Tan Lines Chapter 4

Neng lay on his side watching Mailee sleep beside him. She had her back turned to him, her butterfly tattoo looking straight at him. He smiled and ran a finger down her naked shoulder. The white blanket was wrapped around her waist and under her legs. She was sleeping soundly and he leaned against his hand, smiling at her. Memories of their lovemaking made him stir as he looked at their clothes scattered on the floor; her upturned shoes and his belt lay together in a heated mess. When they arrived at his house, she was kicking and screaming on his shoulder. The moment he set her down on the ground and kissed her, she turned into jello, just like he'd predicted. She was fierce and whatever was eating at her about him, she'd used it to fume her passion. Man, she was a wild cat, turning him on in ways he'd never thought possible. But the moment he took her again, he realized how much he'd truly missed her. Yes, he'd been a jack ass for avoiding her because he was frightened of his feelings. How was he supposed to tell her, that he'd been in love with her, all this time, but hadn't had the courage to come to his senses? She'd do what she did today; call it pity. But today, after what they shared, he knew exactly where he was standing. If he had her once, he'd never stop and he was already stirring in places he didn't think he could stir after what they'd just been through.

Mailee stirred and he moved back as she turned around. Her eyes caught his and she held her gaze as a slow grin appeared on his face. She truly was beautiful, her curls all around her face, her swollen lips from his kisses, and the whole 'I'm satisified' look was on her face. So she'd been lying to him; the question was why. Perhaps she did it to invite hersef into his bed. The thought had him grinning.

“Why are you so happy?” she asked.

“Because you're in my bed,” he replied.

She blushed. “It's not happening again. You run off.”

Neng sighed and then he moved closer to her. “Why do you think I'll run off this time?”

“Because you always do, Neng, when things scare you. I've known you my whole life and it's what you do best. It's why no one could be near you.”

He swallowed hard because what she said was right. All his life, he kept people far from him because he didn't want to get hurt. He'd kept them away for his sake. But looking at her soft brown eyes, he knew that if he let her go, he'd never get her back. She was in his bed now, but if he avoided her again, it would be over. He could kiss everything about her good-bye. So he did the only thing that he knew would prevent her from disappearing.

“Marry me,” he blurted.

It took a moment for the thought to process and when it did, she threw the blanket off of her and got up. He enjoyed the view of her as she raced to put her clothes back on. He sat up as she zipped her pants and turned around to face him.

“I thought I'd seen and heard everything in my life, but I guess I was wrong,” Mailee said.

Neng stood up and wrapped the blanket around his waist. “What are you talking about?”

“You're proposing to me out of pity!”

He laughed and ran his hand through his dark hair. “No, I'm not, Mailee. I'm proposing to you because right now I'm about this close--” he put his thumb and forefinger together, “to getting you into bed again. And because I'm a very jealous man, I'd much rather go to bed knowing no one is going to be staring at that butterfly tattoo, but me.”

She blushed and he walked to her. When he reached her, before she could bolt, he grabbed her waist and held her tigh. Staring at her face, he realized how truly beautiful she really was. She was angry, yes, he could tell, her nose was flared and her pupils were dilated. He lowerered her gaze to her lips and before she could protest, he kissed her. At first, her hands went straight to plant themselves flat on his chest, to push him away, but as he deepened the kiss, her hands found themselves around his neck. He moaned, loudly, and began pushing her toward the bed. But she suddenly broke free from him and stared up at him, panting.

“I can't do this, Neng. I just got out of a bad marriage. I'm not about to go into another one,” she whispered.

He stared at her and trailed his fingers down her cheeks. “Fine, let's not get married. Does this still entitle me to a second round?”

She pushed him off, giving him her answer as she slipped on her shoes. When she turned around, she gave him one of her farewell looks. He shook his head and reached for her, but she backed away from him.

“I'm sorry, Neng.”

He blinked and then he sighed. “Hell, damn it, Mailee. Fine, have it your way. I'll take you home.”

“You're such an idoit!” Mailee yelled at her reflection in the mirror.

She'd returned home and after a long shower, was staring at herself in the mirror. Her first week back in town and she'd managed to get drunk, get arrested, and also boinked the sheriff in that order. She slammed her hands against her head. What the hell was she thinking? She wasn't, that was the whole truth; or rather she wasn't thinking with her head. Damn it! She turned off the light and walked out wearing only a towel to her bedroom. She took the towel off and searched butt naked for clothes in her suitcase. She was searching for a pair of clean undies when she heard a noise downstairs. Her hands paused in midair and she turned around. She grabbed the towel and wrapped it around herself again as she trotted down the hall to the top of the stairs. She listened and everything was quiet. She slowly took one step at a time until she was at the bottom. She reached for an umbrella lying on the ground next to the front door and then she realized the door was open. She frowned; she was sure she'd locked it. She swallowed hard and her hands were getting sweaty as she looked over to the kitchen. Slowly, she walked toward that way and stopped short of the entrance.

“Hello?” she called out.

She heard a clinking sound and she swung as the towel became undone. The umbrella met the face of a handsome intruder and she stood there naked as the day she was born. She heard the voice of a man groaning and when she stopped, she saw that he was in a police uniform and was on the ground with his hands in front of his face. She gasped and lowered the umbrella.

“Who are you?” she cried out.

“Shit, Neng sent me here to check--” he looked up and froze.

It was only then did Mailee realized she was standing there naked. She gasped and looked around to find the towel a few inches away. If she bent down, he'd get a better look, so she opened the umbrella to cover her. He smiled nervously and stood up with his hands up.

“I'm so sorry I startled you,” he said. “Neng sent me here to check up on you. I tried knocking, no one answered. So I let myself in. The door wasn't locked.”

Mailee nodded and gestured with her head for him to leave. “I'm fine. You can go now.”

He nodded and walked around her as she turned so she was facing him as he left the house. She let out a breath and shook her head. Damn it! Now two men had seen her naked!