I climbed out of bed, and changed from the jeans and t-shirt I had been stripped down to, into a set of thick cotton pyjamas. Still feeling chilled from the day in the wilderness, I pulled on some heavy bed socks, then padded out into the hall, and across to Matt’s room. I knew he would be the calm that I needed to settle back to sleep that night.
“Livy?” He croaked as I pushed open his bedroom door just enough to slide in. “Are you ok?” He sat up from where he laid in bed, and looked me over with concern. The room was dimly lit by the TV which was playing silently opposite him. I quickly closed the door and turned to him, feeling unsure. I had slept with them all countless times in my bed, but never in any of theirs.
“I’m ok. Keira….she said I could come and sleep with one of you.” I explained shyly. I was fidgeting, my hands wringing before me.
“And you chose me?” He said with that sexy half smile. His hair stuck up, making him look kinda crazy, but also pretty damned cute.
“Is that ok?” I asked.
“Always, Cariña. Come, lie with me.” He lifted the comforter on the empty side, and waited for me to move. I couldn't hold in my grin as I crossed the room and climbed into the bed beside him. The sheets smelt so good, a mix of fabric softener and Matt, and I couldn’t help but inhale it like a weirdo.
Matt laughed, having caught me sniffing, then lifted his arm, beckoning me to cuddle up to him. I went happily, laying my head on his bare chest and wrapping an arm across his waist. His arm wrapped tightly around me in return and it felt just perfect.
“Tell me how you’re feeling, honestly.” He commanded, his order softened by the kisses he pressed to the top of my head.
“I feel ok actually. It was a really hard, really scary day, but I talked with Keira when I woke up, and it helped.”
“That’s good.”
“I just wish we’d found that little girl. It physically hurts me to think of what she could be going through right now.”
“You can’t take it on yourself, Livy. Every cop in the city is working on finding her, and they have the cabin now. I’m sure it will help them get a lead. I get that it’s hard for you to not think about it, about her, but you have to try and do what’s best for you, and that is avoiding additional stresses.”
“I just feel the need to help her Matt, in the way no one was ever able to help me.” I sighed.
“I know Mi Amado, but you have helped. You nearly tore yourself apart today, leading Kade and Kyle’s guys to that cabin. It’ s enough. Let them do their job now, and focus on taking care of you.”
“I guess you’re right. I do have that creepy stalker guy to deal with, and school on Monday.” It was a lot on top of my already messed up mind.
“Kyle is working on the stalker. He’s at the office now trying to find street cams around where you and Cole saw the guy.”
“Keira said you were all in bed.”
“He was, for about ten minutes, then he sent a text saying he had to look into this guy following you. He couldn’t settle until he knew what was going on. You know how worried he gets. Better to let him just go.”
“He needs to sleep. He must be exhausted.” I cried, worried sick about him.
“He’ll be ok, Cariña. You have to let him be when he gets like this”. I guessed it was good that he was looking into it. With the missing girl, and us all going to look for the cabin, it had been pushed out of our priorities, but we needed to know who the hell the guy was, and what he was after. I just hated the idea of Kyle wearing himself so thin to do it.
“What happened at the cabin?” I asked, needing to know.
“Not much. Some local police showed up, and we left them to investigate. Kade gave his chief the details, and he sent a detective up there too. They’ll look into everything, find a lead if there is one.”
“And the body? Chris?”
“I don’t know. Once you passed out, our priority was getting you away from there and back home. We got a cop car to take us back to the cars, and we drove home. I’m sure Kade will get more information when he goes into work tomorrow.”
“I wish I could remember more about him.” I sighed.
“Enough thinking now. You need to sleep. We can deal with this, and everything else, tomorrow when you’re rested.”
“I think I like this bossy side of you.” I laughed, upon the use of his commanding tone once again.
“Good, because I’m a bossy SOB most of the time.” He chuckled.
“I like it. I like the difference. You have this super kind, soft, gentle side that I need most of the time, but then you can flip it and this bossy, demanding voice comes out, that I just can’t seem to ignore. Sometimes, especially when things are dark….or scary, I need that too.”
“I know, Cariña. Kyle used to use it on me, when I first arrived and I freaked out at pretty much everything. It’s where I learnt it from.”
“I don’t think he did it all sexy, like you do.” I laughed.
“Sexy huh? I’ll have to remember that,” He tapped his temple, like he was literally locking the thought away for safekeeping, making me giggle. “Now sleep. I heard you have a date tomorrow night.” I grinned thinking of
