Fine. I can be fine with that. It’s fine,” he said, nodding rapidly.

Matteo cradled his face, laughing as he kissed Truman. “I’m in control this time and you aren’t going to lift a finger.”

“But how am I supposed to make you happy?” Truman pouted but allowed Matteo to roll him onto his stomach.

That saddened Matteo and he cursed Truman’s mother for making him believe that love had to be earned and deserved. Fixing that would be Matteo’s first project, now that Truman was his .

“You’re not the only one who enjoys giving massages,” Matteo answered and dashed to the bathroom for a bottle of oil and a towel.

It took a little more coaxing but eventually, Truman gave in and allowed Matteo to drizzle oil all over his back and into the cleft of his ass.

“You’re always so tense,” Matteo complained as he worked a knuckle into a knot in Truman’s lower back, making him moan in blissful relief.

“Almost all of my clients are nightmares but Marty put me through the ringer for nothing. I can’t believe the fucking prick had the nerve to die on me after all of that,” Truman said but there was a ragged edge to his voice.

“Are you sad that he’s gone?” Matteo asked and it was several moments later before Truman shook his head.

“Nah. Marty didn’t want to die in jail. In a way, he got to tell the feds to fuck off one last time. It would have been nice to send a few of Marty’s friends away with him but karma will catch up with them too.”

“Karma? I have a feeling karma will have some help from an anonymous benefactor,” Matteo predicted, grinding his palms in the muscles at the base of Truman’s spine.

“A trove of documents and recordings might find its way to the FBI but that won’t have anything to do with me. I’m out of the office for the next six weeks. I deserve a long vacation after today and I don’t care if I ever come back.”

Matteo gasped as he scooted down and pushed Truman’s right knee higher. “You don’t mean that but I love the sound of this.” He rewarded Truman by sliding two fingers into his ass and stroking slowly.

“Oh, fuck… Truman’s toes curled and he clawed at the pillows. “That’s incredible.”

“Mmmhmm…” The sight of Truman’s back and ass, naked and glistening with oil, was driving Matteo wild.

And Truman’s hole felt so lusciously slick and hot as Matteo’s fingers slid in and out of it.

He twisted his fingers and rubbed until he found Truman’s prostate and watched in wonder when his legs began to shake. “That’s it… Come for me, Truman.”

Truman pulled a pillow to his face. “Fucking Christ, Matteo!” he cried into it as he came.

With all the oil on his hands, Matteo easily guided the head of his cock to Truman’s hole and glided all the way in. He fell forward, bracing a hand next to Truman’s shoulder and set a steady, driving pace.

“This is mine now,” he panted, delirious with joyful lust. “You are my home and this is where I belong.”

“Yes!” Truman reached back and grabbed Matteo’s thigh. “I’m yours!”

Matteo nodded, too overwhelmed as his heart swelled with happiness and his nerves sparked and flickered.

He thrust faster and faster and was crying when he burst into bright light and heat.

Cum rushed from his cock, deep in Truman’s ass.

It took a moment for him to recover and Matteo was giddy and giggling as he fell on the bed next to Truman.

“And I’m yours,” Matteo said, deeply content as Truman rolled toward him and their limbs tangled. “We belong to each other and we belong together,” he declared as he intertwined their fingers.

Truman gave Matteo’s hand a squeeze and kissed him reverently. “You’re all that matters now, Matteo. Protecting you and keeping you happy is my responsibility and I won’t let anyone stop me.”

“Shhh! Don’t get carried away. Just love me and…have a home with me. I didn’t realize how much I’ve wanted that, but I want it with you,” Matteo said, receiving a heavy sigh from Truman as he shook his head.

“I regret to inform you that I will be getting carried very far away. In fact, I’m going to love you to such an absurd extreme that it will be all I am known for when they bury me and I will give you a home, Matteo.

” Truman stated, chuckling softly as he pecked at Matteo’s lips.

“Where you will always be cherished and you’ll always be loved.

As long as you don’t mind spending the rest of your life with a shady attorney,” he added with a sly wink.

Matteo snorted and gave his head a little shake. “Bad news, Truman. It just gets me hotter when you’re shady.”