Chapter 5
Saylor
I debated way too long over what I was going to wear tonight. Concealer was a given. I’d learned that lesson. But dresses? I’d brought three of my own creations, and two of them felt too casual given Mal’s warning.
And that look he’d given me when he’d called me baby girl?
I swooned just remembering.
But this blood-red dress with the high neck, bare arms, and high thigh slit just felt… Obvious?
Mal wasn’t the only one in the middle of a dry spell.
Hopefully nearing the end.
I had matching strappy sandals to wear with the dress, and I just hoped I didn’t twist my ankles walking down the stairs before the night even began.
I could do this.
I wanted to do this.
Trent was done screwing up my life.
Making me feel bad about my decisions.
I was moving on.
The best way to get over a man was to get under a new one, after all.
And Mal seemed oh so very willing to me.
I could do this.
It was my mantra as I left my treehouse and walked down the stairs. I really tried not to stumble when I caught sight of Mal waiting for me at the bottom step.
“I was just coming up to get you.”
My smile felt wobbly. “I’m starving. Plus, I doubt you need more cardio after our morning.”
Really it was hard to walk down the remaining stairs without tripping as I took in all that was him.
His idea of dressing up was a long-sleeved black button-up shirt and black pants.
But he’d done that thing guys did where they rolled their sleeves back to their elbows and the tattoos peeping out from his rolled sleeves and on his neck were delicious.
All tough guy hard warring with that gentle look in his eyes.
I was spellbound.
When I reached the bottom step, I just stood there and stared.
But that was okay, because Mal was staring back at me.
“Wow,” he finally murmured. “You look amazing.”
“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.
He chatted with our server over the two fish options, drawing it out until my stomach rumbled again.
“Wahoo. I’ll have the wahoo,” Mal finally answered.
“Vinaka.” She bowed her head and left the table.
All around us couples talked softly over candlelit tables as the bamboo ceiling fans above us twirled, cooling the open aired hut. Despite the humidity and the lack of air conditioning, I hadn’t felt overly hot at all during my stay.
Until I looked across the table at the heated stare Mal was giving me.
“Any chance we can get dessert to go?” I asked innocently.
Mal closed his eyes briefly and muttered a curse. “You gotta tone it down a little, baby girl. I’m trying to keep it PG considering the audience we have here.”
My eyes flicked to the table next to us where the couple were sitting next to each other and alternating between kissing and feeding each other bites. It was sickly sweet.
I felt a distant pang as I realized but for that bookie, that would’ve been me and Trent.
Was this too soon?
Was I making a mistake?
No. Trent was an asshole, and I was better off without him.
I looked back at Mal and his head was tilted, his eyes narrowed as he stared back at me. It felt like he knew exactly what was going on in my head.
After a shuddery breath, I blinked innocently. “We wouldn’t be the only ones acting inappropriately.”
He regarded me quietly for a moment then shook his head. “I hope they have a dentist on the island because all this is so sugary sweet I’m liable to get a cavity.”
I rolled my eyes at his weak joke. And then our server returned to the table with our dinner, saving me from having to come up with a reply.
Once she left, I leaned over the table and asked, “So what’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done on tour?”
Mal had been mid drink and he choked. Sputtering water shot across the table before he bent over the side of the table with huge hacking coughs.
“Oh my god. Are you okay?” I asked as his face turned red.
Everyone in the room turned to watch him cough.
“Is he choking?”
“Does he need to be Heimliched?”
“I volunteer as tribute!”
I glared at the overeager blonde giggling into her wine glass.
Mal raised his hand. “Sorry. Just went down the wrong tube.” He coughed a few times. “I’m fine. Really.”
A few servers came over to check on him, and he waved them off with a charismatic smile. After a few more murmurs and long glances, everyone returned to their dinners.
“Um, sorry about that.” I bit my lip as he wiped his face with his cloth napkin.
“No, I am. Didn’t mean to give you a shower.” He dipped his head charmingly. “Just really wasn’t expecting that from you.”
I picked up my fork and twirled it in my pasta. “Does that mean some things in your life are off limits too?”
“You want to go tit for tat again?”
I snorted, took a bite, then gestured between us with my fork as I chewed and swallowed. “This is the wildest thing I’ve ever done, and I haven’t even done you yet.”
His eyes twinkled. “You have some wild stuff planned?”
“I mean, I hope? If you’re game, that is.”
“Definitely.” His eyes burned with sexual promise.
My heart pounded in my ears. Having all of Mal’s energy directed my way was almost overwhelming. I shifted on my chair as I felt an answering throb between my legs.
Was I ready for Mal’s idea of wild?
Could I keep up with him?
And then my earlier doubts returned.
Was this too soon?
Was I making a mistake?
“I can hear the overthinking from here. We haven’t done anything. We don’t have to do anything. This can move as fast or as slow as you want. We’re both here for ten more days, right?”
I took another bite of my dinner, despite my churning stomach. “Um, so what do you want to talk about?”
“I’m guessing that’s a no to the tit for tat then?”
I shrugged. “I mean, to be fair, I did answer the question. You, however, did not.”
“No you didn’t. Your answer can’t be nothing. You’ve done things. You’ve had sex.” He blinked before dropping his tone to ask quietly, “You have had sex, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not a virgin.”
“Right. No. That’s good. I mean, not that it matters. Purity is a social construct. I just wanted to make sure. It’s just… What were we talking about?”
I snickered. “About how I haven’t done anything wild.”
“Right. I still maintain that ‘nothing’ isn’t an acceptable answer. One person’s tame is another’s wild. This isn’t a contest.”
“Okay.” I took another bite of my pasta and a thought swirled in my head so devious, I couldn’t not do it. “How about we play a game?”
“Oh, now you’re talking my speed.” He grinned back at me before taking a bite of his fish. “I’m in.”