Page 30 of Red Queen
“You’re sitting naked in nice, warm water. How can you expect me to wait? That’s exactly what I need right now.” Damn, he’s good at convincing me.
“Okay okay, come over then.” I hear an excited yelp, and I smile at his expression.
“I’ll be there in ten.”
18
ROSA
Iget out of the water and wrap myself in a robe, waiting for his arrival. I get another glass and pour both of us some wine. I sit on the counter and start swirling the liquid, passing time.
I think about scrolling on my phone, but I don’t want to see endless posts about people and so-called ‘fans’ dissing Mateo. Everyone today seems to know the truth about the news. Like they were there when he hooked up with that journalist, if that even happened.
I hear a knock, and I make my way to the door.
“Who is it?”
“Rosalia.” Heat floods through me at the warning tone of his voice, making me want to tease him even further, but I have a feeling it’s not the right time.
I slowly open the door, smiling, inviting him in, and I see a different Mateo standing on the doorstep. His left hand rests on the door frame, head hanging down, his whole body tired.
Something about this version of Mateo tugs on my heartstrings. I’ve only known him for a little while, but he’s different now. It seems like not only his body, but his soul is also tired, and I don’t deny that it makes me worried.
He looks up after a second, and with a swift motion, he scoops me up into his arms, closing the door behind him with his leg. He walks toward the bathroom, losing his shoes on the way.
He puts me down in front of the tub, and I sit down to enjoy the show when he starts undressing. I bet this might be the fastest he has ever undressed, so to my disappointment, I can’t enjoy it for too long. He pulls me up to my feet after he’s lost all his clothing, and I untangle the robe’s belt; he watches as the piece of clothing falls to the ground.
He lifts me again, pulling me into a deep kiss as we settle into the tub. Now that’s why I like bathrooms with big tubs, no discomfort when I’m sitting in someone’s lap, and plenty of space for other fun activities as well.
I check the temperature of the water. It probably got a little cold while I was waiting for the man.
“Hi,” he murmurs as he finally breaks the kiss, his hands still holding my face. I start caressing his neck, which is rewarded with a long groan from him.
“Hi,” I reply, trying to ignore his growing erection. I want him to relax now, not get him even more worked up.
“Can I just…hold you now?”
I nod with a smile, turning my back against him, relishing the feeling as he closes me into his arms. I let my head fall back onto his shoulder, peppering small kisses into the crook of his neck, caressing his arms as he holds me close.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I speak up a couple of minutes later. He shrugs, so I’ll take that as a yes. “Did you two…really hook up?” I ask quietly, ignoring the bitter feeling in my stomach. It’s not like we’re together. Why do I feel this way then?
“We did. That night… Before I first met you, actually.” He holds a short pause before he asks the question. “Do you believe her?”
“No. Her story doesn’t make sense. You’re known as a loyal guy. I doubt you’d want to destroy your career now, when you’re in favor of winning your first championship.” I lift my head from his shoulder, looking into his eyes, indicating my sincerity.
“Thank you.” He kisses the top of my head, then buries his face into my neck. “I just wish I knew why she’s doing this. They could file a lawsuit against me.”
The despair in his voice is evident, so I move my hands to hold his face, lifting it, so I can look into his eyes.
“Hey. You’ve been through a lot. This woman won’t be able to bring you down, okay? You’re stronger than that. She’ll slip up eventually, and you’ll be there to prove your innocence.” His features relax, then pulls me into another kiss. He grabs my hips and turns me over so that I’m lying on him, both of us lost in the moment.
“You’re too sweet for me.” He pinches my cheek as I lay my head into the crook of his neck.
“No, I’m just good at giving pep talks.” I pepper small kisses on his skin, trying to ease his nerves. He lets out a soft groan, so I continue my actions.
“Damn right you are.” He starts rubbing my side while his other hand traces lazy patterns on my back, the feeling making me shiver.
“So… What happens now? What does your manager say?” I ask after a while.
