He remembered a brief discussion with his grandfather in the study, followed by darkness as he fainted… A face shed in his mind-


    Ste.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    With a rush of rity, Matthew fully awakened, the urge to move striking him, but he found Ste sleeping soundly on his chest.


    For a few moments, he was frozen, shocked to find it was Ste causing his breath to catch in his throat.


    Yet, anger or frustration was absent from his feelings.


    Instead, he felt oddlyforted.


    ..


    Library


    Matthew was taken aback by his reaction, his hand moving almost of its own ord to gently brush Ste’s hair.


    He shot her a nervous nce, looking for any sign she was about to wake up.


    When she remained undisturbed, Matthew gave into a yful urge and pinched her cheek lightly.


    Still, there was no response.


    His mischief growing, he pinched slightly harder, prompting a frown from Ste before he quickly pulled back his hand.


    Drained and deep in slumber, Ste shifted slightly, a brief wince crossing her face before she settled again, a soft sigh escaping her.


    Matthew watched over her, a smile creeping across his face as a sense of relief flooded through him.


    With a slight shift, Ste’s cor loosened, revealing the curve of her ample breast.


    A sudden, uncontroble reaction from him followed, his eyes intensely fixed on her.


    In her sleep, Ste stirred again, softly murmuring, “Matthew…”


    In a reflex, he shut his eyes, as if to hide from her possible gaze.


    After a tense pause with no sign of her awakening, he dared to look again.


    His gaze shifted back to her, emotions swirling in his eyes, revealing his inner turmoil.


    Ste woke up to find that daylight had already streamed into the room.


    She stared at the ceiling for a moment before suddenly sitting up, realizing she had no memory of how or when she ended up in bed.


    Matthew was nowhere to be seen.


    Instinctively, she touched the ce beside her.


    It was cold, indicating that Matthew had been gone for a while.


    Guilt gnawed at her as she realized she’d fallen asleep while she was supposed to be watching over Matthew.


    How could she have slept so deeply,pletely unaware of when he’d gotten up and left?


    Ste sprang out of bed and dashed out of the room, not even bothering to put on her shoes.