Exposed (Let Me Love You #3)

Chapter 20

20

“DADDY MATT”

MATT

F our hours later, and it feels like Simon has cried twenty times and had six hundred dirty diapers. We’re finally leaving the second car lot we visited with a new Ford Escape SUV. I’m sparing no expense to have a safe car for Simon and Pepper.

“I’ll buy another car seat for Simon and install it for you tomorrow,” I say as I hand Pepper the keys.

“Thank you, Matt. I’ve never driven a new car,” she replies with an excited grin. I love spoiling her.

If and when she decides to leave me, I’ll give this SUV to her. Not telling her that now though. She isn’t ready to hear it. Although a large part of me hopes she chooses not to go back to her other life after we clear her name. I want her to stay with me.

“There’s a first time for everything. Besides, everyone needs someone to do nice things for them,” I respond simply.

I’d like Pepper to stay with me for a long time. I’ve never thought about forever with anyone besides Grace, but I can see it with Pepper. “Enjoy your last night catering.”

“I’ll be happy when it’s over,” she admits. “Being with you and Simon will be way better.”

I playfully tug on her little ponytail, then pull her in for a hug. “Same. Simon, tell Pepper bye.” I wave Simon’s little hand at her, and she gives us a group hug that Simon coos over.

Same, little buddy. Pepper’s hugs are the best.

“I’ll miss you, little man,” she whispers to Simon and rubs his head.

We’ll miss you, Pepper.

He smiles at her, and I smile when he grasps her finger and bucks his body like he wants to go to her. The bond they share is too cute, and another reason I hope she stays.

I refuse to think about her leaving. I guess I’m in denial, but I don’t want to dwell on it. It hurt like hell when the only other woman I’ve loved had to leave me. If I have anything to do with it, I’ll make sure Pepper stays.

She heads to work, and I drive to Simon’s first doctor’s appointment on Aveline Island.

People wave to me as I stop at red lights. Aveline is night and day different from Miami. My parents and grandparents have already shared with dozens of people here that they have a grandson. I’m half surprised that no one walks up to my car at a stop sign and asks me to roll down the window to see Simon.

When I’m pulling into a spot in pediatrician’s parking lot, my phone rings. A quick glance down shows Noah’s name on the screen, and I breathe a sigh of relief. This morning, I texted him that I needed to talk. At twenty-nine, he’s the oldest of our friend group and seems to have the resources to find anything.

Getting in the backseat so I can amuse Simon with a rattle, I lock my car doors to talk with Noah. No one can hear this conversation.

“Hey, Noah. Thanks for calling.”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Daddy Matt!” I hear Deacon’s voice in the background. “Congrats on having a son!”

“Hey, D. Don’t call me Daddy Matt,” I chuckle.

Despite my best efforts not to, my thoughts jump to Pepper calling me daddy. My cock jerks at the thought. Definitely don’t hate that idea.

“You know you like it,” Deacon shoots back. “What’s it like being a boy dad? Can’t wait to meet him. I promise you’ll sleep again. It’ll be a couple of years, but it’ll happen.”

Mad respect for parents who are suffering from the sleep deprivation that newborn parenting requires, because I’m struggling.

“That’s a relief. I’m so tired, I feel like a zombie.” I yawn as I walk my fingers up Simon’s belly, making him giggle.

Deacon is the main father figure to his six year old niece Indy since her dad passed away before she was born.

“Do you need help with your son?” Noah asks.

“I need help for a friend. Do you guys know how to find a good hacker?”

“Hacker? What kind of trouble are you in?” Deacon sobers.

“She’s being framed for something she didn’t do,” I assure.

“You can’t bring the police in to figure it out?” Noah asks.

If we bring the police in, Pepper will be arrested. Who knows what could happen to her in jail while we’re working to prove she’s innocent.

“No way in hell, man. If you can’t help, I’ll find someone else,” I snap.

“Nah, dude. I want to help,” Noah insists.

“This friend is more than a friend , yeah?” Deacon laughs. “That’s the only reason you’d bite our heads off.”

I turn my voice down to a whisper. “Whatever. I need help. I’ve never searched the dark web or whatever the hell we use to find someone like this.”

“We can use private browsers to search, but I’ll look into better privacy measures,” Noah agrees.

“Thanks for your help. I need the best one we can find.”

“On it,” Noah assures.

“Catch ya later,” Deacon calls before I hang up.

Leaning back in my seat for a second, I look at Simon. The car is getting warm in the afternoon sunshine.

“I hope you never need to search for a hacker, little dude. This is fucking stressful. We want Pepper to stay with us, so we’ve got to help her.”

Simon bats at the rattle in my hand.

“Time for you to meet the pediatrician who took care of me when I was a kid,” I tell him as I unbuckle him.

I visit my childhood pediatrician for Simon, knowing full well the entire island will be talking about this as soon as I leave. I trust Dr. Beth, though, so it’s worth it.

Then, I’m off to my parents’ for dinner. My mom and dad are out the door before I’ve got Simon out of his car seat. I hug my parents extra hard. After them being in a car wreck, I’m thankful they’re okay. It’s hard seeing my dad’s arm in a cast, but it could’ve been worse.

They and my grandparents make a fuss over Simon the whole time we’re eating my mom’s famous Beef Bourguignon.

They bought a baby bath, and they all get a kick out of seeing him play in the water while I bathe him.

My mom and dad also talk about how much they like Pepper, and they’re happy she’s going to be taking care of Simon when I work.

Several neighbors stop by to meet him. I let them say hi, but I don’t let them hold him. He’s already been through enough today with car shopping and the doctor.

By the time I’m headed back to Miami, Simon is worn out from socializing and is nodding off in the backseat. This has been one of the longest days I’ve had in a long time. I’m tired, but I’m also happy Pepper finally told me what’s wrong.

I hope she’s home when I get there. Buying her a phone is on the shopping list for tomorrow. I don’t own a landline, and I need her to be able to get a hold of me when she’s watching Simon while I’m at work.

Pepper pulls into the driveway in her new SUV just as I’m getting a cranky Simon out of his car seat.

“You ready for a bottle and bed time, little man?” I cradle him against my chest and sling his diaper bag over one shoulder.

Pepper sniffles as she opens her door.

“What’s up?” I ask as I lead the way to the front door.

“I talked with the lead tonight, and she said she’s not paying me for my last two weeks since I’m not giving two weeks notice,” she sniffs.

“No way, that’s illegal.” I unlock the door and let her walk in first.

“I can’t fight her on it since I didn’t even give her a real ID.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay you. And who knows? That lead may have been talking out of her ass. Payroll will probably cut you your check for the past two weeks,” I encourage.

“I need the money.”

I drop the diaper bag on the floor and walk to her. “If I wasn’t holding Simon right now, I’d kiss you until every one of your worries melted away.” Instead, I pull her into the other side of my chest with one arm while holding Simon.

“Let me get him to bed, then I can erase your fears for tonight, at least.”

“I’d like that,” she whispers against my shirt.

“Done.”

Simon wriggles against us, and when we pull back and look at his face, he’s smiling an adorable toothless grin.

“You like our hugs, don’t you, little man? I love you.” My heart lights on fire for my son.

“He’s precious. You’re a good boy, Simon. You’re so loved,” Pepper says softly.

I want to tell Pepper she’s loved. Has she ever felt loved? Because I get the feeling that her parents didn’t cherish her like they should’ve.

Spoiler alert: I’m going to cherish the fuck out of her tonight.

After I get Simon down, I turn on the sound machine my mom gave me today. Fingers crossed he’s tired and sleeps well for a few hours. Shani assumes her post by Simon’s crib, and I pat her side. “Watch our little man.” It may be my imagination, but it seems like she nods at me, then licks her chops.

Before I head to Pepper’s room, I put a condom in my shorts pocket because I’m an optimist. With the baby monitor in hand, I pad across the hallway.

I knock softly, then wait for her to open the door.

“Hey,” she gives me a soft smile.

“Hey, yourself,” I smirk. Pushing the door open, I step inside, then close it and set the monitor down.

My t-shirt I gave her to workout in the other day covers her slight frame.

“I bought you clothes.”

“Maybe I like your shirt better,” she shrugs.

She likes being in my shirt. That makes me want to growl like a possessive caveman, and I stalk toward her.

“Is there a guy in your other life? Do you have a boyfriend waiting back home for you?” I ask, cupping her cheek. Damn, her skin is soft.

“No, there’s no one else,” she shakes her head.

“Good,” I nod. A sense of relief washes over me. I’m not having sex with someone who’s in a committed relationship.

Before we go any further, there are questions I have to ask her. “If you end up wanting to have sex with me, are you on birth control?”

“No.” She looks down. “I had an Ob-Gyn in New York and was on birth control, but I ran out and have been off it for over a month. I’m clean, though.”

“Same here. I’ve been tested, and I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. Would you rather do other things then? There’s plenty we can do without my cock going in your pussy.”

“What are our options?” She asks innocently. Her eyes flit to my growing cock, which makes me smile.

I like her innocence, but the idea of corrupting her is incredibly enticing. “I can come in your mouth, your ass or give myself a hand job and come on your body. I brought a condom, but the baby in the other room is proof that those don’t always work. We can use a condom and I pull out when I come, if you’re comfortable.”

“Yes, please, rocket man.”

“Tell me which one. Where do you want my cock, chaton ?”

“How about oral tonight?”

“Done.” I want my cock in her pussy, but I’ll have to figure out how to get her birth control.

“I need you.” I growl as I grip the back of her head and pull her to me in a searing kiss. “I need to make you come, because tonight, you’re mine.”

I take being a Dom seriously. It’s my responsibility to make sure Pepper is cared for, safe and given as much pleasure as I want to give her. And I want to give her a fuck ton.

I kiss her like a starved man, like a man who’s been in prison for years and hasn’t had a woman’s touch.

In a way, I am. I’ve been imprisoned by grief, unable to open up. With Pepper, I want to put myself out there, not just for sex, but for a relationship. I haven’t had an emotional connection with any woman since Grace, but Pepper makes me want all of her. I want to climb inside of her and learn everything I can.

I want inside her caring heart, her complex mind and her gorgeous pussy. Right now, I’m happy to explore her warm mouth and the little gasps of pleasure flowing from her lips.

She squeaks in surprise when I bite her bottom lip.

“Tell me how you like it, Pepper. Slow and soft, or hard and rough?”

“However you want it. Take control again,” she purrs as my mouth makes its way down her neck, nibbling and biting. She whimpers and moans when I suck the tender pulse point at the side of her throat.

“We haven’t talked about limits. Is there anything you absolutely don’t want to do?”

“Should there be?” She pants, clearly turned on.

“I’m a kinky guy. I don’t want to scare you off,” I reveal.

“Kinky like what?” She pauses and blinks at me .

“I like being the dominant one, using toys, temperature play…forced orgasms for you.”

“Forced orgasms?” She asks.

“Yeah. Like I make you come so many times, you beg me to stop because you don’t think you can come again.” I kiss her lips. “But I keep giving you pleasure, because you can give me one more.”

She looks at me speechless with wide eyes, so I backpedal.

“We can go easy, princess. If you’d rather do missionary-style, I’ll do that. Whatever you give me, I’m happy with.” Heck, she could ask to tie me up, and because I want her so badly, I’d let her be in control. One time. I’d take the reins next time.

“I’d like to try what you’re into. The guys I’ve been with have always been focused on their pleasure. I don’t have much experience having orgasms with a partner.”

That changes right the fuck now. A fire is stoked in me to give this girl the time of her life.

“With me, you always come first, and more than once, before I come. I get more turned on from bringing you to climax than from reaching my own,” I explain.

“That sounds selfless,” she comments.

“Not really. I’ll come if I want to. But as a whole, I love being all about you. Are you open to toys and temperature play?”

“Toys, for sure. I’ve never used them before, but I’d love to.”

“You’ve never used a vibrator?” I ask, surprised.

“We come from different sides of the track, Matt. I’ve lived most of my life in survival mode. Never had the time or money to shop for one.” She holds her hands up and wriggles her fingers. “These work fine.”

I’m definitely getting her a vibrator. She’ll have orgasms on a whole different level with it.

“Okay. What about temperature play?” I probe.

“What’s that?”

“Using hot and cold objects on your skin. Nothing that would burn or hurt you, though. The sensations make your pleasure more extreme,” I answer with a grin.

“I’m good with that,” she nods.

“Same safe words as last time. Yellow to slow down, Mazda to stop. We can use safe words any time we play.”

“You and my Mazda,” she playfully swats at my arm. Then, her eyes light up. “What do you think the world record is for the most orgasms in an hour? Or twenty-four hours?” She asks with serious curiosity, and I love her thinking.

“I have no idea. You want to find out and try to beat it?” I chuckle.

“I don’t know, but I like the thought of having multiple orgasms in one night. I’ve never done it before.”

“With me, you will. I want to make you scream from all the pleasure I give you, princess.”

At the mention of the word princess , her eyes flit up to mine, then look down.

I kiss her forehead, then wrap my hand around her throat and gently pulse my fingers.

“Has no one ever treated you like a princess, Pepper? I’ll fuck you so hard, you’ll never forget how precious you are. I want to get on my knees and shower you with all the affection you deserve. I want to take my time and taste every inch of you.”

Her eyes grow large.

“Okay. Real talk?” Pepper begins, and I like that she’s going to be open with me.

“Lay it on me,” I nod. Sitting on the bed, I pat the empty space next to me.

She sits, then fidgets with a lock of her hair. “Feels like it’s been forever since I’ve had sex. And the sex I’ve experienced has always been mediocre. The bar is low, honestly. I want to like sex, but I’ve never had good sex. It’s supposed to be good, isn’t it?”

“Sex can be mind-blowing, depending on who you’re with,” I answer.

She looks down, avoiding eye contact with me, then shares, “Your one-night stand wrote in your letter that you made her feel special. I want a guy to see that I’m special.”

“Look at me, Pepper.” I wait until she raises her head to make eye contact with me, then I cup her cheek. “You are special. You don’t need a man or anyone else to tell you that for it to be true.”

She tries to look down, but I gently hold her face in my hands. “It’s true, Pep. You’re one of a kind. I like you. I wouldn’t invite just anyone to live with me. For the past four years, I’ve lived alone.”

“Everyone is one of a kind,” she whispers. “That doesn’t make me special.”

“Yeah, it does. There’s no one else like you in the entire universe. No one brings to the table what you do. I’ve never met anyone that captured my attention right off the bat like you did. You fucking shine, Pep. ”

“Geez, Matt.”

“Honest to God. He fucking shattered the mold when he created you.”

She licks her lips, then swallows before sharing, “I know I’m worthy of love. I know what I want in life: to be a mom and have a family. I want to find my person . Someone who sees and loves me, and we can love and appreciate each other.” She gives a cute little shrug.

It breaks my heart that she doesn’t feel loved.

“I notice how special you are, Pep. I see you. And tonight, I want to see what you’re like when you let go. I want to be the one to see you totally in the moment when your orgasm hits you like a tidal wave.”

Her eyes are watery, and she ducks her face away from me. She sniffs, wipes a tear away, then gives me a teasing grin. “Holy crap. If that’s what you said to your one-night stand, no wonder she trusts you with her kid.”

She’s deflecting with her quirky sense of humor.

“I’ve never said any of that to another woman before,” I admit, sharing my cards with her and feeling exposed.

“Well, you convinced me to let you in my pants,” she quips.

Pepper is different. I can feel it. She’s going to leave a lasting impression on me. I don’t just want in her pants. I want in her heart.

“I’m serious, Pep. You’re different than any woman I’ve been with before.”

I’m not sure how she’s done it, but she’s unknowingly burrowed her way into my heart. I like this girl, and I’m realizing I’m not sure there’s an end to how much.

“Wow,” she says, eyes wide. “Okay, I don’t know what to say. I, um, I believe you. I’m crap at saying how I feel…I’ve never met anyone like you, Matt. Thanks for inviting me into your home and spending time with me.”

I love that she’s being open with me.

“Of course.” I let my hands travel from her cheeks down to her neck, then to her collarbones. “I have no idea when Simon is going to wake up next, but I want to make sure you come at least twice before he cries.”