Page 89 of Lovers' Dance

“Matt.” My voice was a husky whisper. “How long do we have to stay?”

He frowned, misunderstanding my intentions. “Don’t be like that. I know you’re scared of interacting with my family, but there’s no need for it. The girls seem to like you. I’m certain my parents will eventually come around. Stop fretting,” he ordered.

I blinked slowly at him, very slowly, while the tip of my tongue moistened my lips. Matt’s gaze zoned in on my mouth, then he cleared his throat softly as understanding dawned.

“Are you coming on to me, Madison DuMont?”

I nodded, glancing around to make sure no one could overhear us. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

His mouth split into a sensuous smile. “Absolutely nothing. After dinner, I’ll give you a tour of the house. We’ll stop by my old room, or we could wait until we get to my place. Your choice, poppet.”

He had done it again, sucked me into some sort of liquid vortex of promised pleasure. Matt raised my hand to his lips and pressed a fleeting kiss over my wrist. A flick of his tongue across my skin…Yeah, I was in the vortex.

Matt rubbed his free hand over his face. “Stop distracting me. I need to tell you something.”

I tried to focus. “What is it?” I inhaled deeply, chest rising, and Matt’s eyes dropped lower, no longer on my face. I grinned, liking the effect my small boobs had on him. If I kept this up, we mightn’t have to stay for a dinner I was dreading. Matt would come up with a plausible excuse, and he could take me to his home in Surrey and rock my world.

“Stop it, poppet.” Matt groaned, forcing his eyes upwards. “Otherwise, I won’t be held accountable for my actions, and I don’t think my parents would appreciate me bending you over that antique table and shagging you senseless in front their guests.”

I glanced at said table. It looked fragile. Maybe I should behave. Matt was a determined man and, once he made his mind up to do something, he would get it done.

“What did you want to tell me?” I clasped my hands in front me demurely. Seriously. Something was wrong with me. I needed to start acting right.

Matt took a shaky breath, then got serious as he reached out to grasp my clasped hands. “My ex is here.”

All horniness disappeared. I tugged my hand away.

“Excuse me?” Did I hear him right?His ex?I turned around, looking at the people milling around. When I turned back to face Matt, he looked as if he’d swallowed something foul. “Who?”

Matt sighed and his gaze slid over to the left. I followed the movement and died inside when I saw her.

“Oh my God, Matt,” I said, feeling like shit in my borrowed clothes and flip flops. The twins had come through for me on the shoe problem. “She’s…that’s your ex? Is she a frigging supermodel?”

“No. Don’t be silly, poppet,” he replied.

I didn’t believe him. The blonde woman I was staring at looked like a freaking goddess. What the hell? I watched her. Gorgeous wasn’t a good enough description. She was mouth-wateringly stunning, and looking over at us right at that moment.

I turned away and stared at the parquet flooring.

“Poppet.” Matt stroked a finger over my cheek. “I didn’t know she was going to be here tonight.”

I nodded, unable to look at anything else but the floor. Why would he want to be with me when he could be with her? I wasn’t ugly, I knew that, but—fuck me—I knew my level…and Matt’s ex was on a whole different level.

“Look at me,” Matt commanded softly. It took a few moments, but I did as he asked. He winked at me. “I don’t want her, I don’t love her, so stop frowning and smile. You’re the one I want.”

I chewed my inner cheeks and plastered a bright smile on my face. Matt’s eyebrows lowered as he scrutinized my expression.

“I didn’t know she’d be here, poppet,” he repeated.

“I believe you,” I said, fake smiling. “It would be in bad taste for you to bring me to a dinner party where your ex-girlfriend was a guest, and I know you wouldn’t do that. What is she doing here anyway?”

Matt looked away. It smacked of evasive manoeuvres. “Louisa is a childhood friend. I’ve known her all my life it seems, and both our families are very close.”

My smile stayed in place, but my heart sank lower. A childhood sweetheart? Oh shit. Now I felt worse. Nothing quite like your first experience of love.Was she his first love?Dante was my first love, never mind it was unrequited. He was my first love, and I still sometimes had vivid dreams about us hooking up. Of course, I was with Matt now and, most of the times after those ridiculous dreams, I would wake up with his strong arms wrapped around me chasing away thoughts of anyone else.

We stood there, both silent, observing each other with an uncomfortable feeling growing between us every passing second. Matt put on his trademark stern expression.

“This is not going to be an issue. I won’t allow it to be. She’s my past, and you’re my future. It looks like dinner is about to start so I want to see a real smile on your face, not that poor imitation which, by the way, isn’t fooling anyone. Smile.”

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