Need to Break Out

[Shana O'Malley]

Shana smiled slightly. "For what? Keeping my promise? I'm trying to tell you, Mateo.... You have to trust someone sometime. And why not me? This relationship is easy, and nothing bad will happen if you trust me. I don't really have a lot of opportunity to break that trust, so take it where you an get it, hm?"

She should have just said you're welcome and left it at that, but Shana wasn't much for subtlety. There was very little point to it. And at this point, she didn't care much if she made Mateo angry. Well, she did. But she thought he needed someone who wouldn't just bow down to him.

"You know... If circumstances were different, I think I'd be rather fascinated with you. Sometimes I think I am anyway."

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Really, she was just about the last person in the world he should trust (aside from Marco, of course), and vice versa. She was a prisoner, and he her captor. Friendship between them was wrong. It was crazy. It was... inevitable. What did they call it when prisoners became close to their captors? Stockholm syndrome? Teo never should have allowed it to happen, but she'd been here so long that it was impossible to stop. He should have just kept her in her room, pushed her food through a dog flap in the door....

But he couldn't regret getting to know her. Not now, while she was sitting here next to him, her red hair shining in the fading sunlight.

Maybe it was the sunset, maybe it was the ice cream, maybe it was just the fact that she was sitting so close. But whatever the reason, Teo knew he was about to do something really stupid.

"You fascinate me, too," he confessed.

Then he leaned in and kissed her very lightly. It was barely a touch and it was over almost before it started, but somehow, he knew it was only the beginning....

[Shana O'Malley]

Everything that happened in that thirty seconds was completely inevitable. It had been brewing since the first time Mateo let her out of her room, months and months ago, and the two had eaten an awkward, silent dinner together.

And she wasn't afraid to admit that it was even welcomed. Yes, she loved Mateo's enemy... once. He never tried to rescue her, and it was because of him that she was even here in the first place. It was ridiculous that she was even thinking like this, but she had a lot of time to get to know Mateo. When he let her push her boundaries, she usually backed off, and in doing so, they had an almost comfortable existance together.

Besides, he was the only person she saw- almost ever, aside from the glimpses of people he would have meetings with.

She barely had time to register that he was kissing her before he was already pulling back, and in typical Shana fashion, she didn't let him get away with it. Before she could stop and think about anything, she pressed forward and caught his lips a second time, with her lips pressed more solidly to his own. She could overthink it later.

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Mateo didn't know what he had expected when he kissed her. He hadn't really even been thinking at all, which was unusual for him. Usually he overanalyzed and overplanned every single move he made. But with her, sometimes it was impossible to think at all. That was how he came to be sitting on the porch with her, in full view of the entire neighborhood. And maybe a part of him had hoped she would slap him, or push him away, or even try to escape. He didn't even dare to hope for what actually happened.

So when she pressed closer to him and kissed him, he nearly lost it. He dropped his now half-melted ice cream cone onto the step below him and pulled her closer, burying his hands in her hair. It was just as soft as he had imagined.

The kiss seemed to last an eternity, but finally, his senses returned, and he pulled away reluctantly. "Shana--"

He didn't know what to say. What was there to say? He should have told her that this couldn't happen again, but Merlin, he couldn't make himself say the words.

[Shana O'Malley]

Shana's ice cream joined his and her hands curled around the back of his neck. It became suddenly apparent that this moment had been a long time in the making for both of them. She wasn't thinking straight, but that was Shana. She never thought before she spoke or acted, and sometimes it got her in trouble. But sometimes... it got her places like this.

She didn't think about the fact that it was wrong. That Mateo was last person she should let close to her in any capacity. All she could think about was the way his lips tasted and the way his hands felt in her hair.

The way her name sounded now on his lips.

For a long moment, she didn't move or say anything. She didn't even open her eyes. She was afraid if she moved, it would shake Mateo out of his state and it would be over, just like that. And she would probably be back in her room, door locked.

Finally, she opened her eyes and met his, the look in her eyes anything but soft. "Let's go inside."

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

The moment felt suspended, as though time had stopped for just a few minutes. They were hanging there, frozen in a kind of bubble where nothing else mattered. Mateo wished that it could stay that way... that he could just push all the obstacles aside and not think about anything at all.

When Shana opened her eyes and looked at him, though, he didn't know what to make of her expression. For once, it seemed like Shana was calling the shots and he was helpless, forced to do whatever she wanted.

His mind and body were at odds. When she said she wanted to go inside, did she mean what he thought she meant? Part of him hoped so, and another part of him wanted to drag her inside and lock her away in her room for the rest of the night.

He nodded slowly, taking her hands in his and helping her to her feet. He was almost even tempted to sweep her up into his arms and carry her in the house, but he didn't. Instead, he led her wordlessly into the house. Once the door was closed behind them, he turned to her, intending to tell her she had to go into her room.

But instead, he pulled her into his arms and began to kiss her again...

[Shana O'Malley]

Shana followed him just as quietly. She was so convince that if she spoke or said anything, the moment would shatter like glass. He would be shaken from this, and they would take ten giant steps back. It would be like how it was when she was first brought here.

So when they were inside and he turned to look at her, she held her breath. She could see it in his eyes that he wanted to end this... Or at least that he thought he was supposed to. But he surprised her again by kissing her, and she took the opportunity. Wanting to give him no signs of hesitation, she uppe the ante and little an pushed against him until he back wa against the now closed door.

She was allowing him no doubts about what she wanted, and what she was pretty sure he wanted, too.

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Teo knew he was going to regret this. He shouldn't allow it to happen, and yet, he couldn't find the strength to push her away. He wanted her, and for once he didn't even want to think about the consequences.

He let out a low groan and kissed her deeply, pulling her closer to him with one hand while the other began to explore her body.

After what seemed like an eternity, Teo snapped out of the haze just long enough to push away from the door and scoop her into his arms, carrying her into his bedroom.

If the rest of the house was decorated in a tasteful, impersonal style (most of it having been done by Sedona), his bedroom was the one room in the house that betrayed some of Teo's personality. Few people ever saw this room besides himself.

It was decorated in tones of dark greens and browns, and there was only one window to add light to the otherwise severe color scheme. But what added intrigue to the room were the pictures on the wall. He had framed movie posters from old movies, such as Casablanca and Double Indemnity. He also had a framed poster of Rita Hayworth, and, most prominently, a print of the Van Gogh painting Sunflowers, which somehow made the rest of the room seem much more inviting.

Teo carried her over to the bed and laid her on the ivory colored bed spread. "Shana..." he breathed at last, laying down next to her. He was giving her an out... but Merlin, he hoped she wouldn't take it.

[Shana O'Malley]

Shana took the opportunity to look around his room. She had never been in here. Even when he was gone from the house, Shana never even tried coming in. He probably kept it locked, anyway, but she just found that she didn't want to know. It surprised her, though, being nothing like the rest of the house. It was personal and almost reminded her of a young boy's room. Maybe he wasn't as hard as he liked to come across as.

But he attention didn't stray from him for long. Soon, her eyes were on his again, just taking everything in. He wasn't going to tell her no or make them stop. He was on board, and Shana couldn't be bothered t care that this was probably very wrong.

And she knew, when he said her name, that he was giving her a last opportunity to back out and come to her senses. Well, that wasn't going to happen. Looking at him, she reached out and traced her fingers down his cheek. "Do you now, when I was little, I wanted to be Rita Hayworth? I could be her for you."

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Mateo closed his eyes as she touched his cheek, causing warmth to spread through him. He'd given her--and himself-- every chance to back out, and yet here they were. And he knew now that he there was no going back. He also knew that it was probably worse that he'd allowed them each time to think about it and still decided to go through with it. It meant that this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing, and he wouldn't be able to pretend later that it didn't mean anything.

Realizing this, he made another decision at that moment. He knew what he had to do. And now that he knew that, he felt a weight lifting from him.

Opening his eyes again at her words, he trailed a few lazy kisses along her neck. "She was my first crush," he admitted, his face now becoming open and unguarded. The effect was dramatic, and it made him look even more like a little boy, instead of the hard, cold, brutal man he appeared to be. "My madre took me to the cinema when I was younger, and I saw the movie Gilda. I fell in love with Rita Hayworth, and I'm not sure I ever got over her, actually."

He smiled, and kissed her on her lips this time. "But I don't want you to be her. I want you, Shana. No one else."

[Shana O'Malley]

His final words did things to Shana that she couldn't explain. That just maybe, this wasn't just some kind of sexual frustration, but that he might genuinely want her, need her. She couldn't dare to hope for more than that, not now, but the fact that this was about her, and not a body available by convenience...

It was wrong. She knew that. But she smiled at him anyway and nodded. "I'll be me. Forgive me if I'm a llittle brash, then." It was meant to be a joke, as they both knew her personality by now.

She thought she'd be nervous... but she wasn't, not even a little. It just felt so inevitable and so right that she was savoring every moment leading up to it. She was savoring seeing him as a person and not her captor. He was undoing her, and she kissed him to keep him from seeing that.

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Mateo wouldn't have admitted it, but it had been a long time since he had been with a woman. He'd had a brief period of time, after Kate left, when he'd been with a different woman every night. But once he'd realized that it didn't actually make him feel any better, he had pretty much stayed away from women altogether. And all this time with Shana staying in his house... well, the longer she stayed here, the more inevitable this moment became. But what surprised him about it was how it made him feel. It wasn't just about sex. If it had been, he could have left the house and slept with another random woman and it would have been good enough. But he wanted her, and no one else would do. He didn't want to think about what that actually meant, even though the thought was still nagging at the corner of his mind.

But as their lips connected, Mateo lost himself completely. Any rational thought was gone, and all he could think about was her.

A while later, they lay sated in he each others' arms. He brushed tender kisses along her jawline, while he trailed his fingers through her fiery red hair. It didn't seem like the time for words, and he dreaded what he'd have to say to her.

[Shana O'Malley]

Even Shana, who had a habit of not keeping her mouth shut, felt that this was the time to be quiet. Some small part of her expected him to stop being so tender when this ended. She expected him to banish her to her room, like a petulant 3 year old. But Mateo was doing just the opposite, shattering her expectations. It was for this reason that she kept quiet, enjoying the feel of his fingers in her hair and his lips on her jaw, his skin on her skin. She didn't want to break the spell.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and her eyes closed, just for the moment.

Sometimes, it was too easy to forget what this was. What she was to him. But he was the one who made her forget, so all of this... It was really his fault, wasn't it?

Unable to keep her silence, she whispered his name in the contented after math of a simple sunset.

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Lying there in that moment, Mateo was reminded of an old song... he couldn't even remember the name, but it was about two people who only had one night to be together. In the end, they'd have to go their separate ways. Maybe that was how it was with him and Shana. Maybe they could have this one night together, shutting out the realities of their situation for just this one night. Maybe he could pretend that they loved each other. And then tomorrow, he could let her go. He could erase all traces of this night, of him, of the entire last year, from Shana's memory, and then send her back to Dante. He wouldn't forget, of course... But he'd deal with it. It was what he deserved.

He loved the sound of his name on her lips, and it made him shiver. Sighing softly, he leaned in for another kiss. "Shana," he replied. "I want you to stay tonight. With me."

[Shana O'Malley]

She thought her name on his lips would be enough for her. Just the sound, breaking through the silence and the room. But he'd gone and said more than that, and for a moment, she didn't respond, almost waiting for him to take it back, or to realize that maybe she misheard him. Something. Anything- because this just didn't seem real.

Instead of agreeing with him, or telling him that she wasn't going anywhere, Shana shifted a bit so that she was more on her side, able to look at him. Was this new, then? A real 'thing' between them? It didn't change that she was still technically a prisoner here... except that now he was asking her to stay of her own will, and she knew he just meant in this room, but the meaning extended for her. The truth was, she wanted to be here. Pressing her lips to his chest, just next to where her fingers were resting, she opted for a different sort of answer.

"Thanks for the ice cream." There was a smile that accompanied this gratitude, and it hinted at laughter and a mischievous glint in her eye. But it let him know, too, that she wasn't going anywhere.

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

Her simple, teasing reply nearly killed him. It was then that he realized he had gone and done the worst thing he cold possibly do in this job... he'd fallen in love with his prisoner. His enemy's girlfriend. He wanted her to stay in the worst way, not just tonight, and not just because she had no choice. He wanted her to choose him, and her playful response told him with aching clarity that she had done just that.

Which was why he knew he had to let her go. It would have been one thing if she had given some indication that, once this night was over, she wanted to go back to "business" as usual. But after this, there was no way that could happen. She couldn't just be his prisoner anymore. And yet, she couldn't be more than that, not for any longer than this night. He had to let her go. But her light kiss, her laughter and teasing smile... it was like a knife to his chest. He might have thought he had no heart left, but now he knew that was a lie, because it was breaking all over again.

If she was looking in his eyes, she might have noticed a flicker of something behind his eyes, but he knew how to cover his emotions quickly. His tender smile never wavered, as he decided he would simply have to savor this night, and enjoy it as thought it was his last night on earth. That way he'd have something to hold onto after she was gone.

"You're welcome," he said with a chuckle. He threaded his fingers through her hair, marveling at how soft and smooth it felt beneath his calloused skin.

"Tell me about your childhood," he found himself saying. "I want to know everything about you."

[Shana O'Malley]

Her eyes closed, letting herself concentrate on the feel of his fingers in her hair. It wasn't wrong, she realized. Maybe she should have thought it was, and no matter what Mateo thought, she knew him in a way she was sure no one else did. You couldn't live with someone for a year and not know their honest side. She did- she knew Mateo, even if he didn't tell her nearly anything, she knew him, and that was important.

She sighed, content for the moment. His questions made her think that maybe she would stay not just for tonight, but longer than that, too. Maybe this was for good- a girl could dream. She'd said that before.

The redhead shifted so that she was on her back, her head on Mateo's shoulder. "There's not much to tell. My parents fought a lot, so I ended up liking being outside a lot." Instantly, she quieted. Tonight had been the first night in a year since she had been outside... she really missed the sunsets and the fresh air.

She remembered those first couple of days here. A constant battle of her stubborn, defiant streak, and his mission to show her that he would not tolerate it. Now look at where they were.

"You've gone and put me on the spot and I'm not sure what to say. Dad was a banker. Mom was a housewife. I think they both hated their jobs."

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

If all they had left was this one night together, Mateo wanted to make it count. He wanted to find out more about her, get to know her, so that he'd have something to hold onto after he was gone. Although he seemed tough on the outside, Teo could actually be a rather sentimental guy. He still remembered the song that he and Kate had danced to for the first time, he still remembered her favorite flowers, and he couldn't forget the day she walked out of his life. He wanted those things with Shana; concrete memories that would remind him of her long after she was out of his life. Maybe then in some way, it would be as though she had never left... even if she wouldn't remember him.

And if she wasn't going to remember anyway, why not let her in on his darkest secrets? He had nothing left to lose... he'd already crossed that line with her.

"Tell you what?" he said, kissing her softly. "Why don't we take turns? You can ask me anything you want about me, and I'll tell you the truth."

[Shana O'Malley]

Shana took a breath when he suggested taking turns, slightly amazed by the fact that now that he was finally offering to answer her questions, she couldn't think of any of the thousands she'd had since she found herself here. None of those questions even seemed to matter actually, as if the last couple of hours just changed everything. It was possible that they did, that this night was a long time in the making, but she didn't know what tomorrow held. For all she knew, he'd go back to his same old self, and she would be worse off than when she started. Godric have mercy on her, she opened herself to him in more ways than one, and it made her far more vulnerable around him than she preferred.

"What were you like as a kid?" she asked, deciding that, for now, this was what she wanted to know. She imagined him as a serious little kid, but she wanted to hear that he was lively and boisterous and fun. She wanted to hear that he was happy at some point in his life.

[Mateo "Teo" Rossi]

If Mateo had ever been innocent, it had been such a long time ago that he couldn't remember it. He had been raised for this, for the family legacy, and he'd never been given a choice. While Sedona and Gio both got to play and laugh and just be children, Teo had always know that it was his job to eventually take over the family business, and most of his childhood was spent preparing for that.

It had never occurred to Mateo until this very moment just how sad that really was. He'd always thought it an honor... that it was his duty as the oldest brother. But suddenly, it was starting to feel like a prison. A death sentence.

He smiled, but it was a sad smile. "Smaller," he replied. He pressed a soft kiss against her temple, then added, "I was a serious kid. I wasn't really allowed much time to play. I do remember I used to like sports, though. I saw a baseball game on television once, and I wanted to play baseball."

He'd also played Quidditch, of course, but he couldn't tell her about Quidditch. Despite his promise to tell her "everything," there were still secrets he would have to keep from her. Even if he was planning to erase her memory, he still couldn't tell her about the magic.