Dusk and Desire - A Mattheo Riddle Story

Overheard Conversations

When Nora woke up the next day, she couldn't decide how she felt. Her insides were a torrent of emotions that she couldn't quite place. Both anxiety and relief at the fact that she'd finally revealed to Mattheo how she'd felt about him for quite some time now—even if she couldn't admit it to herself for most of that time. Satisfaction for the way Mattheo loved her after. Secure in the way that he said it back as if he'd previously been holding himself back from admitting his true feelings just as she had been. Happy at knowing she was loved. Nervous at placing her trust in a man when all of the other ones in her life had let her down. And, finally, the deep twisting feeling in her stomach that something was wrong, even though she couldn't really think of what could be wrong at a time like this.

Plus, she was hot as hell—the warmth that spring in late March occasionally brought was clearly upon them. She threw the sheets off of her body and sighed with relief with she felt cold again. Nora sat up and ran her hands through her straight hair a couple of times, fingers deftly undoing what few tangles had been created over the night. She was naked but, then again, whenever she spent the night with Mattheo that seemed to happen. The both of them were always too exhausted to do anything but sleep after a few rounds, including putting on pajamas.

"Good morning, sex god," she murmured, turning to the spot on the bed next to her with a soft smile on her face. But a frown replaced that look quickly when she saw that it was empty. Mattheo was gone with only a piece of paper to remind her that he was even here in the first place.

Good morning my beautiful little sleepyhead,

Sorry for the note. You looked too peaceful to wake up. I think you've never looked further from wanting to kill me so I decided to savor it. Enzo apparently has an issue so he asked us boys to help him take his mind off of things. Don't worry, we aren't drinking. I know you don't like that. As for cigs... Theo makes no promises and, therefore, neither can I. That bet of his didn't last long, eh?

Anyway, stay as long as you like. I look forward to returning to you in my bed as soon as little ole Enz can get his panties untwisted. 

I love you

Yours,

Mattheo xx

Nora smiled as she read his words. It was as if he were right next to her, rambling about things on and on. "Theo's back on the cigs again?" she would ask him and he'd go "Yeah, for now, until Malfoy gets in a sour mood and bets him to get off them again." 

She wasn't sure how it happened, how Mattheo went from being the boy she hated most to being her only real love. How he went from being her archenemy to her best friend. How she'd fallen in love with him so effortlessly. All Nora knew was that she was thoroughly and utterly ruined by the boy with chocolate eyes and matching curls. 

Deciding that even though she wanted to remain in bed, she would spend her Saturday morning in the library, Nora got up and trudged over to the bathroom. Might as well be productive, she thought as she did her business. She'd be waiting for Mattheo to show his stupid, beautiful face anyway so at least she could get some homework done in the process. 

I love him, she thought as she brushed her teeth with the spare toothbrush he kept in the bathroom for her. I love him, she thought as she slipped on his oversized sweatshirt with one of those muggle bands he was always singing about. I love him, she thought as she brushed her hair and kept it down just the way he liked it. I love him, as her heart clenched at the thought of seeing him later today.

It was a foreign thought and yet Nora couldn't help but feel like it had been inside her all this time, waiting to be voiced. I love him. I love Mattheo Riddle. I love him and it's as easy as breathing. I love him... maybe forever.