My eyes flickered to his lips. I remembered our kiss and how it had lit me up. The space between us became magnetic, pulling me closer, but he didn't touch me, making it clear if this was what I wanted I would have to make the first move.

Slowly I lifted a hand and slid it behind his neck, pulling him closer. I pressed my lips to his. The moment our mouths connected I felt a thrill of excitement spread through me.

Our mouths fused as his tongue swept against mine. I locked my hands around his neck as his hands went to my hips. Our tongues danced together. With one kiss I felt swept away, unable to form a thought.

"I take that as a yes," he said when he ended the kiss, still with his hands on my hips. My skin tingled beneath his touch. It took me a few seconds to come back down to earth, and I nodded. He was irresistible.

"You hungry?" he asked.

"Yeah, I haven't eaten today."

Feeling a little embarrassed at the effect he had on me, I stepped back, needing space between us.

"Do you want to go out or would you like me to make something?" he offered.

"You cook?" I asked, and he nodded.

I didn't think I had ever dated a guy who had offered to make me a meal. They usually took me out. It made his suggestion all that more special. I didn't feel like going out but I didn't have any food. "I haven't got anything. I've been meaning to do some grocery shopping."

"I can go and get some stuff. I'll be back in about half an hour," he offered.

"Okay," I said.

He pressed a quick kiss to my mouth, taking me by surprise, before he left. I stood there feeling fazed for a while before I decided to go and put some jeans and a less comfy shirt.

For the first time I felt nervous, and a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach kept me anxious until he came back. He walked in with two full grocery bags.

"I thought you were just getting enough for lunch, not the whole week," I said, peering into the bags. There was milk and bread among other things.

"I wanted to make sure you had at least the basics." He began to unpack the bags and I leaned against the counter as he packed the stuff away.

It was like he was completely at home. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"What are you going to make?" I asked, allowing him to take over. It wasn't something I did often but I was tired and hungry.

"I can make steak or pasta," he said, giving me the choice.

"Pasta," I picked. Steak would be too much on my delicate stomach.

"Then pasta it is."

I sat down on the counter and watched as he got the ingredients and began to make our food.

"Where did you learn to cook?"

"At home. My mom was big on the equality thing. Whatever she taught my sisters, she taught me."

I liked his mother already. I had always wanted a sibling, despite my friends assuring me that having one was a pain in the butt and nothing to be envious of.

"How many sisters do you have?"

"Two younger ones."

So he was the older brother? Was that what had made him want to protect me from Ryan or was it just because he liked me? It was probably a bit of both. Not that it really mattered.

"Any brothers?"

"Nope."

We talked while he cooked. He was nineteen, a year older than me. He came from a traditional family, with two younger siblings and parents who had just celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. His mother worked as a teacher and his father was a lawyer.

"So what made you decide to study business management?" I asked. He was in the same subjects as I was.

"It seemed to be the most versatile thing for me. I couldn't quite decide what I wanted to do." He mixed the sauce and pasta together. "It's done."

It smelled so good that my stomach grumbled, reminding me how hungry I was. He helped me off the counter and to my feet.

We dished up and sat down on the sofa.

"Wow, this is amazing," I said after trying the first mouthful.

He shrugged. "I like cooking. I find it relaxing."

I hated cooking. To me it was a chore I tried to avoid as much as I could. It was an added bonus, not that he needed it. He was good looking, nice and easy to talk to. And he could cook.

So what was wrong with him? No guy was this perfect. The only avenue we had yet to test was the bedroom. Would all of this lead to disappointment in the sack? He was an amazing kisser but it didn't necessarily mean it would equate to him being a good lover.

Those thoughts plagued my mind while we ate. I put my plate on the table when I was done. Matthew finished not long after me.

"Thank you," I said. "That was great."

"You're welcome."

"So I've told you about me. Do you have any siblings?" he asked.

I didn't like to reveal too much too soon. I didn't know him well enough to reveal the workings of my complicated family.

"I don't really like to talk about my family. I have a mom and dad. No siblings." I shrugged. He didn't really need to know more.

"Tell me something about yourself then?" he suggested, trying another avenue of conversation.

Usually when I dated a guy we were too busy making out and stuff like that to do too much talking; I liked it that way. And the only way to shut him up would be to put his mouth to better use.

I smiled to myself, knowing exactly what I needed to do as I shifted closer to him. Like before, the closeness pulled us together like a magnet. It was impossible to fight.

I leaned over to him and his hand cupped my neck, guiding me closer to him. His kissed me, shutting out the outside world. I needed more. I touched my tongue against his and he caressed mine with his.

Something ignited inside me and it burned for him. A need I had never experienced before took hold of me, making me grip his shirt to pull him closer. His free hand slipped under my shirt and his thumb caressed my side while he deepened the kiss. The slight touch of his hand against my skin was like an electrical shock going through me.

I groaned as I allowed the want of him to sweep over me like a tidal wave I had no power to withstand. I was usually the aggressor, but Matthew took control and I found myself on my back with him above me. But now it didn't matter. All that did was finishing what I had started.

I wanted him.

"Bedroom," I mumbled against his mouth and I felt the momentary coolness when he moved off me but moments later he picked me up.

I wrapped my legs around him while tightening my arms around his neck, covering his mouth with mine. I grinned against him as he carried me into my bedroom. It was only when he slid me down to my feet that he hesitated. "Are you sure—"

I pulled him down to kiss me. This was what I wanted.

After a flurry of activity of shirts being pulled off and jeans being unbuttoned, we found ourselves on my bed. He undid my bra and I let it fall free. His hand reached out and cupped one of my breasts, brushing his thumb over the nipple. Hot need pooled between my thighs. I pushed him down and straddled him, wanting to take control and ease the ache he had created. He had a hard, defined six-pack. I ran my hands over it lightly. He closed his eyes briefly, savoring the touch.

"I want you now," I said, making sure he had explicit confirmation I wanted this to happen. There was no indecision from me.

"Condom," he murmured before I kissed him briefly.

I reached out a hand and fished a foil packet from my bedside table. Next I was flat on my back and he was sliding my underwear down my legs. He discarded his boxers.

He took the foil packet and opened it, sliding the protection on.

I lay back, allowing him to part my legs with his knee. I reached for him as he lay over me. My legs held his hips securely as he lined himself up with me.

"Are you sure?" he asked. It was my last out but I had no need for it.

In response I pushed up and felt him enter me. With that he lost control and joined us together in one swift motion.

I gasped at the fullness and began to pant as our bodies moved together toward the release we both needed. His mouth was hot against my skin as his powerful body rocked into mine. I wrapped my arms around him, needing him as close as we could be.

His pace quickened and I could feel the buildup. I was hanging on by a thread, my hands gripping his shoulders when he pushed into me. I felt myself shatter. The climax throbbed through me and I closed my eyes as I rode the release.

Matthew followed soon after as he tensed above me before he slumped over me. I wrapped my arms around him.