CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

The next morning, Jarel orders breakfast, and Angelo joins us. We talk about literally anything other than yesterday, and Jarel kisses me softly before I leave with Angelo.

“Feeling better today?” he asks as we pull onto the street.

“Yeah, but I think it’s going to be a few therapy sessions before I feel like myself again.”

“I think that’s true for all of us,” he says.

“Heard from Matt?”

“Not since I dropped you off.”

“I’ll check in with him this afternoon.”

“Do you need to go home right away?”

“No.”

“I want to show you something,” he says, taking my hand.

We drive fifteen minutes before pulling into the driveway of a large, red brick house with a well-manicured lawn.

“Wow,” I whisper.

“It went on the market last night,” he tells me as he kills the engine. “My coworker let me see it early this morning, and you definitely need to tour it.”

He walks to the door, and he takes my hand as he unlocks it. “You’re up for this?”

I nod.

He opens the door. “Starting in the living room.”

“It’s huge,” I say, spinning to look at everything–including the fireplace.

“Easily big enough to accommodate a large family or entertaining guests.” He locks the door and places the keys back in his pocket before taking my hand and leading me. “Kitchen and dining room. Remodeled three years ago.”

“It looks almost exactly as I dreamt it.”

He nods before returning to the living room. “Three-quarter bath is in here, and the plumbing is relatively new… And this could be a small bedroom, but the previous owners used it as a home office.”

“Maybe a guest bedroom?”

“Maybe,” he says, pointing toward the stairs. I follow him up, and he leads me in and out of five bedrooms of various sizes. One of the bedrooms has a half-bath, and a full bathroom is located at the end of the hall. “They used the largest bedroom as an upstairs living room,” he tells me, but obviously it could just be a bedroom. These rooms haven’t been renovated recently, so they’d probably need some work before the actual move-in.”

He pulls a cord hanging from the ceiling, and stairs descend to lead us into the attic. “Steps need to be replaced,” he says, but they’re safe enough to get us up.”

I follow him, and I can’t believe what I see when we come to the top. This is not an attic used for storage. Its spacious interior includes hardwood floors, and sunlight streams through the gorgeous dormer windows.

“It’s a livable space,” I say, running my fingers along the walls.

“Yeah, their oldest used it as his own apartment-type setup while he attended community college.” He lets me explore for a moment before pointing at the steps. “There’s still more.”

I’m careful as we descend the creaky steps, and he closes the hatch. He brings me back downstairs, then opens a door in the kitchen that I had assumed was a pantry. Another staircase leads into a dark space.

“Seriously watch your step,” he says. “These would also need to be completely replaced.”

The basement is cool and dry, and it’s almost as large as the attic. “This could easily be converted into bedrooms,” I comment.

“Or almost anything else,” he says. “It would take some spending, but it could be turned into its own apartment.” He walks around the space. “There could be a bathroom here, and the kitchen could go over there.”

“I can see it.”

We return to the kitchen, and he points to another door. “Garage,” he says as he leads me out. “Probably only two cars, but there’s enough room for bikes or whatever, and check this out,” he says, coming to yet another set of stairs. “This is what really sold me for you.”

I follow him, and another door opens into a legit studio apartment with a small kitchen and three-quarter bath.

“Bea,” he says, winking.

“Yes.”

We return to the kitchen, and he wraps his arms around me. “Six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a livable attic, versatile basement, large living room, spacious kitchen, and an actual apartment above the two-car garage. I think we came pretty close to matching your dream, love.”

“Damn near identical, Angelo. Holy shit.”

“We’d want an independent inspection, and it would need a few renovations, but those are all doable.”

“For sale?” I ask.

“Yeah, and they’re desperate to get rid of it, so it’s more affordable than I would have expected, but it’s definitely not cheap.”

“It’s all right. Between the four of us, we should be able to secure a mortgage.”

“I agree. Is this what you want?”

“Definitely.”

“Then, let me get the guys to tour it, and we’ll go to the bank. We need to move fast. I think this could go at the asking price pretty quickly.”

“Let’s do it.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe you found this.”

“Just lucky.”

I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck. “No, you’re incredible.”

He kisses me. “Thanks.”

“No,” I say, stepping closer. “You’re in business mode. Slow down. Be with me.”

He takes a deep breath and places his hands on my hips. “Okay. I’m here.”

“You tried to kiss me yesterday. You did kiss me.”

He tucks one of my curls behind my ear. “It was a mistake.”

“It won’t be a mistake now.”

“No?” he says with a slight smile.

“Definitely not.”

He leans down, and as soon as our lips touch, I moan.

There’s a strange, desperate energy between us.

“I was so scared for you,” he says between kisses.

“I was scared for you too.”

He backs me against the marble counter, and holds my face in both of his hands. “But we’re here now.”

I grip the front of the counter, and he helps me push myself up. My flats fall on the floor, and he moves his hands to my neck and collarbone. He pulls back and searches my eyes.

When his lips touch mine again, his fingers begin to unbutton my blouse.

And I don’t stop him.

His thumbs gently rub my stomach, sending chills up my spine.

He pulls back again. His left hand stays on my stomach, but his right hand rests on my pants’ button.

“What if someone catches us?” I whisper.

“Let them,” he says hoarsely.

I place my hands on his hips, and we look at each other one more time before committing to our decisions.

I unbutton and unzip his pants as he does the same for me.

Carefully balancing myself, I pull down my pants and panties, and they fall next to my shoes.

He takes a condom from his wallet, opens the package with his teeth, and rolls it on.

This is fucking happening.

In a house that isn’t even ours.

In a kitchen with curtainless windows.

I slide my hands under his shirt to feel his smooth skin. “Touch me. Touch me like only you do.”

His fingertips circle the skin under my collarbone, down my cleavage, and disappear into my bra to gently play with my nipples.

“Fuck,” I whisper as I move to the edge of the counter and spread my legs for him.

He kneels, and his tongue explores my most sensitive areas while his fingers graze my inner thighs.

“Oh fuck,” I say, gripping the counter and releasing a high-pitched moan.

He stands and places himself against me. He kisses me as I invite him in, and I dig my nails into his back.

Butterflies soar.

“Angelo, wait,” I say, my voice breaking.

He stops and strokes my cheeks. “What’s wrong, love? What’s wrong?”

His questions only bring more butterflies, and vibrations ripple throughout my entire body. I’ve never been this emotional and turned on simultaneously.

I have to catch my breath.

“What’s wrong?” he asks again.

I simper. “It’s only energy. It’s only your touch.”

He kisses me. “It is, my love. That’s all it is.”

“See me,” I whisper.

He caresses my neck, chest, and stomach until he finally grips my hips. He begins moving again, keeping eye contact the entire time.

Every thrust is deep, and as his pace quickens, I scream. I arch my back and lean my head back, hitting it against the oak cabinet.

His lips suck the side of my neck, and I scream again.

With each of my screams and moans, his pace quickens, and finally, he grabs both of my hands and pins them against the cabinets as he groans against the side of my neck.

As soon as he releases my hands, I wrap my arms around his shoulders and hold him against me.

I kiss his temple. “Well, we definitely have to buy the house now.”

He laughs. “Don’t tell the guys.”

I look into his eyes. “You saved my life yesterday.”

“It was instinct, Val. I saw the love of my life in danger, and I reacted.”

I rest my forehead against his. “Thank you, love. Thank you for everything.”

Instinct to save the love of his life.

I wonder if Matt feels the same way…