Chapter 19

I’d dressed as conservatively as possible for our ‘date’ so Matthew wouldn’t get the wrong idea about how this evening would end. I’d paired the same skinny jeans with a shirt and a pair of ballet flats. I wouldn’t stoop so low as to fuck him just to save the bakery.

I walked into the Mexican restaurant like I was on my way to the electric chair and fish tacos were my last meal.

“You came,” Matthew said, more as a courtesy than anything else. He didn’t stand up, just sat there as he scanned the menu and toyed with his beer bottle. There was no doubt I’d come tonight. None in my mind or his.

I needed the bakery so much I’d turned to him.

“You look beautiful,” he said. I glanced at his face, surprised by the unexpected compliment as I sank into my chair across from him.

The gesture would’ve been sweet from anyone else. I sat down and didn’t answer him, merely placed my handbag in my lap and folded my hands on top of the table. Raucous laughter rang out, people joked and chatted all around us. The couple next to us drank from long straws from the same marguerita that looked like it contained a gallon of the delicious mixture.

None of them were in their personal version of hell.

Like me.

“It’s lovely to see you out,” Matthew said, like I’d been hiding under a rock or something. He touched my hand and I jerked it back. He frowned, a snarl curling his lips. “Is that how you think this is going to go? ‘Cuz I’ve got news for you, Ally. This is a real date, complete with a goodnight kiss and everything.”

“Oh, you’ve planned it to that extent, have you?” I asked, withering inside bit-by-painful-bit. A goodnight kiss? I’d rather kiss my own ass goodbye. Maybe that was the point.

“Hell yeah — I have. Tonight’s our first date. Sunday is Netflix and chill.”

“I’m never having sex with you,” I said, loudly. The people at the table next to ours stopped talking for a second and stared. I smiled at them, and they went back to their sipping and hand-holding.

“I think you will.”

“I think I’d rather vomit fish tacos and re-eat them,” I replied. “I only agreed to this date as a courtesy. You’re not going to extort sex from me, Matthew.” I shivered at the thought of it.

Matthew had gone from my 'dream' fiancée to sexual aggressor in six short months. What the fuck had happened to him? More importantly, what the fuck had I been thinking to spend more than a few seconds with this guy? Was the bakery and my dream worth the destruction of my self-respect? Worth giving up everything? The frustration and angst over the impossibility of the decision caused nausea to crawl up the back of my throat. The answer was —

There was no damn answer.

“You will have sex with me on Sunday,” he insisted. Then his voice lowered to a demanding whisper. “You will wrap your pretty lips around my cock and you will suck me off with your talented mouth until I shoot my load down the back of your throat.”

I scraped my chair back. “No.” I loved my bakery, but given the choice between my dreams and my integrity? “I’m leaving, you sick bastard.” I marched towards the door, bumping past servers and half-drunk college students.

“Then you’ll go bankrupt, you fat fucking bitch,” he shouted after me.

“As long as I don’t have to sleep with you, I don’t care,” I yelled right back. The entire restaurant fell silent this time. All of them turned and stared at Matthew. His cheeks went bright red. Now, I’d really pissed him off and my rash mouth had gotten me into trouble again. There was no telling what he was capable of and he had the strength of the Minneapolis Police Department behind him.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I stormed out of the restaurant and into the snow. The tiny victory made my pulse race even though I knew there’d be hell to pay. I’d been wrong to turn to him. And if I’d been wrong about that, then maybe I’d been wrong about a lot of other things too.

I got in my car and drove to his house. He’d given me his address after the night we’d spent together, in case I ever needed anything. In case of emergency. Well, this was a damn emergency.

I slammed the car door behind me and sprinted up the stairs of his porch. I banged on the door at least twenty times, until the next door neighbors lights switched on.

“All right, I’m coming! Is there a fire?” Gabe yelled from inside. His heavy footsteps approached the door. It creaked open to reveal him. “Allegra? What are you —?”

I flew into his arms and wrapped myself around him. He was warm and I’d probably freeze him with the snow on my coat, but he didn’t seem to care.

He breathed me in, then kissed my lips softly. “God, I’ve missed you. I was worried. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” I said, peppering his face with kisses. “I’m fine. I’m sorry I ended it. I’m sorry I doubted you for a second.”

“Allegra —”

But I didn’t let him finish his sentence for the second time. I slammed the door shut with my heel and stripped off my clothes, right there in the hall.

His words died in his throat. “Allegra,” he said, huskier this time. He pulled at the button on his jeans, adjusted his hardening erection beneath them. “Are you sure?”

“Shut up and fuck me,” I replied, ripping my shirt off, pulling the lace of my bra down just enough that my breasts bounced free.

He groaned and dropped his pants, releasing his cock.

I kicked off my shoes, shimmied out of my pants and panties. Then I placed my palms on his chest and walked him backwards into his living room. I tipped him onto the couch, then climbed on top of him.

I rubbed my wet pussy along his shaft, stroking my clit and moaning from the pleasure slicing through my core.

“Yes,” he growled. “Fuck, that’s amazing.”

I leaned forward to shove his cock inside me, but he caught my nipple between his lips. He captured it with his teeth and sucked it deep inside his wet mouth.

I groaned and rocked back and forth, sliding over the surface of his cock. I reached between my legs, grabbed him and positioned him so I could slide down and envelop him to the hilt in one smooth, perfect stroke.

“Fuck,” he groaned. “Oh yes, Allegra.”

I arched my back and rode him, sliding up and down as slow as I could stand. Sensual. I bucked my hips, then angled myself forward so that my clit rubbed against the skin just below his abs. I groaned, eyes rolling back in my head.

“You’re gonna come for me, aren’t you?” he grunted.

“Only if you help,” I moaned as I grabbed his hand and placed his thumb over my swollen clit. Then I increased the pace as he stroked me at just the right pressure and speed. I rode him hard, taking myself to the edge.

As I shattered into a million pieces from the intensity of my release, I screamed his name and then fell forward on top of him. Gabe captured my mouth in a searing kiss that branded me with its tenderness as he continued to move inside me. An almost broken kind of vulnerability of himself. Of this.

Of us.

I wanted more of him. I wanted all of him forever. I didn’t let the possessive thought bother me. There was only this moment.

“Alle-gra,” he gasped, unable to get my name out in one breath. He swelled inside me and closed his eyes, fingers digging into my hips, pressing himself deeper, lifting me up and down, making me fuck him at the pace he liked.

It was fast. It was hard. A growl tore from his throat and his cock pulsed inside me, squirting deep again, filling me. Filling the hole deep inside me that I’d harbored since my first memory.

That sent me over the edge for the second time. I clenched around him, again and again, and he groaned a final time, thrusting deep.

“Oh God,” I whispered as I rested my head on his chest. “Thank you,” I said. “I needed that.”

He gave a weak laugh and stroked the naked, sweat-covered skin on my back. “I’m happy to help.”

Tomorrow, I’d tell him what happened. Now, I needed to feel safe. Needed Gabe’s strong arms tight around me, touching my skin. His warmth protecting my battered and bruised heart.

We fell asleep together.