I toe off my shoes and strip off the rest of my clothes. My socks are next to go, and when I pull off my boxer briefs, my dick stands at attention and I give it a good tug. I feel the liquid that coats the tip and I bring my thumb to circle it, bringing sticky liquid up as I bring my hand over my cock, twisting it at the end and repeating the stroking motion. My head falls back, and I let out a moan. It’s been too long. Reluctantly, I release myself and step into the shower, letting the hot water pour over me. My body is exhausted, but my mind is worse. Leaning a hand against the wall, I breathe in deeply, letting the ache in my chest surface from the conflicting emotions that bother me more than they should. I tilt my head back, allowing the water to cascade over the ringlets atop my head and stream down my body, wishing it could rinse away more than the sweat and grime from my workday. I lather the soap slowly, my palms working in deliberate circles across my chest. Each motion is meant to help me stay in control, but I know that notion is a losing battle as I bring my hand around to my painful erection, knowing that I need to release the ache she stirs in me.
No matter how hard I try to fight the thought, it keeps creeping back in, and I begin to wonder what it would be like to take her to my bed in this house. To have her writhing underneath me. I pick up the pace and stroke myself to thoughts of her spread out on my bed, flushed and breathless with her pretty pink pussy glistening from her arousal. The excitement I stirred in her is clear as she stares up at me like I am her whole world, and the same awe and need is reflected in my eyes, where I’m unable to look away. Themoment I visualize parting her legs to take my thick cock waiting angrily at her wet entrance, I start to unravel. I kiss her, entering her in one thrust, almost ready to come from the anticipation alone. It’s something I’ve wanted and have been fighting the feelings of since the day that I saw her in the diner. I draw out a few more pulls and I throw my head back as warm, hot cum coats my hand and the shower wall in front of me. I place my hand against the wall, steadying myself as my ragged breaths become more regular and the haze before me vanishes. The tension ebbs from my muscles, and my shoulders finally relax under the hot stream of water. I let the water wash over my face, trying to clear the truth I’ve been avoiding. I realize I don’t know how much longer I can continue pretending I don’t feel something for her. And for once in my life, I want to do something for myself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Manny walks out of his room, freshly showered and flushed. He must have taken a very hot shower. I find that cold showers are more my speed right now, to cool me off from the thought of this hot man that I try hard to purge from my mind every night and waking moment. He makes it difficult when he comes out of the shower looking like every fantasy comes to life. He’s not only lovely to look at, but being a good provider for his family and being a good dad just adds to the whole package. Catalina comes running out of her room, and the smile on her face as she skips over to me is priceless.
“Are you staying for dinner, Ms. Nadia? My papá is an excellent cook,” she singsongs as she pops up onto the stool of the island in front ofme. I lean forward.
“How can I refuse that kind of offer? And well, you know that I love to eat.” She giggles.
“You eat a lot, Ms. Nadia.” She cackles, and I fake being upset.
“Now, that isn’t very nice, Catalina.” I shake my finger at her, smiling. Manny comes into the room with his pants hung low and I want to see exactly what he is sporting under that. I notice his cock twitch and I look up to see him walking toward me.Oh God, he saw me looking at his junk. I want to run and hide. Maybe I can make an excuse about dinner, but the smirk on his face as he approaches me tells me he isn’t really upset at all. I stand there stock-still as he reaches out to me, and I stiffen as he lifts the apron off my head and pulls it up.
“Oh. Sorry,” I say. “I forgot to take it off.” The truth is, I didn’t want to take it off because it smelled like him, and I tried to imagine what it would be like to snuggle up to that smell every night. When I turn out the lights in our bedroom and pull back the covers, I get into bed and he wraps his broad arms around me, snuggling me in with all that manliness and smothering me with his heat. Curling up into the safety of Manny Torres would be like a dream come true.
My arms fall flat at my sides. He already has the apron on and is tying it around his very lean waist. I move over to where the package of steak tips is and pick up the bag. Catalina is coloring but stops to watch me. As I remove the steak tips from the grocery bag, Catalina speaks loudly with her little hand up.
“Ms. Nadia, Papá doesn’t let anyone handle his meat.” I swirl around to look at the man whose meat I have in my hands, and when I look up at him, he has his head turned around, trying to suppress a laugh. My eyes widen in shock at the dirtiness of his thoughts. The corner of my mouth twists upward, and I also turn my face from Catalina. I cough.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Torres.” My expression lets him know that I am not sorry at all. “I didn’t mean to handle your meat.” I walk over to him and hand him the package. His hand covers mine, and his eyes are alight with a playfulness I haven’t seen on his face before as he brings me a little closer.
“It’s okay,” he says. “Ms. Nadia can handle my meat anytime.”I drop my hand like it was lit on fire, but he just holds my stare. I look to Catalina, still coloring, oblivious to our heated stares and hidden innuendos.
Without glancing at us, she comments, “Well, my papá must really like you, Ms. Nadia, because he won’t let anyone touch his meat.”
This time, I place my hand over my mouth and have to walk away. I head straight for the door and walk outside, muttering, “Excuse me, I’ll be right back.” By the time I walk outside, I am bent over laughing so hard. I hear the door close lightly behind me, and when I turn, I see Manny walking over with the steak tips on a disposable plate. His eyes find mine, and the smile on his face is breathtaking. He doesn’t say anything else to me, but lights the grill and leaves the meat there as he waits for it to heat up, returning inside.
I follow him and see him now over the stove browning some basmati rice with a bit of oil in the skillet. He adds some spices that he ground in a small molcajete.
“That smells good,” I breathe in, and the scent hits my nose. “What is it?” He turns back to look at me and smiles, showing all his teeth.
“Just a few ground spices of cumin, salt, pepper, fennel, and garlic.” He then scoops them out of the mortar with the pestle, and they fall into the pan. It sizzles around the oil as the rice cooks. He adds some bell peppers and onions, along with hot water and tomato sauce, which are added next. He places a cover on top of the skillet and then sets the stove to a low simmer. Watching him take out things for a salad, I set up and offer to make it. He smiles down at me.
“Okay, that sounds good to me. I’ll go take care of my meat outside.” He smirks.
I don’t know what compels me to continue with the inappropriate playful banter, but before I can think better of it, I respond, “Let me know if you need any help with your meat.” He stops before he reaches the door and hangs his head down. I see him rearrange his package in front of his pants before he opens the door.
“Maybe later,” is echoed through the screen door. It shuts, and he walks outside. I stand there staring at the lettuce and wonder what the hell got into me. Why am I flirting with this man, and more importantly, why is he flirting back?
Manny did not, in fact, need any help with his meat. He brings it into the house wrapped in foil. He walks up to the stove and removes the cover from the rice to check it out.
“Perfect,” he says as he puts the cover back on and removes the stovetop from the heat. I have the salad ready in a wooden bowl, and I made a quick dressing of olive oil, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, and cracked pepper. I placed it in a mason jar and sealed it with the cover.
Catalina helps to do her part and sets the table for three people. She places the third plate down and looks longingly at it before walking away and grabbing the napkins and utensils. I saw the exchange, and I know that Manny does, too, because whatever smile he had on his face is gone, and I’m wondering if this was a good idea after all. I don’t want to replace her mother, and I am only the nanny after all. This is the trouble with finding your employer attractive and both of you being single. Also, I don’t want to cause this little girl any more grief. Manny turns around and brings the bowl of rice to the table, places a spoon in it, and the meat is also in another bowl next to it. I grab the salad from the counter and bring it over, placing the two wooden spoons to toss it before getting my dressing from the counter, shaking it thoroughly before putting it alongside the salad on the table.
“Okay, Catalina, let’s go wash our hands and get ready for this amazing dinner your dad made for us.” She nods, and I follow her to the bathroom, washing my hands right after. When I return to the kitchen, Manny and Catalina are waiting on me, and I immediately serve myself a portion of each. Manny looks at the jar of dressing quizzically, and I explain. “It’s just a simple dressing that I made from scratch.”
He nods. “Nice,” is all he says as he pours some on top of his salad. Great, so now we are back to one-word replies. The dinner is tense, and I don’t know how to return to the playful tone we took with one another before we saw Catalina looking at the third placesetting, where she was undoubtedly thinking about her mother. Manny looks around.
“What do you want to drink?” He gets up and goes to the fridge. Catalina has a glass of milk that I poured for her already, but I don’t know.
“What do you have?” I inquire. “I’ll take anything.” Manny’s eyebrows rise in disbelief.
“You want a beer?” he asks. “I’m having a Corona.”
“Yes, that’s great,” I reply. He looks hesitant.
