"Morning, Sleeping Beauty." Matt's voice barely cut through the rhythmic pounding in my skull. "Sleep well?"

"Mmm." Stretching my legs until cool air hit my bare skin, I winced; every part of me ached. I popped my head from beneath the covers and attempted to open my eyes. "Not really. Couldn't get to sleep." Blinding light streamed across the bedroom and I ducked back under, holding the duvet tighter around myself. "Too bright. Close the curtains."

"It's nearly midday. Pretty sure you slept," he chuckled and after the clattering of something on his bedside table and ruffling of fabric, the bed dipped. "Made you some toast and tea when you're ready." The blanket lifted and swaddled my body again seconds later. I couldn't bring myself to glance at what Matt was doing. My temples throbbed to the point each movement felt agonising; I was starving and beyond thirsty.

Matt's hands sought my arm in my fabric cocoon and he tugged me closer until his legs draped over mine.

"What are you doing?" My T-shirt slipped up my stomach. Matt's fingers traced scorching circles along my midriff. I sighed as I leaned into him and drew a soothing breath. The smell of mint saturated my senses and eased some of the pain. But then it hit me. The smell! "Not fair. You brushed your teeth and I have dog breath." I covered my mouth just as Matt skimmed his lips over my neck.

"I don't care."

"So I do stink?"

"I mean, yeah, it's morning. And you drank a shit tone last night. What do you think?" He laughed. His palm rested over my breast while he peppered kisses closer to my mouth.

I moaned against him, but the fear of him being hit by any residue of my red wine breath stopped me from relaxing and enjoying the tender caresses he laid across my skin. "I think I'm brushing my teeth again." Pushing the duvet off my head, I went to sit but fell back as sunlight assaulted my vision once more. "But in a bit."

Matt wrapped his arms around my back and pulled until I had no choice but to lie over his chest. "I have to move out."

"Why? Have you spoken to them?" I peered up and a fleeting look of regret flashed across his eyes. If I hadn't been there when he caught them, would he still want to move out? I ran my fingers over his forehead and brushed my nose against the stubble on his chin.

"No, but it's the right thing to do. It's gonna get awkward and I don't trust them not to bring drugs back here. It's a no go for me," he said, his voice muffled in my hair as I tucked my face into his neck.

"I get it. Where will you go?"

"No idea. I'll have to give notice for rent, so have some time to look. Wanna help me?"

"Of course."

If I thought my parents would be okay with it, or we were further along in our relationship, I would have offered for him to stay at my house, but that wasn't an option.

"Not now, though. Now I have other plans." Matt slid his hands below the fabric of my knickers and over my bum. He kneaded each cheek, pressing my pelvis into him.

"What plans?" I half chuckled into his mouth as his lips covered mine.

His touch left goosebumps on my skin as he brushed them up my sides in painfully slow sweeps; each of his movements careful and calculated, holding, kissing and caressing every part of me. He slipped my underwear down my legs, pulled my t-shirt over my head and rolled me onto my back.

What started as a lazy, sensual massage turned heated but never sped up. Matt had all the time in the world as he worshipped my body. He nibbled the sweet spot below my ear and trailed his tongue in erotic strokes along my collarbone, down the side of each breast and back up until his mouth covered my nipple.

My hands fisted in his hair, needing him closer as he bit and sucked each pebbled bud.

"How's the hangover now?" His voice vibrated against my chest in a low rubble. His fingers wandered past my waist, between my legs, and a shallow gasp escaped my lips as he rubbed slow circles over my clit.

"What hangover?" I arched into his hand and moaned, all while biting my bottom lip. "Don't stop." The familiar wave of my orgasm hummed below the surface, emitting a low-frequency buzz from my toes and gradually increased through each limb. My nails dug into his back, willing to draw blood, not that I thought he minded as he groaned against me. "Oh shit. Please don't fucking stop." Higher and higher, my body drifted off the mattress and slammed back down as my climax coiled through me.

As I caught my breath, Matt moved down my body and kissed along my stomach. "I'm fucking crazy about you."

I shifted, so he had to glance up. "Matt." The knot in my belly intensified and outweighed the one he built by pushing me over the edge. "Do you mean it?" His intoxicating gaze locked on mine as he lifted his body and hovered inches from my face "Because I'm fucking crazy about you."

His mouth parted into a luscious smile and his lips fell against my cheek, then my nose. "Good."

"Good," I laughed alongside him. "Can we have sex now?"

"How romantic."

"What can I say, you bring it out of me."

Almost seamlessly, he kicked his boxers off, tore the foil packet he had waiting on his bedside table and rolled the condom down his length.

"Love watching you do that."

He stilled as he gripped the base of his cock. "Put a condom on?"

"No, your hand on you like that." I closed my hand over his and slid it up and down. "Do you know how hot you are?"

Matt laughed and kissed me hard, pushing my back into the mattress. "I love hungover Trixie." He grabbed my hands in one of his and locked his fingers over mine, holding them above us. "Know what else I love?"

Wriggling further down the bed, I shook my head. "What?" I pinched my lips together to suppress any giggles that threatened to slip and peered through my eyelashes.

He nudged my thighs further apart and his free hand roamed across my waist until it settled between us. My breathing grew shallower as I panted in anticipation of his next play. The tip of his cock brushed over my clit and pressed against my entrance.

"The way your eyes roll to the back of your head when I do this."

I threw out a throaty moan when he eventually eased into me, agonisingly slow as he filled me inch by inch and just like he described, my eyes rolled back as I let every sensation consume me; his unhurried thrusts, the warmth of his mouth across my breastbone and the filthy words he uttered against my skin.

I couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, couldn't think of anything but Matt. My soul was tethered to his, caught up in just existing in that moment. And whether I had known him for mere weeks or years, my entire being recognised its home in the constellation of love scattered in our black velvet nights.

***

As soon as I stepped foot into Beautiful Chaos, Zaire bellowed across the coffee shop. "Alright there, Pukerella? How you holding up? Not looking so green this afternoon."

Matt followed in after me and let out a low chuckle. "Usual babe?" He brushed his hand on my lower back as he strode towards the counter. "Want anything, mate?"

"Nah, not feeling so clever myself. Sticking to a soft drink." He held up his barely touched bottle of Fanta and slouched back in his armchair.

By his feet, I noticed a familiar yellow handbag. "CeCe here?" I scanned the room as I walked over to him. Besides her bag, there was no other sign of her in the area. "And don't shout so loud in a bookshop." I softly kicked his shoe with my boot and sat in the chair beside him.

"It's a coffee shop with books. Chill out. She's in the loo." He moved closer and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, dragging me practically over the armrest of our seats. "How are we holding up?" Zaire whispered against my hair as he crushed me in one of his one-armed bear hugs.

"Yeah, great besides the headache. What's with the we?"

"We." He released his grip, pointed at my chest and followed it with a subtle head nod and gesture to Matt.

"Yeah, we're fine. Had a long chat last night. So I know about Bailey now."

"And you're sure you're okay with that?"

Was I? I hardly had time to process everything after Matt's confession and this morning, well, my mind hadn't been focused on his ex-girlfriend.

"I mean, yeah. How else can I feel about it? I can't change the past." I screwed my face up, remembering the state I was in before the shower. "Sorry that you had to clean up my sick."

"Don't mention it. You'd do the same for me."

"No, I wouldn't." I placed my elbow on the armrest and my chin in the palm of my hand as I relaxed against the fabric. The dull ache at the back of my head hadn't lessened over the course of the day. I closed my eyes, willing for something to just pop like a balloon and release any leftover pressure.

"Yeah, you're right, you selfish cow." He laughed and nudged my arm just enough so I lost balance and my head jolted forward, causing a shooting pain down my neck.

"Prick!"

"Clarabelle!" Moo." Zaire tickled my sides and repeatedly mooed in my ear. Despite the thumping in my head, I couldn't hold back my own laughter, enjoying our carefree moment.

"You two are like kids when you're together." CeCe hovered over us, the corners of her mouth raised. She had waltzed in like a ray of sunshine on any dreary day.

Zaire's hands stilled on my waist and he straightened up. I didn't miss the mirrored smile on his own face. "She loves it," he said, giving my armpit one last tickle.

"Stop that now." I laughed, rubbing my neck, and stood to give CeCe a welcoming hug. "Hey, how was Leeds?"

"Amazing. But this week was Manchester. Got home this morning. Sounds like I missed an eventful night." She sat opposite us, on the two-seater sofa.

"News travels fast. Blabbermouth here?" I jerked my thumb towards Zaire.

"Who else? Loves a gossip, that one."

"Doesn't he just?" I teased as Zaire pinched my forearm.

Matt walked over with our coffees on a wooden serving tray and placed them on the low coffee table along with two chocolate swirl pastries. "Sorry that took a while. Asked for the pastries warm." He peered up, noticing the only space available was next to CeCe, and his eyes widened when he took her in. "CeCe. Shit, you been there long? Didn't even see you. Fancy a drink?"

"I have one, thanks."

He ran his hand through his hair and slumped back into the seat. "Sorry bout that. Still tired. What we talking about?"

I blew across the top of my cappuccino. "Last night," I said before taking a large sip. A bitterness I wasn't used to coated my tongue, and I winced. I was too hungover to even enjoy my favourite drink.

Matt stretched out his legs and grimaced. "Yeah, not the best." He squeezed my knee and grabbed his coffee. "Trixie tell ya I'm moving out?"

"Nah, mate. Got a place in mind?" Zaire looked between Matt and me, waiting for one of us to answer. It would have to be Matt, as I didn't have the immediate solution to his problem.

"Not yet. Haven't told them so have a little while."

Zaire tapped his fingers against his lips and as one of his usual hair-brained schemes hit him, his features brightened "Move in with me? Have the loft near work. I spend most of my time at my parents' house as I can't cook for shit so you'll have your own space. Quick commute to work. What d'ya say?"

"You sure about this? Would be handy."

"Yeah. As long as I never have to listen to her having sex, then we have a deal."

As soon as Zaire's words registered, a flush spread across my cheeks. "Oh, shut up."

Zaire's shoulders shook beside me, CeCe held her stomach while she laughed, and Matt covered his mouth behind his fist.

"Thanks, mate. I owe you one," Matt answered once their laughing episode came to an end.

Relief washed over me and the small bubble inside my head popped. Although Matt's decision to move was out of my control, I hadn't been able to stop myself from worrying the aftermath of last night was my fault. Now Zaire had found a solution, I was free to relax and bask in the warmth and kindness of our newly formed friendship group; a warmth we shouldn't have taken for granted through the upcoming snowstorm.

***

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