“It’s okay. Whoa. Whoa. Baby, why the tears? I’m here. You’re here. We’ll be married in a couple of days. That’s all that matters.”
“But my dress,” she sighs softly. “It was perfect.”
Skylar soothes Destiny the way only he knows how. “I would take you naked over that dress any day.”
Matt smirks. “I have to agree with Sky on this one.”
Destiny throws an amused scowl Matt’s way. “Very funny. What am I supposed to wear now?”
“We’ll figure something out,” Felicia offers hesitantly. All the bridesmaids would have to.
Destiny doesn’t look ready to talk to her just yet. “I need some time.”
Skylar nods his head and leads her away. “We’ll figure this out later.”
Felicia waits a minute before heading down the hall that leads to the main castle, where guests are already beginning to gather and ask questions. A manager frantically tends to the crowd as his eyes scatter across the room begging for assistance.
Matt can see Felicia’s condition crumbling with every shaky step. She drops one of her hands on his naked shoulder when he moves next to her and rests it there in a comforting gesture. Everyone seems to stare at them.
“What am I going to do? Destiny hates me. I have no clothes, nowhere to sleep.” She sounds like she’s been saving up ugly tears for this one.
Matt closes a hand around hers and pulls her aside. “You can stay in my room.” He doesn’t leave it open for debate, but she responds anyway.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Maybe I should just ask for another room.”
“You really don’t have that luxury right now. Haven’t you heard? The castle is at full capacity.” He softens when he sees her reaction.
“What about Jensen?”
He hates how tense she’s become. “He’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll figure it out. It looked like the castle staff was already on it.”
She watches him carefully, as she struggles with a decision.
“I promise to keep my hands to myself. Just a place to rest your head. That’s all I’m offering.” He says this, while sitting in his chair shirtless, flexing his chest and reminding her of his heroics back at the room.
Felicia spears him with a glacial glance. “How do I know I can trust you?”
He stares right back at her, melting her gaze with his renewed determination. “Have I failed you yet?” He knows she has no evidence to the contrary.
She turns her eyes to the floor and doesn’t answer. He doesn’t need an answer. Matt makes his way down the hall and she follows him silently. When he reaches his room, he unlocks his door, wheels himself inside and then spins back to warn Felicia.
“Last chance. Chateau à la Matty is closing in a matter of seconds: 3-2-1.”
He is only teasing, but it works like a charm. Felicia dashes inside his door and slouches next to him as he eases it closed. He reaches out and cups her cheek, momentarily forgetting that she has entered on the premise that he would not touch her.
“I promise you that everything will work out this time.”
Her voice is soft and tired. “Why, Matty? Because it always works out in the end?” She doesn’t sound convinced.
“No. Because I refuse to let you down ever again.”
Matt lifts himself from his chair with a groan. Relying on his cane, he turns down the bed. “You can take my bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Just the thought of getting onto the floor makes him groan. He settles into the parlor chair to rest his aching legs.
Felicia doesn’t move. “I won’t let you do that.”
Matt tilts his head toward her. “We don’t have many other options here.”
She folds her arms across that magnificent chest. “We’re two grown adults. We can share the bed.”
He looks her up and down. “Can we?” He’s never known a night where he’s shared a bed with a woman who he’s not successfully seduced.
She nods her head as she reaches under her shirt and unhooks her bra. He acts like he doesn’t notice, but it’s the only thing he’ll be thinking about for the remainder of the evening.
Felicia smirks before tip-toeing to the bathroom. “I’m going to catch a shower. I’m a mess.” She smears some soot across her cheek and smiles, then closes the bathroom door between them.
The entire time the water pounds against the tile floor in the shower he thinks about how glorious her body must look with the water running over every curve. While lost in his own dirty mind, his body surprises him with a gift he hasn’t experienced in many months. He laughs out loud when his body rises to attention. Has Felicia fixed him?
His erection doesn’t last long, but for that he’s glad. It’s something, a step in the right direction. But tonight, he’s promised to keep that weapon in its holster and he fully intends to keep that promise.
When Felicia returns from the bathroom, he’s still sitting, but he’s moved back to his wheelchair. Just the thought of getting on his feet again leaves splinters of pain sparkling through his legs like pins and needles. She appears next to his bed wearing nothing but a towel that barely covers her breasts. He gasps on a breath.
“I didn’t have anything to put on. Do you mind?”
He clears his throat, but his voice still sounds husky. “Right.”
Matt makes a visible effort to straighten his face, as he leans toward the dresser. He pulls open a drawer and withdraws two clean white shirts from it. He drops one on top of the dresser and tosses the other onto the bed for her.
“I’ll be right back.” He can’t take another second of seeing her like that. He heads to the bathroom and washes as quickly as he can without hurting himself. He returns to the bed with spiky, wet hair and a fresh spritz of cologne across his chest.
Matt parks his chair in front of the bed and pulls the clean shirt over his head. “I guess I should be wearing one of these too.”
He notices the way Felicia reacts to his body when she thinks he’s not looking.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” He smirks at her.
After rubbing a towel through her long, wet hair, Felicia kneels on the bed. “I’m sure. You can stay on your side and I’ll stay on mine.” She karate-chops the bed until there’s a visible line drawn in the sheets.
“Whoa. Remind me to stay on your good side.”
Felicia smiles at that. “Mind the line,” she warns teasingly.
Matt smirks again, trying not to harass her, but his eyes can’t ignore the razor sharp press of her nipples against the soft fabric of his t-shirt.
He forces himself to meet her eyes. “Which side of the bed is mine?”
She flips her hair over her shoulder and points across the bed. “The side I’m not on, obviously.”
He slides into place and fluffs his pillow before settling his head onto it. “Obviously.”
He can’t believe he’s sleeping with a woman, quite literally, and he can’t touch her. Especially this girl, who he’s thoroughly pleased in the past. They’re making history here.
Felicia climbs under the sheets with him. She combs her fingers through her luscious hair and piles it on top of her head. She starts talking about all that is wrong with her life, while he fights to keep his eyes off a pair of perfect tits showing through his rather see-through undershirt.
This will be a long night.
When it looks like Felicia’s about ready to fall asleep, Matt reaches across the bed and brushes the hair from his sleeping beauty’s eyes. He has a hard time not touching this angel. He fears if he falls asleep, she might disappear before he awakens. When his hand slides over the side of her face, her hand rests over his, holding him there. They lie like that for minutes, focusing on steady breaths and the positive energy that surrounds them.
It’s three in the morning when Matt realizes he isn’t going to get a single wink of sleep this night. Trying to rest even, with a sex goddess unconsciously throwing herself all ov
er him, is of no use. It had started with a long feminine leg wrapping over him; now she curls into his outstretched arm and her fingers find the trimmed patch of hair on his chest. He sighs softly.
Her touch would be soothing after a good lay, but when he’s wound up like he is, it’s dangerous. He’s so hard in his shorts that he’s surprised she doesn’t wake and tell him how ghastly he is. He carefully slides out from beneath her and tucks the blankets against her side. He sighs again as he watches the way the shadows play on her serene face and he feels his dick twitch uncomfortably.
He grabs a pair of jeans, his key, and his cane and slowly crosses the room to his wheelchair. It gets him quietly to the door. After the door clicks shut behind him, he pauses a moment, with his things still stacked on his lap. He doesn’t hear any motion on the other side. He sighs with relief and his body visibly relaxes—at least most of it does.
A maid, with dark hair and dreary eyes, catches him unawares. “Good evening, sir. Is there something I can help you with?”
He instantly blocks himself with the jeans, so she can’t see what a state she’s found him in. He is in complete and total shock, frozen in place in his underpants. He hadn’t expected to find anyone up at this hour.
She looks concerned at first, but quickly realizes why he’s so tense. He’s not wearing any pants.
The maid whispers apologetically. “I apologize, sir. Please be dressed.” She turns her head away to show some respect. “I was just finishing my rounds for the evening. This fire has everyone worked into quite a frenzy,” she admits softly.
Matt tries to make quick work of the jeans, but struggles with them. He relies heavily on his cane as he pulls up his pants, before resting again in the wheelchair. There’s no way he’s going to get that button fastened at this point, so he leaves the fly open with his white t-shirt hanging loose over his lap to disguise his predicament. He wheels a few feet away from his door, taking great care to be sure Felicia isn’t awakened when he speaks.
“How’s everyone handling the fire incident?”
“I’m sure everything will be back to normal by the time everyone else wakes in the morning. That leads me to another question, if you don’t mind me asking. What has you up at such an hour, sir?”
“Women.”
She glances through the quiet, shadowed halls and then smiles at him. “Come. The kitchen is always open.”
He nods his head appreciatively and follows the little old lady through the corridor to the main dining hall. He eases under the table as she pulls a few things together and carries them over to him.
“You’re hungry, I presume? A big, strong boy like you must eat often.”
Matt smiles. “I wasn’t. But now that I see this amazing dessert, I’m suddenly finding my hunger returning.”
When she smiles, every wrinkle works to manipulate her face. “You’re Mr. Knight, I would wager.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Matthew Knight. Brother of the groom.” He reaches out a hand and she shakes it firmly. “And you are?”
“Laurina. Pleased to meet you.”
When she slides a warmed plate in front of him, he finds himself opening up to her. “The pleasure is all mine.” He picks up a fork and scoops some whipped topping into his mouth.
“Trouble with the missus?” she asks.
He shakes his head. “I can’t sleep.”
“It’s an exciting time for everyone. The fire has been an unwelcome distraction. I’m sure it’ll all blow over in a couple of days.”
Matt continues to dig into the warm apple pie. “The women in the wedding party have lost everything. They have no clothes and, as I’m sure you’re aware, there’s only one more night before the wedding. I’m concerned about the bride and her bridesmaids. You wouldn’t happen to know a nice place in town where they might be able to find something suitable on short notice, would you?”
He watches Laurina mulling that over. “You know, I’m not sure that there is. Although . . .” She pauses thoughtfully. “There are trunks full of lovely old gowns in the attic. They haven’t been worn in decades, but they are certainly stunning. The Montgomery family wasn’t exactly shy about their wealth. Their gowns were most exquisite. I’m sure, under the circumstances, the owners would oblige your lady friends for the wedding.”
“Laurina. You’re a lifesaver.” Matt gobbles up the rest of the apple pie and backs away from the table. “I think I’ll sleep much better now. Thank you.”
She takes his dish and carries it to the sink. “Have a good evening, Mr. Knight.”
He nods thankfully before heading for the sleeping quarters. After he re-enters his room, he sits there quietly, waiting for Felicia to come to. When she doesn’t, he navigates through the dark room, leans his cane against a chair and lifts himself onto the foot of the bed. He pulls off his shirt and slides off his jeans, one leg at a time, leaving the clothes in a pile at his feet.
He’s paying for today’s extraneous activities. Both legs scream with a painful reminder that he isn’t whole just yet. A breath rushes from his lungs when he returns to his feet. He winces as he limps around the bed and takes over the small space Felicia’s left for him. His pillow seems to have disappeared.
It’s not until he slips beneath the covers and curls up behind Felicia that he realizes she’s sobbing, with his pillow squeezed tightly inside her arms. She’s asleep. Does she even realize she’s crying?
It’s probably about losing her gown. She was pretty torn up about that.
He pulls the corner of the blanket over his hip and inhales the fragrance of her hair. It smells like berries and smoke, even after its first wash. He wishes he could lie flat, but she’s taken up so much of the bed that there isn’t room for his broad shoulders to rest.
Felicia mumbles something unintelligible and he softly responds.
“Did you say something?”
She continues pouting and mumbling words that he’s sure mean something in her dreams. Then she gives him a glimmer into her soul.
“Matty!” she cries softly.
The pain in her voice is unnerving. His heart speeds up like he’s being chased. He eases closer to her and brushes the hair from her eyes. His finding only makes his heart throb harder. Tears streak her cheeks and her eyes are squeezed tightly shut.
Does she suffer nightmares like him?
The back of his fingers whisper across her face to brush off a tear. “Felicia. Wake up,” he whispers. “You’re having a bad dream.” He wants to shake her, to take her in his arms and tell her there’s nothing to be afraid of, but he’s made a promise. Wrapping her in his arms might go against her rules.
Felicia’s eyelashes flutter open, but her eyes look like bottomless black globes with emptiness behind them.
“Are you okay?” he asks, knowing she is likely still half asleep.
“I left you. I didn’t want to, but they made me go.”
He swallows hard, wondering whether she would remember this in the morning. “It’s okay, Felicia. Go back to sleep. Everything’s okay.”
She shakes her head softly. “It’s not okay.” She brings both her hands up to cup his face. “I wanted to see you. I wanted to be the one to make it okay. I couldn’t do it. I’m a horrible person. Tell me you forgive me.”
Her soft lips sink into his before he can bring himself to answer her. Their mouths melt together as one, until she slowly peels hers away. Her warm breath washes over his lips in steady bursts. She’s still very upset. He can’t even tell whether she’s fully awake or not.
“You were so broken,” she cries softly. “I would have pieced you back together myself if I had to.” Felicia’s lips close over his again and with another soft press of her mouth, all is lost.
Dangerous. Her hand slips between them and toys with the band at his waist.
Matt quickly catches her hand. “Wait.”
“I waited for so long. But you never called. I started to wonder if I had imagined the whole thing.”
Every word she speaks toys with his sanity. His heart, once strong, is suddenly feeling very weak. He wants to hold her and make it right, but he’s not about to take advantage of the situation. She’s emotional. She’s clearly suffered a terrible nightmare. She can’t even differentiate between dream and reality.
“You’ve had a long night. You will regret this in the morning.” He regrets that it is true, but the man he’s become is unwilling to best a woman for her unspoken love.
Felicia’s eyes slide shut and for a second he wonders if she’s passed out, but then she retrieves her hand from his and rolls onto her other side, giving him plenty of room to stretch out.
He takes the space, but gives in to the desire to stroke her and whisper, “Everything is okay now. Matty’s here. Go to sleep, Felicia. Everything will be back to normal in the morning.”
She sighs quietly and settles back against him. When his hand glides over her shoulder, she catches onto it and links their fingers together. She holds his hand over her heart and she curls forward until her breaths are rushing over their connected hands.
Although this position is nearly unbearable at first, Matt finds his body sinking into her curves and they both settle into a restful place. He closes his eyes knowing, for once, he’s going to find some sleep.
Chapter 14: Think About It
When Felicia wakes, she flashes in and out of a groggy state. It takes her a minute to place herself, until she notes that her cheek is melting into a warm, solid chest and her leg is drawn over a long, lean body. She snuggles a little closer, pressing her body provocatively against him, until it finally clicks and she realizes what she’s done. She jolts to a sitting position and fights to compose herself.
Matt is very awake, in every sense of the word. “Good morning. Sleep well?”
She scowls at him, as she tries to dig her way out from under the sheets. “Why didn’t you remind me not to do that?”
He looks incredibly handsome this morning, with his hair in wild disarray and his lips soft and dreamy. “Now why would I do that?”
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