Dating-ish (Knitting in the City #6)(34)

My attention cut back to Matt, who was still straddling me. His eyes were on his hand where it wrapped around the side of my neck, his thumb pressing against the indent at the top of my sternum.

"Sorry," he mumbled, swallowing stiffly, and shifted his weight to one side to climb off my middle.

"Thank you," came Jared's curt reply. "Let's try a traditional spooning position, with Matt being the big spoon, and Marie the smaller one. Okay, on your sides."



       
         
       
        

I released a quiet breath. I still felt a little disoriented by the decidedly un-platonic turn of my thoughts, and lay on the mattress, facing away from Matt. For some reason, every sound seemed louder, especially if he caused it. How the springs of the bed squeaked when he moved into position, his soft breaths, the friction of his jeans against the sheets.

"Try to get as close as you can, Matt. There should be no space between you. That's right, put your leg between hers," Jared instructed.

Soon his front was plastered against my back, the hard muscles of his upper thighs cradling my bottom, his firm stomach at my lower back, his chest against my shoulder blades. One arm draped over me, his hand limp, not touching my body. But I could feel him still moving behind me, as though trying to get comfortable.

"What do I do with this arm?" I heard him ask, his voice gruff, edged with impatience. "It's superfluous."

"Good question." Jared leaned over us and I sensed he'd taken Matt's wrist again. "I wouldn't recommend trying to fit it between you, that creates distance and is generally uncomfortable for the small spoon. Instead, you can bend your elbow-like this-and Marie can use your arm as a pillow. Or, you can use it as a pillow yourself. Or, you can straighten it and place it under Marie's neck, like this."

Jared encouraged me to tilt my head so Matt could slide his arm beneath me. This idea didn't quite work, as Matt's upper arm was a little too big to fit in the space left by the curve of my neck.

"Hey, wait." I grabbed Matt's arm and positioned it so I was using his bicep as a pillow.

"Oh, good. Then maybe put your hand like this, Matt." Jared took over and bent Matt's elbow again, leading his hand to my upper arm, so I was wrapped in his embrace. "And your other hand can rest on her thigh, like this." Once more, Jared moved Matt until the hand that had been draped limply was flat on my upper thigh.

Jared stepped back, tilting his head to the side as he considered us. "Maybe bend your leg, Marie. Yes, that's it. Is that comfortable?"

I nodded, because it was comfortable. I felt like I was tucked in the cozy embrace of a big, muscular bear. Matt's warmth surrounded me on all sides.

"I like this," I heard and felt Matt mutter, the rumble of his chest reverberating through my back where we were pressed together. The words were bemused.

"Why do you sound surprised?" I whispered.

"Like I said, I'm a cuddle virgin."

Before I could remark on his statement, Jared interrupted. "Okay, Matt. Feel free to nuzzle her back and neck. Or you can stroke her leg or arm, maybe? Is that okay, Marie?" 

"Yes, that's fine."

Matt chose my leg, his big palm moved down, then up my bare thigh to the hem of my shorts and I had to smile because his touch wasn't at all tentative. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it felt possessive.

"And Marie, maybe touch the back of Matt's hand? The one on your arm. Play with it, entwine your fingers. Light touches."

"Jared, we need you up front," a voice I recognized as the hostess called from someplace down the hall.

"Okay, you two practice that. I'll be right back." Jared's retreating footsteps sounded against the wood floor, eventually leaving us in silence.

Meanwhile, I lifted my fingers and softly petted Matt's hand, tracing the bones of his fingers with my fingertips and then drawing ellipses on the back of his hand, from his wrist to his knuckles.

He made a rumbly noise, almost like a purr. It sounded content.

"You like that?" I whispered, closing my eyes, enjoying the feel of his hand languidly stroking my leg.

"Yes," he said.

I grinned.

He was quiet for bit, we both were, and I felt myself relax more and more. His palm took a detour every so often, dutifully skipping my hip and sliding along my side, and then back to my leg. Soon, I was so relaxed I felt drowsy.

I felt fingers in my hair, moving the mass away from my neck with treasuring strokes just before Matt nuzzled the back of my neck, causing goosebumps to scatter over my skin.