Chapter 14 #2
“You stepped toward her,” I say. My voice is deadly calm. “After she told you to leave. After you spent five minutes tearing her down. You stepped toward her.”
“I’m pressing charges.”
“Go ahead.” I flex my hand. “I’ll tell them how you’ve been harassing her, how you forced your way into her apartment. How you destroyed her bookshop and home.”
“You can’t prove any of that.”
“You sure about that? The camera was smashed but still had an SD card,” I say. “Police have it. You sure you want to bet on what’s on it?”
Owen’s smirk falters for a second. He wipes blood from his mouth. “This isn’t over.”
“Yeah, it is.” I take Sadie’s hand with my good one. “Get off my property. And if you come near her again—if you so much as look at her—what I did today will feel like a fucking hug.”
For a long moment, Owen just stares at us. Then he gets to his feet and stumbles to his car.
We watch him drive away.
The moment his taillights disappear down the road, Sadie turns to me.
“Your hand—“
“Is fine.”
“Mateo, you’re bleeding.”
I look down. She’s right. My knuckles are split open, blood dripping onto the gravel. The adrenaline kept me from feeling it, but now that she’s mentioned it, the ache registers.
“Come on.” She tugs me toward the house. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Once in the bathroom, I lean back against the vanity. Sadie maneuvers around me to rummage through the cabinet for first aid supplies.
“I can’t believe you hit him,” she says, setting out antiseptic and bandages.
“I can’t believe I waited this long.”
She stands in front of me, close, gently taking my injured hand. “This is going to sting.”
I use my good hand to touch her face, swipe a thumb over her cheek, and tuck her loose hair behind her ear.
The antiseptic burns when she dabs it on my knuckles, but I don’t flinch. I’m too focused on her—the way she’s biting her lip in concentration, the gentleness with which she cleans blood from my skin, the fact that she’s wearing my flannel and smells like my soap.
“He’s right, you know,” she says quietly.
“About what?”
“I’m not exactly a prize.” She doesn’t look up, keeping her eyes on my hand. “I write books that half the town thinks are pornography. My family won’t talk to me. I can’t seem to do anything without causing drama—“
“Stop.” I tip her chin up, forcing her to meet my eyes. “Don’t let his poison in your head.”
“But—“
“There are no buts. Owen spent years trying to make you believe you weren’t enough. He was wrong then, and he’s wrong now. You’re incredible, Sadie. Nothing that mamón says will change that.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.” My pulse is everywhere—my throat, my wrists, the hand she’s still holding. “Because I’m in love with you, tesoro.”
She goes completely still.
“I’ve been in love with you for five years,” I continue.
The words are finally out, and I can’t stop them now.
“Since the first time you walked into my forge and asked about custom bookends. You smiled at me, and the world just started to make sense. For years, I’ve wanted so much more but didn’t know how to tell you. ”
Tears well in her eyes.
“I love you too.”
The words hit me like a physical force. Five years of wanting this woman, and she just said the words I would have waited forever to hear.
“I think I have for a long time. I just... I don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but I see it now. You’ve been here every single day, every time I call. You flew Jess out because you knew I needed her. You punch ex-boyfriends who insult me—“
I kiss her. She makes a sound against my mouth that destroys me. Her hands come up to frame my face, and she’s kissing me back with the same intensity, the same relief, the same overwhelming yes.
I stand, pulling her with me. She gasps when I lift her up and spin her around onto the bathroom counter. Her legs part automatically to let me step between them, and then we’re pressed together, kissing because we have five years to make up for and not enough time to do it.
“Mateo—“ She breaks the kiss to breathe. “Your hand—”
“I don’t care about my hand.” I kiss her jaw, her neck, that spot below her ear that makes her shiver. “I care about you. Only you.”
“Bedroom,” she manages.
I don’t need to be told twice.
I lift her. She wraps her legs around my waist, arms around my neck, and I carry her out of the bathroom and down the hall. She’s kissing anywhere she can reach, and it’s taking every ounce of my control not to just press her against the wall right here.
But she deserves better than a hallway wall. I kick the bedroom door open and gently toss her onto the bed. She looks up at me, hair spread across my pillow, wearing my flannel, eyes dark with want.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” She reaches for me. “I want this. I want you.”
That’s all I need. I lower down over her, bracing myself, not caring about my hand, and kiss her again. Slower this time. Deeper. Taking my time because we finally have it.
Her hands find the hem of my shirt. Tug it up. I break the kiss long enough to pull it over my head, and then her hands are on my chest, my shoulders, exploring with a kind of wonder that makes my skin feel like it’s on fire.
“Your turn,” I say, fingers finding the buttons of my flannel she’s wearing. She helps me, shrugs out of the flannel, and pulls her t-shirt over her head.
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her.
“Mateo—“
“You are. You’re perfect.” I kiss her collarbone, her shoulder, the curve of her breasts. “Every fucking inch of you.”
She arches into me, and I take that as permission to keep going until there’s nothing between us but skin and want and five years of building desire.
My mouth travels down her body, learning what makes her gasp, what makes her moan, what makes her fist the sheets.
“Mateo, please—“
The sound of her begging unleashes me.
“I know, tesoro. I know.“ I kiss her hip, her inner thigh, taking my time even though every instinct is screaming at me to rush. “I’ve waited five years for this. Let me savor you.”
I settle between her legs. She’s perfect. Everything about her is perfect.
I swipe my tongue over her clit.
“Oh, god,” she moans. “Right there.”
I lick over her again and again, rhythmically and hungrily. I press a finger into her, and her hips arch up. Her hands leave the sheets and move to my hair, fingers tangling and tugging.
“More,” she begs.
And who am I to refuse?
I look up at her, catching her eyes. She’s watching me, lips parted, cheeks flushed, and the sight of her like this—completely undone—makes me work harder. I press a second finger into her, sucking at her clit. Then a third.
She shatters, crying out my name, her thighs trembling on either side of my head.
“Holy shit,” she breathes, her chest heaving.
I move my way back up her body. She pulls me in for a kiss, tasting herself on my lips, and moans into my mouth.
“We’re just getting started, tesoro,“ I promise. “Now, tell me about chapter fourteen.”
A sly smile crosses her face. Before I can react, she’s pushing at my shoulder, rolling me onto my back. She straddles me, eyes dark with desire and mischief.
“How about I just show you?” she teases.
She leans forward, bracing her hands on my chest, bringing her breast to my mouth.
“Suck,” she says.
I take her nipple into my mouth. She gasps, arching into me.
“Swirl your tongue,” she instructs. “Nip at it.”
I follow her directions, alternating between gentle sucking and light grazing with my teeth. I never knew she’d be like this—so in control, so confident in what she wants.
And fuck, I’m here for it.
“Other one,” she says, shifting so her other breast is at my mouth.
I repeat everything, worshipping her as she rocks her hips slightly, just enough to drive me insane but not enough to give either of us what we need.
When she’s satisfied, she sits up, hands braced on my chest.
“Good boy.” She grinds against me.
“What are you doing to me, tesoro?”
She gives me that sly smile again. “Anything I want. Everything I’ve written with you in mind.”
Then she’s sliding down my body, pressing kisses to my chest, my stomach, her hair trailing across my skin in a way that makes me shiver.
“Sadie—“ My voice is wrecked.
Her hand wraps around my cock, and whatever I was going to say dies in my throat.
“I’ve thought about this,” she says, looking up at me through her lashes. “What you’d taste like. What sounds you’d make.”
“Jesus, Sadie—“
She licks up the length of me, base to tip, and my hips jerk involuntarily.
“Stay still,” she commands.
I tangle my fingers in her hair as she takes me into her mouth. Slowly at first, just the tip, her tongue swirling around the head.
“Fuck—“ The word comes out as a groan.
She takes me deeper, her hand working what her mouth can’t reach, and I have to close my eyes and think about anything else to keep from coming right then and there.
She pulls back, releasing me with a soft pop. “Look at me.”
I open my eyes. She’s watching me, lips plump, eyes dark with desire, and the sight nearly undoes me.
“I want to see you fall apart,” she says, then takes me deep again.
She sets a rhythm, slow and deliberate. Her tongue does things that make my vision blur. When she hums around me, the vibration shoots through my entire body.
“Sadie, I’m close,” I warn.
She pulls back, pressing a kiss to my hip. “Not yet. I’m not done with you.”
She climbs back up, straddling me again, and reaches between us, wrapping her hand around me. Then she positions herself, lining us up, and slowly—so fucking torturously slow—she sinks down onto me.
We both moan as she takes me in, inch by inch, until I’m fully inside her. She’s tight and warm and perfect. I close my eyes, savoring the moment.
“Open your eyes,” she commands. “I want you to see me.”
I obey, and the sight of her above me—naked, flushed, taking what she wants—is almost too much.
With hands braced on my chest, she starts to ride me. Her hips move in a flowing, wavelike motion that has me gripping her waist, trying to maintain some semblance of control.
“Mateo,” she breathes, taking my good hand from her hip. She presses my thumb against her clit. “Rub it while I ride you.”
I circle her clit with my thumb as she moves above me. The angle is perfect, and I can feel her tightening around me. Then she reaches behind herself, her hand finding my balls, and I nearly come undone right there.
“Oh god.”
“Goddess,” She corrects, her voice breathless but teasing. “Do you like that?”
“You’re going to kill me, tesoro.”
She laughs, but it turns into a moan as I increase the pressure on her clit. Her movements become quicker as she grinds into me.
“I’m close,” she gasps. She increases her tempo. “So close.”
“If you don’t want me to come inside you, you’d better get off now,” I warn, my voice strained.
“IUD,” she manages. “I have an IUD. Come inside me.”
That’s all it takes. I press harder on her clit, my hips thrusting up to meet hers, and she shatters, crying out my name. The feeling of her coming around me pushes me over the edge, and I follow her, spilling inside her as pleasure crashes through me.
She collapses onto the bed next to me, both of us breathless, our hearts pounding in sync.
“Holy shit,” I manage after a moment.
She laughs, the sound breathy and satisfied. “So, did you like chapter fourteen?”
I pull her against me, tucking her into my side. “So much better than anything I could have imagined.”
She props herself up on one elbow to look at me. Her hair is a mess. Her lips are swollen. She’s never looked more beautiful.
“Five days,” she says quietly.
“I know.”
Her fingers trace patterns on my chest. “I’m terrified.”
“I know that too.” I brush hair from her face. “But you’re going to stand up there, and you’re going to tell them exactly why you belong here. Why this town is your home. And I’m going to be in the front row, watching you prove every single person who ever doubted you wrong.”
“What if I can’t—“
“You can. You will.” I kiss her softly. “And when it’s over, you’ll come home to me. Win or lose, you’ll come home.”
She settles back against my chest.
“Home,” she repeats, testing the word.
“Yeah, tesoro. Home. This is your home. I’m your home.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then: “Can I stay here? Even after the town hall?”
“You can stay here as long as you want. Forever, if you’ll have me.”
She lifts her head to look at me, eyes searching mine. “Forever?”
“I just told you I’ve been in love with you for five years. You think I’m letting you go now?” I pull her closer. “You’re stuck with me.”
“I think I can live with that.” A smile breaks across her face—the first real, unguarded smile I’ve seen from her in days.
“Good.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “Now get some rest.”
She curls against me, her body relaxed in a way I haven’t seen all week. The tension that’s been living in her shoulders since the first Facebook post finally eases.
I lie there holding her, watching the late afternoon light paint golden stripes across the bedroom wall. In five days, she’ll stand in front of the entire town. In five days, everything could change.
But right now? Right now she’s here. Safe. Mine.
“What are you thinking about?” she asks quietly. I thought she’d drifted off.
“How proud I am of you.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
“You’ve done everything.” I kiss the top of her head. “You stayed when they tried to drive you out. You’re still standing, though they keep trying to break you.”
She’s quiet for a moment.
“Thank you. For loving me even when I couldn’t see it,” she says. “We should probably get up.”
But she doesn’t move.
“Probably.” Neither do I.
She sighs contentedly. “Ten more minutes.”
“Ten more minutes,” I agree, pulling her closer.
Because five days from now, everything changes.
But now? Now is perfect.