Chapter 10 Malena
TEN
Malena
“How painful was that? Scale of one to ten?” Leif asks, shutting and locking his front door.
“Mr. Olsen is in bed. I put the leftovers in his fridge. I’ll stop by in the morning before I head to the airport for jumping to make sure he knows they’re there.
” He eyes me up and down almost as if he’s appraising for damage.
Eva and Celia were delightful during dinner.
I think they had a coming-to-God moment while Leif and I spoke alone in the bedroom.
After we returned to the kitchen, they seemed to be on their best behavior.
Leif didn’t question their change in demeanor, and I was relieved because it made things easier on me.
For all intents and purposes it was a nice family meal.
Something I’ve not had in years. It made me miss my mom.
Sighing, I dry the last dish and put it away in the correct cabinet, and then turn to meet his steely blue gaze. “Zero. It was actually pretty awesome. They aren’t nearly as bad as you say,” I reply, smiling. “They love you.”
“To death,” he adds. “Listen, I know we didn’t plan for tonight to go down like that, but I want you to know I’m glad you met them. I want you to see all of me.”
I swallow down the fear of the unknown. “Leif, I see you whether you realize it or not. You showed your heart to me far before your sisters told me you’re a weak swimmer.”
He palms his chest. “I am a fucking amazing swimmer,” he returns. “And there’s nothing wrong with my swimmers.” His face pinks. “That just came out. Sorry. That’s insensitive.”
I flop down on his sofa. “There isn’t anything wrong with your swimmers.
That’s okay to say. Remember, I’ve dealt with infertility most of my adult life.
I have a spine—and can handle any joke,” I explain.
“Though, I’m glad your parents didn’t come over tonight.
I want to fix myself up before I meet them.
Be a presentable human,” I say, picking up the edge of my shirt and setting it back down.
“I look like a slob. If your sisters say anything about me, anything at all, you are bound to tell me.”
He grins. “There’s no way you want to know what they’re going to say.”
“Why?” I swallow down all of my insecurities.
They go down like razor blades. I know I’m not good enough for Leif.
His sisters will have noticed that right away.
They’ve already had to bail me out of a situation, and their brother is footing the bill.
I’m a charity case. Now it’s my job to prove to them I’m more than that.
That I am a deserving person even if I don’t feel like one.
That I’m worthy of a man like Leif Andersson.
“Because they are inappropriate, Malena. No other reason than they’ll probably discuss our sex and foreplay routine as casual conversation.
Their filters are broken. I’d never subject you to that kind of talk.
They won’t have anything negative to say about you.
You guys got along perfectly. You can’t really be worried about what they think about you. Are you? They loved you.”
I shrug, and he closes the space between us.
“Don’t. Don’t do that.” Leif says.
“You say you’re not, but in my eyes you’re pretty damn close to perfect.
You have an amazing career, a caring family, and a sense of honor and humor,” I say, licking my lips.
“Leif,” I add, “you are generous and kind.” I wave an arm at his body.
“You’re fucking sculpted like a marble statue.
Museum quality. Except better, because you’re not missing a head or a hand or a finger.
” Leif presses his lips into a firm line, trying his best not to laugh at my comparison.
“And I, well, I struggle with almost everything. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see we aren’t a balanced pair.
What if I always need you more? More of your time.
More of your attention. More of everything?
Because that’s probably how it’s going to be.
You still have to give as much to your job as you did before we met.
” Using my other arm, I wave to the hallway of awards—signs that he’s amazing in his career as well.
“What if you don’t have time or energy for me? ”
“Are we arguing? Is this our first argument?” he asks, tilting his head, smiling.
I shake my head. “Don’t smile at me that way. I’m serious. This is hard for me to accept.”
Leif sighs and sits down next to me, laying his hand on my bare leg.
“Am I greedy if I say I want you to want more of me? That’s not a negative.
Not at all,” Leif says. I try to concentrate on his words, but he’s touching me, and any time he touches me, I turn into a rabid sex creature with only one thing on my mind.
“I am busy. My commitments are heavy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t rearrange things to fit you in my life.
Especially because that’s what I want. When I want something, I make it happen.
In case you forgot,” he says. “Chicken wings.”
I rub my forehead. “The past few days have been a lot. You’ve been amazing. I guess I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop because good things don’t happen to me very often.”
“When was the last time someone did something nice for you?”
My friends will do small gestures here and there.
It’s not like my life is completely devoid of kindness, but Leif has gone above and beyond.
I try to explain to him the difference between a friend favor and a family favor, which is what he’s done for me.
He tells me he understands, but he’s rubbing my leg up and down.
I watch his hand intently and abruptly stand and step away from him. “It’s probably time I get home. You have to be up early, and I have to quit the store tomorrow, or at least give my two weeks’ notice, I guess.”
Leif stands. “I have a crazy idea.”
“Oh, no.”
“Spend the night with me?”
I swallow hard. “Is it the sex? You want me for sex. That’s it.” I try to keep a straight face. “You’ve had a taste, and now that’s all that it’s going to be about between us.”
“I won’t fuck you tonight even if you beg me,” he replies, shaking his head.
When he bites his lip, my panties soak all the way through.
We didn’t get enough of each other earlier.
It’s a fact we’re both aware of. The glances are steamy, our bodies find a way to touch each other without our permission.
All of the signs of dangerous chemistry ignite the oxygen surrounding us.
“We can stay up late and talk. Like a chick sleepover. I know how those work. My sisters were good for some things.”
That gets me. I laugh, holding my stomach as I bend over in hysterics. When he doesn’t laugh, I meet his gaze, mystified. “You’re serious? You want to have an actual sleepover? Like, fuzzy slippers and popcorn?”
Leif lays a hand on his chest. “I am serious. Will you have a sleepover with me?”
I tap my chin, considering. “There will be rules.”
He raises one brow. “Yes. I like where your head is at.”
“Rule one.” I clear my throat, making it more official. “Naked sleepover. No one wears clothes.”
Leif’s eyes go dark—feral. He nods once. My legs turn to jelly in response.
“Rule two. No sex. Or foreplay of any kind. It has to be a true chick sleepover.”
Another manly lip bite. My stomach quivers. I’m sealing my own fate with these rules. I want to prove I’m able to set some framework of rules like he tried to do.
“Kissing is okay. Just kissing,” I amend, watching his freaking delicious lips as he licks them. “Rule three,” I say, my voice trembling. His eyes on mine, he tips his chin up. “You can’t fall in love with me tonight.”
Leif blinks once, swallows hard, and blinks again. “That won’t happen,” he says, voice a husky whisper. “Anything else?”
There are a multitude of things I’m thinking of right now—equations I’m trying to work out in my head because sometimes things in life make perfect sense.
Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes there’s a fuzzy haze you can’t quite see through or figure out why it exists.
I recognize the haze is there with Leif, but I’m past the point of caring.
I’m in deep and utterly addicted to everything that makes him quality, top-shelf goods.
“Yeah, sleepovers start with skinny dipping,” I say, dropping my gaze to his hands as they unbutton his pants.
When his erection springs free, I lose my breath.
Leif shakes a finger in front of my face. “Ah, ah, ah, that’s not for you. Not during our sleepover.”
I take my shirt and bra off and slide my shorts and panties down my legs. He watches, an appraising smirk rising to his lips when I’m completely bare. Bending over, right in front of him, I pick up my clothing from the floor. His dick brushes my ass as I stand.
Leif groans. “Though right now I wish it was for you.”
Tossing my clothing on the sofa, I spin to face him. “Me too. Looking at it hard makes me wet,” I reply.
He runs both hands through his hair and down his face. “Torture. That’s what this is going to be. The best kind of torture.” He steps closer and pulls my naked body against his. Leaning down, he puts his lips next to my ear. “I make you wet?”
My heart races, and I can hear the blood whooshing in my ears. “Yes,” I pant.
He drags his tongue along my ear, and his cock jerks against my stomach. “Let’s see how wet I can make you.”