Page 75 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Matt’s secretary.” Nathan quipped with a gleeful rub of hands. “Rachel is the best and I mean to have her at my disposal. Have you seen how unflappable she is? The way she organizes Matt’s working day down to the last second? I’m tired of this musical chairs I seem to be having with my secretaries. The last one failed to forward my email to HR concerning the ongoing saga with the Union representing our staff in one of the smaller offices. Utterly incompetent.”

Adam drummed his fingers across the desk top. “Rachel is rude, in my opinion.”

Nathan snorted then laughed at Adam. “She’s not, she simply sees through bullshit and you’re full of it, Adam.”

Matt rubbed his temples before addressing his friend. “I’ve told you already, Nathan. You can’t have her. Choose something else.”

Nathan headed for the door. “I’ll let myself out, be prepared tomorrow, Matt.”

“Give Bella our love.” Matt called out to Nathan’s back before he disappeared from sight.

“Right then,” Adam began.

“I think we should call it a night, Adam,” Matt cut him off quickly and ran a hand through his hair as he stood up. “You know where everything is. I’m going to get cleaned up then wait for Madi.”

Adam got to his feet also. “Listen, you know you can talk to me.”

Matt rubbed the back of his aching neck and nodded absent-mindedly, his gaze once again lingering on the clock. “I know, but there’s nothing to talk about. See you in the morning.” He brushed past his brother without a backward glance and headed out the office.

After his shower, he waited in the front room, nursing a glass of whiskey and staring broodingly at the fireplace. It was 1am and Madi had yet to return. Before he realized it, he’d fallen asleep with his last conscious thought one of annoyance at his wife’s behaviour…

“Poppet?” Matt jerked up. Eyes squinting open as he vigorously rubbed his face. What time was it? With a loud groan he slowly uncurled himself from the uncomfortable position he had fallen asleep in on the sofa. He blinked a few times then jumped off the sofa. Matt made his way out the room and went in search of his wife.If she wasn’t home by now there would be hell to pay, he thought to himself as he groggily took the stairs one by one.

Upon entering their dimly-lit bedroom the soft sound of her snores was like music to his ears and her half-dressed sleeping form sprawled over the sheets an oasis for his eyes. The knot of tension in his stomach, the one he hadn’t even been aware of, dissipated as he quietly closed the door and approached the bed. Her silk bottoms were on but the matching top lay nestled against a damp towel. She must have fallen asleep mid dressing. Matt swept the towel and top off the bed with one hand then gently peeled back the covers so he could get her under them. He crawled in besides her, slowly manoeuvring her into his arms. She mumbled something and Matt stroked her arm, trying to lull her back to sleep.

“Asshole.” Came out from her soft lips and Matt stiffened indisbelief. Did she just call him- “You’re an asshole.” she repeated drowsily and snuggled closer. “A big (yawn) idiotic asshole.”

He resumed stroking her arm and replied. “You’re impertinent.”

Madi flung her leg over his with another big yawn. “Too early for big words.”

Matt chuckled despite the way they had left things last night. “But not too early to call me names? Hmm, poppet? And how many times do I have to tell you? The word is arsehole.”

“I’m mad at you.” she continued.

“I know and I’m not too pleased with you either.” he countered quickly.

She fell silent, eyes still closed, and after a few minutes he wondered if she’d drifted back to sleep until she murmured, “You know you were a bit wrong, right? Please tell me you-”

“He was on top of you, poppet. I was upset, angry.” he admitted, holding her even closer. “And I’m still learning. Help me see where I’m wrong. Will you still teach me?”

“Mhmm,” she stretched up to press a light kiss to his jaw. “You’ll have to teach me too, knight, because sometimes,” she yawned again then tucked her head beneath his chin. “A lot of the times, I have no idea what you need from me, or want from me. I want to be a good wife. You’ll tell me when I’m not?”

Matt nodded and her wild curls tickled his lower face. “We’ll learn together.”

He fell silent, enjoying the press of her body against his. It never failed to surprise him, the underlying comfort between them, even when they argued. It had been this way since the beginning.

“You’ve been grumpy the past few days.” she spoke up as her hand moved over his chest, then dipped lower until she was able to slip her fingers under his t-shirt.

The initial spurt of chagrin Matt felt at being called grumpy vanished when she trailed her fingers teasingly across his stomach.

“Mmm,” he agreed with a growing smile, understanding her intent. “And I’ve mentioned once before the root cause of my grumpiness. What are you going to do about it, poppet?”

Madi twisted her body so she half lay on top of him, chin resting on his chest as she finally opened her eyes to observe him. “Shag the hell out of you? It’s been three days.”

“Yes,” Matt said with a mock scowl. “You’ve not been attending toyour wifely duties. I’m very disappointed in you.”

She stared at him, her brown eyes looked almost black in the dim light as she said with an emotion-filled voice, “Promise me we won’t be one of those married couples who never talk to each other. I know I’m lacking in experience when it comes to relationships, but I’m not stupid and I know if we let things fester…I love you so much, and I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

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