Page 33 of Prickly Pair
I just wanted Matthew to myself. I wanted him without any pressure or wild hopes that he would bethe oneor one of the ones.
Not that there was pressure on me to settle down, but I wanted it. I wanted the phase of my life where I woke up in the morning next to whoever I loved and we made breakfast and existed together. I wanted the mundane things like a cup of coffee together or doing laundry or holding hands while falling asleep.
Matthew pulled into a driveway of a tiny blue house that was so close to the hospital, I could see the glow of the lights in the night sky. I reached for my door handle but he made a noise, leaning over me and opening it before I did.
“Are you always going to do that?” I asked.
“Yep.”
He held my gaze, and my stomach jumped with excitement.
It was too soon to say I was in love with him, obviously—but maybe I was anyway.
“Are you sure you want this?” he murmured.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m absolutely sure.”
I slid my fingers through his beard, cupping his jaw as I kissed him hard. His lips were so soft and inviting, and I kept kissing him until he melted against me, a moan leaving him. Desperation flared through me as he circled his fingers around my wrist and tightened, holding my palm against his face. His eyes closed, and I smiled to myself, studying the way his dark lashes feathered out.
His forehead pressed against mine, his lips brushing my mouth again. He deepened the kiss until I felt a throbbing between my thighs, my arms winding around his neck.
I needed to be out of this car and in his bed.
“Wine after?” I rasped.
“I was going to seduce you.”
“You don’t need to do that,” I protested. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been wet since you showed up on my doorstep.”
He chuckled and stole one more kiss. “You can never be too wet, and you deserve to be seduced. Come inside, Evie.”
The two of us got out of the car and were through his front door in a blink. I put my things down, we took off our shoes, and his fingers tangled with mine as he led me to his living room. He flipped on a light and I paused in the doorway, grinning as I looked around.
“Matthew, you’re a complete nerd,” I exclaimed.
He offered a slightly embarrassed smile. “Maybe. I try not to mention my hobbies too much.”
I shook my head. “I want to hear all about them.”
He had at least three floor-to-ceiling shelves with books, all aboutMagic: The GatheringandDungeons & Dragons. Heavy fantasy books with gilded spines. Figurines he’d undoubtedly painted himself. I kept grinning as I got closer, inspecting some of the tiny creatures. Goblins, maybe? I wasn’t really sure. I’d never played games like this.
“Expensive hobbies,” he said as he rocked on his heels. “Pretty much why I need a doctor’s salary.”
“Can I pick up the figurines?”
He hovered closer. “Yes, but just be careful with the ones that are propped up.”
“Yes, sir.”
Matthew lingered close by as I picked up a tiny purple dragon. “I’m going to grab some of the wine and fruit.”
I glanced back and smiled as he went to the kitchen that adjoined the living room. My eyes wandered around the room and landed on the giant TV with the console underneath. He had many video games, too. I couldn’t stop smiling as I put the tiny dragon back and wandered past the shelves, looking them up and down.
I needed to get back into reading. I went through a phase where I listened to audiobooks while at the bakery, but one day, my bluetooth disconnected and I blasted a threesome at full volume to a couple of elderly women visiting from out of town. I hadn’t seen them again since.
Glasses clinked from the kitchen and I heard the pop of a cork. A couple minutes later, Matthew returned with a tray of berries and two glasses of wine. He set them down on the coffee table in the middle of the room and held out his hand. I went to him and took a seat, letting him pull me close.
“You’re too cute,” I whispered. “I don’t know what I’m going to do about you. Tonight has been perfect.”
