Tied with Me

Rob’s gaze slides to mine. “Seriously.”

“That’s right.”

“Fine.” He backs away, his hands up in surrender, but I can see anger and embarrassment in every line of his body. “See you around.”

“A former boyfriend?” Matt asks as he watches Rob’s retreating form.

“Used to,” I confirm and pay for my purchases. “I’m finished here.”

“Chocolate place next?” Matt asks.

“Yes, please.” I sigh in relief that Matt doesn’t press the subject of Rob as we exit the market and begin to climb the hill that leads up into the heart of downtown. This hill is a bitch.

“I hate this hill,” I grumble, earning a chuckle from Matt.

He links his fingers through mine and takes the bag out of my other hand, carrying both the fish and produce in his spare hand. “So tell me about that guy.”

“I was hoping that subject was closed.”

“It will be after you spill it.” He grins down at me, then places a kiss on my forehead. “Please.”

“He’s a guy I met in school. I went out with him once or twice, but he’s not really my type.”

“And that is?”

“Well, let’s just say Rob is pushy and selfish and really enjoys talking about his truck.”

Matt chuckles. “Yeah, I know the type.”

“So not someone I enjoy spending time with,” I assure him and shake my head. “I just stopped returning his calls. It wasn’t even worth telling him to go away, because we’d only gone out a couple times. There was no physical relationship. I just let it fizzle out.”

“But he seems to still be into you,” Matt comments.

“I guess. I don’t really care.” I wince and bite my lip. “That makes me sound like a bitch.”

“No, it makes you sound honest.” He pulls me to a stop on the hill, until I’m standing up higher on the hill than he is, making his eyes level with mine. He leans in and kisses my lips softly, cradling my cheek with his free hand. “His loss.”

“Let’s go get some chocolate.”

“Good idea. I might have a plan.” He winks and leads me into the decadent chocolate shop, Rob already a distant memory.

Chapter Six

“Oh my God, you really can cook.” I sit back in my chair and push my finished plate of poached salmon and salad away from me and sip my water, watching Matt across the table.

“You doubted me?” he asks with a raised brow.

“Not at all.” I shake my head and laugh. “I’m just offering you a compliment.”

He nods and stands to clear the table, and I join him. “You cooked, I’ll clean.”

“We can do this together,” he offers, but I shake my head adamantly.

“No way. You’ve been spoiling me all day. I can do this.” I take the plate from his hand and stand on my toes to kiss his warm cheek.

His eyes are soft and happy as he smiles at me. “Okay, while you do this, I’ll be in the bedroom.”

“Taking a nap?” I ask drily, earning a light pat on my ass.

“No, smart-ass. You’ll see.” He kisses my forehead and then leaves the room.

Matt is an excellent cook, but oh sweet Jesus, is he ever a messy one, too! My kitchen looks like a bomb went off in it, and he only poached fish and made a salad! Although, some of the mess is from breakfast, too, because we didn’t have time to clean up before we left for the day.

Which drives me nuts, because of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is the one I get a bit obsessive about.

I can’t help it.

So I dig in, loading the dishwasher, hand-washing what won’t fit and sanitizing the countertops. By the time I’m finished, the kitchen sparkles and smells like lemons, and I’m mortified to see that I’ve been cleaning for more than a half hour.

Some hostess I am.

I wander back to the bedroom to find Matt sitting in the chair by the window, reading something on his iPad.

On the way back from the market today, Matt stopped by his place to grab a change of clothes and a few of his things for another night away from home.

He’s lit a few of my candles and shut off the bright lights, giving the room a soft glow.

“I’m sorry I took so long,” I murmur and lean against the doorjamb, taking in the handsome man in my bedroom.

“I’m sorry I’m such a messy cook,” he responds with a wry grin. His eyes are warm as they travel down my body. He stands and walks slowly to me. “Your eyes look amazingly green in this candlelight.”

“Thanks,” I reply as my heartbeat speeds up.

He’s predatory now as he slowly crosses my bedroom to stand directly in front of me. He doesn’t touch me, not yet. He leans his forearm on the doorjamb above my head and kisses my forehead gently.

“I want to show you what I can do with my ropes tonight, little one.”

I pull in a deep breath and clench my thighs at the sudden pulse of electricity that just his simple words send through my core.

“You can always tell me to stop if it’s too overwhelming,” he reminds me tenderly, still not touching me.

He’s still wearing his soft gray T-shirt and faded blue jeans from today, and my fingers are itching to touch him before he immobilizes me. I push my hand under his shirt, over the tight skin of his abs. The muscles jump under my hand, and his jaw ticks as he watches me, letting me explore his skin.

“I just want to touch you for a minute,” I whisper softly.

He kisses my forehead again and then tips my chin back, watching me intently as my hands explore his belly and chest, under his shirt. I move my hand around his waist to his back and step close to him, wanting him to kiss me.

Finally, finally, he cradles my face in his hands and kisses me. Lazily but thoroughly, sweeping his lips over mine, nibbling at the side of my mouth and then sweeping across to the other side before sinking in and taking over, kissing me in that intense way that only Matt can.

He pulls away, takes my hands in his and leads me out of the doorway toward the bed.

“How do you feel, sweetheart?” he asks.

“Fine.”

He raises a brow, and I swallow, thinking about how my body feels. “Excited. Nervous.”

“Better,” he replies and tugs my top over my head.

He kisses my body as he disrobes me, brushes his fingertips over my skin, leaving me humming in anticipation of what’s to come.

When I’m completely nude, Matt scoops me up and lays me gently in the middle of the bed.