Amy was the first one up.
Genuinely surprised to still have Malcolm in the bed with her.
She had spent the night with a man, and he wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere. He was still sound asleep. Who knew a day like that existed for her?
Amy knew how much Malcolm carried on his shoulders. He had every reason not to pursue what they had, yet he still gave her his time, listened to her, put up with her flaws and let her take the lead.
She went to the bathroom for a quick shower, but stopped when she saw her reflection in the mirror.
"Hi," she said to it.
She shook her head at her situation.
She wasn't born this way. Staying silent had once been her choice before. But now as it turns out that, when and how she would start talking again wasn't entirely up to her anymore.
How does one even begin that conversation?
Oh, hi Malcolm. I'm not actually mute. I chose silence to spite my family, and now I can't really talk to people.
She felt stupid just thinking about it.
She brushed her teeth and went ahead with the shower. When she felt refreshed, she returned to the room. Malcolm was still asleep.
She climbed back into bed and nestled against him like a sloth. Malcolm stirred awake at the contact and kissed the top of her head gently. Smiling.
"Hey, beautiful…" He mumbled, barely awake.
Amy smiled to herself so wide her lips almost hurt. She kissed his chest in reply. She was getting more and more shy around Malcolm it seems.
Malcolm chuckled. "I'll take that as you slept well too."
He shifted, gently confining her smaller frame beneath his. Amy squealed, delighted by the attention.
Malcolm didn't want to get out of bed. His bladder was protesting, but all he wanted was to stay like this forever- with Amy in his arms but, he'd maybe settle for a repeat of last night.
"You smell so nice, Amy," he murmured, burying his face in her hair.
She was elated by the compliment.
She lifted his head to kiss him, but he dodged her lips. She frowned.
Malcolm let her off his hold before standing. "I smell. Morning breath."
Amy was surprised.
It hadn't even crossed her mind that he'd be self-conscious about something like that. She honestly didn't mind but if this meant she'd get to kiss him sooner, she was all for it.
She nodded and settled back into the pillow. It smelled so much like Malcolm. She hadn't realized how powerful scent could be or how many memories it could hold.
In the twenty minutes Malcolm was gone, Amy came twice.
When Malcolm returned, he found her smiling at the ceiling, face flushed, breathing uneven, unmistakably aroused.
"So that's how it is," he teased.
Amy turned to him, her smile widening. She grabbed her phone and pointed at his.
He checked it and froze. Twenty new messages and all came from her.
"Whoa, Amy... Are you sure about this?" he asked as he climbed back into bed, under the covers that still smelled strongly like sex.
Amy guided him inside her.
She had taught him the night before on how to rock her world, so he took over this time, leaving her writhing beneath him.
She unraveled with such force it felt like she briefly left her body.
When she came back, she felt Malcolm's kisses everywhere.
"…you. Thank you so much," he whispered. His voice muffled.
She blinked up to him and pulled his face closer for inspection. He was crying. Amy was confused.
She settled into hugging him. Tightly.
"Is it always this intense?" Malcolm asked innocently.
Amy shook her head, then kissed him softly.
She grabbed her phone by the nightstand and typed-
I wouldn't know. It never happened to me before.
She smiled and then added another message.
I guess it's another first that you gave me.