mine. The soft buzz of magic energy we’re talking about searches for mine.
“Oh, I definitely felt something, Amelia,” he whispers. “Your magic had a weird effect on mine. On me.”
My breath shortens at the arousal caused by his touch—the way it did the first time our magic forged. But this isn’t magical. We’re not channelling a spell. This feeling comes from the memory of his lips on mine.
“I heard you today. In my head,” I murmur, becoming lost in the strangeness of his eyes as they burn with a new intensity. “Did I imagine that?”
“I heard you,” he whispers. “And I think this is more than vague telepathy—since the day I screwed up, each time I’m around you I feel what you do. Today I felt the anger and upset as if I experienced the emotions myself.” He runs a finger down my cheek. “I also felt your restraint, which stopped me casting a spell on Katherine—just a little something to ruin her day, nothing big.”
“I’m happy that stopped you. The last thing you need is trouble over magic, especially over something stupid like my fight with Katherine.”
“Lia, that was not stupid. She was an outright bitch to you.”
“I don’t care,” I lie.
Matt tips my chin and runs his thumb across my lips, his rough pad against my skin shooting along my nerve endings. “I care. You’re an amazing person who deserves good things. You put time and energy into both yourself and other people—time you could use to study or work.”
“I like helping.” His finger remains on my lips and I stare at his, heart thundering as if I’ve run a marathon.
With the connection he speaks about, Matt will know exactly what emotion runs hot through my blood right now. I’m disappointed when he takes my hand in his and looks back to the TV. Why is he here? I settle back and attempt to focus on the movie again but my attention span has shrunk to Matt beside me.
“Did you want to leave?” I ask Matt as his fidgety behaviour grows.
"No."
“Then what’s wrong? Is the movie boring you?”
I freeze as Matt traces my lips with his index finger, the touch shivering down my spine. "I’m distracted. By you."
I stare back. Suddenly, where his body touches mine switches from comfort to awareness on a different level. His arm against mine, his hips touching my leg, and the finger on my lips pulls my insides tight. I don’t think I’ve ever been looked at the way Matt looks at me now. They’re dark with the desire radiating from him, but something is behind that expression I can't fathom.
“Why did you run away when I kissed you the other day?” He drags my bottom lip down. “Was I that bad a kisser?”
I shake my head and he moves his face closer. “Because if I was, I can do better.” Matt murmurs the words, his lips a breath away from mine. "If that’s okay."
The hesitancy in his words amuses me—I never imagined Matt would ask anyone for permission.
"Really?" I say and bite my lip in a deliberately coy gesture.
He slides his finger across my lips. "Really, because that kiss the other night wasn’t enough. Not by a long way, Amelia.” His voice is husky as he moves towards me and I brace myself for a suffocating, urgent kiss like last time.
Instead, Matt kisses me softly, his lips barely skimming mine, urging me for an answer. I close the tiny gap between us and, as my mouth touches his, confusing words I whisper in my mind: I need your help, Lia.
The confusion is wiped away as Matt kisses me as urgently as the other night. I sink into him. He captures my lip between his teeth, tugging gently, and I make a noise of surprise then nip his lip in response. His lips harden and he thrusts his tongue into my mouth with a low growl.
Matt drags the blanket from my knees and pulls the soft material over our heads, adding another layer between us and the outside world. His warmth and scent are stronger, and the heat from our breath and bodies intensifies the intimacy as we hide like kids who don't want to be in trouble. Sliding his hands beneath my shirt, Matt pulls me closer. He runs his fingers along my lower back, and a shiver shoots from my spine to my toes, mouth locked on mine.
Stifled by the heat and overwhelmed, I pull the blanket from over our heads.