He shook his head as if snapping himself out of a daze before chuckling to himself. “No, that’s just an unexpected bonus.”
“Why are you here, Christian? I’m fine with keeping an eye on Lily, regardless of what’s going on with you and me. I already told you that.”
Christian stilled. “That is not why I’m here, and you know it.”
It was Mallory’s turn to freeze. When he used that commanding voice on her, she had no choice but to pay attention to him. Trying to ignore what his voice was doing to her, she cleared her throat. “Then what is it?”
“I was wrong, and I’m sorry,” he answered simply.
“About?” She knew what he was talking about, but she needed to hear it from him.
“I practically begged for your input. I’m not stupid, I know you’ve been careful to stay out of things that had to do with Lily. I convinced you to participate, then I stormed out when I didn’t like what you had to say. So, I’m sorry,” he repeated. “You already know I talked to Dan the other day. I needed to hear what he said. I should have heard it when you said it, but I was too busy waiting to hear what I wanted to.”
Mallory swallowed as his words registered. The assumption had always been that she would need to explain her reaction. That he wouldn’t own up to how he treated her. She should have known he was better than that, but the way he stormed out and then avoided her for a few days had her convinced he was like the others.
“Where is Lily, anyway?” Mallory asked, finally realizing what was so strange about him just showing up the way he did.
“Downstairs, with Dan.”
“What do you want from me?” she came out and asked. “You can apologize for the way you reacted, but it doesn’t change your feelings. I’m okay with stepping back. That’s why you haven’t heard from me. Just tell me what you want.”
“I want you!” he shouted, surprising them both. “You don’t remember everything I said before I left? I shouldn’t have stormed off the way I did, and for that I’m sorry, but that doesn’t cancel out what I said before. I want you to be a part of this. I want you involved. Sometimes I won’t like what you say, but that’s okay.”
Blinking rapidly, she tried to hold back the unshed tears that pricked her eyes. There was nothing she wanted more than to be included in all of it. But it was too much too fast. No matter how bad she wanted to dive in headfirst, she had to remember it wasn’t just about her. Christian wasn’t ready to share every aspect with her, even though he thought he was, and that was okay.
“Christian, it’s fine. I don’t need to be included in everything. It’s not my place. I will continue to help out with Lily, but how you choose to be a parent has nothing to do with me. If she ends up here permanently, I’ll still help out.”
“What are you saying?” He watched her with a stern gaze as he waited for her answer.
“I’m saying let’s go back to the way things were before. Just because we have sex doesn’t mean I need to be part of everything. It’s not like we live together. I’m perfectly fine not playing house.”
She watched as he blinked away the hurt that crossed his features. He stepped closer and placed a hand on her hip, gripping her tightly and pinning her against the kitchen island. “Just two people who are sleeping together, then? That’s what we are?”
Mallory nodded. She wasn’t sure if it was fear or excitement coursing through her, but she shivered when he took another step closer, further boxing her in. “Yeah. That’s all we can be.”
He took one more step closer, pressing his body flush against hers. His body was firm against her, and she couldn’t ignore the way his arousal pressed against her stomach. This was what she’d wanted. This was what worked for them. Sex without complications.
He gripped the back of her neck and claimed her mouth with a greedy kiss. When she gasped in surprise he slipped his tongue in her mouth, sliding it along hers. Heat pooled to her center,and she eagerly kissed him back while allowing him to take control. He gripped her waist with his free hand before slipping it under her shirt and roaming up her body. She wasn’t wearing anything beneath her tank top and the feel of his thumb across her nipple caused her to cry out.
“More,” she moaned.
He let go of her neck and used both hands to pull her shirt off. The chill of the air hit her naked breasts, but she resisted the urge to cover herself as he stepped back to look at her. He once again pulled her close and took her mouth while running his hands over her naked flesh. When he reached the waistband of her sweats, he slipped his hands inside and pulled them down along with her panties.
As she stood before him completely bare, she was acutely aware that he was fully clothed. He put his hands over hers, stopping her when she reached for his shirt. Giving his head a quick shake, he worked to undo his belt.
“We don’t have time,” he breathed as he freed himself from his pants.
Before she could respond, he spun her around, so she was bent over the island, the granite cold under her skin. He ran his hands down her naked back and to her ass, cupping and massaging her before slipping a hand between her legs and to her wet slit.
“So fucking wet,” he said with a groan. “Are you ready for me?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“Good. Ass up.”
He pressed down on her back, so her ass was tilted up, and in one move he buried himself inside her to the hilt. She let out a loud moan as her body adjusted to the fullness. After a moment, he began to move; deep thrusts sliding her body across the island as she held on tight, attempting to keep herself steady.
“Shit,” she cried out as she met each thrust.
