MATEO’S TRIP TURNS from one day into two, and then from two into three. On the third day, Ignacio lets me know that Mateo ordered him to take me shopping so that I don’t die of boredom. It’s funny how Mateo knew exactly what would cheer me up and make me happy. Even though I’ve been helping Esmeralda in the kitchen and enjoying my time with her — she even taught me how to make concha — I must admit that getting out of the house is exactly what I need.
We’re in our fifth department store of the day when Ignacio hands me a small, black flip phone. “It’s Mateo,” he explains when I look up at him in confusion.
I put the phone up to my ear and ask, “Hello?”
“Buenos días, Aria,” Mateo’s deep voice answers. “How are you?”
I chew on my bottom lip. It’s so nice to hear his voice. What’s that old saying? Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Yeah, well, it’s completely true. I miss him. Way more than I ever thought I would or could. And much more than I should. “I’m okay,” I tell him. “How are you?”
“I’ve been better,” he grinds out.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, concerned.
“Nothing, Aria. I’m just missing a certain little captive of mine.”
His words steal the breath right out of my lungs. Mateo isn’t the type to confess his true feelings, so him admitting that he misses me is a big deal. And I find myself foolishly blushing like a silly, lovesick teenager.
“How’s the shopping trip?” he prompts.
I sigh deeply and stare across the store at Ignacio and Flora. They’re practically having sex against a shoe rack while nearby employees look on in surprise and horror. “You didn’t tell me Ignacio and Flora are, like, a thing,” I hiss conspiratorially. I wondered why Ignacio was so adamant about her coming along. Now I know.
“I wouldn’t exactly call them a thing,” Mateo muses. “But they’re definitely fucking.”
“Yeah, no shit,” I say sarcastically, and that earns me a dark chuckle on the other end of the line. “They can barely keep their hands off each other, so it’s been hard to get any shopping done when I’m trying not to see…all of that.” I have seen Flora’s boobs and butt cheeks more times than I can count since Ignacio is constantly lifting her skirt or pulling down her shirt and pawing at her like some kind of wild animal.
There’s silence on the other end of the phone, and I wonder for a moment if Mateo grew tired of my complaining and simply hung up. But then he says, “I took care of the problem.”
I glance up at Ignacio, who is looking down at his cell phone with a heavy frown on his face. He quickly backs away from Flora, straightens his back and glares in my direction. And if looks could kill…
“Yeah, I see that,” I tell Mateo, tearing my gaze away from Ignacio, who looks like he wants to strangle me for messing up his playdate with his fuckbuddy. “So, this should be fun,” I groan, rolling my eyes.
“Try to enjoy yourself. I know how much you love shopping.”
I grin. I do love shopping. And I love the fact that he doesn’t care or set limits on my obsession. Several nights ago, I sat on his lap in his office while I shopped for hours online, ordering whatever I wanted. His cock was hard the entire time, and I loved teasing him. And when he finally had enough of the teasing, he took what he needed, fucking me on top of his desk for hours.
I bite my lip, shaking my head to clear my naughty thoughts.
“I have to go, Aria,” he informs me.
“Okay. I…” My voice trails off, but then I decide to suck it up and just tell him how I feel. He’s been gone for three days, and I have an ache in my chest that I don’t think will go away until he returns. “I miss you,” I whisper.
He’s silent for a beat before he eventually says with a contented sigh, “I miss you too, Aria.”
“How much longer?” I ask, and even I’m surprised by how needy my voice sounds.
“Two more days at the most. I promise I’m hurrying.” And then he adds, “Have fun spending my money.”
“Oh, I will,” I say with a grin.
“That’s my girl.”
He hangs up, and I immediately miss the sound of his sexy, deep voice. I stare down at the phone, sighing and wondering just what the hell is wrong with me. Mateo and I have come a long way since he first bought me on that island.
I don’t know what the future may hold for both of us, but I hope that we can find a way to be together. I just pray that when the time comes to make a choice, that it won’t end up in me having to decide between him and my family. Because I’m not sure who I would choose. And that scares me more than anything.
