Chapter 16
EMMIE
Inever thought I’d be attracted to a football player. I always associated them with my father, so they became off-limits. The last thing I wanted was to be with someone who came from the same sport that took all of my dad’s time.
Yet, here I was, seated with a man who not only played football but played for my dad. A man who’s ass looked incredible in his football uniform, something I didn’t even know was a thing until tonight.
Seeing Mateo on the field, even if it was just for a quarter, started a fire in my belly.
He looked so damn good in his jersey, bare muscular arms flexing as he threw the ball.
And don’t even get me started on the way his sweaty hair stuck to his forehead when he took his helmet off.
Again, didn’t know I would find something so fucking hot.
I had debated going to the game when my dad offered a ticket, but boy, was I glad I did. Seeing Mateo in his element was better than I thought it would be.
“You sure you don’t want to go out and celebrate with your teammates?” I asked, feeling a bit guilty he was here with me after his game.
“I’m exactly where I want to be.” Mateo’s words settled deep in my chest.
“So,” I leaned forward with my arms on the table, “what does an after-game celebration usually look like?” I may have been fishing to know if he went out with girls afterward. Not that it truly mattered.
“Depends. Sometimes the guys and I will go out for a drink or to a club. But mostly, I’m at home with ice on my shoulder and a movie or TV show on. Every now and then, I’ll FaceTime my nieces and nephew,” he said, bringing his water to his lips.
A wave of relief hit me unexpectedly. I hadn't realized how nervous I was for his answer. Guess I thought he’d flat out say he slept with random women. To hide my relief, I took a sip of my own water and then spoke.
“You have nieces and a nephew?”
A wide smile took over his face. “I do. Kai, Wrenley, and Jayden.”
My heart pitter-pattered in my chest at his expression. A look of pure adoration.
“Kai is Landon and Lydia’s daughter. She’s five and already has a larger-than-life personality.
Wrenley and Jayden are Wyatt and Josie’s twins, and complete opposites of each other.
Wren is more like Kai in the fact she has no trouble going up to people and babbling away.
Jayden is shyer and more reserved,” Mateo said as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
My eyebrows lifted at him opening his phone directly in front of me, unconcerned that I’d see his password and whatever else. Mateo clicked on his photo album and, shockingly, only had to scroll up a few photos to one with three kids.
“This one is Kai.” He pointed to a cute little girl with blonde pigtails and bright green eyes.
“Then Jayden.” A little boy with shorter brown hair, big brown eyes, and a toothy grin.
“And then Wren.” The other twin grinned widely at the camera, dressed in a princess outfit with her dirty blonde hair in a bun.
“They are adorable,” I awed. They were insanely cute, but what was cuter was the way Mateo talked about them. It was clear these little kids had him wrapped around their fingers.
“They really are.” His face softened as he took his phone back. “Of course I’m a bit biased as their uncle, but they really are the best kids in the whole world.”
“Bet you’re the uncle who fills them with sugar and then gives them back to their parents,” I teased.
“Oh, I definitely am.” He grinned. “I took them all for ice cream when I was back home and let them get the biggest bowl they wanted. Let's just say Josie and Lydia weren’t too thrilled.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “That’s what uncles are for.”
“I can’t let the others claim the cool, fun uncle title.”
“Oh, can’t have that.”
The two of us shared a knowing smile just as our food arrived.
We were at a bar/burger place that Mateo suggested once we left the stadium.
How we managed to find a table on a Thursday game night was impressive since the place was packed.
The giant TVs on the walls highlighted tonight's game, along with others.
It was a miracle no one came up to our table to talk to Mateo.
Twin burgers were placed in front of us, followed by a basket of curly fries. The sight made my mouth water. I was starving, thanks to practice this morning and only managing to snag a small salad before heading to the game.
I grabbed a curly fry and stuffed it in my mouth without preamble and moaned. These were the best fries I ever had. A light groan had me snapping my eyes up to find Mateo watching me, pupils dilated and focused on my mouth.
“What?” I put my hand over my mouth as I chewed.
“Make that sound again, and I won’t be responsible for what happens next,” Mateo warned, voice tight.
My thighs squeezed as images of what he would do flashed through my mind. Him lunging across the table to pull me into a kiss, hand dipped between my thighs to press against the seam of my shorts.
“Emmie,” he grunted, making me blink to clear the images from my head. Clearing my throat, I swallowed.
“Sorry.” Except, I really wasn’t. Not when a man like Mateo looked seconds away from throwing me over his shoulder.
Letting him have a moment, I grabbed my burger to take a bite. I needed to do something or else I would be the one to grab him and leave.
I wasn’t graceful as I ate. There was no point in acting all dainty and delicate when I needed food. Plus, the burger tasted amazing. It took Mateo another moment to gather himself before he picked up his own to eat.
We ate in silence for a little bit, enjoying the food even with the tension between us, which seemed to steadily grow as each second passed. It was probably a good thing we were seated on opposite sides of the table.
The heat in Mateo’s eyes had me shifting in my seat every so often. I couldn’t tell if the room had gotten hotter or if it was just me.
“This place has good food,” I said stupidly, my brain too fogged to make full sentences.
“You should try this place back home—Rick’s. Best burgers in all of Toronto.” Mateo’s foot brushed mine under the table, and tingles shot up my spine.
His words lingered in the air as we both pretended to try to finish our food, but it was pointless. The tension was too thick to focus on anything but each other. Mateo put his almost-gone burger down, eyes lifting to meet mine like he was daring me to look away first.
“You keep staring at me like that,” I murmured, eyes darting to the side to look at the other patrons, “and people are going to notice.”
One corner of his mouth twitched. “Let them.” His voice dropped, low enough that only I could hear him. “You’re the one squirming.”
Heat crawled up my neck that he noticed. I reached for my glass, buying myself a second. “Maybe if you stopped looking at me like you’re about to hop over this table, I wouldn’t be.”
Mateo leaned back, fingers flexing on the table. “Who said I won’t?”
I couldn’t help but wiggle again. The pressure between my legs was almost too much.
The waiter chose that moment to pass by, breaking the stare down between us. Mateo exhaled through his nose then glanced at the door over my shoulder. “We’re done here,” he said, possessive and decisive like his control was barely hanging on.
My pulse kicked up as he grabbed his wallet and threw some bills on the table, not bothering to wait for the check. He stood and offered me his hand. The restaurant suddenly felt too small, too crowded.
With his hand in mine, we quickly weaved through the tables, paying no heed to the stares as we left and headed for his car.
The tension that filled the car was heady.
I clenched my thighs together, trying my hardest not to shift too much in the passenger seat.
I kept my eyes focused on what passed out the window, my imagination going wild on what was going to happen when we got to Mateo’s apartment.
We hadn’t said out loud that was where we were going, but we both knew it.
He placed his hand on my thigh, fingertips curling to the inside of my leg. His hand was warm on my bare skin, his rough callouses sending a shiver down my spine. I bit down on my bottom lip.
From the corner of my eye, I watched as Mateo’s jaw tightened, his muscles flexing as he kept his eyes on the road. He squeezed me, as if he sensed my gaze on him.
I moved without thinking, shifting my hips forward so his hand could move higher, his index finger now inches from the seam of my shorts, which were pressed tightly against my core.
“Emmie.” His voice sounded pained. His grip on my thigh was firm. “Patience.”
“You have patience,” I mumbled. The comeback was immature, but I didn’t care. I wanted Mateo, and I wanted him now. Of course he heard me and rubbed his thumb back and forth on my skin. That didn’t help one bit.
Thankfully, he turned into the parking lot of a high rise moments later. Surprisingly, his apartment wasn’t far from mine. More expensive, yes, but I expected nothing less from a star quarterback that just won The Legacy Championship.
He pulled into an underground parking lot, pricey cars lining the stalls. A lot fancier than my outside parking spot.
Once he parked, I undid my seat belt and opened my door, not waiting for him to come around and do it for me. His hand immediately grabbed mine when I met him at the front of his Range Rover. Impatience filled the space between us, as the two of us headed toward a door that led inside the building.
Mateo held the door as I slipped by, shoulder brushing his chest. Just that little contact made my skin light on fire. As we entered the lobby an older gentleman at the little front desk called out.
“Great game, Mateo!”
“Thanks, Edwin.” Mateo shot him a smile while pulling me toward the elevator on the far side of the foyer. I offered the man a smile over my shoulder, not wanting to be rude.