CHAPTER 20
SIERRA
“I shouldn’t have done that now ,” Matty whispered, running a soft thumb over my swollen lips.
My eyes widened as my heart started to sink. “What…”
“I should’ve done that a long time ago.” His words brushed across my lips before he pulled me in for a quick kiss that left my lips tingling like they’d been touched by an electric current.
“You kissed me,” I said, still in shock as tonight’s events came crashing down on me.
“I did,” he stated. His eyes roamed over every crevice of my face, the rough calluses of his big hands cupping my cheeks. “Why do you have to be so fucking beautiful?”
Fire blazed my skin. “Because you’re looking at me like that,” I muttered without thinking.
I’d never felt more beautiful than I did at this moment under his gaze.
He gave me a full-blown smile that made my heart skip a few beats.
“Come on, let’s get you home,” he said, shocking me once again when his hand eased between us and held mine in a warm grip as he walked us toward somewhere.
I had no idea where, but I followed along, my head filled with a giddy daze.
What was all this supposed to mean?
He kissed me, and now he was holding my hand.
It definitely confirmed that Matty saw me as more than his employee’s sister or friend. He did feel all those magical, unexplainable feelings that I was feeling too.
My heart roared in my chest at that thought.
“Si?” a familiar voice said as Matty jerked to a stop.
My eyes shot up to see Tin glaring at the two of us, leaning against a banister.
“Tin,” I muttered in confusion as I stepped forward, but Matty’s hold tightened, pulling me closer to him. “What are you still doing here?”
“I asked the team to go home. Wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“She’s fine.” Matty’s voice boomed with a sliver of a low warning.
“I’ll make sure of that,” Tin replied, narrowing his eyes. “Si, can I talk to you for a moment?” He paused, adding, “Alone.”
I nodded, casting Matty a reassuring smile, who only frowned at me, but I quickly slipped away.
“Sierra, what the fuck is going on?” Tin asked as he dragged me to an empty corner, a furious expression coating his face.
What the hell was his problem?
“Tin, look, like I said, it’s a long story.”
“And I have all the time in the world,” he countered.
I sighed. “Fine. Remember the record producer I told you about who offered Raphy an album deal? Well, that person is Matty. Raphy and I have been living with him the whole time.”
“Matty?” He raised a brow. “You know him well enough to call him Matty ?”
“Yeah, I do actually, kinda.”
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” He regarded me through the thin slits of his eyes.
I shook my head.
“Oh really? You want to tell me why you were kissing him? The man whom you have an unhealthy obsession with?” His voice raised a decibel.
I flushed, but a flicker of anger pulsed through my veins. “Tin, with all due respect, it’s none of your business who I kiss. And my obsession with Matty isn’t for you to define. I know my feelings.”
He scoffed in disbelief. “You’re just a kid, Sierra, fucking eighteen. And that grown-ass man is taking advantage of you. You must need more brain cells if you haven’t figured that out.”
“Tin,” I gritted through my teeth. “Don’t talk about him that way. Matty is the most responsible and trustworthy man I’ve ever met. And he isn’t taking advantage of me. I didn’t say no when he kissed me. I wanted it too. And don’t insult me by calling me a kid. My age doesn’t determine my maturity. Is that clear?”
“You know him for a few fucking weeks, and you’re already calling him trustworthy?” He huffed a frustrated breath before his gaze softened. “I’m just worried about you, Si. I don’t want you to get wrapped up with a celebrity who uses and discards you.”
My anger dissipated as my lips curved into a small smile. “I understand, but trust me when I say, I’m fine. The last person who would hurt me like that is Matty. He’s really a good man, Tin.”
A swallow worked his throat, but he gave me a stiff nod.
I knew he still wasn’t convinced, and I loved that he was worried about me, but I knew what I was doing. Even if I wasn’t…wasn’t making mistakes and figuring them out a part of life, anyway?
“Look, I’d love to stay here and chat. But I really, really have to go,” I said, giving him a quick hug.
“Okay,” he said. “Just…just be careful.”
“I will.” I smiled, waving as I retraced my steps to Matty, who was still in the same spot as I left him, watching me like a hawk ready to pounce on its prey.
It made a terrible ache build in my body.
“Hey,” I mumbled, smiling shyly. “Sorry about that. We can leave now.”
He nodded, his eyes sweeping over me like a soft caress before he grabbed my hand, once again, and I couldn’t stop the blush that painted my cheeks.
“That boy has a crush on you,” Matty stated as we headed toward the parking lot, which I soon realized now that my head was clearer.
“Who?” I frowned. “Tin?”
“Yes, him.”
“No, Tin’s my best friend. We’ve known each other forever.”
“That doesn’t stop him from developing a crush.”
“How do you know that?”
“Trust me.” He slanted me with a pointed look. “I know.”
“Why?” I raised a brow. “Because you have a crush too?”
“What I have is not a crush, Sierra,” he said, opening the car door and helping me inside. Just as my ass hit the seat, he hooked a finger under my chin, bringing my eyes an inch away from his.
My next breath hitched.
“Crushes are fleeting feelings for cowards who couldn’t admit what they want. I’m neither a coward, nor what I feel for you is fleeting.”
“Then what is it?” My voice cracked. “That you feel for me?”
“Much more,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss on my cheek before he shut the car door, and I watched in utter bafflement as he calmly walked to the driver’s side.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
The car swallowed in heavy silence as he started the engine, and we cruised through the city.
My brain finally made sense of everything that happened.
Matty kissed me.
Matty held my hand.
Matty spoke more than four words in a sentence.
And Matty smiled.
Did I fantasize about him so much that I was living the dream now? Did having delusions work?
But what did he mean by he felt so much more… more what?
“Does that mean you like me?” I blurted.
He shot me a glance. “I thought it was obvious. I can still taste you on my lips, Sierra. I could give you another demo if you’re still confused.”
“No,” I shouted, wide-eyed. “That’s okay. I think I got that… But wait, I thought you would be mad, not this.” I waved a hand.
“I could never be mad at you.” He shook his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “But I was wondering why two different women were fucking with my head at the same time. Color me surprised when I learn they’re both the same.”
I shrugged, biting my lip. “How did you find me?”
He reiterated everything, and I only felt dumb with each mistake I made, thinking I could fool someone as smart and observant as him. But then it all did work out in my favor, right?
“You did good,” he said, smiling warmly. “More than good, you were amazing, firecracker.” He brought my hand to his lips and placed a soft kiss. “I’m so proud of you.”
My throat lodged with emotion. He didn’t know how much it meant coming from him. “Thank you,” I whispered.
He nodded.
A comfortable beat of silence passed between us, and I couldn’t help but ask the question that’d been floating in the back of my head ever since he kissed me like I was his favorite green apple snack.
“So what are we, like dating now?”
“Yes.”
My heart fluttered. “I’ve never dated anyone before.”
“Good.”
“Well, I did go on a few dates, but it wasn’t anything serious. They were all so lame and did not like Matt Evans. That was a big red flag for me.”
His lips twitched. “The biggest. Glad you stayed far, far away, firecracker, because I will be the last man you date.”
“I think I like that.” I smiled sweetly.
This was the last thing I’d expected to happen today, but it was a wonderful feeling. I was dizzy with happiness.
“But first, I need to ask your parents’ permission.”
What?
All my joy dissipated into thin air.
Did I just hear him right?
“You mean my mom and dad?”
“Yes, that’s what your parents mean.”
“You don’t need their permission to date me. I’m eighteen. I can decide who I want to date.”
He sighed. “There’s that too, you’re still young.”
“If it’s my age that you’re worried about, I’m going to be nineteen in two weeks, but even then, I’m only eight years younger than you, Matty. That’s not really a bad thing. I will wait for you if I have to.”
“And I will wait too.” He pressed another kiss on the back of my hand and gave me a shiver of a smile. “But it’s not that. Your parents trusted me to take care of you, and I don’t want them to think I deceived them to get inside your pants. I will do the respectable thing and ask for their permission to date their daughter.”
A loud groan left my lips. I loved his sincerity and realness, but right now, it really wasn’t helping.
“Please no, that’s a very bad idea. What if they say no?”
“I’m a very persistent person, and I’ll keep trying till they say yes.”
“Matty, please, my parents aren’t like regular parents. My mom is very strict.”
“Victoria actually likes me very much, and I don’t want to tarnish the respect she has for me. This is something I have to do, and I don’t want to hear more arguments about this, Sierra.”
Another groan slipped from my lips, but then I stilled, thinking about all the revelations that Matty uncovered tonight. “Wait,” I blurted, shooting straight. “You’re not going to tell them about the whole gaming thing, are you?”
A rise of panic swirled inside my head, but thankfully, he shook his head.
“It’s not my truth to tell. But I’m sure they’ll understand when the time is right. They might have different views, but they love you very much, Sierra.”
Don’t I know that? “Thanks,” I mumbled.
We spent the rest of the car ride in beautiful silence while he held my hand, and he didn’t stop holding it till we reached my bedroom door, and I didn’t stop smiling once.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Matty mumbled, crowding me against the wall as he buried his face in my neck.
A soft gasp escaped my parted lips.
My hands slowly crawled over his waist as I held him tight.
He was too tall, hiding every inch of my body with his towering presence. I didn’t know which was harder, the wall behind me or the rock-hard muscles covering my body.
“Did you eat?” he asked as my hands explored the feel of his warm body, not wanting to let him go.
“Yeah, I’m full. I grabbed a lot of snacks between breaks.”
He nodded, peeling himself away from me.
I had to urge every bone in my body to comply because all they wanted was to be back in his arms.
“Good night, Sierra,” he said, smoothing a soft kiss over my lips. “Sleep, you don’t have to pretend you have classes anymore.”
A burning flush swept my cheeks. “Okay,” I muttered.
“Also, I like my jacket on you,” he whispered so close to my ear that his lips brushed the tip, eliciting a shiver that wracked my body.
And with that, he flashed me a knowing smile and disappeared down the hallway.
It was only then that it dawned on me that I’d forgotten to remove my jacket.
My prized possession of his that I found on eBay.
My lucky game jacket.
And he figured it out. Of course, he did, Sierra, it was his.
I didn’t know if I was embarrassed or hot.
Mostly the latter. That man stirred up every unknown feeling in me.
My back sagged against the wall as I brought a hand to my chest, my heart thundering against my ribs like I’d just run a marathon.
Matty Evans was going to be the death of me.
A death I gladly welcomed.