Page 17 of Never Till Now

“I guess I’ll just lie here bored.”

“Yeah? You won’t make a single sound or movement when I do this?” I whisper before licking the shell of her ear, and she gulps. “Or this?” My hand trails down her chest and I ghost my fingers along the exposed skin of her stomach.

“Wow, so gentle.” Her voice goes flat, but I didn’t miss the way her stomach tremored as my finger danced across it. “Is this how you took virginities back in the day?” She gives me a wicked grin and winks.

“I promise this will be more eventful than when you lost yours.”

She tenses at my words and the grin wipes off her face. Only for a split second does her eyes glaze with a look I can’t read.

It happens so fast that I would have missed it if I blinked. I try not to focus on what she never says.

“Then you better be able to make me come before I beat you to it.” Her hands cup my face as she closes the space between us.

Her hand slides down her body into her leggings. As she lets out a moan, it distracts my plan to pin her arms up. Damn, she’s clever. Or my pea brain is easily amused. I love how she’s fighting for dominance. I’ll let her have it after I’m finished making her come a few times. I break the kiss and pull back. My hand covers hers over the leggings when Buzzkill Number One knocks on my penthouse door.

A knock I know too well, and the timing couldn’t have come at a worse moment. Lauren’s eyes widen as her head snaps to the door. With a groan, I stand and readjust myself in my pants. I take a deep breath and give Lauren an apologetic look.

“I’m not expecting a visitor, but I can’t ignore this one.”

Puzzled, she nods, smoothing out her shirt as I open the door.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed? Does your mother know you’re at my door?”

Giant brown eyes stare up at me as she clutches her stuffed bunny. “James keeps getting out of bed and I haven’t seen you all week. Momma said I can stay here since you don’t have work tomorrow.”

“Mallory, I’m a bit busy.” I sigh but have already accepted the fact that telling my six-year-old niece no is a losing battle with her logical wits.

Mallory walks through the door under my arm and assesses Lauren. Her tiny head of brown curls bounces as she makes her way over.

“Wow, Uncle Adam.” She turns back to me with an approving grin. “She looks like a princess.”

Lauren smiles at her. “I love your princess pajamas. Who is your favorite?”

“They’re all plausible for their own reasons, so I can’t choose.” Mallory takes a seat on the couch. “Come sit next to me. My uncle will make us popcorn and the three of us can watch a movie together.”

The rank this child knows she has in my life is well used. I look toward Lauren, about to apologize, but her face holds utter shock, like most people when they hear Mallory speak. Lauren nods at Mallory with an impressed smile.

“Come on, Uncle Adam.” Lauren takes a seat next to Mallory and points to the kitchen. “We’ll choose a movie while you make the popcorn.”

I’m dumbfounded. Loss for words with what is happening right now. Most women, when they have a brief encounter with Mallory or, lord forbid, enter a situation like this, see her as an annoyance. They’ll smile and be polite, but I can see clearly through their gritted smile and raised eyebrows that they’re lying. I don’t fault them for it either. Mallory holds a place in my heart, but they aren’t with me to deal with her.

“Are you sleeping here, princess?” Mallory snuggles into Lauren as if she’s known her all her life.

Lauren lifts her arm to let Mallory snuggle in. I watch closely at Mallory’s comfortable body language. She has always been very picky about who she lets in her “personal space” but welcomes Lauren instantly.

“No, I have my own place. My name is Lauren, and unfortunately, I’m not a real princess.”

“You’re going to miss out, Princess Lauren.” Mallory chooses to ignore the princess rejection. “My uncle makes the best French toast ever!”

“You’ll have to eat an extra piece for me then. With lots of syrup.” Lauren giggles and I throw my hands up in defeat.

“I’ll have you confirm that with him.” Mallory laughs. “And I know a princess in disguise won’t blow her cover. Your secret’s safe.”

I hurry to the couch, mortified by the many things my niece could say to scare Lauren off. Her filter lacks when it comes to embarrassing situations. I set the popcorn on Mallory’s lap and lift my arm on the edge of the couch, beginning to rub the back of Lauren’s neck. Mallory picks up the remote, looking back and forth between Lauren and me.

“I’m going to hit play. If you need to say anything to each other, please do it now,” she directs as if she is about to start a meeting. “I don’t want to keep pausing this.”

“I’m sorry, I could have walked her back if you didn’t sit and make conversation.” I feel a pang of guilt on both ends for the girls.