Page 79 of Mace
That heavy feeling in my gut weighs down even more. I’m building a picture of Maylie, and I don’t like what that picture shows.
I want to ask him more, but the doors to the treatment area open and Maylie steps out with Ivy. They’re both smiling, which makes some of the tightness in my chest loosen.
Toby and I both push up at the same time, walking over to them.
“Everything okay?” I ask, slipping a hand around the back of her neck.
I don’t know what this need is to touch her constantly, but the moment my skin comes into contact with hers, I feel calm. Maylie nods, but her words are at odds with the tears standing in her eyes. Seeing them makes me want to hit something.
“Hey… what’s wrong?”
“She’s been crying since she saw the screen,” Ivy says.
My gaze slides from her younger sister back to Maylie. “Ivy’s baby looks perfect, according to the sonographer. I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt.”
I pull her against my chest, dropping the hand on her neck to wrap both my arms around her back.This woman…
I kiss the top of her head before moving down to her mouth and claiming that in a quick kiss. I wish I could take longer to devour her, to show her everything I’m feeling, but her brother and sister are sniggering at the side of us.
I force myself back, enjoying the way her cheeks flush. “Let’s go back to the clubhouse.”
I slip my hand into hers as we walk out of the hospital.
Toby and Ivy chatter the entire way back. I don’t have a clue what Toby is saying, but he seems to be suggesting baby names from some computer games he’s played.
Maylie stays uncharacteristically quiet, so I rest my hand on her thigh, bringing her attention to me. She gives me a smile that barely reaches her eyes, and I wish I was able to ask her what’s going on in that pretty head of hers. She’d been so happy in the hospital, but her mood has soured during the drive back.
She doesn’t speak much as I show Toby and Ivy back to the room and tell them to message their sister if they need anything. Then I take Maylie’s hand and guide her out into the hallway.
As soon as the door is shut behind us, she digs her heels in, forcing me to stop. “Where are we going?”
“Only next door.”
Her gaze slides back to the door we just exited. “I’d rather stay with them. I don’t want to be alone.”
Sometimes, her innocence is fucking adorable. I step into her space, spanning my hands around her hips. “You ain’t gonna be alone.”
Confusion furrows her brow. “I don’t… you… what?”
I brush my thumb over the apple of her cheek. “I’ll be with you.”
Her eyes flare wide. “Oh.”
“You’d rather stay with your brother and sister?” I give her an out, even though I really hope she doesn’t take it.
“No. I mean, yes, I want to stay with you.”
Thank fuck for that.
I press my mouth to hers, kissing her with the passion I wanted to give her in the hospital. I can’t get enough of her. She is so different from any other woman I’ve ever been with. It should scare me how fast Maylie has become an intrinsic part of my life, but it feels like this is how it was always meant to be.
My tongue slides between the seam of her lips, and she opens to me, allowing me inside her mouth. Her movements against my tongue get braver every time we kiss, and my thoughts go back to what Toby said in the hospital.
Maylie doesn’t have time to do anything, not even dating. I don’t know if he meant that literally, or if he was exaggerating how busy his sister has been over the years. No one who looks like her could get to twenty-two without dating at least someone.
That thought dies as I break apart from her, leaning my forehead to hers to catch my breath. “I don’t want you to worry about anything,” I tell her.
“It’s hard not to. I’m used to being the one always having to think about these things. I don’t know how to be any other way.”