"You did it," Evie corned Mal the minute she entered the room, "I can see it on your face and the way you're moving."
Mal didn't even try to deny it. She was so elated she would give in to Evie this time. "We did. We had sex."
Evie's hands flew up to her mouth and she let out a small squeal. "Oh my gosh. How do you feel? How was it? Tell me everything."
Mal laughed plopping down on the bed next to Evie. "I feel sore and tired yet energetic and so lamely in love."
"Did it hurt? Was it good?" Evie was in rapid fire. Mal never opened up to her and she was so proud of how far Mal had come lately.
"I didn't hurt. Just felt a little intrusive at first. But then it felt really good. So different than anything else I have experienced."
"I'm so happy for you!" Evie barreled into Mal for a hug.
"How are you and Doug?" Mal asked. If she was going to share then so was Evie.
"We've been exploring a little bit. It took awhile because of me needing some time to distance myself from my past and Doug not being one to initiate. But things are starting to fall into place and it feels really good. I never dreamed we could be this happy. And it's all a little overwhelming sometimes. Last night we got pretty heated with heavy petting and it all felt so natural and easy."
"Woah Evie. Good for you. I'm happy for you too!" Mal gave her a squeeze.
"Now I'm going to need to be going to you for sex advice how weird is that!" Evie and Mal laughed.
Everyone was at breakfast excited to get the most out of their last day. When Ben and Mal locked eyes walking up to the table from opposite directions, Mal was sure everyone could tell what had happened last night. But the truth was that they couldn't. Everyone was minding their own business chattering away as Ben slid onto the bench next to Mal.
He kissed her soundly, "Morning."
"Hey I just got some breakfast down and I'd like to keep it that way," Aziz teased.
Chad, Audrey, Ruby, and Anxelin were missing from the table. But a half hour later Ruby and Anxelin joined. This was the first time Anxelin had come anywhere near most of them the whole weekend. She looked rough. Like she had been crying.
When everyone broke off into conversation Anxelin leaned over to Mal and whispered, "Lady Mal I'm sorry for the way I've treated you. Sometimes you think you know people and you really don't."
"It's okay," Mal said sincerely. She was glad that sufficed because she wasn't sure what else to say. It was clear Anxelin and Audrey were not longer friends.
Ben and Aziz took to the slopes for one last run before they all returned to their kingdoms. When they were alone on the lift Ben couldn't keep it in anymore.
"Mal spent the night with me last night," Ben felt guilty for saying it out loud but he just wanted to scream from the mountains. He felt so on top of the world and he was grinning ear to ear. What he meant was clear.
Aziz laughed, "Good for you man. I'm going to assume it went well by that cheeky grin you're wearing."
"It was amazing. I feel totally out of control and I don't even care. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to hide this when my face looks like this every time I think about it. Which is nonstop. Or how I'm going to be able to go back to my responsibilities when all I can focus on is her."
"I knew eventually your brain would get onto the singular track that is manhood. Pretty sure Audrey had you repressed all those years and you've suddenly been woken up. It's going to take you a bit to catch up with the rest of us!" Aziz teased his friend.
"Haha Aziz. It's not like I didn't think about sex when I was with Audrey... I just didn't think about it with her that often." Ben felt half amused half guilty admitting that.
"Well I'm just glad it felt special and you guys are happy. You deserve it Ben. You needed someone a little wild to push you out of your comfort zone. I can tell she's helping you experience life and not be so serious all the time. It's healthy for you. You'll find the balance with this too. It's just a new sensation right now."
"I don't think I'm every going to get over the feeling of being with her. I love her with everything I have."
