Chapter 18 #4
“Like what?” Malek asked, his voice dropping when the small movement changed the pressure between us.
“Like you’re not done.” I answered Malek, watching his expression sharpen.
“Are you?” Malek asked quietly, his mouth brushing the back of my shoulder as he waited. I had already come more than once, my legs were shaky, and we were thoroughly locked together. Still, the hungry look on his face sent fresh warmth through me.
“I’ve been knotted before.” I reminded Malek as I reached back and caught the side of his neck. “No one has ever looked at me afterward like he was still deciding what else he wanted to do to me.”
Malek’s hand tightened once at my waist, and his purr dropped lower.
“That sounds like their mistake.” Malek murmured near my ear, unmistakable satisfaction roughening the words.
“That was dangerously confident.” I warned Malek, although my scent sweetened enough to make the warning useless.
“I can stop.” Malek reminded me, his voice steadier than the hand flexing at my hip.
I shifted against him again, deliberately this time.
“I didn’t ask you to stop.” I tightened my fingers behind Malek’s neck and pulled him closer.
The growl that left him vibrated straight through me.
Malek kissed the side of my neck and adjusted us carefully, keeping the knot comfortable while his arm locked more securely around my waist. There wasn’t much room for movement while we were tied together, but he discovered quickly that he didn’t need much.
The first small roll of his hips changed the pressure enough to make my whole body tense.
“Oh.” The sound slipped out before I could stop it, my hand tightening over Malek’s forearm. Malek paused just long enough to read my reaction before doing it again.
“Malek.” I whimpered as another wave moved through an already oversensitive body, the fullness making every small shift feel considerably bigger.
“Still good?” Malek asked against my neck, his purr vibrating through my back while he waited for a clear answer.
“Yes…” I assured Malek as I pressed back carefully against him.
“Keep going.” He did. The movements remained small because the knot wouldn’t allow anything else, but each one dragged pressure through me at an angle none of my previous partners had ever bothered to explore.
Malek’s hand slid between my thighs again while his mouth returned to my gland and his purr surged against my back.
“I know.” Malek murmured against my skin when another helpless sound escaped me, his hand keeping a steady pace while his body moved carefully behind mine.
I lost whatever composure I had left. The next climax hit hard enough that I buried my face against the blanket, the sound that left me muffled but raw.
My entire body tightened while Malek held me through it, the knot making every aftershock sharper, each pulse drawing another shudder from me while his arm stayed locked around my waist. I felt him come with me, the deep groan of my name against my shoulder followed by another rough growl.
“Evie.” Malek said my name into the back of my neck, the word almost disappearing beneath his purr.
I couldn’t answer yet, and he didn’t ask me to.
Malek simply held me until the trembling eased, his hand gentling between my thighs before moving away.
His mouth pressed several soft kisses against the back of my neck while his breathing gradually slowed.
When I finally lifted my head, he was still locked inside me, still surrounding me with heat and cedar.
I turned far enough to catch his expression and immediately regretted it. He looked far too satisfied with himself.
“I hate your face right now.” I told Malek, but the breathless laugh underneath the words ruined the complaint.
“No, you don’t.” Malek answered as one corner of his mouth lifted, his eyes warming with quiet amusement.
“That confidence is becoming a serious personality flaw.” I informed Malek as I let my forehead rest against the blanket again, too tired to give the accusation much force.
“You encouraged it.” Malek reminded me, his palm smoothing slowly down my spine. Unfortunately, he had evidence. We stayed like that for several quiet seconds, joined and breathless while the creek moved beyond the overhang. When I finally relaxed more fully against him, Malek’s purr grew louder.
“There it is.” I muttered to Malek, hearing the satisfaction in the sound before I even looked at him.
“What?” Malek asked as his thumb brushed slowly along my shoulder, his expression turning almost suspiciously innocent.
“That pleased sound.” I settled my cheek against the blanket. “You’re going to become impossible.”
“I already have Tavian for an example.” Malek replied dryly, the hint of amusement in his voice making me laugh despite myself.
Only then did the frantic edge finally drain away.
Malek shifted us carefully onto our sides, moving slowly enough that the knot stayed comfortable.
He tucked one arm beneath my head and pulled me against his chest, then immediately reached for the water bottle with his other hand.
I started laughing again.
“What?” Malek asked as he uncapped the bottle, his brows drawing faintly together while he looked at me.
“You are extremely predictable after sex.” I told Malek as I accepted the bottle, still laughing under my breath.
“You need water.” Malek replied, holding the bottle toward me with the same practical seriousness he had used earlier.
“I know.” I answered Malek before taking several long swallows and handing it back.
Malek watched me drink, not subtly either.
He only seemed satisfied once I had taken enough that he apparently no longer considered dehydration an immediate threat.
Then he reached for the remaining food, and another laugh escaped me.
“You’re mocking me.” Malek observed as he opened the wrapped portion left from lunch, his expression mildly offended despite the purr still rumbling through his chest.
“I’m appreciating your commitment to being exactly who you are.” I corrected Malek, accepting the fruit he offered because I had no intention of starting an argument I knew I would lose.
“You’ve barely eaten since lunch.” Malek reminded me as he settled back against the blanket, one arm sliding beneath my head again once he was satisfied I intended to eat.
“See?” I gestured toward Malek with the fruit before taking a bite.
“Predictable.” Malek gave me a look, so I ate another piece.
His purr returned to its softer rhythm when I shifted closer and rested my cheek against his chest. The knot meant there wasn’t much distance available anyway, but I could have settled differently. I didn’t want to.
Malek’s fingers moved slowly into my hair, no longer sexual now but grooming and affection. I recognized the gesture from yesterday’s conversation immediately, and my eyes drifted closed as he separated a damp strand from the others.
“This is courtship too.” I murmured to Malek, the slow movement of his fingers making it increasingly difficult to keep my eyes open.
“Yes.” Malek admitted as he smoothed the strand away from my face, his voice warm and matter-of-fact.
“You really have been doing this for a while.” I opened one eye and looked up at Malek while his fingers continued through my hair.
“Yes.” Malek replied without apology, his hand moving carefully through another small tangle.
“And I thought you were an unusually needy leopard.” I muttered, and his chest moved beneath my cheek with a quiet laugh.
“You kept coming back.” Malek reminded me, his hand slowing at the back of my head while his expression softened.
“So did you.” I answered Malek, the humor fading naturally from my voice.
His fingers paused. “Yes.” Malek’s palm rested warmly against the back of my head as he looked down at me. “I did.”
The knot gradually softened, and neither of us rushed it. Malek checked the time twice, and I caught him the second time.
“You’re watching the clock.” I told Malek as I turned my wrist enough to see my watch too, following the direction of his glance toward the gear.
“Seven-thirty.” Malek reminded me, his eyes shifting briefly toward the radio resting safely beside the camera bag.
I smiled. “You’re taking Mara’s schedule very seriously now.” I observed, watching him check the time one more time before returning his attention to me.
“You take it seriously.” Malek answered simply, his thumb moving across my shoulder. “So I do.”
I looked toward the creek before he could see how much I liked that answer.
By the time his knot had eased enough for us to separate comfortably, we still had plenty of time.
Malek moved first, carefully giving me room before he stood.
He retrieved my water again, then handed me the cloth and supplies from my bag without assuming I wanted his help cleaning myself up.
I did.
When I finished, I sat on the blanket for another minute before reaching toward the pile of clothing beside the camera bag. My own shirt had mostly dried, although my sports bra was still damp. Malek’s charcoal shirt was sitting over my camera bag.
I picked up his.
“You’re keeping it on.” Malek observed as I pulled the shirt over my head again, his gaze following the fabric until it settled around my hips.
“Yes.” I answered Malek as I gathered my hair out from beneath the collar and smoothed the shirt down. “I told you I was keeping it.” His scent immediately deepened, and I caught the reaction.
“Don’t get weird.” I warned Malek as I reached for my underwear, pointing at him with the hand that wasn’t occupied with getting dressed. Malek only looked at me, then his purr started again.