It had gone something like this:
“You’re not going anywhere.” he’d growled, tone low and dangerous.
“What?” I had spluttered, taken aback. Not being able to grasp that the other was actually serious.
“You’re not going. Is. That. Clear?”
I’d bristled “excuse me?” I’d asked in a snarl “last time I checked you weren’t my bloody father.”
“I don’t fucking have to be!” Matthew hadsnarled right back, actually making me jump, more from the surprise than anything “Stryker’s life depends on this and yours does too! You’ll both fucking die! Now is not a time to try and prove yourself, you prat!”
And on and on.
After a good half hour shouting match where I had desperately tried to get my point across- that being that the other had absolutely no right to dictate what I could or couldn’t do- we had finally calmed, since Matthew had backed down when Nico, who had made an appearance halfway through, pointed out that if Johnathan had made the decision then he knew I was good enough and that was all that mattered.
Now we had resorted to staring at each other. It could have been defined as silly and childish if I weren’t still so frustrated with him.
Matthew sighed, clearly picking up on such and stepping behind me to place a hand on my stomach and rest his chin on my shoulder “I’m not happy about this.” He murmured quietly. I leant back against his chest as subtly as I could, unable to resist his touch even through my annoyance.
“Clearly.” I grumbled “but I’m not…I’m not sorry. You can’t dictate me like that.” I squeezed the hand he had on my stomach.
“You’re ill, Theo.”
“I thought it was ‘just a cold’” I sneered back at him before relaxing my tone “Stryker’s gonna be much worse off than this. I’m sure I’ll survive.” With a small, helpless shrug I added “I’m not going alone anyway.”
“I should be there.”
“You can’t, Matt.” I shivered as his hand slipped under my shirt and started tracing my abs. I tilted my head back in an attempt to catch his eye. Matthew met my gaze and held it “I can.”
“John-“
“I don’t care.” He whispered, kissing my jaw. I automatically tipped my head further back to give him access to my throat. Matthew didn’t hesitate, taking advantage and kissing my Adam’s apple, briefly flicking his tongue over the spot before kissing my jaw again.
“Matt.” I murmured “I-“
He kissed the corner of my mouth “hm?”
I shivered again at the feel of his hand, drawing along the lines of my stomach muscles.
“We can’t fuck tonight.”
“I know.” Matthew smiled sympathetically “‘s alright. Not what I’m doing.”
I paused, licking my lips “we…are leaving tomorrow. You-“
“I know.” He whispered, warm breath tickling my ear “and I’ll be there. Just to keep an eye on you. Johnathan will say yes.”
“Lovely to know nobody trusts my ability to fend for myself around here.” I grumbled, growing irritated again.
Matthew’s teeth grazed my neck and I melted back into his chest “I just don’t want you dead.”
Maybe itwasn’tjust a woman thing.
“Hmm. I won’t die.”
His hand trailed down to my boxers “I know. Because I’ll be watching you.”
He palmed me and I let out a little whimper “fuck you.”
