44. Scarlet
Chapter 44
Scarlet
Warm water coats my back as Matthias pulls me closer to his chest. He’s tucked my legs on each side of him so I’m sitting on his lap, facing him. The tub is big enough for two people, even taking into the fact that he’s practically a giant. I rest my cheek against his peck, tracing my fingers over the letters of his freshly healed scar, and let the soothing way he strokes between my shoulder blades relax me further.
He’s good at this, always knowing exactly what will put me at ease. From the way he washed my hair to how he knew exactly how to hold me. Whereas I feel like a fumbling disaster when it comes to him. It’s not like I have years of experience with this kind of thing. If anything, it’s the exact opposite.
I scratch my nail along Matthias’s shoulder. He’s the reason I’m so inexperienced, and I still haven’t decided if it’s annoying or endearing.
Does being so good at all of this mean he’s had plenty of practice? Have other women laid against him, felt the heat of his skin as he’s coaxed them to do whatever he wants? He’d been an absolute player when we were teens. All the girls wanted to get their chance with him. Their demure smirks and false laughter grated on my skin every time one of them caught his attention. He’d give them a cocky smile, and they’d fall all over him like he was theirs.
I can only imagine that continued throughout his life. More so once Damon became the head of the Order of Saints. Countless women willing to do anything to have a taste of an Everette brother.
A coil forms in the pit of my stomach, and the back of my throat tastes like acid as I picture another woman lying on him just like this, his arms wrapped around her. It’s not that I’m worried he’s going to leave me. Not after everything he’s done to get me here.
I can’t believe the fact that he kidnapped me is actually giving me relief right now. The confidence to know that I’m the only one he wants.
It doesn’t stop the way bile coats my tongue that I’m not the only one. I guess he’s not the only possessive one in this relationship.
“I can practically see the gears turning in your head. Just ask me.” Matthias’s low voice rumbles against my ear as he tilts my head up to look at him.
“It’s nothing.” A flush crawls up my neck and cheeks, and I’m grateful for the heat of the tub to hide my reaction. The idea of him knowing I care about something so trivial as a grown man being with other women… I am though. I’m not even annoyed that he prevented me from being with anyone. I’m frustrated that he was.
I suck on my teeth before asking, “Were you with anyone while you waited?”
His eyes go round, and I raise my hand, cutting off his answer. Actually, I don’t want to hear him say it.
“Forget it. Of course you were.”
His calloused fingers wrap around mine, and he brings them to his lips. “I’ve never touched anyone since the first time I kissed you.”
Memories of that night, him locked in that room and me asking him to be my first kiss, flood my mind. His young eyes had looked at me with such warmth as he cupped my jaw and brought his lips to mine.
Ten years. It’s been ten years since that happened, and he’s telling me he hasn’t touched anyone since? There’s a dangerous, bubbly sensation building beneath my ribs.
“No one?” I ask, my voice too breathy to be firm.
He brings his mouth to mine and kisses me deeply. “Only you.”
I let him pull me into him, losing myself to his touch, when a thought creeps in. “Wait, were you a virgin?”
He bursts out laughing, causing the water to splash over the rim of the tub. “No. Do you not remember how I was back then?”
I can’t look at him. My heart swells until my chest feels tight.
Strong fingers brush the hair from my face. “If I’d known back then, I wouldn’t have ever touched anyone else.”
His gaze stays hot on mine, imploring me to believe him. He’d been a bad-boy player, up to nothing good, who grew into one of the most dangerous, influential men in the world. And he’s always been all mine.
A thrill sends goosebumps down my spine as the power of that thought hits me.
I huff out a laugh. “It’s probably for the best you messed around back then. One of us needed to know what we were doing.”
“You like what I do to you.” A low rumble reverberates from him into my chest as he nuzzles my shoulder. The weight of his cock hardening beneath me has me going still. We’ve already had sex more times than I can count today, and my body’s sore just thinking about it.
I push him away with all my strength, but he doesn’t budge. “Don’t you dare.”
His hot tongue flattens on my neck, licking a path to my ear. “Just one more time.”
Heat floods between my thighs, and I can’t help but rock my hips against him. “That’s what you said last time.”
Matthias rests his forehead against mine, his breath fanning over my lips as his cock notches against my entrance. We both gasp as he sinks inside of me, filling me completely.
“Every time you tell me no, your pussy sucks me in deeper.”
He nibbles on my jaw, and I let my head fall back.
“One more time.”
I’d been surprised when Matthias handed me yellow flannel pajamas with teddy bear heads printed on them and told me to get into bed before disappearing back into the bathroom. They’re soft and warm, and the second I put them on, I could feel myself growing sleepy.
I’m adjusting myself under the blanket to get comfortable when the bathroom door opens. I can’t stop the laugh from busting out. Matthias Everette, Lord of the Order of Saints, is standing in the threshold, wearing a matching set of yellow flannel teddy bear pajamas.
He grins widely at me and gives a mock bow. “I thought you’d like this.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I say it, but he’s right. I do like it. There’s something about him being silly with me, unashamed to do something as out of character as wearing matching pj’s, that has my heart skipping.
I’m nearly overwhelmed with the reality that this man is mine.
He crawls into the king-sized bed and immediately pulls me into the middle.
He rests his head on my stomach, drawing circles with his thumb. “I’m switching the bed for a double.”
I choke on a laugh. “What?”
“You’re too far away.” His tone is playful, but he still sounds half-serious. I can’t even imagine him trying to fit into a double bed.
This man is ridiculously endearing.
“How am I supposed to take you seriously?”
He moves so he’s between my thighs under the covers, arms on either side of my waist, and places delicate kisses below my navel. “I’m so fucking serious, Little Sparrow. If I can’t feel the pulse of your heart, you’re not close enough.”
“You’re insane.”
He nods, nuzzling my stomach with a small hum of agreement in the back of his throat. He’s been obsessed with touching me there since he brought me to this house, taking every opportunity he gets to touch me.
Warm anticipation fills me at the idea I could be pregnant right now. Matthias’ constant optimism has been slowly seeping in. I hadn’t been thinking about kids, and now I’m hoping some miracle happened and I’m already pregnant?
I try to count back the days in my cycle, but the past weeks are fuzzy. My periods have always been irregular, and I’ve given up tracking them in my app. I can’t be sure when it was, and even though the likelihood is extremely low, I can’t help but think I should get a test.
I brush back a strand of Matthias’s deep brown hair, loving the way he leans into my hand. If I even hint at the possibility, I’m sure he’d run to the store right now, but I don’t want him to leave. Not when his weight is covering me and I’m so close to sleep.
Soon. I’ll get tested soon.
“What are you thinking about?”
I jerk back, breath catching in my throat as his searching eyes meet mine. He’s entirely too observant, and I flounder to come up with something else. “I need to go back to the office.”
I blurt it out, but at least it’s something I actually want to talk to him about. I need to recover some form of normality in my life before he tries to lock me away again. I roll my eyes at the thought. I’m going to have to do something about his protectiveness because he’s only going to get worse.
“No,” he replies flatly.
“I’m not asking you, Matthias. This is my job. You promised to lift me up and not lock me away.”
“Did I?” he huffs. “That doesn’t sound like me.”
“Matthias, I need this.”
He lets out a long sigh. “Fine, but you’re bringing a guard.”
“Who?”
“Me.”