Chapter 204 Dazzled by Beauty
Reese awkwardly replied, "I... I'm not very good at it."
"No worries, I've got a tutorial right here," Malcolm said, effortlessly handing her his phone.
She glanced at it, just long enough to watch from beginning to end.
Seeing her silent, Malcolm bent down, his gaze twinkling like stars, his voice soft. "Need to watch it again? It's okay, take your time, I..."
"No need," Reese said flatly.
A flicker of surprise passed through Malcolm's deep eyes. "You've got it?"
"Yes."
"You do..." Malcolm remembered it took him several attempts to learn from the video, and he'd thought he was pretty quick.
Reese had memorized it in just one go?
Seeing his skeptical look, she said, "I'll show you."
Although tall for a woman, Reese still fell short compared to the towering figure before her. Standing barefoot, she could barely reach.
For the first time in her life, Reese felt defeated by something out of her control. She believed she could handle anything, except for the immutable fact of their height difference.
"Maybe scooch down a bit?" Reese suggested hesitantly.
The man's eyelids lowered slightly with a relaxed ease. "No need for trouble."
Before she knew it, Reese found herself lifted clear off the ground by Malcolm whose strong hold around her waist left her head soaring above his.
"Is this height good for you?" Malcolm teased, a playful smirk on his face.
A hint of bashfulness flickered across Reese's eyes as her gaze met his chiseled features, causing her heart rate to inexplicably quicken.
"Well, actually a bit lower would be okay." Reese fumbled for words. She couldn't reach him properly; he'd hoisted her up too high.
Malcolm gently lowered her just enough. Her waist was so slender and delicate under his grasp that he found himself reluctant to let go.
As Reese worked on his tie, the warmth of his breath against her face caused an unforeseen blush to color her cheeks. She prided herself on her thick skin, having never experienced such a visceral reaction to someone simply standing close before.
No, Malcolm was the exception. Anyone else who dared encroach her personal space would have been swiftly kicked away.
She could feel the heat radiating off his body, a comforting presence.
Malcolm's jawline was sharp, and the flow from his chin to his neck was smooth. His lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile as the top two buttons of his black shirt were left casually undone, revealing the prominent lines of his Adam's apple.
Tying his tie should have been a task of mere minutes, but Reese found herself distracted, her mind wandering off track.
Meanwhile, Malcolm was clueless about the turmoil brewing inside Reese. Assuming she was simply unskilled, he said with patience and warmth, "If you don't know how, it's alright. You can learn and tie it for your hubby next time, okay?"
"No, I know how..." Reese protested in her thoughts, frustrated he didn't seem to grasp that her conflict wasn't with the tie—it was with him.
Malcolm withdrew one hand, still effortlessly supporting Reese with the other as he gently grasped her delicate wrist.
"Honey." His voice carried a soft intimacy.
Reese looked up into his eyes, the deep blue mirroring the ocean's tides.
"Hmm?"
"Is it my devastating charm that's got you all flustered?" Malcolm teased with mock seriousness.
Reese, of course, wouldn't admit it. Without a second thought, she shook her head. "Not at all."
"Well then, I guess I'll just have to try harder, right?" Malcolm quipped.
With those words, he gently lifted her chin with his fingers and pressed his lips against hers. Reese's head spun, caught off guard not only by the kiss but by their entire curious posture.
Was there any moment, any situation where this man wouldn't find an opportunity to steal a kiss?
She felt like her senses were overloading, nearly at the point of explosion.
"Reese, Reese..." The urgency in Alyssa's voice cut through the haze, accompanied by the rush of wind as the door burst open.
Alyssa caught sight of the couple wrapped so tightly in each other's arms they seemed to want to become one. The complexity of their embrace was an eye-opener for her.
Far from being taken aback, she flashed Malcolm a thumbs-up, her voice dripping with admiration. "Dude, you've been putting those gym sessions to good use, I see."
Reese, usually the picture of composure, couldn't help but feel uneasy under such scrutiny, especially during such an intimate moment. She hurriedly pushed Malcolm away, hopping down with a slight flush still gracing her cheeks.
Malcolm frowned. The tender and detailed expression that had played around his eyes moments earlier had vanished. His handsome face was now overcast with displeasure as he shot Alyssa a displeased glance.
"Don't you know how to knock before entering? Have you forgotten all the Flynns' house rules?"
How dare she interrupt his precious time with his wife?
Alyssa shrank back at the icy look in Malcolm's eyes, her voice a notch lower than before. "Bro, I had no idea you two had this much stamina. I mean, after last night, and again this morning..."
She covered her mouth to stifle her giggles.
"Alyssa!" Malcolm suddenly growled, his patience wearing thin with her irreverence.
"I'm leaving right after this!" Alyssa remembered her reason for coming as she turned her grin toward Reese. "Reese, there's a basketball game this afternoon with my favorite player competing. She plays a lot like you; could you come watch it with me?"
Reese pondered briefly - her afternoon was open except for a quick run-through with Louis on some matters.
Seeing Reese hesitate, Alyssa misunderstood and thought she might be declined. She sidled up to Reese, clasping her hands together in a pleading gesture combined with a layer of charm. "Please, Reese, come with me. I really want to introduce you to my favorite player. I'm sure you two will hit it off. I've been a fan of hers for years."
Reese knew Alyssa simply wanted her to meet and perhaps connect with a kindred spirit.
She didn't have any pressing plans, anyhow.
"Alright, I'll go with you this afternoon."
"Oh, that's awesome! I just love you for this, Reese. How about a kiss for luck?"
Alyssa leaned in, but her collar was suddenly caught from behind, and Malcolm's displeased voice sounded close.
"Who said you could kiss my wife? You think she's yours to kiss?"
His wife was his alone, untouchable by anyone else.
Alyssa rolled her eyes at Malcolm. "Bro, I never knew you were so possessive."
"If your spouse was this gorgeous, would you let someone else kiss her?"
Malcolm shot back with unassailable confidence.
Alyssa pondered for a moment; if she could ever find someone as capable as Reese, she'd probably hide him away too, wishing she could sequester him in a golden hideaway, seeing him only for herself each day – that would be the best.
"Ugh... never mind, I can't compete with you."
Alyssa swung open the door, but didn't forget to remind Reese.
"Remember, Reese, I'll come pick you up this afternoon."
"Okay."
The room returned to tranquility, yet Alyssa's interruption had clearly disturbed Reese's mood.
Reese glanced at the time; it was almost right. With the last adjustment, Reese had finished tying Malcolm's tie.
"I should get going too."
Malcolm quickly grasped her wrist, whispering in her ear.
"Honey, let's continue this evening what we didn't finish before."
Reese was left speechless.
---
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
