kisses, and then Priest pulled away. “We’ll just take it one day at a time. Does that sound good?”
“As long as we get to do this again, it does,” I said.
“Hell, yeah,” Priest said, grinning in a way that made him seem younger than he was. “Now get some sleep.”
Sleep came surprisingly easy in Priest’s big bed, listening to his steady, even breathing. One day at a time.
16
Priest
I woke up to the sun slanting in through the open window of my cabin, as I did every morning. I stretched long in bed, reaching my arms overhead and groaning a little as my shoulders popped. I was always a little stiff and slow-moving when I first woke up, and I shifted a little on the mattress, stretching through my lats to relieve some of the tension there.
Next to me, Mal sighed in his sleep and pulled the blanket a little tighter around himself.
I stilled as the events of last night came rushing back. I stopped stretching and then slowly slid out of bed, careful not to disturb Mal. I finished my stretch while standing instead, feeling my spine lengthen and pop as I gazed down at the shape of Mal under the covers.
He murmured and rolled over, so he was facing me, but he was still fast asleep. The covers were snug around his shoulders, and his lips were slightly parted, his face soft and younger-looking in sleep. An odd, protective urge made my heart clench in my chest. I was so used to seeing Mal in president-mode—not like this. Finally at ease. And I liked being the one to make him feel that way, at least in small part. He spent so much time leading the club, keeping us all together and safe… He deserved a safe place to put some of that responsibility down.
And if that place was our friendship, then that was even better. Deep inside, though, I wondered if that was sustainable. If that wouldn’t push our friendship into something more. Something that he wasn’t ready for, and I wasn’t sure if I was, either.
Couldn’t deny the fact that he was so gorgeous, though—and the sex had been great. I felt better rested than I had in years, too; I’d always slept better with someone beside me. And the incredible orgasms didn’t hurt, either. I pulled on a sweatshirt then slipped into the bathroom to brush my teeth. In the mirror, I even looked more rested, with a youthful glimmer in my eyes. I’d gotten so used to seeing my face looking a little dull and exhausted lately. I’d forgotten I could look like this.
I looked happy.
I grimaced around my toothbrush and looked down into the sink instead. Did it really take so little for me to feel happy again? I couldn’t help the guilt that cut through me, cold and sudden at the idea. But, I reminded myself, it was like Mal had said last night. He wasn’t trying to replace Ankh, and neither was I.
It was just sex. Sex with someone I trusted and respected. And from the way I looked and felt this morning, it was clear the experience was good for me. Besides, just because we’d had sex didn’t mean we were falling in love—we’d established that clearly between us. One day at a time. I didn’t need to feel like I was betraying Ankh, because I wasn’t. This was just another way for me to heal, and to lean on Mal as a friend.
That was all I needed right now, at my age, with the grief of losing Ankh still weighing on me. A good friend, a little something more.
The guilt melted away as I finished brushing my teeth, and I even let a smile play on my lips. It felt good to feel good. I wasn’t going to let this nugget of happiness slip away.
I snuck down the stairs, moving quietly so as to not wake Mal, and put the coffee on. I puttered around the living room as I usually did in the mornings, taking time sipping my coffee and enjoying the quiet stillness of the morning. About a half-hour later, Mal stumbled down the stairs, rubbing his eyes and grimacing at the bright light in the kitchen.
“Coffee,” he demanded in a grumble still scratchy with sleep.
I chuckled to myself, leaning against the counter with my second cup of coffee in my hand. “Not much of a morning person, huh?”