Page 116 of Love on Tour
Matt and Christine arrived at the hotel. Julianna had offered to take his bunk and ride the bus back. Austin assured Matt he’d be fine on his own for the trip home. He also told Matt to stay with Christine and fly back to Nashville with her.
“You’re in rooms 223 and 225. Adjoining, as requested,” the clerk said.
Christine raised her eyebrows at Matt. He raised his back.
Matt grabbed their bags. They rode the elevator and walked to their rooms.
Christine felt nervous and didn’t know what to say.
“I think we could both use a few minutes to get ourselves together. I need a shower for sure. How about I check on you in thirty?” Matt said.
“A shower sounds divine. Thirty should be great. Thank you.”
Christine stood under the water, which was slightly hotter than she normally tolerated, and allowed it to wash away the events of the day. She wanted to block certain parts out and pretend they’d never happened. Alicia had caused her so muchpain, all over a perceived relationship that didn’t even exist. It would take a while to come to terms with what had happened and truly feel safe again.
Christine dressed in her Victoria’s Secret sweats, which Julianna had convinced her to buy, and a black tank top. She hoped Matt would find it sexy.
When he knocked, she jumped up, unlocked the adjoining door, and opened it.
His gaze traveled over her tank top.
She went back to the bed, where she sat leaning against the pillows on the headboard with her legs pulled up tight.
Matt sat at her feet and put his arm over her knees. “How are you?”
“I don’t really know. On the one hand, it’s over. On the other hand, it’s freaky realizing the danger was that close and none of us knew it.”
“I know. It was right in front of us, and we had no idea. Austin didn’t think some minor flirtation would go to Alicia’s head. He thought he was being nice—friendly. But when you have Austin’s charm and star quality, women sometimes perceive it as more. He may have led her on in a way he never meant to. He feels bad about that, but he feels horrible about how it affected you.”
“He shouldn’t. I chose to keep hanging out with him long after the threats. It was my decision. But . . .”
“Yes?”
“Do you mind if we don’t talk about this?”
“Of course not. What would you like to do?”
Christine froze. Would it be too much for her to say she’d like to do him? She stalled, a minute too long.
“If you’d like me to leave and give you some time, I get it. Just say so.”
Christine was losing the moment. It was time to take control. She had to do this. “What I’d really like to do, Matt . . .”
“Yes?”
“Is you. I’d like to do you.”
Matt reached over and tucked a strand of Christine’s hair behind her ear. His touch felt safe, like coming home.
“Christine,” he said. He pulled her to him and kissed her ear, then the side of her head. He used his hand to hold her chin and turn her face toward him. “Kiss me, Christine.”
She kissed him with the passion of a woman who was ready to be with the man she loved. She lay down, pulling him with her.
He reached under her shirt, cupping her breast and teasing her nipple. It hardened with his touch. She could hear his breathing speed up. He lifted her shirt and she leaned up, allowing him to take it off.
“Beautiful,” he said in a soft voice.
She shook her head.
