I hedge, feeling like I’m in a dream, like I’m going to wake up alone in my bed any moment.
“This was two years coming, mariposita.”
“Do you mean that? Truly?”
He carries me out of the paint booth and back over to our pallet, lowering us down in the center. “Con todo mi corazón—with all of my heart.”
I bury my face in his chest and mumble against his thundering heart, “This doesn’t feel real.”
“Then let me show you.”
“Okay, Mateo. Show me.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Mateo
In the light of morning, everything about last night with Seraphine feels like a dream. From start to finish, every single detail of our date is burned into my brain like a cattle brand.
It will easily go down in the history books as one of the best nights of my life.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand. I grab it and smile when I see a text notification from Seraphine.
Seraphine: Thank you for such an amazing first date.
Me: You’re very welcome. When can I see you again?
Seraphine: Uh… You’ll see me Monday… at work?
Me: Ha ha. When can I take you out again?
Seraphine: OH! *face palm* I feel like an idiot.
Me: I’ll make it all better on our next date.
Seraphine: You will?
Me: Always.
Seraphine: Then that’s my answer, too.
Me: What is?
Seraphine: Always. Whenever you want to take me out, my answer will *always* be yes.
Me: Today?
Seraphine: Okay, I might have lied. I am babysitting Willow today.
Me: Fair enough. Desi has a basketball game on Friday. Come with me and to dinner after?
Seraphine: It’s a date.
She ends her text with a winky-face emoji, which for some reason makes me smile.
I also have a text from Desi checking in. She slept over at a friend’s house last night and wants to know if she can go with her friend’s family to lunch and a movie today. I shoot off a reply telling her it’s cool before kicking off the covers and heading to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.
While it brews yet another text comes in.
Simon: You free today?
Me: Yeah, why? Truck’s okay?
Simon: Truck is perfect.
Me: What’s up?
Simon: Wanted to see if you wanted to meet up for brunch?
Me: Brunch?
Simon: Fuck off. Men can brunch, too.
Me: Sure. Why not?
Simon: Invite your brother, too, if you want.
Simon sends me the address and I forward it to Arrón, along with the time. He’s smart; he’ll figure out what I’m getting at.
Since I have a good three hours before… brunch… I decide to skip breakfast make the most of my time by mowing the lawn instead.
I throw on a pair of old jeans, a T-shirt, and boots and get to work. The entire time I work, my mind is on a certain stunning brunette and all of the firsts I promised her.
Two hours later, I’m a sweating—and slightly turned on—mess. I may have spent more time fantasizing than I did working, but the grass is cut and I have just enough time to shower before heading out.
I strip out of my grass-covered clothes and start the shower. At the first sign of steam, I pull back the curtain, step over the side of the tub, and stand under the stream of scorching water.
My mind is still on Seraphine as I lather up and scrub the sweat and grass from my skin. The memory of her soft, pleasure-filled moans fills my ears.
I squeeze my cock tightly in my fist, imagining it’s her tight, virgin pussy instead. The thought of being the first—the only—man to touch her is almost too much.
Slowly, I jack myself, twisting my wrist on every downstroke.
In my mind, Seraphine begs. “Harder, Mateo, fuck me harder.”
My hips buck forward as I fuck into my hand, all too willing to give in to her pleading cries.
“Fill me with your come. Oh, God, Mateo, yes!”
The idea of her begging me to come inside of her is enough to make me blow my load. I lean into the shower wall, propping myself up with one arm against the cool tile with the only thing on my mind as my release circles the drain—I can’t wait until I can make that little fantasy a reality.
The place Simon told me to meet him at is a little shack of a BBQ joint in the next town over. I’ve never eaten at the place, much less heard of it, but judging by the jam-packed parking lot, I’m the only one.
I park my truck in the runoff lot across the street and hop out. The tantalizing smell of pecan wood and smoke