But I don’t think that I could move if I tried, and I feel Malcolm stroking his hand down the side of my ribs, soothing me further down into sleep.
16
Malcolm
When I wake with Juno sprawled across my chest, I feel a sense of satisfaction that I can’t fully explain. The way she fits against me is perfect—like she was made to fill in my hollow places and I was made to fill in her curves.
I nearly lost myself last night, and when she was cuddling up to me, nearly falling asleep, I almost told her that I loved her. I didn’t know where the thought came from, I just knew that it nearly tumbled out of my mouth. I was so startled that even though Juno fell asleep within seconds, I lay awake for a long time, just staring at the ceiling and holding her.
It seems impossible. I’ve had girlfriends, and more than enough one-night stands. But I’ve never been in love. Not like this. I’ve never said the words ‘I love you’ to anyone but my family. And here I am, ready to tell them to Juno a thousand times over. I can’t even begin to explain it.
The more I learn about her, the more I want her in my life forever. I like that she’s passionate about what she wants. I love that she’s nerdy and loves data and spreadsheets. I love that she takes school seriously and always makes it a priority to study. I love her dirty mind that took time to wear sexy black lingerie for me even though she knew it would just come off. I love that she knelt when I told her to, accepting that decision in stride.
And I love that she trusts me with her whole self. She doesn’t hold back with me. Especially in moments like this. She shines. I can see into her soul, and I love the view.
She’s still completely asleep, and I don’t want to move her. But glancing at the clock, I notice it’s almost time for this week’s phone call with John. I’ll go get us coffee while I’m on the phone, and maybe I can convince Juno to abandon her studies for the day and just spend it in bed with me.
A long, slow day of movies and coffee and kisses would have sounded like girly romantic comedy movie shit a month ago. And now I love the idea of spending hours beside her. Even better if she stays naked and I can run my hands over that perfect skin. Maybe make a meal or two out of her.
Slowly, I roll her onto her side, making sure that she’s still covered with the blanket before I slip out of the bed. If I’m lucky, she’ll stay sleeping and won’t even know that I’m gone. I was right, a week was too long. She might like nearly passing out from overdue orgasms, but that’s not a healthy way to bring it out. And I like having her ask me. If we do this again, I’ll keep it shorter, and the extensions reasonable.
Now I know.
And I won’t let her argue with me either. Whether she agrees or not, I do think that there can be too much of a good thing. On the way across campus, I dial John, but he doesn’t answer. It might be too early for him. After all, it is Saturday.
At the campus coffee shop, I get a coffee for myself and a peppermint tea for Juno. She always prefers tea to coffee, and I’m already craving that sleepy, luxurious smile when she wakes up to a cup of tea.
I’m heading back toward the house when I hear a voice behind me. “You’re Malcolm Levar, right?”
I turn to find a pretty blonde girl staring at me. She looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t place why. “I am. And you are?”
She smiles. “I’m Taylor Thomas. Melody’s sister.”
“Oh.” Perfect.
To say that I’m not Melody’s biggest fan is an understatement. When we were both freshmen, she snuck into Granite House and waited in my bedroom naked, trying to seduce me. Not because she wanted me, but because she wanted the power that she thought came from sleeping with me. The chancellor’s son who was going to be tapped as the leader of a popular house. She wanted to be the leader of a sorority, and she got what she wanted. But I didn’t let her use me to do it.
She’s never forgiven me for that. Over the years she’s sent things my way to trip me up, including Juno. I suppose that I should thank her for that one, since it worked out well. But she’s not my favorite person.
It’s hard to imagine that under that influence, her sister would be any different. No wonder she looks familiar.