by Flite, Nora
“You...” The word tumbled out of my mouth.
It really was Mal.
Before I could say anything else Mal slipped a hand around my neck and kissed me.
My eyes shot open so wide I thought they might roll out of my head. His lips found mine gingerly at first, then with more urgency. The touch of our intertwining tongues closed my eyes and forced me back into my favorite fantasy. The fantasy where Mal never left, where he never lied to me. A fantasy where we were together.
Kissing me after more years than words had passed between us was beyond bold. That was yet another reason I knew it was truly him. No one other than Mal had that much confidence. Mal always knew what he wanted and then he took it. It was as simple as that. He was always the kind of man who entered a room and suddenly had everyone playing by his rules.
It was criminal how good his lips felt. They brought me back to a place in my heart that was full of flowers and summer warmth. No one else could ever kiss me like this; it made me glow inside and out. I remembered why it had been so easy to fall in love with him in the first place. I used to dream about this very moment every night. It was my favorite dream.
But it was a dream I had woken up from a long time ago.
I found the strength to rip myself away from his heavenly lips. Mal's face jerked after me before he could catch himself. Had he wanted this moment as much as I had?
No, of course not. If he did, he'd never have abandoned me.
I hated how good it was to see his stupid, handsome face. The kiss still burned on my lips, making me yearn for more. There were so many things I wanted to tell him, so many questions I needed to ask him. How do you catch up on a lifetime?
Where did I even begin?
“You son of a bitch!” I slapped him. I guess that was as good a place as any to start. I opened my door into him, pushing him backward. “You don't get to do that!” I got out of the car and punched his shoulders. “Not after what you did!”
Mal stoically took the abuse for a few seconds, then easily caught my wrists.
“I deserve that.” He frowned, nodding. “If I let you go will you stop hitting me?”
“No.” I struggled against his strong, vice-grip hands.
His eyebrows turned upwards slightly as he released me. The concern on his face was unmistakable. Whenever he was around he had a way of making me feel like the only person in the world. Before I could stop him Mal ran a thumb gently across my face, wiping away my tears.
When had I started crying again? They were going to have to put a bag over my head for the wedding party pictures, I must've looked like such a mess.
Empathy and sadness washed over him as we looked at each other for a long moment. The pain of past mistakes were plainly etched across his face. For the first time ever I questioned whether it was even his choice to leave me. How had I never asked myself that? Was I really that blinded by anger?
His frown broke into a small, but spreading, warm smile. It threatened to melt me. “Dammit. You're even more beautiful than I remember.”
I looked away and immediately began choking up again. I was already emotional from watching the wedding. Mal being back was all way too much. Was he trying to kill me?
“I am so—”
“No!” I snapped back at him. “Don't you dare apologize!” I was so angry, that it was hard to think straight. How could a person tell another person they love them and then disappear for so long! Saying I'm sorry, doesn't magically fix everything! In the silence that followed, I swallowed a lump of anger that had risen in my throat. “Why are you here?”
“Brendan was my best friend for a long time. How could I not be here for his wedding?”
“Are you kidding me?” Brendan hated Mal at the end. Mal's horrible mother burned every bridge in town. Everyone hated Mal's family. “My brother would kill you if he knew you were here! He's a cop now, did you know that? Half the damn force is here. If they see you...”
“I know.” Mal's gaze deepened. His crushing, brown eyes burned through me with a crazy intensity that made me gasp in breath. “That's a risk I had to take. I needed to be here. I needed to see Brendan,” Mal paused, “And I needed to see you.”
“You gave up that right a long time ago.” I stubbornly stuck to my guns, even though every other part of my wanted to just dive into his arms. I knew some other women could forgive that easily. And honestly, I envied them. But the pain in my heart outweighed the joy.
“Kait...” Mal licked his bottom lip like he was about to say something, but stopped himself.
“I want you to go.” I blurted out the request before I lost my resolve and turned into a puddle on the floor.
“Your car—”
“Juan Carlos.” I corrected him. The useless information burst from my lips. “That's my car's name.”
Why did I say that? All of my family and friends knew my car's name, but Mal didn't. Was I subconsciously trying to prove to myself that Mal was a stranger in my life now.
“Juan Carlos?” He cracked a small too-charming grin that made me regret giving him an opening to lighter conversation. He shrugged playfully, tapped the hood and continued. “Senor Carlos is in rough shape. Let me at least give you a lift to the reception. You look way too good to pull up in a tow truck.”
Oh shit the reception! I checked my phone. I was already so late and had five missed calls. I didn't want to give Mal an inch, because I knew that would only open me up for him to take more. I was already weaker around him than I wanted to be.
But I was just so damn late.
“Fine.”
Mal bowed his head slightly and his grin spread a little wider. He left without another word.
What had I just agreed to? I forced myself to stop, take a breath and calm my racing heart. I'd have loved a few more minutes to process everything that was happening, but I didn't have the time.
I dug into my and purse and used my rear view mirror to fix my makeup. Much to my surprise, I only needed a light touch up. The mascara held really well! The Koreans must mix their blends with magic. I swore an oath to myself that I would never buy anything other than this one brand.
I heard Mal arrive before I saw. The rumbling engine reminded me that he was always a truck guy growing up. But when I looked it wasn't a truck that I saw.
“A motorcycle!” I shouted as Mal killed the engine. “How is that better than tow truck?”
“I can go steal a car if you want?” He looked like he was joking, but was he? Mal was a hard man to read at the best of times. And that was when I knew him. Who knows what he was like now.
“Say's the man talking to a police officer's sister.” I scoffed. “Do you have any idea how long it took to get my hair like this?”
Mal shrugged, obviously amused and held out a helmet for me. Exasperated, I grabbed it. Having not released it yet, Mal tugged the helmet in, which in turn pulled me toward him. I was so agonizingly close to him that I could smell shampoo.
“I'll always prefer your hair messy and matted with fresh sweat.” His eyes licked over me, sending shivers ripping through my spine. Even now it took so few words and gestures from him to make my core warm.
Damn him.
I snatched the helmet away from him and put it on. Mal didn't have an extra helmet, but it would be dark by the time we got there so no one would instantly recognize him.
He helped me onto the bike, then reached a hand around my lower back. The hard leather seat pushed the ruffled material of my dress into my pussy. Mal then jerked me toward him. The abrupt motion dragged my clit against the seat and made my stomach pulse in pleasure. I bit back an escaping moan, but his knowing glance told me he heard it.
I was just glad he couldn't see my face turn bright red behind the helmet.
“There's gonna be a lot of vibration, so make sure you hold on tight. I’ll try to get you there before you leave any beautiful stains on that dress.” His smile was wicked and carnal. It made me want to lick his intentions off his
face.
I shook my head and yelled for him to shut up and go.
Bastard, I thought as I wrapped my arms over his stomach and pressed my thighs into him. The bike roared to life and with a sudden jolt we took off.
The infuriating thing was that he might be right. I could feel that I was already wet. How could I not be? The man I still touched myself to was literally all around me. My breathing became shallow and rapid and I had to force myself not to orgasm. It was the worst.
This was going to be the longest ride of my life.
Chapter 4
Malik
Fuck.
I was rock hard.
It was a good thing I didn't have to get off the bike when we arrived at the reception, my cock might've blown out the front of my jeans.
I was dreading the end of the dirt road that led to the farm, because when we stopped I would no longer have Kait's arms around me. The road didn't care what I wanted and came to an end anyway. I let the engine idle for longer than I should've before reluctantly killing it. It was a good thing that I had been riding for so many years otherwise I might've been too distracted to control the bike.
All I could think about was that kiss. I didn't plan it, but I sure as hell couldn't control myself either. She just looked too perfect to not steal a kiss and then once I got a taste... Thoughts of how the rest of her tasted rattled around my head louder than my bike's engine.
Kait's interlocked fingers over my chest slipped apart and miserable cool air flooded between us. She had held me a lot tighter than she needed to, it wasn't like I was going all that fast. I didn't mind, of course. It just sucked that she had to let me go.
“Thanks.” Kait threw her leg over the bike and turned her back to me, hoping that I wouldn't see her check the front of her dress for a wet spot.
“My pleasure.” I couldn't keep the smile out of my voice.
“For the ride I mean,” said a flustered Kait, taking off the helmet.
“If you think that ride was good, you should try me without the bike.” I teased, but I wasn't joking. I didn't have any reservations about getting into Kait's panties. In fact, I had dreamt of that since the first day I moved into her house all those years ago.
That was so long ago, now. No other woman had captivated me as fully as Kait. All the women I'd met paled in comparison in every way that mattered.
“I figured you would've outgrown me by now.” Kait shook her head in disbelief. “It's like you never left.”
“I've always wanted you, Ness. That's not something I can ever shake.”
Kait snorted at hearing the nickname. When we were just kids she was so convinced that the Lock Ness Monster was real that I started calling her Ness or Nessy. She used to get beet red and punch me, but after a while for whatever reason it just stuck. The meaning evolved, and went from a tease to a term of endearment. But it was strictly our thing. One of my classmates heard me call her that and tried to taunt her with it once.
Once.
I blackened both of his eyes and bought myself two weeks suspension. It was worth it. I would always protect her any way I could. No one else ever called her that again. Except me.
“It didn't matter what you wanted.” Kait sighed, her expression darkened. “You left anyways.”
“You have to let me explain.”
“I don't have to do anything. Those days are over.” I could see that look in her eyes. She always hid behind those walls, saying things that she didn't feel. If she wasn't willing to give me a chance, she'd never have gotten on my bike.
“One drink.” I'd seen this play out before and I refused to repeat that mistake. I couldn't let her slip through my fingers again. Never again.
“I gotta go. They're all expecting me.” Kait left the helmet on my seat and walked away.
I grabbed her hand, stopping her. Never again.
“Afterward, when you're done here.” I ran my thumb over the back of her hand. “It won't make it right, but you deserve the truth.” Kait didn't pull away. “Please, Ness.”
The silence was crushing, but I wasn't holding on to her with much firmness. At any point she could leave. If she did, I wouldn't blame her. I'd just go back to my hotel, grab my stuff and leave this place.
I wasn't born in Springfield, I didn't even finish high school here. I did spend almost all of my teens here, but aside from a few friends there was nothing remarkable about this town. To me it was just one of the many places I was moved to against my will.
The only reason I ever gave this place a passing thought was because of the woman who stood before me. The beautiful, English, Scottish woman that always haunted my brightest and darkest moments.
Kait was well worth the trouble I'd stir up here.
“Midnight. One drink.” Her hand finally slipped from mine. “Don't be late.”
“Wouldn't dream of it.”
I watched as she carefully made her way through the open wooden fence and out toward the other guests. I blew the air from my lungs and ran a hand over my face. My heart was slamming against my ribcage. Fucking hell that was close. It would have destroyed me if she said no. I wanted to watch her walk to the lit pond where the rest of the wedding party had gathered for pictures, but cars were pulling in behind me.
I wasn't blocking the road or anything, but the last thing I needed was to be recognized. I put on the helmet I let Kait wear. I only wore it in states where it was the law. This wasn't one of those states, but it would protect my identity for a little while longer.
Whatever scent she was wearing still lingered in the helmet. I bowed my head for a moment and absorbed as much of it as I could. Something about the fragrance was so damn familiar...
Just give me one night, I bargained to whomever might hear my prayers. I started up my bike and sped out of there. One night with her then the town can tar and feather me for all I care.
Chapter 5
Kait
“I'm sorry, are we boring you?” Mariela stopped dancing long enough to plant both hands on the table in front of me.
“What,” I looked up from my phone. I was enjoying myself, but the time crawled by. Like a buzzing fly trapped in my skull, thoughts of Mal and that drink later were driving me crazy. “No, of course not!
“Then why have you been checking your phone every thirty seconds for the past three hours?” Mariela cocked her head and eyed me skeptically.
Mariela was a tiny thing, even shorter than me, with smooth olive skin, bright eyes and black hair. She looked absolutely radiant in that Latin inspired wedding dress. It was a mermaid fit to just above the knee, below that was a split ruffled design that showed off her perfect legs and allowed her to dance unhindered. She loved to dance and occasionally she would drag me along, but I could never keep up.
“Then what is it?” She whipped a hand up, gesturing impatiently. “With all you've done for this wedding, it almost feels like it was partly yours.”
“It's nothing, I'm just—” Mariela gave me a look that cut me off. It was impossible to lie to this woman, but I couldn't tell her the truth either. I looked out toward the parking lot.
Mariela was probably my best friend, I always told her everything. I introduced her to my brother and since then we've all been pretty inseparable. But she's never met Mal. She'd only heard about him through Brendan and none of that was good. For as lighthearted as Brendan was he knew how to carry a grudge.
“You're waiting for someone!” Mariela face lit up. “Kait, why didn't you tell me?” She followed my gaze to the parking lot. “Why isn't he here? Does he not like us? Who is this mystery man?”
I laughed. Mariela had a way of getting excited and asking a million questions with barely a breath between them. Tonight even more so, she was still amped up from the wedding and the drinks.
The alcohol had me feeling pretty fuzzy. Mariela's family never seemed to stop with the toasts and before that I had been busy trying to drown my own nervousness about Mal picking me up.
“H
e's just a—” A what exactly? He's not really a friend or an old boyfriend. And although we were very close we had never actually slept together. We couldn't! He almost became my stepbrother, but that whole thing ended so horribly. “He's just someone I used to know, who's back in town.”
“Okay, Mina.” Mariela shrugged. Every once and awhile she'd slip back into Spanish during conversation but only when she was really drunk or really angry. Half the time she never bothered to translate. “That's fine. You can play coy. That explains why you changed. Can't go out on a date in a groomsmaid dress.”
I did have to change shortly after the pictures. There were no wet spot on the dress thankfully, but my panties were fucking ruined. I left a bag here with a change of clothes when we finished setting the place up this morning.
Just thinking of being that close to Mal, grinding against him, all that vibration and heat... I pushed my thighs together tightly under the table, my neck and face were so warm it felt like steam might stream out of my bodice.
“Nothing like that, Mom.” I flashed my eyes back at her defiantly, to which she held her hands up in the backing-off gesture. I still felt the need to explain myself further for some reason, but I was fortunately distracted by a lone approaching headlight and a low rumble.
The dance floor and tables of the reception were set in an open air gazebo, making it easy to see the whole farm and keep track of the dozens of children earlier in the day. The layout also made it easy to see who was arriving and departing.
Was it finally midnight? I glanced at my phone. Ten minutes till midnight, but that was close enough.
“Oh, a motorcycle. Kait got herself a bad boy. That's not like you, I love it!”
“Yeah, well.” I got up and straightened my cream dress. It was much simpler than the one I wore for the wedding, but had the same color and theme elements so I wouldn't look too out of place if I had to change into it. “When your brother is a cop your boyfriends can only be so bad.”
Mariela told me to have fun and all but pushed me out of my seat. I was so nervous and the walk over to Mal made it so much worse. Earlier it had been a surprise, and somehow, that made it easier. Now, I had worked myself up to the point of nausea.