16. Matthias
Chapter 16
Matthias
My fingers drum on my thigh as I sit in my car in Elysium’s parking lot. I left my brothers with full intentions of going home, but my last update from Oliver has me sitting in place. Scarlet’s gone to hang out with Misty, and I can only imagine what the two of them will get up to. I’ve kept myself closed off from pretty much everyone, but Misty’s observant in a way that most people aren’t. Which means she has more than enough information to ruin everything. I’m trying to ease Scarlet into the idea of being with me, and by the way her body responded to me last night, it’s working. Fuck , her moans had my dick hard all day. I’ve never wanted Scarlet to make things easy on me.
Not that I’d mind working hard for her, but I have no doubt the two of them will be nothing but trouble together. A thrill ripples up my spine, knowing that, soon, the two of them will be family.
Damon: You should come get your girl.
Me: Oliver’s got her.
Even typing the words pisses me off.
Damon: You are not going to want her alone with him in this state.
Me: What’s that supposed to mean?
Damon: They polished off a bottle of vodka.
Fuck.
Me: I’ll be there in a minute.
Me: Take care of her Damon. I’m trusting you.
Damon: You know I will.
Damon opens their apartment door before I can knock. “You got here fast.”
He says it with a knowing smirk that I promptly ignore.
“Where is she?”
“Don’t worry. She’s fine, just passed out.”
I scan the room, and sure enough, Scarlet’s wrapped in a large crochet blanket where she’s tucked into the corner of the couch.
“How did she get like this?”
“I’m not sure, but my wife and I are going to have a long chat about it.”
I choke on my laugh. “Please, that girl has you so whipped it’s not even funny.”
He doesn’t bother denying it, just stands back so I can lift Scarlet, legs dangling over one arm and supporting her back with the other. She snuggles into my chest, nose pressing into me before mumbling, “Ou—smell—ood.”
I brush back the hair that’s fallen into her face, but she’s out cold again.
“Thanks for calling me, Dam.”
Damon laughs. “Just be prepared for whatever plan they came up with. They had notes that I could barely make out, but whatever it was, it had to do with you.”
I kiss the top of Scarlet’s head. “I don’t doubt it.”
Damon’s gaze softens on me. “I’m happy for you. Don’t mess it up.”
“Don’t worry. There’s no getting away from her now,” I say and hold her tighter as her fingers twist into the fabric of my shirt.
Four days left, Little Sparrow.
Scarlet clings to me when I try to put her in the passenger seat, and a part of me feels like an absolute asshole for being so happy about it. There’s no fucking way she’d want me to see this, but I’m not disappointed that I have. Fight it all she wants, I’m going to prove to her that we’ve always been meant to be together. Not that she doesn’t have the right to be pissed. I’ve always known she would be, but I just don’t care. At least not enough to stop me. I left her alone because it’s what she needed. She needed to break out of the holds her family had on her. The space and time to spread her wings and stand on her own feet.
I know if I’d stayed, then I wouldn’t have been able to keep away from her, and even if she’s pissed now, back then, she’d have given in to me. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t listen to her only wish?
I disentangle Scarlet’s fingers from my shirt and adjust her on the seat. She’s already snoring softly by the time I get her seat belt on her. She’s so fucking adorable like this.
Forcing myself to back away, I take several breaths before rounding the car and climbing behind the wheel.
For the first time ever, my girl is coming to my place, and I’m not sure how I’ll ever let her leave.
It’s quiet this late at night, only a few hours before dawn, but I take my time, making sure to drive as carefully as possible. My girl is in no state to be shifted around. She moans, shifting so her shoulders press into the seat, and rests her head on it.
“Where did you go?” Her voice is soft and breathy, and it pulls at my heart. It’s been a long time since I heard her speak to me like that.
I wrap my fingers around her thigh, steadying her. “I didn’t go anywhere.”
“Liar.”
I swallow hard at the thought of her waiting. I’d watched her over the years any chance I got. She’d gone out on her share of dates. Not that I’d let her have an actual relationship. Oliver clued me in when anyone got too close. One of my main hobbies was chasing any guy that got near her, more than willing to provide the necessary incentive to stop them from coming back. They’re lucky none of them died because I definitely didn’t have a grip on myself when I saw them get close.
Not that I ever gave her space. She couldn’t know that though, and even now, I’m the one waiting for her.
My place is off the main road, only a few blocks from hers, situated in the most exclusive part of the city. There’d been two other offers that I’d easily doubled.
One of my men approaches me when we pull up, ready to take my keys.
“You all good, boss?” He looks into the car where Scarlet’s still passed out, her shirt buttons popped open, revealing the top of her breast.
“I suggest you look away before it’s the last thing you see.”
“Yes, boss.” He’s smart enough to turn his gaze, facing the marble stone wall of the building.
I watch him until I’m sure he’s not going to turn around before reaching in and lifting Scarlet in my arms. She barely weighs anything, even with the defined muscles I can feel through her clothes. I’m not surprised she spent the last several years working on her self-defense, not after how she was raised. My girl’s a fighter. Always has been.
Her fingers grip my shirt, tugging herself closer to me, and I hum in the back of my throat as her nails dig into my flesh. The need to meld her body to mine has been fucking painful for years. Even if it’s only in her sleep she needs to be close to me, I’ll take it. I know this is going to take more than a simple I’m sorry , but one day, she’ll understand. Because I can’t accept any other future where she’s not my wife.
The doors swing open the second I start climbing the stairs, and a guard stands watch, gaze averted as I make my way in, precious cargo in hand. They’re all connected via earpieces, giving each other the heads-up.
My place is at least double the size of hers. I’d originally got it because I thought she’d like a second place downtown and did my best to match her style. It’s our other place that I’m dying for her to see. The one only my brothers know about. Not that they’ve ever understood why I had it built.
I take the curved stairwell to my room. She burrows deeper into my chest with each step, and I can’t help but slow down. Tomorrow, she’ll go back to not trusting me, but tonight, she knows she’s mine.
My room’s dark, only lit by the moon shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, the soft light casting across her face.
I set her gently in a seated position on the bed. “Little Sparrow, I need you to wake up.”
She makes a sound of disapproval, not even bothering to open her eyes.
“So fucking cute.” Keeping one hand on her, I reach into my nightstand dresser and pull out one of my T-shirts. It’s black, and I’ve owned it for years, making the fabric soft and so worn the fibers separate until it’s nearly see-through.
I kiss the top of her head, then drop my mouth to her ear. “I’m going to undress you.”
Goose bumps rise down the column of her neck, and I can’t stop myself from running my nose up her sensitive skin. Her scent rocks into me, driving the blood straight to my cock. Any other time, I’d have her laid out bare in front of me, but not like this.
Not when she’s only holding on to me because she’s wasted. Not when it’s unlikely she’ll remember in the morning.
When I fuck my girl, I want every single second imprinted in her mind until the only thing she can think about is how my cock fills her up.
The buttons of her shirt easily release from their slots as I make my way down her chest. My knuckles graze the path down her sternum, her soft belly. She moans, arching into my touch, and I bite down hard on my lip to prevent myself from devouring her. A few more days until I’ve met the requirement of her wish, and then I’ll have her laid out on this bed, begging for more.
I push the fabric off her shoulders, careful not to let her go, and swallow at the sight of her black-lace-covered breasts.
I reach back and snap the clasp with one hand, letting the sheer fabric fall down her arms. Rose-colored peaks over pale cream skin have me coming undone. This girl has no idea what she does to me.
I slide my shirt over her head before I can go any further, the fabric barely a barrier between us.
She makes a whining sound in her sleep, and I kiss her temple. “Soon, Scarlet. Just a little longer.”
“Now,” she pleads, and I groan low in my throat, barely holding my shit together.
I nip her ear and stroke my thumb over her taut nipple. “I’m not having sex with you when you’ll regret it.”
I guide her to lie down and release her pants, sliding them down her legs and dropping them on the floor. There’s moisture on both sides of her thighs. I rip myself away, taking several steps back so I don’t cave and bury my nose into her cunt.
The tip of my cock’s leaking, so fucking ready for her, but I push it beneath my pants’ waistband. I’m not giving up this opportunity to hold her, which means I have to keep my shit together.
Circling the bed, I get in beside her and tuck her into my side. She curls around me, heat sinking into my bones.
“Don’t leave me.”
Her plea is like a knife to my chest.
“Never again.”