by Iris Blobel
“Hey, mate, easy. We were here.”
Smacking his forehead, he replied, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…I talked to her a few days ago and suggested I’d come over, but she said she needed to go through this on her own.”
“Yeah, that sounds about right. Her father and Liam gave her a good speech about that yesterday. Trust me when I say, give her a call again.”
A smile pulled on Mat’s lips. How much he enjoyed hearing those words.
“Thanks, mate. Will do.”
Mat disconnected the call and switched on the light. It was the middle of the night, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to get much more sleep. There were too many thoughts in his head and too many questions he needed answered. He threw back the duvet and got up.
Ten minutes later, he sat in the kitchen with the laptop and a cup of coffee in front him. He would call Adam in the morning to clarify a few things. His friend wouldn’t be impressed that he’d be leaving again for a few days, but hopefully he’d understand. Searching through the web, he found a flight later that day via Auckland to Melbourne arriving early the next day…a couple of clicks and the flight was booked.
Mat wasn’t sure what to expect, but he knew he wanted, no, needed to see Tiffany again. Hold her in his arms and help her through the rough times she was currently dealing with. The picture of someone jerking her out of the car and injuring her played in his head repeatedly, and it made him sick. He opened up a picture of her on his laptop and traced her face with his finger. He missed her so much and hoped she’d like the idea he had come up with during the last few days.
He checked the time — close to five o’clock. Enough time for another snooze before he’d get ready for his travels.
Fifteen
It took Tiffany a long time to get out of bed. Every bone in her body ached. The memories of the other day were shoved to the very back of her head. That was in the past, and she desperately tried to look forward to the future now. Hudson was gone, the list was gone, the attacker was in prison…it was time to refocus and move on.
And she hoped the future would include a certain person.
After a brief shower, she prepared some breakfast and ate it in bed while watching the news. She was tired. Exhausted. The whole drama had taken a lot out her, but the last few weeks had been very busy for her as well. Twice a week she’d taken her father to rehab and every other week for a swim. The rest of the week, she’d studied hard, got as many assignments done as possible, and was close to finishing her diploma.
There wasn’t a day when she didn’t think of Mat. Goddamn, she missed him. She missed him with such intensity, her body ached all over. She wished he’d been there with her yesterday, to hold and comfort her. But simply his voice would’ve done the trick.
She placed her cup on the bedside table and stretched the tiredness out of her bones before switching on her phone.
No messages.
She was about to give Mat a call to tell him how much she missed him and about the attack when she remembered Steve had already called him late last night. She checked the messages again, as well as other private message apps.
Nothing.
Close to tears, she placed the phone back on the bedside table. Mat obviously had more important things to do than check on her. With the weight of the whole world, she threw herself back into the pillow, letting the tears flow, once again regretting the decision to ask him not to come to Melbourne. Again, when everyone said go right, she’d chosen to go left.
A knock at the door startled her back from her thoughts. She checked the time. It was just after ten o’clock. She’d agreed with her parents and brother there would be no visits until she felt well enough. Her mother hadn’t liked the idea, but understood that Tiffany needed some space and time to digest what had happened, but also to heal, mentally as well as physically.
Another knock.
Tiffany got out of bed and headed towards the front door, aware that she was dressed in a lousy T-shirt and some panties.
Mat’s T-shirt.
She opened the door, but left the chain hooked.
“Mat,” she whispered, the surprise of seeing him in front of her leaving her speechless and trembling with anticipation. Her knees went weak, while her heart skipped a beat.
He cocked a brow as he took her in, especially her outfit. “Can I come in?”
The mere sight of him had her body reacting with every nerve cell. Despite knowing how much she’d missed him — so very much — seeing him in front of her door was like the vision she needed. Without thinking twice, she closed the door, unhooked the chain, opened the door wide, rushed towards him, and threw her arms around him, placing a quick kiss on his lips.
“If I had known this was the welcome, I’d have come much earlier.”
She let out a choked laugh. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, baby. So very much.” He placed his arms around her waist and tugged a little closer. “How are you feeling today?”
His breath tickled the skin just below her ear, and she remembered how she’d enjoyed being in his arms.
“Much better now that you’re here.”
“How about we go inside? Unless—”
“No. No unless.” Slowly, she moved her hands past his shoulder, down his arms, and took his hand. “C’mon in.”
She closed the door behind him and noticed how nervous she was by swiping her clammy palms on her T-shirt.
His T-shirt.
Taking a step closer to him, she studied him. Something was different. Not only was he avoiding her gaze, but his hands were in his pockets. Was he here to tell her that their short-lived romance was over already? Had she made a fool out of herself by jumping at him like a desperate woman? Her stomach tightened and suddenly her excitement turned to anxiety. So she went for broke.
“I was dreaming of you last night.”
A smirk pulled upon his lips as he finally met her gaze again. “Tell me about it.”
She didn’t move. “Actually, I’ve been dreaming of you every single night.”
“It’s the magic T-shirt. I’ve been looking for it.”
A snort escaped her. “Yeah. Sorry. I stole it before I left.”
With two long strides, he stood in front of her, reaching for the necklace he’d given her. “A necklace. My T-shirt. I’d better watch out or you’ll take something else from me.”
Tiffany placed her hands on his chest, aware of the heat spreading through her body. “Well, it’s nothing compared to what you stole from me.”
His brows shot up, his eyes widening the barest fraction. “Me? I wish I had. All I have is a few photos on my phone.”
She pinched her lips together, tilted her head to look at him. “You stole my heart,” she whispered. But she didn’t let him reply. Instead, she brushed her lips over his. “There should be serious consequences for that.”
His chuckle against her skin made her body shiver. Even though, she still wasn’t sure whether he’d stopped by for a visit, she was sure she wouldn’t let him go again.
Her life had gone from second gear into fifth within weeks. Her ex-boyfriend had been murdered. She’d been threatened with a knife. She’d met Mat, flown across the sea to be with him, and almost lost her father. It’d taken weeks for her to work on her guilt which had crushed her from all corners. Counselling had helped a lot, and she wasn’t giving up on that, but throwing herself into her studies and being busy assisting her parents had helped as well, because she’d had a goal — watch her father’s health improve and finish as much of her studies as she was able to before the end of the year so she could go back to spend more time with Mat.
Instead…instead, he was here with her.
He slid his fingers into her short hair and held her gaze, studying her face, before he leaned in to kiss her. His kiss was so tender and sweet, yet the fire it created was anything but. Her heart raced at his touch, emotions surging.
<
br /> She let out a shriek when he scooped her up into his arms, and carried her to her room. Gently, he placed her on her bed. His gaze dropped down her body and with great handiwork, he removed the T-shirt. Then he bent his head, kissed her lightly, skimming her mouth and face, before he moved down her neck and shoulders. He looked up at her, and the fire in his eyes told her how much he must have missed her.
“Tell me about your dreams,” Mat murmured against her breasts.
“I’m dreaming it again. This time it feels real.”
He chuckled and then flicked her nipple with his tongue. “Like this.”
She gasped. Oh God, yes, like that, yet so much better. A moan escaped her lips when his mouth moved down along her body, finding all her sensitive spots again, teasing her, and exploring. Blood rushed through her, heating her skin wherever his mouth touched her. Her whole body was humming and heat pooled between her legs. When he found her most sensitive spot, she arched into him as he stroked and caressed until she gasped, giving in to the pleasure.
He moved up her body and lowered himself again. “Like music to my ears.”
“Please, Mat.”
“Tell me what you want, baby,” he whispered, as he held her through her shudders.
“I want you. I need you.”
He brushed his thumb across her lower lip with a tenderness that almost did her in, and she wrapped her legs around him as he slipped inside her. Slow at first, but gradually with deeper and stronger strokes. Her nails dug into his skin as she rocked into him when she came again, letting him sink in even deeper. With a gentleness she’d come to know of him, he tangled his hand in her short hair and tugged so their gazes met dead on.
****
Mat held her close, enjoying having Tiffany back in arms. Making love to her was different. It wasn’t sex. It was an experience of exploring, searching, and being one. He couldn’t get enough of it. Looking into her blue eyes when she’d come, he’d seen the depths of her soul, and it’d touched him. In more ways than one.
He trailed a finger down her cheek. “I’ve been dreaming about you, too,” he whispered into her ear. “This was so much better, though.”
Tiffany moved in his arms, and the simple change of having her breasts against his skin told him he hadn’t had enough, yet.
She kissed him. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you. I truly am. But I needed some space.”
“I understand.”
With a gentle shake of her head, she continued. “I was overwhelmed by everything. There was too much going on at once. The past came back to haunt me. The future was so close but I was scared to hold onto it, because the past.” She sighed. “But I should’ve never said no to you when you offered to come over.”
She wriggled out of his arms and a sense of sudden loss of her body and her warmth evoked some strong emotions. After she’d returned to Melbourne, he had carried the same emptiness inside him. He wanted to reach out for her to move her back into his arms, but watched as she reached for a big piece of paper before she held it up to show him.
“I’m a very stubborn person, unfortunately. I needed to get things done first. Deal with the guilt I felt and still feel inside, but most importantly I had to close the chapter on Hudson. I’m beyond relieved this is over. So I came up with a to-do-list.”
He glanced at it. It was helping her father get better, finish some assignments, learn about helicopters, plan a tour through New Zealand, and the last item of her list, framed by hearts on both sides, was Call Mat and tell him how much he means to me.
“I’ve never been good at waiting,” he said.
She laughed. “So I see. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.”
She dropped the piece of paper to the floor and moved back into his arms. He pulled her closer, kissed her, ready for the next round.
After a shower together later that day, they sat on the couch enjoying the pizza they’d ordered. She told him about the attack and how scared she’d been despite knowing the police had an unmarked car just around the corner. Leaving the house each day not knowing whether that day was the day had pulled on her nerves. Her relief was obvious. Tiffany also told him about her father and his recovery. They planned to visit him the next day.
She looked at him. “How long will you be staying?”
“If you’ll have me, a few days.”
Her smile told him she was enjoying the moment as much as he was. Even with Steve’s hint about coming over to Melbourne, he’d been so nervous about the trip. He’d been anxious like never before. Flying a group of tourists through a sudden change of bad weather had seemed like a breeze compared to coming to see her. And even though he was aware they’d only talked a little during their lovemaking session that morning, they’d been honest words.
So he knew he was ready.
He stood, walked out the front door to his car, and retrieved a little box he’d picked up the previous day.
The smile she gave him, when he returned, made his heart skip a beat. It gave him the assurance he was about to do the right thing.
He sat next to her and took her hand. “Tiffany?”
A small frown appeared on her face, and he pinched the bridge of his nose, hoping he wasn’t about to muck this up.
He smiled as he smoothed her frown with his thumb.
“I love you,” he whispered as he met her gaze.
Studying her face carefully, he waited for any reaction, whether it’d be another frown, a smile, a laugh, or even tears. Her expression, however, didn’t change much, but she stared at him with her mouth open. So he carried on. “I know this is a big leap, for you as well as for me, but I believe it’s the right one.” He flicked open the box to reveal the three-stone-ring, with the diamonds in a woven design, before finally asking, “Will you marry me?”
She still stared at him, with her mouth open, before her gazed drifted to the ring. Carefully, she touched it. A silence hung heavy between them.
“I…I…I’m…”
Her unspoken words were like a stab into his heart, and after a long moment, he drew in a deep breath, determined not to give up.
“I know we haven’t known each other long and it’d be a leap of faith—”
“Mat, I’d be leaping a few thousand kilometres, a leap from one country to another.”
“Who says you’d need to move to New Zealand?”
Eyes wide, she stared at him again.
“If it meant I’ll be with you, I’d come to Melbourne.”
“You need the mountains, Mat. You need the fresh air. You need Lucy—”
“I need you,” he said softly.
Again, she touched the ring, and he would have given anything to read her thoughts.
“I was so scared when I came back to Melbourne. Seeing Dad in hospital, and it was all my fault.” She sighed, but he knew she hadn’t finished, yet. “I was scared of losing you, and all the while I almost lost my mind. Being back in Melbourne felt wrong.” Her hand moved from the ring to his face as she cupped his cheek.
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Mat was scared as well. Scared of losing her.
When she stood, his instinct told him to grab her hand and pull her back to him, but he didn’t, knowing she needed room to breathe. She walked over to her little desk before returning with a framed picture of them at the edge of Lake Wakatipu.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so at peace with the world and myself like I did when I was with you in New Zealand.”
A rush of relief howled through him, although it wasn’t the answer he’d hoped for.
She moved closer to him and took his hand. “Aren’t you worried I could be—”
“A bitch? And ugly? And gay?”
She laughed. “Yes.”
“No, I’m not. I know you’re the sexiest, but also the kindest and most thoughtful woman I’ve ever been with. You’re intelligent, determined, and witty. And you’re the woman I wa
nt to spend the rest of my life with.”
She kissed him, and he returned it, putting everything into it — his waiting, his desire, and all of his love he had for her.
When she broke the kiss, she smiled. “Give me time…” She stopped and bit her lip before explaining. “That came out wrong.” The side of her mouth pulled up in a grin. “Wrong choice of words. Sorry.” Hastily giving him another kiss, she moved onto his lap. “It was a yes. That’s what I wanted to say. Yes. Yes. Yes. As long as you don’t expect me to move tomorrow.”
He narrowed his eyes. “A yes with conditions?”
She snorted. “Oh, my God. I’m ruining the whole wonderful situation here.”
“Baby, ko nui taku aroha koe.9“
“That is what you said at the airport.”
“It means words can't express how much I love you.” His mouth curled up in a smile. “I already knew then how much I loved you.” With his hands trembling, he took the ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. “Will you marry me, taku whaiāipo10?”
“Yes, I will.”
He slid his hand into her hair and brought her face so close to his their noses touched. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she replied softly. “And I couldn’t think of anything better than to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Other Books by this Author
New Beginnings
The chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.
Twenty-two-year-old Sophie Levesque has been guardian to her eight-year-old sister Mia since their mother’s death a few years ago, and it hasn’t been easy. Luck comes their way when they inherit a small house in Hobart. Problem is, though, they don’t know and have never heard of Clara Bellinger, the testator. Settling into their new life, Sophie is still afraid it’s all a mistake.
Mark O’Connor, attorney in Hobart and the bearer of the good news for Sophie and Mia, curses himself for the lack of information about the testator. However, researching the questions gives him an opportunity to see Sophie again, and the more time he spends with the two, the more he realises that his life is missing something. And it’s not his casual lover Linda.
