“And where would you go?” she asked, too fast. “With Sally?”
She hated the edge in her voice. Hated that she cared, but the last thirty-six hours had been one hell of a ride for her. Not exactly what she had hoped for on her first date after her divorce.
Mateo’s brows lifted slightly. “Does that make you jealous?”
She turned her face away, pulse hammering. The flush crept from her cheeks down her neck, betraying her. “It’s not like you have any interest in me, Mateo,” she muttered. “You made that clear.”
His expression shifted—surprise cracking through the control. “When did I do that?”
“When you called me your ward.” She looked back at him then, chin lifting. “That didn’t exactly scream desire.”
He dragged a hand through his dark hair, exhaling sharply. “Listen,tica,” he said, voice lower now. “I have always been interested in you. Hell, the other night we were begging each other’s names.”
Then why do I feel so terrible? she asked herself. Her heart skipped, then hardened into defiance. Spending the day playinghaughty and untouchable had apparently gone to her head because she didn’t back down. Her next set of words were stupid, going against everything that screamed at her of what not to do.
“Prove it,” she challenged, a spark of daring in her eyes. “Show me that you mean it.”
“That I am still interested?” Mateo’s gaze dropped to her mouth, something dark and intent settling there. “With pleasure.”
He stepped in, one hand bracing beside her head as he leaned down. The kiss was anything but gentle—firm, claiming, lips pressing into hers like he’d been holding back for far too long. It stole her breath, left her dizzy, her earlier doubts scattering under the weight of it.
His tongue brushed past her last scrap of defiance, as if he were testing how far she’d let him go. Heat bloomed instantly, wild and consuming, and she melted into it despite herself. Whatever control she’d been clinging to dissolved as his mouth claimed hers, unhurried but relentless, drawing a soft, helpless sound from her throat.
It was everything she’d imagined and worse—better—than she’d allowed herself to want.
He tilted her chin, angling her enough to deepen the kiss, and the contact sent sparks racing through her. When her chest brushed his, the sensation made her gasp, body betraying her completely as her nipples hardened to stiff peaks begging for more. The room felt too small, the air too thick, desire roaring up like a fire she couldn’t smother.
This was insane. No, worse. Reckless and dangerous.
And she didn’t want it to stop.
When he finally pulled back, it felt like being cut loose from gravity. Everything slowly began to shift back into place: the ambient noise of the camp behind them, the insects screaming in the forest, and finally, their shared breaths. His foreheadrested against hers, breath warm and controlled, but only just. She felt the tension humming through him, tight as a drawn bow.
“Still think I’m not interested?” he murmured.
Her pulse thundered. “I think,” she said, voice unsteady but challenging, “you need to show me again.”
A low sound rumbled from his chest. “Gladly,” he said. “All night, if you let me.”
She opened her mouth to answer when a sharp banging rattled the door. They sprang apart like they’d been burned, adjusting clothes and wiping mouths. If they hadn’t been on opposing sides, Gabriella would have cracked a joke about feeling like they had been caught by their parents.
Sally’s voice cut through the door, falsely sweet and threaded with steel. “The hot springs are free if you want to go,gringa.”
Gabriella’s chest constricted, suddenly feeling unsure and afraid. She glanced at Mateo. “Can’t I stay here?” she pleaded. It hurt her pride to be so vulnerable to him.
Mateo closed his eyes briefly, jaw tightening. When he looked at Gabriella again, something had shut down behind his gaze.
“Maybe another time,” he said quietly. Then, firmer: “Go.”
He stepped back, creating distance where, moments ago, there had been none. The sudden absence of him hit harder than she expected—an ache blooming in her chest, sharp and humiliating.
“Mateo, we should talk about—” she started, hoping she could delay the inevitable of being alone with Sally. Trepidation caused her heart to spike. She had been projecting strong and haughty for too long, and she was so tired.
“No.” His tone was final.
The word snapped like a whip, slicing off whatever she’d been about to say. She felt betrayed again and guilty that thishurt more than seeing her friends die.I must be really messed up, she thought as she numbly nodded.
He crossed the room and opened the door, hinges squeaking against rust from years of humidity and rain. Sally stood there, gorgeous in the light of the camp lanterns, already victorious with her smile wide and knowing.