Dylan O'Brien as Micah McKenna-Vega

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Fighting Temptation: Capítulo Dodici

"So how come you haven't introduced him to Derek yet?" Arabella asked out of the blue one day and I swear I almost spat out my orange juice. "And pray tell, why in the fucking world would I do such a thing? That's asking for death!" I sputtered, shivering visibly with fear at the thought. "Oh hi dad, this is Antonio Esposito and he's the head of the Russian mafia, might as well our rivals!" I groaned. "Would go real smooth, Ara." I rolled my eyes.

"It actually would because Derek already knows about him, Ramiro. You'd be saving you a lot of time and anxiety if you just got it out of the way." She shrugged and I stared her down. "There are so many things wrong with that situation." I placed my drink on the counter as I placed my pager in my pocket. "First and foremost, we haven't even put a title to us and it would be fucking stupid to assume we are something when we aren't," I stated and she went to speak. "No, no, no! I'm not done!" I waved my finger in her face. "Not to mention, we've only known each other for 7 weeks now. It'd be weird to spring my parents on him like that because then he'll start thinking I want more and then what do I do when he starts to avoid me?" I gasped theatrically. "It's just like in the movies."

Arabella looked up at me with a deadpan look on her face. "Well to us, it looks like you guys are about to start making preparations for adoption." She drawled and I glared. "I just don't want to ruin anything before it even got started, you know?" I sighed. Not to mention, I was still getting threats from that mysterious texter and to make matters worse, I had Maximilian Harrison of all people, on my case about what I say or do with Antonio and it makes me a little suspicious.

"Ruin what?"

I nearly jumped to the ceiling when I heard that familiar enticing Russian voice from behind me, long before I felt his body heat. "Damn it, Tony! Don't scare me like that!" I turned to him with a glare, a hand on my chest to calm my increasing heart attack and he smirked at me, those smooth and moist lips calling for my attention as I flicked my gaze up to his hazel eyes, orbs that held so much lust. "Sorry, Valentin." He uttered and I nearly jizzed my pants.

"Hey, Dr. Esposito." We both turned our heads to face Arabella, who had a look of mischief written all over her face. "Yes, Ms. Jacobson?" He replied and she grinned. "Would you be okay with meeting Ramiro's parents?" She asked, her voice dripping with the fakest sweetness I've ever heard come out of her mouth. I nearly shit my pants when the silence became louder and I was dead set on running to the bathroom to hide when Antonio snapped his sexy stare over to mine.

"Sure, why not?"

That was the moment I descended to heaven.

"R-really?" I muttered in disbelief and he raised a brow in my direction. "Yea, something wrong with that, amorcito?" He asked and I could have sworn blood shot out of my nostrils at the term of endearment he used. So he was really okay with this? I stared at him in shock, realizing that my heart was pounding deeply in happiness. "No," I smiled brightly. "Just let me know when." I breathed out and he nodded, looking smug as shit. I rolled my eyes at his expression before I grabbed my stuff. "I have a patient in 5 minutes so I need to start heading over there." I stayed looking at the ground, in fear that my blush would expose me.

"Hey, Valentin." A smooth and large hand gripped me on my wrist and I followed the veined and thick arms up to make eye contact with the owner. "What are you doing at 7 tonight?" He asked and I could tell that Arabella was screaming internally because I was too. "Oh?!" I mildly screeched as I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly. "N-nothing, I don't think I'm doing anything and even i-if I was, I'd drop it all." I whispered the last part to myself but I think he heard me because another smirk coursed his lips and he looked satisfied. "Good, send me your address later." He gripped my wrist before sliding up to rub my palm sensually. "Ms. Jacobson, I would like to have a moment with you." His gaze never left mine but he bid me goodbye as he and Arabella walked off in the opposite direction, appearing to be in an intense conversation.

Weird.

What could he and Arabella have to talk about? They haven't said more than a sentence to each other since Antonio's been here. I ignored the tugging of my heart as my brain began to turn gears, jealousy rearing its ugly head.

Why am I jealous?

I had no idea or any reason to be. As long as I knew that there was no label between us, he wasn't mine but it hurt to know that.

But hopefully, just hopefully one day, that'll change because Damiana was right. I gave my heart up before the chase began. I let out a sigh before I pulled out my phone, opening up a quick text message. 6423 Blythe Ellington, I wrote in the box before sending it off to its requester. I had no idea why he wanted it or what he needed it for or why he was concerned about my lack of plans but a part of me felt giddy and a surge of pride went through my body.

I didn't know if it was too early to assume but I knew that he wanted to spend more time with me and know more about me and that meant that it wasn't just me. Unless he wanted my address to stalk me but I had a feeling that he wasn't going to use it for those purposes.

"Hehe." I giggled to myself as I looked at my phone wallpaper, it being the two of us smiling. "Ay, dios mio." I shook my head as I clutched my clipboard to my chest, heading to the breakroom. I had been lying when I said I had another patient but I could feel the sexual tension seeping into my pores and I knew it wouldn't have been long before I threw myself at him.

How professional of you, Ramiro.

"What are you grinning at?" I jumped nearly ten feet in the air when a person stood to their feet, approaching me in the breakroom. "Damn it old man! Stop scaring me like that!" I snapped when Harrison gave me a suspicious look. "You didn't answer my question, Ramiro." He narrowed his eyes and I felt a small rush of fear from the look in those eyes. "What are you talking about? Am I not allowed to smile of my own free will?" I folded my arms, my good mood immediately going away. "Does it have something to do with Antonio!" He accused and I just stared at him. "...no, I'm just excited about my parents' birthday coming up," I lied straight through my teeth. "And even if it was about Antonio, what would it matter to you? You've just met the fucking dude." I let out a harsh sigh and Harrison rolled his eyes. 

"Unbeknownst to you," He began with a sneer. "I've known Antonio for a long time now." He admitted and my eyes narrowed even further. Didn't Antonio mention him in his past? I didn't think so and he seemed to be bewildered by Harrison's attitude just as I was!

This dude did a complete 180 in personality.

"Whatever." He put a bright smile and I stifled a long string of curses. "I really don't care if you have a thing for him or whatever it is," Harrison murmured. "It's not going to get in the way of anything I have planned." He said but then he muttered something under his breath with a sardonic and twisted smile and I fought the urge to take a step back. "Oh well!" He cheered and I was dumbfounded and a little nervous by the quick change in personality. "I'll see you at the meeting later, my lovely protegé!" He grinned before patting me on the shoulder as he walked out of the break room. 

"Just what in the fucking fuck?" I rubbed my face, trying to free myself from confusion. "You know, it's a sign of madness when you talk to yourself." I jumped in fright, trying to figure out who was talking and turned around to face Vincent. "Stop being a scared little bitch." He said as he entered the room. "I'm hungry as fuck." He roamed around, not taking in the aura of fear as he looked at me like I was stupid. "Ara told me about your little fling, he meeting you tonight at 7?" He smirked and I chuckled, blush evident on my cheeks. "Yea, something like that." I said and he raised a brow. "Where is he taking you?" I stared at him in thought, coming to the realization that I knew nothing of the answer. "You know, I don't know."

That's how I found myself standing in my room with said Adonis beside me dressed in a blue button-down and khakis, his hair perfectly tousled and falling down in the right places over his eyes, the smell of cologne permeating the air with every sniff I took, his thick arm flexing as he held it around my waist, with my dad Derek standing opposite of us with a stern look on his face. 

"So you're the one who my Miro fancies," Derek drawled, taking in the image of the Adonis, standing in my room looking like delicious sin. I had to keep myself from drooling when he ran a hand through his hair."I can see why." He snorted and I blushed red in the cheeks. "Take care of my son and make him happy or I'll make your balls into soup for your parents." I was disgusted by that image and a little embarrassed because I had no idea what we were and my dad was implying that this was a relationship. "No need to worry, Mr. Vega." Antonio smiled softly and I almost swooned. "I'll take good care of Valentin." He winked in my direction and my dad chuckled lowly as his eyes shone over with something, maybe pride or mirth, who knew? 

"Good, keep that attitude up and hopefully, you'll never have to meet the other Mr. Vega." He rolled his eyes and turned around to exit the room, leaving Antonio and I. I looked down at the beautiful array of the picnic he set up in my room, with pillows surrounding us like some fort and there was a flickering color candle that he had put on, and there was soft music playing in the background, followed by the sweet smell of lavender flooding the room.

Was this a date?

I thought it was a date.

"This is so fucking awesome, Tony!" I beamed and he let out a low laugh. "I'm glad you think so Valentin." He took my hand in his and I almost short-circuited when our hands touched as he led me to sit down in front of the array of food he had set out. "Broooo, look at all this food!" I grinned as I took in the beef stroganoff and green beans with a roll and pieces of Napoleon cake. There was also lemonade and kompot, boiled water with fruits and sugar. "So I take it that everything you made is Russian?" I asked and he blushed, though the room was dim so it might have been my imagination. "Sí, you already know of all the Hispanic food so I decided to give you something you didn't know." He replied sheepishly and I really saw how cute he indeed was. "How sweet." I tilted my head and gave him my best shot at bedroom eyes and he let out a small snort, his eyes darkening.

Antonio leaned in, the look of intent bare in his eyes as he licked his lips, smirking once he caught my attention. "Valentin..." He murmured in a slow voice and my saliva got stuck in my throat as I hitched a breath, staring back at him with the same passion. "Antonio..." I whispered breathlessly as the song dimmed in motion with the lights and I leaned in, feeling the breath of his air on my lips. "What do you want from me?" His gaze slowly snapped down to my lips and zeroed in with lust before looking back into my eyes with the same intensity. I found myself gulping traitorously as I revealed the one thing that I've been dying for all day. 

"Kiss me." I replied in a low tone, feeling the hair on my skin standing from how hot it had gotten in the room, even though the temperature was cold. I closed my eyes and leaned in closer, eager to fill those lips on mine and all of a sudden, the door to my room busted in open and all I could see was eyes of fire and rage and a voice that shook the whole room.

"What in the fucking hell is he doing in my house, pendejo!?"