by Cathryn Fox
“Matt,” Gran said, reaching out to him.
Taking her hand in his, he leaned over her. From the glassy look in her eyes, he could tell the pain meds had already been administered. “How are you feeling, Gran?”
“Like an old fool,” she said, and Matt smiled, happy to see she was still her feisty self. “I was reaching for the box of tissue and Dexter got under foot. It’s not his fault though. He just never likes to leave my side when I’m sick.”
A noise at the door had him glancing up to see two orderlies rolling in a gurney. Matt gave Gran’s hand a squeeze. “They’re taking you for surgery now, Gran. I’ll be here when you get out.”
“I need you to check on the cats,” she said.
“I will, don’t worry.”
He stood back as they transferred her to the other bed. Once she was situated, he gave her a kiss on the forehead. They rolled her into the hall and as she disappeared around the corner, he turned to the nurse. “How long will it take?”
“The doctor will be by to explain everything.” She waved her hand toward the door. “Come with me. I’ll get you settled in the lounge.”
He followed her down the hall to a lounge room with nice seating and a TV on the wall. Newspapers and magazines lined the coffee table, but there was no way he could focus enough to read. A man and woman, who looked to be in their late fifties, held hands as they sat staring at the TV and he could only assume they too were waiting for news on a loved one.
He paced until the doctor came by, and after he filled Matt in on the procedure, Matt dropped down into one of the chairs. Bracing his elbows on his knees he leaned forward and rested his forehead on his palms. He stayed in that position for a long time, until he heard his name.
He glanced up to see Sky rushing toward him.
“Sky, what are you doing here?” He looked past her shoulder to see Caleb walking behind her with a nurse at his side.
“Cole dropped us off. I came as soon as I heard.” She put her arms around him and gave him a hug.
He hugged her back, burying his face in her hair. “You didn’t have to come.”
“Of course I did. How is Gran?”
“She’s in surgery.”
“Hey,” Caleb said, putting his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “You okay?” Matt nodded. “Good, I’ll go see if I can find anything out.”
Caleb walked to the nursing station, and Matt turned his attention back to Sky. “She tripped on Dexter.”
Sky nodded. “She’s going to be, okay. I just know it.”
“I hate her being in that house alone.”
“She wants to keep her independence.”
“I should move in with her.”
Sky nodded again and reached for his hand. No words needed to be said, because she knew what the house meant to him, and what it didn’t. She tugged on him. “Let’s sit.” He closed both his hands over hers and just held her. Caleb came back with three paper cups filled with coffee and a handful of cream and sugar.
He handed them to Sky. “I wasn’t sure how you wanted it.” She gathered up the condiments and Caleb turned to Matt. “No news yet,” he said. “But that’s a good thing, Matt. I’m sure it’s a textbook surgery and Gran will be herself in no time at all.”
Matt nodded his appreciation and took a sip of his coffee while Sky doctored hers. They made small talk and stared at the TV for the next few hours, and when the doctor finally came to see him they all jumped to their feet.
“Matt,” the doctor said. “Your grandmother is doing just fine. Surgery went well and she is resting.”
Matt nearly sobbed with relief. “Can I see her?”
“No, she’ll be in recovery for some time. The best thing you can do is go home and get some rest. Come back tomorrow. You’ll be able to see her then.”
“I’ll just wait.”
“Come on, Matt,” Caleb said, being his voice of reason. “The best thing you can do for Gran is get some sleep. She’s not going to want you up all night worrying.”
“He’s right,” Sky said. “Let’s go home.”
He nodded and Sky put her arm around his waist as they made their way back to Caleb’s truck. He handed the keys over to Caleb and Sky shuffled into the middle between them. The streets were quiet this time of night, and he stifled a yawn as exhaustion pulled at him. When the vehicle stopped he looked down and that’s when he realized he’d been holding Sky’s hand this entire drive. She kept shooting glances his way and he finally looked at her.
“I’m okay,” he said.
She nodded as Caleb pulled up in front of the building instead of grabbing one of the guest parking spots.
“Aren’t you coming in?” Matt asked.
Caleb tapped the wheel. “I think I’m going to take off.”
Matt pulled open his door and slid from the truck. “It’s late. You’re tired. Just crash at my place.”
“I’m good,” Caleb said. Matt put his arm on the top of the open door, waiting for Sky. Caleb leaned into Sky and whispered something into her ear before dropping a kiss onto her cheek.
She nodded in response to whatever he’d said. “You sure you shouldn’t just sleep here?”
“I have rounds early tomorrow, and I’ll sleep better in my own bed. Keep me posted if you hear anything from Gran though.”
“Okay. I’ll text you.”
Sky followed Matt inside and up the stairs to their floor. He unlocked his door and she followed him inside.
He turned to her. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
“Of course. I wanted to be there for you and Gran.”
She really was the sweetest girl he knew. Her hand went to his hair and she pushed it from his face. He leaned into her, his emotions a hot fucking mess. The thought of losing Gran scared the living crap out of him, and as he looked at Sky now, he knew when she hooked up with Caleb, he was definitely going to lose her.
“Sky,” he murmured as she regarded him with wide eyes. With his nerves strung so tight, he knew she needed to go, otherwise he could very well snap, and end up doing something there would be no coming back from. “It’s late. You should go.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She put her arms around him again and hugged tight. With her face against his chest, she murmured, “I’m staying with you tonight.”
A groan caught in his throat, and due to his current mood, he knew he couldn’t have her close tonight, not without either going batshit crazy or helping himself to a small taste. With every intention of turning her around and pointing her toward the door, he gripped her shoulders and inched backward, putting a small measure of distance between them. She tilted her head to see him. Her mouth parted and confusion danced in her dark eyes as he shoved her away. Fuck, how could he possibly think straight when she looked at him like that? His fingers tightened on her shoulders and, as need ripped through him, he suddenly found himself drawing her back to him. Sure, there was a huge list of concrete reasons why being with her was wrong. Too bad he couldn’t remember a goddamn single one of them.
* * * * *
Ohmygod.
Matt was kissing her. His mouth was on hers, his lips moving urgently as his hands left her shoulders to slide down her back. He pulled her in tight, and she could feel his arousal against her stomach as his body pressed hard. A tremble moved through her despite the warmth in the room. Clearly she’d been without a man too long, otherwise she wouldn’t be acting this way…with Matt.
A moan filled the silence between them. She listened to it linger in the air, then drift away. Another moan sounded and that’s when she realized the sound was coming from her throat. In the dark of the night, without an audience, Matt was kissing her and she was the one moaning.
Her brain stalled, then raced to catch up. She should stop this. She really should. Clearly he was reaching out to her because his emotions were a hot mess, and this had to be some sort of reaction to the stress. But when his tongue slid inside to play with hers, so skilled and needy, her though
ts fragmented, focusing only on how sweet he tasted, how hard and hot his body felt pressed against her.
He angled his head and deepened the kiss, and as though moving of their own accord, her hands went around his sides. As she acknowledged the flare of desire between her legs, she grabbed his shirt and tugged, pulling it away from his body. This time the moan came from him. She slipped her hands under the soft cotton, loving the feel of his hard-packed muscles beneath her fingers. Her palms raced over his back, and a shudder moved through him.
Some small, working brain cell told her this wasn’t rational, or smart, but before she could listen to it, Matt picked her up and carried her to his room. He tossed her onto the unmade bed, caveman style, and she gasped when she caught the intensity in his gaze. They shared a long, heated look, one that caused her body to quiver from head to toe. Lust twisted inside her and she bit back a breathy moan.
Oh God, was this happening? Was this really happening? She opened her mouth to ask, but when a growl rumbled in Matt’s throat and he put a burning hand on her neck, running it all the way down to the apex between her legs, she went silent, knowing there was no way she could form a coherent sentence. His hand lingered between her thighs for a moment, then traveled back up her body. He caressed her skin, softly, barely touching, but at the same time making her so aware of him, and his hard body.
Good God, someone ought to stick a space-for-rent sign right on her forehead, because the feel of his fingers on her flesh had just killed her last working brain cell. With need ruling her actions, she met his glance and sucked in a sharp breath.
Looking dark, dangerous and wild—like he’d checked his gentlemanly ways at the door—he gripped the back of his shirt and peeled it over his head. Her sex fluttered in response, registering every little detail while she looked her fill, staring blatantly. Her perusal paused briefly on the hard outline straining against his jeans. A near-violent tremor moved though her as she took in his nakedness. He was so beautiful. How come she’d never noticed before?
Her gaze went back to his and his eyes burned into hers, igniting every nerve ending inside her. His jaw clenched and his nostrils flared as he closed the gap between them. He knelt on the bed and sexual tension flared between them. He fell over her and she bent her legs at the knees and widened them to accommodate his girth. He settled himself on top of her, and his weight pinned her to the bed. His lips crashed down on hers again, and he kissed her hard, possessively, his tongue demanding more—everything—as it slipped inside her mouth.
He took possession of her body, and as she looked at him it occurred to her this was no longer the Matt she knew. But that didn’t mean she disliked this side. She didn’t. Not by a long shot. Desperate to explore, she put her arms around his back and his muscles bunched beneath her touch. Exhaling a shallow breath, she continued her exploration as his mouth left hers. He buried his face in the hollow of her throat and shifted his weight, gripping both her arms to pin her hands over her head. He wrapped her fingers around the slats in his headboard.
“Keep them there,” he growled into her throat, his deep voice making her toes curl.
Oh God…
As heat flooded her sex and her body beckoned his touch, his hands tugged at her shirt, pushing it up over her bra. Without bothering to release the latch, he hauled the cups down to expose her breasts. A rich, decadent rumble filled the room and his warm breath fell over her bare skin as he sucked in air and let it out slowly.
“So beautiful.” He brushed the underside with rough fingers, then leaned in to draw one hard nipple into his mouth. Sky lifted her head to watch, but when he sucked hard, and then none-too-gently bit down, her head fell back onto the pillow. He brushed his tongue over her nipple, as if to soothe the sting left behind.
“So good,” she murmured.
His mouth went to her other nipple, giving it the same mind-numbing treatment until she lifted her hips, pressing her sex against him. She moved, grinding herself on the hard planes of his stomach, her body desperate for so much more.
His hands bit into her hips. “Stay still.”
She stopped moving—breathing—as he went all alpha on her, taking charge of their play…her body. His hand slipped between them and he fingered the button on her jeans before pushing it through the hole. The hiss of her zipper cut the silence and with her thoughts spiraling out of control, she rocked against him, conveying without words what she wanted.
Once again, his hand splayed over her stomach to still her, and when his eyes met hers they darkened to a color she’d never before seen. “Don’t worry,” he said, the depth of certainty in his voice arousing her even more. “I’ve got this.”
The promise she spotted backlighting his eyes had anticipation careening through her blood, and her body moistened all over. Her lids fell shut, a strangled moan catching in her throat as he slid down her body. He dropped a sprinkling of hot kisses onto her stomach, and she listened to his intake of breath, like he was breathing in the scent of her skin.
His mouth met her jeans, and she squirmed as he went back on his heels. He gripped the sides and tugged them down her legs, leaving her in her white lace panties. He tossed her clothes away, his tongue trailing back up her thighs as he squeezed her legs together—hard. Oh God, the force pinched her swollen clit and when she moaned, she was sure she heard a rumble of laughter in his throat—a clear sign that he knew exactly what he was doing. Blindsided by lust as he fed the intensity of her arousal, her lids flicked back open to find him looking at her.
With their eyes locked, he fingered the material on her panties, then ripped them clear from her hips. Her mouth formed a little O but no words came as he tossed the slip of material away. He angled his head, like he dared her to say something, but when she kept quiet his gaze dropped.
“Open for me,” he commanded, his voice dropping an octave.
She did as requested and he took a long time to stare at her sex, longer than was comfortable. She was about to cover herself when he reached out and parted her with his fingers, stroking all the way from bottom to top, nudging her clit along the way.
“How can you be so wet?” he murmured between clenched teeth, and briefly pinched his eyes shut as if he were in sweet agony. “I haven’t even touched you yet.”
Shivers skittered along her spine as he stroked her and when she writhed on the mattress, he gripped both legs and spread them even more. Leaning forward he pressed his mouth to her pubis. His lips were hot on her skin as he repositioned himself. He made a slow, skilled pass with his tongue, and that first sweet touch to her pussy had her hips coming off the bed.
“Yes,” she cried out, and held the slats tighter. He circled her clit with his tongue as he manipulated it with his thumb. It was the most delicious thing she’d ever felt. She tossed her head from side to side, her body trembling, her muscles tightening. Matt never swore around her but she was pretty sure he was mumbling curses from between her legs. His teeth clamped around her clit and she surrendered to the pleasure, wiggling beneath the play of his tongue as the tang of her arousal reached her nostrils.
He sucked harder, and her thoughts became a swirling vortex of need. “Please…” she begged even though she had no idea what she was begging for.
Moving with urgency, he pulled her hands from the slats and with little finesse he grabbed her by the hips and flipped her over. She gasped at his roughness, the forceful way he was taking charge. She might be a vanilla girl, one who’d never been taken like this before, but she couldn’t deny that she liked it. A lot.
The hairs on his arm tickled her sensitized skin as he slipped a hand around her waist to adjust her body. He lifted her slightly and stuffed a pillow under her stomach, tipping her ass up in the air toward him. Oh my! He lay over her and need flared between her legs as he pressed his hardness between her cheeks. His other hand went to the middle of her back. He dragged his fingers down her spine, going all the way to her bare backside. He cupped one cheek and then, taking her by
surprise, she felt his palm come down over her.
“Oh,” she cried out. Good God, Matt had just spanked her, and she liked it. A beat passed and then he did it again, sending ripples of sensual pleasure surging through her. His breathing changed, became harsher, and fueled by need she said, “Please…”
“Please what?”
She opened her mouth and closed it again, unable to keep a focused thought as he squeezed her cheek like it was pliable dough. She had no idea Matt was a man who took no prisoners in the bedroom and played by his own rules. Okay, maybe that wasn’t entirely true. Thanks to Kat she did have an inkling of an idea and, if she was being totally honest with herself, the thoughts of Matt and kink in the same sentence had intrigued her. Otherwise she might have put a stop to this while she still could. All along she believed stable and kind trumped wild, untamed sex, but holy hell this alpha take-charge attitude was messing with her body and her brain.
He put his hand between her legs and plunged a thick finger inside her. “Is this what you want?”
Her body convulsed and he gripped her around the waist to absorb her tremor. Since a reply was beyond her, she pinched her lips tight and reached out to grab the slats. That action seemed to do something to him because he suddenly went quiet, his finger stilling inside her.
Her body hummed with excitement and she waited for him to work his finger in and out of her, to ease the escalating tension, but no movement came. She nearly sobbed with want. Was he trying to kill her? Wanting—needing—more, she rocked against his finger, but stopped when she felt a palm come down over her ass. Yes! Her sex clenched hard, and Matt groaned.
“Don’t move,” he growled, giving her ass another hard whack before he cupped her cheek and squeezed. He pushed another finger inside and she buried her face in the sheets as he filled her.
Oh God, it felt so good.
She listened to his harsh breathing as he moved his fingers, drawing them all the way out only to plunge back in again. Tension built inside her, her body screaming for release. It was blissful torture. She wanted to push against him but didn’t dare move for fear of him stopping, but she soon found excitement in following his rules.