Page 62 of Provoke You

I scooted up from under him and sat up. “Are you asking me to go steady?”

He laughed. “Yes, I am.” His gaze fell to my stretched legs next to him. When he looked up, his face had such a serious look that it made my heart race. “I have feelings for you. I’d like to stay and find out where that goes.”

I threw my arms around his neck. “Omigod, for a minute I thought you were going to confess something horrible. It’s okay to have feelings for someone, especially if I’m that someone.”

He let out a breath. “It would’ve been nice to fall for someone who wasn’t a such a magnet for trouble.”

I froze at his words. My heart drummed so hard I thought my chest might explode. When he realized what he’d said, his cheeks and ears turned bright red.

“I feel the same way, Matt. I’m so glad you came along when you did. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through all this without you.”

He rubbed his chest before he placed his hand on my thigh. His thumb drew a circle on my skin, and I melted a little. “Any bodyguard would’ve done the same for you.”

“You know that’s not true. Most bodyguards don't have private jets.” My remark got a chuckle out of him. His chest expanded, and then he relaxed in my arms.

Having feelings for someone was a big deal, but he made it seem as if it were the end of the world. Was this still about his mom? Was he really afraid I was just like her? That would be impossible because even if I hadn’t said it to him, I had no intention of ever drinking again. Before I met him, I had already resolved to get my life in order and do what really made me happy, like working at the restaurant in my hotel. Baking made me happy. If I could add Matt to that equation, I could really have a shot at a happy and fulfilling life.

I had been impulsive and childish to go out and get wasted when Dad came back and pretended I didn’t exist. Deep down, I knew I’d done it to get a rise out of him. That was our vicious cycle, as Matt called it. He’d do something that hurt me and reminded me how useless I was, and I would retaliate by dragging the family name through the mud with crazy postings on Instagram and causing scenes at the local bars.

“I’m going to Atlanta next week.” He squeezed my thigh, a big grin on his face. “Come with me.”

“Wait. For your brother’s engagement party?”

“Yes. If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind. Of course, I’ll go. I want to meet Lilly and the rest of your brothers.”

“It’s a date.” He pressed his lips to mine.

A trip to Atlanta sounded like a good idea. Dad would need space to digest the news and move out. “Do you think…?”

He shook his head and said in between kisses, “No more talking. I’ve been waiting all day to get you back into bed.” He got up on his knees and pulled his T-shirt over his head.

Jesus, he was a work of art. I ran my hands over his chest as he removed his jeans and boxer briefs. He stood there and let me kiss every one of his tattoos. One day, he’d have to tell me what they all meant, what they were for.

I ran my tongue along a string of letters on his obliques. His chest rose urgently, as if the room had run out of oxygen. I like seeing how much I affected him, how he wasn’t immune to my touch. I cupped him, and he hissed, burying his fingers in my hair. His cock had the same smell of lavender as the rest of him. My mouth watered as I pressed my lips to the tip. When I didn’t move, he pushed forward and I let him in.

“Ela,” he mumbled.

I sucked hard, stopping every now and then to do long strokes with my tongue, similar to what he’d done to my breasts. He watched me with greedy eyes, his hand cradling my neck, hips pulsing against me.

When his body tensed under my touch, he pulled me off the bed and captured my mouth with his. Pushing the bathrobe off my shoulders, we shuffled our feet in a semicircle until he was on the side of the mattress. He gripped my ass, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His erection slid inside me, hard and unyielding. That alone drove me to the edge.

I rocked my hips while he supported me with his hands. My mouth never left his, not even when he lay down on the bed with me on top. The rough landing made him go deeper inside me. He had to stifle my moan with a kiss. He quivered. He was almost there. I didn’t hold back or try to stop the buildup inside me. I thrust into him as I inched us closer to the edge. The room went dark and quiet, and an orgasm ripped through me.

“Not yet,” Matt whispered and gripped my ass again. He pumped hard. His heartbeat was like a canon against my hand.

I slipped my fingers between us to touch myself and ride the last waves of my climax. When I squeezed around his erection, he came too.

“Fuck. Ela.”

---