Tame the Beast : Small Beach Town, Single Mom Romance

I’ve fallen for too many men with pretty words and nice bodies who had no intentions of growing gray and old with me.

And Matteo is just another one of those. Only so much worse. So, I place my hands on his chest and will myself to push him away.

“Matteo.” His name is barely a whisper—or a plea—on my lips. “Please, don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t say that anymore. D-don’t kiss me like that anymore. Don’t…just don’t.” I need him to do this for me. I need him to obey these rules because…because otherwise I’ll fall right into his pretty promises and sweet touches.

He pulls away slightly to look at me, the lust in his eyes replaced with something hard. “Fine. I won’t kiss you ever again.”

“R-really?” Damn it, why does it hurt to hear him say that when I was the one demanding it just now.

“Really. I won’t kiss you until you beg me to do it.” He pinches my chin with his fingers. “And trust me, you will beg.”

I swallow hard, somehow not even doubting the truth in his words. However, he won’t ever hear it.

“I have all the time in the world too because I’m here to stay and claim you as mine.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying. You want to spend some time with Mellie, that’s fine, but that’s all there is.”

Matteo stares into my eyes without letting me go. “Never have I ever met someone who likes to lie to themselves as much as you do. But that’s okay, I’ll wear you down.”

“Matteo, this is not a game. We stopped playing it back at that bar.”

“Never have I ever said it was just a game, Beastie.”

19

Never Have I Ever

Matteo: Never have I ever spent a night with a girl and didn’t touch her once.

Zoe: I don’t even know how you survived it.

Matteo: Right! I should be given a damn medal for that. Especially when you decided to parade in front of me half naked.

Zoe: Matteo, I was in a tank top and pajama pants.

Matteo: Like I said, I’m basically a saint.

20

Matteo

“You’re the only person who can make me feel like a teenager again. And sometimes, like a toddler too.” – Unknown

I’ve been having the best dream where Zoe finally admits she wants me just as madly as I do her and was about to wrap her pretty lips around my cock when sharp poking into my ribs wakes me up. I try to slap it away with my hand, but it doesn’t disappear.

“Wildflower, maybe you should stop poking him?” I hear a familiar male voice through my sleepy haze.

“You know what? You are right.” Is that Joy?

“I am?” Comes out surprised from Jacob.

“Mm-hmm. Now, where is that cast iron pan we got her last month?”

“Joy, why do you need a cast iron pan?”