Spark (Swipe Right #1)

Chapter Seventeen

Mia did exactly what Aurelio had asked, letting her body collapse into her bed. As soon as her head had hit the pillow, she was dead to the world. As she dreamed, the pictures of Aurelio rolled through her mind. She found herself back at the park, the sun setting over the ocean in front of her, her hair blowing gently in the breeze. As she watched the sunset, she felt hands wrap around her waist, strong and comforting. She smelled him before her eyes turned to meet his; the warmth there melted her heart. She felt his hands begin to roam her body as the sunset faded and stars emerged above them. She twisted her body around in his arms, her lips finding his. The kiss had caused an explosion in her mind, the lights around her glowing brighter and brighter. She felt the heat of his desire mixing with her own. Her dream-Aurelio moaned her name, letting his mouth wonder her body as they floated together.

Mia awoke with sweat on her brow, her legs and body tingling from the phantom feeling of his rough hands caressing her. The sun was rising, and her alarm blared on her phone. Heaving a large sigh that her dreams with Aurelio were interrupted, Mia climbed out of bed. The heater in her loft kicked to life as she stretched and walked to the bathroom. She glanced at her phone; a new message from Aurelio blinked at her. A hand ran through her messy hair as she swiped the screen.

Aurelio: Good morning, beautiful. I hope you got some rest. You were running through my mind all night.

Mia smiled at the photo he sent the night before; he was working on his car, shirtless with grease on his face. The little dark hairs of his happy trail were visible just above his pants. Her heart skipped a beat. The thing she loved most about the image was his smile. It was wide, real, and happy.

Mia: Mornin’, you also dominated my dreams. ??

She washed her hands, staring at her face in the mirror. The bruise on her forehead was large, purple and blue in the center, with an ugly yellow border.

“Ugh, eww,” she said, touching it gingerly. “Great.”

Mia went to the fridge for a quick breakfast. She grabbed a plump, delicious plum and rubbed it on her shirt, a habit from her dad. Biting into the juicy fruit, she made quick work of her morning procedure. As a respected student, she had a certain reputation to uphold so, she went with a semi-casual professional look. She had three classes to attend, one of which she was T.A for, and then a shift at the diner from three-thirty to close. Her day off had been full of enough activity for a month, but she had to focus and get back to reality. Her phone chimed.

Aurelio: Ooo, dominated, huh? Did you like it? ??

Mia: You could say that… At least my body did…

Aurelio: This is the best good morning text I have ever had. Please text me every day!

Mia let out a chuckle. Her hair fell over her shoulders as she carefully twisted up half, pinning it out of her face. She opted for light makeup, covering the bruise as best she could.

Aurelio: What are you up to?

Mia: School till three, then a shift at the diner.

Aurelio: I have a confession. I know Mac.

Mia drew in a breath, her brain making the connection instantly.

Mia: Aurelio! You have been making that poor kid stay late and help me close?!

Heat rushed into her cheeks as she realized, her eyes closing as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Of course he knew Mac, the mysterious other job.

Aurelio: He is like my little brother. Don’t be mad, please.

Mia: I don’t know if im mad or not. Its been nice having him there. But…

Aurelio: But?

Mia: You crossed a line. But I am glad you told me.

Mia paused. She was mad, this felt like a violation of her space, but she could understand why. He was worried about her, he had expressed concern when she ahd told him she locked up alone many nights.

Aurelio: Would you be okay if I stopped by sometime?

Mia smiled.

Mia : Of course. Have you ever eaten there?

Aurelio: No. But I bet it’s the best place to go in town, with the best service!

Mia: He called out last night. Was he at the park?

Aurelio: Yeah, he was. He left before you got there, though. I want to try to reach out. I care about the kid.

Mia: I understand. He is a good kid.

The phone rang in her hands, startling her. She looked at the number. It wasn’t Aurelio's, but still unknown in her contacts.

She answered it tentatively. “Hello?”

“Hi, Mia. It's Detective Daniels… Charles,” a male voice introduced.

“Oh, hi!”

“Sorry for the early call,” he said, prompting Mia to check. It was almost seven; she had to leave soon. “But I was hoping to chat with you about something.”

“Sure, what can I do for you?” Mia replied, rushing around the apartment to collect the papers and books from the island.

“Well, it turns out that the cars you saw all those weeks ago were at a park about twenty minutes from your house,” he said smoothly.

Mia's heartbeat kicked up a step. “Oh, yeah! Oliver mentioned that last night. He was waiting for me when I got home.”

“He was?” Charles’ voice betrayed very little. “I spoke with him last night, as well.”

“So, he told you then.” She paused, picking her next words carefully. “I'm sorry I punched him; he startled me.”

Charles laughed. “He failed to mention that part.” He laughed a little harder before continuing, “He said you were out with your boyfriend near the park?”

“Yeah, we went to go look at the cars, but I was so cold.”

“Hmm, then what did you do instead?” he questioned.

“We went to the diner a couple streets over and had some dinner.”

“Oh, yes, Bird’s Eye. I know it well; the station gets a lot of takeout from there. They have great grits.”

“Yes, I actually work there, too.”

“Oh, that's why you look familiar. You're mostly night shifts?”

“Yes, I go to school full-time as well.”

“That's awesome,” he praised, his voice sounding fatherly. “What's your major?

“Psychology. I'm a post-grad student working on my dissertation,” Mia said proudly.

“Impressive.”

“Well, it's a lot of work.” Mia looked at the time on her phone before putting it back to her ear. “I need to head to class soon.”

“Of course,” he said. “Do you mind if I call you later to continue if need be?”

“Not at all.” Mia brought a finger to her mouth, resisting the urge to bite the nail. “I am busy all day, but I will try to call back if you leave a message.”

“Sounds great. Thanks.”

With a click the phone went black and Mia sighed. She felt the nerves shifting in her belly as she checked the time once more. The hour was too close to the start of classes and her worries would have to wait till later.

Mia threw her stuff over her shoulder, keys in hand, and ran down the stairs. Passing the cafe, she spotted a familiar head of blonde locks. Not wanting nor having the time for another confrontation, she ducked out the side door, moving swiftly across the street to the garage. She got in her car and tried to rush putting the key in; of course, it gave her trouble. She took a breath and did it slowly.

“Thanks,” Mia sighed as the car started. Her phone chimed, but she didn't have time to respond to anyone. If it was Aurelio, he would understand.

The ride to the diner was tense. She had to stop to make sure Flory could, or would, vouch for her. She saw David in the kitchen through the front window; his face was already red, indicating that he was mad about something. Flory was serving coffee to the regulars at the counter. She raised her brow when she spotted Mia, eyes darting to the hallway and the back-of-house section.

“Girl, what are you doing here? Get to class,” the thin woman said, giving Mia a slap on the arm.

“I'm on my way, but I have a huge favor to ask you.” Mia gave a cheeky smile.

“I can't switch shifts, love. I already told Mac I would cover today and tomorrow for him.” Flory shook her grey curls, moving down the counter to place the coffee pot back on the burner.

“No, it’s not that,” Mia insisted, pressing her palms into the counter between them. “The cops may come by, asking if I was in last night.”

Flory spun on her heels, shocked.

“Excuse me?”

“The cops, or at least a detective, may call.” Mia looked down, the shame of it hitting her. Flory had been like a mother to her since she arrived in California. [SS5]They met at the apartment building. Flory had lived on the second floor before moving into her son's house, which was closer to the diner.

“Mia, what’s goin’ on? Tell me, darling.”

“The guy I met, the one who ghosted?” Flory nodded. “We, reconnected, and there was some trouble,” Mia hesitated. She couldn't lie to Flory, never had. “He is… well, he's amazing.”

“Then why are the police involved? What kind of trouble?” Flory lifted a wrinkled brow.

“He isn't in trouble.” It wasn’t a lie. As far as she knew, Aurelio was not in trouble. “But last night, when we were on our date, the cops busted up some kind of car theft thing, and we were there.” Mia shrugged. “We didn't want any trouble, so we snuck off as the cops arrived. One of the detectives on the case lives in the loft next to me.”

“Girl, this story is all over the place. Forget that I asked.” Flory spun to grab food as the bell dinged. “Did you do anything illegal?”

“No. Not at all.” Mia followed her coworker as she walked down the counter, dropping plates as she went.

“What do you need then, hun?”

“If anyone calls, can you just confirm that me and my… boyfriend were here eating when the cops went by?” Mia waited, hands perched on the seat of an empty chair.

“Sure, what's the guy's name again?”

“Aurelio.”

“Okay,” Flory agreed.

Mia squealed. “Thanks! You are the best!”

The older woman nodded. “But my price is full details tonight.”

“Done.”

Mia reached her classroom with only moments to spare; the detour to the diner cost more time than she thought. Still, she had managed to escape before David saw her. The door to the class slammed closed, and the professor gave her a look as she went to her seat. The class was technically above her, but she had fast-tracked her degree as much as possible. The lecture began with a slideshow that Mia knew would quickly lose her attention. Her mind began to wander as she sat, the dull drone of the professor's voice doing nothing to keep her engaged. Mia thought of Aurelio and the several texts she needed to send to him because she basically ignored him that morning after the phone call from Detective Daniels.

Trying to focus, she rubbed her eyes behind her glasses, accidentally smudging them. With a sigh, she reached into her bag for a cleaning cloth. As she felt for it, her fingers brushed her silently vibrating phone. Cautiously, she pulled it onto her lap. Aurelio's number lit up the screen. Of course, she couldn't answer it, but she could text him back. She declined the call and quickly clicked her messages. She had three missed calls and four texts from Aurelio. The first two messages were from their previous conversation.

Aurelio: What are your thoughts about dinner and a drive-in date?

After an extended period of time without a response, his follow-up messages increased in urgency.

Aurelio: Mia, everything okay? Answer your phone. Another message came in. Please, I don't know if something's wrong.

Mia: All good, in class.

She sent the short message, guilt gnawing her insides. Their relationship was now split in two, Mia felt. There was the time before he ghosted, when they texted and called all the time. And then there was now. She felt this shift, like they were starting over. Although she had told him she was busy, she had been kind of a jerk not sending a simple “heading to class, ttyl” text. She knew the guilt was not hers to really wear, she had been here waiting while he had been gone. But the only way to move forward with a relationship was to let that go. Her phone buzzed in her hand, pulling her focus back to now.

Aurelio: Oh, good. Sorry. In the world I live in, getting no answer triggers a panic. Especially when it’s someone I care about.

Mia read the line again, knowledge of his world flooding her as she realized how stressful his day-to-day must be. Choosing to let it go, give this relationship a chance without past mistakes hanging over it, she tapped a quick reply.

Mia: I get it. Text after this class, before the next. TTYL ??

The class passed slowly, more so than usual. But once it was over, she had thirty minutes before her next one. Sitting in the little cafe on campus, she pulled out her phone.

Mia: Free to chat?

Aurelio: For you, beautiful, always. Call me?

Mia: ??

Mia clicked his number, swearing she would add it to her contacts as soon as the conversation was done. He picked up after the first ring.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“Hey.”

“What are you up to?”

“I’m on a break before my next class.”

“How much time do you have?” His voice was low, dangerous.

“Unfortunately, not enough,” she sighed.

“That's too bad; my mind was running with ideas.”

Mia laughed; her thoughts had been going in the same direction… to the gutter. “Mine, too.” The path she was on would lead to somewhere she couldn't go. She needed to shift gears. “Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. I got a phone call from Detective Daniels and had to talk to him.”

“What!? Who?”

“He is Oliver’s partner, the neighbor?” she paused, lip caught between her teeth as she formulated her next words. “He called because Oliver told him I was at the docks, with my boyfriend.” She heard aurelio let out a deep breath.

“Listen... I don't want to cause problems in your life.” Aurelio said after a moment. “You don’t need cops sniffing around you because of me.” [SS6]

Mia could understand that, but his tone mad her pause. She didn’t blame him for Olivers attention, he seemed to be someone who didn’t take no well.

“Its not because of you, Aurelio.” She said, finger tracing the pattern on the table she sat at. “Oliver seems to have some kinda obsession with me.” She heard a snort from Aurelio.

“I don’t blame him, you are an absolute angel.” He said. “But your mine.” A shiver went down Mia’s spine as the words thudded in her chest. Mine. She savored it, the way he had so casually thrown it out there.

“Aurelio.” She breathed and heard him give a soft chuckle.

“That is, if you will be mine, Beautiful.” The tone was inviting. She found herself nodded before words came.

“Im yours.” She closed her eyes as she spoke, wishing she could be with him now. “But only if I get to have you too.” A laugh came thru, making her smile.

“If you’ll have me.” Aurelio said. “Just don’t let what I am trying to leave cause you inconvenience.”

“Okay.” She said.

“We do need to sit and talk about things.” His voice had returned to its normal, easy, gruff nature.

“I agree, but we need to have open minds,” Mia said. “And our hands tied to chairs.”

“Oh, that's probably true,” Aurelio agreed. “Something about you drives me crazy.”

She laughed; he obviously didn't realize he did the same to her. “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.” She chuckled as her mind conjured the images she had dreamed about the night prior. Her mouth moved before she could stop herself. “All I could think about in class was you.” Her eyes shut in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing.

“Yeah, the job's been tough today,” he finally said. “Every time I get behind a wheel, I just want to speed towards you.”

Mia’s lips curved upward even as her phone pinged. Class was starting in five minutes. “Shit,” she breathed. “I have to go.” She didn't want to hang up.

He sighed, “I have to focus on the road anyway.” The sound of him shifting gears and the engine revving made Mia raise her brows.

“Seriously, driving and on the phone?” She placed a hand on her forehead. “Are you trying to get pulled over?”

Aurelio's laugh was loud, genuine. “That's a good one, beautiful! As if they could catch me!”

She smiled. “I won't have a chance to call until after my shift at the diner,” she told him, grabbing her bag to head to the lecture hall. “Did you still want to stop by tonight?”

“Yeah, I want to try. Unfortunately, I can't promise anything. I have one more place to go today, and depending on how that goes…” The sentence trailed off, and Mia's mind instantly raced with worry.

“Are you in danger?” she asked, hand over her mouth, talking quietly.

“Not if I do my job right,” he answered. “But for you, I will be extra careful.”

“Well, I guess that will have to do. I don't want to hang up,” she confessed, her voice like a pouting child’s.

“I know, beautiful,” he chuckled. “But we have to. Talk soon.” He clicked the phone off before she had a chance to answer. Had that been a siren she had heard in the background as he hung up?

The next two classes went by in a blur. Mia really liked her third class, child psychology. That was what she was hoping to focus her career on. She quickly raced to the last class of the day and reached the door just as the professor pushed it open, smacking her in the face as she walked out.

“Oh my!” Professor Soara exclaimed, grabbing Mia's wrist. “My dear, I am so terribly sorry!” Once she was steady, Soara released her wrist, and Mia put a hand on her forehead, which was sore on both sides.

“It's okay, Professor,” Mia said, glancing into the empty classroom. “Where is everyone?”

“Did you not get the email?”

“Oh, no. I'm sorry, my day has been crazy.” Mia slid her phone out of her pocket to check her email. With a quick glance, she saw two emails from the professor. “Oh, I did get them!” The phone vibrated in her hand. It was an unknown number again, but she ignored the call. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, yes, but I have been called away from the school for a few weeks,” Professor Soara disclosed, locking the lecture hall.

“I have to go back east for a couple of weeks, so the class will be virtual for the remainder of the year.” Mia swallowed hard; she needed this T.A. position. “Don't worry, dear. I will still need your help.”

“Great, I mean, I hope everything is okay?” Professor Soara's family was in New Hampshire.

“We shall see. I am taking this week to get settled there, so the students are doing a small paper on the last book we covered. I will need you to check in with them through email. Next week, I will be using some previously recorded classes and discussion forums to finish the year.” The professor led the way to the cafe. “It's entirely up to you if you want to be in the building or at home for the classes. I don't think I will need you to do anything here for me. But I will be giving you your full T.A credit.”

Mia smiled; that was a huge relief. Without the credit, she would have to stay another year in school. [SS7]

“Thank you, Professor Soara. I really appreciate it.”

“You are going to be one of the best child psychologists our field has ever seen.”

“Wow.” Mia was stunned. “Thank you.”

“My dear, it has been my pleasure.” Professor Soara nodded and left.

Mia was in disbelief; her whole school career just got a lot easier. She would still have to help the students and put in the effort, but she had ninety minutes of freedom every day. She was beside herself with joy. Giddy with excitement, she found herself reaching for her phone, wanting to call Aurelio. She remembered the missed call. It wasn't Aurelio's nor Detective Daniels’ number. She hit her voicemail button, hearing Oliver's velvety voice over the line.[SS8]

“Hey, Mia. It's Oliver.” There was a brief pause like he wasn't sure how he wanted to identify himself “I'm sorry about yesterday. If you have time, we would love to talk with you about what you saw in the park. Call me back.” The line clicked, and she stared at the screen, weirded out by the vibes she was getting from him.

“This is stupid,” she announced out loud. Instead of calling back, she decided to add the numbers to her contacts. Detective Daniels was first; his name was paired with a badge emoji. Oliver's name was flanked by house and badge emojis. Finally, Mia added Aurelio's name. She stared at the little blinking line for a lot longer than she needed to. How would she describe him? An idea hit her, and she laughed as she added a little heart on one side and a rose on the other. “Poetic, I think.”

Her phone began to vibrate, the new name popping onto the screen. ?? My Aurelio ??

“Hello, my Aurelio.”

“Hello, beautiful,” he replied with a laugh. “I was going to leave a voicemail; I thought you said you were busy till tonight?”

“Yeah, I was supposed to be.”

“What happened? Is everything all right?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“Oh, yeah,” she said, pulling absently at her blouse. “The professor I T.A. for has to leave for the remainder of the year. I don't need to be in the classroom during this block anymore.”

“Uh-huh. I understood most of that.”

She giggled. “Sorry, it doesn't matter. Basically, I have this time free every day for the rest of the year.”

“And that would be how much time, exactly?” he asked. “Because I'm close to the college now if you have time to meet. Maybe we could get a little lunch.”

Mia glanced at the Hula clock on her dashboard. There was more than enough time to meet up with him.

“I've got a couple of hours; my shift isn't till four,” she said, a little giddy.

“Awesome, can you meet me downtown? Park near the fountain if you can.” She knew where he meant. The area was high end, all French bistro cafes and five-star dining. But she didn't want to waste any time arguing; she just wanted to see him.

“Okay, I will head there now. See you soon.”

“Can't wait.”

Aurelio hung up, and Mia pulled out of the lot. Quickly, she drove down the highway, letting the road in front of her unwind. She started breathing easier, and her nerves were less frantic. She turned onto the street toward the fountain and easily found a great parking spot.

She looked around for signs of the yellow Mustang but didn’t see anything until she suddenly spotted Aurelio walking along the sidewalk. He was as handsome as ever, wearing tight black slacks, a white button-down, and a black vest. He looked very dapper. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes, and a toothpick hung from the corner of his mouth. She suddenly realized how she was not nearly as put together as he was. She watched as his tall figure strode towards her, flicking the pick from his mouth and casually folding his sunglasses. With a smile, he grabbed her waist, pulling her to him and placing a soft kiss on her cheek.

“Hello, beautiful.” He pressed a kiss to her head, breathing her in deeply. “I love the way you smell.”

“I was thinking the same about you, but what do I smell like?”

“Fresh oranges and sunshine.” He grinned at her. “What do I smell like?”

She was not sure what sunshine smelled like, but she liked his answer. “Grease, leather, and pine.”

“I like it.” He pulled her closer, eyeing the bruise on her forehead. “Where did that come from?” he asked, gingerly grazing the edge.

“Oh, it's nothing,” she said, but he seemed unconvinced.

“Oliver didn’t hit you back when you decked him, right?” Aurelio asked, his eyes growing darker.

“God, no!”

He just looked at her, his brow raised in question.[HF9]

“I tripped and hit my head on the edge of my bathtub.” She cringed, remembering the fall.

“Really?” he smiled a little; the thought that she had given herself a bruise like that was apparently somehow amusing.

“Yes, really,” she sighed. Aurelio pulled a few inches away but reeled her back in to kiss the spot gently.

“Come on.” He placed his large hand on the small of her back, gently leading her to one of the restaurants. The valet, a barely sixteen-year-old kid, was busy parking cars out front.

“I want to show you part of my world if you want,” he said, his face betraying his concern. He was afraid she would say no.

“Okay. Show me.”

He smiled broadly as they walked.

“Wait right here, and just watch, okay?” He left her at the corner across from the restaurant and walked to the valet station. The kid gave him a little nod, and they waited by the little booth. As she watched, a dark grey McLaren pulled up. A short, balding man with a stern face emerged from the vehicle.

He looked between Aurelio and the kid. “Be careful with it!” the man barked, and Aurelio smiled, taking the keys.

“Of course, sir,” he promised, moving to the driver’s side. His face lit up as he rubbed the steering wheel. Like a switch flipped, he became very serious as he pulled into the light traffic. He drove around the fountain roundabout and stopped in front of her.

“Get in!” he ordered, pushing the passenger door open. Without a moment's hesitation, Mia climbed in. As her door closed, the car took off like a missile. Aurelio's face was solely focused as he drove with precision. Even though she had no idea where they were going, she was entranced. When she finally looked around, they were speeding down the road, headed to the highway. Aurelio expertly weaved through the traffic. It dawned on her suddenly that he was not parking this car for the valet.

“Aurelio,” she began tentatively. “Are you stealing this car?” Her tone was light, not wanting to appear na?ve.

He gave a light laugh. “Technically, he gave me the keys. Are you mad?” He glanced at her. “Buckle up, please.”

“You first,” she said, reaching for her seatbelt.

“Fair enough.” Without missing a beat, he grabbed the belt and buckled in one swift motion. The ride was so smooth that she had no sense of how fast they were going aside from the speed at which they passed other cars. Aurelio reached over, gripping her thigh as he drove. She placed her hand on his, reveling in the sensation of his touch.

“Does this thing go any faster?” she asked, the devil on her shoulder pushing her for more.

“Don't tempt me,” he warned, casting a glance her way. “It goes very fast.”

“Prove it,” she dared, a devilish smile gracing her lips.

He tightened his grip on her thigh, which sent warm tingles up her body. Aurelio matched her expression and floored it. He took his hand off her leg, gripping the wheel as the car roared, the speedometer climbing higher and higher. Her desire for him climbed with it.

She watched his body, her eyes drawn to the bulge he was sporting between his legs. Her hand wandered over his thigh. He glanced at her, catching her eye for a moment; she could see desire reflected back at her in his gaze. She placed her hand on his hard erection, large and straining against his trousers. He let out a moan, and the car slowed for a moment as he lost focus. She paused, not wanting to cause him to crash.

“Aurelio.” Her voice was thick with desire as she leaned closer. “We should pull over.” She brushed his hard cock again, letting her fingers linger for a moment, and he nodded vigorously. He checked the rearview mirror and stayed focused on the road behind them. She turned in her seat to look, but Aurelio quickly put a hand on her shoulder to push her back around.

“Sit forward,” he instructed, his voice clipped and commanding. She obeyed, hands at her side as she watched the world fly by. Suddenly, she heard the sound of sirens and saw the flash of red and blue lights behind them.

“Dammit!” Aurelio forced the car to pull ahead faster.

Mia sat back; her heart was pounding as they weaved across the highway onto a suburban road.

Aurelio moved quickly through the neighborhoods; it was obvious he knew the streets well. The sirens faded with each passing moment. He sighed, and relief flooded his features as he sat back, more relaxed. On the other hand, Mia's heart was pounding, and her whole body was tense from the rush of adrenaline. She liked it.

“That was too close.” Aurelio glanced at Mia as he slowed down, the ocean before them. She could see the docks and the large cranes shifting huge containers to and from ships. The car came to a stop well before the entrance.

The tops of the stacked containers were all she could see between the bushes. Mia tried to get a better view until a deep chuckle drew her attention.

“Look at you.”

Mia shrugged, her pulse finally slowing. “I'm curious. That's all.”

“How did you like the ride?” Aurelio asked, still high on his own adrenaline rush.

“It was amazing,” she said, placing a hand over her now normal heartbeat. “It made me feel alive.”

“That's one of the reasons I love it,” Aurelio divulged.

He offered her one of his hands, their fingers interlocking. Mia released a sigh as she undid his seatbelt. Moving swiftly, Aurelio leaned close, pressing her buckle latch, gently letting it slide across her chest. His fingers traced its retreat back to position. His face was inches from hers, his minty breath on her lips. Mia kissed him, catching him a little off guard. She followed him as he fell back against his seat. Stradling his hips, she released his hand and cupped his face. Aurelio's hand roamed her curves, trailing them up her body to her breast and back down to her waist, where they rested. Mia leaned back a little, breaking the kiss. He stared at her, his eyes dark with desire. She took a moment to catch her breath as her skin tingled with excitement.

“Aurelio.” Her lips lingered near his.

“Yes, beautiful?”

“Are we even allowed to do what we’re thinking about doing in here?” she asked, hating to ruin the moment, but knowing nothing about this world, she needed reassurance.

“Right now, it's ours.” He placed a kiss on her chin. “And we can do...” He placed another one on her lower lip. “...whatever we want.”

Mia pressed back into him, her hands fumbling for the buttons of her blouse, eager to reveal herself to him. Aurelio matched her speed and desire, his hands pulling down his zipper. Mia thanked the gods she had chosen loose slacks with a stretchy waist that pulled down easily. She readjusted; her fingers brushed Aurelio's freed hard cock. She eyed it, unsure why she felt such trepidation. She wanted this, wanted him, but seeing him like this, waiting for her move, she felt powerful. A new side of Mia had emerged, an adrenaline-seeking seductress, and she was kind of loving it. She placed her hand over his hard member and began to stroke it, eliciting a deep growl from Aurelio's chest. He eagerly freed her breasts from her blouse and bra. His rough, calloused hand lifted one to his mouth to suck and lick a pebbled nipple.

“Oh god, Aurelio,” Mia moaned, biting her bottom lip as her hand moved up and down on his cock. Pre-cum glistened on the tip.

“Ride me,” he commanded, aligning himself at her entrance.

Mia pulled her panties out of the way, allowing Aurelio's cock to slide into her wet and throbbing pussy. The sensation of him filling her threatened to send her over the edge. Slowly, Mia lifted her hips, rocking up and down on his cock. The motion created waves of pleasure, sending her body into overdrive.

“Look at me.”

She locked eyes with him as his lips clashed against hers. The kiss only heightened everything. His hands gripped her hips, moving her faster and faster.

“Mia,” he breathed as they came in a sweet and raw release.

She fell against him. She smiled against his chest. Her mind was calm, empty of everything but thoughts of him.

“Wow.” He lifted her chin, matching her smile as Mia placed a kiss on his swollen lips.

“Wow is right,” she agreed, her lips a breath away from his. “That was amazing.” Shaking her head lightly, she realized she was still on him.

“Oh, here,” she said, shifting to move, but his hands gripped her waist, keeping her there.

“No, not yet.” He kissed her again; his tongue explored her mouth as she relaxed into him. She moved her head to the side, letting him kiss down her neck to her breast and flick her nipples. “You like that, huh?” he murmured.

She managed a soft, unintelligible sound as she lost herself in his touch. He explored her body, caressing her smooth skin. She was ready to go again as his cock grew hard between her thighs. Her phone began to ring; it was David.

Aurelio frowned. She caught his face in her hands, not ready to ruin the moment yet, and kissed the disappointment away. With a sigh, she went back to her own seat, pulled her pants up, and closed her blouse as Aurelio tried to shove himself back into the confines of his slacks. Mia pulled the still-ringing phone from her bag.

“Oh, shit,” she said, breathing hard. “I am so late!” She hit the dial button to call David back.

“Mia!” David yelled before the first full ring. “Where are you?!” His voice blared through the speaker, and Mia pulled the device off her ear with a roll of her eyes. Aurelio looked at the phone, the frown back in place with anger in his eyes. Her manager went on a rant about how late she was and how irresponsible it was that she did not let anyone know where she was.

“And Flory says you were here this morning!” David screamed, and Mia winced. Aurelio's hand grabbed the phone and hung up.

“What the hell?!” Mia cried, grabbing at the phone. He held it away from her.

“No one speaks to you like that!” he said, anger clear on his face. “No one.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “I agree; no one should speak to me like that.”

“Ever,” Aurelio added, giving her the phone.

She nodded again, taking a deep breath. “Yes, Tarzan.” Aurelio rolled his eyes with a small smile on his lips. “But he's my boss from the diner; I am extremely late for my shift.”

Aurelio nodded, releasing a deep breath. “I understand. Still... No one should talk like that to any woman, but especially...” He pulled her to him again. “...not mine.” His lips pressed softly and lovingly against hers.

“My Aurelio,” Mia murmured, smiling.

He laughed and started the car again. “I have to drop you off over there.” He pointed to a little souvenir shop.

Mia eyed him suspiciously. “Okay… Care to explain why?”

“Yes, but not right now.”

Mia nodded, her mind filled with worry. Was this it? Did he just want to hook up in some fancy car and be done with her? She hid her face, suppressing a sniffle, from him as a single tear rolled down her cheek. As she watched the scenery slowly roll by, she felt his hand on her thigh. It was turned palm up, a silent request for her to hold it. Aurelio's eyes were fixed on the road. Mia stared at it, surprised, but she placed her hand gently into his. He let out a slow breath, giving her a soft squeeze and placing a gentle kiss along her knuckles. She smiled, wanting to giggle like a schoolgirl. The notion of this muscled-up, tattooed man gently kissing her knuckles was unexpected. Aurelio caught her staring at him.

“What's funny?” he asked, turning into the shop’s parking lot.

“All of this.” A giggle escaped her mouth, and Aurelio frowned.

“All of what?” '

“All of it!” she insisted. “I mean, look at us. I can't believe we are here.”

“I know.” He grinned. “But I'm happy we are.”

“Me, too. Is this my exit?” she inquired as the car stopped by the door.

“In a moment,” Aurelio said sadly. “My car is over there; I have to drop this off, and I will pick you up.”

Mia sighed, gathering her belongings before reaching for the door. As she pulled her hand out of his, he gripped her tighter.

“Mia.” His voice was strained.

“Yes, Aurelio?”

His eyes were conflicted as he examined her face like he was trying to memorize each feature. “I will be right back,” he finally said, swallowing hard as if he was pushing down what he really wanted to say.

“Gotcha.” Mia forced a smile to her lips. The door slid open, and she climbed out onto the sidewalk. The car drove off, speeding to the shipyard. The wind was harsh; she tucked her arms around herself, hugging her bag to her chest. Her phone chimed, and Mia's brow furrowed as she stared at the new messages.

David: You better have lost service. And you’re not calling me back because you are driving here. Anything else will be a write-up, and your perfect record will be tarnished! ??????

Mia's eyes rolled involuntarily; David just had that effect on people. She knew she wouldn't be there until at least five thirty, and that was if they sped the whole time. Which, with Aurelio, seemed like a legitimate possibility. Her frown quickly turned up at the thought of being in a car with him again.

The faint sounds of machinery played over the sound of waves crashing on the docks. Holding her glasses in her teeth, she pulled pins free from her hair to twist it into a neat bun. Was it the most glamorous look? No, but it was how she normally wore it at the diner. A grey Challenger pulled into the parking lot, stopping right in front of Mia. The windows were tinted dark, making it impossible to see inside. The window rolled down, revealing a skinny seventeen-year-old behind the wheel.

“Mac?” Mia asked, shocked and a little disappointed.

“Hey!” He had a big smile on his face. Mac was a sweet kid, but he was the definition of a teenager, cracking jokes and showing off anytime there was a girl in sight.

Sighing, Mia reached for the handle, not needing an invite.

“Um...” Mac’s bright blue eyes were hiding something. “Aurelio said to bring you to the diner. Please buckle up.” His whole demeanor screamed “nervous;” his hands firmly gripped the ten and two positions of the wheel.

“Mac.” Mia put a hand on his outstretched arm. “Relax, it’s me.” At her touch, Mac shifted, her hand sliding off his arm.

“Mia, please just put on the seatbelt,” Mac repeated, an awkward chuckle escaping his lips.

She crossed her arms, staring at him. “No. Look at me.”

Slowly, he turned to meet her gaze, a forced smile on his lips.

“What is the problem here?”

“No problem, Mia,” Mac answered automatically. “I just can't leave until you’re buckled in properly.”

“What? Why? And why are you so tense? Relax!”

“Mia,” His eyes looked around, still looking nervous. “Aurelio was very specific in his instructions.” He leaned a little closer, whispering like he was afraid he was revealing secret information. “He said, 'Keep your hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and do not move until she is buckled.'”

Mac shifted back to his very formal driving position, hands gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles were white. “So, that's what I'm doing. Please? Buckle up?” His tone was more of a question than a statement, but Mia obliged.

“Fine. But if you keep acting like this, I'm going to tell Aurelio you tried to kiss me,” she bluffed.

“Please don't!” The teen pleaded, hands clenched. “He would kill me!”

Mia laughed, smacking his hands and giving him a shove. “Oh my God, calm down. Did he really say all that, though?”

Mac finally pulled out of the parking lot. The Challenger was louder than the McLaren. “Yeah!” he confirmed, nodding enthusiastically. “He pulled me aside after the boss called him in for a meeting.”

“Boss?” Mia asked, eyebrow rising.

“Yeah, and you know, he can't say no.”

She nodded, playing along. “Of course. What was the meeting about?”

“Man, who knows? He only tells important stuff to the heads, and I'm a long way from being at their pay grade.”

“Right, right. So, he sent you over?”

“Yeah! I was surprised; he usually doesn't let me do anything. But he said it was special, a secret mission!” Mac wiggled his eyebrows, going just above the speed limit.

“And you found me! Sorry to disappoint.” Mia laughed at being called a “special mission.”

“Not at all! When he told me it was you that I needed to give a ride to, I was so excited!”

“Really, why?”

“Because now I can tell you all about the cars I get to drive!” Mac was so excited, like a kid on Christmas.

“Yeah, for sure.” Mia smiled at him. The turn for the diner was slowly approaching. “Hey, don't pull into the lot. Flory will kill you if she sees you pull up. David, too.”

Mac laughed. “They don't scare me half as much as Aurelio. I'm dropping you off at the door.”

“Does he really scare you?” Her stomach did little flips at the reminder of how little she really knew him.

“Oh,” Mac said, frowning. “No, not really. He would never do anything to hurt me. He's the best!” His eyes lit up like he was talking about a big brother. “He has done so much for me over the last five years. It's kinda crazy.”

“Really?” Mia wanted to know more, needed to know more.

“Oh yeah, I was a starving kid on the streets when he found me.” His face darkened with painful memories. “My mom’s a drug addict; she never cared what happened to me.”

“Oh, Mac,” Mia breathed. “I'm sorry.”

“It's okay.” His easy smile came back. “Aurelio found me, a skinny little twelve-year-old, dumpster diving behind a fast food joint next to the garage he worked at. He bought me like ten burgers that day. I thought I was going to explode.” Mac chuckled. “He told me to come back the next day, and he would have a job for me.”

“Wow, that's amazing.” Mia’s heart filled as she pictured her muscle-bound man helping a little Mac.

“Yeah, and he did. He had me work for him, grabbing tools, cleaning cars, odd jobs around the garage until…” Mac swallowed hard.

“Until?” Mia prompted, silently praying he kept going. She needed to hear all of it. The puzzle that was Aurelio was slowly building in her mind.

“Boss came in unexpectedly one day, I guess,” he sighed, slowing the car as they approached an intersection. “Aurelio told me to hang out in the office and grab a snack, but I had been there for almost six months. I’d seen stuff and wanted to know what was going on.” Mac’s eyes were trained on the road, but Mia could tell he was lost in memories.

“I snuck back out and heard Boss yelling at Aurelio, threatening him. I saw my mom get beaten up by her dealer and boyfriends over the years. Aurelio was the first person to care about me at all, and I lost it. I grabbed a heavy wrench and swung at Boss, but Aurelio caught my arm. He gave me a look; he was so mad I thought it was over for me. Boss grabbed my neck, trying to pull me from Aurelio's grip, ordering one of the guys he brought to 'take care of him.’ Aurelio pulled me behind him, looked Boss in the face, and said, ‘Two years.’ Boss's face got this smile, but it wasn’t a normal smile. No, it was like a smile from a predator. He shook Aurelio's hand before eyeing me as he walked out.” Mac swallowed hard again. The diner was in sight, and Mia was internally begging for anything to slow the car down. She needed to know what happened next.

“Then what happened?” Mia quietly asked, fearful to break the trance Mac seemed to be in. His hands moved on autopilot as he navigated them to the diner’s parking lot; the neon sign above the little building was glaring.

“Nothing. He never said a word about it. Just let my arm go and walked away. He took off and didn't come back till the next day. When he pulled in, he handed me a bag of food and told me to wash the car.” Mac sighed heavily; there was more he knew, but he was done talking about it. “Well, we’re here!” The smile on his lips didn't quite reach his eyes.

“Yeah,” Mia said, frozen in her seat. “Thanks for everything.” She leaned over and wrapped him in a hug. The teen froze, then let himself melt into the hug. She gave him a peck on the cheek. Mac gasped as his face reddened. She winked, undid her buckle, and slid out of the car.

“Mia?” Mac called out the passenger window.

“Yeah?”

“Aurelio is really a great guy.” Mac’s eyes were not as bright as before. “Be good to him.”

“Okay,” she said, smiling. “See you tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” He waved goodbye as he drove off.

Mia walked into the chaos of the diner.