Page 26 of My Secret Bandit

Me: Nothing serious. One of the other interns has been an ass for the last few days. Without thinking, I said something I shouldn’t have and since I don’t do conflict, I left.

Mateo: Let me guess. The young guy that’s usually at practice with you and Jeff? What’d you say?

Me: That’s the one. I asked if he was salty and may have told him to hop off my dick.

Mateo: Damn! That seems very unlike my sweet Jameson. Don’t worry about it, baby. If he was acting half as bad as the looks he’s been giving me, he one hundred percent deserved it. Where are you now?

Me: Sitting in my car. Waiting for practice to start.

Mateo: Couldn’t stand to be away from me, huh? Come on, I’ll meet you at the gate.

Walking up to the front, my chest swelled when I saw him. Almost like a rush of butterflies flew directly from my stomach and filled my lungs to capacity.

The morning sun created a halo around him as he crouched and combed through a duffel bag at his feet. He wore different clothes from when I left him this morning, replacing his casual Henley and jeans with work out gear. His usual athletic shorts and cut off shirt, the perfect companion for thick, deliciously toned arms. The arms hole just low enough to see the muscles along his side peeking through. After zipping up the bag, he rose with a little bounce.

He met me with a wide, blinding smile. He jogged to engulf me, lifting and giving me a quick spin as he held me close. Feeling my body tighten with sudden self-awareness, my feet met the pavement.

“What?”

“Um… I’ve just never had someone pick me up before.”

“Sorry.” His face once bright and beaming, filled with disappointment. Or was it shame? Sadness, maybe? I couldn’t be sure at that moment.

Grabbing both sides of his face, I lined up our eyes. “Don’t be sorry. It’s nothing bad. Just new. Please never be sorry for getting excited to see me.”

I needed him to know he wasn’t the cause of my discomfort. Instead, it was me. I was the one with the rapid remembrance of my insecurities.

Being with Mateo allowed me to forget what I hated most about myself, and in the blink of an eye, I stole that from him. I should’ve slapped the shit out of myself for wiping away such a beautiful expression.

Desperately needing to bring that smile back to his face, I went for the only thing on my mind, the name he saved himself as in my phone.

“Future husband, huh?” I playfully nudged my shoulder against him. “A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”

Mission accomplished.

His smile was back where it belonged as he scooped up his bag and swung an arm around my shoulders.

“You say presumptuous. I say inevitable.” The panty-soaking grin and wink he sent my way turned my legs to jelly.

Feeling my quiver, he laughed and rearranged his arm to my waist. His fingertips gripped my hip. Leaning down to brush his lips against my ear, he whispered, “I’m more than happy to help you with that later if you want.”

For the sake of not getting any more turned on, I gave him a half-hearted shove.

Immovable, he threw back his head in another laugh, only tightening his grip and placing a kiss on my temple. Further inside the concrete walls of the practice facility, I pulled his arm from around me.

“Well, Future Husband. You better get going.”

He turned to face me. A body-tingling groan left his chest. “Say it again.”

“Get going.” I smirked.

He smiled, his tongue slipping over his bottom lip. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Aiming to make him feel like I did, I lifted myself to my tiptoes, grazed my mouth against his skin, and whispered “husband” into his ear.

His hand moved to the back of my neck, pulling me close while his mouth found mine in an all-encompassing, head-spinning kiss. His lips were the fuse to my dynamite. The blazing explosion consumed me instantly. A myriad of emotions burst inside my mind. A reel of thoughts played out every sexy scenario imaginable with Mateo front and center. His one hand stayed gripped at my nape while the other slid down, tightening against my hip. My own hands explored the hard, hot planes of his body, taking in every inch like it was my only chance until he pulled himself away. The desire in his eyes mirrored my own.

“Go,” he commanded. The effects of the kiss plus his seductive growl made it hard to remember how to use my feet. “That way. Before you get me into trouble.”

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