Page 11 of Afflicted

I open my eyes, and turn on to my side to look at Matt. “Yeah. Just a little on edge.”

“Freaked you out a bit, huh?”

I shrug against my pillow. “It’s been a while since we had an attack, I don’t know, guess it did.”

He shifts a little, his eyes darting away before bouncing back to my face. “Did you… I mean, did you wanna come sleep over here?”

“With you?” I smile, trying not to giggle and hoping to god he doesn’t see the flush in my cheeks. “You think I’m that easy, huh?”

He clenches his eyes shut and runs a hand over his face. “Ugh sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

The giggle breaks free from me, and suddenly everything feels giddy and even a bit dangerous. I shouldn’t go and climb into his bed. I don’t even know this guy. But my skin is screaming for someone’s hands to touch it, to feel the warmth of another body against mine, and the urge is so strong that I find myself climbing out of the bed and under Matt’s waiting arm before I know it.

“Is this weird?” He asks as he presses himself to my back, his arms wrapping around me.

“Everything is weird.” I close my eyes, because goddamn this feels nice. I sigh, settling into his warmth. “In case you hadn’t noticed.”

He chuckles, his warm breath brushing across my ear. “Yeah, guess you’re right.” He strokes my arms, his fingers moving up over my shoulder and back down again. Goosebumps rise over my skin. “This isn’t a bad way to end a crazy first day though.”

“Glad I made it all worthwhile.” I smile to myself as he chuckles again.

“You’re funny.”

I shake my head against his bicep. “Nope, just cynical.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-four. And you?”

“Thirty-two.” He makes a sound in his throat as I shift against him, almost like a groan, and when his hips press against me, I can feel that he’s getting hard.

I should go back to my bed. But a little secret thrill wells up in my stomach, sending out a rush of butterflies. I try not to react, just lie in his arms and enjoy his warmth. The night may be hot, but having the heat of another person so close like this, it’s different. It’s welcoming.

“What were you? Before?”

He strokes my hair, brushing along the nape of my neck, and I can’t help but shiver.

“I was a mechanic,” he replies in a voice that’s way too low and sexy for what we’re discussing. “Mainly motorbikes and stuff. I worked for a team, they did all the big races. It was fun. How about you?”

“Just started college.” I bite my lip to suppress a moan as his fingers start to trace small circles along my collarbone. He’s so close to my breasts, my nipples are brushing painfully against the cotton of my t-shirt. “This all started my first week.”

“Well, that fucking sucks.” His mouth moves closer to my neck. He’s really hard now, his erection pressing into my back. “What was your major?”

I’m hot all over, and I should go back to my bed. I barely know this guy. His lips brush against my neck, and I bite my lip. Getting involved is a bad idea. This isn’t going to lead any place good, and I don’t need to catch feelings for this guy.

“I-I hadn’t decided yet.” I finally answer, my voice barely audible.

“No?” He kisses my neck. Actually kisses it. I’m going to melt. Oh god I’m going to be a grease spot in the damn mattress. I’m just touch-starved, that’s all. Nothing needs to actually happen. But I really,reallywant it to.

“I thought I had time,” I gasp as his hand moves down my side, across my hip to splay across my stomach. “I was just going to take some art classes and decide, because I was there on a scholarship and…” I trail off as he kisses my neck again, a flood of heat erupting between my thighs. “I, um, god, I thought I still had time.”

“Didn’t we all?” He presses himself harder against my back, the hand that was caressing my collarbone moving down to the hem of my shirt. His fingertips move closer to my breast, and I tense against him as his thumb brushes my nipple. “Is this OK?”

Is it OK? I don’t know. I haven’t been touched like this in years, and even before that, it hadn’t been more than teenage fumblings in the back of a car that my date had borrowed from his parents.

“Yeah, it’s OK.” I whimper as he gently rolls my nipple between his fingers.

“You’re so fucking pretty, you know that?” He growls in my ear. His hand moves up my stomach until it’s cupping my breast. “Can you feel how hard I am?”

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