“Oh my god,” Bella whispered. “He’s participating in book club.”
“And regarding the wall scene,” Mal continued, sitting down on the couch next to me, “the position is entirely feasible. The male braces her against the wall, his hands supporting her weight under her thighs. She wraps her legs around his waist for stability. The angle allows for deep penetration while maintaining eye contact, which is essential for the emotional intimacy the scene requires.”
He casually pulled me onto his lap as he said this. Just wrapped his arms around my waist and positioned me between his legs as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Um.” Daphne’s eyebrows had climbed into her hairline. “Are you two...?”
“What’s happening here?” Bella squeaked.
“No.” I said it quickly. Too quickly. “We’re not... it’s not like that. But after last night we’ve both been needing the physical contact. For comfort. That’s all.”
“Sure,” Krystin said slowly. Her smirk was absolutely wicked. “Physical contact. For comfort. While he reads your porn and gives detailed explanations of sex positions.”
My face burned. “It’s not-”
“The distinction is minimal,” Mal observed. “Though I have found the romance novels quite educational. I have made notes.”
“You’ve made notes?” I twisted to look at him. “On what?”
“Mating positions.” He winked at me. “Your literature is very comprehensive. Chapter seventeen of the werewolf book was particularly instructive.”
Krystin looked ready to combust with delight. “This is the best thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
“I do have questions, however.” Mal turned his attention to my friends. “In the dragon book, chapter thirteen describes something called ‘edging.’ The explanation was vague. Can you clarify the purpose?”
“OKAY!” Krystin shot to her feet. “We’re leaving now! Don’t get up. We know the way out.”
“What? But you just got here-”
“Nope. This has gone from book club to sex education and I’m not prepared for that level of honesty.” She grabbed the winebottle. “You two clearly have things to discuss. Very detailed, anatomically specific things.”
“I’m happy to listen-” Mal started.
“NO THANK YOU!” Bella was already at the door, her face the color of a tomato.
Daphne paused, looking between me and Mal with a knowing smile. “For what it’s worth? I think you two are perfect together. Even if he does crash book club to debate fictional sex positions.”
“I found the debate intellectually stimulating,” Mal said earnestly.
“I BET YOU DID!” Krystin called from the doorway. “Text us tomorrow, Wen. Or don’t. We’ll understand if you’re busy demonstrating chapter thirteen.”
The door closed behind them with a cheerful chime.
Silence.
I was still sitting in Mal’s lap. His arms were still around me. The dragon book was on the couch beside us.
“Your friends are very entertaining,” he observed.
“They’re going to give me so much shit about this.”
“Because I participated in your book discussion?”
“Because you participated while explaining sex positions and pulling me into your lap.”
“I thought the lap was a nice touch. It demonstrated my point about supporting your weight.” His arms tightened. “See? Perfectly comfortable. Plus I love touching you.”
“You’re impossible.”
