Page 9

His lips were soft but insistent, moving against mine with a confidence that made my knees weak. When his tongue traced the seam of my lips, I opened for him without hesitation, a small sound of pleasure escaping me as the kiss deepened.

One of his hands came up to cup my face, his thumb stroking my cheek with a tenderness that contrasted with the growing intensity of the kiss. I found myself pressing against him, my body seeking more contact, more friction, more of whatever he was willing to give.

Around us, fireworks continued to burst in brilliant colours, but I barely noticed them. All I could focus on was the feel ofMatt's body against mine, the taste of whiskey on his tongue, the way his hand at my waist had slipped lower, fingers splayed across my hip in a possessive grip that sent sparks of desire shooting through me.

When we finally broke apart, both breathing harder than normal, I felt dizzy with want. A pulsing heat had settled between my thighs, and I had to resist the urge to press them together for relief.

"Happy New Year," Matt murmured, his forehead resting against mine.

"Happy New Year," I echoed, my voice huskier than usual.

He smiled, the expression softer than any I'd seen from him yet. "That was..."

"Yeah," I agreed, knowing exactly what he meant.

We stayed on the deck long after the fireworks ended, talking and stealing kisses as the party continued around us. His hand rarely left mine, our fingers intertwined as if we'd been doing this for years instead of hours.

It was nearly two in the morning when Haley found us, her eyes slightly glassy from champagne but her smile knowing.

"We're heading back to the house," she said. "Jake's arranged for Ubers. You coming?"

I looked at Matt, suddenly uncertain. We'd been in our own little bubble for hours, but the real world was intruding now, bringing with it all my usual doubts and fears.

As if sensing my hesitation, he squeezed my hand. "I should get back to my hotel," he said.

"Don't be ridiculous," Haley interjected before I could respond. "We have like 2 spare bedrooms. You can stay with us."

Matt looked at me, a question in his eyes. I knew what he was asking—was I comfortable with him coming back to the house? Was this moving too fast?

Part of me wanted to say yes, it was too fast. The cautious part that had been building walls since Ben's betrayal. But another part—the part that still remembered how to hope—wanted more time with him.

"She's right," I said finally. "No point paying for a hotel when there's plenty of room."

The smile he gave me was worth the risk. "If you're sure."

"I'm sure."

The Uber ride back to Haley's parents' mansion was a blur of stolen glances and not-so-accidental touches. Matt sat beside me in the backseat, his thigh pressed against mine, his hand finding excuses to brush my arm, my knee, my hand. Each contact sent a fresh wave of heat through me, until I was practically squirming in my seat.

By the time we arrived, I was a mess of conflicting emotions—desire warring with caution, excitement with fear. I wanted him with an intensity that shocked me, but I was also terrified of making another mistake, of trusting too quickly.

Haley, ever the perfect hostess despite her tipsy state, showed Matt to one of the guest rooms on the opposite side of the house from mine. I stood awkwardly in the hallway as she pointed out the bathroom, the linen closet, where to find extra towels.

"Thanks," Matt said when she finally finished her tour. "This is very generous of you."

"Our pleasure," Haley said with a wink that was about as subtle as a foghorn. "Sleep well, you two. Or don't. Whatever."

With that, she disappeared down the hall, leaving Matt and me alone in the doorway of his temporary bedroom.

"Your friend is..."

"Subtle as a brick?" I suggested. "Yeah, that's Haley."

He laughed, then grew serious, his eyes searching mine. "I had a really good time tonight."

"Me too," I admitted.

"I'd like to see you again. Before I ship out."