by Sherri Hayes
Cali walked into Matthew’s arms without hesitation, and their lips met in a slow but tender kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and her body pressed flush against his. Matthew softly caressed her back with his hands as his poured all the love he couldn’t voice into their kiss.
Cali’s fingers ghosted along the collar of his shirt, feeling the muscles shift as they held and moved with each other. She just couldn’t seem to get close enough to him. Her right hand slipped below his neckline playing with the skin just inside his collar while her left moved up to cup the back of his head, the need to be closer still driving her.
Matthew sensed her need and, shifting his weight, turned them slightly and back.
Cali felt the wall against her spine and couldn’t help the soft moan in her throat.
His response was immediate. He pressed her hard against the flat surface. Feeling his growing need for her sent Cali’s body temperature soaring.
She wanted him again. The fact they’d just been together last night made no difference. Well actually, it made a lot of difference. Cali knew what it was like now. Knew what it felt like to have him inside her, touching and kissing her bare skin.
Her leg came up to wrap around his waist, pulling him closer. Their kisses were no longer soft. They were heated, fueled by their mutual desire. Matthew’s hand moved to her hip and slid up her thigh as he pressed into her, causing them both to gasp.
He was trying to focus through the haze. Flat surface. They needed a flat, preferably, horizontal surface. Desk.
No. Not Alvin’s desk, his mind reminded him.
As he frantically sifted through suitable flat surfaces in his mind, the doorbell rang. Matthew groaned and buried his head in Cali’s shoulder. It was his brother and Lisa. Who else could it be? The urge to curse was strong, but he suppressed it.
Later, he thought. Later he would make it up to both of them. Right now though, they both needed to pull themselves together and quick, or else their plan of keeping this thing between them a secret was a lost cause.
Calming down took longer than expected, but thankfully, the Stanton place was huge, being a mansion. Maybe they could use the excuse of coming from one the back rooms. His brother and Lisa had no idea where in the house they were or how long it would take to get to the door. Their breathing slowed, and when Matthew thought he could talk without sounding like he’d just ran five miles, he placed a whisper soft kiss on her neck and took a step back.
Cali’s face was still a bit flushed, and her lips were swollen. There was no way his brother would miss something like that.
“Are you okay?” Cali asked, obviously seeing the mix of emotions cross his face.
He sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. “I’m fine. I just think Jason is going to take one look at you and know what we’ve been doing.”
Her hand came up to her face quickly and brushed across her lips. She stared at him for another moment, and then the doorbell rang again with a little more force. Closing the distance again between them, she placed a swift, hard kiss on his mouth. “I’ll be back,” she said, slipping around him. Matthew watched as she ran up the stairs and disappeared. With a deep breath, he answered the door.
***
Cali stood just out of sight at the top of the stairs. She heard Matthew open the door and greet both his brother and Lisa. They asked about her but Matthew covered easily saying she was upstairs and would be down in a minute.
Waiting until they all moved into the kitchen, Cali ducked into the small bathroom across the hall. Flipping on the light, she stared at herself in the mirror. Her color was returning to normal. Her swollen lips were the only tale-tell sign of what they’d been doing. She couldn’t help the smile that broke out on her face, remembering just how they’d gotten that way. Her eyes instinctively closed, and her body swayed as she relived it.
Voices below brought her back to reality. She heard a single set of footsteps on the stairs, and they didn’t sound like Matthew’s. It had to be Lisa.
Before she could give it anymore thought, she turned on the tap and splashed cold water on her face, scrubbing roughly. By the time Lisa found her, she was reaching for a towel. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Lisa said, watching as Cali roughly rubbed the towel across her face.
“Matthew said you were still up here.” Tilting her head, she watched as Cali, placed the towel back onto the rack. “Everything okay?” Cali gave her a puzzled look, but Lisa waved it away. “I mean you and Matthew are getting along alright, right?”
Cali started toward the door, trying to distract her friend’s attention from her face. “Yeah, sure.” She paused. “Why?”
Lisa shrugged. “No reason. I just thought since you were up here, and he was down there that maybe you two weren’t speaking or something.”
“Oh.” Cali hadn’t thought her delay would leave that impression. “No. No, everything’s fine.” Deciding she needed to get the focus off the status of her relationship with Matthew, she asked, “So…how are things with Jason?” As they started down the stairs, Cali noticed a small blush rise on her friend’s cheeks.
“Good.” Lisa paused for a few seconds, stopping on the stairs. “Cali, thank you for inviting us over today. I mean, I know it may not seem like a big deal to you or anything, but...well it is to Jason. He really looks forward to spending Sunday afternoons with his brother now that they are both here in Chicago.”
Cali gave her a genuine smile. “I’m glad you both could come. And I know Matthew is looking forward to it too.”
After grabbing some drinks, they joined the brothers who were talking on the back deck. It was a little cool today, but dry.
At noon, Matthew fired up the grill while Jason admired it, a look of astonishment on his face. It wasn’t until Lisa moved beside him that his gaze shifted. His eyes landed first on her and then on Cali. He whistled and motioned with his eyes to the grill in question. “That’s some piece of equipment you have there, Miss Stanton.”
She laughed. “Thank you, Jason. It’s my dad’s, but I’ll be sure to tell him.” It was propane, so it was ready in no time. Matthew ducked inside to get the meat and returned with a tray full of pressed hamburgers. He placed the patties on the hot surface and closed the lid. He turned to face the others, careful to avoid meeting Jason’s eyes. Jason had been giving him questioning looks ever since he’d arrived, and Matthew was determined not to give anything away.
Jason pulled Lisa against his side. “You ladies gonna watch the game with us?”
The women glanced at each other briefly, and then both shrugged. “Sure,” they answered in unison.
With burgers cooked and plates piled high with too many salads, they filed into the living room. Jason sat on the couch and pulled his girlfriend down beside him.
The two took most of the seating area, leaving only the armchair and love seat.
Cali and Matthew both paused to take in the seating arrangements. Taking the chair would make it obvious they were avoiding being near each other, but sitting in the love seat would put them close, too close. Matthew wasn’t sure they could manage to sit beside each other for three hours and not touch.
Cali made the first move taking the spot nearest Lisa on the love seat. With a little reluctance, Matthew joined her seconds later, keeping a safe distance between them. He glanced up several times and caught her gaze as they tried to focus on the plates of food in front of them. Matthew breathed a sigh of relief when Jason turned on the game. The surround sound in the room brought the battle on the screen to life and provided a distraction.
The Bears were playing the Cowboys. This was a big rivalry, and even if Matthew wasn’t a football fan, it wasn’t something he could ignore living in Chicago. The pre-game was just winding down, and the players came out to the sidelines, getting ready for the game to start.
They were all busy eating. Matthew was trying to pay attention to the announcer’s predictions, but Cali kept distracting him. She’d move or make
a little sound that would grab his attention. All that changed with the kick off.
***
As soon as the ball was in play, Jason became more animated than Cali had ever seen him. He was clearly a hometown boy, rooting for the Bears, and it didn’t take long for her to realize he wasn’t the only one. Matthew was more reserved about it, but she could still see the excitement on his face. He took in every detail, every move, reacting physically to what happened on the field.
She found she was more mesmerized by watching Matthew than the game. That really shouldn’t have surprised her though. Matthew was captivating. He was brilliant and disciplined. His sense of humor was quick when he came out from behind the mask he wore. And he was sweet, warm, and loving.
Matthew was also one of the most passionate people she’d ever met. No matter what he did, he did it with one hundred percent of his focus.
Cali realized the direction of her thoughts a little too late. Her hand rested between them. It was so close, she could feel the heat from his body. Every part of her wanted to touch him, but she couldn’t. Matthew didn’t want anyone to know about them. Not even Jason and Lisa.
His logic was if they could fool the two people who knew them best, then they could fool anyone. She understood, really she did, but she hated hiding. This man had become so important to her over the last three weeks. So important that she didn’t want to think of her life without him.
She tried to stifle a groan but only partly managed. Matthew heard her and looked over to make sure she was okay. Their eyes met and held for longer than they should. Cali saw the same emotions in his eyes before he turned back to the screen to disguise their intimate moment. Balling her fists, she ordered herself to watch the game.
The rest of the day was just as emotionally draining. Not only did Jason and Lisa stay for the Bears and Cowboys game but also for the Chargers and Cardinals game that followed. By the time they said goodbye, it was after seven and dark outside.
Cali couldn’t say the day was awful. There had been times she’d really enjoyed.
When a play was made that either she or Lisa didn’t understand, the guys would rush in to explain. It was very cute how they played off each other. The only downside to the day was the fact she had to keep her hands to herself. And she didn’t want to.
Hearing the click of the lock on the front door, Cali’s head came up and found Matthew staring at her. Within a split second, he pulled her into his arms.
“Remind me to never invite my brother over to watch a double header again,” he said, running his hands up and down her back while burying his face in her neck.
“That was just torture.”
She laughed. He wouldn’t hear any disagreement from her. Cali’s hands were around his neck, holding him close to her. “Yes, it was,” she whispered in his ear.
He moaned in response and grabbed her hips to press her tight against him, which caused a similar moan to escape Cali as well. “We should clean up the kitchen.”
Matthew began placing small kisses along her neck, licking and nipping at the soft flesh. He mumbled an assent but didn’t let go. Today had been the longest foreplay of his life. He’d thought the previous three weeks of wanting her and not having her had been bad; it was nothing compared to today. Being so close, and not being able to reach out and touch her, kiss her like he wanted was worse.
The fleeting thought that they should tell Jason and Lisa passed through his mind, but he quickly squashed it. He couldn’t risk it. They were his gauge. If he and Cali could keep it hidden from them, they could keep it hidden from anyone.
Without breaking contact, he moved them back into the living room. Clothing was shed as they touched, kissed, loved. He laid back on the love seat they’d shared that day, pulling her down on top of him.
There was no doubt. He was in love with this woman, totally and completely. But as soon as he thought of telling her, he shot it down. Matthew wouldn’t do that to her. She was a doctor, not a businesswoman. And when her time was up here, she would go back to being just that in Africa, or wherever else they sent her. He wouldn’t hold her back. How could he?
That thought brought him up short for a second. She was only his for eight more weeks. Just eight weeks. His body rebelled against that knowledge, and as his mouth redoubled its assault on her, his hands moved quickly across her body, staking their claim.
The feel of skin on skin was amazing. Better than the first time, if that were possible. Maybe it was because he’d admitted that he loved her, if only to himself. Or maybe it was because he knew her body a little better. He didn’t know.
But he also knew this was different. She was different. He’d always cared about the women he’d been with on some level, but he’d never felt anything like this, this need to be connected with her. He’d never loved a woman before.
As soon as Cali’s warmth surrounded him, he released a cry deep in his throat, arching up deep inside her. He loved this feeling. Their joining seemed to leave Cali stunned. Her eyes shut, and a look of pure pleasure on her face. He was captivated.
Their eyes met and held. So much emotion. So much. Her eyes glazed over as he continued to thrust deeper, harder, faster. She let go and screamed his name. It was too much. He couldn’t hold on. With a final thrust, he found his own peak and jumped off.
Cali collapsed on top of him, breathing in short shallow breaths. With his arms wrapped around her, he didn’t want to let her go. Ever.
Chapter 31
Monday morning brought with it an entirely new set of challenges. First of all, their secret was quickly exposed when Jessie came upstairs to put some clean towels away, found Cali’s room empty, and came barreling in Matthew’s room.
She found the two of them still asleep, naked, with Matthew’s arm thrown possessively across Cali’s waist.
Jessie, unable to hide her surprise, dropped the towels and gasped. It was loud enough to bring Matthew’s eyes open with a start. He held the older woman’s gaze for a second before pulling the sheet up higher to cover Cali’s exposed chest.
With a deep sigh, he said, “I’ll meet you downstairs?” It was clearly a question, and the still stunned woman nodded before leaving in a hurry, not bothering to pick up the discarded laundry.
There went my plan to keep things completely between the two of us, he thought. I hope that I can convince Jessie that this stay between the three of us.
He’d been taught to roll with the punches, though, so leaning down, he began to place soft kisses on Cali’s neck and shoulder. After a few minutes, her breathing sped up, and her eyes fluttered open. Soon he was staring into those deep brown eyes of hers.
She arched her back to stretch, pushing her rear against his hips and causing a muted noise to escape his throat. Cali heard him and smiled, twisting around to throw her arms around his neck. “Good morning.”
He sighed. He wanted to make love to her again before spending the next nine hours in the same building with her, not showing her any type of affection.
Talking with Jessie was not how he envisioned starting his morning.
Cali sensed his melancholy. “Matthew, what’s wrong?” He moved his eyes to look over her shoulder. She turned to see what he was looking at and saw the pile of towels in the open doorway. With a confused look on her face, she turned back to him.
“Jessie,” he said simply.
Burying her head in his chest, she groaned. “What are we going to do?”
He rubbed his hand along her spine and sighed. “Go down and explain. I don’t see we have a choice.”
After getting dressed, they walked, resigned, downstairs to the kitchen. Jessie was busy making breakfast but stopped when she saw them. She looked embarrassed along with smug. Cali didn’t understand the embarrassed part, but the smug she got clear enough.
Matthew understood both immediately and cringed. He knew Cali loved the woman like a mother, but he did not want to expose Cali like that again in the future.
Th
e smugness, from his experience, was someone waiting impatiently for the details so she could spread the good news. He hated to burst her bubble, but he had no choice.
They both took, what had quickly become, their regular seats as Jessie set their food in front of them. Matthew took a casual bite of the ham and cheese omelet as the older woman leaned back against the far counter, her arms folded.
“You can’t share what you saw this morning with anyone,” he said in a voice that hid the desperation behind his words.
Jessie glanced at Cali and then back to Matthew. “And why not?”
The woman’s tone made it clear that she didn’t approve of not sharing. Before he could speak up though, Cali said, “Jessie, it’s too dangerous for others to know.” The look on her face said she didn’t understand.
Matthew took over, leveling a look that would bear no argument. “Cali’s life, as we’ve seen, is in danger. It is my job to protect her, and I will. But if anyone knows, and I mean anyone, that Cali and I are involved, they could use it as leverage against her, me or the company to get what they want. I can’t let that happen.” He paused. “I won’t let that happen.” This last part was said with a fierceness that made Jessie jump.
She looked back and forth between the two and then settled on Cali. “Does your father know?”
Cali shook her head. “No. And we’d like to keep it that way.” Cali sighed and set her fork down. “Jessie, I trust Matthew. If he says it’s safer this way, then it is. Please?”
Jessie didn’t like it, but what choice did she have. “Fine,” she grumbled. “I won’t say anything.” She looked them over again. “So does that mean we will be moving someone?” When they looked at her quizzically, she almost laughed. “Well it’s obvious you two will be sharing a room. I just figured it would be easier if all of your things were in one place.”
