He grabbed my ass and lifted me up, slamming my back against his door.
I wrapped my legs around his waist as his lips collided with mine.
“You said you didn’t want to do this when I was mad at you the other day,” I said between kisses. “Shouldn’t we wait until you’re not mad at me?”
He kissed me again as he carried me over to his bed and tossed me down on it.
I bounced before sagging into the soft mattress.
“I’m not mad at you.” He leaned over top of me. “I’m in love with you. There’s a huge difference.”
“I’m in love with you too.”
“But I do need you to agree to a few rules before we go any further.”
I nodded. Sex rules? Was that a thing? Or a safe word or something? Why would I need that? What is he planning on doing to me?!
“From now on, you’ll kiss only me.” He pushed up my t-shirt and planted a kiss on my stomach. “You’ll only fall asleep in my arms.” Another kiss a little lower. “I will be your first and only husband.”
I laughed.
He bit my skin in response.
Oh.
“You’ll come to me when you’re in trouble.” He kissed the same spot he’d just bitten. “And you’ll give me the rest of your firsts.” His fingers hooked in the waistband of my panties. “And you’ll never run away from me again. We fight for each other. Always and forever.” He pulled my panties down my thighs. “Agreed?”
Fuck yes. I lifted myself up on my elbows so I could look at him. “I promise, Matt.”
He kissed the inside of my thigh, making me shiver.
He locked eyes with me as he lowered his mouth. “Now I think it’s time we took care of a few of those firsts, don’t you think? I think you requested all of it? But let’s start slow. I have two things in mind I think you might really enjoy.”
I nodded. I had no idea what two things he was talking about. But when his mouth collided with my skin, I knew I wanted everything he could give me. Two things. Ten things. Every single thing. I’d give him all my firsts if they felt this fucking good.
This time when my fingers tangled with his hair I felt more complete than I had in months. More alive. More loved. I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t just barely holding on. I was freaking soaring.
Chapter 11
Monday
“Baby.”
I woke up to kisses along my clavicle and Matt’s fingers in my hair. “Mmm.”
“Hey.” His hand stopped on the side of my face as I slowly opened my eyes.
I blinked up at his smiling face. He’d kept his 5 o’clock shadow because I’d told him I liked it. He looked so handsome. I reached up and ran my palm along his jaw. “Good morning.” We’d never been together like this in the morning. He usually slipped out before I woke up. But I guess that wasn’t necessary here.
Matt smiled down at me. “Good morning, beautiful.” His thumb dropped to my lower lip. “I like waking up to you.”
I smiled up at him. “I like waking up to you too.”
He slowly sat up and I realized he was already fully dressed in his Empire High uniform.
“Are you leaving?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I actually missed a lot of school last week. Coach Carter said I couldn’t play in the game next weekend unless I came in today. I’ll stay with you if you want. You know that. But…”
“What? No. You should go. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I don’t want you to have to miss your game. It’ll be the first one I’ll get to come to as your girlfriend.”
He smiled at me. “I’d like that. Maybe you could wear my letter jacket?”
Oh. Isabella had cut up all my clothes. But I didn’t think Matt’s jacket had been part of the destruction. It had still been packed away in a box. Thank God. “I’ve been dying to wear it. Maybe I should just come to school today too. I think I feel okay…”
“No,” Matt said. “I promised your dad I’d take care of you. You still need rest. I even brought you breakfast in bed.” He gestured to the tray that was sitting on the bed.
I’d thought I’d smelled bacon. I sat up, keeping the comforter pressed against my chest. That was the sweetest thing ever. “Thank you.”
“Take the day off. Relax. Sleep. Whatever you need.” He kissed the side of my forehead. “I’ll be back after practice.”
“Am I allowed to go downstairs?”
He laughed. “Of course. I’m not locking you up here. I just thought you might be more comfortable in my room.”
My dad would have tried to lock me up. He had tried that.
“There’s a TV in the kitchen if you want to watch something. And there’s a library if you want to read. My mom’s here, so you can just ask her for whatever you need.”
I nodded. I liked Matt’s mom. Maybe I could just hang out with her today.
“I like that look,” Matt said.
“What look?” I smiled up at him.
“The messy hair. Rosy cheeks. My ring on your finger.”
I smiled as looked down at the ring. “I shouldn’t wear this out of your room though right? Won’t your family wonder why I have it?” The last thing I wanted was for the Caldwells to think I was stealing jewelry.
“My dad made it clear he didn’t want a Pruitt in the family. I made it clear that you aren’t. And that even if you technically are, you won’t be for long.”
I pressed my lips together. “You told them you wanted to marry me?”
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of my face. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell your dad the same. I know that’s one of his rules. To always make my intentions clear.”
Yeah, it probably was, but I hadn’t read the freaking contract.
“I’ll talk to him today,” he said. “So yeah…wear the ring. You’re mine. And I want everyone to know it.”
Matt calling me his always made my stomach fill with butterflies. “As a promise ring, right? That’s what you said it was?”
“You can call it whatever you want.” He placed a soft kiss against my lips.
“Because that’s what it is.”
“Whatever you say, Brooklyn. Engagement ring, promise ring, either way…”
I laughed. “But you didn’t propose.”
“Hmm.” He climbed off the bed. “Didn’t I?”
“No, you did not.”
“I think we remember that differently.”