by TC Matson
When he enters me, he hisses as I moan.
His thrusts are hard, jutting deep. I pull his hair as he bites on my neck. Our pants are loud in the silent room, but neither of us care in the heat of the moment. We’re engulfed in the passion we share.
My orgasm builds from my toes and crawls up my legs. “Nathan…” I voice my urgency.
He pumps faster, gripping my ass and digging his fingers into my skin.
I tumble, spiraling down into the depths of my orgasm. Falling so incredibly… He bucks savagely, pushing me harder into the door as I fall apart.
Suddenly, he roots himself deeply and groans into my neck, a sound so unrestrained and full of desperation my soul feels it.
He keeps his forehead resting on my shoulder as we slow our labored breaths until he shifts and places my feet back to the floor. He watches me intently and I’m positive he sees the realization of what we just did donning in my expression. I buckled instantly and put up no type of fight—not even for a condom even though I’m on the pill.
“Oh shit,” I mutter, looking around the room.
Flashing a devil-may-care smirk, he tucks himself back into his jeans.
“This doesn’t fix us,” I say.
Remorsefully, he exhales. “Yeah. I know.”
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” I straighten my shirt.
“You lead the way and I’ll follow.”
Knowing I don’t have the willpower to resist him, I take us to the beach, where public is my friend.
“Did you rope Aimee into this plan?” I ask walking through the warm sand.
“Yes. But in her defense, it took a lot of persuasion.” He raises a brow. “She demanded a private tour.” He laughs. “Huge price on that.”
“You don’t mess with her chocolate,” I snort.
“I’ve learned.”
“Is Shyla involved?”
“Where there’s Aimee there’s Shyla.”
Those bitches.
“Vincent swore my mother was a home wrecker,” he begins. “She wasn’t. I had watched his father come to our house six months before his divorce was final. Mom and Dad’s was final almost two years prior. I was sixteen and uprooted from the home I grew up in and shoved into a home with a thirteen-year-old stepbrother who immediately despised me and wasn’t afraid to make it known. I tried building a brotherhood for my mother’s sake, but Vincent wasn’t having it. He would destroy anything of mine from shit in my room to my relationships.”
I stop walking, peering up to him. “We’re talking about Vincent Hoyer, right?”
“He was good at hiding his bullshit outside the house. I’ve heard the stories he’s told about me and Mom. But they’re untrue, made up and twisted. You know when I was studying for my finals, he burned my books in the backyard fire pit?”
“What? That’s not the story he gave me.”
“Of course not, but I’ll call my mother to validate if you’d like.”
I shake my head and he begins walking again.
“Then Cassie. I didn’t want a long-distance relationship and neither did she. She wanted fun for a short time. She never told me she had a boyfriend. Had she, I would’ve walked away. I tried explaining that to Vincent, but he wasn’t hearing it. He didn’t believe a thing I said and swore I was out to ruin him. That’s when he started messing with any girl I dated. He’s smooth when he wants to be, and when you have a boyfriend whose sole focus was on school, work, and developing plans to begin endeavors…I was absent. He wasn’t. One girl didn’t fall for his shit. We dated for years, but absence makes a heart lonely and she split. And I don’t blame her for leaving. I was never home.”
Now I realize why he worried so much about his absence in the beginning.
“Five years ago, a female employee made accusations that I had sexually harassed her and we had some secret relationship that started at hiring.” He gives me a pointed look. “I don’t hire. I have a HR team that does that. Plus, I was nowhere close to her department. While HR had its own investigation, I hired an outside PI and gave the woman two hundred thousand dollars to keep her mouth shut. Just long enough to have the proof in my hands.”
“Even though you knew you hadn’t done anything?”
His frown is rueful. “It’s the price of my privacy. Think of the damages had it hit the news, regardless of the outcome. I’d pay triple that to keep my private life out of the tabloids.”
“What happened?”
“She tried to blackmail me for more, but I refused and then presented her with the findings of my PI in front of my HR team, who also found nothing. She and Vincent were scheming. He knew I’d pay out my ass to keep her quiet, but he thought I was ignorant.” He arches a brow as he peers down to me. “She was fired and I didn’t press charges…My mother’s begging. Six months later, I met a woman and after a few dates, I knew something was off. I hired my PI again and she too was scheming with Vincent. I don’t know what information he wants, nor what he’ll do with any of it, but what I do know is he wants to ruin me.”
“Did you hire a PI for me?”
He shakes his head looking at the sand in front of us. “No. We met by chance and I chose you. You didn’t choose me.”
“Then why didn’t you give me a chance to explain?” I ask.
“Shock?” he lifts a shoulder. “Hurt. Anger. Betrayal. Pure stupidity. It felt like history was repeating itself.”
“I would never intentionally hurt you. But since the beginning, you haven’t given me a chance.”
“In the heat of the moment, all my rational thoughts disappeared. In business, I can handle the pressure, but with you…there’s something about you that makes it so I can’t.”
Stopping again, my arms fall to the side. Defeated. “Trust is imperative in a relationship. I’ve tried everything, showed you all I have to offer, and it has never been good enough for you.”
He moves a strand of my hair blowing in the breeze. “You’re more than good enough for me. You mean everything. You’ve even taken precedence over my work. I stopped traveling as much because I breathe better when you’re near. I never knew my past haunted me until you. I haven’t cared about someone in years and I sure the hell haven’t experienced love like this.” Clutching my hands, he kisses the backside of them. “I swear to you I’ll let down my guard and never doubt you again. Let me prove it to you. Let me show you that the ground you stand on is just as important as the ground I build on.” He kisses both corners of my lips. “I want your heart as you have mine.”
I blink down to hide my tears, but he pulls my face back up, his gaze piercing me. “I promise you. I want you in my life. I can’t picture my world without you. I love you.”
THIRTY-TWO
Six months later…
“No. I don’t want to live on top of a hotel. You move in with me,” Brooklyn argues with me standing in my t-shirt, running a towel over her wet hair.
I’ve been trying to convince her to move in with me. She might as well. She’s at my place more than I’m at hers. We haven’t spent a night apart except for when I’m out of town. It just makes more sense.
“It’s too small,” I state simply. “Where would I put my office? My bed?”
Playfully, and need I say sexily, she narrows her eyes. “Your bed would fit in here and I have a spare room.”
I bark a laugh. “Have you seen your closet? It’s too small. The spare bedroom would turn into my closet and I’d have no room for an office.”
“You’re being difficult.”
Chuckling, I tuck my hands behind my head, stretching out my legs on her bed. “Then we need a compromise.”
“I’m not living on top of one of your fancy buildings,” she quips.
“Pool. Gym. No yard work,” I try persuading with a smile.
“Nope. No. And I love to mow,” she replies defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest like she’s won this argument.
I’d walk on fire if it made her happy and she knows it. Bu
t this time, she’s not getting her way. I refuse it.
“Let’s go house shopping,” I suggest.
“I can’t afford it right now,” she says sounding embarrassed.
Arching a brow, I give her a pointed stare and she mirrors it.
“No. Although my boyfriend is loaded, he doesn’t need to fork out the majority of the expenses. Give me a year and I’ll be in a better spot. I’ll have a raise soon and, hopefully, nab the led tech position and the raise that comes with it.”
“What if I want to buy a house? Would you help me decide which one to get?”
She rocks back on her heel, jamming her hand onto her hip. “What’s your master plan, Bennett?”
Laughing, I swing my legs off the bed and make my way in front of her. I run my hands down her arms. “The plan is to have you beside me every night, every morning, and every second in between.”
She stretches to her tiptoes and kisses me. “I’m basically beside you every night, which leads into the morning. And when we’re not working, we’re together.”
I smile, sliding my hands around to her ass. “Which makes getting a home together an excellent idea. Less traveling to see each other, more time to spend doing other things.” I squeeze her ass and she giggles. She wraps her legs around me when I lift her, and her arms fold around my neck. “Can I propose a plan?”
“Are you about to make it where I can’t refute?” she asks, playing with the hair at the base of my head.
I graze her bottom lip with my tongue. “Yes.”
She wiggles, releasing her legs and forcing me to set her down. “No way. I hate how you have… how you trick me with your magical dick.” She’s waving her hands toward my cock, biting the inside of her lip. “It’s not fair.”
I decide to help with her struggles and release my dick from my gym shorts. As I fist it, her eyes travel to my hand, and her mouth parts. “A magical dick, huh?”
“You…you know what I mean,” she babbles breathlessly. “You like to mess with my head with that thing.”
Her nipples harden beneath my shirt, piercing the fabric. I reach out and pinch one with a gentle tug. She pushes her chest out, sighing at my touch, and I fucking love how she loves it. Every step I take, I force her a step backward until her legs hit the edge of the bed and she loses balance, dropping to the mattress. I grip her calves and pull her ass to the end of the bed where I run my fingers through her wet folds…fucking grateful she’s not wearing panties.
“What has you so turned on, sweetheart? The thought of my cock or the sight of me stroking it?”
She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip, her gaze fixated on my hand before slowly sliding it up my chest until she meets eyes. “Both.”
I pump my dick in my hand, leaning forward and letting the head of my cock slide across her clit. Her eyes flutter closed and she sighs, rocking her hips. She’s a greedy little thing and I love it. Slowly, I sink in, her pussy wrapping perfectly around my cock as I drag in and out a few times before stopping shy of pulling out.
“You help me decide on a house,” I murmur, sinking in and pulling out. “And you move in with me.” Sink in and back out. “That way you don’t owe me a thing.”
She sighs softly. “That’s you forking out all the money. That’s not fair to you.”
I thrust forward and then ease back. “Baby, I can afford it.” Filling her, I root deeply and then jut my hips before backing out.
“You do not fight fair,” she moans playfully.
“Is this the magical dick you hoped for?”
Her eyes snap open, burning with lust.
I chuckle. “I don’t fight fair when it’s something we both want.” I slip my hand under her shirt and tweak her nipple, rocking into her. Her back arches as I circle her clit with my thumb. “If you don’t want to, I’ll wait however long I need to.”
Desire-filled eyes fall on me. “I do,” she pants. “But I need a way to contribute.”
I grin but don’t respond. She’s always worried about things when it comes to money. Where I have nothing to worry about, she feels she does and refuses to let me help her.
Grinding, I delve into her and continue my gentle assault on her clit. She writhes, her mewls filling the room beautifully. Her hips meet mine with urgency as her body begins to shudder.
“Nathan…” she whispers my name, and it always has me unraveling with her. I love the way she says it so desperately.
Eagerly, I give her what we need, meeting our climaxes together.
After we catch our breath, she slaps me across my chest. “Dammit, I love the way you persuade me, but it’s not fair.”
I chuckle. “I’ll wait forever for you, Brooklyn. If you’re not ready, I’ll sit here impatiently.”
She rolls over, resting her head on my chest, and throws her arm over my stomach. “I hope you don’t do business like this.”
I bark a laugh. “Not a fucking chance.”
* * *
She’s outside in her lounger, curled up with her e-reader, a glass of wine beside her and a white throw blanket over her feet. I’m supposed to be working, but instead I’m on the internet scouring through home listings. I love our mundane evenings, where there’s no place to go and nothing to do except be in each other’s company. It’s a life I’ve dreamed of and I’ve got the girl I’ve always wanted. Sure, our start was tumultuous, but I believe it’s made us stronger.
I want a house we can start a family in when we’re ready. A forever home. One small enough for her, big enough for us, but nothing piques my interest, which gives me an idea.
I join her, sitting on the edge of her chair with a hell of a plan. Now to just get her on board. “You want to contribute, right?”
She puts her e-reader down and looks to me. “I’d like to, please.”
“How about I build a house. Everything we want can be our decisions and you help me make the choices.”
“That still leaves you paying for it all.”
“I wish you’d quit worrying about money. You help make decisions, help design things, and that’s your contribution until you’re able to do more.” I inhale, closing my eyes briefly.
She worries her lip while she ponders. “What if I want pink floral wall paper in our bathroom?”
I smirk. “Then we’ll have pink floral wall paper in our bathroom, but I’ll balance it out with a manly ass shower.”
She laughs.
I squeeze her hand. “Is that a yes?”
She nods. “It’s a yes.”
I claim her lips. She’s just made me the happiest man alive.
THIRTY-THREE
Brooklyn is going to be pissed. Furiously pissed and I’m going to enjoy every damn bit of it. Finding land we liked took some time. Designing the house was easy, but due to our schedules it took longer to work out the building plans with the contractor. Tomorrow, they officially break ground.
With the excuse of wanting to walk the land before the house is built, I pull up to the curb in front and hop out, grabbing Brooklyn’s hand and guide us toward the backyard closer to the tree line.
“You sure you don’t want a pool?” I ask.
“Positive. I think we’d use a fire pit more than a pool.”
I actually agree although Brooklyn in a bikini is pretty a damn enticing reason to get one.
My nerves kick in, but I’m on a mission and I’ll be damned if they’ll get in the way. Clutching her hand, I drop to one knee and hold the little black box with her ring closed in front of me. I’m not stupid enough to open it. Not yet. She’s going to murder me once she sees it.
“I knew the moment I laid eyes on you, you would change my life,” I start, and her hands fly to her mouth. “I promise to love you forever, to cherish you with every fiber of my being. You are my best friend, the one person I never want to live without, the absolute love of my life. You are my perfect. I told you where you stand is just as important as where I build. Tomorrow they begin to build, and tonight I’d like t
o start our future. Brooklyn, will you marry me?”
Tears stream her cheeks when all of a sudden she lunges, flinging her arms around my neck and knocks me on my ass. “Yes!” she shrieks, peppering kisses all over my face.
My pulse is hammering in my chest as I open the box to pull out the round cut, three carat diamond ring with a paved setting and slide it onto her finger. I grip the tips of her fingers to hold her hand hostage just in case she decides to throw a punch.
Her eyes bulge at the sight. “Nathan!” she hisses.
I bark a laugh. “This was my choice. I get to spend whatever I want on you without you being mad. You can’t be angry. You said yes,” I say, still laughing.
“This is…this…” She’s so scrambled she stutters. “There you go again not fighting fair.”
I kiss her cheek. “I love you.”
Thank you for reading Set Up!
Please consider leaving a review.
Coming Soon
Eager to know if Aimee and Cody’s flirting is what you think it is?
Hook Up is coming soon but keep flipping for a sneak peek!
Books by TC Matson
THE FIGHTER SERIES
Blindsided (The Fighter Series #1)
UnExpected (The Fighter Series #2)
Awakened (The Fighter Series #3)
No Holds (The Fighter Series #4)
No Hesitations (The Fighter Series #5)
Leveled (The Fighter Series Novella #5.5)
No Limits (The Fighter Series #6)
No Control (The Fighter Series #7)
DEBONAIR SERIES (Standalones)
Broken Boundaries
Persuading Perfection
Seductive Secrets
STANDALONES
Open House
Mistaken Identity
TAKING CHANCES SERIES (Standalones)