It’s difficult though as I move toward the bedroom window, trying to admire the beauty of the outside world. Nothing holds my attention as my head dips and I let out a heavy sigh.
Knowing my past history with men, Aiden always used to joke that one day I’d find a man who would knock me on my ass emotionally. I never in a million years expected that to happen. Shows how much I know.
I freeze and my head whips to the door when I hear footsteps outside of my bedroom. Seconds later, Diego steps inside, closing and locking the door behind him.
He gives me a once over before he quickly moves and tugs me into his embrace. His hold is so snug that I can’t catch my breath.
“You’ll be home tomorrow and then you won’t have to face them,” Diego tries to reassure me, but I find his words upsetting and slowly slacken the hold I have around his waist.
“Rae?” he questions and tips my face, searching my eyes.
“I know we’re keeping this between us to ourselves…but, you make it sound like the problem will be solved once I leave. It won’t. Your mom doesn’t like me, and hates that you do.”
Diego shakes his head and starts to back me toward the bed, and then he’s crawling on top of me as soon as my back hits the mattress. “I’m not sure what the hell I’m going to say to her. She’s my mom and I love her, but I’m not willing to stand by while she treats you this badly. I can’t and won’t do that. I won’t do anything with an audience but I’m going to talk to her.” He pauses, stroking my cheek. “I promise baby.”
Tears hover on my lashes at the fear I see on Diego’s face. He’s wanted me as long as I’ve wanted him, and although entering a relationship with him doesn’t seem to have a happy ending, I still have to try…trying has to be worth something. It all happened so fast, one moment I found him irritating in an arousing kind of way, and the next, he’d worked his way into my heart.
I smile and cupping his handsome face, I bring him down to meet my lips. Doing this on top of my bed isn’t the best decision I’ve ever made, but to hell with that. No matter our differences, I want him more than I’ve wanted any other man in over twenty years.
Diego pauses seconds before he settles his weight on top of me. The hard press of his chest against mine, the quiver of his stomach as he settles between my spread thighs. He surrounds me, and when he buries his face in the curve of my neck and shoulder, his arms clasp me tightly against him. “Please don’t walk away, Rae,” he whispers. “I’ve never begged for anything in my life before, but I’ll beg for you.”
Shivers race through my trembling body when his lips join in with the caress on my skin. He nibbles my earlobe as my fingers grab hold of his head to bring his mouth to mine. I don’t get the hard kiss that I crave from him, but his lips are feathery on top of mine with tantalizing persuasion—turns out that’s the kind of kiss I needed from him. Except now, the tears that I’ve tried to hold back slowly slide down my face and into my hair.
Diego tries to brush them away with his thumbs but more fall. “You’re so beautiful.” Diego smiles. “Even when you’re crying.”
Kissing my forehead, Diego rolls from me with a groan as his erection brushes against my leg before he’s on his feet and offering me his outstretched hand. “C’mon.”
Panic briefly flickers in my eyes and belly until he offers me a wry grin. “We’re going into the bathroom to clean you up,” he admits, a slight blush high on his cheeks.
“Oh.”
He tugs me up, and keeping his hands on my hips, walks me into the bathroom.
He lifts me up and settles me onto the vanity while he wrings out a washcloth. “You,” he steps between my legs, “need looking after.” He gently wipes my face and when he’s done he tosses the washcloth into the sink.
After watching me for a few moments, his hands rest on either side of my hips, his eyes looking straight into mine. I can’t look away as I get lost in them…in him.
While he’s this close to me and we’re lost in our own perfect world, I feel as though I can accomplish anything. He makes me confident when realistically I have no idea how to make this work, and the last thing I want is to hurt him. I’ve done enough of that.
Not wanting to cry again, I wrap my arms around his waist, snuggling my face into the crook of his neck. “What are we going to do?” I ask quietly as I caress up and down his back.
6
Diego
“Whatever it takes, we’ll do it together, Rae.” I kiss the top of her head before cupping her face in my hands. “I mean it.” I’m searching her eyes for something, and although I see fear, I also see longing, which makes my heart lighter.
“Together,” she agrees as I pull her back into my arms.
She’s pushed me away a few times now, and after the afternoon we’ve spent together, I can’t let her do that again. Usually I’m the one doing the pushing and I’ll even admit to being an asshole with women who didn’t get the hint that I don’t date. That is…until, Rae.
The petite bundle of pure woman has turned my head from the minute I set my eyes on her, and my life has been turned upside down since.
Just holding her the way that I am, I don’t want to let her go, and being clingy to anyone isn’t me, well…maybe it’s the new me.
I smile against the top of her head when I realize that I’m pussy whipped. My grin widens. I’m so pussy whipped that I don’t give a shit.
“You’ve gone quiet.” Rae looks up and holds my gaze. “Should I be worried?”