“You’re right. I want to see that.”
She laughs, and it’s such a sweet sound. “How? How are you horny when you’rethissick? Save your energy, get better, and then maybe we can talk about mud wrestling.”
“Or we could talk about it now, and then I can just die happy,” I grumble. Chelsea chuckles and strokes my hair. It feels so good. I close my eyes and enjoy it. My muscles grow heavy, sleep threatening to pull me back under.
“Maybe we should get you home…” Chelsea lays a hand over my chest, and my heart thunders. “You’d be more comfortable in bed.”
“I’ll go, but only if you come with me,” I say, cracking an eye open. I really don’t want to move. I’ve spent plenty of nights on this couch, but the thought of having her in my home is too tempting. I’d move for that.
“Seriously?” She laughs. “I think we’re past the point of you having to trick me into spending time with you.”
I open both eyes for that. “Oh, yeah? When did that happen?”
“Last week in the limo, you dork. I agreed to go on a date with you, free and clear.”
“Ah… I thought that was just because I went down on you.”
Chelsea squawks and smacks my chest. “You’re terrible!”
I catch her hand and bring it to my lips, kissing her knuckles. “But you like it.”
Chelsea stares into my eyes for so long, I start counting her heartbeats as her pulse races in her wrist. “Yeah,” she finally admits. “I do. I like you. A lot. I didn’t want to like you, you know.”
“I know,” I chuckle. “And I’m sorry I’m so irresistible.” I sit up, my sinuses pounding with my heartbeat, but if she’s coming with me, I’ll go anywhere.
12
CHELSEA
Iwake to the sound of running water, and for a second, I’m afraid a pipe burst in my apartment again. But then I realize I’m not in my bed. No, this is much,muchmore comfortable than my creaky mattress. I’m alone, but the other half of the bed is turned back, clearly slept in. Morning light filters through white curtains, and I stretch happily as I fit the sleep-hazed pieces of my night together. I drove Matt home and, as promised, I stayed. I laid next to him, still wearing my dress, until he fell asleep.
Matt slept like the dead, but I lay awake, listening to the sound of his breathing and soaking in the warmth of his skin. He held me in his arms, his fingers occasionally twitching in his sleep. It felt so good to just be near him—even if he was in a cough-medicine-induced coma—that I didn’t want to miss a single second of it.
I fought sleep for as long as I could, and somewhere around one in the morning, I came to the conclusion that I never wanted to sleep without him next to me again. He makes my heart pound just by looking at me. His smile makes my soul sing. The sound of his voice melts my panties. And god, his heart. I’ve never met a man so warm and open. So generous and kind. Iwanthim. And as scary as it is to admit that, I’m all in.
The water shuts off from somewhere in the house. A minute later, a door opens, steam spilling into the room. Matt grins at me from the door frame, a white towel slung low around his hips. Beads of water glisten on his golden skin, trailing down the dips in his muscles until they’re lost to the towel. My mouth waters at the sight of him, heat stirring in my belly. Holy shit. I mean, I knew the man was in good shape; he wears clothes like a god. But this…
“You’re up,” he says, a devilishly handsome smile spreading over his face.
“I am…” I sit and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, patting my hair, and let out a soft chuckle. “A little worse for wear, maybe.”Unlike some people.Looking at him today, you’d never have guessed he was sick yesterday. The man must have the immune system of a horse. “You look like you feel better.”
“I do feel better. Much better. And you look perfect to me.” Matt grins, sauntering toward me in that towel. One good yank and that thing could be on the floor… my finger itch to do it, but I hold back.
“I doubt that, but thank you,” I laugh. Matt stands in front of me and leans down. He cups my face in his hands and kisses me sweetly.
“You look perfect to me,” he repeats, kissing me between each word. “I’m crazy for you. I know how that sounds, but you had me wrapped around your finger from the first second I saw you and every second after that, you’ve tightened your hold over me.”
This, I think.This is what I’ve been waiting for. This man.
I place my hands around the back of his biceps and tug him toward me. “Come here,” I whisper against his lips. Matt’s eyes search mine. For what, I have no clue, but whatever it is he’s looking for, he seems satisfied as he leans over me, bracing his palm on the mattress. I lean back on my elbows as he comes over me, his lips brushing over mine in the barest hint of a kiss.
“This what you had in mind?” he asks.
“Almost,” I whisper back, placing my hands around the back of his neck. My fingers slip, their path slicked by the water still dotting his skin. “Except I think you need to lose the towel.”
Matt deepens the kiss and wraps an arm around my back. He hauls me farther onto the bed in one powerful move, his warm weight settling on top of me. Droplets of water soak through my dress, creating little pinpoints of friction and sensation. His hand, so broad it feels almost superhuman, moves over my back in a passionate caress. He pulls me against him like he can’t get close enough.
I part my lips, and Matt groans, his tongue tangling with mine. He claims my mouth, deepening the kiss until I can’t tell where I end and he begins. He surrounds me, blocking out the rest of the world until he’s all I can see. My head swims, a coil of lust and need tightening around me like a boa constrictor.