Matt"Good morning, Sir." A bright-eyed guy with a big smile greeted me as I walked into a flower shop around the corner from Erica's apartment. She'd spent the night at her place after going out with Lanie the night before, and I wanted to see her. Like now."Morning." I pointed to some red and yellow tulips. "I'll take a dozen of each of those in some of that pretty paper you guys have."There was a box of pastries sitting on the counter beside him. My stomach growled as I eyeballed them."You bet." He chuckled as my stomach protested loudly. "You want one of those? My mother bought too many as usual.""I'd love one." I walked over and glanced back over my shoulder. "Any of them off limits?""I love the cinnamon rolls, but I'm sure she included several in there.""Yeah. There's four." I took one of the apple fritters and flipped the lid to the box over. Tina's Bakery. A groan left me as I let the sugar and apples melt over my tongue. "Wow. That's fantastic.""Right? Tina is a great
Matt"I wish I could." She walked to the kitchen and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, tossing one to me. "I have an art event I have to go to tomorrow night with a few people from the office. Nothing big, but I have to be there.""Can't I just call Joan and sweet talk her into canceling for you?" I smiled at her."Nope, but good try." She popped my butt as she walked to the door. "Come on. Let's go have some fun while we can.""Consider me all in." I grabbed the box of treats and took the bag she had in her hand. "I'll drive. You just relax and try to enjoy yourself, alright?""I like the sound of that. Should we take Zek with us?"“No. I’ll text Lanie to come over tonight and hang out with him for a little while. He’ll be good until the morning. We’ll come back early.”“Sounds good, baby.”I had a million questions I wanted to ask her, but all of them were prying. I knew something was going on with her, but the mature thing to do was to back the fuck off and wait until s
EricaMatt was completely out of it by the time we reached the cabin. I'd offered ten times to take the wheel and let him get a nap, but he wouldn't let me. We walked into the cabin, and he motioned that he was going to check out the bedroom.When he didn't come back twenty minutes later, I realized where he was. Sound asleep on the bed. Poor thing.A smile lifted my lips as I stood beside the bed and watched him sleep. He had no idea how handsome he was. I knelt and kissed his forehead before whispering into his ear."I'm going to town to get groceries. Be right back."He grumbled something and turned over, his tone that of a pissy teenager. It was too cute. How hard it must have been to live in Damon's shadow. I was grateful that I only had an older brother and not a sister to be compared too, though I wasn't too sure Kent was the comparing kind. He seemed to enjoy and appreciate both of his boys for who they were. It was one of the reasons I liked him so much as a boss. He was supp
Erica"I'll send you the address, but please don't forget your place in all of this. You sold your body for a night. I didn't force you to do it. You eagerly said yes.""No, I didn't." Disgust for my action threatened to pull me under. "I'm hanging up. Send me the address.""See you tomorrow."I dropped the call and stood up, my legs a little shaky. After sucking in three or four deep breaths, I turned and walked back into the house. Matt was in a woman's apron, moving around the kitchen, humming something funny.He was only wearing the apron. His cute little pale ass flexed as he turned and looked over his shoulder. "You like?"I laughed, needing his humor more than anything at the moment. "I love it and you.""Good. Come over here and help me tote the stuff outside.""You are not going outside butt-ass naked.""True. There are wild animals out there." He stopped in front of me and ran his strong hands over my shoulders. "But there's a wild woman in here." His smile faded. "Baby... w
MattA smile spread across my face as I slipped out of bed the next morning and walked to the kitchen. My heart was full in so many ways. Nothing could tear me down from the high I was on. The woman of my dreams was in my bed, covered in my scent, adorned with my kisses and greedy touches.My father accepted me for who I was, and scary enough, he always had. It was me that needed to get over my difference to him and Damon. It was me who was trying to live in the shadow of my brother, and it wasn't needed anymore.I could simply be me, and that was enough. Erica loved me and treasured what we had. She was all I needed to confirm my security in simply being me.After padding around the kitchen for a few minutes, I decided to make breakfast for her. I was almost done frying the bacon when she stopped at the edge of the kitchen in one of my t-shirts. Her hair was a mess and her lips a little swollen from our kisses.I stopped what I was doing to take her in. My pulse spiked a little, and
Matt"You sure you have to go to this thing tonight?" I dropped her back off at her apartment and walked her to the door."Yeah. I'm sure." She leaned in to kiss me a few times.I slid my hand into her hair and deepened the kiss, enjoying the way she fit against me so well. I'd wanted to take a shower with her earlier that morning back at the cabin, but the mood shifted a little too much after we talked about her nightmare. Something told me that it wasn't some crazy idea she'd come up with, but rather something she was seriously considering. If someone were trying to hurt her, there would be absolute hell to pay. Some part of me hoped that it was Mitch. Fucker."I love you." I moved back and slipped my hands into my pocket. The sound of Zek barking inside the apartment had me smiling. "You want me to take little man back to my place? If you have to go out again tonight, he's going to be alone. Let me have him.""You sure?" She turned and unlocked the door. "I know he still has accide
Erica"I seriously didn't think you were going to make it." Lanie glanced over at me from her bent-over position. Yoga was every Saturday morning, and I tried like hell not to miss it come hell or high water."I had to drive like a bat outta hell for sure." I moved into position and glanced up at the sound of someone clearing their throat."Is there a reason you're late to my class today?" The instructor was a total witch and loved to throw verbal punches at anyone who was even a few seconds tardy, but she was great at what she did. There was no denying that her class would be fantastic. A smile touched my lips as I thought about the last time I was in yoga and Matt was there. She made an example out of him, and Lanie and I stood at the back, laughing the whole time.It was karma that I should be caught in the woman's web next."Yeah. My father died last night." I tilted my head to the side and gave her a look that warned her to leave me be."Oh!" She clamped her hands over her mouth.
Erica"Thank you." I nodded and took the ticket before walking to the door.Mitch walked out, looking like the devil himself. His black suit was pressed perfectly, and fit him like a glove. I had no doubt that every woman in the room behind him had eye-fucked him twenty times. He was beautiful and would make some woman very happy one day, but that woman wasn't me. I was completely sold out to a blond-haired goof that reminded me of the frat boys from my past that I would turn away instantly.Matt had every part of me. There was nothing else left to give to anyone or anything."You look beautiful." Mitch reached out and took my hand before leaning in and kissing my cheek. "Thanks for coming.""I didn't have a choice." I slipped my arm into his as he offered it. I wanted to find some middle ground where I could be cordial with the asshole, but he was threatening to destroy everything that mattered to me."You always have a choice." He glanced down at me, his eyes filled with needy lust.