35. MATEO
thirty-five
There are few things in existence I have dedicated my life to.
Baseball, being a father, and now, being the man worthy of waking up with Isabella sleeping peacefully on his chest.
Her eyes flutter when she dreams, and she pouted in her sleep when she rolled over and couldn’t feel me.
I spent most of the night awake, watching her. Molding my large body into her soft curves, tracing every inch I could get my hands on.
I’m certain I’ve memorized every bit of her by now.
When sleep finally came, it was with the surprise of Isabella curled up on my chest, legs intertwined with mine.
I try, desperately, not to recount the events from last night. Simply because my morning wood has turned painful at this point. Having all of her softness rubbing up on my hardness makes it difficult to breathe at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
She starts to stretch, eyes closed, as she releases a sound that only sends more of my blood rushing south, and I internally curse my male biology.
When her eyes open, I can see her take in our surroundings and our current cuddling position.
For a moment, I fear that she might freak out and possibly regret the events of last night. But in true Isa fashion, she shocks the hell out of me when she reaches under her pillow and grabs a condom she’s sneakily tucked away.
“Well, good morning to you too,” I say, amused.
She kicks the blankets off our nude bodies and stares at my raging hard-on. “Looks like everybody’s awake. Good.” She quickly rolls the condom on and straddles my hips.
She must be sore. I know I wasn’t as gentle as I should have been last night. But as she starts to lower herself onto me, I allow her to make that call and take the lead. I put my hands behind my head and fully take in my view.
She hisses slightly as she fully seats herself on me but slowly starts to rock, and that look transforms into raw pleasure.
“You know, people usually say good morning and ask for a cup of coffee or something as soon as they wake up.” I try to act affronted, but my moan makes it hard for my delivery to be believable.
“Really?” she asks as she leans forward, rubbing her clit against me. “Huh, interesting. I wonder what most people do when they’ve been poked and teased with a hard cock that’s kept their pussy wet all night.” She sighs as her hips change directions and have me buried even deeper inside her.
I tried to play it cool, but that lasted about three seconds. My hands immediately reach for her heavy tits as I teasingly pinch and tug on her nipples. When her pussy tightens around my cock in reaction, I know she’s enjoying it. I lean forward, sucking one nipple into my mouth as my hand plays with the other.
“Fuck, I’m so close,” she whispers.
So am I. Which means I need to get her there before I do. I keep my mouth and right hand on her breasts as my left hand lowers to meet her clit.
Within seconds, she’s coming on my cock, triggering my own orgasm at the same time.
“There, that’s better.” She smiles as she catches her breath. “Hi. Good morning. Can I get a cup of coffee now?”
We erupt in laughter as I haul us off the bed and into the bathroom for a shower.
That morning coffee is going to have to wait a bit longer.
It takes us another hour before we emerge from my bedroom.
And apparently, I’ve earned myself my very first sex ban. Minimum twelve hours, according to Isabella. And you can bet your ass I immediately set a timer to make sure I’m not one second late.
It’s Saturday morning, and I have a game tonight.
But all I can focus on is how my T-shirt fits Isabella like a dress, and it’s the most stunning she’s ever looked. Hair slightly curled, sitting in a loose bun at the top of her head, barefoot on my heated floors as she cradles her warm cup of coffee in hand.
“Why are you looking at me all funny?” She eyes me suspiciously above her mug.
I walk over, tugging her close. “You got a problem with how I look at you? Well, tough. Get used to it, because if it was hard keeping my eyes off you before, it’ll be well near impossible now.” I lean down and kiss her. Just because I want to. Just because I can.
Her smile beams up at me. “Mateo Martinez, you’re a big softie, aren’t you?”
“I’m pretty sure I proved more than enough times how hard I can be, and that landed me on a sex ban. So look what good that did me,” I mutter as I take a sip of my coffee. She swats my chest playfully as she laughs.
“So, game tonight, right?”
I nod. “Yep. You think you girls will be in the same seats as before, or do you want to head up to a suite? I can put you in one by yourselves, without the piranhas.” I waggle my eyebrows.
Her jaw drops. “Oh, so you’ve heard of them too and sent me in there to fend for myself? You know, Charlie lost pancake privileges for such a crime. I should come up with something for you.”
I kiss the scowl off her face until she’s putty in my hands.
“That’s cheating,” she says between kisses.
“Really? Feels like winning to me.”
My phone chimes on the counter, and Isa breaks the kiss so I can check it.
It’s a text message from my mother, letting me know she can bring Anna to my game tonight instead of bringing her home this morning.
I groan at the thought of my mother thinking she’s wing-manning for me.
“What is it?” Isabella asks, concerned.
“My mother.” I sigh. “She took one look at you last night and made the call to have the sleepover with Anna at her place. Seems like she hoped, or maybe she knew, this”—I wave between us— “would happen. And now she just offered to keep Anna longer.”
Panic is clear in her eyes. “So your mom knows about us?” She takes a big gulp of her coffee.
“Suspects. Probably lighting a candle and praying for, if I go by any of her previous subtle suggestions about you.”
“And by subtle, you mean…”
“Bull in a china shop.”
“Exactly,” Isa huffs. “So what happens now?”
Here comes the part I was concerned about. I never worried about what would happen between Isabella and me behind closed doors. But outside these walls, I know that things can be more complicated, especially for her.
I take her hand in mine, opening her palm and planting a light kiss. “Whatever you want happens. We go at your pace, remember.”
She nods as she looks out at the New York skyline. “Okay, yeah. But what do you want?” She looks up at me, eyes hopeful.
“I already got what I want, Isa. I got you. And however you want to share that news with the world is completely up to you.” I pull her into a hug and kiss the top of her head. “You want to tell your mom and friends? Go for it. Keep it a complete secret? That’s fine as well. Want me to call Nick Stonehaven and have his media company plaster it on the cover of every magazine with professional photos of us? That can be arranged as well.” She stiffens in my hold. “Okay, maybe not that last one.” I chuckle as I lift her chin slightly, placing a kiss on her forehead. “All I need you to know is that this time, it’s different.”
I pause so she can really take in what I’m about to say. “I’m not him. I would never do anything to hurt you, Isa. And this public world I live in plays by rules. I have power and say in things. I can make deals to make sure you’re protected, offer up more personal interviews in return for keeping any type of negative press in regard to you from being printed. It’s power I’ve never cared for before, but I will use it to protect you.” I hold her face delicately, letting my thumbs rub her soft cheeks.
“Will I mess up along the way and make some mistakes? Sure. But you can bet your ass I will work harder and do better by you every chance I get. Give me all of your heart in return, and I promise to protect it with all that I have.” I bring our foreheads together and release a deep breath.
After a few moments, she responds. “Okay. I can do that.” I lift slightly and see the shy look on her face. “I can also try. I don’t have these big muscles or any other powerful tool in my possession currently. But I can promise to protect your heart. And Anna’s. Which is why I think that before we tell anyone else, we should talk to her. Or maybe you do, and then bring me into the conversation when needed? Either way, you take the lead on that front, however you see fit.”
I don’t have the proper words to respond with, because every time Isabella puts my daughter first, my heart threatens to burst from my chest. So instead, I kiss her. I pour every single bit of my heart into it too.
The kiss starts to pick up heat and hands start to wander. My voice turns gravelly as I say, “Ever since the moment I knew Anna’s heart beat inside her birth mother, I knew she would forever be my number one priority. Never, not once since she was born, have I had the urge to go out and meet someone. I’ve never felt the need to take a step into the dating world. Not once, Isabella.”
“So you’re saying you want to take that step now? With me?”
I shake my head and laugh humorlessly. “No. I want to drop to my damn knees. I want to keep you in that special place that you’ve so delicately carved into my heart. I want to be so pathetic around you and hope that you somehow mistake it for romanticism. Because no, Isabella. I don’t want to date . I want you, wholly. Forever mine . Forever ours .” I don’t waste another moment as my lips threaten to devour her. Letting her body know what my words attempt to convey.
“So, is this the part where you ask me to be your girlfriend or something?” She smirks as she pushes on my chest, her brows raised expectantly.
I smirk. “No, this is the part where I beg.”
So much for that sex ban.