Authors note: Hello everyone. Thank you everyone for the positive feedback and comments they continue to mean the world to me and have brightened my days. Thank you once again to Paul who continues to be my second set of eyes. There are only two more chapters after this, I hope you all enjoy it, ~ellie.
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"Mrs. Vitali, Matteo has arrived and is asking that you join him at the airport," Bradbury said without preamble, walking into the stark room in which she sat looking worried and pensive. At least in the car she had some information, here she had nothing but silence and impossible scenarios playing out in her mind, despite occasional updates from Hugh, who sat with her.
"Okay," she said, getting to her feet and following the man from the room. No one spoke again as they drove the short distance, and she bolted from the car into Matteo's arms as soon as Hugh as pulled to a stop.
"Miss me?" he murmured into her hair as he held her tightly. He picked her up and carried her onboard the plane.
"Just a bit," she said in a shaky voice, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "Have you heard from Ricco? Is he okay?" she asked. For once the jet seemed crowded with people, and Cat allowed Matteo to place her in a seat and help her with her belt before taking his own beside her and taking her hand in his.
"No, but he and Stefano were nowhere near any of this, so I am sure they are fine. They are probably just trying to get home as fast as possible themselves," he reassured her. "There are other things we need to worry about, other things I need to tell you." He leaned over to kiss her. "The most important thing is, I love you," he smiled and kissed her again.
"As we suspected, the Kimberly," Roberto said. "Leyton took off half an hour ago, and Rick is on the ground with his men. We've done what we can for now." He said seriously, then he smiled down at Cat. "I love you too," he smiled and went to take his seat.
"How long will the flight last?" she asked.
"Just over four hours," he said softly. "Are you unwell? You can lie down after take off," he said, looking at her with concern.
"Will you lie down with me?" she asked, gripping his hand even tighter.
"For you, I would do anything," he smiled softly. "We need to talk about what will happen once we land though," he said seriously and lifted Cat's hand to kiss it.
"Is it bad?" Cat asked. "What's going on right now? Is it as bad as I think?"
"Probably not, but it's not good either," he admitted honestly.
"Then can you tell me after I have had a few minutes to just enjoy the fact that you're here and safe? The last four days have been awful, and I just want to hold you close for a little while and not think about anything else," Cat said, her eyes filling with tears again. "This baby of yours is screwing with my head, and I can't stop crying."
"This baby of mine?" he asked. "I think it's your baby more than mine at present," he chuckled. "but I can have words with her if you like," he grinned and placed his hand over her belly.
"Her?" she queried. She had expected that Matteo would want his first born to be a son.
"Only a daughter would give their mother this much grief. My sons will be perfect gentlemen. I am sure of it," he chuckled again, making her smile and relax with him. No matter how anxious or upset she was, Matteo always had a way of making her smile and feel his love. She loved him in return for that. She loved him for so many things, but most of all she loved him for being exactly who he was.
"I love you so much," she whispered, and craned her neck up to kiss him.
"Fuck the warning light!" Matteo growled, needing the closeness with her as much as she said she needed him. As the plane continued to climb, he undid their belts and picked her up, walking with her to the bedroom at the rear of the jet. He shut and locked the door, determined to keep the world, his family, and the pressing issues at bay for at least an hour before facing them all again and telling her that David had been abducted by a madman. There was nothing he could do from the plane except keep up to date with all that his family and friends were doing and issue orders that could be done just as easily by his father, who sat in the cabin. He needed to reconnect with the woman he loved, and she, him. This was just as important for both of them as keeping up to date with what was happening on the ground. They could do anything; handle anything when they were together, including dealing with Ricco's disappearance and David's abduction.
"Thank God you're here!" Matteo breathed, placing her on her feet inside the room and turning to lock the door behind them. "I've missed you so..."
Before he could guess her intentions, she launched herself into his arms. Matteo staggered back against the door with her attack, recovered, and then wrapped his strong arms around her, lifting her tightly against his body. His lips found hers, and when her lips parted he slid his tongue inside. She tasted delicious. He felt her arms wrap around his neck and her tongue came out to dance with his.
"Fuck, I've missed this!" Matteo growled against her lips.
"I've missed you too," Cat said, kissing the corners of his mouth, his chin, his neck.
"I thought I would never get back to you. The flight seemed to last forever, and waiting for you at the airport..." Matteo said, lowering her to the floor and leading her to the bed. "I don't ever want that much time between us again!" He growled, sitting down and pulling her sideways onto his lap.
"Me either," Cat replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him close for a deep kiss.
His mouth opened under hers and his tongue met hers. He groaned at the taste of the only woman he had ever truly loved. She tasted better than he had remembered, her lips soft, her tongue alive and tantalising within his mouth. He ran his hands through her dark hair, holding her head steady for his assault. He slanted his mouth over hers, deepening the kiss. One hand trailed down her neck and over her shoulder, then began to stroke over her breast, feeling the nipple harden under the fabric.
