Page 40 of Matthias’s Protective Embrace (Cardinal Falls #3)

“So first, I’m terrible at texting.” I let out a bit of a snort.

“No, really. I can call a whole bunch of people who will tell you the same thing. It’s a common complaint in my group that I can’t keep text threads straight.

” It sounds ridiculous, but I believe him.

Mostly because he seems so earnest.“I’ll call any of them right now, on speakerphone, and let you verify.

” The offer is unnecessary, if only because I’ve received random texts meant for Aaron or Tyler a few times.

“What’s the second thing?” I hate to ask, in part because this conversation is going so well. I don’t want to be responsible for ruining it, but I also need to rip the band-aid off. The sooner, the better.

“The second thing…” He trails off. “Fuck, this isn’t how I wanted to do this,” he mumbles. “Frank, the last couple of months have been nothing short of incredible. The first day I saw you, I asked if you were robbing me. Well, you lied.”

I gasp. I would never steal from a client. Especially not from Matthias, but never from anyone.

“Not like that.” He strokes my back until my breathing slows. “You stole my heart. Probably on that same day, but it took me a bit longer to figure it out.”

I’m lost. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I passed out at some point, and this whole thing is part of some sort of lucid dream. Any minute now, I’m going to wake up and realize I’m lying on the floor somewhere.

“Firecracker, I love you.”

He loves me. I’m the him in the text message. All the words in that sentence are meaningful, but somehow, they aren’t meaningful in that order.

“Frank?”

Shit . The first time a boyfriend tells me he loves me and I’m screwing it up. At least that’s on brand for me. “I love you. Too. I love you, too.”

“Really?”

Words aren’t enough right now. Good thing I have other options.

It only takes a few small adjustments to straddle his lap.

While I’m still shorter, it at least puts me in a better position for kissing.

And kissing Matthias is always a good way to make my feelings known.

He must agree because he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me in close.

The moan I let out can probably be heard next door, but I don’t care. Matthias loves me.

Me, the guy who can barely get dressed in the morning without a to-do list. Me, the guy who failed out of college .

Our tongues tangle for dominance. I’m going to give in and let him take over, but I like to make him work for it a bit. Secretly, I think he likes it that way.

“Bedroom,” he says, panting. And, yeah, I’m happy to give in at this point and give him what he wants. He might win, but I’m about to be very lucky.

I scramble off his lap, ready to make a run for the stairs. After the evening I’ve had, I want to be close to him. No, I need to be close to him.

He follows me, but I beat him to the bedroom and start stripping. No need to slow things down with all this pesky clothing.

“Why don’t you let Daddy do that?” Matthias stills my hands.

And then, he proceeds to torture me. If someone asked me how long it would take to remove a simple shirt, I’d guess something about half the time it’s taking him.

I’d complain, but I’m enjoying the way his fingertips skim along the side of my ribs.

It’s a mix between ticklish and erotic that my brain is having trouble processing.

“Please,” I beg. We can do the whole sensual thing another time. Right now, I need him inside me. As soon as possible.

My pleas seem to do the trick because he gets me out of my sweatpants and briefs quickly. “Get on the bed.”

I bounce as I hit the mattress. “Yes, please. Daddy.” That last word is the one that gets him moving, his eyes darkening as he stares at me. It helps that I’m already on all fours, waiting for him.

I’m a bit desperate, my cock hard and leaking. I know better than to touch myself, but it’s getting more difficult by the second. “Please. I need you.”

“Shhh, I got you.” Matthias runs his hand down my spine. He leans over me, kissing my shoulder as he reaches into the bedside table for the lube.

The bottle opening always sends a shiver through me with the promise of what’s about to come. Of course, I’m still surprised when his finger brushes against my hole.

“Relax for me, Firecracker.” His soft voice helps, but it takes me a few breaths to fully relax.

Matthias is a saint, patient and perceptive.

When I’m relaxed, he presses inside me. I can’t help the groan that slips through my lips.

It only takes a few seconds before I’m pushing back into him, begging him to give me more.

I’m desperate for him to be inside me, but I know he won’t let me rush him.

It’s for the best, but I can’t wait to be able to feel all of him over me.

By the time he gets two fingers in, I’m a blubbering mess.

He loves me. Matthias loves me. Suddenly, I need more. I need him. I reach an arm back, trying to grab hold of him, any part of him, to ground me.

“Firecracker, what do you need?”

“You,” I croak out. “Need you.” He pulls his fingers out of me and flips me over. The bed creaks under the sudden movement.

“You’ve got me.” Well, I’ve got him in a few seconds. First, he gets up and strips off all his clothes. No flair to it at all, simply pulling things off as fast as possible. When he reaches for the bedside table, I grab his wrist.

“Do we have to use condoms? I’m negative.” I know I told him before, but I got tested again. We both did recently, just to be sure.

“Are you sure, Frank?”

I nod. “I trust you.” Fully and completely. Matthias nods and crawls back into bed, covering me with his body.

“I love you, Firecracker.”

I pull my knees up to give him room, and he lines himself up, the tip of his cock pressing against my opening. “Love you, too, Daddy.”

It takes several slow thrusts before he’s all the way inside.

It’s the first time I’ve ever gone bare, and it feels incredible.

Most of that is likely in my head, the feeling of being so completely owned by that man I’m in love with.

As much as I want him to fuck me into the mattress, Matthias is agonizingly gentle and sensual.

“I’m not going to last long.” He grits his teeth as he thrusts into me. I know the feeling. There’s an extra buzz in the air tonight, electricity between us that’s making it hard to maintain control. “Touch yourself for me, Firecracker.”

I fist my cock, giving it a few strokes. I didn’t realize until this second how close I am to my own orgasm. I’m so fucking close right now. “Please,” I call out. I’m not exactly sure what I’m asking for, only that I need more from him. More of something.

That seems to be his cue. Without warning, he slams into me. He does it over and over. I keep stroking my cock in time with his thrusts until I fall over the edge, cumming all over my body.

“Fuck,” Matthias shouts as he comes. I can feel the heat from his cum in my body. It’s a weird sensation, one I’m already addicted to.

We lie like that for a moment, our bodies connected, before Matthias pulls out and snuggles in next to me.

There’s so many words I want to say right now, but my brain feels fuzzy. I must fall asleep because the next thing I know, Matthias is cleaning me up with a warm washcloth.

“Get some sleep, Firecracker.” As if there’s anything that could stop me right now. I burrow under his blankets, finding the perfect spot. It only gets better when he crawls in behind me, pulling me close and burying his face in the crook of my neck. “I love you.”

I try to respond, but my eyes are too heavy, and everything’s a bit too dark.