Page 97 of Hostile Love
“Your hands feel like heaven.”
He chuckles and dips into the side of my face, his voice husky.
“Just imagine how good my tongue will feel.”
“What’s better than heaven?” I sigh, closing my eyes.
“Peace,” he declares. “Being at peace with each other. Accepting we belong together.”
He continues to rub my scalp.
“The last time I felt anything close to peace was with my mama,” I whisper. “Before she got sick. After that, it disappeared. I was at war with her cancer for years and when she died, I picked up guns and daggers. I’ve been in a constant state of battle for half of my life.”
Matheus kisses my cheek.
“You don’t have to fight alone anymore.”
“You’re so corny,” I joke, my voice thick from holding back tears.
The corners of his mouth twitch.
“You love my one-liners.”
“Um—yeah. I’m afraid it’s more than that,” I clarify. “You took the time to get to know me. And didn’t judge. I’m good at what I do and sometimes I think I could do something more productive with my skills. Maybe help victims, or whatever.” I shrug. “I don't know where my path leads, either.”
“Sounds like we’re both at the same crossroads,” he replies, adding more shampoo.
“Whatever you decide to do with your life, I’ll support you.” I shoot him a playful look. “Unless you want to be a stripper. Having women drooling all over you is a hard no.”
“Seriously?” he muses. “I could make good money. I’m not hard to look at. They’d wet their panties.”
Laughter bubbles in my chest and I flick water at him.
“Matheus,” I fake a firm voice. “Your body belongs to me. Anyone who plays touchy, touchy with my man will die a gruesome, painful death.”
“Jesus. Why does that get me rock hard?” He smirks, nudging my head back to rinse the suds off with a handheld showerhead.
“I wouldn’t test it.” I close my eyes, deeply relaxed. “Jealousy is new to me. I could end up going on a rampage and obliterating half of a city.”
I sense him getting closer and open my eyes, turning to look at him.
“Only half?” He teases, running hands full of musky conditioner through my lengths. “I wouldn’t stop until the whole world was punished.”
“Competitive much?”
His smile suddenly falls. “All jokes aside, you’ve got nothing to be jealous about, Dani. I hope you know that?” he assures me in a low voice. “We’re past the point of backing out.”
Breaking our spell, a buzzing noise sounds. He grabs a towel and dries his hands before digging his phone out of his pocket.
“Tommy?” He frowns. “Oh, hey, Carina. Does Tommy know you’re calling me from his phone?”
Matheus listens and exhales loudly. “Thank fuck, she’s okay.” His eyes jump to mine. “And Letterman? Right. Okay. Yeah, I’ll put it on speaker. She’s chilling in the tub.”
He taps the screen and holds the phone out as Carina's voice fills the bathroom.
“Hey, Dani. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
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