Chapter 41
KC
DeLuca’s is absolutely stunning inside. Once the double doors are opened, you notice the space is lit up with bright lights and white walls, except the back wall, where the bar is stationed.
It has a darker theme: dimmed lighting, with neon lights that surround the outline of the bartop.
Each table has a centerpiece of different flower heads that appear frozen inside glass blocks.
The appetizers have tasted amazing, along with the wine that my handsome date has chosen for the table.
This double date is going better than I expected.
Mattie and Skyler are getting along. They each waited outside our building next to their cars, doors already opened for us.
Mattie showed up with a driver, while Skyler and Brittney followed behind us.
I assumed Mattie must have picked the restaurant, since our vehicle led the way.
Brittney’s foot taps mine underneath the table and we both giggle at each other.
Small talk around the table has gone smoothly—typical dinner date topics.
“So, what is it exactly that you do, Mathew?” Skyler asks while leaning back into his chair, clearly sizing him up.
Mattie’s hand that’s rubbing my shoulder stops, and he removes it completely.
He leans his elbows on the table, giving Skyler his full attention.
“I work in protection services.” His fingers drum lightly against the crisp white tablecloth.
“You might consider it private detail security.” Simple response, but accurate in a sense.
He doesn’t think I know what he does. Maybe I don’t fully, but I do know he does it within the Giordano family.
Carter has always told me just enough about the Mafia families in town, while The Purple Room gossip fills me in on everything else.
Skyler nods. “I like that; sounds interesting.” Grabbing Brittney’s hand, he kisses her knuckles. “So you sometimes have to fight people, like I do?”
Mattie squeezes my thigh underneath the table. “Yeah, when the time and place calls for it. I will eliminate any threat.”
“Who’s ready to go watch a movie tonight?!” Britt chimes in, feeling the tension start to rise in my date’s voice.
Raising my almost empty wine glass in her direction, I reply, “Me!” Looking around the table, I ask, “Rom-com or scary movie, guys?” The stress of everything that’s happened with Jared is slowly vanishing from my body.
“I’m always down for a scary movie.” Skyler wraps his arm around Brittney, snuggling her. “Any excuse for this one to cling on to me for dear life.”
Brittney playfully swats at his chest while laughing.
“I’m good for either!” Staring at my empty wine glass, I lick the last remnants of moscato from my lips.
My lips are tingling; it’s strong. It tasted too smooth going down.
I should probably go easy on the next glass.
Skyler gives Brittney and me refills at the same time.
Placing a peck near my mouth, Mattie’s lips then ghost my ear. “Are you sure we can’t just go back to my place? I need my balls bouncing off of your tight, wet pussy.” His fingers trail the material of my dress. “This is getting ripped off of you tonight.”
His dirty words send a pulsating need straight to my core.
I clinch my thighs together, my pussy begging for any friction.
I bite my bottom lip, overly leaning into his shoulder, jabbing it with a finger.
“Nuh-uh, you know I want to go see a movie tonight.” I make a show of looking down at the very noticeable bulge in his pants.
I faintly rub over it, making a circle around the outline of the tip of his cock.
“You’ll have to contain those blue balls until after.
” I end my statement with a kiss to his neck.
I know my friend and her date can hear my response, and it doesn’t shock me when they both burst into laughter.
Skyler snarks, “My date shut me down too, man, but happy girl, perfect world, right?”
Mattie’s eyes darken as he looks from me to Skyler. “Yeah, something like that.”
Skyler stands up from the table and rests his palms flatly on the tablecloth. “Oh, shit! I think that’s some of my teammates over there.”
Peering over my shoulder, Mattie sips on his wine.
“I saw them both at the fight from the other night. Real good fighters. I think you’ve got a solid team now.
” Then he gestures to the waiter that we need another bottle.
Before I can turn my head to see which fighters our dates are talking about, Mattie’s hand grabs the back of my head, slightly fisting my hair, stopping me.
Pulling my head closer, he whispers, “I want you feeling good tonight, baby. I want to fill your ass with my cum. Claim you as mine.”
My cheeks instantly heat at hearing his confession; a deep red blush spreads fast. I’ve never done it that way before. It’s looking like that’ll be changing tonight. His words instantly make me nervous, but also excited. Holy shit, am I really ready for that?!
Brittney is clearing her throat from across the table, attempting to get my attention. Mattie’s face slowly backs away from mine. “That’s what this is, right? We’re more than just casual now?” Chocolate brown eyes are staring at me hopefully, like his world begins and ends with me saying yes.
My response gets cut short when Brittney’s foot kicks me under the table, hard. “Ow!” Angrily, I whip my face in her direction, whisper-yelling, “What?!”
“Jared! Beau!” Skyler’s voice booms loudly across the restaurant; the chatter from the tables around us becomes quiet. This man has no care in the world and has never shied away from attention.
My breath hitches once his name leaves Skyler’s lips.
No. Nope, not again. My heart’s fluttering now, feeling like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. Closing my eyes, I take long, deep breaths before opening them again.
When I do, I instantly regret it. Emerald green eyes are staring down at me.
God, he’s fucking handsome. The way Jared’s staring at me makes me both happy and want to cry at the same time.
After all this time, that stare hasn’t changed.
I’m hit at full force with memories of us together, shattering me, invading my vision.
Should he be the one? The one sitting with me on this double date instead of Mathew?
“Hey, guys. Mind if we join you tonight?” Hearing that deep voice, goosebumps cascade over my arms. My hands become clammy as I attempt to pick up my wine glass, but slip. The smell of cinnamon whiskey cologne surrounds me—Jared.
Mattie must sense a shift in me because his grip on my thigh tightens painfully. A whimper escapes from my mouth, and my head swivels to face him. His eyes are venomous, staring straight at Jared. Standing up, he holds out his hand. “I’m Mathew King. I don’t think we’ve ever officially met.”
Jared grips his hand hard in a firm handshake. Neither one lets go, just standing there in a stare off. “I’m Jared, a friend…” The word rolls loosely off of his tongue, insinuating he’s a friend to more people at this table than just Skyler.
“Hey, KC and Britt.” Beau gives Brittney and me a side hug, before pulling up a chair to place in between our seats. We’ve run into each other multiple times; he’s like family to Carter and Ajani. Beau has always been good to me and treated me with nothing but respect.
Jared and Mathew finally unlatch their grips from each other, both moving to sit down. Mattie pushes his chair closer to mine, making sure Jared’s chair doesn’t end up by mine.
“I’ve got to use the ladies’ room.” Brittney stands from the table abruptly, looking down at me, tilting her head in the direction of the bathrooms.
“Oh, right. Yep, I gotta go too.” Pushing my chair back, I place the napkin from my lap by my wine glass. Feeling lightheaded when I stand up, my hand shoots out, gripping the table for balance. Britt notices and holds out her hand for me to grab.
Beau starts laughing. “So it’s true, then. Girls always go to the bathroom together, huh?”
My mind racing, I can’t function enough to respond. I have to focus on getting my feet to move without failing me.
“That’s our girls. Always sticking together, right ladies?” Skyler downs the rest of his wine, filling it up again as we start to walk out of earshot from the table. Brittney’s hand is also clammy as she grips mine.
“Okay, that’s it! I’m starting to think the universe is pushing you and Jared back together,” Brittney whispers as I turn around to look back at our table.
Jared’s stare continues to follow us, while Mattie sits back in his chair, manspreading wide—I’m sure to appear overly confident and intimidating—watching the entire interaction.
I was feeling tipsy, but that buzz has been sobered up by an overwhelming emotion that's making it hard to breathe…
What was the reason I ever left that Greek god again?