Page 69 of Red Queen
I plant one last kiss on her throbbing pussy, then move my body on top of her. Her mouth’s still full, and before she can spit it out, I kiss her deeply, my load mingling in our mouths.
After we come back to Earth, silence envelopes us. I’m cuddling her from behind, playing with her hair as I’m listening to her soft breathing. I think she fell asleep right after I pulled her in, and that’s the perfect way to end this day.
The team wanted me to go to the after-party, but I sent them a message saying I won't be able to make it and we’ll catch up later, after Rosa fell asleep. Ain’t no way I’m leaving this woman’s side tonight. She’s a fucking part of me now, however much I want to push her away, to make her find another, better man.
She has taken over my mind, my body, my soul, and it all sounds really scary that one person can affect you so much.
“I… I love you,” I whisper into her ear, getting shocked at my own words. It might be the lingering feeling of sex speaking from me, but I don’t think my feelings will change by tomorrow.
I tried, and I tried hard to ignore this warm feeling inside me whenever I was thinking about her. But I’m done trying. I want to be better. For her. If she’ll let me.
45
ROSA
It’s been two weeks since Mateo won in Singapore, and in those two weeks, I spent most of my time at home, anywhere but near him. After that incredible night, he told me he loved me, and he thought I didn’t hear it, but I very much damn did.
Right after he whispered those three words and went to shower, I crashed out and called Lana immediately. I never would’ve thought he’d say those words to me. He was trying so hard to push me away, with constant arguments and always making me feel that nothing else could happen between us besides meaningless, fun sex.
It was amazing. From the very start, our chemistry in bed was off the charts. It was always a good time—incredible, more like. But it was never more. There was no after-care. I was lucky when I got cuddles, but we went back to our lives like nothing happened, like it was just a hookup. And constantly feeling like this messed me up.
I was trying to get closer to him, but each time he just pushed me farther away. There were times he broke, when he told me about his dad, or how he felt at Moscardi in his first year, but those were rare.
Since I got so good at pretending, I tried to play it cool since that night, like nothing happened. I’m good at lying until he gives up being nice and demands I tell him what’s bothering me. I hope that won’t happen now, because how am I supposed to tell him that I’m afraid of falling in love?
And now, we’re in Austin, thankfully in a hotel room with separate beds. He booked the Splatter Paint Zone appointment for today, and we’re in the car, sitting in silence. Who would’ve thought?
“Rosa,” he calls out when we’re almost there.
“Yes?” I say, still looking out the window, fearing that if I turn towards him, I’ll see something in his eyes I don’t want. Something raw.
“Did I do something? You’ve been avoiding me since Singapore,” he says softly, and the disappointment in his tone twists my heartstrings. Damn him for seeing through me and knowing when I have a real problem.
“You didn’t. Everything’s okay. I’m just tired,” I lie, and by his sigh, I imagine he doesn’t believe me. I swear I’m trying, but it’s really hard.
We arrive at the huge building, and after he’s done taking some selfies with fans, we head inside. The employees take us to a changing room, where we can put on the white coveralls and goggles.
“Can you at least talk to me? You don’t have to tell me what’s wrong, but at least acknowledge that I’m here,” he says, now a little annoyed, which makes me annoyed as well.
Why can’t we talk things through normally? Oh, wait, maybe it’s because I’m being a coward and not telling him about my feelings. Well, what he doesn’t know about won’t hurt him, right?
“I know you’re here. I can see you,” I reply sarcastically, but he doesn’t appreciate it. Can’t a woman joke nowadays?
“And still, this is the most I’ve heard you talk in the last 14 days. You ran home. Don’t try to deny that you’re not avoiding me.” I slide into the coverall and put on the goggles, and watch as he does the same.
We stride into the rage room, where there are a couple of buckets of paint set up for us. The room’s already colorful, splashed paint can be seen all around the walls, and I know we’re about to make it even messier.
“Okay! I am avoiding you. Are you happy now?” I ask, then grab a paintbrush, and splash paint all over his front. His mouth falls open, then looks up at me with a shocked expression, knowing that I’ll pay for this. If we’re arguing again, at least make it fun.
“No! Because I don’t know why you’re doing that! So please, talk!” And as I predicted, he mimics my previous movements and throws a big splash of paint on me.
“I told you! I’m just tired. The season’s nearing its end. No big deal.” I walk closer to him and then paint a big X on his suit. I don’t know exactly why I did that, but it felt good.
“Oh, come on! Stop lying to me! I know you well enough to know when you’re lying. Just tell me what’s going on already!” He smacks my ass with the paintbrush, bringing a big gasp out of me. Did he really just?—
“You want to know the real thing? I heard you in Singapore, Teo. I heard it when you whispered those three words in my ear. I wasn’t sleeping,” I say, my voice cracking ever so lightly.
“You…you heard it?” He backs up, and now he’s avoiding my eyes. See how the tables turn.
