Page 49 of Twisted Beauty

11

Liv

Liv had never been so happy to see the first hints of dawn.

Matt’s guest room was gorgeous in the subtle gray light. Masculine, if not for the handful of boy-band posters taped to the walls by his cousin. A king-sized bed covered in a muted green duvet, a couple of old-wood end tables, and a distressed dresser were the only items in the room. With its high ceilings and the huge picture window that looked out east over the expanse of the city and the distant mountains, the room felt like an extension of the outdoor space.

But she’d had a ridiculously long night, staring out that window into the inky black and listening to the rain patter against the glass. The occasional burst of electricity lit up the clouds, illuminating the landscape below. It made for a stunning light show, if only she hadn’t been so tired. And restless.

The thought of Matt sleeping down the hall had sent heat pulsing through her veins. All night long. It didn’t help that she was sleeping mostly naked, since she hadn’t wanted to sleep in Aleta’s leggings and tight top. Feeling the cool sheets draped over her body had every nerve ending on alert.

Around three a.m., she considered getting dressed and poking around that chef’s kitchen, maybe making a cup of tea or something to help her sleep. But she couldn’t take the chance that she’d run into him until she got her libido under control. She didn’t trust herself.

Instead, she poked through the dresser for something to sleep in and found a stack of Matt’s big t-shirts. When she pulled one on, it smelled fresh, like soap. She breathed it in, imagining her nose was buried in his chest instead. Which didn’t help at all. Feeling his shirt caressing her naked body made her skin extra sensitive all over, and she felt it sweep over her hard nipples every time she shifted.

She wondered what he slept in. PJs? Boxers? Nothing?

Liv sat up and shoved off the covers. She was losing her mind.

No matter how much the sensible part of her wanted to stay single for a good long while, the rest of her clearly couldn’t get past the feel of his lips against hers. Or the strength of his arms as he carried her across the flooded street. Even the way he’d taken time to check up on his elderly neighbor made her want him even more.

Would it really be that bad to have a stringless fling? Just a short one? She was only here for a few more weeks anyway.

Matt didn't want a relationship. She didn't want a relationship. It was kind of perfect.

And she could blame Katie and her matchmaking ways if it all went to hell.

Of course, Matt had made exactly zero effort to get close to her since the party. Sometimes she saw something intangible in his eyes when he looked at her, like a flash of heat or desire. Maybe. But mostly he just seemed polite. Like he was putting up with her because she kept insinuating herself into his life, however unplanned.

She wondered what kind of a mood she’d find him in this morning. Well, she was about to find out. Because after a night of so very little sleep, she desperately needed coffee.

Liv took a quick shower in the attached bathroom to rinse off yesterday’s rain and the fog in her head. She twisted her wet hair into a knot, threw Aleta’s leggings back on, and swiped a clean t-shirt from the dresser. It smelled good, a hint of fresh scent she was quickly associating with him, and she wondered what he’d think of her borrowing his clothes.

When she cracked open the bedroom door, the smell of bacon wafted in.

Liv padded barefoot into the kitchen and her breath caught. Matt was facing the stove, cooking, which offered her an uninterrupted view of his glorious back.

He wore a pair of gray cotton shorts and nothing else. There was no mistaking how toned his ass was beneath the thin material. His narrow waist angled upward toward wide shoulders, and muscles rippled across his back as he moved. When he reached for something on the counter, a drop of water fell from his dark hair, probably wet from a shower, and slid slowly down his back toward his hips.

“Holy shit,” she whispered.

Crap. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

Matt turned with a spatula in his hand, but she couldn’t tear her eyes from his chest. The chiseled muscles, the dusting of dark hair, that V shape disappearing into his shorts.

Nobody had a body like that. Did he work out every day?

“Good morning, hermosa. Sleep well?”

A band of ink around his right bicep caught her eye. Looked like some kind of Aztec design, high enough on his arm that it hadn’t been visible beneath his t-shirts. She’d never been much of a tattoo person, but this one moved whenever his bicep moved and, for some strange reason, sent a shiver of pleasure through her.

Liv forced her eyes up to his, and he looked amused. No doubt someone who looked like that was used to women ogling him. She folded her arms and pretended he had no effect on her. “Good morning.”

“Is that my—” Matt chuckled. “I see you found my old t-shirts. I forgot those were in there. I was planning to donate them. You’re swimming in it.”

Liv tilted her head and let her eyes graze over his naked chest, then up to his face. Maybe it was time to wipe away that cocky look. “You’re right. It is a little too big.” She grasped the edges of his shirt and started to lift, pretending to take it off. She’d only exposed a sliver of her stomach when his spatula clattered to the floor, splattering bits of egg onto the tile.

“Fuck,” Matt muttered and leaned down to pick it up. Liv burst into a fit of giggles, satisfied that she wasn’t the only one feeling off-kilter here.