Seven

Juliet was ready hours before Matthew arrived. She had attempted to work but kept getting lost in thoughts of the man she would spend the rest of the day with. He was a mystery to her, a puzzle.

She knew the man behind the phone but did not know the man in the flesh.

In a way, it almost felt as if they were two different people, and she wanted to know everything she could about the real Matthew.

Her article had been written and sent to her contact at the paper just moments before she heard a knock at the door.

Juliet's mind was whirling with excitement as she closed her laptop and picked up her small purse, letting it hang from her shoulder down to her hip. She looked down at her summer dress one more time, running her hands down the front to straighten it as she stood.

"Your mystery man is here," Natalie said with a smirk as she lifted the remote to turn down the volume of the television to low background noise.

"I'm going... I'm going. Do I look okay?" It was a useless question since she didn't have time to change. Natalie looked her over and let out a solid 'Mhm' with a sharp nod of her head as she took a sip from her wine glass. Juliet eyed it intensely as her roommate placed it on the coffee table before her. She debated downing its contents and went to reach for it when Natalie swooped it up quickly and clenched it tightly to her chest possessively.

Juliet did not realize how long she had been standing there, glaring at her roommate, until she heard his hard knuckles rapping against the door again.

"Don't make the poor guy wait. Three months is long enough, don't you think?" Natalie said with a laugh. Juliet huffed, unamused at the wink that was sent her way.

Her hand wrapped around the cold knob of the door as she pulled it open. Matthew stood before her in a black button-up shirt that made him look more muscular than she remembered from the night before.

She felt her body temperature rise slightly at the sight of the unused top two buttons that exposed more of his smooth, tanned skin.

It was a failed attempt, her mouth as dry as the Sahara Desert, but Juliet swallowed hard at the sight before her.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and the dark jeans hugged his muscular thighs beautifully.

"Hi," Juliet managed to get out in a whisper as her eyes made contact with his. She could see the smile across his face and the creases around his eyes as a result, but something about his eyes managed to remain hard and calculating as he scanned her over.

Her back straightened as he looked her over, as did his, and when he whispered back, she felt a thrill go through her.

"Hi." It was short and sweet, but his deep voice rolled over her, sending a chill down her spine. "You look breathtaking." He said as he turned slightly and stretched out his arm toward her. "Shall we?"

Juliet stepped out of her apartment. When she turned to close the door, she glared at Natalie, who was fanning herself, giving Juliet a nod of approval.

"We shall." She said as she wrapped her arm around his extended one. It was a suave move, very gentlemanly, and she enjoyed every second of it.

Matthew moved his elbow in, pulling her closer.

They walked from her entryway facing the courtyard to the pathway around her building toward the parking lot. As soon as they rounded the corner, Matthew spun her around him, putting her back against the warm outside wall of the apartment.

It was only the two of them on the walkway, and Juliet blushed at the thought of someone walking up and seeing them as he pressed against her. Her breath caught as she felt every inch of his body molding into hers.

Her legs gave out slightly, but he held her up with his hands on her waist. Her eyes were trapped by his hazel orbs, burning back into her.

"What are you doing?" She asked breathlessly as she placed her hands on the hard surface of his chest.

"I don't want you to run this time." He responded. She could feel the deep rumble of his voice through his chest as she slid her hands down an inch over his pectoral muscles. It was an involuntary move, but as she felt his chest flex beneath her touch, she couldn't help but feel proud that she caused a reaction in him.

His breath fanned over her lips, and subconsciously, her tongue darted out to wet them.

"You don't want me to run?" Juliet asked. She regained her footing as he slid his hands up to her rib cage slowly.

"No." His voice was hard and firm. "No running."

"No running from what?" She knew what he was saying but wanted him to do something about it.

It was a burning need that raced through her body. Her eyes closed as the tip of his nose brushed against hers.

"Me." At that moment, her world stopped, and she refused to wait a second longer. She eagerly pressed forward to grab his lips with her own. They were soft and warm, but she only had a moment to dwell on that fact before he kissed her back with a heavy passion. One of his hands left her side to weave its way into her hair, pulling her impossibly closer.

He let out a throaty growl as she trapped his lower lip between her teeth and lightly pulled on it.

As soon as she released it, his tongue flicked out and met hers in a battle of dominance. She heard the lust-filled moan, but she didn't realize that it came from her own mouth until she heard his groan in response.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly against his as her breathing quickened.

"Well, hello to you too."