12. Yara

Chapter 12

Yara

I t had been a week since my first encounter with Mateo, and I was currently doing something I tried to actively avoid as best I could. Staring at my reflection. Except I was examining my arm, pointedly ignoring the rest of my body.

Specifically, the bandage covering the gash on my arm. I wracked my brain for the umpteenth time trying to recollect the incident. I remembered the rest of the night, but for the life of me, I couldn't recall injuring myself.

The cut was directly over my birth control implant. For a sick moment, when I first saw it, I thought I may have somehow managed to remove it, but after rubbing the area, I could tell there was still something in my arm.

It was mostly healed now, and I secured the bandage back into place, re-covering the mirror. I could tell it was going to scar.

Another imperfection.

I shut the entire line of thought down as I stepped out of the bathroom, it was connected to my office, and I was grateful to see that no one else was in it.

Since waking up in that hotel room, Mateo had not been more than fifteen feet from me at any point.

It was aggravating.

At least that’s what I was trying to convince myself, except I found that I was enjoying his attention .

His intense unwavering gaze, his calming aura, the way he ignored the rest of the world except for me.

It made me feel special in some twisted way. Being around him had me dressing up for him, just to see his reaction. He made me feel confident, beautiful, wanted.

The only problem was that I knew he didn’t buy my car accident story and every time he saw a new scar, something akin to rage skittered across the man’s face. I knew it was only a matter of time before he pushed me, and I wasn’t ready for it when he did.

Settling down into my chair, I caught my reflection for a moment before logging into my computer. The self-deprecating thoughts did not assault me today, and I was incredibly grateful for it.

Pulling up my email, I switched to the account I made for something specific.

A quiver of excitement shot down my spine.

Even with all the chaos that seemed to saturate my life, I was determined to do something for myself. To delve into my own darkest desires. And the older man with the breeding kink and sage green eyes? Well, I knew inherently it had to be with him.

After debating back and forth and doing my own background check, I sent him an email yesterday, and today, I received his reply.

I wanted to make sure he was onboard before taking things any further with him, before I let him know I was the party he would be matched with.

My eyes scanned the email reading it.

My heart beat rapidly in my chest as I scanned his availability and typed out my reply. I had just enough time to hit send before Mateo returned to my office, coffee in hand.

“As requested.” He walked slowly around my desk. Standing behind me he reached over my shoulder to set the coffee down, his woodsy scent filling my nostrils as he lingered there for a few moments too long.

Kazi took that moment to walk in, a scowl forming on his face. “Mateo,” he uttered exasperatedly.

Mateo chuckled before lifting back up to his full impressive height and stepping back.

“Well now that you’re both here, I have something to tell you.” I turned in my chair to face Mateo, but didn’t realize how close he still was until my knees landed against him.

He leaned down into my space, putting his hands on my chair, his face inches from mine. His liquid brown eyes were flickering with emotion, but I couldn’t quite discern which ones.

He bent lower until his lips found my ear, his tongue lashing out, licking up its length.

I shivered back against my chair before gaining my bearings. I moved my arms up, pushing him away and attempting to regain my composure.

“Mmm, I love that you’re playing hard to get,” Mateo grumbled out.

He had been pushing at me every day, trying to get under my skin. I wanted to say I hated it.

But I didn’t.

I was enjoying it.

Too much.

Which was another reason I needed to follow through with my plans. He was Kazi’s “cousin.” Maybe they weren’t blood related, but I shouldn’t get involved. When I was drunk, I wasn’t thinking clearly, I just wanted to climb the man, but here in the light of day? I knew better.

I wouldn’t lose Kazi over a night of fun. Whether it be with Kazi himself or someone he was tied to.

Kazi pushed Mateo aside looking down at me in concern. “You have that look on your face,” he stated worriedly.

“And which one is that?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You know exactly which one–where you are about to tell me something that you shouldn’t do, but you already have your mind made up.” His lips flattened into a line, and his hand went up to tousle his hair. It was a nervous tick of his.

I snorted. “Okay we might spend too much time together. But yes, I have another discretion package tonight.” The lie slid out easily; I couldn’t exactly tell them I was meeting a man for myself .

Kazi went to protest, but I held up my hand.

“It’s not going to be like last time, I promise . And I am already aware one of you will be joining me. Just don’t intervene and please don’t eavesdrop like I know you always try to do.” I narrowed my eyes at Kazi. I knew there would be no way around him being there, but I didn’t need them both. “Mateo, you’re staying behind though.”

“No, the fuck I’m not.”

I turned my attention to him. “Liam was a one-off situation, but I can’t have you staring holes into my head every time I go on one of these dates , you weren’t exactly subtle last time.”

“Well, you shouldn’t be going on these fucking dates at all, why Kazi allows you—”

I cut Mateo off, leveling him with my frostiest stare. “Kazi doesn’t allow me to do anything. This is my company that I built on my own blood, sweat, and rage. I am a grown ass adult woman that doesn’t need to be told what to do. And you are brand fucking new in my life. Do I think you’re hot? Yes. But do not take me letting you be around as my acceptance. You are only here on Kazi’s wishes. The second I decide it’s too much, you’re fucking gone.”

“I just want to keep you safe,” Mateo grumbled.

“Yeah, I fucking get that and that’s why you haven’t been kicked to the curb yet, but you’re going to have to trust me. I made it this many years without you, I can make it one night with just Kazi.”

Mateo heaved out a sigh, before curling his lips up smugly. “You think I’m hot?”

My head fell into my hands in exasperation. “Fucking men! Get out! I need to get dressed.”