Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 92976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92976 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 465(@200wpm)___ 372(@250wpm)___ 310(@300wpm)
I tucked a wet curl behind her ear. “You’re still not allowed to try to run away,” I replied, not at all joking.
I’d warned Sofia that there was no going back once she promised that she was mine, and I meant it. I couldn’t let her go now any more than I could survive a bullet to the brain.
“I don’t want to run away,” she reassured me. “But I figure this means you’ll have to go back to guarding Adrián now. I can go to my classes on my own.”
She pouted slightly around the words. Sofia didn’t want to be free of me at all.
I smiled down at her. “I’ll see if I can negotiate cutting my hours back for Adrián. He was already threatening to withhold pay, so I’ll play hardball.”
“Good. I know you can’t be with me all the time, but I don’t want you to be with Adrián every day, either.”
She wrapped her small hand around the back of my neck, pulling me toward her to whisper low in my ear. “You’re mine, Mateo.”
She sealed her claim with a fierce, possessive kiss. Sofia owned me, body and soul, and I reveled in my captivity.
Epilogue
Sofia
Five Days Later
“I got you a present, florecita,” Mateo murmured in my ear, dropping a doting kiss on my neck.
I flushed with pleasure and tilted my head to the side, welcoming more. “You didn’t have to get me anything,” I protested, even though excitement fizzed through my veins. “You’ve gotten me too many presents already.”
“I don’t want to hear you say that ever again,” he rebuked, nipping at my shoulder. “I like buying you presents, and you like receiving them. From now on, you accept what I give you, and you will accept that you deserve it. Buying you pretty things makes me happy.” His fingers sank into my hair, tugging my head back, so I was trapped beneath his stern, black stare. “And you want to please me, don’t you, dulzura?”
“Yes,” I agreed on a sigh, relieved to let go of the slight tension that gripped my body. Mateo wouldn’t take my presents away if I disappointed him. He just wanted me to be happy.
I wanted him to be happy, too.
“Good girl.” His low praise rumbled against my lips before he claimed them in a tender kiss, rewarding me for my acquiescence.
“Come,” he urged when he finally allowed me space to breathe. “Your present is outside. It was delivered while you were practicing.”
He took my hand, guiding me away from my piano, where I’d been working on new song arrangements. Mateo had rescheduled my gig, and I wanted to prepare for my performance next weekend.
He’d sworn he wouldn’t leave my side until I stepped on stage. I suspected he’d never let me out of his sight again, if that were an option.
But he was deeply loyal to Adrián, especially after his friend had helped him rescue me. Mateo would have to go back to his duties guarding his boss tomorrow. Neither of us was looking forward to being separated, not even while I was on campus for the day.
I followed where he led, walking through our house toward the front door.
Our house.
All notions of returning to my apartment had been forgotten; my home was with Mateo now. He’d already started talking about buying a bigger place for us, but I’d dismissed the idea. Four thousand square feet was already way more space than two people could possibly need. And I wanted to stay in the house where Mateo and I had fallen in love. I wasn’t going anywhere.
He opened the front door for me, ushering me outside. A sleek, white Audi was parked in the driveway, with a huge red bow on the hood.
“It’s an automatic,” he told me on a low chuckle, ruffling my hair. “Until I can teach you to drive stick, you can take this to campus. But we’re going to the track next weekend for your first lesson.”
“Thank you!” I flung my arms around him, squeezing him tight to convey my gratitude. “If you teach me to drive stick, does that mean I’ll get to drive the Batmobile?” I asked, giggling.
“Maybe one day,” he mused. His grin hit me square in the chest, his pure joy knocking the air from my lungs. “If you’re very good for me and take your lessons seriously.”
I pressed myself closer to his big body, rubbing up against him like a needy kitten. “You know I’ll be good for you. I promise.”
He hummed his approval, the sound thrumming low in my belly. I shivered in his arms, my nipples pebbling to tight peaks.
“Can I take the Audi for a test drive?” I asked, not putting an inch of space between us. I didn’t really want to let him go yet, but I loved my present, and he needed to know how excited I was to receive it.