Page 9 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2
Matt arched an amused eyebrow at me. “Ah, so you’re worried about my financial status. Hmm, would you not love me if I was poor?” he teased.
“Shut up.” I mumbled before watching him intently. “I don’t care about the money, Matt. I just don’t want you to be ostracized from your family.”
“Like you are from yours?” he asked in a pointed manner.
My chest got tight again. I was still holding out for a miraculous reconciliation. A week hadn’t passed as yet.
“Yes,” I agreed in a sad voice.
Matt kissed me again, arms encircling my waist as he held me up against the muscular lines of his body. “Oh poppet, you still have no idea of what you mean to me.”
I didn’t respond, it was my personal bliss being held by him. I didn’t want to ruin it with words, or my silly doubts about us and our respective families. Aunt Cleo said he would throw me away when he was done using me. She was wrong. Matt’s parents were wrong too. He was more than my knight, he was my soul mate and Aunt Cleo had always taught us to be grateful for God’s blessings. Matt was my blessing, he filled the gaping hole of emptiness inside me. It was corny, but he completed me.
“Do you want to go home?” he asked, rubbing a hand over mylower back. I nodded against his jacket, inhaling his comforting scent. He stepped back but maintained a one arm hold around my waist and we exited the washroom. There was a member of staff right outside the door. Matt nodded once to the man who scurried away without a backward glance.
“Was he-”
“Keeping guard, yes.” Matt confirmed smoothly. “I didn’t care for any interruptions.”
“You are the strangest man I’ve ever known.” I said.
“Sweetest.” he countered as he led us out into the dining area.
“You’re not sweet, Matt, you’re,” I paused, trying to find the best word to describe all that he was.
“If you say bossy, I’ll put you over my knee and spank you as soon as we get home.” he warned with a serious glint in his eyes.
Whoa. That was a bit kinky, but hey, I’d try anything with him. Once, that is. Oh wait, except for bum sex. That was never happening. And threesomes, orgies, whatever; those weren’t going to happen either. I was sure I had read something about Matt that implied…well, it wasn’t going to happen. I sent him a sidelong glance. He was so possessive of me, downright jealous of any male attention directed at me. Nope, I didn’t have to worry about orgies.
“I was going to say unique.” I replied.
Matt gave me a lopsided grin that disappeared as we approached our table. He regarded his parents coolly before saying, “Madi and I are leaving now.”
William Jnr half rose from his chair. “Why? Is something the matter, son?”
“Not at all,” Matt said smoothly. “We can arrange another get together when you two decide you truly want to build a relationship with my fiancée, until then I refuse to subject Madi to your unwarranted disapproval.” He glanced between them. “The sooner you accept her, the better it will be for everyone.”
“Matthew,” Portia hissed under her breath. “Don’t speak to us in such a manner.”
I fidgeted next to Matt, my face warming with embarrassment.
He felt my nervous movements and tightened his hold around my waist as he said, “Mum, you know I adore you both, but I need youto understand Madi is going to be my wife and there’s nothing you can do about it. She is not a pawn and I am not playing any games. You are mistaken if you hold that belief.”
Portia’s face reddened before she sent me an accusatory look. What? She should know what her son was like. Matt was a psychic when it came to reading people. He had used his Vulcan powers to make me spill.
William Jnr cleared his throat. “Son, let’s just finish our meal-”
“No, Dad,” Matt said resolutely. “I had hoped your invitation tonight meant you were open to learning about the woman I love, but I can see it was nothing more than a cursory attempt to fool me into believing you were willing to extend an olive branch to us after months of you ignoring Madi. I’m your son, you should be happy for me instead of trying to make her feel uncomfortable.”
They both looked up at us. Matt sighed under his breath before twisting his head sideways at me. “Say goodnight to my parents, poppet.”
“Goodnight, Mr and Mrs Bradley.” I did as ordered. When Matt got this way it was best to just go with his flow.
“Son,” William Jnr called. “This is ridiculous. Sit down and let’s finish our meal. We can discuss these issues at a more appropriate time and place.”
“Good night, Dad.” Matt said coldly before giving his mother a brief nod of goodbye. “Mum.”
Then he turned us around and walked us towards the stairs. I looked back and saw Portia Bradley glaring ice daggers at me. It was official. My future mother-in-law hated me. I had no luck with maternal figures it seemed.
