Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 49490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Okay, I had no idea why I’d said that. It wasn’t true. Mateo had been a great QB. It was a stupid dig designed to get a reaction…and it worked.
“My halo? Not sure where that’s coming from, but it’s rich coming from a blowhard linebacker who’s got his jersey plastered on every inch of spare wall in a fucking bagel store.” He lowered his voice, his lips twisted in an evil sneer. “And you’re the one who wants to do cross-promo advertising. Why is that? It’s like you need me or something.”
Grrr. I leaned into his space—so close, I could see the vein pulse at his temple. Unfortunately, I also noticed that his eyelashes were ridiculously long and that his lips were full and lush and— Stop.
I clung to anger, stabbing my finger at Mateo’s chest. “Nice one, but I don’t need you. Unlike you, I’ll figure it out myself. Must have been sweet to have a business handed to you, but gee, my daddy didn’t give me a shop to run or—”
“You fucking prick.” Mateo raised his fist as if to punch me.
I dodged him and collided with the desk. He spun around with his dukes up again. No thanks. I’d made a career out of wrestling on the field and had the battle scars to prove it. I had no intention of adding more. Besides, this wasn’t how real adults dealt with frustration, for fuck’s sake.
I captured Mateo’s wrists and pulled him against me to keep him from using his legs or body weight as a weapon. He was strong, but I was stronger, not to mention bigger and thicker all over.
“We’re not doing this,” I growled.
“Like hell we’re not. You don’t know anything about me or my family or my…”
Shit, Mateo was on a roll now, and he didn’t seem to have noticed that my grip had loosened in his tirade. I couldn’t follow what he was saying. Something about family and pizza and blah, blah, blah.
Hey, it was probably interesting info, but the more fired up he got, the more I noticed him—his thick brows, the flecks of gold in his brown eyes, his chiseled cheekbones, and that mouth—so angry, so tough, so fierce, so goddamn hot. I was staring and I knew it, but I couldn’t look away.
After what felt like twenty minutes, he finally shut up.
I had to let his wrist go and say something…anything. I was frozen, though. So was Mateo. He didn’t bother shaking me off. He narrowed his gaze slightly, lips parted. So damn sexy.
Heat rose between us, and wave upon wave of something potent yet undefined rushed in like high tide. I couldn’t tell if I was in danger of combusting or drowning or in some kind of freefall, unmoored and unhinged. All because of him.
And just like that, my mouth was on Mateo’s. And he welcomed me. Just like last time.
He dragged my bottom lip between his teeth and ravaged my mouth, driving his tongue so deep he hit the back of my throat. He eased the pressure but not the intensity. I lowered my hands to his ass and drew him close. Holy fuck. Yeah, I’d been hoping for friction, but the feel of his hard cock through two layers of denim was too damn much. I was gonna come in my jeans.
I’d had some hot and uninhibited sexy times, but I’d always been in control. Neither of us was now. The only saving grace was that I knew without a doubt that Mateo felt it too.
I held his face still in an attempt to resurface, licking his jawline and biting his earlobe. “Stop. We’re not doing this here.”
Mateo went perfectly still before pulling away and glancing toward the door. “My cousins are probably debating which one of us is walking out of here alive.”
I didn’t know what to say to that or what should happen next. Talk about awkward.
“Right,” I panted, dragging my erection alongside his.
Our noses brushed and our gazes held steady.
“We’re gonna do this, aren’t we?” he rasped.
“Yeah.”
If he were anyone else, I’d ask for his number so we could meet up later and maybe grab dinner and talk, but…Mateo? I didn’t know what to do with him.
So I pushed away and headed for the door.
Noise from the kitchen and the pizza parlor came rushing in, effectively breaking the spell. What the hell were we doing? This was a disaster in the making.
8
MATEO
Finding out Rob was queer blew my mind.
In theory, I knew I wasn’t the only gay former pro football player out there, but I was still gobsmacked. And thrilled that this was a case of mutual horny attraction. He wanted me.
I didn’t know what to think of this twist, but life went on as usual the following day in a nonstop parade of customers, taking orders, schmoozing, sweeping, and teasing Vanni about bathing in his cologne.