Page 124 of Lovers' Dance

“I think I’ll need help getting to my feet,” I mumbled. “Everywhere aches.”

Matt stopped kissing my neck at once, leaning back to cup my face. I had no choice but to look at him.

“Are you hurt?” He sounded worried. “Bollocks. Did I hurt you badly, poppet?”

I shook my head. I was sore, extremely sore, but it was a good kind of sore. And I needed to pee. “Help me up, please? I need the bathroom.”

Gently Matt got us to our feet and, when I leaned heavily against him, he immediately lifted me up into his arms cradling me like a child.

“You’re so tiny and I’m such an arse,” Matt muttered. “I shouldn’t have lost control like that.”

“It’s fine, hon,” I assured him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Eww, I smell bad.”

Matt chuckled, but his face still held traces of worry and self-reproach. “You smell good, poppet. Good enough to eat.” He had started walking us towards the bedroom door, but he stopped and eyed the bed.

“Don’t even,” I warned. “I’m stinky; so are you.”

I could see him deliberating it in his mind. I tugged his ear and shook my head. Matt resumed his journey to the door. He held me against his chest while fumbling with the door handle until it swung open.

“You’re so strong, Matt,” I mused, wanting him to lose that expression on his face. It made it worse.

“I hurt you, didn’t I?” he asked quietly as he walked down the hall to the bathroom.

“Don’t be silly. I meant it in a good way. I like the fact you’re strong.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “Strong and manly, like Popeye.”

Matt used his foot to push the bathroom door open. “Popeye? That’s not really a compliment is it, Madi?”

I giggled, glad he was frowning at me instead of looking guilty. “I’m Popeye, the sailor man—toot toot—I live in a—”

“You can’t sing, poppet,” he advised me dryly.

Forty-five minutes later we were downstairs in the kitchen, both showered and dressed for our respective day of work.

“I was hoping on having a lazy morning with you,” Matt said as he poured me a cup of tea.

“I can’t, hon.” I smiled a thank you and buttered a slice of toast for him before handing it over. “I’ve got so much on today.”

“What about lunch later then, poppet?” he asked.

“Can’t, sorry. I have a lunch meeting.” I was thinking about my conversation with Grumps. In the cold light of morning, staring across the table at Matt, I realized that his grandfather might have been right. I hated admitting it to myself.

“With whom?” Matt asked pleasantly, but he had a weird look on his face.Huh, go figure.

“One of my dad’s old friends. He’s a lawyer.” I took a few sips of tea with Matt staring expectantly at me.

“And?” He pressed in that bossy tone of his.

“And nothing. He helps out sometimes with our shows—”

“Helps out how?” Matt interrupted.

I frowned at him. “What’s up with you, Matt?”

Matt smiled suddenly. “Nothing, poppet. I’m disappointed we can’t spend this morning together and you’re too busy for a lunch date. You look lovely, by the way.”

I glanced down at my suit. Yeah, I did look nice.

“We’ll go out tonight,” Matt decided. “On a date.”

---