Page 11 of The Silent Mate

With wide eyes, I did a mental scan of my body. As far as I could tell, my bra and panties remained untouched, and I nearly shuddered with relief.

Malik’s arm tucked me in the curve of him, both of us lying on our sides. Our hips aligned, and every inch of my spine plastered against the pillowy muscles of his chest and abdomen. Coarse hair tickled my shoulders. One of his thighs parted my legs, coming to rest between them and pressing into my center.

Despite his scorching skin, I shivered.

I should’ve been horrified by the intimacy of our position. Should’ve been angered that he pulled me so close while I slept, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel anything beyond pleasant surprise and fascination.

And the unfamiliar churning of liquid warmth at the very core of my being.

I tried to clamp my thighs together at the strange sensation, only to realize too late that my mate’s femur still rested firm between them. I gasped as pleasure tingled from the spot where his sweatpants-clad leg rubbed against my panties.

Oh,I nearly moaned out loud but managed to hold back the embarrassing noise by biting into my bottom lip.Hard.

Although the friction offered me momentary relief, its aftereffects only increased the delicious ache tenfold. I swore I felt my heartbeat pulse at my sex, urging me to seek relief again with every fluttering beat.

I clamped my eyes shut and banned the sinful suggestion from my mind. Instead, I tried squirming away from his heavy arm, hopeful that a bit of distance between our bodies might cool the tantalizing burn in my blood.

Only, his arm wasveryheavy. I barely gained an inch of separation between his front and my back, but my movementdidaccomplish something.

Something hard and startlingly big pressed into my lower back, right between the dimples at the base of my spine. Another wiggle and it somehow became even harder and more prominent. Curious, I almost did it again.

Then, Malik’s big body shifted behind mine, a deep huff of air pushed out of his lungs, and I almost yelped.

Oh Goddess, please don’t wake up!I chanted my silent prayer as my cheeks heated to their melting point. Willing every muscle in my body to go deathly still, I closed my eyes and held my breath.

Malik’s hold on my waist loosened in the slightest, and he immediately jerked his hips backward, as if I’d caused him physical pain with my careless movements. He peeled his chest away next, and the mattress lifted as he removed himself from the bed.

Instant regret seized my heart, and my body mourned the loss of his heat and secure hold.

Heavy footsteps traveled across the wooden floors toward the bathroom, but I refused to even open my eyes until the door closed behind him. With the soft click, I propped myself up on my elbow and glanced around the room. It was still dark outside, and the little clock on the nightstand read4:46 AM.Sitting up a bit more, I pulled the silky sheets up on my body, covering my chest as my gaze swept to the empty space on the mattress beside me.

The indentation of Malik’s body remained, and, when I pressed my palm to the imprint, his warmth lingered, too.

The shower started running within the bathroom, and I stared at the crack of light beneath the door. His shadow moved across the tile until it eventually traveled beyond my sight.

Had I hurt him with my…wiggling? What if I angered him? Or—oh, Moon Goddess—had he been able to scent my arousal?

I groaned, burying my head in my hands and wishing that I could take back the last five minutes. If I was braver, I wouldn't have pretended to sleep when I sensed that he was waking up. I would’ve faced him, head on. We could have communicated, albeit, with a bit of difficulty, but it would’ve been better thanthis.

Embarrassed, I tossed myself back on the pillow once more and imagined how I would possibly face Malik when he exited the bathroom again. I should apologize. Or, perhaps it would be better to pretend that nothing happened? Fake sleep once more?

By the time I heard the shower turn off, my head spun from all of my conflicting plans to mend the situation. I flipped onto my side and watched his shadow move beneath the door again.

When the handle turned, I panicked.

MALIK

Aria was awake, even though she tried her damnedest to convince me otherwise.

As soon as I walked out of the bathroom, a towel secured low on my hips, I heard her breath hitch. Then, her inhales turned rigid and fake, like a machine manually expanding her lungs. She curled in on herself, facing the bathroom door now as if she couldn’t stop herself from monitoring my movements when I left the bed. She didn’t trust me.

I frowned and turned away from her faux-sleeping form, moving into the closet to fetch clothes.

Grappling with one of the few pairs of jeans that I kept in this room, I ground my teeth and cursed my foolishness.

I shouldn’t have allowed myself to touch her last night. Shouldn’t have held her in my arms.

I’d crossed a boundary that my little dove wasn’t comfortable with. Why else would she have been squirming against my embrace? She was horrified of me and wanted to escape, no doubt.

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