“Thanks.” I looked down at my hem and brushed some imaginary lint off my dress. “Um, you do too. Look nice, I mean.” Awesome.So smooth, Saylor.
He chuckled lightly. “You make me feel underdressed. I should’ve tried harder.”
“No!” The word shot out overly loud and obvious. “I meant it. You look nice too. God, I’m so awkward. I’m sorry, it’s just been a minute since I’ve done this.” I gestured between us.
Mal grinned. “Apparently you weren’t listening earlier. It’s been a minute for me too. Longer than, actually. Meaningless hookups aren’t the same as what we’re doing here.”
“It’s not?”
“Of course not. I’m trying to show you how much I’m trying here. And apparently doing a shit job of it.”
I swayed toward him unconsciously. I wanted him to know I felt that too, but I didn’t know how. Lord knew I couldn’t actually say it.
So I decided to show him.
Closing the small distance between us, I reached up and kissed him. And in less than a heartbeat, Mal was kissing me back.
His lips moved over mine with a mastery I’d never felt before. My arms twined around his shoulders, and his big paws clutched the small amount of fabric on the back of my dress. In three seconds, he had me trying to climb him like a contestant in a lumberjack competition. I’d never felt so aroused so quickly. I just needed a little friction, and I could totally get off right now.
Mal broke our kiss with a harsh groan. “Fuck me, baby. You’ve got me harder than I’ve ever been. It’s gonna be embarrassing here in a minute. Give me a second.”
I frowned, confused why he’d stopped. But when he stepped away from me and the huge bulge in the front of his pants stood out, I got what he meant.
I couldn’t help it—I laughed. I just felt so powerful and in control of my life for the first time in so long.
I was punch drunk happy.
“Yeah, laugh it up,” Mal grumbled. “It’ll be hella funny if I walk into the dining room with a visible wet spot on the front of my pants.”
Screw dinner. We should just go up to my treehouse. I was just opening my mouth to say as much when my stomach let out a loud rumble. Clutching it in embarrassment, my shoulders hunched a little. “Sorry. It’s been a minute since we ate.”
Mal blinked a few times. “Unless you have a mouse in your pocket, I’m assuming we means me and you?”
I nodded.
“You haven’t eaten since breakfast?”
I shook my head.
“You didn’t go down for lunch?” His voice rose.
“I fell asleep by my pool. And by the time I woke up, lunch was over. I raided my mini-bar, but Tim Tams can only do so much.”
“Fuck. Those don’t even have nuts in them.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction of the dining hall. “You need protein to fill you up. Nuts. Meat. Lentils. Soy. Tim Tams are just calories.”
“Sweet, delicious calories. But thank you for the nutrition lecture,Daddy.”
He groaned and muttered under his breath something about, “trying to kill me.” Then he coughed and said louder, “Let’s get some food in you before you fall over.”
“Okay.” I followed his lead and enjoyed the feeling of him being all grrr and worrying about me. “But for the record, it was the sight of you like that that made me unsteady on these sandals, not lack of nutrition.”
“Ditto, baby girl. Ditto.”
Anticipation sang through my bloodstream. I had a feeling this was going to be the quickest meal of my life. I had more important things to do.
Mostly him.
But apparently he didn’t get that memo.
