She was too young.
His subconscious was a pain in his ass, but as he rounded his truck and saw her, age difference didn’t matter.
No one had ever made his breath catch at the back of his throat before. He’d never had the urge to just wrap a woman up in his arms and hold her close either.
When Erin noticed him, her smile seemed strained and for some reason, that hurt. He never explained himself unless he had to and right now it was a case of wanting to.
“What she said—”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shrugged. “Can you unlock your truck, please?”
He closed his eyes and inhaled when she turned her back to him.
He’d open her door, but not until he’d explained what had been going on because he didn’t want her thinking anything else.
Erin wouldn’t look at him as he moved closer. When he was mere inches behind her, he leaned in and whis
pered, “She’s not the one that I want, Erin.”
“Let’s just go back.”
He moved in closer and slipped his arm around her stomach to keep her against him. “We had a thing in high school, and we kind of became fuck buddies after that,” he winced, “but it all stopped when I became engaged…to you. Allie has the personality of a snake.”
A chuckle burst from her lips as she turned in his arms, her beautiful eyes searched his face for the truth.
He’d never been so tempted to kiss anyone before, but the way she looked at him had his gut clenched into a tight knot of arousal.
“Let’s get back.” Mateo opened the truck and ignored the disappointment he could see on her beautiful face.
He wanted to stay alone with her that much longer as well.
Chapter Sixteen
Erin sat in bed with the covers pulled up to her waist while reading on her kindle. It wouldn’t be long before Mateo came out of the bathroom to join her and the nerves in her belly wouldn’t quit jumping.
Last night, she’d teased him and he’d gone to sleep even though his body had betrayed him when she’d woken. Tonight, she had to keep telling herself that nothing was about to happen. Mateo was attracted to her just like she was him but she knew that he had a problem with her age.
He’d promised her that there would be no reason for her to worry about the sleeping arrangements but she was. He made her tingle in places that only he’d ever done and her heart always beat to an irregular rhythm when he was close.
Sleeping all night in a bed with him, without being allowed to touch him, would be frustrating. The only in depth sexual knowledge she had was from the novels she read. They left little to the imagination and got her hot and bothered.
Just like the one she read now—Sizzle.
It certainly made her blood sizzle and the scene she’d just started to read would make her blush like a schoolgirl if Mateo came out and caught her.
Before she could flip to the next page, the door opened and she caught her breath at the sight. Mateo stood in sweatpants that hung very low on his hips while his heated gaze caressed over her skin like a piece of fine silk.
Her nipples beaded beneath the tight fitting tank top like homing beacons. Mateo couldn’t take his eyes from her and as much as he tried to look elsewhere, his gaze went back to her chest.
Because she’d been doing some admiring of her own, she noticed the twitch in his sweats, which had him turning away from her while he moved around the room.
She hid her smirk at his reaction to her behind the kindle, but as he settled into bed she felt his gaze.
“You planning on ignoring me all night?” he grouched.
“I thought you wanted to go to sleep. I mean, there isn’t much to do in bed.” The moment the words left her mouth she felt the blush creep all over her face. “I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” Mateo interrupted and cleared his throat. “So, what are you reading? Same book as last night?”