Love in Bloom (De La Fuente Family 3)

She wasn’t confident with the opposite sex and wasn’t really sure how to seduce anyone like Mateo, although she knew her previous teasing seemed to work. She’d read enough books and knew what went where when it came down to sex, she’d just never gone that far before. Her dreams often contained ideas of a night of wild sex with the handsome man beside her, except she didn’t just want one night.

She knew

that he wasn’t immune to her and probably with more encouragement he’d take her up on the offer. But would it be more to Mateo? Or, would he walk away after he’d gotten what he wanted?

“Talk to me,” Mateo requested out of the blue.

Her surprise must have shown on her face when she looked at him.

He laughed. “I’m serious. Please talk. Tell me something about you. Anything. Something you enjoy. Something from your past. Anything.”

She settled back against the tree trunk and thought what the hell as she rested her head on his shoulder. He stilled before he wrapped his arm around her, snuggling her close.

His scent was of man and spice and she could stay where she was forever.

“Okay, let me think.” She’d never really told anyone about growing up but she found that she trusted Mateo. “My mom worked a lot of hours as a waitress; she’d clean other peoples homes and even held a part time job with the police as a dispatcher. The dispatcher job didn’t last long because she’d been covering for someone on maternity leave. Once she left the position, things became more difficult. Money was always tight and sometimes dinner was a piece of toast.” She shrugged and felt Mateo tighten his arm around her.

“But the money didn’t matter to me. I always felt loved and just before she died, I’d gotten a scholarship to the university so that my fees would be paid. She was so proud of me and couldn’t wait to see me graduate. She was the only family that I had. She’d never talk about my father.”

“I’m sorry, Erin. No wonder you wanted to be around my family without Caprice in the picture.”

“I’m glad my mother isn’t around to know about that. She’d have been disappointed in me,” her voice grew quiet, “just like I am myself.”

“Hey,” he pressed a feather-light kiss to her forehead, which she felt right down to her toes, “you were offered a way to earn fast money that wasn’t illegal. It makes you feel secure having that money in your account, doesn’t it?”

She nodded. “Yes it does.”

“Then let’s not dwell on the past, okay. I don’t blame you. I blame the assholes in Dallas. There’s no reason why we can’t be friends while you’re here. Plus, I’m hoping for an invite to your graduation.”

Tears gathered on her lashes as she turned her head and met his soft gaze. “You mean that? You’ll come to my graduation?” She didn’t think he knew how much that meant to her.

“Diego and Emelia’s graduation was the last one I attended, nearly six years ago. So yeah, I’d love to watch you graduate.”

Chapter Fifteen

He hoped he wasn’t digging himself deeper into Erin’s life with the talk about her graduation. The tears on her lashes made his heart thump in his chest, or it could be her closeness. But either way, he would be there no matter what.

Erin, with her subtle fresh scent that tickled his senses, was beautiful. The fact was that he’d enjoyed spending the afternoon at the park with her and but for his butt having gone numb, he’d keep her to himself that much longer.

She really was different and as much as he wanted to keep her at arm’s length, he found it difficult. Her age was a problem but his wayward cock had no problem being close to her.

He’d gone rock hard when she’d moaned while eating the cake and seeing the pleasure on her face had sent his mind to the gutter.

Her innocence was a huge turn-on, but would he be able to touch her and walk away afterwards. She’d want forever, where he still felt too young to actually settle down with one woman—too many beautiful ones out there to be sampled.

On that last thought, he felt her grow heavy in his arms as sleep was obviously about to claim her.

The fact that she felt right against him caused his hand to shake as he brushed the long locks away from her face. She opened sleepy eyes and offered him the sexiest smile ever. His heart jumped in his chest and it took his willpower not to lean that few inches closer and capture it on his lips.

Instead he cleared his throat and tried to force down the lust that was trapped inside. “We should leave.”

“Mmm. Okay.” Erin scrambled away but as she got to her feet, he just caught her before she face planted the floor. “God, I’m sorry. I must have gotten up too quickly.” Her hand went to her forehead.

“Are you okay now?”

“I think so.” She smiled.

He turned away so she wasn’t in his sight. Something had to give because he couldn’t be this tied in knots for the whole time she was at his family home. It was as though a switch had been flipped and now he couldn’t get enough.