Free Matthew: The Circle Eight by Emma Lang

wanted to touch them yet.
    “Well, it is fun. Now get on in the kitchen and get the dishes done before Hannah does them instead. We’ve imposed on her hospitality enough for one day.”
    After Nick scurried into the kitchen, Matt took a deep breath. Then he had to lean over and put his hands on his knees. That kiss was nearly his undoing. He’d never expected to have such a strong physical reaction to kissing Hannah.
    She was attractive in an unconventional way. Her lips were incredibly soft and plump. Hell’s bells, he’d completely lost control because of them. He was still hard as a hammer in his trousers. He wondered if she understood exactly what went on between a man and a woman.
    If she didn’t, their wedding night would be disastrous. He wasn’t as experienced as many men, but he had been with women before, mostly away from home on trips with his father.
    Now he would have a permanent woman in his bed. Matt was going to have to find some measure of control around her or she could lead him around by the dumb stick between his legs. No man in his right mind wanted to be controlled by a woman or his urges for that woman.
    On the other hand, his father had loved his mother so deeply, so completely, his world had revolved around her and, as the product of that love, their children. Matt had always wanted to ask his father why he let his mother control everything. He’d never had the courage though and now, of course, it was too late.
    Matt knew how incredible a marriage could be, but he also knew how dangerous it could be. He couldn’t let Hannah realize just how much she affected him.
    Hannah sat on the edge of the bed wringing her hands. The lamp was turned down so low it was barely a flicker in the darkness of the room. She heard footfalls on the stairs and knew Matthew was nearly there. The rest of the family was settled in their beds, which left only one person who could be walking up the steps.
    Her husband.
    Oh, she’d thought she was ready for this but she’d been sorely mistaken. Perhaps if she hadn’t kissed him before, she might not have been so nervous. Now that she’d had a taste of him, of what it felt like to be in his arms, just how soft his lips were, she was a mass of quivering nerves.
    The door slid open with barely a whisper and Matthew’s form filled the doorway. Hannah’s heart lodged in her throat while every small hair on her body stood up at attention.
    “Good evening, Hannah.” His soft voice was probably meant to calm her, but it didn’t. In fact it was as if he had whispered in her ear, heightening the tension within her.
    “Matthew.” Her voice was not her own, huskier and deeper than normal.
    He shut the door and she started, nearly falling off the bed. She certainly didn’t present an air of sophistication.
    “Matt, please call me Matt. The only time someone calls me Matthew is if I’m in trouble.” He smiled and she was again reminded just how handsome her husband was.
    “Matt.” This time she whispered and his smile disappeared.
    “I want to thank you for—”
    She held up her hand to stop him. “Please do not thank me for marrying you. I don’t think I could stay in this room if you did that.”
    He sat down beside her, dwarfing the bed. Lord, the man really was big. When he took her hand in his, his warmth had a calming effect on her frazzled nerves.
    “I wasn’t going to thank you for that.” He kissed her knuckles. “I was going to thank you for cooking. We’re a big crew and it takes a lot to satisfy us.”
    Hannah’s heart decided to pick that moment to start racing like a thoroughbred. She could barely hear him over the rushing sound of the blood passing her ears.
    “Y-you’re welcome.”
    He reached up and cupped her cheek, his callused thumb sliding lazily across it. “Don’t be scared, Hannah. I promise to always take care of you and keep you safe.”
    In the semi-darkness of the room, hearing the soft tones of his deep voice, she fell a