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Her foot just kept tapping…

Hot tea spilled on his pants

"Oops!" Ava laughed "Sorry about that"

"It’s fine" He picked up a napkin, dabbing at the tea as he watched her fro it to the rhyth on the corner The woman burst with life, more than any human woman he’d ever met When Malachi looked at her sometimes, he wondered how her skin could even contain her personality Her eyes ht have held pain and exhaustion at times, but her body was in constant motion

For a y even for his touch

Fingers linked Ar her to his chest as his h cheek to the satin of hers Pressing his lips to her neck The curve of her jaw Her lips Feeling the pulse of life seep into his skin Her fingers digging into his neck Gripping his hair at the nape The touch of her hts, disgusted with hiori

"Hey," she whispered, her own cheeks flushed as if she shared his thoughts "Malachi, where did you just go?"

He blinked and looked up Nothing had distracted hi?

He swiped a quick hand over his face and shook his head to clear it "Sorry Didn’t sleep well last night"

"And then I dragged you out"

"It’s fine, Ava" He grabbed an orange fro the bitter spray from the peel wake him "I’m just a little tired"

"We could head back," she said "And don’t you have some kind of backup? I mean, not that I don’t prefer your company, but surely you have so If you’re sick?"

It was the perfect opportunity Leo was scheduled to take over for hiht Daer scribe watching her, but Malachi wasn’t convinced After all, the woh a crowded market; he doubted a six-foot behemoth with a mane of blond hair would be hard to pluck out of the crowd "I… uh… I do have someone, as a matter of fact His name is Leo He’s very reliable Maybe I’ll call him"

She reached out to pat his hand, but Malachi tensed before she paused and drew back "That’s a good idea I’ you out"