“You shouldn’t have to buy me things,” I said, voice tight. “I’m older?—”
“Didn’t I already win that argument four years ago?”
Before I could argue, he grazed my lips. Not a full kiss. Just a soft brush. A whisper of contact. Then a second one, firmer, and this time he nipped my bottom lip with just enough pressure to make me gasp.
“Matt, stop doing that,” I said, already half-gone.
He leaned in and pressed a slow kiss to my mouth, lingering, smug.
“We need”—another kiss, pulling the words from my throat—“to talk.”
A third kiss stole whatever came next. I curled my hands into fists on his waist, fighting the heat rolling through me.
“Seriously,” I said, but it came out hoarse, needy. “I mean it.”
Matty grinned against my lips. “I know.” He brushed his mouth over mine again. “But I like the way you sound when you’re trying not to give in.”
Matty smirked and dipped in again, slow and deliberate. Another kiss. A teasing slide of his tongue that didn’t quite demand but promised. My knees damn near buckled.
“You were saying?” he murmured, lips ghosting mine.
I grabbed his waist, dizzy from want, from him.
“You’re not playing fair.”
“I’m not playing at all. You’re my man. We already established that last night. What kind of man watches the person he loves struggle and can help, but doesn’t?”
Caving in, I wrapped my arms around his waist. “You’re scaring the shit out of me.”
“How so? By loving you?”
“Yeah, I don’t want to hurt you again.”
“Then don’t. The only thing that’s a deal-breaker between us, Hud, is if you sleep with somebody else.” He gripped my chin, the look in his eyes serious. “Because I’mmaking it clear. I’m being upfront about how I feel about you, so there should be no doubt in your mind like in the past. And if you step out on me this time, then it’ll be unforgivable.”
“I swear I won’t cheat.”
His hand wandered down my neck, caressed my chest, slipped under my shirt, and stroked my belly. “You belong to me now, Hudson Granger. Just remember, I don’t do things I regret. Don’t miss your appointment at the clinic.” His lips grazed my jaw, and he nibbled his way over to my earlobe. “I’m thinking it’s been a long time since I’ve nutted inside you, then let you sit that beautiful, sweet ass on my face.”
Oh God.
I whimpered.
“Ivy.”
He kissed my forehead, then backed away. “I know. She’s the only one keeping me from having you on your knees right now.”
“You don’t mind how different things are? I mean, we can’t do it whenever we want.”
“Are you kidding me?” His grin was wide, confident, cocky. “This’ll be more fun. All that waiting? The sneaking around? The stolen moments when Ivy’s napping or out of the room? That kind of anticipation? It’s gonna make everything ten times hotter.”
I swallowed. He was right. I was already anticipating Ivy being asleep tonight. If Matty was staying again. Our house didn’t exactly have the comfort he was used to from the ranch.
“I guess I should go to the bathroom.”
He took my hand, stopping me, and didn’t say anything for a while, his eyes boring into mine. “Hud?”
“Hmm?” I shifted my weight to the next foot under his intense scrutiny.
