We both stilled, our gazes lifting to the door. I smelled Matt almost instantly, and, judging by the growl Tandan released, he smelled him too. While my mate was still trying to recover from our stolen moment, I bolted to the door and jerked it open just enough to stick my head out. Matt tilted his head to the side with a curious look and chuckled.
"Whatcha doing there, little missy?" he asked. "Are you going to let me in or what?"
My mouth bobbed open and closed until I managed to actually form coherent words. "Thank God you're here," I choked out.
The door was yanked out of my grasp and pulled open. I felt my mate move up behind me, his body heat penetrating my clothes. Just his heat made me feel warm and tingly, and I had to glance down at myself to make sure I still had clothes on.
"You," accused my mate in a blood-chilling voice.
"Me? Who the hell are you?" Matt demanded. His eyes flickered back to me. "Lee, what is going on?"
I ground my teeth together and turned back to face my mate. His eyes reluctantly tore away from Matt to bear down into me. "You need to leave," I said.
"I'm not going anywhere." He pushed his shoulders out to look larger. Like he needed any help with that. "You're my damn mate. He can screw off."
"Just because you're my mate doesn't mean this is okay," I hissed. "Why are you even here? Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend? You do love her and all, don't you?"
My words stung him. He reeled back in surprise before his obsidian eyes narrowed. "Is this really how you want to play, Rylee?"
Was he seriously using my full name? I never even told him that. He must have noticed while snooping around in my file. Nosy, annoying psycho.
"I know it's the truth," I said, eerily calm. "I know you don't care about me or the mate bond. You're only here because of my heat. And frankly, that's not enough for me to let you stay. So go be faithful to the person you actually care about."
He leveled his glower with my bleary eyes. Even though he clearly had a lot to say, the resignation on his face let me know I was right. Everything I said was true. My heart sunk in my chest, and I had to turn and walk to my bedroom. I couldn't be in the same room with him or I would lose it.
Not even a minute passed before my sensitive ears heard the door close. I could hear a pounding heart, and Matt's smell gave him away. The bed dipped under his weight as he crawled under my sheets. My face was a puddle of shed tears, and I curled more in on myself to keep him from seeing.
"That schmuck was the guy you're so hung up on, huh?" he asked, rubbing my shoulder.
I nodded and just hoped he could see in the room's dim lighting. His hand traveled to my back and continued to rub soothingly. It felt so nice to be touched in such a simple, affectionate way.
"He was awfully possessive." His short nails scratched through my shirt, making me want to arch my back. "And he loves someone else? Are you sure?"
"Yep," I croaked.
"Are you sure you aren't just seeing what you want to see?"
Feeling hurt by his unwillingness to take my side, I rolled away from his hand and flipped around to face him. "You saw him leave, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah..."
"Exactly," I muttered. "There's your evidence."
"You were trying to kick him out. I'd be pretty pissed if you were trying to kick me out too."
"Who's side are you on?" I demanded. "He isn't you, Matt. He wasn't here because he felt bad for me. He's here because he wanted to bed me, and that's all. Unless you're here for that too?"
His face pinched up in a wounded scowl. Sighing, I pushed my face into my hands.
"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I didn't mean that. I know you don't want me like that. I'm just...He makes me so angry."
Rather than yell at me or storm out of the room, Matt reached across the bed to take my hand. He studied my face and said, "I'm willing to be whatever you want me to be, Lee. Back rubber, bedmate, lover."
Tears pricked my eyes again. "Why are you so nice to me?"
"Because I like you."
"But...why?"
He chuckled and scooted closer to me, saying, "Your laugh."
My eyes narrowed, tears sobering. "My laugh?"
"It's obnoxious but also cute. It's unique. Like you."
Muttering nothing comprehensible under my breath, I rolled my eyes. This only made him laugh. I stuck my tongue out at him and then closed my eyes. My chest ached. Matt was good to stay here with me, but all I really needed was my mate. I was such an idiot.
Though we never used the blanket fort I made in the living room, we both passed out in my bed. His arm was slung around my waist when I stirred the next morning. I wiggled away and went to the bathroom to take a hot shower and get ready for work. Matt was still asleep when I came out, and I wanted to let him sleep but I figured he probably had work. After I changed into an overly modest blouse and black slacks, I decided to get my guest up.
"Rise and shine," I said, touching his shoulder. "Mattie Pattie, it's seven-thirty."
"Hmm?" He stretched, flexed his muscles, and then opened his eyes. "Well, good mornin', little missy. Am I in your bed or is this Heaven?"
Chuckling, I rolled my eyes and walked towards my closet to fetch some pumps. "Don't you have work today?"
"Yeah...not until later, though."
"Oh. Lucky."
"Mhmm."
I slipped my feet into a pair of short black wedges and grabbed my purse on the way towards the bedroom door. "The front door locks automatically," I told him, "so don't worry about locking up when you leave. There's food in the kitchen if you're hungry."
"No goodbye kiss?" he inquired.
My lips curled into a smirk before I blew him a kiss and left. Our relationship was bordering blurry lines, and I made a note to myself to not have another sleepover with him. They were never intended to be sleepovers, but we both just had habits of passing out. I had no sexual attraction to him, but he wasn't part wolf with a mate so he probably didn't feel the same. The next time we met, I'd have to lay down some rules. Mostly to protect him from my selfishness.
When I got to the office, Angelica was already there but Tandan was not. Maybe he wouldn't come in today. That thought made my chest hurt. Pinching my eyes shut for a minute, I took a deep breath and slowly released it. Today was going to be a beautiful day.