My face burned. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to-”
“Do not apologize.” His arms tightened around me, preventing my escape. “I have greatly enjoyed being your body pillow.”
“I was drooling on you.”
“Yes. It was adorable.”
“That’s not adorable, that’s mortifying.”
“I disagree.” He finally loosened his grip enough for me to pull back and look at him. His hair was messy. His eyes were warm. He looked absolutely content. “You may drool on me whenever you wish.”
“That’s not a thing people wish for.”
“I do.”
“You’re weird.”
“I am mated to you. I find everything you do fascinating.”
I groaned and buried my face back in his chest. “It’s too early for you to be charming.”
“It is past nine in the morning.”
“Exactly. Too early.”
He laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest and into me. It was warm and genuine and I wanted to bottle it up and keep it forever.
We eventually got out of bed. Showered separately, unfortunately. Had breakfast. Opened the bookstore.
And that’s when I realized things had changed.
Mal was always protective. Always hovering. But today? Today he was on another level entirely.
He wouldn’t let me out of his sight. If I moved, he moved. If I walked to the back room, he followed. If I climbed the ladder to reach a high shelf, he stood at the bottom with his hands out, ready to catch me.
And the touching. There was so much touching.
His hand on the small of my back as I helped a customer. His fingers brushing mine when I handed him a stack of books. His presence at my side constantly, close enough that I could feel his warmth.
We spent all day attached at the hip. Practically joined. And the weird part? I didn’t mind. Actually found comfort in it.
Customers definitely noticed. I got several knowing smiles. Mrs. Kerrington came in for a cookbook and winked at me when Mal’s arm wrapped around my waist while I was ringing her up.
“You two are adorable,” she’d said.
I hadn’t bothered correcting her.
By closing time, I was exhausted. Emotionally drained. Ready to collapse.
That’s when my friends burst through the door.
“Bitch, what the fuck happened?!” Krystin’s screech could probably be heard in the next county.
Daphne walked in behind her, holding up a bottle of wine. “We come bearing alcohol and emotional support.”
Bella brought up the rear with a bag of snacks. “And carbs. Lots of carbs.”
My heart twisted. These three idiots. My family.
