31. Matt
Chapter thirty-one
Matt
Iswear to the Gods I'm going to start Gunny Timing her.
Maybe if she thinks events start fifteen minutes earlier than they actually do, she might actually be ready on time.
I don’t bother knocking when I reach Korr’s house, but that’s what he gets for leaving his doors unlocked. Not that I’d knock then, either.
“Annalise,” I call as I step inside, “if you’re not ready, I swear I’m ordering pancakes with—”
Two steps from the kitchen, I stop dead.
They’re completely unaware that they're no longer alone, and I'm standing in the doorway, watching my best friend straddle Captain Korr’s lap, lips locked, and tongues battling for dominance.
Her hands are fisted in the front of his shirt as though she’s using him for balance while she moves against the very obvious tent in his shorts. His hands are spread wide across her lower back, fingers digging in as she rocks back and forth in a fast, desperate rhythm.
My dick twitches as I take in the show—that is—until she moans his name, her voice throwing a mental bucket of ice over me.
I clear my throat.
Nothing.
I cough.
Still nothing.
I cough again. “AHEM.”
Annalise freezes mid-kiss, eyes going wide when she finally notices me, before she practically springs out of his lap like the wooden chair is on fire.
“Mattey!”
Korr’s reaction is…slower…far more calculating. From the second we lock eyes, he doesn’t look away, pulling the hem of his shirt back down and slowly rising to stand next to her, his hand falling down to her lower back as if he has to protect her from me.
I clap once.
“No wonder you weren’t in a rush for lunch, Lee.”
She dramatically drags a hand down her face, her cheeks already a bright pink.
“Why didn’t you knock?”
“I don’t think he understands the concept,” Korr spits out, instantly drawing my attention from the girl I love more than life itself, to the man standing next to her like he’s welcome in this conversation.
“That’s crazy, I was just wondering if you understood the concept of academy—no make that military—law. Because I’m pretty sure an instructor eating my best friend’s face before breakfast breaks more than a few of them; doesn't it?” I shoot back.
Korr straightens to his full height, and only then do I notice blood on his forehead, accompanied by a fresh stitch pattern I’d know anywhere.
“You have dried blood on your face, you know? Never mind. Since the show I walked in on points away from her hitting you in the face with a frying pan—I don’t actually care what happened.”
She throws me a glare.
“Mattey.”
“Lee.”
Korr’s gaze moves between us, sharp now. “What exactly are you doing here?”
“She’s late to meet me for brunch, so I came to pick her up…I didn’t realize she’d already be eating.”
“Oh. My. Gods,” she groans, and it’s impossible to hide my chuckle.
Korr looks at me then to her, voice low, in the gentle tone he’s talked to her in since we found her in the woods—whenever he thinks no one is watching, that is.
“No one can know about this."
I wave in their direction. “Hi. Still here.”
She waves a hand at me dismissively.
“Obviously. But Mattey isn’t just anyone to me.”
I grin immediately, throwing Korr a wink as soon as he looks in my direction.
“He knows me better than anyone else,” she continues, more confident in that statement than I’ve heard her be since she woke up. “He would have figured it out.”
“I did figure it out,” I say proudly.
Korr’s eyes narrow slightly.
“Oh yeah,” I continue, pointing between them. “This has been coming for weeks.”
Lee groans again, “You’re not helping.”
“I’m helping a lot,” I say. “Mostly myself.”
Korr’s jaw ticks, and if he weren’t set on keeping a hand on her, I have no doubt his arms would be crossed as he set his glare on me.
“What exactly did you ‘figure out,’ Reyes?”
Leaning against the doorframe, I grin at him with the most obnoxiously large grin.
“So glad you asked. First—that your midnight bedside manner is almost as sweet as Annalise's coffee order," I say with a wink.
His muscles flex, ready for me to expose him as Annalise looks between us in confusion.
"Second—that you've been training her far beyond what Dean Stevens asked of you because you know it's helped her to regain her confidence."
His body relaxes, thinking I'm finished.
"Oh, and that you've been eyeing her like a starving man eyes the last piece of bread for as long as I've known you."
Lee chokes on a laugh, covering her mouth in a failed attempt to hide her smile.
“I’ve just been waiting to see how long it would take before you made your move.”
His jaw tightens slightly.
“I must say, Captain, you don’t have nearly as much self-control when it comes to my girl as I gave you credit for.”
Annalise snorts as Korr shoots her a look that’s half playful warning, and half protective.
“She could get in serious trouble if anyone else finds out.”
“Oh, please,” I say. “You know as well as I do that I’d never do anything to jeopardize her. You, on the other hand, left the door unlocked, where any old riff raff could have stumbled in.” I gesture toward the door. “That’s on you.”
Korr begins to sigh deeply, but she nudges his arm, interrupting him while giving him a look I know he won’t be able to resist.
“Please trust me. He’s not going to say anything.”
“Of course not. I’m not a monster.” I pause. “…But I am absolutely going to mock you about it for as long as she lets you stick around.”
Annalise points toward the hallway. “Five minutes.”
“Three,” I counter.
“Five.”
“Fine,” I sigh dramatically.
I start backing toward the door, then stop and look at Korr again.
“You know what the funniest part of this is?”
His eyes narrow slightly. “What?”
“I used to wonder what it would take for you to take your dick out of your ass.” I gesture toward Lee. “Turns out, you just needed her grinding against it in your lap.”
The cheeriest laugh bursts from her lips, and I mentally check the box for today—my mission to make her smile every day might come a little easier with the new recruit.
Korr exhales slowly through his nose, and I grin as I step outside.
Best brunch pickup ever.