Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I t had been nine days since the incident with the mystery man at the diner. Confident in Hudson Security’s capabilities, Scarlet had gone back to work the very next morning. Though she didn’t understand the full scope of their plan, she trusted them to keep her and Daisy safe. Gavin had called Xander off Daisy duty, but he’d also made everyone at Rebecca’s day care aware of the situation. Which had gone a long way toward putting Scarlet’s mind and nerves at ease.
Now here she was, Thursday night, spooning with Matt on the couch, her mind in a whirl. Just thinking about the long day she’d had made a fresh wave of exhaustion wash over her.
They were coming up on the Fourth of July weekend, and the island was packed. Hudson celebrated the holiday in a big way and had an extravagant fireworks production scheduled for the main event on Monday. The holiday weekend coincided with the final week of the motorcycle retreat at the Pacific View Resort, and it seemed as though everyone who rode a bike had stopped by the diner at least once.
The tourists who’d come in had been lovely, but Scarlet was ready for all of them to be gone. Motorcycles had overridden the town. Every loud rumble had her wincing. Every rev of an engine frayed her sanity a little more. She struggled to keep the paranoia at bay. She knew Bean was tracking the man who’d asked about her, but she still felt like she was being constantly watched. It was unnerving.
She expected the mystery man to pop out at every turn, expected him to... Well, she didn’t know exactly what, but definitely nothing pleasant. Of course, that hadn’t happened.
For nearly a week, the mystery man had driven up and down Whidbey Island, stopping at countless restaurants and diners. There were still no clear shots of his face. It was as if all small, mom-and-pop diners were required to have crappy surveillance cameras—that is, if they had any cameras at all.
However, for the last couple of days, there’d been nothing. No movement. No notifications. Absolutely nothing. And no updates on the person who had broken into her apartment, either.
The not knowing was driving her crazy.
However, one thing that steadied her—as ridiculous and cheesy as it sounded—was coming home to Matt.
Initially, she had thought things between them would be awkward after her I’m-a-club-whore declaration. But they weren’t. If anything, Matt had stepped up his sweetness. Or maybe she was just noticing it more.
They’d fallen into a pretty amazing routine since that conversation. Every morning, Matt ran an ungodly number of miles while she and Daisy got ready and had breakfast. When he returned all sweaty and flushed and delicious, Scarlet had his protein shake makings laid out on the island for him. She’d tasted one once, and yeah... no, thank you. She would stick with pancakes and syrup like her four-year-old.
The three of them then spent some time together, talking about whatever, before she and Daisy headed out. She would drop her daughter at Rebecca’s, who was now back from her family’s month-long stay in Seattle—Daisy was over the moon to have her BFF, Rocco, back—and go to work.
After her eight-hour shift, she would pick up Daisy and head home. Well, Matt’s home. But the more time they stayed there, the more it felt like hers and Daisy’s, too. In fact, the weekend before, Matt had surprised Daisy by redecorating the other guest room for her. Pink bed linens, unicorn throw pillows, and a little flower night-light that projected shapes onto the ceiling. He’d even bought her two Squishmallows to add to her stuffy collection: a pink cat and a popcorn bucket. Because of course he did. To say Daisy had been more than happy to move into her own room was an understatement.
After work, she and Daisy got dinner going so it was ready when Matt came home. She wasn’t the best cook in the world, but she could do the basics. Except grilling. In that case, she would prep everything and leave it for him to take care of. Then they’d all sit down together and eat.
Meals had always been bonding time for her and Daisy, but now, with the three of them together, sitting around the table talking about their days—or rather, Daisy telling Matt the minute-by-minute breakdown of her days—they were that much more special.
But Scarlet knew her apartment would be fixed in the next couple of weeks, and they’d have to head back home. It was something she’d gently reminded Daisy of. Her daughter was growing more attached to Matt by the hour, and she knew going back to their apartment would be a tough adjustment.
For both of them.
Still, she would cherish their shared dinners for the rest of her life. Their movie nights, too.
Much to Daisy’s delight, they’d even had Four, Gavin, and Xander over last Saturday night to watch Cade’s fighters win their first UFC title belts. She and Daisy had unapologetically squealed when the cameras had panned to Poppy and the twins celebrating the dynamic wins. Granted, Scarlet didn’t know much about MMA fighting, so it had all looked dynamic to her.
As for bedtimes, a new routine had been adopted for Daisy. Apparently, Matt did the character voices better than Scarlet, so she had been demoted to bath time and teeth brushing while he read the nightly stories.
After they got Daisy settled each night, Scarlet and Matt stayed up talking in the living room. Those few hours meant the world to her. Not only did she get to decompress and have some adult time, but getting to know the man was simply amazing. They’d talked about everything—their interests and hobbies, the shenanigans of their mutual friends and other Hudson locals, funny stories from their younger years, and some not-so-fun stories of their childhoods.
In between all the talking, they’d make out on the couch. So far, clothes had remained on, but their hands had, for sure, wandered. The fire Matt lit in her was nothing short of glorious. And he put zero pressure on her to go further. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that if she called a halt to things, he’d stop. No questions.
She had slowed things down a few nights before, and he’d complied without question. He hadn’t made her feel guilty or acted all put out. No. He’d just stopped, cuddled her close, and resumed their conversation. It was equal parts shocking, comforting, and... freeing.
Her heart had been bruised and battered over the years, but Matt—with one little comment here and one small gesture there—was slowly healing it.
His arms tightened around her, pulling her from her thoughts. She sank into his chest and sighed. The television was playing some movie she’d paid zero attention to.
“Would you like to go out to dinner with me?” he asked, sneaking a hand under her shirt to trace lazy circles on her stomach. “Just me and you?”
She craned her neck to look back at him. “Just me and you?”
He nodded, and a sly grin played on his lips. “I may have run into Rebecca earlier this week and asked if she’d be okay watching Daisy one evening.”
“Did you now?” Well, that explained Rebecca’s teasing over the last couple of days.
“How does dinner Saturday night sound? I figured Daisy would enjoy some extra time with Rocco.”
Scarlet’s mouth popped open and her eyes narrowed. She twisted, pushing Matt onto his back and climbing on top of him so they lay chest to chest. Chin propped up on her hands, she asked, “Is this why Rebecca offered to have Daisy spend the day with them? She claimed they were going to have a lazy Saturday playing in their backyard, followed by a movie night. ‘Rocco would just love it if Daisy could hang out with us.’ Was that your doing, mister?”
Chuckling, he framed her face in his hands. “Maybe.” He pulled her down for a quick but thorough kiss that had her toes curling. “You can’t deny that Daisy and Rocco would have a great time.”
A smile crept over Scarlet’s face as she recalled Daisy’s excitement over the news of the potential playdate. She couldn’t deny anything. Including this man. “You’ve thought all this out, haven’t you?”
He shrugged. The casual gesture was at odds with his fiery gaze. “Well, we are dating. And I’ve been a complete asshole and haven’t taken you out anywhere yet.”
Planting her forearms on his chest, she reached up and traced her thumbs along his jaw. “You aren’t an asshole, and I don’t like it when you call yourself one. Joking or not. Besides, we’ve had countless meals together.”
“You’re sweet, Scar.” He turned his head to kiss both her palms. “But you know what I mean. I want to take you out out. Where neither of us has to cook or clean. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the time you and I have spent here at home. And you know I love everything about Daisy. But I’ve been looking forward to just me and you going out.”
Home. Love. Daisy. You.
The combination of those words had her practically swooning. Maybe she was reading way more into them than he’d meant, but she didn’t think so. With every breath, this man claimed a bigger and bigger piece of her heart.
She took in Matt’s handsome features. His warm brown eyes, his jaw cut like granite, his five o’clock shadow... Then she took in the rest of him. His T-shirt perfectly hugged his broad shoulders and arms. And his hard bulge pressed against her in a way that was impossible to miss.
“You keep looking at me like that, sweetheart, and I’m gonna have to rethink the fucking-on-the-couch thing.”
She trailed a finger down his neck and along the collar of his T-shirt. In the near-silent room, her nail made a soft scratching noise against the cotton. “Would that be such a bad thing?”
Before she could shoot him a grin, she was on her back with Matt lying between her thighs.
“You’re so damn tempting,” he said. Holding her face in his hands, he simply stared at her.
The look in his eyes had her core clenching. “I want to be with you, Matt. Not just tonight. And not just our bodies. I want...”
“What do you want, baby? Tell me.”
Her heart thudded in her chest. The passion and affection shining in his eyes gave her courage. “I want to be yours. And... I want you to be mine.”
Matt crashed his mouth to hers, and she gasped. Their tongues met, and she moaned into his mouth. Just as the last coherent thought vanished from her mind, he pulled away.
“I’m yours, Scarlet. I’ve been yours for longer than you know.” Slipping his hands under her shirt, he squeezed and molded her breasts. “You’re mine, Scarlet. Mine.”
“Yes,” she whimpered as he ground his hard erection against her. “Make me yours, Matt. Take me. Please.”
He pressed another kiss to her lips before standing and pulling her up. Without a word, he linked their fingers and walked her down the hallway. In front of Daisy’s room, he paused and released her hand. Quietly opening her daughter’s door, he peeked inside. He nodded in satisfaction and pulled her door nearly closed.
Retaking her hand, he whispered, “She’s out cold, spread out like a little starfish. But we’ll lock the door, just to be safe.”
Oh god, this man... Even in the throes of passion, he cared enough to check on Daisy.
Once they were in his room, Matt indeed locked the door behind them. He whipped off his shirt and dropped it on the floor. For a moment, she could only stare. He was breathtakingly beautiful. He’d probably balk at that description, but it was true. He truly, truly was beautiful.
Her fingers trembled as she reached out and traced the lines of his chest tattoo. “Do these have significance?”
“Yeah,” he said, voice raspy. “But fuck if I can remember what.”
Scarlet glanced up at him, and desire stared back at her. Need consumed her, but she managed a flirty grin. “Why would that be?”
“Sweetheart, I’ve dreamed of you touching me. And, baby, the reality is so much better than I imagined.”
Heaving out a breath, she dropped the flirty smile and gave him honesty. “I’m so nervous, Matt.”
He covered her hand with his. “We can stop whenever you want. You call all the shots with us. Always.”
She erased the tiny bit of space between them, and he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her tight. His skin was like an inferno, and she soaked up his heat. Tilting her head back, she met his gaze. “I want you so much. I’m just...” She blew out a breath. “Nervous.”
Which was stupid. It’s not like she’d never done this before.
“But you’ve never done this with me,” he murmured, caressing the side of her face.
She should have been embarrassed about speaking her thoughts aloud, but his gentle touch alleviated the awkwardness.
“I’ve never felt this way before,” she confessed.
“Me neither.” He snagged her hand and guided her toward the bed. Sitting on the edge, he pulled her between his legs.
She draped her arms over his shoulders. They were almost eye to eye now.
“You matter so much to me, Scar. I want to know everything about you. What your dreams are. What your hopes are. And I want to help you get every damn thing you want.” He ran his hands up her sides, lifting her shirt as he went. When it cleared her head, he tossed it aside. “I want to know what scares you and what makes you soar.” His eyes roamed over her, and he pressed a kiss to the center of her chest. “I want to know what makes you tremble. What makes you sigh.”
She did both those things, and wetness flooded her pussy. “Matt...”
He unhooked her bra and tossed it away. A second later, his hands were back on her ribs, thumbs caressing the undersides of her breasts. “These beautiful nipples, I’ve fantasized about them. I want to know how sensitive they are. I want to suck on them and make you come from that alone.”
Her eyes closed as he pinched the sensitive buds between his fingers, rolling them. His mouth descended on her left breast while he continued to work her right with his hand. She groaned when he sucked, and her pussy clenched.
“Shhh,” he murmured. “We have to be quiet, sweetheart.”
“Make love to me, Matt. Please.”
“Soon,” he said, moving to her other breast. “There’s still so much to explore.” He flicked her nipple with his tongue, and she threw her head back. Then he sucked it deep into his mouth.
“Please, Matt,” she begged, biting her lower lip.
“Tell me what you want,” he murmured against her breast.
“Touch me. Please.”
“Where?” His hand moved to her stomach, his touch soft and fleeting. “Here?”
“Matt...” She squirmed, in desperate need of his touch.
His hands drifted lower, and he pushed her pajama pants and panties past her hips. They fell, pooling at her feet. His thumbs skimmed up her inner thighs.
“Here?” he asked, his fingers slipping through her wet folds.
“God, yes.”
“Oh fuck, baby,” he groaned, his clever fingers exploring and teasing. “You’re so fucking wet for me.” He spread her lower lips and found her clit with his thumb, rubbing tight circles over the nub.
She ground down on his hand. “More, Matt... please.”
His thumb picked up its pace, and her hips began moving. He caressed her slit, then sank two fingers deep inside her.
“Yes!” she cried out.
“That’s it, baby. Ride my hand. You’re so fucking beautiful.”
His fingers pumped inside her. The wet noise of her pussy, of her desire, filled the room.
“More,” she begged. She was so, so close.
In one smooth motion, he turned and pushed Scarlet onto the bed. Hovering above, he spread her legs wide and fucked her with his fingers until she was moaning. The tension in her body built. And the second his mouth found her breast, she detonated. Her thighs locked around his hand.
“That’s it, baby,” he murmured. “Milk my fingers with that sweet pussy.”
A fresh wave of excitement flooded through her.
Heaving out a breath, she met his gaze. His pupils were blown. “More, Matt. Please. I need more.”
“Yeah?” His smile was triumphant. “You want my cock, sweetheart?” Her core clenched around his fingers, and he chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
She grinned. “I knew you were a smart man.”
He withdrew his hand from between her thighs and reached for his nightstand. Passing her a box he’d pulled from the top drawer, he said, “Get one out, please.”
She tilted her head at him.
He shrugged. “I’m gonna be a little busy.”
Scarlet’s jaw dropped as he sucked her juices off his fingers.
“Yeaaah...” He gripped her knees and pulled them wide. “You grab the condom. I’m gonna be a little more than busy.”
She lurched off the bed when his mouth met her molten center. He clamped an arm over her stomach to hold her down, and she slammed her lips together to keep quiet.
Matt ate her out like a starved man. His tongue moved from flicking over her clit to fucking her deep. She was a writhing mess, and when he sucked her clit between his lips and pressed his fingers inside her, she exploded again.
“Fuck, you’re delicious,” he growled, rising to kneel between her thighs. He grabbed the condom from the bed and rolled it on.
Scarlet’s mouth watered at the sight of him towering over her. His long, thick erection was straining up, almost hitting his belly button. God, what she’d do to swallow that down...
“Later, sweetheart,” he said. “I want to see how good you take my cock.”
She smiled and opened her knees wide. “Yes, please.”
“Fuck, you’re spectacular.” Lining himself up, he paused and caressed the side of her face. “Thank you, sweetheart. Thank you for trusting me.”
The tender words and touch were unexpected. Tears rushed to her eyes.
“You mean everything to me,” he murmured. “ This means everything. But know that even if we fuck like mad rabbits, we’re still making love.”
Scarlet pulled his lips to hers. She tasted herself on him, and a new wave of desire washed over her. But their kiss remained slow and sweet and tender.
He pushed into her, and they both groaned. He was thick and long, but she was so wet from her orgasms, from him , that he bottomed out with ease.
“Ohmygod,” she moaned. She’d never been so full. “You feel amazing.”
“Fuck, Scarlet. I have to move.”
“Yes,” she said, hiking her legs up.
He set a fast rhythm, hitting so deep that the sated tension within her quickly built back up.
“Harder, Matt,” she whispered. “I’m almost there.”
“Get there, baby,” he demanded, pistoning his hips.
She reached between them and rubbed her clit. That’s all it took for her body to tense and shatter. She flew over the edge again.
He pumped inside her once more before stilling with his release.
Collapsing onto his forearms, he pressed their foreheads together. “I think you may have killed me, sweetheart.”
“Same.” She placed a kiss on his lips, then sank into the mattress. “Not a bad way to go, though, right?”