Page 103 of Dangerous Encore
MAL AND LACEY
1
Mal
"Mal,"Lacey squeals as she takes my hand. "You know I can't walk in theseheels."
She can't, and I fucking love thatabouther.
I love every one of herquirks.
I have it bad. I've had it bad for a year and ahalfnow.
She looks divine in that tight cocktail dress. And knowing she's dressing up for me, because I told her we're going someplacespecial…
I slide my arm around her waist. "Don't worry, baby. I've got you." I help her traverse the rocky path that leads to thebeach.
She holds me tightly, trying to walk on her tiptoes so her heels don't sink into the sand. "You're cruel. Youknowthat?"
"Goon…"
She giggles. "Idon'tmean—"
"Don't you?" I archabrow.
"Hmm. Well… is it really cruel if I beg youforit?"
Her eyes are on fire withconfidence.
She doesn't doubt it anymore. She knows how badly Iwanther.
"You tell me." I let my voice drop to something low and demanding. I shouldn't shift the topic to sex. Not with what I'm abouttodo.
But I can't helpmyself.
She slides her arms around my waist. Her voice is bright. Happy. "You should have warned me this was a cross-countryexpedition."
"You don't like the view?" I nod to theocean.
The dark blue water laps at thepristinesand.
It bleeds into the sky. It reflects the moon. The shining stars. We're far enough into Malibu that we can actually seestars.
Lacey's brown eyes light up. Her lips curl into a smile. "It'sbeautiful."
She still has every drop of that lustforlife.
It'sintoxicating.
Contagious.
My smile spreads over my cheeks. I could watch her take in the view allnight.
Part of mewantsto.
A lotofme.
I'm actually fuckingscared.
It's not something I'musedto.
