Matthew woke me…I wasn’t sure…later. Though not as later as I’d have liked, because the room was still dark and I was still knackered.
“Niel,” he said. “I’m…I’m sorry.”
Okay. Now I was really f*****g awake. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just that”—he shifted restlessly and I suddenly realised this kind of anxious heat was pouring off him—“I don’t think I can stay.”
“In the bed. Right? Tell me you mean in the bed.”
His shadow made a startled motion in the gloom. “Oh God. Yes, the bed.”
“Jesus fuck.” I slammed my head against the pillow. “You scared the crap out of me, you hopeless bastard.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He covered his face with his hands. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want you to wake alone.”
Breathing. Yep. Check. Still working. “I appreciate that. It was totally the r
