Anna sighed heavily and Cullen could tell he was walking a fine line. “Look, Mr. Cruz, I think it’s very nice that you think my son is talented. Every mother loves to hear about how great her kid is and I am no exception. However, I am going to be very honest with you here. It is just not in our budget. I’m sure it’s hard for someone like you who has more money than God himself to understand, but some of us have to be particular with where our money goes.”
“I understand that fully, Mrs. Filipe, which is why it would be at no charge to you,” he countered her objection.
“We don’t need your charity, Mr. Cruz,” she said rather indignantly. He couldn’t see her eyes from behind her sunglasses, but he didn’t need to in order to know she was glaring at him.
“It’s not a handout, Mrs. Filipe. It’s my camp, so I get to decide who pays and who doesn’t. And you are correct, I do not need the money, so it’s no loss to me for him to be here for free. I see a lot of myself in him and—”
She scoffed, cutting him off midexplanation. “Oh, I’m sure you do,” she remarked sarcastically.
“Mrs. Filipe, I really do. I wasn’t always one of the highest paid athletes in the world,” he said. “I understand exactly what it’s like for things to not be in the budget because our choice was a meal on the table or heat for our flat.”
Anna pulled off her sunglasses and looked at him quizzically, trying to determine if he was being serious. When she didn’t say anything, he took this as his cue to continue on.
“My father, Paolo, was a Portuguese immigrant in London, and my mother, Luisa, was the daughter of immigrants, although she had been born in London. My father was a handyman who did a decent amount of business, but since he was an immigrant, he wasn’t well paid. My mother was a housekeeper. We weren’t rich by any means, but we made do. They both worked long, hard hours. When I was nine, my father was in the wrong place at the wrong time, walking home from a job, and was the victim of a mugging. He was beaten to death—the police believe for the contents of his tool bag. Since he was an immigrant, no one really cared, and the perpetrators were never pursued.”
“Oh my goodness,” Anna said, inhaling sharply.
“After that, my mum took on extra shifts, additional homes, did some mending at home, whatever she could to keep food on the table. We went without quite a bit. But I got lucky. One day while I was outside waiting on my mum to finishing cleaning a house, the man of the house happened to see me kicking around a football I had found. He knew someone who knew someone and the next thing I knew, we were moving up north to Liverpool so I could play for their academy. So, please, trust me when I say I understand your situation, and that I see a lot of myself in your son.”
Anna was silent for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "Well then. That may change some things."
“Please let me have another week working with Josef. I can’t make any promises, but I really believe that there is potential there and I would like to explore it.” He felt like he was pleading, but he could see by the look in her eye that he was starting to get somewhere.
“So, what do we have to do, just show up Monday morning?”
“Yes, Mrs. Filipe. Same exact thing as this week,” he answered as Josef ran up to them.
"Go put your gear in the car, Josef,” she said, returning to her stern self. Her son did as she said, bounding toward the sedan.
“One last question. Have you spoken to Leona about this yet? Does she know?”
“I have not had a chance to speak to her today,” he answered, unsure what she was getting at.
“Make sure you tell her…all of it,” she commented. Turning to go, she paused and looked back at him. “And Mr. Cruz, I see how you look at my daughter. If you hurt her, please remember I do work for the local authorities.” She winked and turned to go.
Cullen let out a long sigh of relief. One hard-ass Filipe woman down, one more to go. However, it was the one who remained who rattled him the most.
Leona sat at her desk, once again not doing the paperwork she should be. There were almost two weeks’ worth of random room checks to write up, yet she had absolutely zero motivation to do it. This was so unlike her it wasn’t funny. She had always been so prompt about her reports. Her organizational skills were another thing she prided herself on, but right about now, taking a look around her office, no one would be able to tell.
She told herself that it wasn’t because she was hung up on what happened last night on the way home. No, she was much more preoccupied with the condition of her car. Pulling up her messages on her phone, she reread the text her father had sent her that morning.
Papa: Most definitely the alternator. Called Ricky to see if he can get a refurbished one. Will let you know.
Even if her father’s old buddy could find a refurbished alternator, it would still be a couple hundred dollars. But it was better than paying for a brand-new one, and certainly better than no car at all. It just was not a check she was looking forward to writing.
If she were being honest, maybe she was also a little preoccupied by the fact that she was unsure she’d ever experienced anything as intense as she had last night. No doubt, she had enjoyed her fair share of good sex. Carlos took great pride in making sure that she was satisfied on all levels during their rendezvous. Carlos. Poor guy. She adored him as a friend and, not for the first time, part of her wished that she felt more for him than she did. He was a great physical outlet. He just didn’t set her on fire.
But what had taken place in that back seat had. And it was more than just some seriously mind-blowing orgasms. It was…soul reaching somehow. Maybe because Cullen insisted on giving her a ride when she was halfway stranded, or that he had just been in her family’s home and interacting with her brother. Maybe it was even that he simply survived her mother’s inquisition and still managed to be polite. That was not an easy feat. But whatever it was, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being truly seen by Cullen Cruz and it was unsettling.
A light knock on her office door moved it even more ajar as Dalton stepped inside, showing off his megawatt smile. The kid really was insanely pretty. He looked so much like Scott Eastwood that one could easily mistake them for twins, if it weren’t for the fact that Dalton’s six-foot-four frame was a full five inches taller than the actor. They had hooked up once when he first arrived on the island a little over three years ago, but only the one time. At one point she had wondered if it could have been more, whether an actual relationship or even just more like what she and Carlos had, but for whatever reason he hadn’t seemed interested in a repeat performance and she had fallen into a rhythm with Carlos. It wasn’t something she’d ever say out loud, but deep down she knew that Dalton wasn’t really the playboy he portrayed himself as and that he also had more than his fair share of secrets.
“Earth to Lee,” he said, waving at her.
She jolted, coming back to real life. Had he been standing there trying to get her attention?
“Hi, what’s up?”
“Just stopping by to get your opinion on going out after dinner,” he replied.
“Dinner is good,” she said, still distracted by her thoughts.
“Right, well, Drea wanted to know if you wanted to stay here or if we were going someplace. Are you okay?”
“Um, whatever works.”
He just stood there looking at her for a moment, like he was trying to see inside her brain. It was making her a little nervous and she furrowed her brow. Closing the door behind him, he stepped inside and parked himself on the couch that was opposite her desk.
“Okay, out with it. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said dismissively.
“You just said ‘whatever works’ for a Friday night out. You always have an opinion. I have never ever heard you say ‘whatever works.’ So, spill.”
“I just have a lot on my mind,” she admitted. At least that part’s not a lie…
“He’s getting to you, huh? You h
ook up again?”
He made a sneaky, knowing face at her as he asked her the question. Suddenly she got all paranoid that Dalton knew something about last night. How he would know she had no idea, but she really couldn't have it be known that she had been inappropriate like that with a guest, even if he’d started it.
“Why? What did you hear?” she asked, trying to be casual.
“Oh shit, you did!” he said, not even trying to hide his laughter.
Her phone dinged with a text message right as he was responding, and she was thankful for the excuse to look away from him. When she saw it was from her mother, she hoped that everything had gone okay during the pickup this afternoon. Since she didn’t have her car, she wasn’t able to make it over there, although even if her car had been returned to her, she would have found an excuse not to go face Cullen right now.
Mama: Had quite the talk with CC while picking up J. Short version: more camp next week.
Leona couldn’t believe what she was reading. Josef was going back to camp? The only way they were going to be able to afford that is if he got another scholarship or…
Her fingers moved furiously across her screen as she replied.
Leona: You're not letting him pay, are you? We don’t need his handout, Mama…
Mama: Go talk to him yourself. Maybe you’ll learn something.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” she muttered. Anger sparked inside her. What had he said to her mother?
“What?” Dalton asked.
Learn something? What could she possibly have to learn from talking to Cullen Cruz? Everything she had been feeling earlier was tossed aside as anger continued to rise through her. She knew better than to let him get to her like this, and she hated that he got under her skin the way he did. However, this was more than just being annoyed because he requested expensive bubble bath and a certain thread count. This was him inserting himself into her life in ways she was not okay with. He was not going to get away with providing things for her family in exchange for feeling her up. She got to her feet and stormed out of her office, leaving Dalton just sitting there on the couch wondering what the hell just happened.
Chapter Fourteen
Normally professionalism was something Leona prided herself on, but in that moment, she couldn’t care just how unprofessional she was being. What she cared about was making sure that Cullen Cruz knew exactly how she felt and that she was not someone who could be bought.
Without knocking or announcing herself in any way, she punched in her code for La Isla Bonita and threw open the door, letting it slam on the wall behind it as it opened. Cullen came running out of the bathroom in just a pair of low-slung gym shorts that were leaving nothing to the imagination. As much as she wanted to drink him in with all his yummy muscles and tattoos, right now she wouldn’t let herself get distracted.
“What in the actual fuck, Cruz?” she spat out, slamming the door as she entered the bungalow.
“Menina, how good to see you. Please, come on in,” he said, waving a hand to indicate she should make herself at home.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Well,” he looked down at himself, before turning slightly and pointing over his shoulder with his thumb into the bathroom, where she could hear the water running. “I was about to take a shower.”
“Stop being cute,” she scoffed. “You talked to my mother.”
“You think I’m cute, huh?” he smirked, slowly walking toward her and closing the gap. “And yes, I spoke with your mother. She picked Josef up today and we chatted for a bit.”
“You had no right,” she ground out, taking a stand as he stalked toward her. She could see every movement of his muscles as he did so and it threatened her resolve.
“No right? To talk to the parent of one of my participants?”
“You know what I mean. You had no right to offer to pay for Josef to attend another week.”
“It’s my camp, Menina. If I choose to let someone attend at no charge, that’s my prerogative,” he explained. He was half a step away from her now, so close she could easily reach out and touch him. She wanted to run her hands up those well-defined pecs like she wanted her next breath but stopped herself. “Like I told your mother, I see a lot of myself in him and I want to help.”
“I…we…cannot be bought. Don't throw your money at my family just so I’ll sleep with you.”
“I don’t need to pay for that, Menina,” he said slowly, in a low husky voice.
“Really, I recall you treating me like a hooker before—seemed like you were used to it then,” she snarked. She hadn’t intended to be so crass about it, but now that it was out, she had no intention of taking it back.
“That’s low, Menina,” he said, looking down at her and right into her eyes. “But I won’t say I don’t deserve it. I have not always been a gentleman where you are concerned.”
“That’s one hell of an understatement,” she scoffed.
“How about you give me a chance to make up for that, huh?”
“By throwing your money around more?”
“No, Menina. By taking the time to get to know me, by letting me get to know you, your family. By letting me invest in your brother,” he whispered, closing the small gap between them. “What do you say?”
“I…I…I don’t know,” she muttered, caught off guard by his sweet words. Her heart rate sped up, making her feel slightly jumpy. She was losing focus with him this close.
In one fluid motion he scooped her up, much like he had the other evening, but this time with both hands cradling her ass. Still looking her in the eye, he walked them into the bathroom and set her down on the edge of the vanity. She closed her eyes as he spread her legs and stepped in between them. His big strong hands felt warm and incredibly inviting as they held on to her sides and caressed her back, making her melt a little with each up and down movement.
“Just give me a chance, Menina. Let me show you I’m not the big bad wolf you believe me to be,” he said, still whispering.
Despite everything that was going on in her head, she opened her eyes, returning his gaze. His golden-brown eyes looked deep into hers, sending a shiver down her spine. She nodded slowly, a thrill of excitement rushing through her as she agreed to his request. Without skipping a beat, he leaned in and kissed her, long and slow.
Long and slow only lasted for a moment before he grabbed the hem of her shirt and ripped it off, up over her head. Finding her mouth again almost instantly, he teasingly nibbled her bottom lip, while unceremoniously relieving her of her bra at the same time. The feel of his teeth grazing her lip sent a bolt of lust straight through her, and she arched her back as he freed her breasts. Grasping for a piece of him, her fingers were met with his skin, leading her to run her nails down his back. His skin felt hot underneath her hands and it made her want to hold on tighter.
Cullen let out a growl, pulling away from her mouth and staring her down. The look in his eyes was animalistic, like he couldn’t control himself. Her nipples responded by pebbling and she could feel the dampness forming between her legs. That look told her just how much he wanted her and for the first time in a long time, she was willing to admit she wanted him just as much in return. She nodded again, holding his gaze, encouraging him to continue.
That nod seemed to be all he needed to push him into overdrive. One hand found her right breast, while his mouth found her left one, causing her to cry out in pleasure. She was in a fog of pleasure and excitement as he continued to lavish attention on her breasts. Having her nipples played with was something she’d always enjoyed, but this was a new level. His tongue could work serious magic and Leona felt like at any moment she was going to burst.
Just as Leona thought she might not be able to take any more attention from his extraordinary tongue, he pulled back, yanking down his shorts and lifting her up off the counter. She caught a brief glimpse at his hard length, which was standing at attention now, and her mouth watered at t
he sight. As he walked them into the large shower, she looked down to find that he had somehow worked her out of her own bottoms. She’d been in such a state from everything he was doing to her, she’d been completely oblivious.
The hot water hit her back and felt so amazing that she let out another noise of appreciation. She could feel his rock-hard cock underneath her and suddenly she wanted nothing more than to have him inside her. Wiggling her hips, trying to cause some friction and hint at what she really wanted, she kissed him, this time returning the nibbles he’d used to wear her down earlier.
“I need to be inside you, now,” he growled, taking his cue from her wiggling hips and lifting her up a bit, only to lower her onto his thick shaft. The feel of him entering her was like he’d thrown gasoline on the flame inside her.
Nothing had ever felt as good as this moment.
“Fuuuuck,” he groaned, once he was fully inside her.
She knew exactly what he meant. Her insides were still adjusting to his size, but just the feel of him inside her was incredible, she could only imagine just how amazing it would feel once the friction from his movements began.
“Condom,” he choked out. “I need to go get a condom. I needed to be inside you so bad, I skipped a step.”
Her eyes flew open and met his. She’d been so caught up in the feeling of it all the thought of protection hadn’t even crossed her mind. His eyes were filled with a cross between desire and embarrassment that he’d gotten this far without stopping. She loved that his eyes were so expressive and she was able to know what he was feeling by just one look into them. She didn’t want to stop, didn’t want to lose this connection between them and was afraid if he removed her from him that the moment would be lost. But she also knew his history.
“Are you clean?” she asked nervously.
“Yes. I always use protection, religiously,” he answered. “And full disclosure, it’s been months since I’ve been with anyone.”
Caught Up In You (Indigo Royal Resort Book 2) Page 12