Page 34 of Blindsided

Tilly

My heart pounds, the blood draining from my face. Footsteps continue up the stairs. Each thump makes me flinch. I’m screaming at my body to move, to do something, but I’m frozen on my bed. Someone is coming. They’re going to be here any second, and all I’m doing is lying here, waiting for them to get me.

I open my mouth to scream for Matthew—for anyone, really—except nothing comes out.

Then my door creaks open, and a shadow fills the doorway. I can’t make out anything about them as they move closer to the bed. Their features are shrouded in darkness, making them look more sinister. I try to get my body to move, but it feels like my limbs are moving through molasses.

The shadow climbs onto the bed, hovering over my body.

“Shhh, you’re mine now.”

My eyes fly open, whipping around the room to find the threat. My door is closed, and the small light from the bathroom proves I’m the only one in here. I sit up in bed and take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my racing heartbeat. In the two weeks I’ve been at Matthew’s, I’ve only had one nightmare. It was the night I arrived, but it wasn’t nearly as scary as whatever that was.

I swipe my hands down my face. It’s three in the morning. Entirely too early to get up, but I’m not sure I have any hope of going back to sleep either.

If Matthew were here…

The thought has an idea forming in my head. Do I dare to go? What if he kicks me out? If he does, I’ll go sit in the living room and watch TV or something.

With my plan in place, I sneak out of my room on quiet feet. I open the door to Matthew’s room, glancing around the space to get my bearings. His massive bed is off to the left, and he has a small sitting area with a TV at the other end of the room. It’s too dark to make out any details.

Walking to the bed, my toes squish into the carpet. If I wasn’t on a mission, I’d be marveling at how soft it is.

Matthew is in the middle of the bed, lying on his stomach, his arms tucked under his pillow above his head.

“Matty,” I whisper. He doesn’t stir, and I bite my lip, unsure of what to do. As much as I want to get into his bed without waking him up, I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. I say his name again a little louder, and he startles, his eyes half-open.

“Tilly?” His voice is raspy with sleep. “You okay?”

“I had a nightmare.”

He flips the covers back. “Come here.”

My nerves dissipate, and I climb into bed with him. He wraps an arm around me, pulling me into his chest. He’s so warm. It makes me snuggle deeper, the nightmare fading from the front of my mind almost immediately. I’ve never felt safer than I do right here in Matty’s arms.

As he drifts off again, I find myself matching his even breathing, my eyes getting heavy. The only thoughts in my head are of Matthew and what it would be like to sleep in his arms every night.

* * *

Matthew’s alarm blares, waking both of us up.

“It’s a good thing I like you. Otherwise, I’d punch you for that god-awful noise,” I grumble.

Matthew’s chest rumbles with his laughter. He stretches out for his phone and turns off his alarm. He slings his arm back over my waist and pulls me tighter into him.

I could get used to this feeling.

“Seriously, though. Who wants a fog horn waking them up every morning?”

“How are you forming complete sentences right now?” Matthew rasps out against my neck.

I shrug. “I’m a morning person. What can I say?”

“Shhh.” Matthew moves his hand up to my mouth in an attempt to make me stop talking. I grin against his palm until it slides down to my throat. I can’t stifle the shiver of arousal that slides down my spine.

He tightens his fingers at the side of my neck, and my hips buck back against the erection he’d previously been keeping out of my ass.

“Fuck,” Matthew whispers. He presses forward, grinding his morning wood into me. “You’re a dirty little girl, aren’t you?”

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