Matt’s POV
Caren was telling about how her and Bill met, now a little under 40 years ago and I saw Joe glancing over to me. I put my hand over hers and softly squeezed it, I was really enjoying myself, being able to act like a couple with her. I could definitely get used to this.
“We had to get married right away of course, in our time, it was not accepted to live together first. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t romantic. Bill made such an effort for me.”
We both listened to her story and Joe leaned in to me a little, and I softly kissed the top of her head. Bill and Caren were extremely nice, but treating Joe like she belonged to me was the highlight of the evening.

“How did Matt propose to you, Josephine?” Caren’s question got me out of my daydreaming and I looked at Joe with an amused face. Now it was her turn to come up with a probable story. I felt her stiffen beside me for a moment and I turned to her, putting my finger under her chin.
“Tell the story sweetie, I know you love to tell it, don’t be shy” I kissed her softly and felt her smile against my lips.
“Okay, I will tell the story.” A smile came over her lips as she dreamt away.
“As you already know, we live in a house with Matt’s 4 best friends” I lifted my brows, what did they have to do with it?
“One night I came home late, the house was empty and quiet, which was strange, the house was never quiet. At the stairs of our house, Arin was waiting for me, telling me to take a long bath and relax. After my bath, I was visited by Zacky, he showed me a new dress for me to wear.”

Joe had her eyes closed and I could see she was really enjoying the fantasy. It surprised me that she had this at the ready so fast, had she been dreaming about this moment? Like so many girls? She didn’t seem the type.
“Zack pointed me to Brian and Johnny. The latter had a bottle of champagne in his hand and he told me to take it with me and Brian closed the line, he stood at the doors to our garden and held a box with a large ribbon around it.”

Joe paused for a second to show the size of the box, she looked at me, her cheeks flushed. Did she really like my friends that much she would include them in her fantasy wedding proposal? I was filled with affection for her and pecked her lips for a short moment, encouraging her to continue.
“Brian told me to go to meet Matt at our special spot in the garden, it’s so beautiful there, the softest patch of grass, trees all around, flowers in-between, it smells amazing in summer.”
I grinned, how did she know?!
“Okay, so Brian told me my last surprise would be waiting there and that I couldn’t open the box unless Matt told me so”
“Did you notice what was going to happen?” Caren said, while Bill smiled warmly at Joe.
“I like to think I’m a smart woman, but at that moment, the thought never even crossed my mind. It wasn’t weird that he asked his friends to help him with a surprise for me, because they do everything together, and even a surprise wasn’t out of the ordinary, seeing Matt is a very romantic guy”
She looked at me with a little challenging sparkle in her eye, but I wouldn’t be taken aback by this, I just took all the power back by kissing her again. She was amazing.

“Please continue” Caren’s voice broke our little moment.
“Well, I walked outside to our little spot in the back of the garden and there he was, a beautiful table set for the two of us, him looking more handsome than I’ve ever seen. He was nervous, and only then I thought of what was really happening, but him falling down on one knee, might have had something to do with it too”
Bill laughed loudly and Caren sighed
“Appears that I had carried the ring with me in the box and he was quick to slide it on my finger, we got married not to long after that, why waste time?”

Her smile was face wide now and I could only kiss her again, and again, until Bill cleared his throat. We both looked at him annoyed, but they both could only smile at us.
“Oh… Young love, so beautiful” Caren sighed.
“Caren, we would be lucky if can stay happy together for as long as you and Bill have” I smiled at her, showing my dimples and she blushed a little.

“There is a recipe for that” Caren replied with a smile, holding on to Bill’s hand “We have dinner together, every Sunday night, whatever, wherever, we always do. During our dinner, we tell each other three things we love about each other. It keeps you from taking each other for granted. Maybe you two should try it” Her and Bill nodded at us encouraging.
“Maybe we should” Josephine smiled back, a little uncomfortable.
“Try it now dear, with such a lovely man, I know three things will be easy”
This request made me blush, I didn’t know if we were ready for this, but when I saw Joe’s shy but expecting eyes, I wanted to give her something.

“Okay, I’ll start” I looked into Joe’s eyes, and held her hand “I love you for being so determined, I love you because you are beautiful” I put my hand to her face “And I love you because you are everything I could have ever dreamed of” I averted my eyes, I wasn’t lying, and I hoped she noticed my honesty in my eyes, but it was weird to tell each other this, while we hadn’t even started dating.

Caren moved around in her chair, all excited, “now you go, Josephine”
Joe hesitated for a moment and then looked up to me shyly “I love you for always making me smile, even when you are annoying me” I grinned at her
“I love you for always keeping me safe” Her voice faltered and I held her hand a little tighter. “And last, I love you for always taking care of me, even though I can be demanding sometimes”

We got lost in each other’s eyes, forgetting the world around us and silence fell over our table. We stayed like that until the waiter brought us our coffee. I guess it was time to go home, I really wanted to take her home now.

Joe’s POV
The dinner was over and we said our goodbyes to Bill and his wife, the whole dinner had been nothing like I had expected, I mean... all this talk about meetings and love and... oh, this was so confusing to me.
Matt had been wonderful to say the least, I didn’t want to admit it, but he really was.
And if I wouldn’t know it better, some of the things he said this evening even sounded true.

We walked to the car and were long out of sight from Caren and Bill, but he was still holding my hand. I looked down on our intertwined fingers, but didn’t say anything, I had to admit that the feeling was just too good. And I would enjoy it as long as possible, even though I knew that this was wrong and would end sooner rather than later.
But the whole drive, Matt kept on holding my hand, his thumb caressing my palm and he looked at me every now and then with smile on his face.
But he didn’t say anything, he was really confusing me and if I wouldn’t be careful I would be falling for him... and I knew that this wouldn’t work... he was clear about that and I should be clear about that too, right? Right?

We arrived at the mansion and again, Matt being all gentleman holding the door open for me and by that time he got me really turned upside down in my head, so the best idea was getting as far away from him as I could get right now... and I wouldn’t need any stupid comments from the other men in the mansion and especially not my sister right now.

Matt opened the door and my last hope that the others wouldn’t notice us coming home was quickly vanished when I heard the voices from the kitchen.
“I told you not to fill it up to the line.” Johnny said and laughed loudly.
“It’s too intense...” Zacky’s voice sounded also having a smile in his voice.
“I can handle that.” Jacky’s voice now.
And I rolled my eyes, sure... my sister and these men... I bet it’s about alcohol, and she was in the middle of everything.
“I will head to bed right away, it’s late... Thank you.” I murmured to Matt not really sure if he heard me or not, but quickly turned away and headed out of this mess.

“Heyyy you are back.” Arin voice came from the kitchen too but I wouldn’t let that stop me.
“Yes, we are back. Everything went good... What are you doing there?” Matt asked and I heard some voices talking at the same time, not able to make out what they said.
“Cocktails? Since when are you drinking... anyway... I need to get rid of this damn suit and will be back shortly, then you can tell me.” Matt announced and I quickly closed the door to my room and leaned against it, breathing deeply in and out.

I closed my eyes and thought about the evening, the way Matt had treated me, the way I was feeling during that dinner and knew that this was wrong, so wrong... but why had it felt soo good?
Suddenly the door on my back was pushed open and I stumbled forward, what the-
“Joe?” Matt’s voice sounded from the door and I quickly turned and looked at him peeking in.
“Yeah? What do you want? I wanted to go to bed…” I asked and tried to not sound affected by the open shirt, showing his chest and stomach...oh my, why was he looking so good?

“I wanted to make sure you are okay... I saw the look on your face, what’s wrong? The evening went good, right? So what is it?” Matt asked and made a step towards me.
I snapped my eyes up to his and he had a smirk on his face, knowing that I had been looking at his flexing muscles...
“I..yes.. the evening went way too good... I mean.. the dinner... but why are you acting like this now? Why did you keep on holding my hand? Why caress my shoulder, why act... act like there is more?” I finally said it and Matt began to frown.
“What do you mean acting? Don’t you like me touching you? Damn, Joe... I thought after the... the night we spend together I was pretty clear that I-”
“Yes, you were pretty clear... that it should never have happened, that it was a mistake. That’s what you said... should have never happened!” I interrupted him.
“Oh god.. Joe, that’s the part you picked out? I can’t believe it...” He took another step towards me, his hands on my waist and he pulled me close, his lips crashed down on mine and I couldn’t help but let my hands run up his strong chest, and rest on his neck, he lifted me up and I slung my legs around his waist.
But wait... what..
I pulled away and Matt kissed my throat and up to my ear, making me again forget what I wanted to ask.

“I meant, this should have never happened, but it did... and I am glad... Damn, Joe... Don’t you get it? I like you... more than I should, more than I am allowed to like you, but I don’t care. I want you, and I want to get to know you... That’s why I am asking all these questions, thats why I am touching you, but if you tell me that you don’t want that... say it, and I will stay away...” Matt said and made me speechless, he wants... more?
“I.. I didn’t know... I thought you said it was a mistake... I like you touching me, even though I know I shouldn’t... and I...” I licked my lips, seeing Matt mimicking my motion... “I also want more.”
Matt had a smile on his face and was about to rain more kisses down on me but I had to make sure of one thing more.
“But... do we agree that this... getting to know each other, should... stay between us... I mean let’s see where this is going, what do you think?” I asked and was amazed how easily he was still holding me on his arms.
“Yes, you are right, this will be our test phase.” Matt grinned and I nodded, his dimpled smile making me smile back.
And then his lips were suddenly back on mine his tongue demanding entrance and I let him, damn his kisses were addictive, he walked towards the door and leaned my back to it, while the kiss grew more and more intense, he slowly let me down on my feet and I began to let my hands wander on the naked chest that was revealed by the open dress shirt...
Matt moaned, when I let my nails scratch lightly over his skin and his hands were cupping my face but he softly pulled away.
“Joe...” He moaned.
“Hmm...” I couldn’t say more.
“I need to change and go back downstairs... I told them I would be down... I.. shit, I wished I hadn’t said that.” Matt said and I wished it as well, wanted to see where this would be going... but for one night, this was enough.
I pulled away, but Matt put another kiss to my lips “Sweet dreams, Joe...” He murmured to my ear and I had to smile.
“Thank you... for the evening, it was really nice.” I said finally and Matt nodded “My pleasure.”

With that he left my room and I sighed... did we really agree on having a start on a secret relationship?

Notes

Ohhhh I love this chapter... Matt and Joe are just the cutest, don´t you think?
Two secret couples in the house, how is that going to turn out? :D

Soooo we love all our readers and commenters and raters, but I noticed this beautiful number of 15 of our subscribers that haven't been rating yet... If we promise to keep this up for a while, do you want to give us some nice stars? We would reallllly appreciate it!! And I promise, this story will get better and better!

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