“Apparently not.”
I growled playfully and kissed him hard, then cupped his cheek with my clean hand. “You good?”
He took a second to answer, and I appreciated that, as he really seemed to take stock before he answered. “Yes.”
“Good. Me too.” I kissed him again, this time slow and sweet, before I tipped him off onto the couch next to me. I told him to stay as I crossed the space to the kitchen sink. After I washed my hands and cleaned myself up, I grabbed some wet paper towel to bring back to him. He let me clean him too, though he blushed while I did it, and when I joined him on the couch again, he pushed right into my arms. I hugged him tightly, squeezing too hard, but Mal didn’t seem to mind.
“If I were to ask you to stay, just to sleep, what would you say?”
He was so sweet, and still a bit unsure, but really, I would do anything to spend time with him. I kissed the top of his head and pulled one of his legs over mine.
“I would say that I’d love to. But you better be prepared to be smothered, because I’m an octopus and will wrap myself around you until you can’t move.”
Mal’s sigh was deep and content. “Perfect.”
Chapter 17
Malachi
Iwoke up to movement. For a second, I forgot where I was and who I was with, thinking that Payton had climbed into bed with me. Then I reached toward the movement and my hands met with a bigger, adult body.Crew.
“Go back to sleep, babe,” he murmured, so I did.
The next time I got woken up, it was by the cabin door opening with a creak and a happy Payton babble filling the space.
I was in my bed—we’d moved there at one point for more space—and sat up quickly enough to get a head rush.
Crew was gone. It stung, but it made things easier to explain, or not to explain, to my son.
“Daddy! You up yet?” he hollered.
“Well, I am now,” I grunted and grabbed my phone.
There was a text from Crew.
Demi texted that they’re on their way because the kids woke up early. See you later.
I blushed.
Payton knew better than to climb onto my bed in his “outside clothes” so he did an improvised peepee dance type thing next to it. “Daddy why aren’t you up yet? I’m going to Mrs. Jenn’s but I need some stuffs.”
“Because you’re early, bud.” I ruffled his hair as I prepared to get out of bed. “Go get your stuff. Is Demi with you?”
He ran around the wall and yelled, “Auntie Demi is on the porch with the baby!”
Chuckling, I went to the bathroom, pulled on some clothes, and went to find the ladies.
“Morning.” I looked at where she was sitting with a sleepy looking Aria on her lap. “Thanks for the heads up.” I didn’t blush. Much.
Her eyes twinkled, and she asked, “What heads up?”
I snorted softly as I reached to pet Aria’s fine baby hair. She wasn’t that young, but she still held a hint of the essence of baby Pay had lost long ago.
“How was Payton?”
Demi smiled. “He’s great. The only snag was that at bedtime, he was a bit sad, so I sat next to him and told him stories until he fell asleep.”
I frowned. “Sad?”
