I couldn’t believe I’d done that with him. And yet I also couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else. Mal was quickly becoming my safety net, and I didn’t know what to think about that.
Although it sounded like Future Saylor’s problem. I was too tired to overanalyze everything. After pulling off my twisted skirt, I decided to do something I’d never done before—sleep naked.
Shimmying into the bed, I pulled the sheets over my naked body and grinned. I could maybe get used to this.
“Good thinking.” Mal tumbled into the bed next to me and burrowed under the sheets until his very naked body spooned mine. His arm wrapped around my tummy, and his large handcupped my left breast. “This way I’ll have unfettered access tomorrow morning. Although the condoms are…wherever my pants ended up. But that’s Future Mal’s problem.”
I grinned into my pillow at his use of my favorite procrastination phrase.
“Is it okay that I’m still here?” Mal whispered.
“Of course,” I whispered back.
He hummed happily.
Sighing, I relaxed into the bed and Mal’s embrace.
And I don’t know why, but a few moments later I whispered into the quiet room, “It wasn’t Trent who hit me.”
Mal’s arm tightened around my waist.
“It was his bookie. He owes lots of people lots of money, and I didn’t know anything about it. I’d been with him for years, and it turns out I never really knew him at all.”
It felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders with my confession. That a large barrier I hadn’t even realized was between us was now gone.
Mal pressed a kiss against my temple but didn’t say anything, content for the moment between us to just breathe.
Chapter 11
Mal
It felt like something had shifted between us. After her confession last night, I spent some time thinking about all the ways her ex had no doubt hurt her and all the ways I wanted to hurt him because of it. She deserved so much better. I hoped she knew that.
It was now my life mission to make sure she realized her worth.
I couldn’t remember ever having so much fun in bed with a girl before. Granted, it had been a minute since I’d been with a woman. But usually it was all about just getting off and moving onto the next. Something about being with Saylor changed that for me. It was intoxicating watching her discover what she loved about her body and mine.
And I don’t think I’d ever laughed so much with a woman in bed before.
She was so giving and funny and just…perfect.
As I waited for her to get ready for our private beach picnic, I was practically bouncing on my toes. I couldn’t wait to get her alone on that beach.
“Maybe we should pack something from your friend’s bag for the beach!” I hollered at the closed bathroom door.
Saylor was currently putting on a bikini and apparently needed complete privacy for the moment. Something about how if we ever wanted to leave, I had to stop taking her clothes off. I didn’t really follow what she said. I’d been too busy staring at her gorgeous tits. So plump and just perfect. She should really be topless all the time.
Although I don’t know how I’d ever get anything done.
“Mal?” Saylor called from the suddenly opened door. “You all right?”
I blinked then shook my head. “Sorry. Just got lost in my thoughts, picturing your tits.”
She rolled her eyes and headed for the front door, her sundress hiding all the goods and yet swinging temptingly under her ass like a call to action. “You’re ridiculous. And for the record, we’re not taking anything from the sex bag to the beach. Salt water corrodes. But I’ve got sunscreen, my ereader, sunglasses…what am I forgetting?”
“Uh, condoms? And you should leave your ereader here. You’re not going to be reading today. Plus, salt water corrodes,” I repeated teasingly.
“But that’s what I always do at the beach.”
