Tapestry hooked her arms around him and gently urged him forward. Malcolm pushed deeper into her, kissing her as his face came up to be level with hers. He kept close to her, letting his hips pull back and forth and matching the rhythm of his lips to hers.
Malcolm sped up slowly, until he was thrusting as fast as his body would let him. The gentle intimacy they’d started with had progressed to hot, hard sex. Tapestry moaned as Malcolm seized one of her buttocks and pushed himself into her with unbridled, masculine force.
It didn’t take either of them very long to climax. Tapestry had been trying to stifle her noises, but as she reached her peak, a cry of passion broke from her lips. Malcolm held her firm with his strong hands, pushing into her, savoring every thrust. He buried his face in her shoulder as he vaulted over his limit into hot, sticky ecstasy.
“I love you, Malcolm.”
Her words were whispered, quiet enough that it almost seemed like she didn’t want him to hear them. Malcolm’s heart skipped a beat. He was deep enough into the moment that he first felt elated, before realizing again, that the words were not meant for him.
What have I done? What the fuck have I done?
CHAPTER 21
Malcolm awoke the next morning with Tapestry curled up against him. He’d planned on leaving during the night, as the guilt and shame over what he’d done were almost too much for him to bear. He’d considered it, and had decided in the end that it would only make things worse if Tapestry woke up, and he or Second Wind wasn’t there in the apartment with her.
The fact that Second Wind didn’t come back during the night gave him pause. The last time Malcolm had seen him had been after they’d stopped the fertilizer truck heist. Was it possible that Multi intercepted him on his way back to Vanderbrook?
Of course it’s possible. Anything is possible. I can’t make assumptions yet.
“Hey.” Tapestry walked into the living room, wearing one of his t-shirts. It was baggy on her, and her hair was loose and ruffled around her shoulders.
“Hey,” said Malcolm. He felt suddenly awkward around her, too disturbed by what he’d done and his inability to own up to it. He wanted to apologize to her and admit the truth, but that felt like it would only serve to twist the blade he’d already thrust into Second Wind’s back.
“You should get ready,” said Tapestry. “We’ll have to stop by my house so I can change on the way there.”
Malcolm almost asked her what she was talking about, before realizing that it was probably something he should already know. Instead of pushing for more detail, he nodded and started toward his bedroom.
“It’s not going to be weird now, is it?” asked Tapestry. “I… didn’t expect you to say it back, you know. And I don’t need you to, if you aren’t ready.”
Malcolm felt his heart twist inside his chest. Those words had been meant for Second Wind, not him. And as far as he could tell, it was the first time she’d used them. It was an impossible situation, only made worse by his own confusing emotions for her. Did he love Tapestry? Did it matter, if he did or not? It wasn’t his place to say such things to her, not while wearing Second Wind’s mask.
“I’m sorry,” said Malcolm. “It’s not that I don’t… feel it. I just need a few days to get back to myself.”
That’s within striking distance of the truth, isn’t it?
He hurried into his room to get dressed before Tapestry could say anything else. They shared a quiet breakfast and then climbed into her BMW and drove across town to her house. The sun was out, and it was a bright, hot reminder of the changing season.
“I’ll only be a minute,” said Tapestry. “You should come inside. I’m sure Melanie wouldn’t mind seeing you.”
“Sure,” said Malcolm.
He followed behind Tapestry and into the house. Melanie was sitting on the couch in the living room, wearing a baggy t-shirt and panties, practically the same outfit Tapestry had been dressed in minutes before. She stood up, her face contorting with surprise.
“Aubrey!” she said. “I… You said you wouldn’t be back until later this afternoon. That’s what you told me. I wasn’t, uh… I mean, I just didn’t expect you back so soon!”
“And just why is this a problem for you?” asked Tapestry. Her gaze flicked from Melanie to the closed door to Melanie’s room.
“You should probably let me open that,” said Malcolm.
He walked through the living room, only half listening to Melanie’s frantic excuses. A short, dark skinned teenager wearing boxer shorts and nothing else jumped up from Melanie’s bed as soon as Malcolm opened the door.
“Hi,” said Malcolm. The boy younger than Melanie by at least a year or two, and even as he hurried to pull on his pants, Malcolm caught a vibe of both inexperience and pride coming from him.
Did little Melanie just take this boy’s virginity?
“Sorry,” mumbled the boy. “I should probably go.”
Malcolm chuckled.
“Melanie is wearing your shirt,” he said. “Here.”
He took off the sweatshirt and tossed it to him.
“Just give it back to Melanie when you can,” said Malcolm.
“Thanks,” said the boy.
He hurried out of the house, and Malcolm walked back into the living room and the argument exploding within it.
“Are you out of your mind, Melanie?” shouted Tapestry.
“Aubrey, relax.” Melanie sighed and crossed her arms. “It’s really not that big of a deal.”
“Premarital sex isn’t that big of a deal?” snapped Tapestry. “I mean, it would be one thing if you planned on getting serious with this boy, but he’s not even your age!”
“He’s about to turn seventeen,” muttered Melanie. “And he’s really cute! And he plays basketball, and he’s really funny. If you’d just take a second to get to know Colin, I think you’d really like him.”
“He’s not allowed in my house anymore,” said Tapestry, stiffly.
Melanie expression shifted into a glare.
“You are such a hypocrite!” shouted Melanie. “Do I even need to point out the obvious? You’re doing the same thing!”
Tapestry took the words as a slap in the face.
“I am not!” she protested.
“You’re not married, Tapestry,” said Melanie. “And Malcolm… he’s a few years younger than you, in case you forgot.”
Tapestry’s face turned bright red. Malcolm was a little unsure of whether the argument would stay limited to just words or whether it would involve projectiles. He stepped forward, putting himself physically between them, and furrowed his brow.
“Tapestry, didn’t you say we had somewhere to be?” asked Malcolm. “Why don’t you get changed? So we can go and make that happen.”
Tapestry nodded slowly, not meeting his eyes. She was still blushing, and walked out of the room a little too quickly. Malcolm turned to face Melanie with his hands on his hips and slowly shook his head.
“You really shouldn’t have said that to her,” said Malcolm.
“She started it,” said Melanie. “Don’t tell me you’re going to try to shame me for being a teenager, too. Now that would be hypocritical!”
“Is that your word of the day or something?” Malcolm smiled. “Look, next time, just be smarter. Don’t let boys stay the night if you can’t afford getting caught.”
Melanie bowed her head slightly.
“I’ll apologize to her later,” she said. “I can’t face her right now.”
Melanie retired to her room, and a couple of minutes later, Tapestry reappeared in the living room, freshly clothed in a red tunic style sweater and black leggings. Malcolm didn’t say anything as they left her house and climbed into her car.