Her eyes flicked instantly to Gabriella, jealousy apparent in the way her body tensed and face flushed. “Is there a reason?” she asked, voice sharp beneath the sweetness. “I haven’t seen you in months.”
And it was the best time of my life, he thought—knowing full well he couldn’t say it.
She slid his plate aside and settled herself onto his lap, facing him like it was the most natural thing in the world. A few men made crude comments, but no one intervened. Sally was accustomed to getting her way. They both knew it.
“Come to my bed,” she murmured, arms sliding around his neck, pressing close, and he felt her nipples through her thin sun dress. “Let me help you relax.”
For once, he was grateful that Gabriella couldn’t pick up on the Spanish spoken between them. Even so, the logical tactical side of him reminded him he should have agreed. It would have been easy and expected to maintain his subterfuge. Afterall, she was the reason why José trusted him so early on.
But when he looked at her heart-shaped face, from her plump lips up to her dark eyes, it wasn’t hers he searched for. It was green.
I can handle Sally’s tantrums,he thought. “Maybe another time,” he said, pushing her gently away, and knowing the consequences would be dire. But that wasn’t his priority right now, even though deep down, he knew it should be.
She bristled immediately. “Why?” she snapped. “Is that woman the problem? She can watch.”
Venom laced every word, and the image of forcing Gabriella to watch him fuck Sally sent hot waves of possessive anger all throughout his body. He felt a tick in his jaw as he stood, looming over her. “You know that’s not why,” he said evenly. “I’m tired.” That was his way of saying he couldn’t get it up.
Yet with the evidence of his cock straining between them, they both knew it was a lie. He adjusted himself discreetly and moved away from her.
He turned towards Gabriella, switching to English. “You. Let’s go.”
Gabriella startled, clearly still deeply immersed in conversation with the women around her who were practicing English with her. “Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Then move your ass,” he snapped, motioning towards the shared housing. He needed to keep his image up for being put out by her antics when all he wanted to do was hold her.
She stood instantly, shoulders squared, marching past the tables without looking back. “And if I don’t?”
Mateo gave her a smirk, “You get you-know-who to watch you.”
Gabrielle narrowed her eyes until they were slits of pure contempt. “Fine. But you’ll hear me complain all night about how shitty this whole experience has been.” A faint flush betrayed her, and he knew exactly whatexperienceshe was remembering.
“I can’t wait,” he said dryly. Mateo lifted his hands in surrender as he offered Sally a half-smile. “She’s trouble,” he said lightly to her in Spanish. “So, I’ll stick with her. Keep her in check and watch over her.”
It sounded like a joke, but it was a truth he hoped no one saw, otherwise he’d be dead.
CHAPTER 15
GABRIELLA
Mateo was wound tight after dinner, every muscle strung like a tightrope. He didn’t speak as he ushered her away from the noise and laughter, steering her through the camp with a hand firm at her elbow. The shared quarters waited for them—a squat little house with a single bed shoved against the back wall, lantern light flickering like it knew secrets.
The ligneous door shut behind them with a dull thud that seemed muffled by the rustic home.
He turned on her immediately, crowding her space, the air between them suddenly too thin.
“Is everything okay?” she squeaked, hating how small her voice sounded. She did her best not to notice how attractive he looked right now, anger and frustration coiled like a snake waiting to strike. His frustration possibly stemmed from their delayed start to reaching Panama, or possibly because he was an ass. She liked the last reason more.
Those dark eyes pinned her. “Fine,” he said flatly. “Your performance tonight was convincing enough.”
“Oh.” She swallowed, nodding too quickly. “Good.” She took a step back until the cool concrete wall met her spine. “That’s … that’s what we wanted, right?”
“Hmm.” His gaze dragged over her, slow and assessing. “Indeed.”
She bit her bottom lip without meaning to, nerves buzzing under her skin. She definitely did not want to focus on how the look was sending jolts of pleasure down her body, nestling in her core where she wished his fingers would roam.
A corner of his mouth twitched. “Almost too good,” he added quietly. “I might not want to sleep here at all.”
The words hit harder than she expected. Heat flared, sharp and unwelcome. Jealousy spiked before she could stop it.