Lara just knew that sex with Malcolm couldn't be utterly earth-shattering every time. So she braced herself each time for something a little more "normal." Apparently, earth-shattering WAS normal for Malcolm Grayson. In the week that followed, they'd spent nearly every night together and she'd decided she was the luckiest woman in the world. She'd never felt so close to someone on so many levels—and so completely happy and satisfied.
Malcolm couldn't get enough of Lara. He'd worried that she'd think he was taking up all of her time, coming on too strong, but she seemed as eager as he was to make plans with him. And his dick had a mind of its own lately. He'd watch Lara before they got in bed, rubbing in her hand cream, glasses askew, hair a mess; and his dick would get hard. He saw her on the phone at work, twirling the cord between her fingers, blowing her bangs off her forehead; and his dick got hard. He loved the quirkiest things about her (and was dangerously close to being plain-old, head-over-heels in love with her). He felt like she got him, understood him like nobody else ever had.
"So, I had an interesting phone call this morning."
Malcolm looked up from his paperwork to see Lara standing in his office door. It was a few minutes before 5pm on Friday and he was just about finished with the motion he needed to file the next week.
"Oh yeah?" he said, continuing to make notes but grinning, "Tell me about it while I finish this, I'm listening."
"Well," she began, sauntering in and seating herself in one of the high-backed chairs that faced him, "I answered the phone and a woman said, 'Is this Lara Spencer?' I told her yes and she immediately asked me if I was coming with you to the birthday party tomorrow. I was confused, of course, and asked her 'what birthday party?'"
Malcolm looked up at her again, eyebrow raised. "Shit. Lia and Mia's birthday party is tomorrow?"
"She got a little agitated then, saying she was gonna go off on you when she sees you," Lara said, eyeing him coyly, "I told her that I would talk to you this afternoon and remind you to RSVP."
"Good, sorry about that—when Misha doesn't get what she wants ASAP, she finds a way around it. I was going to invite you; I thought it was next weekend though."
Lara frowned and recrossed her legs. "Are you sure you want me to go? I know it's a family thing and it may be too soon."
"No, I definitely want you to go, as long as you're cool with it. What else did Misha say?"
"Well, when I told her I'd remind you to RSVP, she said, 'RSVP? My ass. It's at 3pm tomorrow and y'all both better be there.' Then she gave me the address."
Malcolm shook his head and organized the folders on his desk, finished with his work. "So what did you say?"
"Hell, I said "yes, ma'am," what do you think I said?" Lara said, laughing, "Was she a drill sergeant?"
Malcolm just shook his head and smiled, "No, but she could've been. Do you mind if we stop by and pick up some gifts while we're out tonight?"
"Of course not," Lara said, "They're turning 3, right?"
"Yep, my baby girls are not babies anymore."
"You're so sweet," Lara said as they walked to their cars, hand in hand.
"Come in, come in," Cedric said, holding the front door open for Lara and Malcolm, "Good to see you again Lara, how's the Maxima?"
"Running just fine, Cedric, good to see you too."
"What up, Ced?" Malcolm asked, pulling his brother-in-law in for a manly hug.
"Dodging these crumb-snatchers," Cedric said, chuckling, "You ever been attacked by a mob of 3 year olds?"
"Is that Malcolm and Lara?" Misha yelled from the kitchen.
"Stop all that yellin' woman!" Malcolm yelled back to her.
"You hush," she said as she bustled out of the kitchen, "I can't believe Uncle Malcolm nearly forgot the babies' birthday." She smacked his arm as he pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek.
"Lara, it is so nice to meet you!" she said smiling, "I've heard nothing but good things from baby bro here."
"Nice to meet you too, Misha!" the women embraced but were pushed apart by a parade of kids that ran through the house.
"Sorry about that," Misha said, yelling for the kids to stop running, "Come on in the kitchen, everything is just about ready."
Lara allowed herself to be led away by Malcolm's sister, falling into conversation easily. Lara met several more family members, Malcolm's mother, his aunts and uncles, a mob of cousins, and several other couples that Misha and Cedric were friends with. Apparently, word of Malcolm's "girlfriend" had spread like wildfire through the family—everyone wanted to know all about her. Despite the interrogation and plethora of new faces, Lara didn't feel overwhelmed. She had just as many questions for these people that loved Malcolm. She was just amazed that she'd been involved with Malcolm for a week and already she was being so warmly welcomed into his family.
There were a buffet table full of appetizers and finger foods, pitchers of sweet tea, and a huge decorated cake. The party easily transitioned from food to cake to gifts to games. By 7pm, the younger kids were tuckered out—those parents were saying an early goodnight. Misha and Cedric's son had invited another 7 year old and they were happily situated in front of the TV in his room playing a video game.
The few remaining adults were enjoying a drink and everyone had made their way to the family room. Malcolm was sitting with his uncle and Cedric, playing dominoes at the dining room table. He was distracted by Lara. She was sitting on the couch with his mother, Misha, and an auntie. She was talking animatedly, he could tell by her hands and facial expressions. He could only hear a little of the conversation. He tried to focus on the game.
"Oh, you'll have to ask him that, Mrs. Grayson," Lara said, stealing a glance at Malcolm, "I think it might be a little soon for that." He raised his eyebrow, obviously having heard her comment. She shook her head and focused on his mother once again. She'd just asked Lara if Malcolm was in love with her yet.
"So, he told you about the shit that went down in Cincy, right?" Misha asked her bluntly.
"Misha, stop all that cussin'!" Mrs. Grayson scolded, "He told you what that girl accused him of though, didn't he?"
Lara eyes widened a bit, but she nodded.
"What did you say when he told you?" his aunt asked. The three women leaned closer toward Lara, waiting skeptically for her response.
"Well, y'all know him better than I do, but it was obvious to me that he's not capable of doing anything so evil," Lara said, honestly. The three women nodded—Misha smiled. Lara continued, "I mean, he's been nothing but 100% sweet with me."
That drew a cackle of laughter from Misha, and she responded loudly, teasing so Malcolm could hear, "Sweet? My brother?"
"Hey, hey," he said, washing the dominoes, "You're not supposed to talk about me while I'm not there to defend myself."
Misha leaned in again, whispering this time, "That bitch just about did him in. He hasn't been involved with a woman since. That's why we've all been so eager to meet you."
"Well, it's been kind of sudden," Lara explained, "Malcolm has definitely been a nice surprise."
Mrs. Grayson looked over at her son, joking and laughing with Cedric, and closed her eyes. She reopened them and spoke softly to Lara, "He deserves some happiness. He's a good man."
Misha stood to go clean up the kitchen and Lara joined her. As they walked by the men at the table, Misha squeezed her husband's shoulders, then playfully squeezed the back of Malcolm's neck. He hunched over, elbowing her away.
Lara smiled, loving the camaraderie the siblings shared. She adored his entire family. Misha, loud and bossy, was perfectly matched to Cedric, the quiet but protective one. Mrs. Grayson was so nurturing and kind—she'd not stopped smiling at Lara since they'd met. And his nieces and nephew were adorable and definitely the most polite children she'd ever met. He was so lucky.
"Are you okay?" Malcolm asked as they were driving back to his place. Lara had been unusually quiet and he was worried somebody had said something to upset her.
"Yeah," she said, "I'm fine."
He glanced over and realized she was wiping tears away.
"Don't cry," he said, reaching over to squeeze her hand, "What's wrong? Did Misha say something? I swear to God—"
"No!" Lara interrupted, "Everything was perfect—is perfect. I'm just being a baby."
"About what?"
Lara sighed, feeling vulnerable.
They pulled into his apartment complex and he parked but made no move to get out of the truck. He turned and tilted her chin so she'd have to look at him. The tears made her eyes sparkle and the lashes stick together thickly. He used a thumb to wipe them away.
"Your family is so great," she started, "It just reminded me how much I wish I had a family like that. Or a family at all."
He opened the door then and walked around to her side. He held the door open for her and helped her out. As soon as she stood, he pulled her into a hug. She sighed, never having felt so protected in all her life, and clung to him.
This wasn't a sexual embrace—it was a comfort, a promise of sorts.
"You're not alone, Lara."
"I know."
She lay there in the dark, nestled up against Malcolm and couldn't help but get emotional again. He hadn't demanded or even asked for anything from her that night. He put in a movie and covered her up with a blanket on his couch. He showered and came out in pajama pants, sitting at her feet until the movie ended. She followed him into his room, took a shower of her own, and then pulled on one of his t-shirts to sleep in. They crawled into bed together—he wrapped an arm around her, kissed her on the lips then forehead and held her hand while he fell asleep.
Something was tugging on him. Gently. Insistently. He was dreaming. Wasn't he? Yes, he was dreaming about Lara. He could feel her tugging at him slowly, her hand, her lips, her tongue. Jesus, he hadn't had a dream like this in a while. He felt her other hand braced against his thigh, slurping noises pulling him from the dream just a bit. His head was clearing but the sensations were the same.
