Chapter Twenty-two
The day was absolutely lovely. The weather was turning toward summer, leaving the cool and crisp days for hot and humid ones, but today wasn’t like that at all. Tennessee summer heat was wet and thick. Sometimes the heaviness would feel like you were choking just going outside.
It was also perfect weather for Reese to wear a sundress that showed off her curves and legs. Matty had practically salivated when she slid into the passenger seat of Reese’s car.
“Thank you again for going with me.”
Matty reached over to lightly squeeze her knee, letting it linger longer than necessary, but the tug of Reese’s lip as she stared out the windshield told her that it was okay. She withdrew her hand slowly. “Not a problem. You know I like spending time with you.”
Reese flashed her a grin before turning back to the road. “I like spending time with you, too.”
Saturdays were normally reserved for cleaning up the house or studying, but today was a little different. Kerrie had asked Matty to stay with Kenny for the morning while she and Bette went to do something wedding-related. Matty hadn’t caught what it was.
When Reese had messaged asking if she would go with her to look at new refrigerators, Matty had suggested an impromptu date night. They’d go look at appliances, then have dinner.
Spending time with Reese had become important to her.
They had spent Wednesday evening at Matty’s place having a small meal, then studying.
Then they’d had the best make-out session of her life on the couch.
Both had been left breathing heavily and flushed.
She had immediately gone to her bedroom and taken care of things on her own after Reese left.
She couldn’t believe how turned on just making out had gotten her.
Just remembering the feel of Reese’s clothed body as she skimmed it with her hands had sent every nerve in her body into overdrive.
They pulled into the parking lot of Home Depot, where Reese found a parking spot and cut the engine. She stared at the building. “I really don’t want to do this. I was looking at prices online. Do you know how expensive refrigerators are?”
Matty nodded. “Everything is so expensive now. Is that all we’re here for?”
“No, I want to replace the kitchen cabinet handles. One’s broken, and I just don’t care for the look. I feel like small details will help make the place really feel like my own, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I’d say you’re right.”
“Oh, and paint samples. It is exciting to think we’re getting close to painting.”
“It is. Should we look at flooring while we’re here? You said the carpet is going, right?”
Reese grimaced. “Yes, it’s so gross.”
“Well, let’s go see what we can find.”
Normally, shopping wasn’t really Matty’s thing, but she could do it for hours with Reese.
They browsed. They laughed. They brushed hands and hips while exchanging sneaky grins.
Being openly affectionate in the South was tricky.
Some places were safer than others, but neither wanted to press their luck.
“Do people really need a refrigerator with apps?” asked Reese, giving the appliance side-eye.
“You mean you don’t want one that’s as smart as your phone?” Matty smirked as she opened the door.
“Not at all. I want it to keep food cool, have a light inside, and maybe an ice maker unless that tacks on a significant amount.”
The selection was good, and after a bit of looking, Reese kept going back to the same stainless steel side-by-side complete with a water and ice dispenser.
“What do you think? It’ll be like $1,300 after taxes and the delivery fee. That’s not too bad, but if I went with the basic, it would be under a grand.” Reese chewed on her bottom lip.
“True, but is $300 going to seem like that big of a deal after having it for a long time? It should last a while.”
“That makes sense. I do like the convenience of the ice maker. And I have the money. I just hate the idea of spending a large chunk at a time.”
“That’s understandable.”
She stood there patiently waiting for Reese to decide. It seemed important to her to think it over completely. After a few more minutes of walking between a few of them, she landed back on the stainless steel one.
“Okay, I think this is the one. You’re right. It’s a long-term investment. $300 in the scheme of things isn’t that big of a deal. Let’s go find that sales lady to order one.”
Matty was pretty sure she saw Reese die a little after swiping her card to pay for the refrigerator. Then she was still in shock when they checked out with the new cabinet knobs and some plants she found in the garden center.
Once back in the car, she couldn’t help but chuckle at Reese’s expression. Wide eyes and a slack jaw turned to look at her. “I can’t believe I just dropped that much money.”
“And we still get to order flooring.”
Reese let out a groan as she started the car.
They had dinner at a local steakhouse. The food was fantastic, but the conversation and time with Reese were even better.
They discussed everything from preferred ways to have their steak to Matty’s frustration with a pipe job she had been assigned at the women’s facility to Reese’s discovery of several boxes of still-wrapped paper towels in the back of the pantry when she was clearing it.
It was that place in a relationship timeline where everything was new.
Each new piece of information contributed to Matty’s heart swelling with the need for more.
More information, more time, just more of Reese.
There had never been someone she had been this intrigued by, but that shouldn’t have been surprising to her.
She had never taken relationships very seriously.
Nothing that had deep meaning. It always seemed to get in the way or wasn’t sustainable.
The girls she’d seen were addicts too. It was hard to get serious with someone who would disappear for days at a time, or she would do the same.
By the time Reese was pulling up to the apartment, Matty wasn’t ready to say goodnight.
“Um, I don’t know if you’re busy after this, but do you want to come in? We could watch a movie.”
“I would like that. I was just going to go home and doomscroll and text you until bed anyway.”
“Awesome.”
There was something about the air of the apartment that felt charged. Like it could start crackling at any moment.
Matty turned on the lights and fed Hester while Reese turned on the TV to find something to watch. Matty couldn’t care less what they watched as long as it involved them close on the couch.
“What do we want to watch?”
Matty shrugged as she reached into the cabinet for a glass. “I don’t know. Maybe a crime doc? Do you want anything to drink?”
“I love crime docs. Water, please.”
“Me too.”
She got them both a glass of water. Hester’s bites of food sounded awfully loud in the apartment until Reese spoke. “How about this one? A girl is harassed, and no one knows who it is until a shocking discovery is made.”
“I love a shocking discovery. Let’s do it.”
Matty set the glasses on the coffee table, then took a seat on the couch. She patted the spot next to her. “Want to snuggle up?”
“Yes, please,” grinned Reese. She took the spot, burying herself in the arm Matty draped over her.
The heat from Reese’s body against her own was welcome. It crept through their clothes and into her skin. And the sweet scent of her perfume. It was intoxicating.
She hardly paid attention to the movie, hearing only bits and pieces as Reese relaxed more and more against her. She was content to stay that way for the rest of the night.
But then Reese’s hand was on her thigh. Its weight and heat burned through her jeans. Like an iron. It wasn’t even a large hand. It had pale purple nail polish, for Christ’s sake, but it might as well have been a kettlebell.
When the pretty pale purple-painted nails began to ever so slowly stroke the inside of her leg, electricity jolted through her from her head to her toes and landed squarely between her legs. Her breath hitched in her chest. Air seemed too difficult to take in.
She glanced at Reese’s chest. She was breathing completely normally. How was she not crawling out of her skin with anticipation?
Reese was so cool and calm. A small satisfied grin tugged at her face when she dragged her nails hard, and Matty jumped again. Damn it, she was in complete control, and Matty loved it.
“You seem a little jumpy,” smirked Reese.
Matty took a breath, trying to steady her pulse. “Do I? I didn’t notice.”
“Really?” She moved her hand farther up, cupping her thigh very close to a place on Matty’s body that was currently throbbing.
Matty couldn’t stop the little moan that came out of her mouth. She loved how in control Reese was.
“You know, you could be kissing me right now.”
The words sounded like an offer, but the look in her brown eyes told her it was more like a demand. A demand that Matty would willingly meet.
She shifted her hips, moving so that she was in a better position, with Reese doing the same. She noticed Reese wince.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, my back is a little sore from lifting that box of books into the dumpster.”
Matty narrowed her eyes. “The one you were supposed to wait for me to help you with?”
Reese shrugged one shoulder. “I mean, it wasn’t that heavy.”
“If it wasn’t that heavy, then you wouldn’t be in pain.”
She was met with narrowed eyes. “Are we making out or not?”
Matty had a retort on the tip of her tongue but didn’t give it. That wouldn’t get them anywhere, and she definitely wanted to make out. Instead, she thought about a solution. “Straddle me.”
“What?”
“Straddle me. That will relieve the pressure on your back.”
For the first time that evening, vulnerability flashed across Reese’s face. There was a long pause, then "No."
“No?”
She huffed as she began to scoot back. “No. I’m too heavy.”
Matty frowned, her hand slipping around her waist, stopping her. “No, you’re not.”
“Matty, let’s not pretend I’m not bigger.”
“I’m not. I know you’re bigger than me. I’m just not sure where the issue is. I love your body. I’ve been daydreaming about it for weeks now.”
An eyebrow peaked at her. “You have?”
“Yes, of course. Come here, baby, it’s okay.”
Doubt was written all over Reese’s face, but she moved to stand.
Matty scooted over some to give Reese room, as she had been pressed against the arm of the couch. She reached a hand out.
Reese took it, and with her other hand, pulled up the hem of her dress. The expanse of thigh that was showcased made Matty’s mouth water.
She looked up to see Reese’s worried eyes watching her.
She had to make sure Reese only saw desire in her actions, on her face, and in her touch.
She reached out with her free hand, taking a risk.
When her hand landed on the soft, velvety thigh, she groaned out loud and pulled hard.
Reese allowed her leg to be moved just a fraction.
“God, I’ve been wanting to touch these.”
She looked up with pleading eyes. Never had she begged before, but she’d gladly get on her knees if it meant they were closer.
“You’re sure?” Reese whispered. Worried lines littered her forehead.
She trailed her fingertips up and down the side of her thigh. “Yes, please.”
The air in Matty’s lungs froze like ice until Reese was finally settled on her lap. The warmth and weight of her was welcoming, like a weighted blanket draped over Matty’s lap. She finally let out a moan as she reached to cup her hands behind Reese’s head, pulling her lips to her own.
Reese allowed Matty to move her, but she kept a little distance between them. Matty could feel the hesitation even in the kiss. Reese was still nervous. Matty ached to change that. She didn’t want her to feel self-conscious.
She tugged Reese’s bottom lip in between her teeth, kneading it slowly.
Reese let out the smallest of moans as she wrapped her arms around her neck, letting the distance close.
The soft press of her breasts against Matty’s own had her pushing back against her.
Slowly, Reese melted against her body like warm caramel.
Her legs widened, her ass arched, her arms relaxed as she dragged her nails over Matty’s scalp and down her neck. It sent a shiver through her.
“Okay, maybe this was a good idea,” Reese whispered against the heated skin of her jaw as she left a trail of kisses to her earlobe.
Matty groaned loudly when Reese sucked it into her mouth.
She couldn’t stop her hips from pressing into Reese.
The ache between her legs was throbbing to the point it was becoming uncomfortable.
The sensations were so magnified. She couldn’t remember being intimate without being on something, even if it was just weed.
Everything felt so much more stimulating. Almost overwhelming at times.
“Do you like that?” Reese asked with the roll of her hips. She had regained her confidence, and Matty was thoroughly enjoying it.
She nodded as her hand roamed to the hem of the dress, her fingertips edging under. They hadn’t entered under-the-clothes territory yet, but it was like a siren’s song, calling her to stroke the flesh beneath. The skin was warm and soft, and her hand was soon fully under.
Reese went still, her lips stilling on Matty’s neck.
Panic set off inside Matty. She should have waited. She rushed to apologize. “I’m sorry. I should have asked permission first.”
Reese pulled back, her eyes studying Matty’s face, searching for something.
Matty’s skin prickled under the gaze.
“Do you want to go to your room?” Reese asked with a tilt of her head.
Matty blinked a few times as her brain processed the question. Did going to her bedroom mean what she thought it did?
“We don’t have to if you’re not ready. I just—”
“I’m ready. I mean, I am if you are. We’re in this together, right?”