Shadows and Secrets

The aftermath

Lexi stirred slowly, her head pounding as she emerged from a heavy, alcohol-induced sleep. The first thing she noticed was the blinding sunlight streaming through the dormitory window, making her groan and pull the covers over her head. Her mouth felt dry, and the dull ache in her temples made it clear she had gone far over her limit last night.

She shifted slightly, the bedsheets rustling around her, and froze when her hand brushed against something warm and solid. She blinked, pushing the covers down and turning her head, only to find herself face-to-face with a broad, bare chest. Her eyes widened in shock.

It took a few seconds for her brain to catch up, but when it did, she realized she was staring at a very shirtless Mattheo Riddle, who was lying beside her on her bed.

Oh, Merlin.

She sucked in a sharp breath, the events of last night rushing back to her in a blur of hazy memories. The party, the drinks, stumbling through the halls, Mattheo's strong arms carrying her back... and then-nothing. Had they slept together? No, no, she was still fully dressed, and his pants were still on. That, at least, was a relief.

But why was he still here?

Lexi's gaze traveled up from his chest to his face. His dark curls were tousled against the pillow, a few errant strands falling over his forehead. His eyes were closed, his long eyelashes fanning on his cheeks. His usual sharp, intimidating expression was replaced by a peaceful, almost boyish look that made her heart skip a beat.

She carefully shifted onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow as she stared at him, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now. He was gorgeous, that much was undeniable. But what was he doing here, in her bed, of all places?

Before she could make sense of the situation, Mattheo's eyes fluttered open. His brown gaze met hers, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then his eyes widened, and he quickly sat up, scrubbing a hand over his face.

"Shit," he muttered, glancing around as if just realizing where he was. "You're awake."

"Clearly," Lexi said, her voice dry as she tried to ignore the way her stomach flipped at the sight of him half-naked beside her. "What the hell are you doing in my bed?"

"I-uh..." Mattheo seemed at a rare loss for words, his hand going to the back of his neck as he looked anywhere but at her. "You were really out of it last night. I brought you back here, and you... well, you asked me to stay."

Lexi's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I-I did?"

"Yeah," he said, his gaze finally meeting hers. "You didn't want me to leave, so I stayed until you fell asleep. I must've passed out too."

Lexi stared at him, her mind whirling. She vaguely remembered asking him not to go, but she hadn't expected him to actually stay. And definitely not like this. "Why are you shirtless, then?"

Mattheo glanced down at his bare torso, then back at her, smirking despite himself. "You were, uh, kind of clinging to me. Your nails are sharp, Yaxley. I took my shirt off so you wouldn't ruin it."

She felt her face heat up even more. "I-what? No, I didn't-"

"You did," he said, his smirk widening as he looked at her. "But hey, it's fine. I'm still in one piece."

Lexi groaned, hiding her face in her hands. This had to be some kind of cruel joke. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I was an idiot last night."

"Yeah, you were pretty drunk," he said, his tone softer now. "But it's okay. You didn't do anything stupid."

Lexi lowered her hands, peeking at him through her fingers. "Why are you being so... nice?"

Mattheo shrugged, his expression guarded again. "Don't get used to it, Yaxley. It's not like I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart."

"Right," she said, trying to ignore the weird disappointment that settled in her chest. Of course, he wasn't doing this because he cared. "Well, thanks. For staying, I mean."

"Yeah, whatever." He ran a hand through his hair, looking a bit uncomfortable. "You should probably get some water. And maybe something to eat. You look like death."

"Gee, thanks," Lexi muttered, pushing herself up to sit beside him. Her head spun slightly, and she squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath. "I'm fine. Just need a minute."

They sat in silence for a moment, the awkwardness thick between them. Lexi could feel his gaze on her, but when she glanced at him, he quickly looked away, his jaw tense.

"So... what now?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Mattheo shrugged, reaching for his shirt, which was crumpled at the foot of the bed. He pulled it on, his movements quick and almost defensive. "Now, I leave. And we pretend this never happened."

Lexi bit her lip, watching as he stood and made his way to the door. She knew she should be relieved, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, something that made her want to stop him from leaving.

"Mattheo," she called out, her voice stopping him just as he reached the door.

He turned, one hand on the doorknob, his expression guarded. "What?"

"Thank you," she said quietly, the words feeling inadequate but sincere. "For last night. I... I don't remember much, but I appreciate it."

He stared at her for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. Then he nodded once, a slight, almost imperceptible gesture. "Don't mention it, Lexi."

And with that, he turned and left, the door clicking softly shut behind him. Lexi sat there, staring at the empty space where he'd just been, her heart still racing.

She had no idea what was going on between them, but one thing was clear: things were getting more complicated by the day.

And she wasn't sure she was ready for it.