Force of Forever (All In #0.5)

Stay with me, baby.

If only she could. God, how she wished she could.

11

Matt would never look at his terrace again without seeing Pia barefoot and giggly, then shattering with her eyes on his.

They cleaned up the broken cups together, then he made more coffee. They passed their final hours outside, soaking in mild April sun and sharing easy conversation.

Matt couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so much, or cared so little about what emails or meetings he might be missing. Pia paused time. She defied the laws of physics, except those of attraction. He could not stop touching her. Her body and his were magnetized.

They both knew when it was time for her to leave. Matt marked the moment by the clench in his gut.

She rose from the little bistro table, dropping a sweet kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got to change.”

“Might as well take my cousin’s robe with you,” he replied. “I don’t want to see that on anyone but you.”

She threw a smile over her shoulder as she sauntered inside. Matt’s own smile faded. Even with the sounds of the city below, the terrace was quiet without her. Less appealing.

Had his life always been so muted? He should invite Tate over for dinner more. Quinn, too. He ate alone most nights he was home, cooking for one from a singles cookbook Célia had given him as a joke. His solitary life hadn’t bothered him before. Maybe it wouldn’t bother him after Pia’s sweet smell faded and her laughs no longer echoed. Maybe he’d feel just as committed to his company and content with his life.

Only after Pia was gone would Matt know how deeply she’d touched him.

He composed a text to Célia, asking her to head to his place, and to make sure Pia’s shoes were accounted for. The poor woman had been walking around barefoot since the night before.

Pia rejoined him on the terrace, back in her snug uniform that showed off her curves. Her hypnotic eyes had been lined in black, and her hair swept back into a pretty twist. His disappointment at not being able to run his hands through the silky strands one more time must have shown on his face.

“I know, Romeo. My hair is your weakness. Croissants are mine.”

Pia’s everything was his weakness.

She perched on the edge of the seat next to him. He much preferred the earlier version of this same scenario, where they’d both been naked and panting. “I don’t have any clean underwear, thanks to you and your naughty mouth. I’m flying bare-assed for the first time, Matt, and it’s your fault.”

Her side-eye did not make him feel the least bit guilty. Instead, Matt just grinned. “I hope you’ll be thinking of me every time you notice your bare ass.”

And now he was thinking about the roundness of that particular curve, the way his fingers had dug in while he’d plunged into her.

Her eyes narrowed over the edge of her coffee cup, from which she was coaxing down the dregs. “We’ll see about that.”

If she was staying longer than one night, if he could keep her, Matt would have had a new wardrobe full of easy-to-ruin lingerie purchased before she’d even lifted off from Charles de Gaulle.

But she wasn’t staying. In fact, Matt didn’t know if he’d even see her again. If seeing each other was what either of them wanted, or needed. What could come of more nights like this one but more yearning? His email dinged. And more distraction?

He fought a sigh as his phone dinged, too.

“Célia’s downstairs,” he said, checking the message.

Pia set her cup gently in the saucer, the tiniest sound ringing out. One of the last sounds she’d make here. Her expression looked composed. Neutral. It made Matt wonder. “Okay. I’m packed and ready.”

He stood, buttoning his jacket. Nearly noon and he’d just dressed for work. Typically, he’d have read a full newspaper, hit the gym, showered, and put in three hours at the office by now.

He couldn’t tell if Pia’s influence was good or bad. He supposed it would depend on who he asked. And he supposed it didn’t matter anymore.

He grabbed his laptop from the table and followed Pia inside his flat. He loaded up his work things while she watched. He felt her eyes on him just as sure as he felt the emptiness she’d leave behind.

She was uncharacteristically silent as he took her small suitcase from her at the door. Matt led her into the hallway, locking his door behind him.

His hand dropped from the bronze handle as a gusty sigh escaped him.