Vision In Love (Legends of The North Book 1) (15 page)

"Fine, I understand. You and Ben ..."

"Are over. Completely in the past." She wrapped her arms around his neck, going up onto her tiptoes to reach. Gently, she pressed her lips against his. Matt wrapped his arms around her waist, hands resting on the small of her back so he could pull her against him. She went willingly, and he gave himself up to the emotions she was creating within him. He sighed as she pulled away too quickly.
 

In that moment, he realised just how much he was going to miss her.

Driving back home the next day, Emma indicated then turned off the motorway, onto the road that wound down to Altenchester. The nearer she got to home, the more she felt like she was being watched. She gave herself a mental shake, telling herself she was being silly, that she was just tired and irritated. Cardiff had been such a waste of time–well, at least for the reason she had originally gone.
 

Sarah didn't feel guilty about what they had done to Emma; it was just another attempt to get Ben's attention. What Ben had neglected to tell Emma was that he had dumped Sarah. They were welcome to each other, and at least she knew she had made the right choice in leaving. She had no regrets and hoped she would never have to see either of them again. Looking at the positives, though, she had managed to get most of her Christmas shopping done. She'd also spent a lot of time thinking about Matt, surprised by how much she had missed him. Taking the bridge that spanned the river at the edge of Altenchester, she stopped at the lights, thinking how much she'd missed this place, too.
 

She turned to look at the river but it had vanished. Instead, she was standing outside Altenbury Hall. At the sight, her hold tightened not around the steering wheel but, when she glanced down, around a bouquet of blood-red poppies. She was on top of a mound of bodies, lifeless beneath her except for the topmost one. He turned to face her and she gasped in recognition–it was Matt's brother, James. His hands stretched out toward her, his face pleading with her, but for what she had no idea. Liquid dripped from the bouquet in her hands–blood, she realised. It landed on James's face and back, turning his grey suit black where it seeped into the material. She watched it drip from James onto what must’ve been the bodies of the wedding guests beneath him. The blood flowed over them all like some kind of macabre waterfall. Emma opened her mouth to scream.

Her ears were filled with the honking of a horn. She closed her mouth, then gasped, when she saw the blood. Her hand shook as she lifted it from the steering wheel. Turning her hand over, she saw there was more blood on her palm.

The sound of the horn blared again, and she realised the lights had changed. She released the brake and floored it, tyres spinning and squealing. Easing up on the accelerator, she took several deep, slow breaths. Nothing had happened while she'd been in Cardiff. Was she reading too much into the fact that as soon as she entered the village she had another vision?

By the time she pulled the car up outside her cottage, Emma had managed to calm herself down a little. Leaving her suitcase in the car, she walked slowly toward the front door, hoping Jess wasn't home. She could really use a little time alone. As she neared the front door, it opened to reveal Matt. God, she was so glad to see him. As unnerving as the visions were, they didn't seem as bad when Matt was around. He had an oddly calming effect just by being close.
 

Not waiting for him to say anything or move, she launched herself at him. His arms came around her, holding her while she promptly burst into tears.

"Hey, what's wrong? Should I be worried that the sight of me has you in tears?"

Through the tears, she laughed and thumped her hand against his chest. "I'm not crying because of you." He released his arms from around her but clasped her hand in his. When he did, he brought their hands up, releasing hers to study it. Both her hands trembled and were coated in blood
 

He pulled her into the house, kicking the front door closed behind her. Leading her to the sofa, he sat beside her, and asked, "What happened?"
 

"I had another vision as soon as I got into Altenchester. It was like the last one but ... I don't know; it just really got to me." She described the vision to Matt who didn't utter a word throughout. When she finished, he got her a damp cloth and gently cleaned her hands. He pulled her against his chest, gently rubbing his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her.
 

They were both quiet for a while, lost in their own thoughts.

"Visions or not, I'm glad you're back. I really missed you, Ems," he said before pressing his lips against her head.

She hugged him tightly. "I missed you, too."

***

Emma still felt out of sorts after that afternoon's vision. Matt being there had helped, but he and Jess had plans that night. Well, that was all he would say about what he was doing. Christmas wasn't far away, and she wondered if that had anything to do with it. Not that she minded, because Vicky was on her way over with a bottle of wine. It was far too long since they had last seen each other. The only downside was she knew she'd have to tell Vicky about her visit to Cardiff, and Ben.

After Emma had caught Vicky up with recent events, she opened a second bottle of wine. Pouring them both another glass, Emma glanced up to see that Vicky was staring at her. "What?"

"It's just that ... well, you don't seem all that upset about Ben. For someone who just travelled halfway across the country, you seem pretty calm about it all."

Emma sat back on the sofa, glass in hand. "It's not halfway across the country. Plus, I didn't go to see Ben, I went to put the past where it belongs."

"Fine, I understand that, but I still think you're not telling me everything."

Emma couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at that. "I met someone."

Vicky let out a squeal and put her glass on the coffee table to face Emma. "Tell me about him. Tell me everything. How did you meet?"

Emma laughed. "I would if you stopped asking questions. His name is Matt. We met at the museum." Emma stopped talking and remembered that first meeting. When she looked at Vicky, her eyebrows were scrunched, her lips pressed together. "What?"

"Since when did you start hanging out in museums?"

"I don't. I'd just moved here and it just ..." She couldn't tell Vicky the real reason. She wasn't ready to share her visions with anybody else yet. "I just thought it would be interesting. There's so much history in the village."

"Okay, what was
he
doing at the museum?"

"He works there."

Vicky's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, I can't wait until I meet this guy."

Emma stuck her tongue out at Vicky. "Neither can I, then you'll see how gorgeous he is and smart and sweet and funny–oof," Emma was cut off as Vicky threw the cushion at Emma's face. She threw it back at Vicky, trying to look upset instead of laughing.
 

"Shut up before you make me gag. I take it you're falling for him?"

Emma just nodded, pretty sure there was no "falling" about it. More like fallen, but she wasn't ready to admit to that yet. And surely the first person she should admit it to was Matt, wasn't it?
 

She so wasn't going there yet.

The last few days since Emma had returned from Cardiff, things had been quiet–vision-wise, at least. She had finished her Christmas shopping but still had a few presents to wrap. Jess had taken her shopping for decorations and they were starting to put them up. She had finished work early as it was Christmas Eve, and Jess was already mulling the wine. It smelled of berries and cinnamon–wonderful, like Christmas in a glass. As Jess poured her a glass, there was a knock on the door; she went to open it knowing it would be Matt. She squeezed her lips together, trying not to laugh at the ridiculous sweater he was wearing.

"Don't laugh or you won't get these," he said as he held up two bags of wrapped gifts and leaned in to kiss her. "Besides, there's a matching sweater in here for you. And maybe a Santa's little helper uniform for later, if you're a good girl."

Emma gasped and hit his chest with the back of her hand. "Matthew." She laughed as his cheeks turned the same colour as his sweater. Taking the presents, she put them under the decorated tree as Jess joined them with a glass of mulled wine for Matt. Emma couldn't help but feel that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. As she put her arm around Matt's waist, she realised she was with exactly the right people, too.

Putting the last decorations up around the room with Matt's help, she noticed Jess quietly go upstairs with her phone. She never seemed to go anywhere without her phone anymore, which wasn't like Jess. Handing her empty glass to Matt, she asked, "Why don't you get us both a refill while I go and bring down my presents?"

"Sure. Does that mean I can have a guess at what they are?"

"No, you'll have to wait until tomorrow."

She headed upstairs and ducked her head inside Jess's room to find her sitting on the edge of her bed, head bent over her phone.

"Hey," Emma said. "Are you okay?"

Jess jumped at the sound of Emma's voice and turned her head towards the door, dropping her phone to her side. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thought I'd go see my mum and dad, give you and Matt some time alone."

Emma walked into the room and leaned against the wall. "You don't have to. We both like you being here and Matt's your brother. Plus, you do live here."

"No offence, but I really don't feel like being around couples at the moment. And before you say it, my parents don't count as a couple. They're barely civil to each other most of the time."

Emma moved to the bed and sat down next to Jess. "I wish you'd tell me what's going on with you."

Jess smiled in response, but it seemed like a sad one to Emma.
 

"Honestly, there's nothing going on with me. Just got the holiday blues, I guess. I'm not a big fan of Christmas."

Emma stared at Jess, not believing her. "Okay, but you know if you ever need to chat, about anything, you can. And I promise I won't breathe a word of it to Matt."

Jess smiled, the one Emma had missed lately. "Thanks, Emma. Now, go spend the night with him before he comes up here looking for us."

Emma patted Jess's leg before she stood to leave, hoping she would be okay.

"Is Jess coming back down?" Matt asked as she walked back into the living room, taking the glass of mulled wine he held out for her.
 

Emma shook her head. "She's going to visit your parents." At the sound of the door shutting added, "Gone to see your parents."

Matt's eyebrows lifted but he didn't say anything. Neither of them would be spending Christmas with their families, and that suited them both. Matt sat down in front of the tree and pulled out a small wrapped gift. She took a seat across from him, leaning against the sofa.
 

"I thought we could open one present tonight, when it's just the two of us."

Emma smiled, liking the idea that it could become a tradition of theirs. He handed the present to her and she ran her hand over the shiny red paper covered in silver stars. It was very neatly wrapped, and she thought he had probably done it himself. Carefully, she peeled back the wrapping paper and slid out a box. Inside was a silver charm bracelet with a dog charm attached. He took it from her and fastened it around her wrist.

"Thank you, I love it," she said before pressing her lips gently against his. His hand cupped her cheek and he took the kiss deeper, his tongue stroking hers. He pulled back far too quickly for her liking, but she moved under the tree to find a present to give to him. She handed it to him and hoped he liked it. Just as carefully as she had, he unwrapped the present to reveal a book she knew he loved,
The Great Gatsby
.

"Wow, Ems, I can't believe you got a first edition. This is fantastic."

She let out a breath and swiped her hand across her forehead before smiling at him. He flicked carefully through the pages and she made herself comfortable in front of the fire, glancing at her bracelet as she heard it jingle. Matt set his book down on the coffee table and put another log on the fire before joining Emma in front of it. As the flames licked at the log, sparks flew up, and she heard the wood start to crackle. Matt leaned down and brushed his lips against Emma's. When he pulled back, he heard her soft sigh. With a smile, he said, "I thought I might get to unwrap you tonight, too."

Emma smiled back, her eyes shining in the glow of the fire. "Well, it is Christmas Eve," she said as she slid her hands beneath his sweater. She felt his stomach muscles clench as she ran her fingertips over them, dragging his sweater up as she went. She moved over the ridge marking the bottom of his pecs and, finding his hardened nipple, she rubbed her fingertips over it. She pulled his sweater over his head and groaned when he slid his thigh between her legs, the hard length of him pressing against her. Then his hands were beneath her sweater, tugging at it until it was over her head and on the floor beside them. His head dipped to take her lips again as his hands grazed across her breasts before removing her bra, too. His mouth dropped to her breast and his tongue flicked across her erect nipple. She moaned in response, pulling his head against her harder.
 

This is definitely a Christmas tradition we could repeat each year.
They spent the remainder of the evening unwrapping each other.
 

January had arrived and with it an iciness that froze all it touched. Emma could hear the crunch of frozen grass beneath her feet as she made her way across the field. She could feel the tingle in her nostrils with every breath she took, could see her breath streaming out of her mouth with each exhale. As she crossed the bridge, she stopped to check but she heard the water slowly moving over the rocks of the riverbed beneath her feet, mesmerised by its hypnotic flow. Her trance was broken by an awful wailing noise from behind her. It sounded a little like the cry of a wounded animal. She spun around to try and locate the sound, but as she did, she lost her footing, fell off the bridge, and landed in the river. It wasn't a long drop, but she cried out in pain as she landed on a rock, awkwardly twisting her ankle.