Page 37 of Watch Her Bleed
“You didn’t ask for any of this,” I say.
“Neither did you.”
“I am essentially a stranger, Matt,” I say, looking over at him.
“You don’t feel like a stranger,” he says with a soft smile.
“Stop smiling at me like that,” I frown.
“Why?” he asks with a chuckle.
“Because it makes my insides melt,” I laugh.
“Ah, it’s working then.”
“What’s working?”
“My charm, of course,” he grins. “Soon, you’ll fall madly in love with me and I’ll get to keep you forever.”
“I don’t know if you want me and my drama forever, Matt,” I say.
“Oh, but I do. I want to be the light at the end of a very long tunnel of darkness. I want it to be me and Kaia that pull you out of that place.”
“I get attached to people who care,” I say.
“You’ve already felt me up, what’s a little attachment to go with it?” he jokes.
“Funny,” I say as I open the door. He chuckles and we get out of the car.
“We must have beat them all here,” Matt says as he unlocks his door. When he steps in I catch myself hesitating to go in. “We can wait outside if you prefer.”
“No. No, it’s fine,” I say as I shake myself out of that fear and walk in behind him. “I know you won’t hurt me.”
“Come sit,” he says as he sits on the couch after turning a lamp on.
“Your house is beautiful,” I say as I sit beside him on the sectional couch.
“Thank you,” he says. I turn on the couch to face him.
“You make me feel safe,” I admit.
“I’m glad,” he says as he gently strokes my hair, brushing a few pieces out of my face in the process. I close my eyes and lean into his comfort. It’s not often I feel relaxed like this. “What’s on your mind?”
I know what I’m thinking, but it scares me. The more he has his hands on me, the more I want him to touch me. Maybe it’s a trauma response again, but I just want to feel cared for for once.
“Hmm?” he asks.
“It’s dumb,” I admit with a smirk.
“I doubt that. What is it?”
“You,” I admit.
“What about me?” he asks, still stroking my hair. It feels so good for him to have his hand on me, even if it is innocent.
“It just feels nice to have you touch me,” I say.
“Oh?”
