CHAPTER SONG - One More Hour, Tame Impala

After an hour on the bench, and the rain starting to drizzle, we left. I confessed to Mateo that I don't want to go home, and he said that he preferred I didn't actually. He decided that it'd be best if I stay the night with him, and I liked the idea to much if I'm being honest. I repeatedly asked him to check with his parents if it was okay, and he just laughed. "The only thing you should worry about, is handling the chaos you'll be stepping into tonight." he told me, and I knew I would gladly deal with his family.

You never really know what you're getting yourself into when you walk into Mateo's house. I learned that the first time, and his mentioned it more than once. But I found that to be exciting, thrilling even. I loved the idea of a chaotically loving home, and Mateo's was the place. And as I trailed up the stairs to the front door, I felt my tummy bubbling with ease and happiness that buzzing on my mind. Mateo pulled the door open, leading me beside him. "Welcome home, for the night." he smirked, leading us through the massive door and into the start of his lavish home.

On both sides of the inside sat long, and elegant stairs with metal railings that gave it a modern touch. They trailed up into the upstairs, and on the lower area past the stairs you could see a massive open area. Halls disappearing into spaces the led into other parts of the house. And in the center of the massively open area sat a round table with a giant vase full of roses in it. Off the ceiling hung a beautiful golden chandelier that made the room feel so free, and grant.

I just couldn't help the open mouth as I gaze around. This place was so grand, and fabulous. "I still can't believe you live here." I explained, in awe. I don't think I'll ever believe it.

A tall, wide, and golden mirror stood on the side wall, taking half the wall space. Off the sides of it, hung greenery that fit so well into the whole design. "Who decorated this place?" I asked, making space in my mind for the information because I would definitely hire them one day. When I'm rich enough for that of course.

Mateo chuckle. "Aster mainly. At first mom, but eventually when Aster got old enough, she redid most of house."

I gasped at the information. "She has a magic touch!"

Mateo laughed, shoving his shoes in the coat closet before turning to me. "She's magical alright. You should see how well she makes me look into photo's."

I blushed before the words even came out of my mouth. "It's not just photos, your pretty all around." I told him, feeling the heat build in my cheeks and spread into my head like liquid.

He came towards me, grabbing my cheeks. "You know, love, your complements hit harder than most things. Because I think they come off of some list you have built in your head, and any list I'm on, is the best."

I sunk in his arms. "There's a list." I confirmed, blushing more than ever. Can one die from blushing to much? Or is it just going to boil me until I lost consciousness. Because that's starting to feel like it might just happy.

He smirked. "Just one?"

"Maybe a few." I answered, sheepishly and he laughed, leaning down to give me a soft kiss that melted me into straight butter ready to be used in a recipe for a sweet treat. My skin warmed under his touch, and my breathing picked up into a race that would be worrisome in most cases. Only not now, because now all I could worry about is how to keep his lips on me forever.

"There are fifteen rooms all over this house, and you two choose the front entrance to make out?"

I stumbled backwards as scorching heat plumped into my checks and burning away the kiss that I wished to have back. More embarrassment filled my chest, and I gaped up at Mateo like we were caught in the act. Well, we kind of were and what's worse... it was by his dad. Isn't that a parent's, and child's worse nightmare? Except Mateo didn't look like he minded or cared one bit.

Instead, he ran his thumb across my lips and winked at me with a soft grin before turning around to face his dad, who must have walked out of one of the hallways. Because he in the entrance of the open area, eyeing us with amusement in his dangerously wild eyes. He grinned too, and something about it put you on the edge of wonder. He was an open book for anger, but under it was millions of secrets, and moments that made him to be a man that Mateo looked up too. And for a man of his age, he shouldn't look this darkly attractive, and yet, there was something strangely hunting about the man.

Mateo tipped his head towards me. "Dad, Lina's staying the night."

His dad shrugged, waving his hand. "Have fun, or whatever."

I stared at him in disbelief, and a little confused. Most parents wouldn't blindly be okay with their sons brings girls home like this. Then again, nothing about this family was ordinary, or this man for that matter. He was off putting, and somehow uncaring about it all. His demeanor was always heightened, like he was watching your ever move, and waiting for something. But what? And when he grinned at you, you aren't sure if you should take a step backwards, or forward. Or if you should move at all.

Kirsan walked out of one of the hallways, eating an apple. He stopped beside his father and looked us over. I realized then that Kirsan, he had his father's height, and build, and even that scary cold persona. They both eyed us now, but Kirsan was the first to speak. "Lina, nice to see you."

I barely found my words. "You too." I mumbled, softly.

Mr. Ramos tilted his head. "Does she always talk that fucken quietly?"

"No. You just need a hearing aid." Mateo shot back, but I shrunk by his side, and into him.

Mateo's dad didn't mind the snap back, he just rolled his eyes. "I'm not that old, damn hijo." he laughed, before turning to look at his second eldest son who looked so carefree it was wildly unnatural. "Lina is staying the night." he explained, "And now that I'm thinking about it, I think I'm supposed to say something. You know, as a parent and shit. Any ideas?" he asked him, and Kirsan really looked like he was thinking about it.

Mateo sighed. "You really don't, I swear. It's not necessary."

But Kirsan nodded his head, looking towards his dad. "Your right. In all logic, I think you're supposed to comment on the safe sex fact. Unless, of course, you're ready for grandchildren?" he asked, his tone, and gaze dripping with amusement that I swear looked like he was trying to work his father up.

Mr. Ramos winkled his sharp nose. "Grandchildren?" he repeated, then shivered at the thought before zipped his attention towards us with dark wide eyes full of clouded panic. "No. Absolutely not. To early. I don't want grandkids. Wait, you two know what condoms are, right? Do you have any?" he asked, words tumbling over each other as if they were racing, and with that same panicked expression he turned to Kirsan who looked like he was about to laugh. "Go get some. They are in my room, in the right dresser. Grab a whole fucken pack, go." he commanded him.

Mateo groaned beside me. "Dad, I don't need them, I have my own."

You would think that would calm him, but it only made him panic more. "Okay, and you know how to use them, right?" he asked, and then his attention snapped towards me. Something about it was so purely chaotic, and fierce that it reminded me of Ash. "Do they still teach the banana on a condom in school technique? There YouTube videos if you need it." he explained, pulling out his phone.

It took me a second to realize that his question was directed toward me, and I opened my mouth to say that they in fact do not teach that in school. But before I could, Mateo clamped his hand over my mouth and looked towards me. "Don't answer that." he told me, then turned to glare at his dad who I think was actually searching for the video. Is there really a video out there like that?

Kirsan leaned backwards on the wall, kicking up his foot and took a bit of his apple with a full-blown grin filled with delight. "I don't know, it's kind of important, Mateo. Did you know that condoms are only ninety eight percent effective? With that statistic, two out of ever hundred people will still become pregnant. So, even if you wrap it, there's still a chance."

With Mateo's hand still pressed into my mouth, I stood there, gaping at the guy who usually was the one defusing the chaos, and now he was infusing it. I don't think I have ever seen him so tousled, and meddling. I suppose they all have it in their genes, they do share one parent in common. But in this moment, I swear he was trying to throw gasoline on the already lit fire by commenting. It was funny and made me chuckle.

Mateo tugged me closer. "And you just had to put that little fact out there, didn't you?" he eyed his brother with annoyance.

Kirsan shrugged. "Why not? It seems relevant to the conversation."

"Does it? Because I'm sure there are plenty of things about your free time that I could bring up in relevance to this conversation too."

Mateo's dad started at all of us in horror before groaning. "Oh for fucken hell. I know you have sex, I'm proud of you for it. Have a fucken blast for all I care, I'm not one to stop you because I fucken love sex but for the love of my sanity, I need a few more years before full blown madness." his beady eye's snapped at me, "The pill." he breath out, "Are you on it?"

Mateo clenched his jaw. "Not a question she will be answering for you either." he told his dad, but I already shook my head at his question. I don't know why, but I felt obligated to answer. Mateo's dad's questions didn't really feel like they were optional. It was something about the way his eyes hooded in razored focus on you that made it feel like life or death. And something told me that his glare would slaughter his sons without a doubt.

Mateo groaned beside me dropping his hand finally and cursed. "Fucken hell."

"Lina!"

We all turned out attention towards the top of the stairs. And I smiled, seeing Mateo's mom stroll down the stairs with her own smile light but I had a feeling it was about to be torn down any second and yet I couldn't find it in me to hate of any of this. "I didn't know you were coming over." she said, tucking her oversized tee shirt into her pair of black jeans. "We are going to do yoga later with Aster, your welcome to join." she added, her eyes shinning lightly like she really was excited for me to be here. The thought warmed my chest. But like I predicted, before she could say another word, Mateo's dad stepped out further from the hallway so that he could see her, and blurred, "We might have grandchildren."

She froze mid step, gripping the railing with shock springing onto her face. It only lasted a second before she relaxed and tipped her head down and started at her oldest son. He, who groaned so deeply beside me that I almost laughed. Like I said when I walked in, you have no clue what yours getting yourself into. It's a full ride, and all you can do is lift your hands and scream through the whole things. In the end, you'll want to ride again. It's almost addicting that way.

"Start talking." she said, softness settling into her expression. But before Mateo could answer, she looked at me. "How are you feeling? Have you gone to the doctor yet?" she asked me, and the way she said it, and looked, it felt life if I really was pregnant, she wouldn't shame me for it. I think they would do anything in their power to support me. I can't say the same for my family, and I don't know how that makes me feel. But the point is, I'm not pregnant, and I don't plan to be for a few years.

Mateo wrinkled her nose. "Mom, she's not pregnant." he replied sharply, and pointed at his dad, "Can you please tell your husband that he can't question my girlfriend about wither she's on the pill or not? And skip ten years into my fucken future what that matter."

Mateo's mom breath out in relief and started to walk again as she glared at her husband. "What the fuck, Angelo? You can't just announce that. I thought you were serious."

Mr. Ramos waved his hand at Kirsan who was most definitely the instigator in this situation and was laughing deeply from it. And said, "he told me that condoms don't always work. And you know what happens then. Kids. Do you remember how much Ash screamed? I swear I can still hear him in my sleep something. I'm not ready for that, Es, I'm not."

"That's because Ash never stopped screaming." she laughed, taking the last step and looking at Kirsan. "And you, seriously? You just needed to comment didn't you. And I thought you were better then that." she said, but the lightness behind her tone told me she was joking.

Kirsan shrugged. "It was too easy." he said between laughs making Mateo's mom shake his head at him as she stopped beside Mr. Ramos and looked him over. "You need to stop letting him work you up like that. You always fall for his tricks. There's no grandchild, Angelo. You have time to get yourself ready that that." she told him, calmly, and in a reassuring manner. Then, she turned to her oldest son. "Practice safe sex, or you dad might start greying before his time comes."

Mr. Ramos sighed, running a hand through his hair and said, "I feel like I'm going to die early from all of you."

Esme patted his chest. "Or we will die from you. Because you're not all that easy to deal with either."

He smirked, wrapping his arm around her and tugging her into himself, which made her smile at him. It was cute and loving in every way. But again, we turned out attention towards the stairs because we heard more movement. Down the railing, Ash slid before plopped down in one big hop. Poor kid has no idea what he just stepped into, and I chuckled at the fact. Kirsan was still barely keeping it together, and even Mateo had an amused look on his face.

Mr. Ramos narrowed his gaze at him. "You know what a condom is, right? I don't need to explain it to you?"

Ash's forehead creased in confusion. "What the fuck did I just walk into?" he asked, slowly starting away.

"Answer."

He paused, eyeing all of us with laughter rising up in his lightly crips eyes. "Yes, father. I know what a condom is, and I'm fully trained in how to use them. My brothers here made sure to give me the full lesson once I turned fourteen."

"Fourteen?" his mother gaped back at him, then shot a look at both of her older sons.

Kirsan shrugged. "Would you rather have grandchildren?"

His dad pointed his finger at Ash, stern and cold. "No grandkids."

Ash raised his hands up into the air. "Why are you telling me this? Tell the one that's about to have sex in a few minutes."

Mateo groaned, dropping his arm around my waist, and leading me up the stairs. "I'm done with you all. This is exactly why Kirsan doesn't bring Olivia around." he called, and I pressed my hand to my lips to stop myself from laughing. I looked over my shoulder to see Kirsan eyeing his brother with displeasure, but a little kid of enjoyment sat there. "Payback is a bitch, brother." Mateo called out, laughing as we turned the corner. And the last thing I heard before we stepped into Mateo room was Mr. Ramos yelling about not giving him grandchildren. And Esme asking who Olivia is.

Mateo closed the door behind him, and I turned to take in his massive room. I swear it's four sizes bigger than my room and had its own bathroom. Shades of black, grey, and white stained the whole place. And a grand bed sat in the middle of the room, covered in grey sheets and a black comforter. Behind the bed were black wooden thick stripes that went ceiling to ground and looked stunning. He even had a balcony in his room, and the most interesting thing was the actual motorcycle sitting in the room. I pointed to it. "How did you get that in here."

He glanced at it, walking over to his walk-in closet that was lit by under glowing lights. "Hard work and dedication." he chuckled, "But really, we just had to take the whole thing apart and reassemble it in here."

"Why do you have it in here?"

I watched him pull out a pair of sweat and change into them. And I couldn't stop staring, the men was beautiful. Head to toes, he was captivating to look at. Built like a god but had the personality of the devil. And I loved him that way. I adored him exactly as he was. With all the thick skin, and scowling features because when they finally softened, and his eyes lit, it really felt like the stars started falling out of the sky.

He strolled out of the closet. "I guess it's some sort of reminder to myself. I grew up with bikes, and watched my dad ride them. That one, it was my first and I went through all of shit with it. When I look at it, I'm reminded that no mater how hard life gets, I will always get back on and ride it out." he answered, strolled to the bike and stopping by it. "Come here."

I padded over to him, smiling. "A reminder. Instead of a motivational poster like most have, you have a full motorcycle in here as motivation." I said, looking around all the other things in his room's. From certificate of the wall of winning the APA world pool championships, to a dart bored full of knifes poking out of it. He also had a shelf full of helmets. "You have all of those, and you still choose not to wear one." I added, looking at them.

"Those are collectables, not to wear. But hey, I started wearing one."

I smiled him. "Thank you." I replied, knowing that his doing it for me.

I stopped beside him, and he wrapped his hand around my waist. "Get on." he said, and I climbed onto the bike. He put my hands over the bars and palmed them. I felt the stiff build of the bike benefit me, and even though I tired, I couldn't reach the floor. Which made him laugh. "Fucken adorable."

I rolled my eyes. "That's only adorable until I can't reach the ground and have to get off. Then I go falling on my face and no longer adorable."

"I would never let that happen." he said, leaning down and kissing my neck. I shuttered under the heat and feel of his lips on me, which made him grin. I knew it was either give into this craving in my stomach or try to push past it. And even thought all I wanted right now was him, I knew that I can't let myself be consumed by this feeling all the time. It was never end, and it would only get hungrier with every taste. "Okay, tell me everything about this bike." I said, pointing to the seat underneath me, "What's this called?"

For the next fifteen minutes I listened to him go over every technical aspect of the bike, and even the history of this bike. I made a list of it, and asked questions when things didn't make sense. And by the end, I was even sitting on the bike by myself, and feeling comfortable. Maybe one day I could ride it too, with him of course. But right now, he was sitting on his bed, watching me through thick glassed eyes that mirror my own desire.

He tipped his head at me. "Don't make me come over there and get you."

I bit my lip, and he narrowed his lustful eyes on them. Gripping the side of the bike, I carefully got off without falling and looked at him. He jerked his head towards the dresser that sat in the corner of his room. "Top drawer, choose a rope you like."