Chapter 62
**Matthew’s POV**
The city lights flickered faintly through the window, but I barely noticed them. Heizel’s laughter filled the room, light and infectious, as she leaned back on the bed, still brushing flour off her arms from our earlier kitchen battle. Her dress was slightly askew from all the chaos, one strap slipping off her shoulder, exposing just enough skin to make my breath catch.
“You’re still covered in flour,” I teased, stepping closer to her.
She raised an eyebrow, looking down at herself with mock indignation. “And whose fault is that, Mr. Flour Fight Champion?”
“Yours, obviously,” I said, smirking as I reached out to swipe another streak of flour off her cheek.
“Oh no, you don’t,” she said, grabbing my wrist before I could touch her. Her grip wasn’t strong enough to stop me, but the fire in her eyes sent a spark of excitement through me.
“Don’t tempt me,” I warned, leaning down just enough to bring us closer, my free hand brushing her knee as I held her gaze.
“And what are you going to do about it?” she challenged, her lips curving into that familiar, daring smile.
I didn’t answer. Instead, I slipped my hand down her arm, wrapping my fingers gently around her wrist. With a swift but gentle tug, I pulled her off balance, sending her tumbling onto her back with a gasp.
“Matthew!” she squealed, her laughter spilling out as I climbed onto the bed, caging her beneath me.
“You’re dangerous,” I said, my voice low and teasing as I leaned down, brushing my nose against hers.
She laughed again, her hands pressing against my chest as she tried to push me off. “You’re the one pinning me down!”
“Exactly,” I replied, grinning as I caught her wrists and pinned them above her head. “You started this, Heizel. Now you have to deal with the consequences.”
Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling against mine as she tilted her head slightly, her hair splayed across the pillows like a dark halo. “And what exactly are the consequences?” she asked, her voice breathless but playful.
I leaned closer, my lips brushing the corner of her mouth before trailing down to her jawline. “You’ll find out soon enough,” I murmured, my voice a mix of teasing and promise.
Her hands twisted slightly in my grip, but I didn’t let go. Instead, I released one wrist to let my hand slide down her side, tracing the curve of her waist before settling on her hip. Her skin was warm beneath my palm, and the way she shivered under my touch sent a rush of heat through me.
“You’re not playing fair,” she said, her voice shaking slightly as I pressed my lips to her neck, leaving a trail of kisses down to her collarbone.
“I never said I would,” I replied, smirking against her skin.
She arched slightly beneath me, her body responding instinctively as my hand slid beneath the hem of her dress, brushing against the bare skin of her thigh. Her breath hitched, and I felt her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, pulling me closer.
“You’re impossible,” she murmured, her voice laced with amusement and something deeper.
“And yet, here you are,” I teased, kissing her again—slowly this time, savoring the way her lips moved against mine, the way her body seemed to melt into me.
Her hands found their way under my shirt, her touch hesitant at first but quickly growing bolder as she slid her palms over the muscles of my back. The sensation sent a jolt of pleasure through me, and I pulled back just enough to tug the shirt over my head, discarding it somewhere behind me.
Her eyes roamed over my chest, and the faint smile that played on her lips was enough to make my heart race.
“You’re staring,” I said, echoing my earlier tease.
“Maybe I like what I see,” she replied, her voice soft but confident.
Her words sparked something in me, and I leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was deeper, hungrier. My hands roamed over her body, sliding the straps of her dress down her shoulders as I kissed along the curve of her neck, her collarbone, the soft rise of her chest.
She gasped softly, her fingers tangling in my hair as her legs wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. The feel of her body pressed against mine, the way she trembled beneath my touch—it was intoxicating.
“Matthew,” she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with urgency.
“Yes?” I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear as my hands slid to her hips, holding her firmly against me.
“You’re terrible,” she said, her laughter breaking through the tension as she arched into me, her nails grazing my back.
“And you love it,” I replied, grinning against her skin before kissing her again, my hands exploring every inch of her as we lost ourselves in each other.
The rest of the world faded away as her laughter turned into soft gasps and murmurs of my name, every touch, every kiss drawing us closer, binding us together in a way that felt effortless and right.
By the time we collapsed back onto the bed, tangled in the sheets, her head resting on my chest, the room was filled with the sound of our soft, shared breaths.
“You’re trouble,” she said, her voice drowsy but happy.
“And yet, you’re still here,” I replied, running my fingers through her hair as a contented smile spread across my face.
Her laughter was the last thing I heard before we drifted off together, the city lights flickering softly in the background.