The fact that he could put my mother in her place with two simple sentences sent my head swimming. I loved it. I loved every word that came from his lips as he gently, verbally berated her without her even realizing it. I should have known right then and there we were meant for each other. But instead, I would continue to fight him with everything I had. Because that is what stubborn Irish folk do.
After a day full of my parents, I lay in Mathis' bathtub, soaking away the stress. Well, it kind of was my bathtub now considering he was slowly having Dean move all my shit into his penthouse. The door opened and closed before my husband appeared by my side, holding two flutes of champagne.
"They are something else." He laughed as he handed me the glass.
I shouldn't drink around this man. It clearly had already proved to be extremely dangerous. Next thing I knew I would wake up with a flock of kids or something. It was just how this man rolled.
"I tried to warn you. But nooooooooooo. You had to spill the beans and invite them out here to visit." I waved him off.
"I can see where you get your fire from."
I knew, my mother. Her attitude. The fiery red hair. The only thing my father gifted me were his bright blue eyes. Everything else came from the one and only Eloise Sunshine.
"Please, don't compare me to her right now. I am trying to get her and her drug lord comments out of my head." I tried not to laugh, but once I heard Mathis' laughter flooding through the room, I couldn't help but join in.
"Mind if I join you in there?"
The laughter quickly stopped. At first I didn't think he was serious. What man really wanted to take a bubble bath? Maybe the same man who would go out of his way to draw a bubble bath for his hung over wife whom he had known for a whole six hours. He continued to kill me with his sweetness.
"I guess." I shrugged. I was trying to give him the cold shoulder. I guessed it was the way I dealt with all of these emotions that were slowly starting to come to the surface. I swore when we were at the airport earlier, he caught my loving look. How can you love someone you know nothing about? And I mean nothing. I didn't even know where he was from, how was that for wife of the year?
"You know, Mathis. We know nothing about each other. Absolutely nothing."
He smiled as the last piece of his clothing fell to the floor and he climbed into the tub behind me. His hardening erection pressed gently against my ass, but not in a sexual way. His attraction and admiration of me was clear, but his respect was even clearer. It was a fine line we were both learning to dance. I wasn't used to respect in the sexual manner since I had been nothing more than a plaything to the men in my life.
"Then why don't we spend our time together tonight learning about each other? Jenny, love, let's make this work." My husband's hands softly massaged my shoulders.
His words took me off guard. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of truly making whatever this game was turn into something more. He brought out something in me I had never felt before and as much as it scared me...I could tell he was just as scared.
"Why me, Mathis? You could have any woman in the world. But you picked me." It was an honest question. Something I truly needed to know before opening up to him any further. His answer would determine our future together whether he realized it or not.
"My life has been missing something for a long time. It wasn't until I saw you across that club that I realized exactly what it was. It was never about sex, or money. It was about the way you made me come to life that night. From the moment we met, I knew you would be a challenge." He paused for a moment, only to place a kiss on my neck. "But every minute since then has been worth it. I'll never want anyone else the way I want you."
A chill surged through my body. In that moment, I was pretty sure I melted right into his body. If this was what love felt like...I was in love with Mathis Verlinden, and I was in way over my head.
"Favorite food?" He smiled up at me like a child as we lay in bed continuing our ‘getting to know you' phase.
"Hmmm...Sushi. You?" I couldn't take my eyes off of him as he looked so damn young tonight. His wild hair was still damp from the bath we shared. He wore nothing but a pair of black lounge pants and for the first time, I saw him with glasses. Adorable, black framed glasses that made him look sexy as hell in a smart way.
"Italian, but real Italian from Italy. None of this fake Americanized bullshit." His snobby answer made me laugh.
"Sounds like something I need to try one day." Before he could squeeze in another question, I threw one at him. "Tell me about your childhood. Your home, family. Tell me about you, Mathis."
Chapter Ten
History and Shit
Mathis
I thought a moment. My childhood. What the hell do I say? It was fucking depressing. Growing up poor, with an abusive father who liked to use your mother as a punching bag daily, made being a kid fucking suck.
"Mathis?"
Our eyes met and I smiled at the look of concern on Jennifer's face. Her brows furrowed. I entwined our fingers and kissed her knuckles. "How much do you want to know?"
"Everything. I want to know you." Her hand caressed my face, cupping my chin and her lips met my cheek in one of the most intimate acts of my life.
I took a deep breath and began. "I grew up in a poor town. My dad was in the military. He was a hard ass and treated my mother like shit." I could never recall a good memory of my father. He was a monster, an animal who often haunted my nightmares. What kind of parent could treat little children the way he treated Yan and I?
"Do you have any siblings?" she asked, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand.
My stomach clenched. "A brother that's not worth mentioning."
Jennifer frowned. "Oh."
"I moved here, to America as soon as I could. We didn't get along. As soon as our parents passed, we never spoke again," I explained.
"How old were you when you moved here?"
I smiled, thankful for the change in subject. "Eighteen and I worked until I could afford to go to school and get my business degree."
"How old are you now?" she asked, snuggling into my side.
"Twenty-eight."
She looked up at me. "Really? You look so young."
I chuckled and kissed the side of her neck. "You saying I'm old, Jennifer?" I teased, snuggling against her skin.
She giggled and sighed. "No. Not at all."
We lay there for what felt like hours and stared at each other. I brushed her hair off her forehead and placed a soft peck on her lips. Her blue eyes twinkled. God, she was beautiful. I could get lost in her depths.
My heart flipped. Was this love? Was this what normal couples felt like?
"How about you, love? Any siblings?"
She shook her head. "No, so I unfortunately got the brunt of my parents' overprotectiveness."
"They love you."
She smiled. "And I love them, but they drive me nuts."
I nodded. "It's hard growing up in a family when they instill their beliefs on you and not let you find them yourself."
Jennifer searched my face. "What beliefs did you grow up in?" Religion was something lacking in our household. Our father didn't need the fear of God when we had fear of him.
I scoffed. "My father was a racist dick so use your imagination."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I have to give him some credit, though. He made me strong and I grew a fucking backbone. Things rolled off me easily until-"
She raised an eyebrow. "Until...?"
I cupped her cheek. "Until you came along."
She grinned. "It's been two days and I feel like I've known you my whole life."
"Same," I said, brushing my mouth along hers.
"What's your favorite color?"
I gently tugged her hair. "Do you really need to ask?"
She laughed and let her fingers graze down my chest. "Do you believe in fate, Mathis?"
I pulled her into my arms and ran my hands down her naked back before deepening the kiss. "I do now."
The warm body spread over mine made my heart thump. I was content to lie in bed for the rest of my life if it meant having Jennifer by my side.
I could feel the rhythm of her own heartbeat against my chest as she slept soundly. Her hot breath came out smooth and even, heating my skin.
My hand lazily grazed up and down her back before wrapping around the back of her neck.
Insomnia was a frequent visitor of mine, but for the past couple of nights, I had actually been able to sleep soundly. Tonight I just chose to stay awake and listen to my wife's soothing snores of deep peaceful sleep.
I pulled the blanket tighter around us, not ever wanting to let her go. God, it amazed me how fast I fell for her and I was still falling. Yes, our relationship may have been unconventional by getting married first, but what the fuck ever. It worked for us.