Chapter Four: Slow
"How am I doing?"
Malia quirked a brow, watching as Stiles tossed one multicolored ring after another at the empty milk bottles, each one missing just by a few centimeters. Each time he ran out, he shoved another five dollars into the game attendant's hand, insisting that this time he'd do better.
But as another ring skims the rim of a bottle, she can sense his temper reaching its peak.
"Um, you do know that you're supposed to get the rings on the bottles, right?" Malia inquired, her gaze shifting between the game and her date. He tossed another one, missed the next bottle, and she'd decided she'd seen enough. "Give me those."
"I didn't mean at the game," Stiles corrected as he reluctantly stepped to the side, letting her take over. She tossed the rings without much effort, each one landing on one of the center bottles. "Speaking of which, how did you do that?"
She shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all in the wrist."
A few minutes later, they were walking away with a huge stuffed dog that kind of looked like a wolf if you squinted. "Don't look so smug," he told her.
"I can't help that I'm better than you at carnival games," Malia retorted, her smile teasing. "Don't worry, you can attempt to win me something at the next one. I just didn't want you to keep having to make a fool of yourself -"
"I wasn't doing that bad!"
"You were!"
They were both laughing now, and after Stiles shook his head, he said, "Okay, whatever. Let's just forget about how much I suck for a second so I can know, once and for all, if you're having a good time."
Malia looked around for a moment, taking it all in. She'd never been to a carnival before, but she was glad that she got to spend her first one with him; he was certainly making an effort to make it memorable, even when he wasn't doing it on purpose.
Finally, she grinned, nodding. "Yes. I'm having a great time tonight. I didn't even know that carnivals came to towns this small."
"Beacon Hills isn't that small," he said, and she responded with a skeptical look. "Seriously - you don't really realize it until you're forced to look at the big picture. It's one of the perks of being a part of the police force."
"So there's nothing you hate about it? Your job, I mean." Malia looked at him then, her gaze curious. "You never wanted to be anything else?"
"Never," Stiles told her matter-of-factly. "I love everything about my job. It's not much right now, but it's a process. You can't just show up your first day ever and all of a sudden be the sheriff, you know?" He chuckled, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "I think what I like the most, though, is the coffee runs. Sometimes I even get to see this cute little barista - sometimes she even talks to me."
Malia rolled her eyes, unable to hide her flattered smile. "Shut up."
"What? It's true. Highlight of my day, every day," Stiles replied, unashamed. "So what about you? I can't imagine your lifelong dream was to serve people their morning coffee everyday."
"How do you know? Maybe I like the thrill of not knowing whether or not I'm going to burn my hand on the steam from the coffee maker. It gives me a rush," she smirked, before shaking her head. "No, the job at Greenberg's was kind of a last minute cry for help. I always wanted to be a veterinarian."
"What happened?"
She shrugged. "I don't know, what always happens. Things didn't work out. Loans piled up. Life smacked me in the face and I was forced to do what needed be done before I could do what I wanted." Malia brushed her hair out of her face. "I also really hated science."
"Maybe it's not too late. You could always go back to school."
"Yeah, maybe," Malia mused. "You wouldn't happen to have a couple thousand dollars lying around, would you?" She gave him a wry smile as he laughed, shaking his head. "Didn't think so. It was a nice thought, though."
"You never know, something could happen. In a few years I could be turning on the news and hearing about you saving a whole litter of puppies or teaching cats to talk."
It was Malia's turn to laugh now. "You're crazy," she told him, a grin plastered to her face as her eyes caught the enormous ferris wheel looming above them now. "I think this is the only ride we haven't been on yet."
"Saved the best for last," Stiles said, offering her his arm. "Come on."
—
When she closed her eyes almost an hour later, she could still feel the wind on her face, could still smell the deep-fried food and hear all of the people having fun. She wasn't likely to forget any of that anytime soon.
If she were being honest with herself, it really had been one of the best dates she'd been on in a long time.
"What are you thinking about?" Stiles inquired once they came to a stop outside her door. Time always passed so much more quickly at the end of the night, when you didn't want it to, she thought. "You've just been quiet for a while, so…"
"Just trying to weigh in on all of the other dates I've been on," Malia said, biting her lip and pretending to really consider. "But I'm pretty sure that this one has to be the best."
"Really? I mean, I wasn't sure between the wild, enthusiastic screaming at the top of the ferris wheel and you getting cotton candy on my nose," Stiles teased, before rubbing his nose with the back of his hand and grimacing slightly. "Yeah, it's still sticky. Thanks."
Malia rolled her eyes, pulling out her keys. "Oh, don't be such a baby."
"I resent that," Stiles told her, shaking his head. "I wouldn't have this problem if you knew not to play with your food -"
"What are you implying?"
"That maybe next time we shouldn't go anywhere that involves eating," he replied, laughing.
Malia quirked a brow, turning to face him fully. "So you're saying that I haven't totally ruined my chances by getting you all dirty?"
Stiles shook his head, before tilting his head and closing the space between them, his mouth claiming hers in a kiss. His lips were warm and soft, just how she remembered. She inhaled through her nose, catching a mixture of his cologne and the sweetness of the cotton candy, still lingering on him, though not unappealing.
When he pulled away after a moment, their noses brushed ever so slightly, his eyes opening slowly, meeting hers. "That is exactly what I'm saying."
She nodded, understanding completely, as she unlocked the door to her apartment and walked inside, tossing the stuffed animal onto the couch in the living room. When she noticed that he still hesitated just outside, she kicked off her shoes, giving him an expectant look. "Well?" Malia said, shrugging off her jacket. "You coming, or what?"
He didn't need to be asked twice.
"What are you doing?" It was the only thing that Stiles could manage to say, watching Malia peel off her tank top as he shut the door.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Malia murmured, meeting him halfway and running her hands down his chest. He tried to keep his eyes on her face, but every part of him desperately wanted to lower them, to get lost in how perfect she looked now, standing half naked in front of him.
Stiles swallowed, licking his suddenly dry lips. "I thought you wanted to take things slow."
She nuzzled his neck with her nose, breathing in his scent again, dragging her lips across his skin and up to the shell of his ear. "Well I changed my mind," she purred, and that - mixed with the feeling of her lips on him, her hot breath on his neck - was enough to get him moving.
He grabbed her hips, his mouth catching hers on its way down his jaw, pressing her back against the edge of the couch. She gasps, one leg locked around his legs, her fingers gripping his shirt, grasping at the fabric and dragging it up until they broke up apart just long enough to rid him of it.
His hands ghosted over her skin and down her back to grasp her behind, lifting her effortlessly and making her wrap her legs around his waist. She couldn't help the way her muscles tightened deep down as she marveled at his strength; it wasn't really a surprise, considering being a police officer required some physical fitness, but it was hot knowing that he could just pick her up like that, making her helpless to his every whim.
However, right now Malia had other plans.
Sliding down from the back of the couch where she had previously been perched, she hooked her fingers into the belt loops of his khakis, tugging firmly as she backed down the hallway to her bedroom. They were only halfway there when his arm slid around her waist, pulling her against him again, skin on skin, hot and heavy. He had her against the wall now, his hands skimming the bare skin of her sides, pulling down the cup of one side her bra as his lips left her mouth and moved down, capturing one nipple, sucking until it hardened before moving to do the same to the other side.
"Stiles," she whined, her eyes rolling back as his hand moved lower and lower. He unbuttoned her jeans and slipped his hand inside, rubbing her there with just enough force and friction to make her legs shake in protest.
She tried to will herself to think straight, to move just two feet to her left and get them into her bedroom, but he applied more pressure and she was lost to the sensation, warmth blossoming deep in her core. The only thing she could do was get her hands on his neck, returning his mouth to hers, kissing him long and hard. But then she heard the familiar click of a key turning in the lock and -
"Shit!" Malia said, grabbing Stiles by the wrist of the hand halfway down her jeans and dragging him down the hallway after her without a second thought. They slipped into her bedroom just before the front door opened, the door shutting quietly in their wake.
—
When Malia woke up the next morning, she was tangled up in the sheets of her bed, wearing nothing but an oversized sleep shirt… and totally alone.
She sat up, running her fingers through her unruly, bedridden hair and looking around, but there was no real evidence of the events of the night before. Malia started to think that it had all been in her head, but then she noticed the stuffed dog propped up against the pillows next to her on the bed.
Smiling, she picked up the note that was sitting on it.
I hope I didn't wake you. Had to be in at work. Last night was amazing. (The sex, too.) I look forward to seeing you again soon. -Stiles.
Malia was still grinning when the door to her bedroom suddenly swung open, Kira standing in the doorway. She tossed Malia's discarded jacket and shirt at the brunette, a smirk on her lips.
"Don't." Malia warned.
"I wasn't going to say anything, but you are," she informed her. "Hurry up and get dressed. I'm starving and I want to know everything." When Malia didn't move, Kira shook her head. "Before I have to go into work."
The brunette laughed, scooting out from under the covers and shooing her friend. "Alright, alright I'm going. See? Up. Moving." she insisted, before grabbing a pillow and tossing it at Kira. "Just get out already!"