'M' is For: [Ch20] M is for Mallory - END

And here we are, at the very last installment for 'M' is For! Thank you for your interest in this story. I hope you enjoyed meeting Thomas and Mallory as much as I enjoyed writing them.

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Light filtered in through the sheer curtains of our new apartment. We hadn’t bothered to draw the blackout curtains after stumbling back into the apartment in the early hours of the morning, exhausted by a long night at a new venue Edward had invited us to. The spot had been nice enough; some of his more entrepreneurial friends had managed to rent a renovated warehouse in DUMBO and turn it into the ultimate pleasure palace. Drinks flowed all night as crowds of people mingled and danced...and if they happened to chance upon the back rooms, they might have done a little extra. Kiara, Danielle and James had all been there, and I finally had the chance to meet Danielle’s new girlfriend.

Smothering back a yawn, I propped myself up on an elbow to check the time. It was almost noon, though my brain still felt hazy with sleep and far from ready to get a start on the day. I sank back down into the sheets.

Thomas was still fast asleep beside me on his back. He slept shirtless, and I ran my hand lightly over his chest. Where he once had a little black ‘M’ tattooed above his heart, there was now smooth, unmarred skin. I’d joked when he got it removed that it could have stood for ‘Mallory,’ but I liked him this way too. He was still redefining his relationship with domination and submission, and we were taking things slow. It made every small gesture, every little bit of ground won, that much more precious. The first time since his breakup that he let me collar him, it was hard to say which of us got more emotional. Smiling at the memory, I wrapped my arm around him and snuggled close to his body.

At that, Thomas stirred. Sleepily, his hand found mine where it clasped his shoulder, and squeezed. I drew back as he turned on his side to face me, his dark eyelashes fluttering open until I found myself looking into his eyes.

“Hey,” Thomas said softly. I basked in the warmth of his somnolent gaze, enjoying the way he looked at me, like he could go on looking forever.

“Hey.” I reached out to catch a stray lock of hair that was falling into his eyes and brushed it back. “How do you feel?”

“Good.” He caught my hand and pressed his lips to the inside of my wrist. “That was something last night, wasn’t it? Every time I think I’ve seen it all, I’m proven wrong.”

I smirked. “Yeah. You could say the trapeze artists brought things...to new heights.”

Thomas groaned and tried to hit me with a pillow. I managed to block the attack with my arms, laughing. In retaliation, I reached out to tickle him, and that resulted in a brief scuffle and battle of strength that I subsequently lost when Thomas rolled over onto me, pinning my wrists above my head with a mock-glower.

“I yield, I yield,” I gasped breathlessly.

“Good,” Thomas said and flopped down beside me. After a moment during which we both caught our breaths, he spoke. “Hey, what do you say we take it easy for a month or so? Last night was fun, but even a guy as patient as me has trouble watching so many other people panting after his lady while I’m tied up. Literally.”

“Believe me, that sounds like a deal.” I yawned. “Ben and Carter are sweet, but they have too much energy, even for me. I’d gladly leave them behind for some quality alone time with my favorite boy.”

His hand found mine atop the covers. He entwined his fingers with mine.

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say. I’m glad to hear that I’m still your favorite.”

“By a pretty wide margin, if I’m to be honest.”

“Did I ever tell you you’re my favorite girl?”

“Yes, but you can tell me again.”

Thomas held my gaze. “I love you, Mallory. Just so we’re clear.”

Even though it had been months since we’d started dating, Thomas never failed to catch me off-guard when he wanted to. I felt my heart give an unsteady little quiver before flooding my chest with a radiant happiness. I squeezed his fingers.

“I love you too,” I said.

We stayed like that for a while, awake but not moving, enjoying each other’s company and the promise of a month all to ourselves.

The End