Chapter 7 : Getting to Know Matt

*Kenna*

The house that Matt led me to was a small rustic cabin. He held the door open for me and I entered slowly, taking in my surroundings as I did. The windows were open, allowing the fresh air and sunshine to fill the room. It was homey and welcoming, but nowhere near as opulent as the house Reid had rented for the festival. That place was a little over the top, but I assumed that was because he planned to host parties or other events from the house. I wondered again if this Matt was the same one that Juniper had mentioned to me, the one that supposedly shared women with Reid and possibly Jack. Matt and Reid seemed so different, it was hard for me to believe that they were really friends.

The cabin was an open-concept home, so I could easily see into the kitchen and the living room from the doorway. Honestly, there wasn’t a lot going on. The kitchen was small and separated from the living room with an island bar. The living room had a couch and a coffee table, but no other furniture.

“I’m going to get the first aid kit,” Matt said. “Make yourself at home.”

He walked across the room and vanished through a doorway. I was feeling oddly anxious about being here. I was undeniably attracted to Matt, so I wasn’t sure why I should feel that way. I looked around curiously. Other than a blanket thrown over the back of the couch and a decanter of amber colored liquor on the kitchen island, there wasn’t much to look at.

I could hear water running in the other room. Matt must have been getting cleaned up. I imagined the sweat and grime from the fight would be uncomfortable. I’d never been in a fight, but it seemed messy. Of course, Matt made it look good. I’d never been impressed by violence, but there was more to Matt’s display than that.

He had been cool under pressure, and calculating in his actions. It was clear to me that he had been observing his opponent and learning his style so that he could effectively counter him. The barrage of blows he’d hit him with hadn’t been especially hard. I couldn’t be sure, but it seemed to me that he was trying to make the other man lose his cool.

I went into the kitchen and uncapped the decanter. The smell of whiskey filled my nose. I thought about taking a swig, but decided against it. The aspirin had mostly resolved the lingering headache from my hangover. It was probably a bad idea to start day-drinking and risk another miserable morning. I sat it back down and looked around.

It seemed like Matt hadn’t actually spent much time here. I didn’t see any dishes in the sink or on the drying rack, or any other indication that he’d used the kitchen. I guess if he knew he was going to be out enjoying the festival every day, it made sense to rent a small place just to sleep.

A few minutes after the water stopped, Matt emerged with a first aid kit in his hand. His shirt had been abandoned and his hair was tousled and looked damp, which confirmed that he’d just showered. I took my time looking him over. His broad shoulders and slim waist created a distractingly attractive effect. His biceps were so built that even when his arms were relaxed you could see the definition of his muscles. I wanted to feel those arms wrapped around me. I did my best to shake the thought.

He joined me in the kitchen and set the first aid kit on the island. The sweat and blood had been cleaned away from his skin, which made it easier to see the extent of the injury. It really wasn’t as bad as it had first appeared. The cut was only about an inch long, but it did look deep. If it didn’t get bandaged properly, it really would leave a scar. The bruise on his jaw was still darkening, but with the blood gone, it didn’t look so bad either.

“Do you actually want to bandage this or should I just take care of it?” he asked. He rubbed his jaw absentmindedly. It must have been sore.

I frowned at his dismissive tone. “I know how to use a bandage,” I said in irritation.

He raised his eyebrows at me and pushed the kit my way. “I never implied you didn’t, princess.” His tone was firm, but not irritated.

I was glad. I didn’t want to make him angry.

I opened the kit and pulled out an antiseptic wipe and a couple of butterfly bandages. “Sorry,” I said softly. “People tend to think that, because I’m the daughter of an Alpha, I don’t know how to do basic tasks for myself.” I opened the antiseptic wipe and gently dabbed at the cut beneath his eyes.

A slight tension in his jaw was the only sign that the antiseptic stung. “It’s rough being underestimated,” he said sincerely.

I shrugged. I wanted to say that I was used to it, but if that were true, I wouldn’t be so defensive. “Thanks.”

I peeled the backing off of the first bandage and carefully placed the bottom of it beneath the cut, then pulled upward before I stuck the top half to his skin. I did the same with the second bandage, closing the cut so that it would heal cleanly.

He touched the cut gingerly and hummed in approval. “Thank you.” I felt an absurd flush of pride, but I tried to hide it.

“No problem,” I said. I tossed the wrappers into the trash and leaned on the island across from him. “So, I’ve heard a little bit about you from Juniper. I know that you’re an Alpha. Where’s your territory?”

“LaPorte, Indiana,” he said. “But I work mainly in Detroit. I own a factory that produces luxury cars. It’s honest work, and lucrative.” He seemed bored talking about work and quickly changed the subject. “You’re from Ottawa, right? What brought you all the way from Canada?”

“My uncle is the host of this festival,” I explained. “I’ve been wanting to come for a long time, but this is the first year my father has let me attend. It’s nearly my birthday, so I’m starting to come into my powers. He didn’t really have a good excuse to say no this time. This is the furthest I’ve ever been from home,” I said sheepishly.

“This is a pretty wild place to be on your own for the first time,” he said. There was a teasing quality to his voice. He was trying to see if I would react defensively again, so I just shrugged it off. “Are you having a good time?” he asked.

“I am,” I said. “I can’t remember the last time I was able to just do what I felt like at any given moment. I’m usually pretty involved helping my father with the pack. But I’ve met some very interesting people so far. I think you might be friends with one of them.”

I couldn’t remember seeing him at the party last night, but if he was friends with Reid, then he would have been there. I wondered if Reid would have mentioned me.

“Reid Skylar,” he confirmed. “We’ve known each other for a long time and our companies work closely together. We’re pretty close in a lot of ways.”

I bit my lip. Was he baiting me with that phrasing? Of course I couldn’t help but wonder if the rumors were true. The playful, challenging expression on his face did nothing to lessen my curiosity.

“How close?” I asked.

He leaned against the island and crossed his arms. He looked me over, appraising me as if he were trying to make a decision. I could feel myself getting warm under his gaze. The way Matt made me feel was hard to explain. Just being this close to him made my heart rate increase. “Reid seemed to really like you,” he said with a slight grin. I guess that told me how much Reid had shared. “Tell me more about yourself.”

Suddenly, I felt like I was being interviewed for something and I very much wanted to pass. “I’m twenty,” I started. “I went to an all-shifter university. I work for a charity that my father started that helps disadvantaged members of our territory with a focus on children’s welfare.” I walked around the island and approached him as I spoke. “My mom died when I was young, so I’m the de facto Luna of the pack, which keeps me pretty busy. I have an older brother who will become Alpha someday.” I stopped in front of him and thought for a moment. “That covers most of it,” I said. “Is there anything else you want to know?”

He looked surprised. “Do you ever manage to have fun with responsibilities like that?”

It was a sincere question and it caught me off guard. Matt kept surprising me. It wasn’t often that anyone acknowledged the pressure of my role. It was expected of me to step in and serve my pack the way I did. It wasn’t something I’d ever had a choice about.

“Sometimes,” I said. I didn’t tell him that I had to sneak out on rare occasions when I had the time if I wanted to cut loose. He didn’t need to know that. I smiled at him as suggestively as I could. “Do you think that’s something you might be able to help me with?”

He grinned and cupped my check. The contact sent a bolt of arousal through me. He leaned down as if he were going to kiss me, but he stopped short. “I could show you a good time,” he said confidently. “But I’ll warn you, princess, it won’t be like it was with Reid.”

I didn’t expect anyone else to be like Reid. The man’s patience and thorough attention was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Matt’s grin was promising a very different experience.

“I’m fine with that,” I answered.

I closed the distance between us and kissed him. He wound his fingers in my hair and pulled my head back, forcing me to look up at him. Heat flooded through me at the rough treatment.

“Are you sure about that?” he asked.

I hesitated as I stared up at him. I didn’t have much experience with roughness in the bedroom, but it was something that had always intrigued me. People tended to treat me like I was made of glass, to defer to me because of my position as the princess, so the concept of someone using me for their own pleasure had a certain appeal. The idea of being manhandled by Matt in particular sent a shiver through me.

He was a physically powerful man and, as an Alpha, he had a commanding presence. I had no doubt that he would be able to dominate me easily, and I was more than a little curious about what that would feel like.

“I’m sure,” I said breathlessly.

He grinned at me and brought his lips to mine. The kiss was more than hungry; it felt like Matt was trying to devour me. He brought one arm around my back and lifted me until I was forced to stand on my toes. It put me off balance and left me clinging to his chest.

My heart was hammering against my ribs by the time he pulled away and lowered me back to the ground.

He was right; this was nothing like my night with Reid. Matt was promising me a fun, physically exhausting encounter unlike anything I’d ever experienced, and I felt powerless to deny him. The desire I felt for him almost made me dizzy. I shivered as his hazel eyes darkened while he stared at me. Judging by the heat in his gaze, he was already planning what he wanted to do to me.

I couldn’t wait to see exactly how different this would be.