“It’s nothing.” I wanted to ask her why she’d picked me, but that sounded a little too desperate. I mean, we’d never even spoken to each other before.
I’d definitely remember if she’d ever spoken to me. I probably would have been so flustered that I wouldn’t have been able to respond, or I would have said something silly.
It was honestly a miracle I was able to talk with her now. She seemed to get even more beautiful as I sat here and watched the firelight flicker over her face and her hair. Holy shit, herhair. I wanted to get naked and have her cover me in it. I wanted to bury myself in it.
Sure, I had admired a woman with gorgeous hair before, but this was next level. If I wasn’t careful, this could be an obsession, and how embarrassing wouldthatbe?
“Fuck,” Mal said, sighing and resting her head on the back of the couch.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re really cute, Gray. And you’ve been living next to me this whole time. What is wrong with me?”
I might be new to this kink world, but I wasn’t new to knowing when a woman was into me. Inexplicable as it was, Mal was giving me all the green lights.
Feeling bold, I slid closer to her on the couch and her lips twitched, as if she’d been waiting for me.
“So, beautiful Gray, do you want to get out of here?” Her fingers fluttered on my shoulder. I wanted her to kiss me. Needed her to kiss me.
I didn’t know lips could ache from not being kissed, but I couldn’t describe the sensation any other way.
I was so busy staring at her mouth and begging in my brain for her to lean forward that I had missed her question.
Once I processed it, there was only one answer. “Yes.”
Chapter Four
Mal
I hadn’t knownwhat I’d find when I came tonight, but I was so glad that I had.
Gray said goodbye to her friend and everyone else and I got to put my hand on her back and lead her toward my car that was parked down the street, making sure she didn’t slip, even though the sidewalk was clear and dry and there was little risk of her falling. I didn’t want to take any chances.
Of course, I lunged in front of her to open the door before she could reach for it.
“Oh,” she said, surprised when I gestured for her to get in. I’d used the remote start so the car was already warming, and the heated seats were going. I wanted her to be comfortable.
Gray sat in the passenger seat and I made sure she was in before closing the door and walking around to the driver’s side.
Gray was quiet as I drove, looking out the window at the houses all lit up.
“Nice neighborhood,” she said.
“It is.”
Ours wasn’t as picturesque, but that couldn’t be helped. Our building was new, and at least it didn’t look like one of thosegross industrial boxes. It was all brick and attempted to have character at least.
Not long after, I turned into our complex. The closer we’d gotten, the twitchier Gray had grown in her seat. I’d noticed out of the corner of my eye as I’d done my best to focus on the road in front of me.
I pulled into my spot in the small parking garage and turned off the engine.
“If you want, we can end this here. We can each go to our separate apartments and go to bed. Or, if you want, you can come upstairs with me and we can see where things go. What do you want, Gray?”
If she decided that we should go our separate ways, then I would probably end up completely devastated and moping in my apartment until the early hours of the morning with ice cream and a book, but I’d take the rejection gracefully. Probably.
I made sure she was looking at me when she answered, her breathing a little frantic.
She licked her lips, drawing all my focus to her mouth. “I want the second thing.”
