Page 193 of Just Wait

“Such a dirty girl,” he says, chuckling as he lets me slide down his front. “Goddamn, my dick is aching.” He makes sure I’m steady on my feet and pats my hips. “Better run fast. I’m going to be right behind you.”

If that’s supposed to be a threat, it came off more like a dark promise.

I shove my ass back into his sweats, grinding against his dick.

“I sure hope you guys live up to the expectations you’ve set.” I wink over my shoulder at him and take off.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Lumen

The corridors get shorter the closer to the center I get. At least, I think I’m getting nearer to the middle. It would make sense. There are lots of options for turns, and I’m winded from keeping up a solid jog.

I stop to catch my breath, realizing how badly my thighs and calves burn. It’s time to get back to a healthier lifestyle. When I was bartending, I was on my feet for six to eight hours at a time, and I got a crazy number of steps in when I was a waitress. Not to mention carrying around a heavy tray.

Trying to peek through the hedges does nothing, but I still try.

I take off again, making a left, and my heart rate picks up. I have to clear the three- or four-feet-thick hedge, but then I’ll be in the center.

My head swivels as soon as I step inside, and an arm hooks around my middle, lifting me off the ground.

“No! Dammit,” I say, struggling.

“Sorry, baby doll. You failed. I win,” Malcolm says, toting me across the middle of the maze. The light pink glow from his mask lights up the side of my face.

They are going to get rid of those pretty quickly, right?

Being fucked in the masks might be hot, but I’d much rather be able to kiss and touch them.

It is super fancy, and I totally get why they host weddings here. It’s easy enough to guess where they place the chairs and where the officiant and wedding party would stand.

There are four—wait, five—small steps up. The columns and roof are dark gray, while light cream-colored linens frame the top of the open space between the beams. My guess is that they can be let down to create makeshift walls.

A large mattress takes up the majority of the space in the center of the gazebo. It’s adorned with pillows and fancy sheets. No blanket, though we probably don’t need one.

Two large, freestanding heaters frame the walls. There’s a decent amount of space between them and the bed, but I can foresee us needing to shut them off.

I’m already toasty.

Okay, I’m actually sweating an uncomfortable amount.

That’s not very ladylike, but sex is supposed to be hot and sweaty.

Malcolm keeps me in the air as he climbs the stairs. He puts me on my feet, pulls off my shirt, and slides his hands up my sides. I kick out of my ballet flats to get that out of the way, focusing back on the handsome alpha.

“If I thought I despised this thing during the shows, I had no idea how annoying it really was until tonight,” he says, ripping his mask off and unclipping the battery pack. He tosses it aside, yanking me into his bare chest.

Jesus.

I’m not the only sweaty one.

His electric scent makes my head fuzzy.

“Fuck, baby doll,” he growls. “I don’t even know what I want to do to you first. Let’s start with this.”

My anticipation only grows as he cups my face in his tattooed hands, kissing the hell out of me.

Mal does this adorable thing where he smiles while he kisses. He also raises up on his tiptoes when he’s really excited, then falls flat-footed. He’s already ridiculously tall, but I stretch to follow his mouth, partially because I don’t want the kiss to end and equally because he’s just really cute when he’s hyped up.