Page 6 of Simply Perfection
Niall set his glass on the coffee table. He unfastened a few buttons on his shirt and spread the material wide enough to expose a pair of scars identical to those displayed on the wall.
Chapter Two
“That’s you?”
Niall nodded. He let his shirt drop but didn’t do up the buttons. “Happened when I was twenty-two. I’d been at a club with friends and got jumped on my way to the ‘T’. These are the only physical scars I have, but the emotional ones lasted a lot longer than the stitches.”
“That’s why you got involved with the trauma recovery group.” Matt pointed to the photo. “Who…”
“A colleague of mine took that about six years ago. He’s the one who could finally show me that despite the scars there was still beauty in my body. Until that time, I’d refused to let anyone see the evidence of my attack. I didn’t want them to perceive me as weak. I didn’t want their pity. However, with that photo, he showed me that the terror and pain I endured, the shame I’d been living with, didn’t overshadow who I am.”
“And now you pay that forward. You share that lesson with other survivors.”
Niall shrugged and then reached for his wineglass. He took a healthy sip, and the alcohol helped soothe his anxiety. He’d come a long way, but sometimes talking about the effects of the attack still left him flustered. Niall set his glass back on the table and looked at Matt, getting lost in the forest green eyes that were now only inches away. Eyes like that should be illegal. Their warm, intense stare could pull a person’s deepest, darkest secrets from their soul. Matt’s long brown lashes slowly closed and warm lips sealed over Niall’s. The connection was gentle as they learned the texture of each other’s mouths. Matt’s tongue flicked across the seam of Niall’s lips and he opened. Matt moaned. One hand came up to tangle in Niall’s hair as their chests collided together. Oh, he was in so much trouble.
The first possession of Niall’s mouth by Matt’s tongue sent a bolt of lightning streaking through his body. Desire flooded his senses, hot and sharp.
The softness of their kiss fell away, and all that remained was pure lust. Matt devoured Niall, and he loved every second. Niall fell back on sofa, and the momentum pulled Matt on top of him, as they refused to relinquish their connection. Matt’s weight on top of him was decadent. Niall was no string bean, but he wasn’t a gym rat. After a few moments, Matt broke the kiss, bracing his hands on the sofa on either side of Niall’s head. He pushed up, panting lightly, hunger evident in the hard cock Niall felt against his thigh.
“Wow.”
Niall smiled. That was a good thing to hear from your soulmate. Even though Matt didn’t know it yet, Niall's dream had shown him he and this man were destined for one another. He ran his palms up Matt’s chest and then circled his arms around Matt’s neck. When his eyes landed on Matt’s lips, swollen and damp from their kiss, Niall wanted to dive right back into another. Niall arched his chest against Matt’s whilepulling down with his arms and their bodies smashed together once again.
Matt moaned and his arms gathered Niall close as he kissed him back. Niall responded by opening his legs to make space for Matt. It was a good thing his sofa was wide; otherwise they would’ve fallen to the floor by now. Their hands explored each other’s bodies as much as their perch allowed them to. Niall’s body was on fire. His cock ached for release, one brought on by Matt’s touch. Niall arched his hips and ground against Matt’s hip.
Matt’s hand slid inside the open buttons of Niall’s shirt. Long fingers unerringly found his nipple and tweaked the tightened nub. Niall groaned and dragged up the back of Matt’s shirt to find his own patch of bare skin to stroke. He celebrated when Matt shuddered. Their lips separated with both men gasping as they stared into each other’s eyes. Matt’s head dipped and Niall gasped as soft lips landed on his scars, kissing the hurt away. It was the first time a lover embraced the long lines willingly—most shunned his chest entirely.
Matt’s raised his head and Niall smiled. His hand cupped the side of Matt’s cheek as he placed a soft kiss on Matt’s swollen lips.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For what?”
“For setting free the last part of the pain hidden within my body.” Their foreheads touched and Matt’s hand squeezed Niall’s hip.
“It’s getting late,” Matt said softly.
“Yes,” he agreed.
“Niall, before we go any further, there are some things I need to tell you.”
Niall stiffened. Those were foreboding words that had an entire list of implications.
Matt sat up and moved to the end section of the couch. Niall sat and turned so he could see Matt better. His body chilled without Matt’s heat pressed against him, and a little shiver raced down his spine. Niall had been so sure that Matt was his destiny. Niall had seen Matt in the dream and knew thatMantohad sent him the vision to let him know his soul mates were ready for him. But Matt’s resigned posture and remorseful expression suggested he regretted their kisses.
That would not do. Whatever it was that Matt felt the need to say, Niall had to convince him it wouldn’t matter. He had to convince Matt to give them a chance, at least until they found the blond with the delicate features and lithe body. When all three of them were together, Niall knew they could overcome anything. It was written in the stars.
Matt looked at Niall, waiting for him to start. “I don’t know where this thing between us is leading, but I have a feeling you’ll be more important to me than a casual lover. I’m actually beyond the casual part of my life. I’m thirty-eight years old, and I’ve known what I wanted for a long time.” Niall tried to speak, but Matt held up his hand. “Wait until I finish, please. You see, I’ve known what I wanted but had a hard time finding the right fit with anyone I’ve dated.” He took a deep breath. “There just aren’t very many men who will share their partner.”
Niall sat stunned, processing what Matt had said. Did this mean Niall wouldn’t have to talk him into believing in their destiny? He wouldn’t have to tread the waters so carefully and hint at what he wanted? What they needed?
“Niall?” Matt cursed. “I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.” He stood and turned to leave.
“No!” Niall exclaimed. He stood and sprinted to Matt, inwardly cursing the ottoman that prevented him from heading Matt off at the pass. “Wait, Matt, don’t go.” He reached for Matt’s hand and stopped his soon to be lover from leaving.“Please turn around and look at me.” Matt did, and Niall tugged Matt’s arm to get him to sit next to him. “You took me by surprise, is all. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you that very same thing.”
Niall saw Matt's eyes widen in apparent shock.
“Maybe I should start at the beginning. I’ll explain to you why I want to share my life with two men, then if you want, you can tell me.”
