Chapter 24 #2
There’s a moment’s pause as everyone holds their breath, the flag goes up and the noise from the stand is deafening.
Jules is screaming in my ear, her arms flinging around me and squeezing me tight.
I don’t hear the whistle declaring the match is over, but it must be because everyone around me is hugging and jumping and running onto the field.
I’m released by Jules and caught in a tornado of purple shirts as every member of the Maycourt team celebrates this unbelievable win together; players, grooms, trainers, vets, partners and children descend upon the field in elation.
Somehow in the midst of the chaos, Mateo finds me, spinning me round to face him and, before I can say anything, kissing me hungrily, one hand on my hip, the other gripping into my hair. He pulls back, his hair damp from sweat and plastered to his forehead, his eyes blazing, his breath ragged.
‘That win was a reminder to Basilio that he doesn’t always get what he wants,’ he says gruffly, nipping at my lip. ‘Promise me later I can get what I want?’
I laugh, the adrenaline pumping through my veins. ‘You’ve already got the Gold Cup, Mateo; what more could you possibly want?’
*
Later that night, when the celebrations are in full swing, I’m tending to the ponies with the other grooms. As tempting as it is to sack in work to hang out with my champion boyfriend, I’m determined to show everyone that my priorities are in line. I’m a Maycourt groom first, a polo WAG second.
Things are winding down in the stables and there’s only a few of us stragglers left.
When Eduardo has done the final checks of the ponies, I volunteer with a junior groom called Jay to finish checking the tack is all clean and sorted while the others head off to join the party.
I’m hanging a bridle when I hear the creak of the door as someone leans on it.
‘Oh hey, Mateo,’ Jay says, brightening as I spin round to face him. ‘How’s the party?’
‘Good,’ he replies, his eyes locking on me. ‘You should go join it, Jay.’
‘That’s okay, I said I’d help Ash finish up here.’
‘I’ll help her,’ Mateo says. ‘Go have fun. I insist.’
‘Honestly, it’s fine, I don’t mind—’
‘Jay,’ Mateo says, turning to look at him. ‘Go.’
Fuck me. He’s so commanding and calmly authoritative. It’s fucking sexy. My breath is caught in my throat, my nipples hardening beneath my bra, my heart pounding.
Jay’s eyes dart from him to me and back to him again before he nods and says, ‘Sure. Got it. See you later. Well done again for today, man; it was awesome.’
Mateo gives him a gracious nod and then waits for his hurried footsteps to fade away.
‘What are you doing here?’ I ask, fighting a smile.
I know exactly what he’s doing here.
‘You know exactly what I’m doing here,’ he answers, staying put where he is.
‘I’ve come looking for someone who appears to be doing her best not to have fun.
Tell me, Ash, what is it about this tack room that is so appealing to you that you’d rather hide away in here than come celebrate with me after we won the Gold Cup? ’
‘Who says I’m hiding?’
‘The person who’s been looking for you all night.’
My breathing quickens and my stomach twists with anticipation, a pool of warmth building between my legs.
Fuck. Just from a hard gaze, Mateo makes me wet.
Just from the thought of what he can do to me.
I scour his dark eyes, down to his full lips, along his stubbled jaw, across his broad, muscled shoulders, thinking of my nails digging into them until they leave bruises.
Marks that he’s mine. I wet my lips and his eyes sharpen.
‘I’m glad you’ve found me,’ I say.
‘Me too,’ he says, pushing himself away from the door frame. ‘I seem to remember a promise you made earlier. I’ve come for collection.’
‘That’s funny because I remember you asking me to promise you something, but I never actually agreed to it.’
‘That’s a shame,’ he says in a low voice, stepping across the room towards me. ‘Maybe I can do a little bit of persuading.’
‘That could work in your favour. Although,’ I smile up at him as he stops in front of me, ‘you did win the Gold Cup today. So maybe you do deserve whatever it is you want.’
Placing my palms on his chest, feeling it rise up and down with each heavy, ragged breath, I slide them down in a torturously slow motion until I reach his belt.
With a thrill of satisfaction, I watch his throat work as I unclasp the buckle and pull the belt loose, dropping it on the floor with a clank.
‘Ash,’ he says, his voice strained, ‘I don’t have a condom on me.’
‘We don’t need one. I’m on the pill.’
His breathing’s ragged, his dark eyes piercing as he cups my face in his hands. ‘I’m clean. But if you have any hesitation, any worries, we—’
‘No hesitation. I’m sure. Now tell me, Mateo,’ I say, undoing the button of his trousers and pinching the zipper before dragging it down, ‘what is it that you want?’
‘You know it’s only you I want,’ he rasps, his fingers raking through my hair and gripping it tight.
‘All day, you’ve been torturing me in these tight fitted jeans,’ his other hand drops to my arse, squeezing it, ‘and I’ve had to watch the other players look at you like they might be in with a chance. ’
‘Ah, so that’s what this is about,’ I say, my finger tracing his skin just above his waistband. ‘You were jealous that Basilio made me laugh.’
‘Wildly,’ he admits. ‘I don’t like that feeling.’
His eyes linger on my mouth as I dig my teeth into my bottom lip. ‘Poor baby.’
Exhaling through his nose, his eyes flare with heat and his Adam’s apple bobs, and I savour every single moment of causing these physical reactions, desperate to be the only one who ever does.
My hand drifts to the huge, hardened bulge in his boxers and a shudder rolls down my spine with anticipation.
Hooking my fingers into his boxers, I pull them down with his trousers, releasing his cock and bending to my knees.
‘Fuck, Ash,’ he croaks before I’ve even touched him.
Wetting my lips, I lick the tip of his cock before taking him in my mouth, bringing him as far as I can to the back of my throat, sucking and tasting him as he groans in tortured pleasure.
Oh my God, seeing him like this, doing this to him, is making my underwear wet.
When I draw back, licking and sucking the tip before taking his length again and moaning as my hand strokes at his base, he lets out a rough, guttural noise and leans a hand against the wall behind me for balance.
‘Yes, fuck, that’s good, that’s amazing,’ he rasps as I begin to speed up, feeling him pulse in my mouth, his low moans making my body ache.
His hand falls to my head, his fingers threading through my hair as I moan with approval around him, my tongue dragging up and down the underside of his thick length.
‘Stop,’ he pleads, and with one last suck, I come off him, gazing up in curiosity. ‘I need to feel you.’
Rising to my feet, I kiss him, his mouth devouring mine, his hand not hesitating to unbutton my jeans and slide beneath my pants, a growl of satisfaction rumbling from his chest. ‘I knew it. I knew you’d be so fucking wet for me.’
‘Fuck me, Mateo, before anyone finds us in here,’ I demand bossily, my hand stroking his length until he grabs my wrist to stop me.
He turns me around, bending me over slightly and placing my hands against the wall.
Crouching down, he undoes the zippers on my boots and takes them off, before undressing me from the waist down.
Shit, this is hot. I swallow audibly as Mateo grips my hip with one hand and guides his length into me from behind, a thrill rippling through my chest. I bite back a moan as he pulls back and thrusts into me again, harder and deeper this time, hitting a spot at this angle that makes my muscles flutter and clench around him, an aching pressure swelling inside me.
‘God, you feel good,’ I say, my palms pushing against the wall, being driven closer and closer to the edge as he rocks into me over and over.
‘Say it again,’ he grunts, thrusting deeper and making me cry out with pleasure.
‘You feel so fucking good.’ I moan louder, desperate to give him whatever he needs. ‘Like I was made for you.’
He groans, his hand reaching around me to delve between my legs. Oh fuck.
‘Mateo!’ I gasp as his fingers swirl around my clit while his hips find a faster pace, tremors of electricity zipping through my body and making my legs shake.
‘You’re so fucking tight. It’s too good,’ he grits out, winding me higher. ‘Ash—’
A blazing, frenzied orgasm hits and shatters me into a million pieces, and as our moans echo around the stables, his release filling me as my muscles clench and flutter around him, I know that no one has ever made me feel like this and no one else ever will.
It’s amazing. It’s perfect.
It’s terrifying.