Coffee & Cream

Malcom’s Interest

DARCELLE

I walked home after work, my head buzzing and my feet dragging as I took lazy drags from my blunt. The cars rushing by felt like they were going in reverse, like the whole world was rewinding while I was stuck in slow motion. I could hear the music in my ears, but I wasn’t really listening, just moving my body to the beat. I was so out of it I almost didn’t notice the car that pulled up beside me until it honked, making me jump. I yanked the earphones out of my ears and squinted at the driver, ready to throw a dirty look.

It was Mal.

He flashed that cheeky, boyish grin of his, waving at me like I’d been expecting him. Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood for people, let alone conversation, so I gave him a quick wave back, hoping he’d get the hint and drive away. But of course he didn’t. He honked again, louder this time, like a child demanding attention. I rolled my eyes and sighed, stepping over to his window.

"Get in," he said, like it was nothing.

I hesitated, not really in the mood but also not eager to go home to an empty apartment and a restless mind. So, I shrugged and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do.

“You just got off work?” he asked, glancing over at me like he already knew the answer.

“Obviously,” I replied, the sarcasm rolling off my tongue effortlessly. He just nodded, like he was used to my attitude.

Then, he asked if I wanted to connect my phone to his Bluetooth so we could vibe to whatever I was listening to. I laughed at the randomness of it but went ahead and connected my phone. We drove in silence for a while, the bass of my playlist vibrating through the car.

“So, where are you going this late?” I finally asked, watching the headlights of passing cars blur into streaks of light.

“Sleepover at a friend’s place,” he said, smirking. “You should come.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “A sleepover with people I don’t know? Yeah, no thanks.”

“Come on,” he pressed. “There’s going to be booze, food, and… you know, some good stuff.”

I rolled my eyes, still hesitant, but I could feel my resistance cracking. “You had me at booze and food, but I don’t do social hangouts without my anchor,” I said, thinking of Nathan. "He’s my safety net at these kinds of things."

Mal grinned, not giving up. “I’ll be your Nathan for the night. Come on, live a little.”

I groaned, knowing he wouldn’t let it go until I said yes. Plus, it was Friday night, and tomorrow was Saturday—I had no real reason to say no. “Fine," I muttered, "but if this turns out to be lame, I’m blaming you.”

As we drove, I started to recognize the route, and my stomach dropped. “Wait a minute,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Mal. “Is this—no, the sleepover's not at Emrys’ place, is it?”

Mal smirked but didn’t say anything.

“Mal,” I groaned, “I don’t fit in with those people. Why the hell would you bring me here?”

He just chuckled, calling me “cute” and driving us up the winding road toward Emrys’ ridiculous glass house on the cliff. Great. Just great. The last thing I needed was for Emrys to think I was some sort of stalker, showing up at his house uninvited. I silently cursed under my breath as Mal parked, but there was no turning back now.

We walked inside, and Topher was the first to spot me. “Holy s**t,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. The guys practically drooled when they saw me, and I could feel the girls' eyes burning holes into me as they sized me up, whispering to each other.

Mal grabbed my hand just as Emrys walked into the room shirtless, wearing an outfit as if he’d just stepped out of some kind of industrial porn scene. His eyes landed on me, and for a second, he froze, his lips parting in shock. But he recovered quickly, his expression turning cold and distant. I could tell he wasn’t happy to see me here, especially not with Mal.

Topher, completely oblivious to the tension, slung his arm around me and Mal, laughing. “Welcome to the sleepover,” he said, offering us a shot. “You two better catch up.”

I took the shot, trying to ignore the way Emrys kept glancing at me from across the room while he play-fought with his friends and joked around like nothing bothered him. But every time our eyes met, it felt like he was daring me to leave, like he wanted me gone. Too bad. There was no Uber coming up this cliff, and Mal had no plans of leaving tonight, so Emrys was just going to have to deal with it.

After a while, Mal pulled me away from the crowd, leading me to a secluded room.

The room had this monochromatic color scheme, sleek and clean, but somehow still warm. The lighting was subtle, but the place had a kind of theatrical vibe, like we were on set for some ultra-modern film.

Right at the center of the room was this massive sunken hot tub, the water shimmering under the low lights. The high, dark-textured panels on the ceiling above it added a sense of grandeur, making the space feel even more dramatic, like it was designed for only the most exclusive gatherings.

To the right, there was a bar area—minimalist and sleek, with black cabinetry that looked like it belonged in a high-end design magazine. A couple of modern stools stood by it like they were waiting for someone to come and pour a drink, while on the left side, there was a sunken seating area. It was plush, the perfect spot for laid-back conversations or just lounging while soaking in the atmosphere.

One of the things that caught my eye was the floor-to-ceiling shelving that lined the far wall. It was stocked with fine spirits—wine, whiskey, brandy—you name it, it was there. The bottles gleamed under the dim lighting, looking like they were on display in some kind of gallery. Along with the liquor, there were these zen-like decorative elements—a few smooth black spheres and polished stones, almost like the designer wanted to bring a touch of serenity to the space. The whole room felt like a balance of indulgence and calm, like it was inviting you to both relax and indulge at the same time.

It was hard to believe a room like this even existed—it was just the kind of place that made you feel like anything could happen.

“Wanna get in?” he asked, a grin spreading across his face referring to the hot tub.

I thought about it for a second. Honestly, after the day I’d had, a hot tub sounded amazing. “Yeah, why not?” I shrugged.

I stripped down to my underwear and slid into the hot water, letting out a sigh of relief as the warmth relaxed my muscles. Mal was already in the tub, shamelessly admiring me with that same grin plastered on his face.

“Wipe your chin,” I teased, smirking at him.

He laughed, pretending to wipe it. “What? What’s there?”

“You were drooling.”

He chuckled and moved a little closer, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” His voice was low, almost serious. “We should hang out more. Be friends.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, folding my lips together as I tried not to smile. “Aren’t we friends already?”

He leaned in a little more, trapping me between his arms as he rested them on the edge of the hot tub. “I don’t know... are we?”

Before I could respond, Emrys’ voice cut through the air like a knife. “The f**k’s going on here?”

Mal didn’t seem to catch the tension, smiling innocently. “We’re just vibing, man. Go back to cooking.”

Emrys stared at us, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. “Uh-huh, I see,” he said coldly before turning to leave. But not before reminding us that dinner was ready and everyone should come to the table.

Mal got out of the tub first, shaking his head, clearly confused by the whole situation. I stayed a little longer, trying to gather the nerve to face Emrys again. When I finally got out, Emrys let out this annoyed scoff and shut the door behind him. “You let him see your body? I told you, no one else but me. He can’t touch you, Darcelle. I mean it.”

The way he said it sent a shiver down my spine. It was possessive and a little terrifying, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t also turn me on.

Dinner was awkward. I sat at the long table, trying to focus on the delicious meal Emrys had prepared, but the tension in the room was impossible to ignore. Every time I glanced up, I could feel Emrys' eyes on me, burning holes through my skull like he was silently daring me to speak. I could feel his anger simmering, but he didn't say anything to me directly. Instead, he let the silence and his glares do all the talking.

Topher, of course, had no clue about the weird vibe going on. He grinned like an i***t, making everything worse when he turned to Mal and asked, "So, how’d you end up bringing her here? I thought you said you weren’t coming with anyone."

Mal looked up, caught off guard, his fork hovering in midair. “Oh, um, I just saw her dancing on the road. She was already in a good mood, so I figured, Why not?” He laughed nervously, glancing at me as if asking for backup.

Topher wasn’t done. “So, you picking up girls off the street now?” he joked, wiggling his eyebrows. “Is she part of the orgy now, or what?”

I choked on my piece of chicken, my eyes widening in shock as I reached for my water. One of the guys, Dave, chuckled and patted my back while handing me a glass. “You good?”

Mal’s face flushed red as he frantically waved his hands. “What? No, no! That’s not why I brought her! I swear, it wasn’t like that!” His eyes flickered between me and Topher, like he was trying to convince both of us that his intentions were pure.

Emrys let out a low scoff from across the table, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. “Right. And taking her into the hot tub wasn’t trying to get a head start either, huh?” His tone was sharp, his words dripping with sarcasm.

I shot him a glare, silently begging him to shut up, but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were locked on Mal like he was sizing him up, ready to pounce at any moment. Mal shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking like he wanted to crawl under the table and disappear.

“No orgy tonight,” Emrys said curtly.

“Come on, Em,” Topher groaned, clearly oblivious to the tension. “No orgy tonight? You’re killing the vibe. What should we do instead?”

Emrys didn’t even blink, his eyes still fixed on Mal. "No, orgy,” he said firmly, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m not in the mood.”

Topher pouted but quickly moved on, suggesting we have a bonfire instead. Everyone agreed, and before long, we were all gathered outside around a roaring fire in the front yard. Booze, molly, LSD, and weed were passed around like party favors. Laced brownies sat in a tray nearby, tempting anyone who dared to try them. I wasn’t planning on going too hard tonight, but the vibe was contagious, and before I knew it, I had a drink in my hand and a joint between my fingers.

I tried to relax, let the warmth of the fire and the buzz of the drugs wash over me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Emrys. He was laughing and joking with his friends while seated across from the fire, but every now and then I would catch him glancing at me with something in his eyes that I could not quite make out. It wasn’t anger anymore—it was something darker, more intense.

Mal was beside me, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin on his face. He was feeling the effects of whatever he’d taken, his eyelids heavy and his movements slow. He glanced over at me and nudged me with his elbow. “You good?”

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m good.”

But I wasn’t.

I was restless, my thoughts swirling in my head like smoke. Emrys’ words from earlier played on a loop in my mind: "You let him see your body? I told you, no one else but me."

What did he mean by that? Why did he care so much? We weren’t together—hell, we weren’t even close. But the way he had looked at me, the way he had said those words, it felt like a claim. Like he owned me.

And that both terrified and thrilled me in ways I wasn’t ready to admit.

As the night dragged on, people started to pair off, disappearing into the corners of the house or lounging around the fire in small, intimate groups. Mal had dozed off beside me, his head tilted back as soft snores escaped his lips. I stared into the fire, my mind wandering, when I felt someone approach. I didn’t have to look up to know who it was.

Emrys.

He stood over me for a moment, his presence looming, before he pulled up a chair and sat down beside me. e sat in silence, the crackling of the fire the only sound between us. I could feel the heat of him, even though we weren’t touching, and it made my skin tingle.

“Why did you come here?” he asked, his voice low, almost a whisper.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say. “Mal invited me,” I finally replied, staring into the flames. “I didn’t know it was your place.”

He didn’t say anything for a while and just sat there, watching me. When he finally spoke again, his voice was softer, but no less intense. “I don’t want him near you like that again.”

I turned to him, surprised by the vulnerability in his tone. “Why?”

His eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time tonight, I saw the Emrys I knew. “Because you’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”

I swallowed hard, my heart racing in my chest. His words hung heavy in the air between us, thick with meaning. I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Instead, I just stared at him, caught between wanting to run and wanting to stay.

Emrys leaned closer, his face inches from mine. “I mean it, Darcelle. No one else. Just me.”

Before I could react, he stood up and walked away, leaving me alone by the fire, my mind spinning and my heart pounding in my chest.