Page 59 of A Cursed Heart
“We had sex,” I finally said.
“Knew it. Was it good?”
“Best I’ve ever had.”
“Damn, no wonder you look so happy!” She picked at the remainder of my plate of food. My nerves had shut my appetite down halfway through dinner. “Hot guy with magic and he’s great in bed? You’ve scored.”
“Hell, yeah.”
“I’m glad you were willing to admit to yourself that you liked him.”
“I more than like him, Liddy. Pretty sure I love him.”
“So Freya’s dream of a wedding and a demon for a dad isn’t all that far off then?”
“Maybe not.”
Marrying Mal would be amazing, but we could only do it once everything was calm. Only once we knew he couldn’t be taken from me and was free of the heart ruby.
When Mal returned, he asked Lydia, “Could we go to your place? I would like to try it just in case it becomes necessary.”
Lydia frowned. “What do you mean, like drive you there?”
“No. With my magic. You just have to focus on your home. We can link briefly so I can see that mental picture. Once I do, I will be able to take us there.”
She looked a little green. Still, she stood with a determined look. “Alright.”
I didn’t particularly like Mal linking with Lydia, or even his having to hold her hand while he vanished them both away. Jealousy was a foreign emotion to me. This was my sister! Mal had already told me he wasn’t interested in her. It was completely irrational.
They returned, Lydia looking greener than ever, before I could have a crash out over them being gone.
“Ugh, I hated that!” Lydia whined.
Mal touched her head to break the connection and winced. “Sorry. It can be unpleasant the first few times. Ryan adapted to it quickly.” We shared a smile loaded with affection.
“Ugh, I’m leaving before your sweetness makes me puke. Bring Freya at any time, okay?”
After she kissed us both on the cheek, she left.
“Shall we clean up?” Mal asked. “Then we can go to bed. I can feel your stress rising, Ryan. Nothing has to happen if you don’t want it to.”
“Thing is, I do. I really want it to.”
The water flowed over me, washing away my anxious sweat. I didn’t know why I was so in my feelings about something I’d offered to do. Knowing Mal like I did, he would never have asked me to do this, especially if he knew I was uncomfortable. He even left me to shower on my own, sensing I needed to get my head on straight and could only do that by myself.
I knew he was waiting for me in the bedroom, already showered and likely setting the scene. He’d loved the flameless candles at our picnic dinner, so I imagined he had them spread over our bedroom.
Our. It sounded so right to consider what was my room as ours. Same as the apartment. It was our home. Mal kept it looking nice for us all. It was as much his home as it was mine.
By the time I was perfectly clean, my mind had settled. This was the guy I was nuts about. He’d make sure I was having the best time or it wouldn’t happen. I was safe with Mal.
When I strolled into the bedroom, the space was exactly how I’d imagined. Lots of the flameless candles were dotted around the room, the main light was off, casting us in the candlelight. The comforter was at the bottom of the bed, and the lube was waiting on the nightstand.
Mal was lounging on the bed, looking like a lazy tiger ready to devour its prey. When he looked at me like that, I was ready to be devoured.
“Come, lie down on the bed. Drop the towel,” he commanded with a smirk. “Let me make you feel good.”
I did as I was told, taking my place next to him. He reached for me, turning my face toward him so he could kiss me. It started off gently, then became something more demanding as I opened to his tongue. I let him lead the way, enjoying the feeling of his lips on mine and his fingertips brushing over my skin.
