Chapter 46

Celeste

My heart was still pounding from the emotional dinner as Matt looked down at me. I told myself I needed to leave, that I shouldn't prolong the inevitable. The connection between us was more than I had ever felt before, but the secret I was keeping would ultimately drive us apart.

“I really should go home, Matt,” I said, my voice filled with uncertainty. “It’s late, and I don't want to impose.”

“Just one more thing, Rose,” he urged, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Trust me; you'll love it.”

I shook my head, feeling a sense of unease settle into my stomach. “I won’t take off my mask. Please stop trying to make me do it.”

Matt looked a little hurt by my harsh words. “I’m not trying to force you to do anything, Rose,” he said. “If you want to keep your mask on, that’s your right. I was only saying that my next plan is going to be a lot of fun, and you might feel more comfortable around me. I’m sorry if it came across another way.”

I felt my face blanch a little. Fun? Comfortable? Was he talking about sex?

I would never admit it, but the thought of it did excite me. To finally lose my virginity at nearly twenty years of age… It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time, and I never thought it would happen until now.

Besides, something about the way he looked at me, the earnestness in his eyes, made me want to believe him. My mind was telling me to run, to end things before they got more complicated. But my heart? My heart was asking for just a little more time with him.

“Alright,” I finally agreed, unable to resist his charm. “But then I really have to go home.”

Matt’s smile widened, and he drove us away from the restaurant. The further we went, the more remote the landscape became, and a nervous flutter settled in my stomach.

“Where are you taking me?” I finally asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

“It's a surprise,” Matt replied, his eyes on the road. “Don’t worry, it’s okay.”

I wanted to believe him, but the anxious feeling continued to gnaw at me. Finally, he pulled up to a quaint little cabin, tucked away in the woods. The sight was both charming and unsettling.

“Is this…?” I began, my voice trailing off.

“It belongs to my family,” Matt explained, getting out of the car and extending his hand to help me. “Come on, let me show you.”

I followed him inside, taking in the rustic beauty of the cabin. But a dark thought crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but voice it.

“Did you bring me here for sex?” I asked, my eyes widening at my own audacity.

Matt frowned, looking genuinely hurt by my suggestion. “Rose, I would never assume that. I’d only let you take the lead if you wanted it. Please, trust me.”

With those words, he took my hand and led me outside to a beautiful hot tub, nestled among the trees.

“How about a dip?” he suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “We can keep talking, enjoy some wine, and relax. Sex or no sex… I’m just happy to be spending time with you.”

I blushed, realizing I hadn’t brought a bathing suit. “I don’t have anything to wear for the hot tub,” I said quietly. “You could have warned me.”

Matt scratched his head nervously. “Yeah… I have to admit that I only just thought of this idea at dinner. Otherwise, I would have given you time to prepare. I’m sorry.”

I chewed my lower lip, following his gaze to the hot tub. It looked warm and inviting, and I imagined that it would be refreshing to sit in the warm, bubbly water with all of the snow around us.

“We could skinny dip, you know” he said, his voice a mix of playfulness and sincerity. “I won’t look until you're covered by the water, and you can keep your mask on.”

The proposal was both thrilling and terrifying. Could I really undress in front of him? Yet something in his eyes told me I could trust him.

With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, I nodded. “Alright,” I said, feeling the Mystery Girl—Rose—take control over Celeste once more as I slipped the strap of my dress down over my shoulder, right in front of Matt’s eyes. “But you don’t need to turn away.”

Matt’s eyes widened slightly. “Now who’s the one asking for sex?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave as he watched me. “I thought you wanted to be a little more conservative tonight.”

I shook my head, my own voice taking on a huskier tone. “I’m not asking for anything,” I said. “But don’t forget what we did in the bathroom that night. What harm could it do to see each other fully?”

Without thinking, as though I was being controlled by an outside force, I let my dress fall around me and flutter to the floor. Matt’s eyes widened, and with a smirk, he slipped off his jacket and his shirt to reveal a chiseled chest and abs.

Next, I removed my bra. My hands were trembling slightly as I unhooked the clasp and let it fall to the floor, but I felt a sense of confidence wash over me upon seeing Matt’s eyes settle on my bare breasts.

We took turns like that, neither of us speaking, as we removed all of our clothes. Finally, we stood fully nude in front of one another, with only the glow from the hot tub illuminating our bodies.

I wanted to touch him. To feel him. But I restrained myself that much. We could look, but not touch. For now, I would hold onto that little shred of Celeste that was left inside of me. Rose could have the rest.

Once I was in the water, he joined me, his eyes meeting mine with admiration. “You’re beautiful, Rose,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

The water bubbled gently around us as the stars began to sparkle overhead. Matt poured us each a glass of wine, and I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable he seemed in his own skin.

We had already shared so much, but there was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel like he wanted to tell me more.

“You seem so confident,” I said, my voice a mix of admiration and curiosity as I sipped at my wine. “I wish I could be more like that.”

Matt's smile wavered, and he looked down into his wine glass. “I wasn’t always like this, you know. Growing up, I was chubby, really chubby.”

“Really?” I asked, surprised by the admission. “You seem so fit now.”

He chuckled, but it was a hollow sound. “It took a lot of work to get here. Being overweight as a kid was tough. Kids can be cruel, and I was an easy target.”

I reached out to touch his hand, wanting to offer comfort but also wanting to understand. “What was it like?”

“It was painful,” he said, his voice cracking a little. “I was constantly teased, bullied. I never felt like I fit in. I just wanted to be like everyone else, but no matter what I did, I was always the fat kid.”

I could see the pain in his eyes, the memories that still haunted him. My heart ached for him, and I found myself wanting to know more.

“Did anyone stand up for you?” I asked, my voice gentle.

He shook his head, his eyes filled with a sadness that seemed to reach back through the years. “No, not really. I felt alone, all the time. It was like I was on the outside, looking in. I had to learn to be my own support system.”

“How did you do it?” I asked, truly wanting to know how he had found the strength to overcome such adversity.

“I focused on what I could control,” he said, his voice growing more determined. “I started to eat healthier, exercise. It wasn't about being thin; it was about being strong, finding a way to accept myself and stand up against the bullies. But more than that, it was about learning to love myself, even when it felt like no one else did.”

Tears welled in my eyes as I listened to his story. I couldn’t help but feel a connection to him, to his struggles. He had faced rejection and loneliness, and he had come through it with grace and strength.

“You’re an incredible person, Matt,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity. “What you’ve overcome, how you’ve grown, it’s inspiring.”

He looked up at me, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thank you, Rose. That means more to me than you know.”

We sat in silence for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle between us. I felt a newfound respect for him, a deeper understanding of who he was.

I hadn’t realized it, but throughout our conversation, Matt and I had been slowly moving closer together. Maybe it was the wine, but I felt a sudden urge to kiss him, and I did.

His lips were soft and gentle, and made my body tremble. As we kissed, our movements slowly changed from tentative to fervent. I felt his hand slip down under the water, caressing my thigh, running across my knee.

Instinctively, I opened my legs for him without a second thought, shivering beneath his touch. His thick fingers felt warm and soft in the hot water, and I craved the feeling of him being inside of me again. I wanted more of him, more than last time.

Smiling against his lips, I moved over and straddled him, wrapping my arms around his neck as we kissed each other passionately. I felt his erection against my crotch, and in a sudden surge of confidence, I grinded up against it, relishing in the sound of the moan escaping his lips.

But then, the steam became too much. My mask started to slip, and I panicked, breaking out of our reverie. I quickly scrambled off of him and readjusted my mask, standing in the water.

“What’s wrong?” Matt asked, concern in his eyes.

“It’s late,” I stammered, avoiding his gaze. “I need to go home.”

His face fell, but he nodded quietly. “I’ll take you home. Thank you for the lovely night together.”