Page 111 of Melted by a Man

“I messed up,” I finally whispered.

“You didn’t,” Leo insisted.

The three of us sat in heavy silence before Mary broke it with a gentle voice.

“How are you feeling?”

I lifted a shoulder under the blankets, relieved when Leo didn’t loosen his hold on me from the movement, “Better.” My hands lowered from my head, awkwardly loose underneath the band of Leo’s arms.

Mary nodded; her fingers folded in her lap as she pressed her lips together.

Then she snorted.

I jumped because it caught me off guard. The room was silent, minus the hum of the diffuser.

Then she snorted again, before slapping a hand over her mouth.

“Are you—?”

“I can’t believe you slept with my cousin!” Mary lowered her voice, but she was smiling now. I had no idea how to react to this change of mood. I thought she was upset with me, but she was smiling. Holding in laughter as her shoulders shook. Eventually, she looked up at the ceiling in a way that reminded me of Leo.

“Sod off,” Leo grunted behind me, pressing his cheek against my head.

We were at the office, but he was showing physical affection toward me.

I couldn’t find it in myself to pull away.

My body needed what he was providing me right now.

My heart did, too.

“You’re never allowed to scold me for cussing again.”

I frowned at her, “What? Why?”

Mary raised her eyebrows, resting her hands on her knees as she arched toward me, “Because you’refuckingmy cousin. You don’t get to break girl code, and then sit back on your high horse and scold me for dropping some colorful language on occasion.”

I parted my lips, dread filling my chest from her words, “I broke girl code?”

I really was the worst.

Mary nodded, her dark eyes studying me with an intensity I didn’t know what to do with, “But don’t worry, I forgive you. Because I’m a good person, and you’re both consenting adults.”

“This is none of your business,” Leo spoke, though his tone was less grumbly.

“She’s the one who offered the information.” Mary pointed an accusing finger at me again.

“I didn’t think—I shouldn’t have—”

“Shh,” Leo lifted one of his hands to cover my mouth, “I don’t care if Mary knows about us. I’m not upset by your slip of the tongue.”

I furrowed my brows, before nodding behind his hand.

“Especially because she gets your slip of the tongue—”

“—Mary,” Leo scolded, but I could tell by the way his chest shook behind me that he was holding in a laugh.

Muscles that were clenched tight in my body were starting to loosen, one by one. It was a gradual adjustment, regaining control and ease in my limbs. Instead of pulling away, and getting myself together, I found myself slouching against Leo some more.

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