Getting time alone together proves to be something of a challenge. It's not that they're trying to keep their relationship secret—that's the kind of thing they don't have time for—it's just that they like to be discreet all the same. It's not like their academy days when you could hang a sock on the doorknob… or boobytrap the doorway.
It's Mack who comes to the rescue, albeit inadvertently, staging a video game competition that no one is exempt from. Admittedly, Phil's ego takes a bit of a blow by feigning incompetency—and frankly, Melinda's surprised no one sees through the ruse—but being dropped from the competition early allows them to duck out without much fuss.
"You locked the door?" Melinda asks, pulling his tie off.
"What, are you kidding? I locked every door between us and the rec room," Phil answers, unzipping her jacket in kind.
"Because that's not excessive or anything," Melinda says, her lips crooked in the barest of smirks.
"Well, it's just that you get so loud—"
He grins goofily when she punches him in the arm, but doesn't halt in her progress of undressing him. Soon enough they've relocated to the bed, wearing significantly less than when they'd entered the room. It's been long enough since they've been able to do this that Melinda can't help the little twitter of anticipation she feels in her stomach as Phil kisses down the length of her body. He stops when he gets just past her navel and taps his forefinger against her hip.
"These are new," he notes with a low, interested hum.
She'd known he would notice. It's one of the reasons she'd gone out of her way to buy the silk and lace panties in the first place. That and she'd felt like treating herself to something a little more self-indulgent. She likes the way she looks in them and, judging by the way Phil's eyes wander, so does he.
"I felt like buying myself a little something," she says.
"Mm, then maybe I'll just leave them on for a little," he says, his head dipping back down. "Admire them a little longer."
He presses an open-mouthed kiss to her mound and her hips rise to follow, seeking out further stimulation.
"Maybe next time I go shopping you can come with me," she sighs. "Provide a little… input."
He groans, the vibrations going straight through her and, oh, yes, that's a little trip they'll definitely be taking together in the near future.