Chapter 19 Mateo
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mateo
I was on cloud nine for the rest of the week. Ever since Avery and I had been with each other, we’d been texting non-stop like two goofy lovestruck teenagers.
I walked through the fire station's break room to the microwave, ramen in one hand and phone in the other.
What are you up to tonight?
Dots popped up under Avery’s name.
Family dinner tonight. What, are you lonely at the station with your ramen?
Sure am . . . what if you came by? I can show you my fire pole ;)
Absolutely NOT. We’re keeping everything a secret, remember?
How about you go keep Levi company?
I raised a brow as I put my ramen in the microwave. She had a point, though. My shift would end in about an hour, one of our volunteer guys would take over, and I’d be free unless there was an emergency.
I already knew Levi was at home. What else was there to do in Whynot on a Sunday night?
Good idea. I’ll show him my fire pole
Oh my god
Remind me to show you all the kink equipment I have when we see each other Wednesday . . .
Oh I will. I’ve been thinking about it non stop.
I grinned like a damn idiot. Since Friday, I’d done a little online shopping too. Maybe I was being overly ambitious, but giving gifts was one of my favorite things to do. And kinky gifts? Even better.
Had I dropped five hundred dollars on a new leather flogger, a new riding crop, a new ball gag, and a couple collars?
Yes.
Had I dropped even more on a midnight blue lace bodysuit that I thought would look really damn good on her?
Yes.
Should I have waited to see if Avery and maybe Levi were even interested in those things?
Also yes.
But what was the point of having adult money if I didn’t spend it on adult things sometimes? I already had a paddle and other kinky items, but I wanted stuff for us.
I opened a leftover container of birria as the microwave beeped and swapped the ramen with it. A minute later, I added the meat to my ramen and carried my soup to the break table, glancing out the window that overlooked the street.
The station was a small one. It was outdated too, for the most part, although we did in fact have a pole.
My ramen was going to take a minute to cool down, so . . .
I pulled out my phone again and found Levi’s name. Austin had given me his number, although we’d yet to text.
Hey, it’s Mateo. Are you busy tonight?
Read. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited to see if he’d even text back. God, my hands felt clammy. My entire body felt clammy, actually.
Not busy. You?
Hell yeah.
I get off work in an hour. Want some company?
I was met with silence. Fuck. Maybe I was wrong—
Sure. Come over after. I have muffins that need to be eaten
Muffins? I was sure he didn’t mean his ass, right?
I mean, either way . . .
Sounds good. See you in a bit
The next hour was the longest hour known to man. By the time Tommy sailed through the front doors to the station, my boot was hitting the sidewalk. I beelined for my truck and started it up, my pulse racing as I drove down the street toward Levi’s.
Flirting had always come naturally to me. I loved flirting. I loved making people blush. I loved a good challenge, too.
Levi felt like a challenge. A really hot, hard, muscled challenge.
I was really doing this. I thought about Levi’s expression when he saw me and Avery. The heat in his pretty eyes, the blush that crept into his tan cheeks. He’d looked like he was ready to get on his knees right then and there.
Or maybe I just wished he had.
I slowed as I turned onto Armadillo Lane.
I pulled into the drive and hopped out, glancing across the street at Avery’s little house.
She’d really turned that place into a home since moving in.
I remembered when I first came to Whynot and it was just a sad house that’d been on the market for who knew how long.
The house Levi was renting while he was here was an Airbnb that’d been flipped by a couple who’d moved to Colorado. They’d made it nice, though, and I was constantly surprised at how many people rented it to visit our dusty corner of the world.
I didn’t bother locking my truck and headed to Levi’s doorstep. The door was painted bright yellow and there were a couple of pink pots with dead plants in them. I raised my hand to knock, but the door swung open, Levi filling up the frame with his massive shoulders.
I opened my mouth to speak, but found myself at a loss for words.
Levi was shirtless and in jeans. But over his bare chest and denim was a pastel pink apron with lacy frills and hearts.
“I have so many questions,” I finally said.
Levi grunted and stepped to the side to let me in. Heat crawled up my spine as I passed him, the two of us squeezing into the foyer as he closed the door. He twisted the lock and planted his hand on his hips.
“So my muffins are failing,” he sighed. “I bought baking soda instead of powder, and didn’t realize it until now. You’d think for someone who has a fucking degree in math and keeps about twenty different spreadsheets, I’d be able to bake.”
The scent of blueberries filled the house. I kicked off my shoes next to his boots. “Did you say you have a degree in math?”
“Yep. Shocking, huh?”
“A little. And spreadsheets?”
Levi smirked. “I love them more than anything else. They keep me organized.”
“Uh-huh. I see.” Interesting. It was probably too much that the first thought that crossed my mind with that new information was I bet he has a kink spreadsheet. “I can’t say I’m much of a baker, either. But I’ll still happily try your muffins.”
“The thing is that they’re protein muffins. I’ve been trying to avoid completely derailing how I eat. I used to get some from a little bakery down the street from my apartment, and this was my half-assed attempt to bake them here.”
Now, I made a face. “Like healthy muffins?”
“Yep. I tried. I don’t think they’ll be very good.”
“I’ll still try them.” Although I was growing less and less enthusiastic about the muffins.
Levi led me from the hall through the living room at the front and to the kitchen.
He felt very out of place in this house, like a giant living among glass breakables.
I wondered what his apartment back in Minnesota looked like as we entered the kitchen, and then all thoughts blanked as I was presented with a blueberry muffin mishap.
I clapped my hand over my mouth, stifling a laugh. I wasn’t sure if this was really just a baking soda issue or whatever the fuck he’d said. The muffins had blown up into a gooey disaster all over the pan, blueberries leaking out, protein powder scattered across the tiled counter.
All I could say was, “You made quite the mess.”
“I did,” he groaned. “You’re laughing at me.”
“I am . . . not,” I choked out. Levi crossed his arms and stared at the muffin pan like it was the most disappointing thing in existence. I fought another laugh, doing my best to keep it in check. “Those look pretty bad.”
“Want to taste one?”
“Not really. I think those might possibly be the worst muffins ever.”
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
I was barely holding in my laugh. “I do have a suggestion.”
He slowly turned to face me and raised a brow, serious aside from the fact that his eyes danced with amusement.
“Maybe make an alliance with Evie. You met her last week at yoga. She owns the bakery. I’m sure she’d make you some protein muffins that won’t be . . .”
“A disaster?” he asked flatly.
“Um . . . Yes.”
Levi chuckled and shook his head, turning his attention back to them. “How the fuck am I going to clean this up?”
“I have no idea. I’d throw the whole pan away.”
“The whole pan? Absolutely not.” Now, his laugh was a little heartier. “I’ll deal with it in the morning. Want a THC drink? It’s light, like a beer. I like it a lot more than alcohol.”
My brows shot up. “Hell yeah, Minnesota. I’ll take one.”
Levi opened the little blue fridge that looked like something straight out of a 1950s trad wife magazine and handed me a drink. We both cracked open our cans and I took a sip, watching him a little too closely.
Levi’s eyes widened and he frowned. “Forgot I was wearing this thing.” He looked down at the apron and put his drink on the counter, mumbling under his breath. “I’ll be back.”
“You don’t need to take that off on my account.”
He shook his head. “You’re welcome to wear it instead.”
“Shirtless or fully naked?”
“Dealer’s choice.” He chuckled, then cleared his throat. “I’ll be back.”
“I’ll wait for you outside?” I needed some fresh air, especially with the way my cock was already reacting to him. My blood was hot and I needed to ice out the sexy thoughts before they burned me.
“Sure. I’ll be there in a moment.”