Fragmented ✔️

24. Tethered

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty." Matt's voice barely cut through the rhythmic pounding in my skull. "Sleep well?"

"Mmm." Stretching my legs until cool air hit my bare skin, I winced; every part of me ached. I popped my head from beneath the covers and attempted to open my eyes. "Not really. Couldn't get to sleep." Blinding light streamed across the bedroom and I ducked back under, holding the duvet tighter around myself. "Too bright. Close the curtains."

"It's nearly midday. Pretty sure you slept," he chuckled and after the clattering of something on his bedside table and ruffling of fabric, the bed dipped. "Made you some toast and tea when you're ready." The blanket lifted and swaddled my body again seconds later. I couldn't bring myself to glance at what Matt was doing. My temples throbbed to the point each movement felt agonising; I was starving and beyond thirsty.

Matt's hands sought my arm in my fabric cocoon and he tugged me closer until his legs draped over mine.

"What are you doing?" My T-shirt slipped up my stomach. Matt's fingers traced scorching circles along my midriff. I sighed as I leaned into him and drew a soothing breath. The smell of mint saturated my senses and eased some of the pain. But then it hit me. The smell! "Not fair. You brushed your teeth and I have dog breath." I covered my mouth just as Matt skimmed his lips over my neck.

"I don't care."

"So I do stink?"

"I mean, yeah, it's morning. And you drank a shit tone last night. What do you think?" He laughed. His palm rested over my breast while he peppered kisses closer to my mouth.

I moaned against him, but the fear of him being hit by any residue of my red wine breath stopped me from relaxing and enjoying the tender caresses he laid across my skin. "I think I'm brushing my teeth again." Pushing the duvet off my head, I went to sit but fell back as sunlight assaulted my vision once more. "But in a bit."

Matt wrapped his arms around my back and pulled until I had no choice but to lie over his chest. "I have to move out."

"Why? Have you spoken to them?" I peered up and a fleeting look of regret flashed across his eyes. If I hadn't been there when he caught them, would he still want to move out? I ran my fingers over his forehead and brushed my nose against the stubble on his chin.

"No, but it's the right thing to do. It's gonna get awkward and I don't trust them not to bring drugs back here. It's a no go for me," he said, his voice muffled in my hair as I tucked my face into his neck.

"I get it. Where will you go?"

"No idea. I'll have to give notice for rent, so have some time to look. Wanna help me?"

"Of course."

If I thought my parents would be okay with it, or we were further along in our relationship, I would have offered for him to stay at my house, but that wasn't an option.

"Not now, though. Now I have other plans." Matt slid his hands below the fabric of my knickers and over my bum. He kneaded each cheek, pressing my pelvis into him.

"What plans?" I half chuckled into his mouth as his lips covered mine.

His touch left goosebumps on my skin as he brushed them up my sides in painfully slow sweeps; each of his movements careful and calculated, holding, kissing and caressing every part of me. He slipped my underwear down my legs, pulled my t-shirt over my head and rolled me onto my back.

What started as a lazy, sensual massage turned heated but never sped up. Matt had all the time in the world as he worshipped my body. He nibbled the sweet spot below my ear and trailed his tongue in erotic strokes along my collarbone, down the side of each breast and back up until his mouth covered my nipple.