Page 10 of To Her

The reminder of his impending departure was like a bucket of cold water. I'd almost forgotten that he wasn't staying, that whatever this was had an expiration date.

"When do you leave?" I asked.

"Two weeks."

Two weeks. Not long enough to build anything real, but plenty of time to get hurt if I wasn't careful.

"I'd like that," I said anyway, because despite everything, I meant it.

He smiled, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. The simple gesture shouldn't have affected me as much as it did, but I found myself leaning into his touch like a cat seeking affection.

"Can I kiss you goodnight?" he asked, his voice low.

In answer, I stepped closer, tilting my face up to his. This kiss was different from our midnight one—slower, more deliberate, but with an underlying heat that promised more. His hands stayed respectfully at my waist, but I could feel the restraint in his touch, the careful control.

When we broke apart, I was breathless again, my body humming with a need I hadn't felt in months. It would be so easy to invite him to my room, to lose myself in the physical and worry about the consequences later.

But I wasn't ready for that. Not yet.

"Goodnight, Matt," I said, stepping back before I could change my mind.

He nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Goodnight, Geri. Sweet dreams."

I turned and walked to my room before I could do something stupid like change my mind. Behind me, I heard his door close with a soft click.

Alone in my room, I leaned against the closed door, my heart still racing. What was I doing? Getting involved with someone who was leaving in two weeks seemed like a recipe for heartbreak. And yet...

I couldn't remember the last time I'd connected with someone so quickly, so completely. There was something about Matt that cut through my defences, that made me want to take risks I'd sworn off after Ben.

As I changed out of my dress and removed my makeup, I replayed the night in my mind—our conversations, the way he listened, the feel of his lips on mine. My body still thrummed with unfulfilled desire, a persistent ache between my thighs that made me press them together as I climbed into bed.

Two weeks wasn't long. But maybe it was enough for whatever this was. A rebound. A fling. A way to remember that I was still alive, still capable of wanting and being wanted.

Or maybe—and this was the thought that scared me most as I drifted toward sleep—maybe it was the beginning of something I wasn't ready to name yet.

Chapter 4

Geri

Iwas just drifting off to sleep, my mind still replaying the events of the night—Matt's smile, his hands, the way his lips felt against mine—when a soft knock on my door pulled me back to consciousness.

For a moment, I thought I'd imagined it. But then it came again, slightly more insistent this time.

I sat up, pushing my hair out of my face. "Who is it?" I called softly, though I already had a suspicion.

"It's Matt," came the reply, his voice low and slightly hesitant. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

My heart immediately kicked into overdrive. I glanced down at myself—I'd changed into sleep shorts and a tank top, not exactly what I'd choose for entertaining a guy I'd just met, but not embarrassingly bad either.

"Just a second," I said, climbing out of bed and padding to the door.

When I opened it, I nearly swallowed my tongue. Matt stood in the hallway wearing nothing but a pair of black boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination. The tattoos I'd admired earlier continued across his chest and down his torso, intricate designs flowing over the contours of his muscles. And there werea lot of muscles. The man clearly worked out religiously—broad shoulders, defined pecs, abs you could grate cheese on, and thighs that strained against the fabric of his underwear.

"Sorry to bother you," he said, seemingly unaware of the effect his near-nakedness was having on me. "I, uh... I couldn't sleep."

"Scared of the dark?" I teased, finding my voice.

A slow smile spread across his face. "Terrified. Can I come in?"

---