Page 168 of Lovers' Dance

“Poppet,” Matt said from the doorway. How long had he been standing there?

I choked, spluttering beer down my mouth and chin. Shit.

He closed the door behind him and walked over as I clumsily wiped my face. God. I didn’t need another dose of his cold reprimands.

“Please, Matt. I don’t want to know how irresponsible I’m acting—”

“I wasn’t going to say that, Madi,” he interrupted quietly. “I don’t want to fight anymore, not today, not with you.”

“Me neither.” I observed him suspiciously. “What were you going to say then?”

He gave me a strained smile and reached for my messy curls. “Your hair is wild today.”

Instinctively, I reached up with my free hand to try and smooth it back. Matt stopped me.

“I like it, poppet.”

I snorted in disbelief and his smile stretched even further. He leaned down and pressed the softest of kisses over my lips.

“Happy birthday.” A kiss on the corner of my lips. “I love you.” Another kiss, this time across my cheek. “And I’m taking the next few days off work.” His mouth brushed over my temple. “So you’re not alone in this.” He found my lips again, slowly exploring the inner crevices of my mouth until I was moaning softly with pent up desire. Those chaste kisses after our dates were all well and good, but this was what I needed. His warm, sensuous lips masterfully claiming mine. I really needed this. The can of beer slipped from my fingers and fell with a little clink, spilling over my kitchen floor and rolling away. I snaked my hands up Matt’s chest, over his shoulders, until they ended up threading through his silky hair. Matt groaned and wrapped his arms around me before hoisting me up on the counter. God. I missed this. Of their own accord my legs wrapped around him and, when he pressed his lower body against me, the noises coming from us became desperate.

I pulled away from his consuming kiss, breathless and shaky. “Are we still doing this dating crap?”

Matt looked at me, bottom lip caught between his perfect teeth. “Yes.”

I groaned in frustration and arched my body against his. Matt’s eyes slipped closed for a moment before he opened them. The lust spilling out of his eyes tore a whimper from my throat.

“Can we have sex, Matt?”

He licked his lips. “Yes.”

I was unbuttoning his shirt. The moment his tongue had made an appearance, the impulses coming from my brain to my hands were: Get him naked.

His hand covered mine. “Not now, poppet. We’ve got a house full of guests, and the things I want to do to you…” He inhaled roughly. “We need to be alone for me to make love to you the way I need to.”

Hot damn. The man had a way with words, but he did have a point. I sighed loudly, pressed up to his muscly goodness and aching. Only Matt could make me ache like this.

But I needed to address his previous comment. “Fine, I’ll wait until we’re alone so you can—”

“Shag you senseless, poppet,” he finished huskily.

Another shiver ran through me and my heart started racing, a medically worrying level of racing. This had to be bad for my health. No organ should be subjected to that level of activity. I inhaled deeply to calm my body down, then said, “I don’t want you taking time off work, Matt. You’re busy and it’s not necessary. I’ll be fine.”

He pulled back slightly to look at me square on. “Madi.”

“Matt, I’ll be fine. My friends are here.”

“Aren’t they flying back to the States tomorrow?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Dante’s got my back. Look, don’t worry about me. I’m sor—” I paused, the apology for the drama earlier on the tip of my tongue. “You apologize first, then I will.”

Matt gave me a bemused smile. “Why am I apologizing, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I shot him a sarcastic look and he winked at me. He slipped a hand under the edge of my boob tube. Fingers stroking upwards until…

“Matt.” My heart rate picked up a fast tempo as he fondled me gently. That gentleness disappeared seconds later when I leaned in closer to him. Matt groaned, squeezing my breast, and I groaned along with him. Forget the people in my dining room. The kitchen door was closed. They should know not to come in here. My fingers had resumed their attack on the buttons of his shirt while my lips crept across his masculine jaw.

“Sorry,” he said with a raspy voice before dragging his hand out from under my top.The hell?

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