Page 14 of Pretending with the Mountain Man
That conversation changed everything. And I get the feeling neither of us is ready for what comes next.
CHAPTER FIVE
MELODY
Sunlight streams through unfamiliar curtains as I stretch in Malik's bed. His scent surrounds me, cedar and something spicier that clings to the sheets and fills my lungs with every breath. The events of last night flood back in vivid detail.
His lips on mine. His hands on my thighs. The way he lifted me onto the counter like I weighed nothing.
"Holy shit," I whisper to the empty room, pressing my fingers to my lips.
I kissed Sage's dad. And it was the hottest kiss of my life.
The smell of coffee drifts under the door, confirming he's already awake. I slip from bed, grab my clothes from yesterday and duck into the attached bathroom. The mirror reflects a woman I barely recognize. My lips still look slightly swollen, my eyes bright with something that looks suspiciously like happiness.
After a quick shower, I dress and attempt to tame my curls into submission. The woman staring back at me now looks morelike the Melody I know, except for that persistent gleam in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, I open the bedroom door and step into the hallway. The sound of Malik's voice reaches me, low and serious. He's on the phone, his broad back to me as he stands at the kitchen window.
"I don't care what it takes," he says. "Find out who hired him and what exactly he's looking for."
He turns as I enter, his dark eyes finding mine immediately. Something flashes across his face, too quick to name.
"She's up now. We'll be there in an hour," he says into the phone before ending the call. "Good morning."
"Morning," I reply, suddenly shy. "Is everything okay?"
Malik places his phone on the counter, his expression carefully neutral. "Jake's team is still tracking the PI. I thought I'd take you in to work with me today. You'll be safer there than the cabin if he decides to come looking."
Just like that, we're back to business. No mention of the kiss that rocked my world last night. No acknowledgment of the promise to talk about what's happening between us.
"Coffee?" he asks, already reaching for a mug.
"Please." I take a seat at the counter, watching him move with that same efficient grace that first caught my attention. "So, what's the plan? Hide me away at the club all day?"
He slides a steaming mug toward me, black with a cartoon cat giving the middle finger. It's so incongruous with his serious demeanor that I nearly laugh.
"Not hiding," he corrects. "Strategic relocation. The club has better security than the cabin."
"And what am I supposed to do while you work?" I wrap my hands around the mug, savoring its warmth.
"That depends." He leans against the counter, studying me over his own coffee. "How serious were you last night about wanting to learn more about the lifestyle?"
Heat floods my cheeks. "You're offering to teach me about BDSM?"
"I'm offering you education, not participation." His voice remains steady, but his eyes darken slightly. "There's a private classroom at Club Crimson for newcomers. Books, videos, discussions. All very clinical and above board."
"And if I want more than clinical?" The words escape before I can stop them.
Malik sets his mug down with deliberate care. "One step at a time, Melody. Education first. Decisions later."
I want to press him, to remind him of our kiss, of the promise to talk today. But something in his stance suggests this isn't the time. "Okay. Education it is."
He nods once, satisfied. "Eat something. We leave in thirty."
The drive to Club Crimson takes us deeper into the mountains, along winding roads that showcase breathtaking views. Malik drives with one hand on the wheel, confident and relaxed. I steal glances at his profile, wondering what he's thinking behind that stoic expression.
"You can ask," he says suddenly, not taking his eyes off the road.
