Coming Home (Morelli Family 6)

So I did. He pulled a Mateo and made me cuddle with him afterward. The men in this family are a special strain of asshole, I swear to God.

And now here we are.

I attempt to bring my knees together, reaching down to push him away from me. “I mean it, Vince. Stop.”

“If you’re just going to be a pain in the ass, I’m going to turn you back over and shove your face into the pillow.”

“If you’re going to fuck me when I ask you not to, at least have the common courtesy to wear a condom,” I fling back.

Rolling his eyes, he grabs my hips and rolls me over. I huff as I go face first into the pillow. “Like he used a condom when you were mine? Nah, I think I’ll pass.”

“I don’t know where you’ve been,” I shoot back, trying again to kick him, but it’s even more awkward from this angle.

That makes him chuckle. “My offer stands; I can tell you all about it.”

“Fuck off.” I shove at him so more, attempt to get away, to get him to knock it off, but I fail on all counts. He’s inside me again and my stomach sinks. I pound a fist against the pillow he shoved my face into. I want to scratch his fucking face off.

Last night I was more confused and scared, but right now I’m still ensnared by the mistaken thought that I woke up next to Mateo. I miss him every minute, but right now it hurts. I’ve managed to keep my focus for a good part of this godforsaken experience, but now as I close my eyes, I can see it. I can see Mateo in bed next to me giving me the tender smile he reserves only for me. I have his love. Nothing can take it away from me. I’m safe in my bed and none of this shit ever happened.

That’s not my reality anymore. Vince shattered it. He fucked me in more ways than one, and I don’t know what happens after this. My insides feel heavy at the thought of never having it again. What if Vince ruined everything? What if I can’t make this up to Mateo? What if this ruins me for him?

I’ve never had this much to lose before. The stakes have never been this high.

I need to get back to Mateo. I’m afraid of the consequences of all this, but I need to get back to him regardless. Beside him is where I belong. It’s where I’ve always belonged.

Chapter Sixteen

Mia

With each day that passes, I lose a little more hope that I’m going to get out of this situation.

Vince isn’t trying to win me over anymore. I guess I said the right thing to make him stop liking me, but it didn’t have the desired effect—he doesn’t want to send me away and get me out of his life, he just wants to keep me here and punish me for being such a horrid bitch.

I just wish he’d give up and let me go.

I figured Mateo would rescue me, but time is of the essence. I need to get the fuck out of this house before Vince has enough time to make an even bigger mess.

Vince is in a better mood in the evenings when Jessica comes around. Weird how being around someone who’s actually nice to you makes you feel good. At this point, I don’t know why he can’t just bang the girl who wants to bang him and leave me alone.

I hate the person I am around him. I hate being mean. I’m not this way with literally anyone else. I wasn’t like this with him before Mateo. At least, I don’t think I was.

I don’t know. I just know being around Vince now makes me feel awful. I can’t give him what he wants from me—there are moments I even want to, not because I want it myself, but because I want to make him feel better. I can’t, though. If I give him anything, if I try to make amends for being so awful in the past, he’ll take it as a sign I care. So, I give him nothing and hope he’ll wear out and give up.

“I’ve got the hummus,” Jessica says, bringing it to the table.

“No one’s gonna eat that,” Vince tells her, standing at the grill in his swim shorts with no shirt on. He glances my way. “Mia—hamburger or hot dog?”

“Don’t care,” I toss back.

It’s hot out tonight and Vince decided to grill instead of making me cook, so we’re all gathered around the pool. I’ll take it. I can’t stand playing maid at this godforsaken house, and the stuffy, awkward dinners with Ben and Jessica are the worst.

Vince rolls his eyes at my unwillingness to answer even a simple question. “Fine, I’ll make you both.”