𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

Chapter Twenty -Four

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Matthew put the plan in motion the week after they made love. It was a crazy night, one he knew he would never forget. It's one of the stories that live with you forever, those you keep in a secret place that nobody else can ever know except God and her.

She'd asked for wine after kissing him, deep with both appreciation and love, her tongue grazing his lips, her arms wrapped around his neck. Matthew had picked her up, turned her to pin her against the door, looking at her as if she was the most important person in his life. Imani's breath caught as she watched him with lidded eyes staring at her. The world stopped spinning, yet their hearts continued beating as loudly as their breathing. Matthew would have liked to say something, yet he couldn't think of anything he wanted to say. Imani occupied his entire brain at that moment.

Her slim waist with thick hips, the face that looked young with eyes that seemed to have seen more than the years she had been alive. It was a revelation for Matthew to find himself in his house with a woman he wanted for more than a few months.

With her legs around his waist, Matthew drew his mouth down to kiss her neck, to put his lips on her pulse to check if he could feel the sign of life.

She was alive, and she was his. Matthew thought, carrying her to the kitchen. He figured it was a better place to have a conversation as to why she was feeling embarrased. He could tell by how she kept hiding her face in his neck.

A few minutes after they both sat down on opposite sides around the kitchen aisle, Imani took a sip, wondering what to say to break what seemed like an awkward silence.

Maybe she could ask about his penchant for whiskey, but that would sounded like small talk, she thought, unconsciously touching the rim of the glass with her finger. He couldn't imagine how much she wanted to hide because now, with him across her, she began to remember what they had just done. Anger had prevented her from feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed before, but more so now because she wanted to know how it had been fo him.

He was experienced; she wasn't.

Clearing her throat to bring herself to bring up the topic, Imani reached out for the bottle of wine and started refilling her glass even though she still had a reasonable amount of it remaining.

"You're anxious about something," Matthew said before she could say anything. Breathing out loudly, she brought her eyes to his, laughing nervously as she took a sip of wine.

"I was wondering..." she paused, biting her lips for a second before clearing her throat again.

"I have never done this before...and" she threw him an unsure look.

"Done what...drunk wine?"She glared at him, and he laughed, reaching out for her hand and lacing their fingers together.

"You don't have to be embarrassed with me," Matthew told her gently, nudging her to look up at him.

She did, and what she saw in his eyes gave her the courage to ask what she thought was the most embarrassing question ever.

"Was it good..." she shrugged "you know, for you?"

Although he knew it was what she wanted to know, he experienced a wave of tenderness that gave him such an intense urge to touch her, he walked around to pull her to her feet, lift her in his arms, and hold her for a few minutes before placing her on the kitchen aisle to stand between her legs. Imani trembled with feelings at his nearness.

She wondered whether this was how life would be from now on.

Will she always react this way to his nearness? Will she always embarrassingly want to jump him every chance she got?