Sturniolo Tower (Matt Sturniolo)

8. Roses

The warmth leaves me from being wrapped around me for most the night and I feel the blanket move slightly under me.

I opened my eyes and blinked, adjusting to being awake. I watched Matt make his way around the bed, standing in front of the wardrobe before pulling the drawer open slowly so he didn't wake me.

I watched him take off his shirt and throw it in the hamper for dirty clothes in the corner of the room. It's hard not to admire him without a shirt on.

He groaned pulling on his clean shirt, before doing up the buttons, hiding his body and the tattoos on his arm. I lay quietly, soaking up the warmth of the blankets, admiring my view.

He looked back at the bed to see how I was doing and when he saw I was awake, he froze.

"How long have you been awake?"

"A few minutes" I said, my voice raspy from being asleep. I can tell he knows I've been awake long enough to watch him get dressed.

He watched me shift under the blankets before sliding out of bed. I shivered when my feet hit the floor before I made my way towards him.

"You still handsome to me, you know?" I asked, resting my hands on his waist.

Since he's been home, I noticed how he didn't roam the house like he used to. At night, he usually wears sweatpants and leaves his torso exposed. Since his accident, he's hidden his body like he's embarrassed of it. I noticed how he gets dressed when I'm not looking or if I'm in another room.

"Scars and all. I don't like how I got there, but I find them sexy"

He didn't smile back, I can see he wants to, he just won't.

"You don't have to sugarcoat it. I know my body doesn't look the same" he said, looking away from me for a minute

"I know this is hard for you. I've struggled with my appearance and how I look and you always remind me of how beautiful I am. I'm not saying it because I'm your wife. I'm just happy you're still alive and you came back to me"

I know his body doesn't resemble the same as it used to. The scars are a representation of the fact he fought a battle that wasn't easy and he won.

Matt shrugged and stepped away from me. "You are beautiful" he smiled at me. "My body changed and I don't like it, not right now"

"You know, my body will change and won't be the same again..." I said, becoming aware that maybe his distaste for his body will become a dislike he has for my own.

He shook his head, walking back to me and resting his hands on my hips. "You'll always be beautiful to me, nothing will change that"

"Then why can't you understand that about yours? You don't have to hide from me"

He gulped and silence filled the room again. I titled my head to the side, looking at him and wondering what he's thinking.

Matt cleared his throat, before pecking my lips. "Good morning" he mumbled against them, trying to change the subject.

"Morning"

"You should get back into bed, it's five in the morning" he gestured to the bed, that was calling my name. "I can see the way your lips are curling you want to fight me on this" he said, brushing his lips against mine. "Please don't"

"I'll go back to bed if you stop being so hard on yourself"

"I'll do my best" he nodded, guiding me back to bed.

He pulled the blankets over me and I pulled them tighter around me. "Blanket hog" he laughed, happy by the way I managed to pull the blankets around myself.