The world disappeared, my focus
narrowed to include only Matt and the way he was making me feel. I gave up all
pretense of thinking and just went with the flow.
As seemed to be the norm with
us, it was a creature that shook us back to reality. Barney, bored with
waiting, bashed his head against the back of my knees. Already pretty shaky on
my legs (what can I say? Matt has power) this was all it took for me to lose my
balance. The kiss was broken as I slipped. It was only because Matt already had
a close (very, very close) hold of me that I didn’t fall.
“Whoa, are you ok?”
I pushed back my hair. “Yes,
Barney got impatient.”
I looked around, belatedly recognizing
that we were standing at my front gate, locked together like two lovers. Well we
had just been kissing like two lovers. Well maybe that was where this was
headed. I blushed at my own wayward thoughts, but fortunately this went
unnoticed by Matt since the street lighting was dim enough to hide it.
He ran his hand through his
hair. “Probably a good thing he did that. I forgot we are out in the street.”
“So did I.” I paused, feeling
awkward and shy. Matt ran a finger down my cheek and I sighed at the touch.
“Do you want to come in?” I couldn’t believe I
had said it, but the words were out and no retracting them.
“Are you sure that’s what you
want?”
Was I? This was my moment of
truth. I swallowed, my throat dry.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Then yes, I would like to come
in.”
I swallowed again, fumbled with
opening the gate so that Matt had to help me. Once it was open I led the way
with dignity intact. Well that’s what I planned. What happened was that Barney
pushed past me and in the process knocked me into Matt, who caught me and half
carried me through, stifling what sounded suspiciously like a laugh in the
process.
Once through the gate I
straightened, and led the way to the front door. There, I stood staring at it.
“Cassie? Are we going in?”
I sighed. “My key is at your
house, with my phone, in your lounge room.”
“We sure are a prepared pair.”
Matt touched his forehead to
mine, chuckling softly. I smiled in response.
“That’s me, always ready to
party.”
At my words his chuckle grew
into a proper laugh, a beguiling sound that made me laugh too. I thought of the
sight we must make, standing at my front door, laughing like a pair of idiots.
“Oh my goodness, what a night.
I bet you want me now.”
Matt sobered. “You have no
idea.”
His words sent a thrill through
me, not of fear but of what I identified, with just a touch of anxiety, as
longing. Was I really ready for this?
Words failed me, I just stared
at him. Matt smiled, leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. It was a
gentle touch of lips on skin, but it made my heart sing.
“I guess we’d better go back to
mine then.”
As he spoke Matt stretched out
a hand to me in invitation. I placed my hand in his, allowing him to lead me
back to his house. Barney, initially piqued that he wasn’t after all going to
visit Pebbles and BamBam, quickly recovered and bounced along happily. This was
a wonderful adventure for him. Maybe it was for me too.
Back at Matt’s house I sat on
the lounge, feeling again awkward and shy. Matt poured us both a glass of the
red wine. Handing me my glass he sat down beside me. I took a nervous sip,
wondering what to say.
“Cassie.”
I peeked sideways, hiding
behind my fringe.
Leaning forward Matt put his
wineglass on the coffee table. Taking mine from my unresisting hand he placed
it beside his. Then he took both my hands in both of his.
“Cassie, this isn’t a test, or
a schedule. We don’t have to end up in the bedroom - although to be honest I
will be very happy if we do. But we have all the time in the world. I’m not
going to rush you, or force you, or try to coerce you. I am so happy, you
cannot know how happy I am to know that you want me in a romantic sense.” He
paused, frowned in irritation. “God, I sound like a soap opera. You know what I
mean though Cassie don’t you?”
I did know what he meant, and
with that knowledge all of my anxiety vanished. This was where I belonged, with
Matt. I leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, before disengaging my hands
and picking up my wine glass again. I sipped, the wine slid smoothly over my
tongue, leaving behind a fruity taste that was a touch smoky. A good choice.
Matt raised one eyebrow, his
expression that professional blank one he was so good at wearing. I smiled at
him as seductively as I could. The result was not Matt kissing me senseless, something
that admittedly would have been difficult without spilling the excellent wine.
I must have forgotten how to smile seductively since his blank expression was
still firmly in place.
Taking my courage in both hands
(and a healthy swig of wine), I put the glass back on the coffee table. Matt
didn’t move. I slid closer to him on the lounge. He still didn’t move. I put
both my hands on either side of his face. He sat, still as a statue. Sighing, I
leaned closer, until my breasts brushed against his chest. Nothing. I frowned,
was I that rusty?
Then I noticed his quickened
breathing, the intensity of his chocolate brown eyes, and I understood. He had
promised not to rush, force, or coerce me. This was his way of making sure he
kept his word. This man was never going to be like Nathan in any way.
Sliding one hand down to cover
his (wildly beating) heart I caressed his cheek with the other. Then I leaned
in close and kissed him with everything I had. Matt groaned under my lips, his
arms came around me and crushed me close and he took over the kiss. Then, dear
reader, I was kissed senseless, kissed until I no longer knew where I stopped
and he started, kissed until…well you can fill in the blanks.
The sun shining on my face woke
me the next morning. I turned my head and saw Matt watching me. Overwhelmed
with shyness I pulled the bedclothes under my chin. Matt grinned as he watched.
“You look adorable like that.
Come here.”
He rolled onto his back, his
arms wide, wearing nothing but a wicked grin. Oh my.
I did as I was told, and was
rewarded with a scorching kiss that almost made me forget where I was.
Coming up for air, I checked my
watch and groaned. “It’s already 7:00. I have to get back to the dogs, and I’m
picking up Mark at 10:00.”
Matt rolled us over until he
was poised above me. Grinning wickedly, he kissed me, slowly and thoroughly. Then
he kept on rolling until he was standing beside the bed. I lay there, enjoying the
view of a naked Matt.
“All that jogging has done
wonders for you.”
Matt leered at me. “I told you
I had a six pack to die for.”
I sat up, planted a kiss on his
flat belly. Matt gasped a little and I smiled.
“You did, and you were not
exaggerating.”
“Get up woman, I know you have
to get back to let out the dogs before they destroy your place. I’ll make us
breakfast and bring it to yours, ok?”
Could anyone be more perfect?
Reeling in such sappy thoughts I nodded my agreement. Matt swaggered to the
door and I watched him go, a sappy grin on my face to match those sappy thoughts.
As soon as he had gone I jumped
out of the bed and dressed quickly. Ridiculous as it might be after the night
we had just spent I still felt too shy to be naked in front of him. I was
delighted that he had no such qualms.
As I went into the kitchen I
checked that I had everything I came with, except the wine. Matt was
watching me, grinning.
“Got everything this time?”
I smiled in response. “Yes, I
have. I have to dash, those dogs will be desperate to go out.”
Matt came over to me, pulled me
into his arms and kissed me again.
“I’ll shower and be there with
breakfast.” He paused. “That’s ok with you isn’t it?”
This new level of our
relationship was going to take a bit of getting used to for both of us.
“Yes of course. I’m starving.”
Grin back in place Matt
grinned. “We used a lot of energy last night, and that was before we, er, used
energy.”
I blushed. “See you soon,” I
managed, and I bolted.
I almost skipped down the path
to my house. I felt so light, I couldn’t remember when I had felt this happy. I
stopped in my tracks. That was how I felt, happy. I hugged myself, I couldn’t
remember the last time I had felt so happy and it was wonderful.
Continuing down the footpath my
steps slowed, became heavier. Why was Nathan’s car sitting outside my house?
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