“You make that sound really easy,” he said.
“It is. With you.” I swallowed the small lump that started to form in my throat. “The only thing that would actually scare me is you deciding this isn’t worth it.”
Mateo exhaled quietly, like he’d been holding it in. “You are more than worth it, Emmie.”
We held each other's gaze, an overwhelming sensation building in my chest. It was stronger than anything I’d felt before.
It hit me all at once, stealing the air from my lungs.
I was falling for him. Hard.
I softly rubbed Mateo’s jaw, my chest feeling like it was cracked wide open. The last thing I expected was to fall for him so fast, but how could I not when he was everything I hadn’t known I wanted until now?
“Thank you for being so concerned about me,” I said softly.
“Always.” His expression softened. “Promise me if things get too hard, you’ll talk to me about it.”
“I promise.”
I leaned forward, meeting him halfway, kissing him softly, and pouring everything I couldn’t quite say into it. I wasn’t going anywhere.
Mateo pulled back, the worry that filled his face gone. “This means we can go on a date and not worry who sees now.”
“Exactly. Now I can kiss you anytime I want.”
“Mm. I like the sound of that.” Hands came down to my hips, lifting me effortlessly onto his lap.
I draped my arms around his shoulders, pressing my front to his. Clad in one of his T-shirts, the hem inched up right below my ass as I perched on his lap. Mateo’s hands slipped under the shirt to grab the globes of my ass, groaning when he felt I wasn’t wearing anything underneath.
“You’ve been sitting here naked under this the whole time?”
I smirked. “You were being all concerned and protective. I didn’t want to ruin it for you.”
“I can be concerned, protective,andhave you naked in my lap.” His hands kneaded my flesh.
When I shifted on him, I felt him beginning to harden underneath me through his plaid pajama bottoms.
I shot him a look. “If you had it your way, you’d have me naked twenty-four seven.”
“And? Sounds like a win to me,” he joked. I shook my head, my hands playing with the hair at the back of his head. “You deserve to be worshipped every second of every day, Emmie.”
Fingertips dipped between the crease of my ass, moving down to graze my core just enough to make my breath catch. He brought his fingers back up to grip me. Heat filled his eyes, his pupils slowly taking over.
“Do you feel what you do to me?” With his hands, he rocked me forward and back, rubbing my core along his hard length beneath me. “You just need to look at me, and I’m hard.”
“That’s a good superpower to have,” I said, my breathhitched as I continued to grind down on him. His bottoms were the only barrier between us, and I wanted it gone.
“A superpower onlyyouhave.” Mateo brought his head forward, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the front of my throat. Knowing I was the only one who could make Mateo hard sent a thrill through me.
My lips parted as he continued pressing kisses along my throat. He nipped at the skin where my neck met my shoulder, making my back arch. I never knew my neck to be so sensitive until Mateo. I never had someone know my body the way he did.
One big hand helped me grind while another came around my front, dipping under the shirt and moving up until he reached my breasts. Using his thumb, he played with a nipple. A gasp left my mouth as he pinched it between his fingers.
“You make the prettiest sounds,” Mateo murmured. “Arms up for me,” he instructed.
There was no hesitation as I lifted them, his own grabbing the bottom of his T-shirt and yanking it up. He threw it over my shoulder, leaving me completely naked seated on his lap.
My skin prickled as he took me in, lingering on my breasts before dipping down my stomach between my thighs. I felt so powerful. So sexy under his gaze. I brought my hands up into my hair as my hips moved in slow circles, his hard length perfectly wedged against me.
