by Cathryn Fox
Chapter Six
“Matt?”
In the boat’s dark sleeping quarters, Matt rolled on the mattress to face her.
“Yeah?” he whispered, his voice sounding a bit hoarse.
Sky pushed off the bottom step and moved closer to his bed. “You awake?”
“I am now.”
She listened to the sound of him rubbing his hands through his hair as she plunked herself on the edge of the mattress next to him. The warm, earthy scent of his skin reached her nose.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded, even though he likely couldn’t see it. “Kat kicked me out.”
He rustled around and flicked on the small lamp on the wall near the head of the bed. They both blinked against the brightness. “What are you talking about?”
“She said in order to make this really believable, I’d have to spend the night here with you. I flat-out refused, but then she started coughing. She told me she was coming down with a cold, and that I was welcome to share the bed with her if I wanted to catch it. I’m pretty sure she was lying.”
He went up on one elbow and the single sheet covering him fell to his waist. Her gaze dropped to his naked chest and lingered there. Oh my. When had he gotten so buff? Her fingers went to her lips, which still tingled from the kiss he’d given her earlier that day. When her glance went back to his face, she wondered if he knew she was checking him out.
“You can take the bed,” he said and started to climb out.
She put her hand on his chest to stop him, but almost lost focus when her fingers met with packed muscle and a strong heartbeat. “No. I’ll sleep in the chair. I just wanted to let you know I was here.”
That earned her a scowl. “You’re not taking the chair.”
“You’re not taking it either,” she countered.
“Then come here.”
Before she realized what he was doing, he had his arm around her and hauled her into bed beside him. “It’s not like we haven’t slept in the same bed together before,” he grouched, still sounding half-asleep.
“That’s true,” she murmured as the warmth of his body enveloped her.
He grabbed the blankets and pulled them over her, then switched off the light. “Then get some sleep,” he mumbled and turned his back to her.
She settled in next to him, her back pressed against his. Curling up tighter, she listened to his soft breathing but couldn’t quiet her mind down enough to sleep. After the heated kiss that totally took her by surprise—and oh what a kiss it was—everyone went on with their day as usual. She joined the girls for a little sunbathing, while the guys kicked back and relaxed on the dock. After dinner, but before the bonfire, she’d caught Matt and Caleb talking privately and was dying to know what was said. She did however notice the curious glances Caleb kept casting her way.
“Matt?”
“Hmm.”
“What did you say to Caleb?”
A beat of silence and then, “I told him I was interested in you.”
“What did he say?”
“It really threw him at first.”
“And then?”
“And then I told him to take a good look at you.”
“I did notice him looking.”
Matt shifted on the mattress and she turned to face him. With her eyes adjusted to the dark, she took in his profile as he stared at the ceiling, his hands behind his head. “Yeah, he was looking all right.”
A little bubble of excitement welled up inside her. “I told you this would work.”
He went quiet for a moment, then, like he’d done when they shared a bed before, pulled her onto his chest. “You were right. Now let’s get some sleep.”
His hand fell from her shoulder to stroke a tender caress over her arm, and she wondered if he even realized he was doing it. Regardless, she knew, and suddenly so did her body. Warm shivers traveled all the way to her toes, and when she quivered, he adjusted the blankets over her and pulled her in tighter.
She settled in next to him and breathed in the scent of his skin as she listened to his strong heartbeat. Soon sleep pulled at her and when she woke, she found herself in the exact same position. She tilted her head to find Matt looking at her.
“Morning,” she said, then stretched out. “You been awake long?”
“Not long.”
The sound of the others packing up reached her ears. “I guess everyone is getting ready to head back.”
“Yeah, Caleb needs to get back early, and I really need to hit the books.”
“I work a shift tonight too.” She slipped from the bed and Matt stood up behind her. He brushed up against her in the small quarters, and she felt something push into the small of her back. Wait, that wasn’t…was it?
She was about to turn and check, but he darted into the bathroom. Shrugging it off as nothing more than a guy’s early-morning erection, she smoothed her hair back and adjusted her shorts and T-shirt, which still smelled like smoke from the fire last night. After Matt came from the bathroom, she slipped in behind him, and listened to him dig around in his duffle bag. She came out to find him dressed.
“All set?” he asked, giving her a whack on her ass to set her in motion. The feel of his hard palm on her soft backside went right through her, eliciting a shudder and sending her thoughts in an erotic direction. She blew her hair from her face and bit back a breathy moan as she pictured Matt’s hard body on top of hers, doing delicious, naughty things with his hands. She gulped. Why the hell was she suddenly thinking about sex—and with Matt? It was a friendly tap, not a sexual one, and he’d slapped her ass numerous times before. Never had she conjured up such naughty images because of it. She was sure Kat was to blame for all this. Planting naughty ideas in her mind, then offering her a lick of icing to make them bloom.
“Move it,” he said, giving her another slap.
She hurried off the boat and Matt followed her. The others were all busy packing up, paying little attention to them this morning. She’d heard the guys ribbing Matt last night after their kiss, but other than that, nothing. Kat was right. No one seemed that shocked. Well, with the exception of Caleb. The others were either too self absorbed in their own relationships, or had, on some level, expected a relationship to eventually happen between her and Matt. Probably because they were always together and her friends were working under the assumptions that guys and girls couldn’t just be friends without something…happening.
After gathering her gear and packing her car, she drove back to the city with Kat. Tallulah went with her husband in his vehicle. Kat grilled her the whole way home, but Sky had nothing to spill. She simply slept in the same bed as Matt. Honestly, she was not going to have sex with him, no matter how desperate Kat was to live vicariously through her.
She dropped Kat off at her place, which was the apartment building across the street from hers, and parked her car in her assigned spot, next to Matt’s motorcycle. She dashed inside to get changed. She climbed the three flights of stairs to her apartment. It wasn’t a great place, and certainly not where she wanted to raise a family, but it would do in the interim, and Matt lived directly across the hall from her, which she loved. She stepped up to his door and knocked to see if he was there or had run to check on his Gran. When no answer came she hurried inside her place, took a quick shower, then headed to Sky Bar. She slipped in through the back door and found Matt behind the bar, filling a carafe of beer.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Sky asked as she tucked her purse under the bar and grabbed her apron.
“Marco wanted to leave early. It’s his kid’s birthday, so I took over.”
“You’re not scheduled for tonight.”
“No, but I didn’t mind filling in until you got here. It’s pretty quiet.”
She pointed to his books on the counter. “Go. Study. I got this.”
“Actually, I have to check on Gran.” He pulled the cloth off his shoulder and draped it over hers. “I didn’t get a chance to
see her since I got back.”
She shooed him away. “Okay, go.”
He looked around the near-empty bar, and when she saw a flash of something in his eyes she followed his gaze to find Simon and three of his buddies all sitting around one table drinking. Simon was a hard character with a foul mouth. Single, mid-thirties, he usually came here on the weekends with his friends. He was a big guy, a poster boy for “all brawn and no brain”. He liked to throw his weight around by picking fights, but the army guys who hung out at Sky Bar mostly ignored him.
“I’ll be back before lock up.”
“It’s okay, go spend some time with Gran. I can lock up. I’ll meet you at the apartment later.”
Matt left through the back door and she brought the carafe over to Simon and his crew. “I take it this is for you.”
“Yeah, put it on my tab, sweetheart,” he said, his lecherous gaze sweeping the length of her.
She cringed inwardly, feeling the need for another shower, but tried not to show a reaction in front of them. “That tab is getting mighty long,” she said with a smile.
The guys all laughed and she turned to go. She felt something brush against her backside, and sucked in a quick breath, ready to throw Simon out on his ass.
She turned back around, but the guys were ignoring her. Someone had touched her, of that she was sure, but with them all pretending otherwise, she had no idea who to call on it. Plus, getting into an altercation with these guys with no soldiers here to back her up probably wasn’t wise.
“That will be the last one tonight, boys. I’m locking up early,” she lied, wanting them out of there.
Walking back to the bar, she saw the kitchen staff out and poured herself a soda. Pulling out the small stool she kept behind the counter, she plunked herself down. She grabbed the notepad she kept in her apron, and thinking more about her agreement with Matt, and how he wanted her to write, she began jotting down notes. Soon enough she was lost in her own thoughts, and visions of Caleb as her hero in the story raced through her mind.
A tap on the bar top caught her attention and she stole a quick glance at her watch before her eyes met Simon’s. Unease moved through her as she stood, noting that the bar was now empty, save for her and Simon.
“What can I do for you?” she asked.
“I want to pay my tab, sweetheart.”
“Oh, okay.” She grabbed her iPad and pulled up his bill. She printed it off and handed it to him. He pulled a stack of cash from his front pocket and started slapping the bills on the counter.
“So you say you’re locking up early?”
“That’s right. The place is empty. No need to keep it open.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she tried to get them back, wishing she hadn’t reminded him that it was just the two of them there.
He looked over his shoulder and wore a crooked grin when he turned back her way. “It is empty, isn’t it?” The music on her dad’s old jukebox changed, and a slow song came on.
“So how about a dance.” Hand out palm up, he started around the bar toward her and she backed up.
“I don’t dance with customers.” She pointed in the opposite direction. “And it’s time to go. Matt will be here in a second to lock up.”
He momentarily stopped at the mention of Matt. “Fine then. Let’s get out of here. Go somewhere where we can have some fun.”
“That won’t be happening.” She backed up a few more inches and reached under the bar in search of the bat she kept there. One more step toward her and he’d be getting it over the head.
“Come on. I see the way you look at me.”
“You must be mistaken.” Her fingers closed over the wood and she shifted in her hands for a better grip. “I have a boyfriend and it’s time for you to leave.”
“Come on, baby. I’ll show you a real good time. I bet I can make you moan louder than that bookworm of yours.”
“Simon,” she began, pulling the bat out and bracing it on her shoulder. She was about to take a good hard swing and hope for the best, but before she had the chance a voice sounded from behind Simon and stopped her cold.
“I believe the lady said it’s time to leave.”
Simon spun around to find Matt hovering close. Relief moved through her but it was short lived when Simon laughed. From the look on Matt’s face, however, this was no laughing matter.
“Who’s going to make me?” Simon said.
“I am.”
Matt moved so fast, Simon had no time to react, and when the crack of bone reached her ears, she pulled her cell from her back pocket. As the two men dueled it out, the fight spilled into the lounge area, and she called Garrett.
A chair skidded across the room as Matt threw himself at Simon, sending him crashing onto one of the tables. He gripped Simon by the front of his shirt and repeatedly punched him in the face. Her stomach turned inside out and it occurred to her that she’d never seen Matt like this. A chorus of violent sounds as fists hit and bones crunched filled the air. Good God, if he didn’t stop he was going to kill Simon. She was about to scream at him when he finally pulled back. Simon groaned and rolled off the tabletop, falling to the floor with a loud thud. As he lay there moaning, Matt rushed to her. Blue eyes full of worry searched hers as he framed her face with his hands.
He ran his thumbs over her cheeks and assessed her. Hands that were violent moments ago were now tender as they brushed her face. “Sky, are you okay?”
“I thought you were going to kill him,” she whispered, her heart still pounding hard.
“I would have.” He pressed his forehead to hers and sucked in a quick breath. “If he had hurt you, I would have, Sky.”
She nodded and her voice came out a bit shaky when she tried to reassure him. “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.” Her hands shook as she placed the bat on the bar and, trying to lighten the mood, said, “Besides, I was ready with this.”
“I’m so sorry,” he rushed out, his response different than what she expected. He ran his hands through her hair, and drew her face to his chest, holding her so tight it was almost difficult to breathe. “I should have been here sooner. Actually, I never should have left you alone with him here. What was I thinking?”
“I told you to go, remember?” Even though she wasn’t cold, she couldn’t seem to keep her body from shaking. Okay, maybe the incident had frightened her more than she realized.
Matt cupped her face again and looked into her eyes. “He’ll never step foot in this place again. You have my word on that.”
“Okay,” she croaked out.
“I need to call Garrett.”
“I already did.”
He gave her a smile. “That’s my girl,” he murmured. Simon continued to roll around on the floor as he held her. She stayed in his arms until sirens could be heard. Garrett and his partner came through the front door, and after speaking with Matt and Sky, he left, taking Simon with him.
Matt turned to her. “Let’s get you home.”
“Okay.” She grabbed her purse, not about to protest and then noticed the cuts on his hands. “You’re hurt.”
He looked at his knuckles. “I’m okay.”
“I have bandages at home.”
Matt put his arm around her and walked her out the back door. The wind had picked up and clouds covered the night sky. A drop of cold rain hit her forehead and she shivered.
Matt quickened his steps. “We better hurry.”
They turned the corner to walk the two blocks to their building but couldn’t make it there before the skies opened up. The rain fell hard and they both took off running. Matt swiped his key and opened the building’s front security door and they rushed inside. They hurried up the steps and when they reached their landing, Matt stood next to her, his back practically pressed against her chest.
For a second she wondered why he was following her into her place. They hung out often, for sure, but he was soaking wet and needed to get changed.
“Oh, right, your knuckles,” she
said as understanding dawned.
“I’m not leaving you alone tonight, Sky,” he said, and something in his voice, something dark and protective, sent shivers skidding through her. “You’re still shaking.”
She opened her mouth to protest, after all she was a grown woman, but when she glanced over her shoulder to see him, the look in his eyes told her not to waste her breath.
“Open the door,” he commanded and put his hand on it, fingers splayed.
She slipped her key in and turned the knob. Matt pushed it open and ushered her in. “I’ll get those bandages,” she murmured, her voice almost unrecognizable.
“Forget about the bandages.” His gaze went from the top of her dripping hair to her wet shoes. “Go get into something dry.” She took in the intense look on his face and wondered what the hell was going on with him—with her—as she darted to her room. Ever since they were kids Matt had been protective of those he cared about, but she’d never seen him in total alpha mode quite like this before. It was…different. But not in a bad way.
Pulling a pair of pajama pants from her dresser and a clean T-shirt that used to be Matt’s until he shrank it in the wash, she walked back down the hall. The sound of a spoon clinking had her turning into her kitchen, and she found Matt standing over the kettle, pouring sugar into a teacup.
His wet shirt clung to him, showcasing broad shoulders and thick muscles. Her glance drifted downward, to jeans that hung low, but fit so nicely, especially around the ass area. A strange, strangled noise sounded in her throat, and there was nothing she could do to swallow it down. Matt turned to her.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” she croaked out.
“I made you tea. Chamomile, no caffeine, a dash of sugar.”
“Mmm, my favorite.”
He poured the water into her cup, stirred it and handed it over.
She took a sip and said, “There’s a beer in the fridge if you want it.”
He pulled open the door, and, unable to help herself, she took another long look at his backside as he bent over. He’d always been well-built and strong, but how come she never noticed how… Her thoughts halted as she searched for the right word. Hot. Yeah, hot was the word. How come she never noticed how hot he was before?