Page 2 of Elusive Embrace

“Fine. But if I can’t sleep you’ll have to keep me company all night.” I point at him.

“Deal.”

I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to this. My heart is hammering like crazy because of this stupid film. I’m curled up under my blanket, ever so often averting my eyes from the screen. Matt looks relaxed and happy. He’s still wearing the Ghostbuster suit but has unzipped the top half and pulled it off because he was too hot. The white T-shirt he’s wearing underneath is stretched tight over his arm muscles.

We never can agree on the temperature in the house which usually means that I run around with an extra thick jumper whilst he wears T-shirts and shorts, even in winter.

“Tell me something, do you ever dream about George?” he turns his head to me with a smirk.

“Sor…ry,” I stutter and feel my cheeks heat up.

“George,” Matt adjusts his whole body to face me, placing his arm on the back of the sofa, “George Clooney, do you ever have dreams about him? I mean, the number of times you drooled over him in ER—”

“I don’t drool,” I object.

“Come on, tell me,” he nudges me with his shoulder. “Are you telling me you’ve never dreamed of him kissing you?”

“No!”

“That’s boring. I have dreams like that all the time,” he laughs.

“You dream of George?” Now it’s my turn to smirk.

“No. I don’t mind Angelina Jolie turning up in my dreams, though.”Of course he doesn’t.

“But it’s never really like the real thing. Snogging a girl in my dreams always feels way less exciting,” he chuckles.

“I wouldn’t know,” I mumble and regret it in an instant.

“What?”

“Nothing. How much longer until the film’s over?” I should just head to bed now. Matt picks up the remote control and pauses the DVD. His eyes bore into me and when I avoid his gaze, gently cups my chin and turns my head until I look at him.

“What do you mean you wouldn’t know?”

“I’ve… I’ve never kissed anyone. Or done … other stuff,” I mumble. I’m mortified.

“You’re nineteen,” he states the bleeding obvious.

“I know. So?”

“So? Are the guys in Fellside blind? You’re gorgeous.”Oh wow.I didn’t expect that.

“I’m a book nerd who digs in dirt all day.”

“Still,” Matt shakes his head like he can’t believe it. He studies me a little longer before letting go of my chin. He presses play again and we both settle back on the sofa, but the atmosphere in the room has changed.

I can’t focus on the film. And he doesn’t seem to be watching either even though his eyes are directed at the screen.

“Aren’t you curious about what it feels like?” he suddenly asks.

“I really don’t want to talk about it.”

“I’m not judging Nat.” His eyes are on me again and he looks sincere.

“I… sure. Of course. But… I just think the longer you wait the more you build it up in your head and the scarier it gets. Also,what guy at my age wants to kiss a woman who has no clue what she’s doing.”

“It wouldn’t bother me,” he retorts.What now? Is he offering? Or does he mean generally?

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