16. Epilogue
Chapter sixteen
Epilogue
Cecilia
T hree months later
“Hey, Ricky, I’m going to head home.” I pack up my purse. The bar was really dead tonight, so Ricky was willing to let me go early. Since I’d decided to finish my degree online, I was having to get up in the morning to do classwork before Oliver was up and about...
It took me a while to decide what I wanted to do. But Mateo was there every step of the way, helping me realize I wanted to become a teacher. It was something I was contemplating before I got pregnant, and it felt right.
“Sounds good, Cecilia. See you tomorrow,” he yells back as I walk out of the bar.
Life in Rose Valley has been a blessing. Meeting Mateo and everyone here is the best thing that could have happened to me and Oliver. Back home, I only used to have Bear. Even those visits were sporadic since Michael insisted, I stay away from him considering his involvement with his motorcycle club, the Wild Hellions.
Speak of the devil, I look down at my phone vibrating in my hand.
“Hi, Bear.”
Since moving here, we’ve kept in touch more. When he first found me here, he’d stayed for a few weeks but had to get back to Texas, assuring me we will visit each other more often.
“Hey, Bug. How are things for you?”
“It’s good. I just got off work.”
“Good. Listen, I’m going to come visit next month, and I’ll have some papers for you to sign.”
I freeze mid-step. “What papers are these?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m handling everything, but it’s a good thing.”
“Well, that’s not cryptic at all,” I say sarcastically.
“Well, I gotta go, Bug. I wanted to let you know that I’m coming soon.”
“Sounds good, Bear. Talk soon.”
“Talk soon.” The line clicks dead. Before I can chuck my phone back in my purse, it vibrates again.
Mateo: Come to my house when you get off work.
That’s weird. I wonder why I’m going to his house, especially considering it’s this late at night. Usually on nights I’m working, he stays with me at my apartment. I try to call him to see if I can get any answers, but it goes straight to voicemail. Getting in my car, I contemplate if I should go over to Mateo’s or just go home. I mean, I’m tired and I have class in the morning.
My phone vibrates again.
Mateo: Pretty Girl, you better listen and come over. You won’t regret it.
I guess I’m going over to Mateo’s.
Me: I’ll be there in ten.
Feeling satisfied with the response, I put my phone down in the cup holder. I couldn’t help but wonder what Mateo is up to. A smile graces my face because no matter what, it’s time to go home and see my men.
When I’m working and Mateo isn’t at the gym, he always offers to watch Oliver for me. Even when I’m not working, we always do things we can include him in. Well, at least most of the time. Watching them spend time together and building a relationship warms my heart.
I pull into the driveway of Mateo’s house and all the lights are off except for one soft glow in the living room. I cautiously get out and walk up the driveway. Opening the front door, a gasp leaves me.
The room is full of candles and flowers everywhere, and in the middle of it all is the man I love, standing there looking delicious in basketball shorts and no shirt. His hand is out with an object sitting in the middle of his palm. I take a step closer to check it out.
“Move in with me.” He thrusts the silver object to me, and I see that it’s a key.
“You’re not going to ask me?” I tease.
“No. I’ve already moved you in here.”
“You w…what?” I stutter out.
Mateo takes a step closer, pulling me into his chest as he wraps around me tightly. “Pretty Girl, we’ve been talking about it for a while. I’ve just taken control.” Then he leans down, speaking into the shell of my ear. “And you know how much I like to be in charge.”
His words send an electric current down my spine, because yes, I do know how much he likes to be in control.
He takes a step back, leaving me standing there flabbergasted. “First though, let me give you a tour.”
He puts his hand out, lifting one of his brows. I take it instantly. I would never leave him waiting.
“Here is the living room.” He says about the room that we’re standing in. “I put Oliver’s toys over there.” He points to the corner of the room.
He allows me to take everything in, patiently waiting for me to say anything. After a bit, he talks again. “I didn’t take any of your furniture because honestly, you don’t need it.”
Mateo stares at me, willing me to say anything, but all the words seem to be stuck in my throat. “Come on.” He pulls me upstairs.
We stop at the first of four bedrooms. He opens the door. I walk in and my breath is taken once more. In the center of the room is a desk with a computer on it, behind it are bookshelves. In the corner is an area with a few of Oliver’s toys along with a comfy chair.
“What is this?” I mutter.
“It’s your office. I thought you could do your schoolwork here. And on days that I’m working, and you have Oliver, he can play here.”
“You did this for me?” I turn to him with wide eyes, my voice a whisper.
One of his shoulders lifts as if it’s no big deal. “Of course. But we’re not done. Come on.”
He pulls me to another room across the hall. He opens the door and I peek in but there isn’t really anything in it, just a bed and dresser. “This is just a guest room, but hopefully, one day another kid’s room.”
“You think about us having kids?”
“Of course I do. You're an amazing mom to Oliver. I want you for our kids.”
Closing the door to the room, he turns and heads toward another door. When he puts his finger over his lips before opening the door, I assume this must be where Oliver is sleeping, and I’m proven right. On one side of the room is a crib with my sweet boy. I take in the rest of the room and some of the stuff is still in boxes, but I can see how much work Mateo put into moving us here. “It’s not much now, but I think it will turn out good once I’m done,” he whispers, being careful not to wake Oliver. We head back out into the hallway.
He then grins at me. “I’ve saved the best room for last.” He opens the door to the master. I take a step in and it’s beautiful. Mateo had it redecorated. A four-poster bed sits in the center with an ivory comforter draped over it.
“It’s lovely,” I whisper.
“I made it into our room instead of just my room.” He comes up behind me and kisses down my neck. “Say yes to moving in,” he whispers against me.
“I could never deny you,” I say as I throw the words he loves to say to me back at him.
“Then show me,” he says as he thrusts his hard cock against my ass.
“I would love to.” I turn and drop to my knees. We spend the entire night showing each other how neither of us could deny the other.
Coming up next is The Secrets that Surround Us. Alex and Fiona's story releases August 19th, 20204
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“Is it everything you thought it would be?” I whisper into my new sister-in-law’s ear as we waltz across the dance floor. Both of us ignoring how my brother Dexter is giving us a death glare.
Smiling back up at me, “It’s even better.”
“I’m glad.”
And I am. Glancing over at my other brother Mateo as he picks up his girlfriend’s son tickling him, as she laughs along. A pang in my chest hits ever so softly. I would love to find someone, but I know that it’s not in the cards for me.
“Thanks for the dance, Alex.” Hazel says as she taps my chest.
Looking down at her hand that sits on my chest just over my heart, I automatically reply, “No thank you, Haze.”
As she pulls her hand away, she looks up in my eyes and they soften a bit and I hate it. I hate how I see the pity in everyone’s eyes, now that I’m the last Hernandez brother and have no prospects in sight.
“You know Alex, you deserve to find someone, too.”
Lifting the right side of my mouth, giving her my signature smirk, “You know Hazel, I’m not meant to settle down. Who would satisfy all the ladies?” Winking at her as I put my brother out of his misery and walk away from his new wife.
Looking over my shoulder, watching the two of them as my brother fills in for me, as her dance partner. A longing feeling fills my chest. Something hard and wet hits my chest. What the hell is happening right now? A soft feminine voice fills my ears, drawing my attention.
“Oh shit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Glancing down at my chest, red wine drips down my white dress shirt. Fuck. That’s going to be a bitch to get it out. “I really am sorry.”
I look over at her and her beautiful brown eyes meet mine and my jaw drops. My eyes never leave her while she grabs a napkin from a nearby table and dabs at my chest. With every touch of hers, my body jolts, as if an electric current runs through me. Sweat beads up on my forehead as my brows furrow. I’ve felt nothing like this before.
Taking her in, she’s donned a silky champagne colored dress that clings to every luscious curve of her body with a slit that gives a peek of her thigh. I swear I get a peek at a flower tattoo; I want to see what it is and how far it goes. Black hair hangs down her back in loose curls. My cock thickens in my pants, and I have to adjust my stance, so she doesn’t notice.
I need to stop this before I do something I shouldn’t at my brother’s wedding. My hand wraps around her wrist, stopping her from continuing to clean me up. “It’s okay, love. But I need you to stop right now.”
Her eyes go wide with my words as she takes a step back from me. She recovers quickly, giving me a soft smile as she shuffles through her bag. “Let me pay for your dry-cleaning bill, at least.”
How did I not notice that giant black bag before.? Was I that engrossed in her?
“You don’t have to. Seriously, it’s not a big deal.”
“I insist.” She says as she pushes her business card toward me.
Nodding, I grab the card from her hand. “Well, since your last drink ended up on me, let me buy you another?” Tipping my head toward the bar.
She lets out a soft giggle. “It’s an open bar.”
“Even better. Come on, love. Let me do this for you.”
“Okay.” she whispers as we make our way toward the bar.
“Do you want another red wine?”
She nods as I turn toward the bartender. “Can I get a red wine for the pretty lady and a beer for me?”
Once the bartender leaves to go grab our drinks, I turn toward her. “I’m Alex. And you are?”
She clears her throat. “I’m Fiona.”
“How do you know the bride and groom?”
Fiona gives me a knowing smile as she lifts her bag as she replies, “I’m the photographer. How about you?”
Of course. How did I not realize? The wedding was such a whirlwind. I mean, I saw her before but when she ran into me, I didn’t put to in two together.
“The groom is my brother.”
“Aww…I should’ve known. You resemble him.”
The bartender comes back, interrupting our conversation as he places our drinks down in front of us. Handing her drink to her. “Are you done for the night?”
“Mostly. I want to take a few of them leaving the reception.” She says as she glances around the room. “Do you know when that is? I don’t see them.”
“Uhh…Not sure. But it wouldn’t surprise me if they sneaked off.”
Her eyes come back to mine. “Do they do that a lot?”
“Yes. It’s disgustingly gross.”
Right then Mateo comes up to me, slapping my shoulder. “Hey little brother. Dexter and Hazel just left, so we’re going to head home.”
“They left already?” Fiona says in a high-pitched voice.
Mateo looks over at her, raising an eyebrow at her. I step in before he says something rude and ruins this for me. “Mateo, this is Fiona. She’s the wedding photographer.” Lifting my drink to my lips, I take a sip.
“Sorry. I was hoping to get a few of them a leaving.”
He shivers then answers her, “From what I saw of them in the car, the pictures would’ve been basically porn.”
Fiona's eyebrows lift to her hairline, but I just chuckle. “I told you they are disgusting.”
She looks over at me and then grins. “On that note, I guess I’ll just finish my drink and head out, too.” Grabbing her drink, she chugs down the rest of the wine, which I must admit is impressive. Placing her glass back down on the bar, she smiles. “Nice to meet you two.”
She can’t leave without me. I’ve never felt like this with anyone before. The need to know everything about her, including every inch of her body, takes over. Ignoring my brother, I place my hand on her waist, stopping her from leaving. I lean down and whisper in her ear. “Would you like to come to my place? You know, for a drink?”
She eyes me suspiciously as her lips thin, taking a step back from me. She can’t say no. If anything, I just need her for the night, whether that’s in my bed or just to talk. I know I have her when she asks, “Only a drink?”
Grinning at her, I put up my hand in a scout’s honor. “I promise I won’t touch you unless you beg me to.”
A shiver runs through her body as her nipples visibly pebble. Hmm…she likes that, huh? By the end of the night, I plan on having her on her knees, begging me for my cock.
“Okay. Let’s go have a drink.” She whispers.
“Perfect.”