Chapter Sixteen Ace
“You two have fun?” Sam asked the moment we entered the lobby downstairs.
Both Matt and I had taken a few minutes to get cleaned up and get out clothes back on before we headed downstairs. I told him I could leave by myself, but he insisted on seeing me out. However, we’d forgotten to take the back stairs and Sam was manning the front desk. The moment he spoke, my heart did a backflip in my chest.
“Uh…”
“Don’t bother trying to deny it,” he said with a casual wave. “Half the upper floor heard you two.”
I glanced over at Matt. His face was bright red.
“It’s fine,” Sam continued, a big smile filling his face. “I knew you two would like one another.” He paused. “And… uh… it sounded like the chemistry is pretty good too.”
“You knew?” Matt asked, looking over at me. “What did you tell him?”
“He didn’t tell me anything,” Sam said, cutting me off before I could speak. That wasn’t exactly true, but it wasn’t a total lie, either. “But it’s obvious that you liked one another from the beginning, even if you weren’t willing to admit it just yet.”
“Sam,” I said in a warning tone.”
“Alright, alright.” He held his hands up in mock defeat. “I’ll quit talking.” He paused, putting his book down on the counter. “Have you two had dinner yet?”
Matt and I shook our heads.
“Well, I still owe Matt another meal today, so you might as well stay and eat as well.” He gave me a wink. “That way, you two can have more time to plan the wedding.”
“Sam!” I barked.
“Alright! Christ sakes! Don’t get so uppity!” He slid out of his chair and headed toward the kitchen. “Just trying to have a little fun!”
The kitchen door swung open and closed, leaving the pair of us in the lobby alone. I looked over at Matt, his face bright red with embarrassment. Mine was probably the same.
“I told him I liked you,” I said. “And then told him to keep his nose out of it. That’s all.”
“Is he always like this?”
I nodded. “Sam’s always been a bit of a meddler. And he’s been trying to get me laid for years.” I sighed again. “Now that he’s succeeded, I doubt I’ll ever hear the end of it.”
“So him sending me to work for you was just a setup?”
“Not one I had anything to do with. That note was the first I ever heard of it, same as you.”
Matt looked at me for a long moment. “I… I trust you,” he said at last. “So… So don’t lie to me, okay?”
I reached over, taking his hand. “I would never lie to you, I promise.” I kissed the back of his hand. “Sam makes people his project whether they like it or not. We just happened to be the target this time. If you stick around long enough, you’ll see him do it again and again.”
“I want to stick around,” he replied, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I feel like I finally have a reason to stay.” He glanced up at me with a smile. “And that’s not just the post-sex feelings talking either.”
“I’m happy with anything that makes you happy.”
“Then I’ll stick close to you for now,” he smiled. “And now I’m gonna go fuck with Sam.”
“Please,” I said, gesturing toward the kitchen. “Be my guest.”
“Just play along.”
“Okay.”
With that, Matt took me by the hand and led me toward the kitchen. Holding a hand out, he threw the kitchen door aside and stepped inside. Sam already had a pile of food on the stainless-steel bench in the center of the kitchen and was starting to chop. He looked up at us both with a warm smile.
“Hope you two like burgers and roasted veg because that’s what’s on the menu.”
“Sounds good to me,” Matt replied. “I’m sure my client is pretty hungry after all that work he just did.”
Sam lifted an eyebrow. “Your client?”
“Yeah,” Matt smiled, taking a seat at the end of the table. “A boy’s gotta make money somehow. These jockstraps aren’t gonna pay for themselves.” He reached over, patting me on the back. “Thanks for the tip, by the way. I’m glad you had a really good time.”
“Uh, yep,” I replied, trying to do my best to play along. “Sure thing. More where that came from.”
Sam smiled, giving Matt a knowing look. “Nice try, kid. If there’s one thing I know about Ace, it’s that he’s not a good tipper.”
“How would you know?” I asked. “You’ve never seen my tip.”
“Well, you’re an Alpha. So I can make some assumptions.”
“Okay, well, now this is getting awkward,” Matt said, looking between the pair of us. “I was trying to fuck with you and somehow it got turned around on me.”
“That’s what happens when you break the third most important rule. Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line!”
“Really?” Matt sighed. “A Princess Bride reference? How old are you?”
“How old are you?” he shot back. “You knew the reference.”
I stood there, listening to the pair of them bicker with a smile on my face. It was nice to see Matt coming out of his shell, even if it was to give Sam a run for his money. He’d never win because Sam was the master of banter, but it was fun to watch him try.
“So, how involved are you two?” Sam asked a few minutes later as he served us dinner in the kitchen. “Is this like a fuck buddy situation or something a little more emotional?”
“Uh…” I looked to Matt for his reaction, but he was already looking at me. “Well, I really like Matt,” I said, figuring the truth was the best course of action. “But I want him to be comfortable with wherever we move from here.”
Sam nodded. “And how about you, Matt?”
“I like Ace,” he replied, still looking at me. “And his stupid hat. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him both inside and outside of the bedroom.”
“Spicy. I like it.”
“But,” Matt added. “I need him to understand that I’m comfortable with him already and that sometimes I want him to make the first move.”
“Oooh, honesty,” Sam nodded, leaning forward so that his chin rested in his hands. “I like where this is going.”
“Is that really what you want me to do?” I asked.
Matt squeezed my thigh reassuringly. “I trust you,” he said for the third time. “I know you won’t hurt me. But I need you to always be honest with me, okay? Even if it’s hard to say. I’d rather know immediately than wait until it turns into something worse.”
“I will… try,” I said. “I’m not good at talking.”
“I want to be your safe place,” Matt smiled, leaning close and placing a kiss on my lips. “It’s gonna be hard for me too, so let’s just do our best to communicate, okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Warmth spread through my chest, my heart fluttering against my ribs. It always felt this way with Sam. He turned me into a lovestruck teenager whenever he was around. I’d also never had anyone ask me to be open and honest with them all the time, regardless of whether or not the other person wanted to hear it. It seemed like such a foreign concept, but already, I could see the wisdom in his words.
“Oh my god,” Sam sighed dramatically. “You two are so adorable. I’m pretty sure my blood sugar spiked just listening to that conversation.”
“You’re free to leave,” Matt said, not breaking his gaze with me.
“No, no. I like it.”
“In the spirit of being honest,” I said, my voice shaking as the nerves welled up in my belly. “I uh… want to tell you something.”
“Anything.”
I gulped audibly. “Uh… that first day I met you… when I called you my mate…”
“Yeah?”
“I… Well, I still feel that way.”
I expected Matt to get upset, or at the very least for his expression to shift to something less desirable. But he didn’t flinch at all. Instead, his smile deepened.
“I know it’s fast and I’m not saying we have to do anything about it,” I added. “But I just wanted you to know that I don’t feel any different. I don’t expect anything from you either. I don’t want to keep secrets from you, though. Not a single one.”
“Thanks for telling me, Ace,” Matt smiled. “I like you a lot, I really do.”
“But?”
“But I’m not sure I know what a mate bond feels like right now,” he replied honestly. “I’m still so mixed up with everything going on and all this change… I just don’t know what I’m feeling. I know I want to keep seeing you and follow this path where it leads me. I trust you and I consider you a great friend.” He paused. “I just need some time before I jump into something that serious. Is that okay?”
I pulled him close, kissing him gently on the lips. “Take all the time you need,” I replied, holding him tightly. “Just being near you is more than enough for me.”
“Thanks, Ace.”
“My god…” Sam sighed, shaking his head. “You two are so damn cute.”
“Sam,” Matt said in a very light but warning tone. “If you don’t go find something to do, I will stab you with a spoon.” He glanced over my shoulder at Sam. “And you know I’m good for it.”
“Right,” Sam nodded, pushing himself up from the bench. “I’ll… uh… see you guys later.”
I stayed where I was, my arms wrapped around Matt as the kitchen door opened and closed. This was where I wanted to be. Always.
Matt was everything to me and I’d do anything to keep him safe.