Page 35 of Breaking Bristol

“You do make me happy.” I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. Maybe this was recompense for all I’d been through. “Let’s do the movie since you paid for it. We can go to the restaurant another night.”

“Sounds good.”

I got dressed in jeans and a sweater, then freshened up my makeup. Matthew plucked my jacket off the hook by the front door and held it out for me. Once my arms were in, he spun me around and zipped me up, then kissed my nose.

He held my hand on the way to the theater and was chivalrous the entire date. It was such a paradox, because behind closed doors he was still a gentleman, but in the dirtiest, most delicious way possible.

Just thinking about the things he did to me made me squirm in my seat while he stared ahead, watching the movie. We went for ice cream after, and by the time we got home, it was getting late. He walked me to the door, and when I pushed it open, he didn’t follow me through. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Aren’t you coming in?” I asked.

His broad shoulders moved with his large inhalation. “I want to.”

I waited for his feet to move, but they didn’t. “What’s stopping you?”

“This is fast. I don’t want you to think the only reason I’m here is to fuck you.”

“I know you’re not. But since you are here…”

He chuckled and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Sometimes I think you aren’t real.”

“I’m real. Living and breathing right before your eyes.” Not to mention hot and bothered.

“Yeah.” He took a step back. “I wanna do this right. There’s… the divorce was hard on me, and you’re the first woman I’ve been with since.”

My petty side came out. “So what, I’m a rebound?”

His head snapped back. “Fuck no. But I just… God, I sound like a coward.”

“Matthew, what’s wrong?”

“I want to do this right with you. I don’t want to get so caught up in the insane chemistry we have that I forget to treat you how you deserve.”

“You treated me pretty right when you were fucking me on the kitchen counter.”

One side of his lips turned up in a knowing smirk. “I hadn’t been inside you for four whole days.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I like you, Bristol. A lot. And you need to know that it’s not you, swear to Christ. It’s just me. You deserve the world, and I want to make sure I can give that to you. I want to take my time.”

I wanted to plead with him to come inside, but I had to respect what he was saying. Hell, most women would beg to have a man take things slow instead of just using them for sex. “All right, Matthew. You know where I live when you’re ready.”

“Just so we’re clear… I’m not done with you. Nowhere near it. And as far as I’m concerned, you’re mine, and I don’t share.”

I quirked a brow. “That goes both ways?”

“Baby, I told you that you owned my cock. Don’t know how much more direct I can be.”

I licked my lips and finally surrendered. “When will I see you again?”

“Tomorrow?”

I laughed so hard I snorted and shook my head as I wiped my eyes. “I thought you wanted to take your time.”

“I think one night’s long enough, don’t you?”

CHAPTER 11

Matthew